I like Sherlock Holmes, Hercule Poirot, Jack Reacher—and most of all, James Bond. Writing my own stories has made me think more deeply about why I’m drawn to these characters. Every year, millions of crime thriller stories are published, featuring millions of new characters and plotlines. So why, to me, is James Bond the most compelling of them all?
The answer might lie in the details that surround Bond’s life. In Ian Fleming’s first novel, Casino Royale, Bond doesn’t do much besides playing cards. The story isn’t only about that, but the central plot revolves around a high-stakes card game called Baccarat. I had never played it and didn’t know the rules before reading the book—yet I enjoyed every page.
Trying to understand why, I realized it was precisely because I didn’t know the game that I found it so enjoyable to read about. Fleming introduced it with such clarity and detail that I understood it bit by bit. Casino Royale became a doorway into a new world for me.
The same applies to the details of Bond’s eating, drinking, and lifestyle habits. He knows how to properly smoke a cigar, which tailored suit to wear, which shoes to choose, and what fish swim in the waters around Jamaica. Every Bond story feels like a journey to places I’ve never been and experiences I’ve never had.
The details of his work and hobbies set him apart. Nothing about Bond is generic. There are small details that everything he does and is interesting. What he eats, how he drinks, the gimmicks provided by Q, the relationship with M, his license to kill, and the back and forth between him and Moneypenny.
This is the essence of a strong character: he knows his craft inside and out – at work, in his apre time, and in his relationships. Bond is a master of his world, living the kind of life readers dream about. And that mastery is best conveyed through specific, unique details—like superiors with one-letter names, an elite double-O license to kill, or an expert’s knowledge of playing Baccarat.
With Bond, we get the thrilling life of a spy. But the same principle applies to less glamorous professions. A carpenter’s life can be just as engaging—if it’s described as vividly and authentically as Bond’s world. In fact, if done well, a character can be fascinating no matter how unusual their job or hobby might be. Imagine an undertaker as your protagonist, or someone working on an oil rig, a ghostwriter, or even an ostrich breeder. As long as you can describe their world deeply, your character will captivate readers—even if those readers know nothing about undertaking, oil rigs, or ostrich farming.
The same goes for hobbies. Why does Sherlock Holmes play the violin?
Because it gives him depth. It opens a window into his mind and adds dimension to his personality. With a few well-placed details, even something like playing the violin becomes a unique experience for the reader—one most people will never have firsthand.
To Conlcude: If you want to design a great character, design a detailed world around him and his habits. If you can do that, you can even make a familiar story feel fresh and exciting. Ian Fleming’s Bond is the best example for it.