In the novel Sparkling Cyanide, Victor Drake is the son of Caleb and Lucilla Drake. He is the black sheep of the Marle family, who wants money but doesn't want to work to get any. Victor is also the cousin of Iris Marle and Rosemary Barton.
He had been to Oxford, where he started his criminal carrer by forging a document. Lucilla doesn’t want to believe her son is a criminal, and defends him, to the point that she regularly sends him economical support to Victor. Indeed, Drake sent approximately one telegram per month in which he said he was in a life or death situation.
He claims he was a candidate for presidency in an American republic.
Portrayals[]
In Meurtre au champagne, the French adaptation of Sparkling Cyanide, the parallel character is Victor Lebrun.