# Carson Drew — The Hidden Staircase character guide > Carson Drew in The Hidden Staircase by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Mr. Drew, Dad **First appearance:** 0000-i-a-rude-visitor ## Snapshot Nancy's lawyer father, lured to a barred room by a lie about his daughter, spends his imprisonment watching a distant stone house and worrying about her instead of himself. ## Who they are Carson Drew steps off the train at Cliffwood expecting to rescue Nancy and instead walks into a trap built for him, pacing a cell with a cot, a table, and a barred window too high to reach. His helplessness sharpens the stakes: the one person Nancy trusts most is now the one she must save. His stubborn refusal to give in, and his habit of putting her safety before his own, quietly raise the pressure on every choice she makes. ## Relationships ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nancy_drew) _family_ Carson Drew is Nancy's loving and supportive father, who encourages her detective work while ensuring her safety. ### [Nathan Gombet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nathan_gombet) _professional_ Carson Drew, as a lawyer, has professional dealings with Nathan Gombet, often in a tense or adversarial context. ### [Rosemary Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/rosemary_turnbull) _professional_ Carson Drew provides legal counsel and support to Rosemary Turnbull regarding her family's legal troubles. ### [Floretta Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/floretta_turnbull) _professional_ Carson Drew provides legal assistance to Floretta Turnbull, maintaining a professional and respectful relationship. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nancy_drew) _family_ Carson Drew is Nancy's loving and supportive father, who encourages her detective work while ensuring her safety. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nancy_drew) _family_ Carson Drew is Nancy's loving and supportive father, who encourages her detective work while ensuring her safety. ### [Nathan Gombet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nathan_gombet) _professional_ Carson Drew, as a lawyer, has professional dealings with Nathan Gombet, often in a tense or adversarial context. ### [Nathan Gombet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/nathan_gombet) _professional_ Carson Drew, as a lawyer, has professional dealings with Nathan Gombet, often in a tense or adversarial context. ### [Rosemary Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/rosemary_turnbull) _professional_ Carson Drew provides legal counsel and support to Rosemary Turnbull regarding her family's legal troubles. ### [Floretta Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/floretta_turnbull) _professional_ Carson Drew provides legal assistance to Floretta Turnbull, maintaining a professional and respectful relationship. ### [Rosemary Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/rosemary_turnbull) _professional_ Carson Drew provides legal counsel and support to Rosemary Turnbull regarding her family's legal troubles. ### [Floretta Turnbull](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/floretta_turnbull) _professional_ Carson Drew provides legal assistance to Floretta Turnbull, maintaining a professional and respectful relationship. ## In the story ### [A Rude Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/i-a-rude-visitor) Nancy's father, who is out of town on a law case. He is accused by Nathan Gombet of cheating him in a land deal, though Nancy firmly believes in his integrity. ### [A Warning of Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/ii-a-warning-of-trouble) Mentioned as Nancy's father, a former district attorney with a strong reputation, whose desk Gombet targeted. ### [Interesting Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/iii-interesting-information) Mentioned as being out of town; Nancy plans to tell him about Gombet's visit. ### [A Second Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/iv-a-second-call) Carson Drew calmly confronts Nathan Gombet, dismissing his threats but promising Nancy he will be careful. ### [Strange Happenings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/v-strange-happenings) Mentioned briefly at the luncheon table with Nancy. ### [VII: What Can It Mean!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/vii-what-can-it-mean) Worried about Nancy's lateness, listens to her story, reluctantly gives permission for her visit, and provides a revolver for safety. ### [The Warning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/viii-the-warning) Departs for Chicago, promising to help Nancy if needed. ### [The Theft](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xii-the-theft) Mentioned as having left Chicago two days ago; his failure to communicate causes Nancy great worry. ### [Another Surprise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xiii-another-surprise) Mentioned as missing; Nancy worries because he left Chicago two days ago and has not arrived home. ### [XIV: What Happened to Carson Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xiv-what-happened-to-carson-drew) Falls for Gombet's deception and is imprisoned. ### [A Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xv-a-prisoner) Imprisoned and bound by Nathan Gombet; refuses to give in to demands. ### [XVI: A New Clue](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xvi-a-new-clue) Carson Drew is mentioned as having left Chicago for home but has not arrived or sent word, causing Nancy great anxiety. ### [Under Cover of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xvii-under-cover-of-darkness) Mentioned as being held prisoner in the tower room of Gombet's house after a stormy interview. ### [Inside the Other House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xviii-inside-the-other-house) Mentioned as being held prisoner in a room nearby, though Nancy is unaware. ### [The End of the Passage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxi-the-end-of-the-passage) Nancy worries about his absence and considers reporting him missing. ### [Notifying the Police](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxiii-notifying-the-police) Mentioned by Nancy; his reputation convinces the sheriff to take action. ### [Nancy Leads the Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxiv-nancy-leads-the-way) Bound to a chair and threatened by Nathan Gombet; rescued by Nancy and the sheriff. ### [Captured](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/chapters/xxv-captured) Rescued from captivity, recounts Gombet's torture, and praises Nancy's detective work. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters/carson_drew - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_hidden_staircase_se/characters