Writing a crime novel - how I develop my characters

I am often asked what comes first, plot or character. For me it is the
formation of the characters.  Before that though I will have an idea for
the crime novel, which can spring from a location where a body is found
(as is usual in the Andy Horton Marine Mysteries), an incident that
occurs which can change someone's life, (this often features in the Art
Marvik marine based crime novels and I've also used it in my thriller,
In For The Kill), or an overheard conversation (which I've used in my
crime novel In Cold Daylight.)



Once
I have an idea for a victim or a main protagonist, I begin to create
them and the other characters that will surround them.  In order to
develop my characters I use a system of spider grams (or mind maps as
they are sometimes called). I draw a circle and put each character in
the centre of that circle and then throw out lines and ask a series of 
‘open’ questions. By answering these questions the character/s begin to
form.



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