Meet the characters!
Hannah Walker
The main protagonist of the Hannah Walker Mysteries series, Hannah is a dedicated Criminal Justice major who unexpectedly finds herself drawn deep into a dangerous world filled with deadly riddles, chilling crimes, and strange premonitory dreams. With aspirations to become a brilliant detective like Sherlock Holmes, she quickly learns that sometimes it's better not to wish for something too eagerly—because when you do, you might just get it in the most unsettling way. When her inappropriate professor, Gonzalez, is found murdered on the college campus, Hannah initially wants to avoid any involvement. However, everything changes when a janitor is mysteriously thrown from a roof. As the horrifying deaths continue, with one campus member after another falling victim, all signs disturbingly point back to Hannah. Racing against time and facing growing accusations, she realizes she has no choice but to uncover the truth behind these gruesome murders. With the help of her godfather, Rafael Walker Smith, she must piece together clues and solve the case before it’s too late.
Rafael Walker Smith
The overprotective godfather who loves Hannah more than anything else in this world, Rafael is a deeply devoted and caring figure in her life. A former law enforcement officer, he retired from the force and chose to become a college professor for two main reasons: to protect his goddaughter Hannah and to educate the future generation of police officers. Upon discovering that Hannah was a victim of harassment, he commits himself fully to shielding her from harm, especially when she becomes a prime suspect in the college murders. The strong bond he shares with his goddaughter serves as a central theme throughout the mystery series, highlighting loyalty and unconditional love. Rafael is the steadfast presence who supports Hannah emotionally, holding her hand through the terrifying ordeal of her accusation. In the second book, he takes on an even more pivotal role by helping to uncover the true identity of the killer, all while dealing with the shadows of his own past. Throughout the series, Rafael experiences the most significant character development, evolving from a protective guardian into a complex and determined individual confronting his personal demons. However, there are times when Hannah feels genuinely exhausted by his constant attention, especially whenever he makes an effort to shield her from any perceived danger. She repeatedly reminds Raf that he cannot keep intervening and pulling her away from the path of oncoming trains, no matter how much he insists he’s only trying to protect her.
Sofia
Sofia, once a determined prosecutor who made a significant career shift to become a defense attorney, reenters Hannah's life as an old friend from years ago. She returns just as she receives a pivotal job offer, one that Hannah encourages her to accept, believing it to be the right move. Sofia’s arrival coincides with a critical period when Hannah finds herself in desperate need of support. As Hannah faces accusations of these gruesome murders, Sofia steps in to guide her through the turmoil, pledging unwavering loyalty—but can she truly be trusted? Beneath her compassionate exterior lies a deeper mystery: Sofia is not quite who she claims to be, and dark motives may be driving her actions. Her character grows increasingly complex and morally ambiguous, challenging the audience to decide whether she is a genuine ally or a cleverly disguised antagonist, a suspect or merely a red herring in this unfolding drama. Is she the hidden main villain?
Robert
The man whose wife vanished without a trace over a year ago in Las Vegas. When he arrives in the city, Hannah quickly falls under his captivating romantic spell. However, this man is concealing far more secrets than Hannah could ever begin to imagine. Is he merely a red herring, leading her away from the truth? Or is he perhaps an unexpected ally of one of Hannah’s enemies? Will he be the one responsible for sealing Hannah’s ultimate fate, or could he become the person who comes to her rescue during her most critical trial?
Professor Gonzalez
The professor who is tragically murdered sets the dark and suspenseful tone for the entire plot of the book. Gonzalez was a ruthless and cold-hearted man, showing little to no concern for his students’ well-being. Rafael discovers from Hannah that Gonzalez had been harassing her for some time. Filled with anger, Rafael initially wants to kill Gonzalez, but Hannah warns him that Gonzalez holds considerable power, effectively having the entire faculty under his control and pay. When Gonzalez is ultimately murdered on a dark and stormy night, readers begin to uncover the disturbing secrets he desperately wanted to keep hidden from everyone.
Daniel
Hannah’s best friend, the person she harbors deep feelings for, does not return those emotions. After Hannah is unexpectedly thrown in jail, Daniel takes it upon himself to start his own investigation, determined to be the one who will secure her freedom. What Hannah doesn’t realize is that Daniel actually does have feelings for her, but he struggles to admit them, keeping his emotions carefully hidden. He is often regarded as the Noah Drake figure of General Hospital, known for his charisma and complex personality.
Detective Smith
Smith, the one man who initially believes Hannah is guilty and is determined to throw her in jail. However, as the book progresses, he gradually comes to realize that Hannah is actually a good person who was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Over the course of the story, his perception of her changes significantly, and he ultimately becomes her ally in the next two books of the series: Deadly Vows and Paris Noir.
