| 1 | Quentin | Nightingale | Elizabeth's husband. |
| | Elizabeth Frances | Nightingale | Quentin's wife. Murdered. |
| | Sean | Lovell | One of Elizabeth's gardeners. |
| | Denys | Villiers | Quentin's brother-in-law. An Author. |
| | Katje | Doorn | Elizabeth's au pair/helper. |
| | Myrtle Annie | Cantrip | Elizabeth's housekeeper. |
| | Catcher | | One of Elizabeth's maids. |
| | Will | Palmer | One of Elizabeth's gardeners. |
| | Priscilla | Larkins-Smith | Elizabeth's companion. George's wife. |
| | Mrs. | Rogers | Elizabeth's associate in cancer relief operations. |
| | Georgina | Villiers | Denys's wife. |
| | Dorothy | Wordsworth | William's sister. |
| | William | Wordsworth | A romantic poet. |
| | Alf | Tawney | A chicken and veg seller. |
| 2 | Mike | Burden | The detective inspector. |
| | John | Burden | Mike's son. |
| | Reg | Wexford | The detective chief inspector. Protagonist. |
| | Jean | Burden | Mike's wife. |
| | Martin | | A detective sergeant. Wexford's associates. |
| | Gates | | A constable. Wexford's associates. |
| | Bryant | | A constable. Wexford's associates. |
| 3 | George | Larkins-Smith | Quentin's friend. |
| | Mr. | Primero | Quentin's friend. |
| | Mrs. | Primero | Mr. Primero's wife. |
| 4 | Dr. | Crocker | The police doctor. |
| 5 | Mrs. | Lovell | Sean's mother. |
| 6 | Lionel | Marriott | Quentin's close friend. Aka: Leo. |
| | Hypatia | | Lionel's typist. |
| | June | | Denys's first wife. |
| 7 | Pat | Burden | Mike's daughter. |
| | Twohey | | Quentin's former servant. |
| 15 | Tanya | Tye | Twohey's lover. |
