# Madeleine Van Norman — The Clue character guide > Madeleine Van Norman in The Clue by Carolyn Wells. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Madeleine, Madeleine, Van Norman, Miss Van Norman, Maddy, Maddy Van Norman, the magnificent Madeleine, Magnificent Madeleine **First appearance:** 0000-i-the-van-normans ## Snapshot Magnificent, regal, and rich, Madeleine Van Norman was a woman men admired from a distance — and someone, it seems, wanted far more than that. ## Who they are Madeleine dominates the Van Norman household by sheer presence: beautiful, proud, and possessed of a fortune that makes her both envied and courted. Yet her friends whisper that her engagement to Schuyler Carleton rests on his honor rather than his love, and that she knew it. Her death — discovered on her wedding day with a dagger and a despairing note — sets every question in the book in motion, and her character is the prism through which the living are judged. ## Relationships ### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton) _romantic_ Madeleine and Schuyler are engaged, with a passionate but tense relationship marked by suspicion and jealousy. ### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden) _friendship_ Rob is Madeleine's loyal friend and confidant, often acting as her protector and advisor. ### [Kitty French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/kitty_french) _friendship_ Kitty and Madeleine are close friends, though Kitty's jealousy over Rob creates underlying tension. ### [Tom Willard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/tom_willard) _friendship_ Tom is a trusted friend and neighbor to Madeleine, often involved in the social circle's activities. ### [Cicely Dupuy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/cicely_dupuy) _friendship_ Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings. ### [Molly Gardner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/molly_gardner) _friendship_ Molly is a friend and contemporary of Madeleine, part of her social group. ### [Doctor Hills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/doctor_hills) _professional_ Doctor Hills is Madeleine's physician, attending to her health and well-being. ### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden) _friendship_ Rob is Madeleine's loyal friend and confidant, often acting as her protector and advisor. ### [Kitty French](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/kitty_french) _friendship_ Kitty and Madeleine are close friends, though Kitty's jealousy over Rob creates underlying tension. ### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton) _romantic_ Madeleine and Schuyler are engaged, with a passionate but tense relationship marked by suspicion and jealousy. ### [Cicely Dupuy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/cicely_dupuy) _friendship_ Cicely is a close friend of Madeleine, sharing confidences and social outings. ### [Tom Willard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/tom_willard) _friendship_ Tom is a trusted friend and neighbor to Madeleine, often involved in the social circle's activities. ## In the story ### [The Van Normans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/i-the-van-normans) The bride-to-be, dignified and reserved, yet craving more affection from Carleton. She flirts with Tom to pique Carleton. ### [Miss Morton Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/ii-miss-morton-arrives) The bride-to-be, whose mood swings from regal gaiety to troubled distress; she privately asks Fessenden about Dorothy Burt, then dismisses the topic. ### [III: A Cry in the Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/iii-a-cry-in-the-night) Found dead in the library, stabbed with a Venetian dagger; a suicide note in her handwriting is present. ### [A Case for the Coroner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/v-a-case-for-the-coroner) Deceased; the subject of debate over whether her death was suicide or murder. ### [IX: The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/ix-the-will) Deceased; her will is read, leaving the mansion and residuary fortune to Elizabeth Morton. ### [XII: Dorothy Burt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xii-dorothy-burt) Referenced as the victim; her temperament and jealousy are discussed in the context of the murder. ### [An Interview with Cicely](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xiii-an-interview-with-cicely) Referenced as having confided in Cicely about her heartbreak over Carleton's love for another woman. ### [The Carleton Household](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xiv-the-carleton-household) Mentioned as the deceased fiancée; her death is the central event affecting all characters. ### [The Truth About Miss Burt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xix-the-truth-about-miss-burt) Mentioned as the deceased; Carleton reflects on her teasing nature and their strained relationship. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters