Rafael, a hero in Hannah’s life inspired by R.G.
When I first began writing the Hannah Walker Mystery Series, I knew I wanted to explore the deep, protective love a godfather feels for his goddaughter. Rafael’s character was inspired by a former administrator of justice, Professor R.G., whose quiet strength and guidance shaped me. Only a few people know who he truly is and how profoundly his influence and example impacted my life.
When we first meet Hannah, she feels profoundly lonely, a sense sharpened by Rafael’s sudden return to her life. The long years he spent serving as a law enforcement officer kept them apart, creating a distance that time never quite healed. Hannah had never fully understood the depth of her godfather’s love for her until he began hiring bodyguards and even made moves to place her in witness protection.
One thing about Hannah in the series is how much her relationship with her godfather has evolved over time. Their bond is severely tested when Hannah is accused of a crime and thrown in jail, and it is in that dark moment she finally sees just how deeply Rafael loves and protects her. After the dramatic reveal in the first book, Hannah boldly asks Rafael to take her on a European adventure — a request he willingly agrees to fulfill because his love for her outweighs any hesitation.
When they moved to Paris for three years, Rafael knew that Hannah was not doing well; nonetheless he was there for her at every step of the way. Perhaps the most painful part of all came when Hannah lost her memory and, in a moment of confusion and fear, yelled at him that she hated him — words that shattered Rafael to the very core. Writing the letter to Hannah during the drafting process is what finally broke me; I still cry when I look back at the manuscript.
Few people truly understand how and why I decided to have Hannah lose her memory. In Paris Noir, Hannah becomes increasingly worried about Rafael’s safety. She senses that an arch‑nemesis must alter the hero’s life in a profound way. She also mentions to Rafaek that he cannot keep pulling her from the path of oncoming trains. I wanted to go all out with Paris Noir. Rafael has always been somewhat enigmatic—he’s the kind of man who knows people who know other people. He has contacts who can arrange witness protection, he speaks multiple languages, and he moves in shadowed networks. From the start I knew the story needed to center on him and on how his relationship with Hannah is irrevocably changed. After the events of Paris Noir, we move on to the Thirteenth Riddle A Poisoned Silence. The relationship has been shattered and Hannah hates him, until he gets poisoned. This is when the script is flipped. Instead of Rafael protecting Hannah, it is Hannah who is going to make sure that she protects Rafael at all costs.
In the fifth book, titled Shadows of the Past: A Deadly Riddle, Rafael’s role will expand even further, and he will stand by his goddaughter when she discovers who she truly is, where she comes from, and the painful truth that her father never loved her. That revelation only draws them closer, pushing Rafael into full protective godfather mode. It is in these moments of danger and vulnerability that Hannah finally understands how profoundly Rafael has been her true hero.
