| | | | Book 1 |
| | Inspector | Doyle | The detective inspector. |
| | Henry | Kerrison | A forensic pathologist. |
| | Eleanor | Kerrison | Henry's daughter. Aka: Nell. |
| | William | Kerrison | Henry's son. |
| | Dr. | Stoddard | A pathologist. |
| | Miss | Willard | The Kerrison's cleaner. |
| | Dr. Edwin | Lorrimer | A pathologist. Victim. |
| | Maxim | Howarth | Henry's boss. The director of forensic science laboratory. |
| | Domenica | Schofield | Howarth's half-sister. |
| | Bill | Morgan | The vehicle examiner. |
| | Paul | Middlemass | The principal scientific officer document examiner. |
| | Dr. | Mac | Henry's predecessor. |
| | Susan | Bradley | A wife of a high-ranking scientific officer. |
| | Debbie | | Susan's child. |
| | Cliff | Bradley | Susan's husband. |
| | Brenda | Pridmore | A clerical officer at Hoggatt's laboratory. |
| | Inspector | Blakelock | The assistant police liaison officer. |
| | Will | | Brenda's uncle. |
| | Mrs. | Pridmore | Brenda's mother. |
| | Alfred | Pridmore | Brenda's father. |
| | Gerald | Bowlem | The son of Brenda's father's boss. |
| | Mr. | Bowlem | Alfred's boss. |
| | Stella | Mawson | Owner of Lavender Cottage. Angela's friend. |
| | Angela | Foley | Director of Hoggatt's Laboratory. Lorrimer's cousin. |
| | Scobie | | The laboratory attendant. |
| | Mrs. | Bidwell | The laboratory cleaner. |
| | Maureen | Doyle | Inspector Doyle's wife. |
| | | | Book 2 |
| | Chief Inspector | Martin | The senior police liaison officer. |
| | Charles | Freeborn | Controller of the forensic science service. |
| | Adam | Dalgliesh | The commander who handles Dr. Lorrimer's death case. |
| | John | Massingham | Adam's partner. |
| | Mercer | | The detective superintendent. |
| | Mrs. | Mallett | The general's typist. |
| | Claire | Easterbrook | The senior scientific officer in the biology department. |
| | Stephen | Copley | The senior chemist. |
| | Lord | Dungannon | The leader of Lords. |
| | Dr. | Greene | The local police surgeon. |
| | Dr. J.D | Underwood | Dr. Howarth's colleague. |
| | Reynolds | | The police in charge of the crime scene. |
| | Underbill | | The police in charge of the crime scene. |
| | Blain | Thomson | The pathologist at Dr. Lorrimer's murder case. |
| | Mrs. | Swaffield | The rector's wife. |
| | Dr. | Macintyre | The former director at Hoggatt's. |
| | Mrs. | Dean | The chapel minister's wife. |
| | Peter | Ennalls | Middlemass wife's cousin. |
| | Bob | Gotobed | The leader of the troop. |
| | Harry | Sprogg | A member of a troop. |
| | | | Book 3 |
| | Father | Gregory | The reverend. |
| | Constable | Davis | A policeman. |
| | Emma | | Dr. Lorrimer's lover. |
| | Major | Hunt | Dr. Lorrimer's lawyer. |
| | Alfred | Goddard | A witness. |
| | Bill | Carney | The bus conductor. |
| | Mitching | | Major Hunt's assistant. |
| | Annie | Lorrimer | Dr. Lorrimer's paternal grandmother. |
| | Tom | Lorrimer | Dr. Lorrimer's paternal grandfather. |
| | Simone | Signoret | An actress. |
| | Dr. Mavers- |
Brown | Maxim's companion. |
| | Reverend | Mother | The mother superior. |
