# Tom Willard — The Clue character guide

> Tom Willard in The Clue by Carolyn Wells.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Tom, young Tom Willard, Willard, Dear old Tom, young Willard, Mr. Willard, Young Willard, Poor Tom

**First appearance:** 0000-i-the-van-normans

## Snapshot

A jolly, hot-tempered scapegrace who once led the town a dance, Tom Willard returns for Madeleine's wedding and stays for the aftermath.

## Who they are

Tom is the affable, slightly disreputable old friend everyone remembers fondly and warns newcomers about — an engineer who quarreled with his uncle and left town three years ago, only to reappear for the Van Norman wedding. He counsels Kitty against theatrical amateur sleuthing with the gentle condescension of a man who knows the town's secrets. His easy charm and buried temper make him a figure the investigation keeps circling back to.

## Relationships

### [Madeleine Van Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman)

_friendship_

Tom is a trusted friend and neighbor to Madeleine, often involved in the social circle's activities.

### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton)

_social_

Schuyler and Tom are casual acquaintances, moving in the same social circles but not close.

### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden)

_friendship_

Rob and Tom are friends and allies, often working together to support Madeleine.

### [Madeleine Van Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman)

_friendship_

Tom is a trusted friend and neighbor to Madeleine, often involved in the social circle's activities.

### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden)

_friendship_

Rob and Tom are friends and allies, often working together to support Madeleine.

### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton)

_social_

Schuyler and Tom are casual acquaintances, moving in the same social circles but not close.

### [Madeleine Van Norman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/madeleine_van_norman)

_friendship_

Tom is a trusted friend and neighbor to Madeleine, often involved in the social circle's activities.

### [Schuyler Carleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/schuyler_carleton)

_social_

Schuyler and Tom are casual acquaintances, moving in the same social circles but not close.

### [Rob Fessenden](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/rob_fessenden)

_friendship_

Rob and Tom are friends and allies, often working together to support Madeleine.

## In the story

### [The Van Normans](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/i-the-van-normans)

Madeleine's cousin, deeply in love with her, openly critical of Carleton, and the life of the house party.

### [Miss Morton Arrives](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/ii-miss-morton-arrives)

Madeleine's cousin, who flirts with her openly, sits in Carleton's chair, and provokes Carleton's jealousy.

### [Suicide or ⸻?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/iv-suicide-or)

Arrives after being summoned, is devastated by the news, and picks up a small object from the carpet.

### [VI: Fessenden Comes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/vi-fessenden-comes)

Arrives with Carleton; Kitty defends his character and suggests he was in love with Madeleine.

### [A Soft Lead Pencil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/viii-a-soft-lead-pencil)

Expresses shock at Cicely's confession and studies the note with a perplexed expression.

### [IX: The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/ix-the-will)

Inherits Richard Van Norman's fortune due to Madeleine's death before marriage and age twenty-three.

### [X: Some Testimony](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/x-some-testimony)

Provides his alibi, stating he went to the Mapleton Inn after leaving the house and was awakened by a phone call from Miss Morton.

### [XVI: Searching for Clues](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xvi-searching-for-clues)

His alibi is verified by the innkeeper and bellboy; later found going over Madeleine's papers with Lawyer Peabody.

### [Carleton Is Frank](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xviii-carleton-is-frank)

Has changed since inheriting a large fortune, appearing burdened rather than joyful; he returns to his old room at the Van Norman house and rebuffs Fessenden's attempts to discuss the case.

### [A Successful Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xxi-a-successful-pursuit)

Offers to pay for a celebrated detective; expresses skepticism that a new detective will find more than the current investigators have.

### [XXIII: Fleming Stone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xxiii-fleming-stone)

Attends the evening meeting; makes blunt remarks during the recital of the case.

### [XXIV: A Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/chapters/xxiv-a-confession)

Exposed as the murderer by Fleming Stone; confesses and then stabs himself, dying after dictating a will.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters/tom_willard
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_clue_se/characters