The Foundations of Fiction: Character Development Profile – DI Richard Poole, “Death in Paradise”
As writers, part of our mandate is to develop strong, multidimensional characters. Studying traits of other characters can provide inspiration and ideas in the development of our own creations.
Today, we’re shining a light on Richard Poole of “Death in Paradise.”
Name: Richard Poole
Occupation: Detective Inspector on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie. Formerly Detective Inspector with the Metropolitan Police Service, London.
Hometown: London
Marital Status: Single
Allies: Detective Sergeant Camille Bordey, Officer Dwayne Meyers, Sergeant Fidel Best.
Enemies/Antagonists: Saint Marie, Commissioner Selwyn Patterson (though he is occasionally an ally.) DI Doug Anderson.
Appearance: Average height and build with close-cropped brown hair. Wears suits and loafers despite the unrelenting heat of Saint Marie, a nod to his British roots and absolute refusal to adapt to the island. Occasionally removes his jacket while in the office or at the end of the work day. Carries a briefcase everywhere and constantly dabs at his forehead with a handkerchief to mop the sweat from his brow.
Accent: British
Drink of Choice: A cup of tea or a pint of beer.
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Quotable Quotes:
Camille: (Referring to a rock concert) “You’re going to miss the show.”
Poole: “Yeah, wouldn’t that be terrible.”
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(Poole and a fellow Brit grumble about St. Marie’s heat.)
Camille: “Excuse me. We’ve got a case to discuss. Remember?
Poole: “. . . It’s good manners to exchange a few pleasantries first.” (Looks at his fellow countryman and whispers) Camille’s French.”
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Commissioner Patterson: (Explaining the island’s history to a newly arrived Poole.) “About 30 percent of the island is still French.”
Poole: “French. Great. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse.”
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Overview: The proverbial fish-out-of-water, stuffy Englishman, Richard Poole, is dispatched to the island of St. Marie to investigate the murder of DI Charlie Hulme. Poole hates the sun, the sand, the sea – pretty much everything about the Caribbean. He determines he will quickly solve the crime so he can get home to London. Poole’s dismayed when, upon solving the murder, he’s indefinitely assigned as Detective Inspector for the local police force.
Strengths: Poole is a brilliant and persistent investigator, shown to be exceedingly logical and thorough in his approach to solving crimes, questioning everything and leaving no stone unturned. He’s a strong leader who commands the respect of his team, even if they sometimes think he’s ridiculous. He applies his vast knowledge of science (among other subjects and interests) to investigations, helping him to solve even the thorniest of murders.
He has a dry/deadpan sense of humor, which often comes across as tactless/careless (quite typical of Brits). Though he is at times insensitive to the impact his barbs have on people, Poole cares about his team, as evidenced by his encouraging Fidel to study for the sergeant’s exam, or awkwardly attempting to console Camille after her best friend is murdered.
He enjoys reading and develops a begrudging soft spot for the lizard that inhabits his shack, eventually naming him, Harry. Poole even volunteers to babysit Fidel’s newborn so he and his wife can have a long overdue date night. He’s a devotee of “Antiques Roadshow,” becoming giddy when he’s able to briefly get his ancient, antenna-dependent television to transmit an episode (mostly, he’s ecstatic over the fleeting glimpse of the show’s host, Fiona Bruce.)
Vulnerabilities/Tics/Quirks/Flaws: As Camille notes, Poole is annoying, childish, and pedantic. His constant digs at St. Marie, coupled with his persistent refusal to adapt in any way, shape, or form to island life make him a first-class curmudgeon (okay, jerk). He takes earplugs and a book to concerts and parties so he won’t have to talk to anyone. He always wears a suit and tie, his shirt buttoned up to his neck, a liability in St. Marie’s oppressive heat.
He insults Catherine’s (Camille’s mother) cooking (the lone exception being when she makes him a proper English dinner of pot roast, peas and mashed potatoes), throws a tantrum when Catherine whips up a special birthday cocktail for him, refusing to even drink it. He’s constantly on the hunt for the perfect cuppa (tea) and frequently reminisces about being back home in London at his favorite pub, in front of the fireplace, with a pint, as he hates that he’s been banished to St. Marie.
Takeaways:
- Poole is an exceptional investigator, applying sound logic and a systematic approach to solving murders.
- He’s also rude and uptight, the epitome of a grumpy old man (though he’s likely in his forties).
- Though he’s far from cuddly, Poole is an interesting character to watch, if nothing else to see what his current outrage is, or to watch him solve crimes.
Hints for Character Development: On the surface, Poole is flat-out unlikable. The crankiness, insults and loner tendencies, all add up to someone you wouldn’t want to waste your time on. However, his acid-tongued quips can be funny, he’s supportive, kind at times, and an able leader, all of which are admirable qualities.
It’s okay to have an unlikable character. Newer writers are sometimes hesitant to do this, afraid of turning off readers. However, by giving a loathsome character some positive traits and making them relatable in some way, it takes the edge off. Like Poole, lots of people dislike tropical temperatures and are more comfortable reading than partying but can be caring or supportive when it counts. This is part of what makes Poole a “real” person.
Do you have a mean or cantankerous character in your manuscript? What positive attributes do they possess that you can amplify? If they don’t have any, what are some charming characteristics you can give them to disarm some of their crabbiness?
