Don't assume you know their intentions.

In the first half of Shalimar the Clown, Salman Rushdie, does an excellent job of introducing the characters’ personalities and behaviors while postponing the uncovering of the meticulous details that explain why the characters are who they are. For example, Shalimar the clown, a Muslim from Kashmir, used to enjoy a life of indulgence, opportunity and love before he lost his young wife and home. The rage that developed from the loss of his spouse and the immense terrorist attack on his homeland; the burning of Kashmir was a unifying Muslim experience, these events drove Shalimar into embracing the radical side of Islam. The story opens with Max Ophlus being murdered in broad daylight by Shalimar the Clown, his driver. Unaware to the audience, the suffering Shalimar experienced forced him to believe he had legitimate justification for his act of murdering and becoming a holy warrior. Having a complete understanding of the behaviors of the characters from the beginning of a novel obviously makes it a lot easier to understand the plot and character development, but Rushdie succeeded in only incorporating limited characteristics without making the story vague, it made for a suspenseful read.