The Jack Rogan Mysteries series

Main Characters Profile

Second Edition

Main Characters Profile

Gabriel Farago

Copyright © 2019 Gabriel Farago

The right of Gabriel Farago to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000.

All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (for example, fair dealing for the purposes of study, research, criticism or review) no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Table of Contents

The Main Characters: A Profile Study

Jack Rogan

Countess Katerina Kuragin

Madame Anastasia Petrova

Tristan Te Papatahi

Isis

The Villains

The Good Guys

Connect with the Author

The Main Characters: A Profile Study

As every storyteller knows, characters are the lifeblood of a good story. Therefore, I take character development very seriously and devote a lot of care and attention to this absolutely essential subject. A good story alone is not enough. To bring it alive, characters are needed who can ‘connect’ with my readers, and the best way to do that is through characters who are not only interesting, true-to-life personalities anchored in reality, but are people my readers can relate to.

‘Character building’ is an art. It takes a lot of imagination and ingenuity to create a character profile that does all that. I have found the best way to approach this complex, challenging subject, is to ‘reveal’ the character gradually, step by step. By giving my readers little ‘glimpses’ into the lives, personality and background of the characters, it is possible to make this process interesting and engaging. The best way to illustrate this is by way of examples.

A Note from the Author

As a new book – The Curious Case of the Missing Head – has just been added to the Jack Rogan Mysteries series, a second edition of this Profile Study is definitely warranted, as I would like to introduce you to a few new fascinating characters. This has been incorporated into the text below and will serve as a further illustration of how I introduce and approach new characters, and weave them into the storyline.

I hope this little insight will enhance your reading experience and add further understanding to how authors ‘create’ characters, interact with them and present them to their readers.

Gabriel Farago

Leura, Blue Mountains; Australia.

Jack Rogan

Journalist, celebrated author, hopeless romantic and adventurer. In short, a very likeable, but far from perfect, ‘incorrigible rascal’ with a great Aussie sense of humour.

Obviously, Jack Rogan is the central character (I don’t like the term ‘hero’) in the Jack Rogan Mysteries series, and therefore features in all of my books. I have approached his character gradually, by revealing ‘snippets’ of relevant information about him, his background, habits, strengths and weaknesses, etc. in each of my books. I do this by weaving relevant information into the storyline, particular scenes, dialogue and, of course, the relationships and interplay between Jack and other characters.

With each step, my readers learn a little more about Jack. They find out why he acts the way he does, what motivates him, and what frightens him. They learn about his dreams and his nightmares, his strengths and, of course, his weaknesses and vulnerabilities, until a clear picture emerges my readers can relate to and, in Jack’s case, begin to love. Needless to say, this is critically important, as the central character sets the tone for the entire series.

Here’s an example taken from The Disappearance of Anna Popov (Book 2 in the Jack Rogan Mysteries series), where Rebecca Armstrong asks Jack about his past:

‘What was it like? Growing up on a cattle station?’

Jack took his time before replying and looked pensively at Rebecca. ‘Lonely and harsh,’ he said. ‘I learnt to ride before I could walk and helped around the house as soon as I could stand. Our closest neighbour was 50 miles away, and it took three hours on a good day to reach town in the old ute. I used to ride in the back with Bonny and Clyde.’

‘I thought you had no siblings,’ interrupted Rebecca.

Jack began to chuckle. ‘Bonny and Clyde were our cattle dogs. Sharp as tacks. They were my friends. Our enemy was the drought. It was never far away,’ said Jack, turning serious, ‘and when it came, it lasted for years. That’s when the land became a dustbowl, the cattle began to die, and the bank manager came knocking.’ Jack looked away. ‘Mum hated it with a passion. She was a country girl from Wales. She married my father when she was just eighteen ...’

Realising that she had opened old wounds, Rebecca reached across and put her hand on Jack’s. ‘What happened to your parents?’ she asked.

‘Mum left. One day, she couldn’t take it anymore and ran off with the publican in town. We never saw her again. And then I ran away too,’ Jack said, the sadness in his voice reflecting the heartache of painful memories. ‘Dad eked out a living on the cattle station with three Aboriginal stockmen until he got sick ...’

‘What happened to him?’

‘He lost the farm and died a broken man in a boarding house in Townsville a few years ago.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Such is life,’ said Jack, reaching for his wine glass. ‘We all have to follow our own path. Often barefoot, and some of it is treacherous and paved with nails.’

With a few, brief ‘literary brush strokes’ seen through the eyes of Rebecca, we have already learned a great deal about Jack and his past.

Another very important aspect of character building is to listen to your readership. I receive valuable feedback about my characters in that way. They appear to ‘grow’ into real people as far as many of my readers are concerned. When that happens, you know you are on the right track.

This has certainly happened with Jack. So much so that my readers wanted to know more about Jack’s background and early life before he first appeared in The Empress Holds the Key, Book 1 in the series.

I thought a lot about how best to address this issue in a meaningful, engaging way. The answer? Write a prequel to the series. I did this quite recently in my novella The Kimberley Secret, which is available for free on my website https://gabrielfarago.com.au/free-download-kimberley-secret Amazon of course, and all other major platforms. In fact, you can download it for free right now.

In addition to the prequel, my previous novella The Forgotten Painting also delves into Jack’s past, and reveals interesting aspects of his personality and earlier life not addressed in the series proper. This novella is also available for free, and can be downloaded right now for free on my website https://gabrielfarago.com.au/free-download-forgotten-painting/

Also, I’m delighted to tell you that The Forgotten Painting has just received a major literary award in the US. It was awarded a gold medal by Reader’s Favorite in the Short Stories and Novellas category.

So, how can I best describe the central character of the series in a few short sentences? Not easy, but here we go: Jack is in his forties when he first appears. We follow his story from there. As a country boy who grew up on a remote cattle station in outback Australia, he has known hardship and heartache from an early age. (This and other interesting aspects of Jack’s childhood are dealt with in the prequel The Kimberley Secret.)

Without giving too much away, Jack is resourceful, full of curiosity and charm, but always a little reckless, and the adventures and exciting stories always seem to find HIM. A strong believer in destiny and fate, Jack never hesitates to ‘delve in’ and have a go. However, perhaps the most important aspect of his character and personality is the fact that he is likeable. To be likeable isn’t something you cannot learn, or acquire. You either are, or you are not. This is Jack’s greatest, most endearing asset that shines through everything he does.

Here’s a brief illustration taken from The Empress Holds the Key, when we meet Jack for the first time:

Jana was just about to leave when the door opened and a man in faded jeans, torn at the knees, and a striped pyjama top unbuttoned to the waist, squinted out at her.

‘I can’t stand getting up this early in the morning. What do you want?’ he demanded, running his fingers through unkempt hair.

‘Still chasing that big story, Jack?’

‘Jana?’ said Jack, shielding his eyes from the sun. ‘Well, what a surprise! What have I done wrong this time?’

Jana laughed. ‘You’ve done nothing wrong except not return my calls,’ she said. ‘I’ve left several messages on your answering machine.’

‘Is that a federal offence now?’

‘Seriously, Jack, I want to talk to you about a dead firefighter, a newspaper article, and a photograph.’

‘You’d better come in,’ he said. ‘But I have to warn you, my cleaning lady took the week off ... ’

‘I can see ...’ said Jana, smiling.

The tiny lounge room on the ground floor looked like it hadn’t seen a cleaner for at least a year. A scratched coffee table was covered in empty beer cans, bottles and crushed milk cartons, and the sofa in front of the fireplace was barely visible under layers of old newspapers, magazines and various items of crumpled clothing. A lonely ironing board stood in the middle of the room with a basket full of limp washing nearby. Newspaper cuttings littered the floor.

Women find Jack very attractive and are drawn to him. However, he is a ‘rolling stone’ when it comes to serious relationships and has difficulty making commitments. He therefore drifts from one relationship to another in his charming, easy-going way, but without creating acrimony or offending his temporary partners. So much so, that several of them stay friends long after the relationship has ended. This too, is part of the great charm of the man.

And one more thing ... he has green eyes!

Countess Katerina Kuragin

Countess Katerina Kuragin is another key character who features in several of my books. However, she first appears in a scene in The Disappearance of Anna Popov. First impressions count; they define a character from the very beginning. Here’s an example:

The dining room was lit entirely by candles, making the large room appear intimate and warm. Countess Kuragin knew that the difference between a memorable entrance and a flat one was timing. Wearing a simple black evening dress, but jewellery fit for a tsarina, she swept into the room just as her guests were being seated. No one would have believed that the tall, elegant woman with the youthful face and regal bearing was in her forties.

Once again, a few ‘literary brush stokes’ have delivered a great deal of information about the countess.

Madame Anastasia Petrova

Character development must by no means be restricted to the main characters alone. To do that, or to focus only on the principal ‘players’ would be a big mistake. Often, minor characters who only make a brief appearance can greatly enhance the story and add important elements to the overall structure of the plot.

Madame Anastasia Petrova, an elderly Russian ballerina, is an excellent example. Here’s a brief extract from my novella The Kimberley Secret. Jack and Countess Kuragin visit Madame Petrova in a retirement home:

Anastasia Petrova was already famous in her early teens,’ said the countess as they drove through the ornate wrought iron gates. The exclusive retirement home, a converted chateau, was popular with well-heeled aristocrats and celebrities. ‘She was one of the baby ballerinas of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and later became a film star. She was also one of my mother’s closest friends.’

‘I can’t wait.’

‘You won’t be disappointed.’

‘And we are going to meet her because …?’

‘She lived at the Ritz during the war.’

‘Wow!’

A nurse in a crisp uniform who seemed to know the countess well, welcomed them in the entry foyer and showed them to Madame Petrova’s room on the ground floor. ‘She’s expecting you,’ said the nurse and opened the door to a large room overlooking the manicured grounds.

Madame Petrova sat in a chair facing the open window. Elegantly dressed in a tight-fitting black dress and wearing a priceless string of baroque pearls and a pair of beautiful earrings that whispered ‘Tiffany’, she certainly had presence; even in her nineties. ‘Elegance and style are timeless’, was her motto, and she lived by it. Her snow-white hair was pulled back and tied in a neat bun, exposing a long, swan-like neck. Impeccable make-up accentuated her prominent cheekbones and made her almond-shaped, slightly slanted eyes look large, giving her an exotic, almost feline look.

‘How wonderful of you to come, my dear,’ said Madame Petrova in French, struggling to stand up with the aid of a walking stick she hated.

‘I saw you arrive.’

The countess walked over to her friend and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘I’ve brought someone who wants to meet you,’ she said in English.

‘A young man, how exciting,’ said Madame Petrova, switching to perfect English. ‘Please come a little closer so I can see you.’ She refused to wear glasses ‘in public.’”

‘He’s a writer,’ said the countess, lowering her voice. She knew that would excite her friend even more. She had a soft spot for writers.

Once again, a few ‘literary brush strokes’ make all the difference, and introduce a delightful character full of personality and charm, who adds depth and another dimension to the storyline.

Tristan Te Papatahi

Tristan is another key character in the series. He first appears in The Disappearance of Anna Popov – Book 2 in the series – and we follow him closely after that and watch him ‘grow up’ and develop. This happens gradually as more detail about his extraordinary background and psychic gifts is revealed, and the relationship between him and Jack is explored and developed. Once again, I believe the best way to demonstrate how this is done, is to provide a few short extracts. This one is taken from The Disappearance of Anna Popov and describes the first meeting between Jack and Tristan arranged by Tristan’s mother, Cassandra, at the nursing home where her son had spent several years in a coma.

At the top of the landing Cassandra stopped. ‘Please wait here,’ she said.

Jack looked around: naked light globes dangled from the ceiling, the light fittings a distant memory. Most of the ornate cornices had fallen off long ago and the wallpaper was barely recognisable under the rising damp and grime of neglect. But worst of all was the stench: a nauseating mixture of urine and cleaning fluids.

‘Quick, Jack. In here,’ said Cassandra, opening one of the doors.

There was only one bed inside the large room. The boy lying propped up in the bed – motionless and with his eyes closed – looked like a corpse. It was impossible to tell his age, other than to know he was still a child.

Various tubes and monitoring devices were attached to him and a complicated looking piece of machinery stood next to the bed. Jack guessed that he was on life support. A woman in a nurse’s uniform stood up and left the room. Cassandra closed the door, walked over to the boy and kissed him tenderly on the forehead.

‘Thank you for coming, Jack. I owe you an explanation. We must talk, but there isn’t much time. My escort will arrive shortly and no one must know that we’ve met here. Do you understand?’

Tristan features as a ‘central’ character in the next book, The Hidden Genes of Professor K, as we follow the relationship between Jack and Tristan which turns into a close bond and friendship.

Jack knocked softly on Tristan’s door, unsure if he was still awake. ‘Come in, Jack,’ Tristan called out from inside. Tristan was sitting at his desk, his copy of The Disappearance of Anna Popov open in front of him. ‘I’m mentioned in the acknowledgements,’ Tristan said excitedly.

‘Well deserved. You’ve helped me with the book in more ways than you know,’ said Jack. ‘And you were very brave in allowing everything to go in; even the scary personal bits.’

‘Thanks, Jack. I have something for you too. Here, have a look.’ Tristan switched on his computer and turned the screen towards Jack. ‘Watch.’

‘What on earth is that?’ asked Jack. Five half-naked, heavily tattooed men and a woman – obviously the singer, looking like a bird in a crazy costume – were performing on a huge stage. The music was deafening. ‘Turn it down before the paying guests complain and leave.’ As the camera swung around, a stadium filled with thousands of adoring fans – hands held up high – came into view.

‘You mean you don’t recognise them?’ asked Tristan, shaking his head.

‘I’m afraid this isn’t exactly my …’

‘That’s Isis and The Time Machine, the greatest rock band of our time, and you don’t know …?’

Jack shrugged. ‘I have heard of them, of course …’ he lied. ‘Why are you showing me this?’

‘Because you and Isis are destined to meet. Your fate lines are intersecting,’ said Tristan, turning off the computer. ‘You have to prepare yourself.’ Tristan took the DVD out of the slot and handed it to Jack. ‘Listen to the music and try to understand it before it’s too late,’ he said, turning serious.

‘All right,’ said Jack, slipping the DVD into his pocket. ‘And when will this meeting take place?’ he asked, smiling incredulously.

‘Soon; very soon. You don’t believe me, do you?’

‘It seems a little far-fetched, don’t you think?’

‘It’s not what I think that matters; it’s what I see …’ retorted Tristan, looking at Jack with his large, dark, almond-shaped eyes. The Maori in him is becoming more prominent as he gets older, thought Jack. He’s very good looking. Jack felt something ice-cold move slowly down his spine. Tristan’s words reminded him of Cassandra, Tristan’s Maori mother, a gifted psychic. He’s much better than I, he remembered her saying. He can glimpse eternity. ‘It’s getting late,’ said Jack, trying to shake off the disturbing memories.

‘Be careful, Jack. There’s real danger here,’ warned Tristan. ‘And remember, I can help you when the time comes. I always will.’

‘I know that. Thanks,’ said Jack, giving the boy a hug. ‘Good night, mate. I’ll see you in the morning before I leave.

Isis

In my view, one of the most fascinating characters in the series is Isis, the transvestite rock star who appears in several books. I have taken great care and a lot of time to develop this complex character, as it allows me to introduce difficult and often controversial subjects, and illuminate them from a unique point of view. In addition, I have developed a close relationship between Jack, the principal character in the series, and Isis, which may at first appear implausible and a little contrived. However, as the story unfolds, I believe this is definitely not the case. What I have tried to highlight in this somewhat unusual relationship is the fact that true friendship transcends all, and stands above stereotypes one would expect to find in action-packed thrillers.

Isis does not appear until The Hidden Genes of Professor K, book 3 in the series.

At first, I wasn’t sure how this unusual character would be received by my readers. I needn’t have worried. Isis became very popular from the start, and enthusiastic feedback from my readers made it clear to me that Isis was definitely here to stay and could be safely incorporated into the storylines going forward.

The best way to illustrate how this character was first introduced is by way of examples taken from the text:

This is an encounter between Isis and Sir Charles Huntley, her solicitor, in The Hidden Genes of Professor K shortly after her parents were killed:

Sir Charles turned to his client. ‘What do you think you’re doing, Georgie? Do you want to end up in the back of a police van under arrest? The press would have a ball! You look terrible, by the way.’

‘Thanks, Charles,’ said Isis, relieved to see her friend and confidant.

‘What on earth has happened?’ asked Sir Charles.

‘My father was shot dead in the house and my mother died in hospital less than an hour ago.’

‘Jesus! I’m so sorry! Anything else?’

‘That’s about all I know.’

‘Then, let’s fill in the gaps, shall we?’ Isis nodded. ‘And please let me do the talking – okay?’

‘Okay.’

‘And one more thing, George; you are legally a man – clear?’ said Sir Charles.

‘Yes, yes … we’ve been through this before; it’s tedious.’

‘It may be tedious to you, but people do get a little confused,’ Sir Charles prattled on, trying to distract his obviously distressed client. ‘You may be one of the highest paid rock stars on the planet, but you still have to live in the real world occasionally.’

‘Yes, Charles.’

‘This is one of those occasions; are you with me?’ Isis nodded. ‘Let’s try and stick to the facts – okay? Isis is your stage name. You dress like a woman, you look like a woman, you consider yourself a woman, but you are George, Edward, Elms, a man. You do understand that, don’t you?’

‘I’m a woman trapped in a man’s body, that’s all. I can’t help it if I was born with a dick …’

Sir Charles tried hard not to show his exasperation. ‘Please, Georgie, not now! Do it for me?’

‘Sure.’

‘My God, you do lead a complicated life!’

‘That’s why I have chaps like you – to simplify things for me,’ said Isis.

Another telling encounter that reveals a little more about Isis’s unique character, is the first meeting between her and Jack. The dialogue in particular is significant, as it illustrates the very different personalities, and how they interact with each other. This sets the tone for the many scenes to come and introduces a complex relationship that appears to have entertained my readers from the very beginning:

Superb,’ said Isis, holding up an elaborate, helmet-like headdress made entirely out of multi-coloured feathers.

‘Here, let me help you,’ said her elderly, French dress designer, hovering like a protective crow over his creation. It was a perfect fit. Isis looked at herself in the mirror and nodded. ‘Magnifique!’

Dressed head to toe in a tight-fitting costume inspired by the elaborate ceremonial cloaks and headdresses worn by Aztec priests, Isis looked like a goddess. Following the contours of her athletic body, the feathers and glass beads shimmered like precious stones in the candlelight.

Lola hurried across to Isis and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘He’s here,’ she whispered.

Isis took off her headdress, handed it to her designer fussing next to her and walked slowly towards Jack. She’s much older, thought Jack, watching the tall woman come closer. The woman stopped in front of him, and for what seemed an eternity, just looked at him dreamily.

He’s much younger, thought Isis, holding out her hand, and very good looking. ‘Thank you for coming. Do you like the costume?’ They shook hands.

‘It’s spectacular,’ said Jack, a little taken aback by the unexpected question. ‘Dress rehearsal?’

Isis smiled. ‘Something like that. We are preparing for the highlight of our tour. Spectacular, you say? Good. You are the first one to see my new stage attire.’

‘You like Bach? This is one of his solo cantatas – ‘Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen’ – if I’m not mistaken.’

This guy’s good, thought Isis. ‘This may surprise you, but a lot of my music is based on classical principles,’ she said. ‘I listen to classical music all the time and try to learn from the masters.’

‘It reminds me of Huitzilopochtli.’

‘What does?’

‘Your costume.’

It was Isis’ turn to look surprised. ‘Did you hear that, Jean-Paul?’ said Isis, looking over her shoulder at her dress designer. ‘Right again; that’s exactly what it’s modelled on. The Aztec god of war, sun and human sacrifice. And he was also the patron of Tenochtitlan, the ruins of which are all around us. And you, Mr Rogan are full of surprises.’

She wants to play cat and mouse, thought Jack. All right by me. ‘And so are you,’ he retorted, enjoying himself.

More than you can possibly imagine, thought Isis. ‘Music, art and history all in one breath? I can already see we’ll get on famously,’ said Isis. ‘Come, let’s sit, and I’ll tell you why I’ve invited you to come here.’ Isis looked at Lola and shook her head. ‘But only you,’ she added quietly.

Realising they had been dismissed, Lola, Hanna and the ageing dress designer discreetly left the chamber.

Isis features again prominently in my latest book, The Curious Case of the Missing Head. In one delightful scene, Isis makes a memorable entry in her own spectacular apartment in London to meet Jack. Once again, this encounter is a good illustration of the character and the interaction between her and others in the storyline:

Isis’s spectacular apartment – a cube-like architectural steel-and-glass marvel oozing industrial chic constructed on top of a converted warehouse – was more like an art gallery than the home of a retired billionaire rock star turned philanthropist.

‘Where’s Isis?’ asked Jack, looking around.

‘Right here,’ said a voice from the top of the stairs.

As usual, Isis, the consummate performer, couldn’t resist making an imposing entry, even when close friends were involved. Her full name was George Edward Elms – Lord Elms, since her father’s tragic death in 2011 – but millions of fans around the world knew her as Isis, the legendary, transgender rock star and lead singer of Time Machine. Dressed in an impossibly tight black bodysuit by one of her favourite Paris designers that showed off her hourglass figure and wearing impeccable, if a little too theatrical makeup, Isis came slowly down the stairs. ‘What a wonderful surprise,’ she said, blowing kisses to her friends seated in the lounge below. ‘All of us together again. How wonderful!’

Jack walked over to the stairs and held out his hand. Isis took his arm and, walking side by side, they swept into the room. ‘Do you like my short hair?’ asked Isis, frowning.

‘You look ten years younger,’ said Jack, smiling.

‘Not too radical?’

‘Not at all; just stylish.’

‘That’s what Lola said. Growing old is such a bitch, don’t you think; and staying slim such a bore?’

‘Can’t say I’ve thought too much about it. Champagne?’

‘Absolutely! I’m parched, darling.’

The most effective way to bring a character to life is through dialogue. Clever use of dialogue gives a character a voice readers can recognise and relate to. Habits and idiosyncrasies are other useful tools to ‘flesh out’ a character and give it personality. I use all of these and take great care to structure scenes accordingly, and weave them into the storyline in believable and true-to-life ways.

The Villains

No thrillers worth reading would be complete without dark, exciting villains. As you can imagine, during my long legal career in criminal law I came across some extraordinary characters and gained rare insights into their lives and their minds, which I can now draw upon for inspiration. Therefore, most of my ‘villains’ are anchored in real life and based on actual people I have met over the years.

Take Sir Eric Newman, for instance (The Empress Holds the Key). I recall a war crimes trial early in my career with a similar accused, and certain aspects of this character have therefore been inspired by a real person. The court scenes featured in the book are an accurate reflection of what happens in a court of law, how cross-examination works, and how witnesses and barristers behave under pressure. In a way, all of this forms part of authenticity that is, in my view, critically important in making a story plausible and ‘real’.

For this to work, the characters must be believable and true to life. I therefore like to portray them in context, in their own ‘space’ so to speak, and let the scenes and the dialogue do the heavy lifting in bringing the characters to life in an interesting, believable way. Here’s a brief excerpt from The Empress Holds the Key, when Inspector Jana Gonski first meets Sir Eric at his home:

‘And I am Eric Newman,’ Jana heard someone call out from behind. A tall, lean man with a striking head of white hair – neatly parted in the middle – walked slowly towards her. ‘You are obviously interested in art, Inspector. I noticed your eyes went straight to my friend over here. Right?’ he asked, running his hand playfully over the top of a large stone bust on a pedestal. ‘A little frightening, isn’t he?’ he continued without waiting for an answer. ‘And so he should be. He is a demon after all; the Hebrew demon, Asmodeus.’

‘How fascinating.’

‘Do you know who he is?’

‘No,’ replied Jana, shaking her head.

‘Protector of secrets and minder of hidden treasure.’ Newman motioned casually towards a mahogany sideboard. ‘Please, do sit down. A cool drink perhaps?’

How extraordinary, thought Jana. He’s totally at ease and in complete control. And he’s trying to put me off balance. Within moments, Newman had taken over. As he came closer, Jana noticed that his eyes, behind a pair of small, gold-rimmed glasses, were still clear and ice-blue. Quite remarkable for a man of eighty-seven, she thought. He shook her hand with a grip that was both firm and gentle. His hand was cold and dry and she found his touch unnerving. He spoke perfect English, with only the slightest hint of an accent occasionally betraying his foreign origin. Jana tried to resist his obvious charm. She did not want to be distracted by the easy, polished manner of this urbane man, or to be side-tracked by pleasantries or trivia.

Another good example is the ‘Wizard’ in The Disappearance of Anna Popov. This extraordinary character is in fact loosely based on a frightening, larger-than-life leader of a bikie gang I came across many years ago, who is currently serving a life sentence for murder.

The best way to describe a scary character like that is by meeting him in his own, personal space, to get a ‘feel’ for the milieu of the character through the eyes of others. An example is when Jack and Rebecca Armstrong go to meet the Wizard for the first time at the Wolf’s Lair, an abandoned church used as a clubhouse by the Wizards of Oz, a notorious Australian bikie gang:

Inside, the music was deafening. In the middle of the church where rows of pews had once faced the altar, a group of girls were dancing with each other. Wearing skin-tight leather pants and high-heeled boots – their long black hair streaked with red – they looked like witches waiting for a date with the devil. Some wore glittering dog-collars, others had multiple studs in their ears and noses. One of the girls spun around as Rebecca walked past. Staring at her with unseeing eyes, she leaned forward and stuck out her tongue like a snake searching for its prey.

Standing on a dais in front of the altar, a heavily tattooed transvestite was operating a pair of turntables, cranking out audio-poison. Perched on stools along a bar fashioned out of wooden confessionals, their backs turned indifferently to the dancing girls, a couple of middle-aged bikies were drinking beer. Pungent smoke – unmistakably marijuana – curled slowly around the coloured fingers of light reaching through the stained glass windows from above.

‘Down this way,’ grunted the man who had frisked Jack. He pointed to a narrow set of stairs cut into the stone floor behind the altar.

‘I don’t like this,’ whispered Rebecca, holding onto Jack’s arm.

‘Too late. Come on.’

Lit entirely by candles, the vaulted crypt below the altar was surprisingly cool. Except for a large round wooden table and twelve chairs, the crypt was empty. ‘Look at this,’ said Jack, pointing to a row of pictures hanging on the sandstone wall. ‘Exquisite.’ There were twenty-four pictures in all. ‘Do you know what this is?’ Rebecca shook her head.

‘Come over here, I’ll show you. You start with this one, the Fool, and then you go anticlockwise to the next one, the Magician. Then comes the Priestess, see?’

‘You’re well informed. What is it?’

‘The twenty-four Major Arcana of the restored Tarot ...’

‘Exactly,’ said a deep, gravelly voice from behind. Jack spun around. Slowly, a dark shape separated from one of the pillars, moved a little to one side and floated into a pool of candlelight. The Wizard was much taller than Jack had expected. Lit up from below, his face looked quite different from the police mug shot. The long hair, now streaked with grey, was pulled back and tied into a pony tail, accentuating the slanted eyes and prominent cheekbones. ‘You look like you’ve seen a ghost, Mr Rogan,’ said the Wizard, his voice echoing through the chamber. ‘Perhaps you have.’ He began to laugh. ‘You obviously know a bit about the Tarot. That’s a good start. Welcome to Wolf’s Lair. This is our round table where everyone is equal, but lies and deception are costly ...’

The candlelight lent the Wizard’s features a sinister sheen, as he pointed to the oak table. ‘I’m curious, Mr Rogan’, continued the Wizard. ‘Why would a famous writer like you want to meet someone like me? Please, sit down.’ The Wizard gestured towards the table. ‘You can have the Alchemist’s chair, right here, and your friend ...’ he nodded, acknowledging Rebecca for the first time, ‘can have Cassandra’s, over there. Cassandra’s the only female on our council.’ Looking wistfully at Rebecca, he asked, ‘Can you see into the future? I think not’, he continued. ‘Cassandra can, she has the gift ...’ The Wizard sat down opposite them and rested his huge fists on the table. Unbuttoned to the waist, his black leather vest barely covered his hairy chest. The broad shoulders and bulging biceps were the result of years of pumping iron in jail. Even in middle age, the Wizard radiated brute strength. He looked like a man who could easily crush a human skull with his bare hands.

Another chilling, but quite different villain, is Hamish Macbeth in The Hidden Genes of Professor K., Book 3 in the series. This is an excerpt from the scene where Dr Alexandra Delacroix meets Hamish Macbeth on his yacht:

It was well past midnight when Carlotta opened the door to Macbeth’s stateroom. ‘Dr Delacroix,’ she announced, letting Alexandra walk into the cabin in front of her.

‘Please leave us, Carlotta, and close the door,’ said Macbeth, looking at Alexandra standing in front of him. ‘You are much younger than I imagined,’ he said. ‘Your career and your reputation suggest someone older. Please take a seat.’

Alexandra tried to see the face of the man addressing her, but his wheelchair was in the shadows, the lamp on his desk the only source of light in the room. She had the impression that this was quite deliberate. Alexandra sat down in the chair facing the desk and crossed her legs.

She’s very composed, thought Macbeth, admiring the young woman’s self-control, and quite attractive. Brains and beauty. For a while, Macbeth let the silence speak, the soft throb of the ship’s powerful engines the only sound. ‘I’m Alistair Macbeth,’ said the man in the wheelchair after a while, ‘chairman of Blackburn Pharmaceuticals, I’m sure you’ve heard of us. And in case you were wondering, you are on Calypso, the company’s research vessel.’

Alexandra looked up, surprised. So, that’s the connection, she thought. There wasn’t a research scientist alive who hadn’t heard of Blackburn Pharmaceuticals. The whole industry was in awe of Alistair Macbeth, its charismatic founder and man at the helm of the international juggernaut.

All of my villains are very different. Because each of the books in the Jack Rogan Mysteries series ‘stands alone’ and can be read as such, each story is self-contained; the villains do not ‘carry over.’ Other characters like Jack Rogan, of course, and Countess Kuragin, Dr Alexandra Delacroix and Tristan, for example, feature in several of my books. They are links between the stories that make the series interesting, without presenting the books strictly as ‘sequels’. That said, readers who are familiar with all my books in the series and have read them in order, will of course get a little more out of each book because there are of necessity certain links and nuances that will only become apparent if the reader is au fait with the earlier stories. However, I hasten to add that this is definitely not essential for the understanding and enjoyment of each of the books, regardless of the order in which they are read.

In book 4 of the series – Professor K: The Final Quest – there are several colourful villains in the storyline. The deadly ‘spider’ in the middle of the net is Salvatore Gambio, a notorious Mafioso operating in Florence. Once again, I reveal this chilling character gradually, and the full extent of his evil, ruthless nature only becomes apparent through the way he operates and how he manipulates others to do his deadly bidding. Here’s an example:

Gambio’s affable manner was deceptive. He liked to appear casual, easy-going and friendly. This was quite intentional and designed to put everyone at ease and make them lower their guard. But his eyes never smiled. They observed, radiating ruthlessness, cunning and danger. Especially danger.

‘You are looking swell, buddy,’ said Gambio, patting Bahadir on the back, the familiar, rasping voice of his former boss bringing a smile to Bahadir’s face. While they had stayed in contact and done business together since leaving the US three years before, they hadn’t met in person. This was by no means unusual, as Gambio preferred to do business that way. He was paranoid about security.

‘It’s been what, three years?’ he said. ‘Let’s go into my study and watch the show.’ Shortish, a little overweight, especially around the waist and thighs, with thinning black hair brushed straight back and a pencil-thin moustache that gave his pudgy face an almost comical appearance, he looked more like an Italian greengrocer than the head of one of the most feared Mafia families in Tuscany.

Gambio is a master manipulator, who knows how to surround himself with people he can dominate by manoeuvring them into positions where they have nowhere else to go, and will do everything he asks. He does this with great skill by exposing their weaknesses and secret fears, ambitions and desires, and using this insight to bend them to his will. Luigi Belmonte is such a personality:

Luigi Belmonte made sure he looked like all the other tourists enjoying the sunshine. Casually dressed in a pair of jeans, polo shirt and a linen jacket and wearing a straw hat and dark glasses, he certainly blended in well. But his appearance was deceptive. In his forties, shortish with a barrel chest and broad shoulders, he radiated strength and moved with surprising agility for a man with such a powerful physique. Belmonte looked at his watch, reached for his Campari and smiled. The location, a busy restaurant opposite the Palazzo Vecchio in the heart of Florence, was perfect – and so was the time.

This brings me to my current book, The Curious Case of the Missing Head – Book 5 in the series. There are several particularly interesting characters in the storyline, and I spent a lot of time delving into the chilling character of Professor Fabry, a gifted surgeon with a murky past. Once again, I reveal this character step by step, to create curiosity, and show the different, fascinating aspects of this complex man. One of the most effective ways to do this, is to present the character through the eyes of someone else, preferably someone who is meeting this character for the first time.

Here’s an example: Tristan is meeting Professor Fabry for the first time in Malta:

Tristan nodded and stepped forward to shake Fabry’s hand. As he looked briefly into Fabry’s eyes, a strange feeling came over him, like he was looking into a murky, bottomless pool full of dark promises, drawing him in. A well of accusing souls, thought Tristan, recognising the unsettling feeling he had experienced before, usually in situations of acute danger. The feeling became stronger as he touched Fabry’s cold hand. This man has killed, many times. We have to be careful! On this occasion, Tristan, who could hear the whisper of angels and glimpse eternity, glimpsed only misery and horrible death.

Another colourful villain is Hernando Cordoba, a ruthless drug baron and head of the notorious H Cartel in Bogota. I decided to portray this character in a different way by presenting him in his environment. Because this environment – a fortress like compound in Bogota – is quite unique, it tells a great deal about the man and his character.

Rodrigo looked at his client, who was staring out of one of the bulletproof windows. Ignoring the armed guards patrolling the grounds and the tall razor-wire fences behind the exotic, manicured gardens surrounding the compound, it was a beautiful, peaceful view down to Bogota, covered in morning mist. Protected by thick concrete walls, state-of-the-art security systems and massive steel gates, most of the large fortified building was underground. The Cordoba compound on the outskirts of Bogota was more like a fortress than a villa. In Colombia this wasn’t unusual, but to be expected of the headquarters of the notorious H Cartel, one of the most powerful and ruthless cartels in the country.

Named after Huitzilopochtli, the bloody Aztec god of war, sun and human sacrifice, the Cartel had the Xiuhcoatl, the fire serpent that the god wielded as a weapon, as its emblem. With influence, money and power came powerful enemies. As head of the H Cartel, Hernando Cordoba was still alive only because he understood that very well.

Cordoba rarely left the compound and conducted most of his business from his ‘observation room’ as he liked to call it, overlooking his beloved garden and the city in the distance below. When he did leave – usually to inspect secret drug manufacturing sites hidden deep in the jungle – he did so by helicopter, which was more like a gunship than a civilian aircraft. Sourced from the Venezuelan Air Force and modified to suit his needs, it was equipped with the latest weapons systems, which gave it awesome firepower. Cordoba lived in a constant state of war and he liked it that way. It kept him sharp and alert, and a step or two ahead of his enemies and competitors.

‘We are cutting it fine,’ said Cordoba, turning to face his lawyer sitting at a desk behind him. ‘If the execution goes to plan, the boy will be dead in less than forty-five minutes.’

The Good Guys

Each book in the series is carefully structured as far as the characters are concerned. Of course, Jack Rogan features in all of them. However, there are other main characters in the series such as Countess Kuragin, Tristan, Jana Gonski and Dr Delacroix, for example, who feature in several books and are ‘woven’ into the storyline to provide a loose ‘link’ between the books.

Connecting with my readers is a very important way of finding out how various characters resonate with them. In fact, I have often been asked if a particular, obviously popular character, would return and feature in future books. This has been the case with Jana Gonski, Dr Rosen, and Inspector Haddad. Jana returned in The Hidden Genes of Professor K, and Inspector Haddad and Dr Rosen feature quite prominently in Professor K: The Final Quest.

Then we have Lorenza da Baggio, a new character and one of the main personalities in Professor K: The Final Quest. We meet her for the first time in Florence. This character is inextricably intertwined with a location, and we see her through the lens of that place and through the eyes of other characters, creating mystery and anticipation:

Lorenza da Baggio listened to the bells and was counting the hours. Time passes slowly when you are desperately trying to sleep, but can’t. Her amazing victory the day before that had made her a finalist in Top Chef Europe was keeping her awake. Watched by millions, Top Chef Europe was Europe’s most prestigious cooking competition. At twenty, Lorenza was not only the youngest competitor, but her cooking skills had stunned the judges and she had quickly become the darling of the program.

Instead of feeling elated, her unexpected victory against Kemal Bahadir from Istanbul, one of Europe’s most celebrated chefs, filled her with dread. It wasn’t winning that bothered her, but what had come later. When a smiling Bahadir embraced her after the judges had pronounced her the winner, he had whispered something in her ear she couldn’t get out of her mind. What did he mean when he said ‘you will regret this; you are not as good as you may think?’ she asked herself over and over. Perhaps I misunderstood?

Covered in sweat, Lorenza opened her eyes and stared at the open balcony door as the first light of the new day crept hesitantly across the marble floor and began to banish the darkness. Feeling better, she got up, stepped out onto the terrace on the first floor of Villa Laurentius and looked down into Florence shrouded in morning mist. The familiar sight of Santa Maria del Fiore – the Duomo, with Brunelleschi’s spectacular dome – seemed to calm her, bringing back memories of school holidays and lazy shopping afternoons with her grandmother. A smile creased the corners of her mouth as memories of her late mother flooded back with alarming clarity.

Lorenza realised that she had to prepare herself for the biggest challenge of her life: the grand finale in the evening. Now that her dream was within reach, nothing else mattered; she knew that any distraction could be disastrous. With that, she dismissed the disturbing thoughts, closed her eyes, turned her face towards the rising sun and dreamed of victory.

What makes a thriller a page-turner, impossible to put down? Nail-biting action, suspense, exotic locations and a well-constructed storyline with unexpected twists, turns and surprises undoubtedly play an important part. However, most critical of all are the characters. They bring the story to life and engage the reader.

In a way, therefore, it’s all about characters. Characters draw readers into the story. They turn readers from curious bystanders, into attentive participants who become emotionally involved, and ultimately view the characters as ‘real’ people. Cesaria Borroni and Chief Prosecutor Grimaldi in Professor K: The Final Quest are good examples:

Cesaria Borroni, her face flushed with excitement, hurried towards the restaurant. News about the shooting had spread like a sex scandal through police headquarters, abuzz with speculation. But that wasn’t the reason for her excitement. It was the phone call from the commissioner that had left her speechless – and a little scared. It wasn’t often the commissioner called a junior officer and gave instructions for a sensitive assignment of great urgency and importance.

Cesaria found the chief prosecutor bent over the bloody corpse of the bodyguard in front of the men’s toilet. He was examining the gunshot wounds with one of the men from Forensics.

Cesaria waited for Grimaldi to finish. As soon as he stood up, she walked over to him. ‘The commissioner asked me to report to you, sir,’ she said.

Grimaldi looked at her, surprised. He had expected someone older, not a strikingly attractive young woman in her twenties. Grimaldi knew the commissioner well. She had to be something special, otherwise he wouldn’t have sent her. ‘Come with me,’ said Grimaldi, and quickly walked through the open side door out into the lane behind the restaurant. He lit a small cigar and looked at the young woman standing demurely by the door, watching him. ‘Tell me about yourself,’ he said. ‘There isn’t much time.’

‘What would you like to know, sir?’ asked Cesaria, surprised. It wasn’t the question she had expected from the man with such a fierce reputation.

As a survivor of two assassination attempts, Grimaldi was a legend. He was known as a demanding taskmaster, a perfectionist and relentless workaholic. Fearless, and almost fanatical in the pursuit of truth and justice, he left no stone unturned in tracking down the culprits and sending them to trial. ‘How long have you been in the police force?’ he asked.

‘Two years.’

‘Education?’

‘Apart from my training?’

‘Yes.’

‘I have a law degree.’

‘Good.’ That explains the intelligence radiating from the girl, thought Grimaldi, enjoying the tobacco rush, and why he sent her. Like the commissioner, Grimaldi knew that integrity and dedication to the job were far more likely to be found in the young, before temptation, intimidation and disillusionment could do their dirty work. And what he had in mind required both: unconditional trust and dedication – plenty of it. And besides, a woman’s touch could in fact be quite useful, he thought. ‘I would like you to do something for me,’ he said. ‘Something urgent and very important.’

‘Yes?’

‘I want you to persuade a man to do something he has vowed never to do again.’

Cesaria looked at Grimaldi, surprised. ‘Oh?’

Grimaldi held up his hand. ‘I’ll explain later,’ he said. ‘You will have to drop everything and travel, straight away. Would that be a problem?’

‘No. Travel where?’

‘Palermo.’

‘When?’

‘Tonight.’

Another good illustration of character development is the meeting between Cesaria and Fabio Conti, a pivotal character in Professor K: The Final Quest:

Cesaria walked over to the bar at the far end of the dimly lit room. ‘I am looking for Fabio Conti,’ she said, addressing the barman.

The old man looked at her with undisguised curiosity. ‘Who?’ he asked, cupping his ear with his hand.

‘Fabio Conti,’ shouted Cesaria, trying to make herself heard. Suddenly, the room went silent, all eyes on Cesaria standing at the bar. ‘Fabio Conti?’ repeated the barman. Cesaria nodded.

‘Come,’ he said. Cesaria followed the barman into another crowded, smoke-filled room behind the bar. The barman pointed to a man sitting on a wooden stool in the corner. The man was leaning against a barrel – eyes closed, his mouth wide open – obviously asleep. His crumpled, red wine-stained shirt was unbuttoned to the waist and a cigarette between his fingers had turned into a column of ash.

Good God, thought Cesaria, assessing the situation. The man in front of her in no way resembled the man described by Chief Prosecutor Grimaldi as a hero and one of the most fearless Mafia hunters in the country. Cesaria turned to the barman standing next to her. ‘Do you know where he lives?’ she asked.

‘Right here, upstairs,’ replied the barman and pointed to the ceiling.

‘Could you please make us some coffee, and could someone help me take him to his room?’

‘Sure,’ said the barman, impressed. ‘I’ll help you. I do this almost every night. Pasquale, give me a hand!’ he shouted. A young man came out of the kitchen and helped the barman take Conti upstairs.

Smelling of vomit and stale cigarette smoke, the tiny room above the bar was a total mess. The wooden floor was littered with crumpled clothes, empty bottles and newspapers. An unmade bed with dirty sheets and a torn blanket, an open wardrobe full of empty coat hangers – some of them broken – and a small table and chair were the only furniture in the room. A cracked washbasin with a cracked mirror above it, the tap dripping, was filled with underwear waiting in vain to be washed.

‘He wasn’t always like this,’ said the barman, and lifted Conti onto the bed. ‘Relative of yours?’

Cesaria shook her head.

‘I’ll send up some coffee.’

As soon as she was alone with Conti, Cesaria opened the window, picked up a towel from the floor and held it under the tap.

What could make a man sink this low? she asked herself and began to wipe Conti’s flushed face with the wet towel and a tenderness that surprised her. Well-built, in his late forties with a shock of unkempt black hair badly in need of a haircut and a face that may have seen a little too much of the dark side of life, Conti was, even in this sorry state, an impressive man. Cesaria put the towel aside and began to massage Conti’s temples.

After a while Conti began to groan as Cesaria’s strong, practised fingers began to penetrate the stubborn alcohol fog numbing his brain. Conti opened his eyes and stared straight-ahead, his gaze blank. Then slowly, as his bloodshot eyes began to focus, Cesaria’s face swam into view. ‘Who are you?’ he whispered, his speech slurred.

‘I’m Cesaria Borroni from Florence … police,’ replied Cesaria without interrupting the massage.

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Chief Prosecutor Grimaldi sent me.’

Conti sat up with a jolt and looked at Cesaria sitting on the edge of the bed next to him. ‘Why?’

‘To remind you of something ...’

‘He sent you all this way to remind me of something? Remind me of what?’ demanded Conti.

‘A date.’

‘I don’t understand,’ said Conti, looking confused. ‘What date?’

‘The seventh of January 2014,’ said Cesaria quietly.”

Mystery and suspense are very effective ways to arouse curiosity, and curiosity, by definition, is the desire to find out more. In short, curiosity makes the reader turn the pages. Another effective way to ignite curiosity is through unusual, fascinating characters whom my readers are unlikely to meet in real life. Cardinal O’Brien – another important, charismatic personality in Professor K: The Final Quest – is an excellent example:

Alexandra stood up as soon as the cardinal and the CEO entered the room. The CEO made the introductions and withdrew. Alexandra pointed to a chair, but the cardinal waited for her to sit down first before taking a seat.

‘Firstly, allow me to congratulate you, Professor Delacroix. The Nobel Prize, what a wonderful achievement,’ said the cardinal, ‘and a great credit to the institute.’

‘Thank you, Eminence.’ He’s much younger ... thought Alexandra, watching the cardinal with interest. She had expected someone much older. Tall, athletic, in his late fifties with greying hair around the temples and a tanned, youthful face that had seen a little too much sun, he looked more like a former tennis star keeping in shape than a prince of the Church. However, his most striking feature by far was his eyes: penetrating, ice-blue, and smiling. Classic Celtic looks, thought Alexandra, impressed.

Dressed in a simple black suit and shiny black shoes, the white dog collar and pectoral cross the only clues hinting at his high office, he looked totally at ease sitting in his chair with his long legs crossed, and filled the room with his presence. A balanced blend of modesty, authority and charisma, impossible to ignore.

What an impressive man, thought Alexandra, feeling completely relaxed.

‘You must be wondering what this is all about,’ began the cardinal, leaning back in his chair.

Alexandra smiled, but didn’t reply.

‘I am not exaggerating,’ said the cardinal, speaking quite softly, ‘when I tell you that I am here on one of the most important missions of my ecclesiastical career.’ The cardinal, a skilled negotiator, paused to let this sink in.

‘That’s quite a statement, Eminence,’ said Alexandra, her curiosity aroused even further. ‘And what may that be?’

‘To persuade you to help save a life.’

I hope you’ve found this little insight into the creative process that shapes my characters interesting and informative. I view all my characters as ‘real’ personalities, anchored in real life. After all, what links us to people we’ve actually known in the past? Memory, of course. A well-written book can create such memories, and if I’ve done my job as a writer properly, you too will view my characters in that way. Happy reading!

Gabriel Farago

Leura, Blue Mountains; Australia.

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