Today I’m delighted to do something a little fun and different. Instead of interviewing an author, I have the immense pleasure of introuding you to some of my favorite novel characters. They aren’t my characters, but I sure wish they were. Drew and Madeline make Julianna Deering’s Drew Farthering series such fun! I love a good mystery. I love a good historical. And I love a good romance. In this series you have all three with a set of books taking place in 1930s England. It’s like reading a classic noir film. Read to the end, because I’m giving away a copy of the latest mystery these two caper through. Without further ado, here are Drew and Madeline.
Drew and Madeline, You remind me of Nick and Nora of Thin Man fame. Do you find your inspiration to solve mysteries from them or from somewhere else?
Drew: Well, I certainly enjoyed The Thin Man, book and film. Who could resist a feisty and deuced attractive girl like Nora Charles? Needless to say, when I met my Madeline and realized she was as keen on mysteries as I am, I had to snap her up.
Madeline: I think we’ve had a lot of influence from Agatha Christie as well as Margery Allingham and Dorothy L. Sayers, too. We both love reading mysteries and trying to solve the crimes in the books. I suppose it just naturally spilled over into our real lives.
I love reading a good mystery, too, but I’ve never applied the principles in real life — I’m glad to say! This is your third book, but can you explain how a British Lord and an American girl connected?
Madeline:Â *giggles*
Drew: Well, to begin with, I am not a lord. I am merely a commoner, though I do lead a rather privileged life. Anyway, Madeline and I met because her uncle, Mason Parker, happened to be my stepfather. When she came to visit him, I knew almost at once that she was the girl for me. It took her quite a while longer to realize it.
Madeline: That’s not true. I knew it right off the bat, I just wasn’t sure if I was really in love or just infatuated. *squeezes his hand* I’m sure now.
I’ve loved watching your romance develop. Now, tell me, what do you like most about solving mysteries?
Drew:Â For me, anytime I can outwit the villain, it’s like solving a puzzle and winning a game at the same time. And I truly feel it’s something I’m meant to do, helping people in trouble. And, when you have a murder, there’s always someone in trouble.
Madeline:Â All of what he said, plus together we’re a lot more likely to figure something out than each of us would be separately. We make a great team.
You manage to just stay out of trouble with the local investigator. I’d say he’s even warming to your help. How did you manage that feat?
Drew: I think we’re just a diversion from his usual routine. Plus he gets to make impressive speeches about letting the professionals handle things.
Madeline: Don’t be silly. You know he likes you. You make him laugh . . . inside anyway. Besides, we do give him some good ideas sometimes.
I think he’s come to at least grudgingly accept your help. 🙂 What do you like most about each other?
Madeline: I like that, even though he’s rich and smart and stylish, he’s not stuck up, and he really wants to help people in trouble. And I like that he’s very well read and has a sense of humor, too. Plus he’s awfully handsome.
Drew:Â Ahem. I don’t think anyone cares about that last bit. Anyway, what I like about her is that she’s entirely feminine and doesn’t want to make herself over into a man like so many of these modern girls seem to, but she’s plucky and adventurous and I know I can count on her when we’re in trouble. I suppose I ought not mention those gorgeous periwinkle-blue eyes.
What are  your future plans? Can you share them with us?
Drew:Â Well, it’s not common knowledge quite yet, but a little bird tells us we will have a few more adventures coming up. I suspect the Regency house party we’ve been invited to won’t be quite what it seems.
Madeline:Â I thought we were going to visit your old school friend who lives in that creepy house on the Yorkshire moors. Is it really haunted?
Drew:Â I guess we’ll find out.
I’m so glad to hear there will be more adventures! Now for you readers who might like to give these delightful characters a spin, I’ve got a copy of Murder at the Mikado to giveaway. Just follow the form below.
Comments 33
It is hard to choose my favorite fictional characters. It usually depends what I am reading at the time. I love the Baxter family in Karen Kingsbury’s books and also the O’Malley family from Dee Henderson’s books.
Author
Those are some great characters. I love rereading the O’Malley books because of the relationships between the characters.
Thank you so much for letting Drew and Madeline visit, Cara!
I can’t wait to see who wins the giveaway. 😀
Atticus Finch. A man who has integrity and principles.
Author
That is a great, classic character!
Fun post! My favorite fictional character is Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. Thanks for the giveaway, too!
Author
She is a great character. Amazing to think of her longevity as a favorite.
Father Tim of Jan Karon’s books is always a pleasure to spend time with. The advantage of a long series is you get to know the characters so well.
Author
That is what I loved about that series. Coming back to the characters again and again.
There is no way I can choose a favorite from all the fictional characters in the many, many books I’ve read. However, I read Rules of Murder and liked Drew, Madeline, and Nick. I also really like Jen Turano’s characters.
Author
I love the characters Julianna created for this series! Such fun. And Jen Turano’s characters are just plain fun!
Adelle & Vladimar in The Butterfly and the Violin
Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I have absolutely loved the first 2 in this series. Really enjoyed the interviewing of the hero and heroine. Would love to have the next book in this series. Keep it up, Cara Putnam.
Author
Wasn’t it fun to learn more about the characters? 🙂
I hardly know how to choose a favorite fictional character! There are so many that I love dearly. The Pevensies are certainly near the top of the list, Jane Eyre, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Tilney… oh and Janner, Kalmar, and Leeli Wingfeather!
LOVE the Drew Farthering mysteries! I can’t wait to read Murder at the Mikado! 🙂 Loved reading this fun interview with Drew and Madeline!
After reading this interview, I am tempted to say Drew and Madeline. What a charming couple! There’s always Scarlett and Rhett–pretty hard to beat. Recently, I enjoyed Mariah Malone and Slade Donovan in Pam Hillman’s novel, Claiming Mariah. Thanks for offering a copy of Murder at Mikado.
What a lovely interview! Feels very Agatha Christiesque 🙂
As for my favourite fictional characters, I love Miss Marple (no wonder), brother Cadfael (from Ellis Peters´ medieval mystery series) and Sherlock Holmes, of course.
Author
Love Miss Marple and Sherlock Homes, too. So many great ones out there.
Oh, dear, do you know how many thousands of books I have read? To pick just one would be impossible, so I am going with a character that is not human…Jim Qwilleran’s Koko.
When you’ve read hundreds of books, it’s super hard to pick favorite characters. About as hard as it is to pick favorite books… 😉 Since Pride & Prejudice is probably my favorite book, I think I’ll go with Elizabeth Bennet & Fitzwilliam Darcy as favorite characters. Though it mostly depends on what I’m reading at the time. I’m really enjoying the Christiansen family (and friends) from Susan May Warren’s series as well as the McKenna family (and friends) from Dani Pettrey’s Alaskan Courage series. 🙂
Author
I know…it’s really not a fair question, is it? 🙂
I have always loved the Scarlet Pimpernel, and his foe Chauvelin is so evil and intelligent I almost like him too . . . Sir Percy Blakeney is a bit of a fop, though.
Author
LOL! Have you read any of the Secret of the Pink Carnation books? They’re kind of a spin off of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Really enjoy those.
I just finished “Rules of Murder”! It was recommended by the person in charge of our church library. She had read it and thought it might be something I’d like. Though I am generally not a murder mystery fan, this truly has a lot going on besides solving a crime. The story flows smoothly, the characters well developed and I was kept guessing until the end!!
Author
I really love the characters in this series. Such fun — and love the 1930s and a British hero and solving a crime…
Favorite fictional characters: Aibileen in “The Help”, Benni Harper and Gabe Ortiz in the Benni Harper Mysteries, Father Tim and Uncle Billy in the Mitford series
Author
Such fun characters. I love reading everybody’s picks.
Jessica Fletcher – Murder She wrote. she can certainly get into situations 🙂
Author
Jessica is a great character. Loved the way Angela Landsbury played her!
Choosing one character is so difficult! But, I really like Scarlett O’Hara….
Thanks for hosting this wonderful giveaway!
Choosing one character is so difficult! But, I really like Scarlett O’Hara….
Thanks for hosting this wonderful giveaway!
I love the Regency period so I have to say Jane Austen’s characters and Georgette Heyer’s characters (though not Christian fiction). I also loved Drew and Madeline in the first 2 books in this series. Thanks for the giveaway!
I absolutely love the character of Drew Farthering. I find him interesting because he reminds me of a guy at my church and his love interest kinda resembles his girl. 🙂 I would love to win. Julianna Deering is one of my most FAVORITE writers since finding her thanks to my sister.