| Emma |
Bigelow | Protagonist, intertidal ecologist. Aka: Emily Ruth Peel |
| Gloria |
Bigelow | Emma's grandmother |
| Mr. |
Cloris | Ruby's beetle |
| Ted |
Coombes | Emma's former professor |
| Kenneth |
Delwych | One of Leo's clients |
| Samantha |
Fox | Singer and model |
| Bruce |
Hornsby | American musician |
| Briggs |
Hugo | David's brother |
| Tom |
Jones | American singer |
| John |
Keats | Emma's dog |
| Jim |
McGuigan | Leo's editor-in-chief |
| Dr. |
Moru | Emma's doctor |
| Iain |
Nott | Fan who messaged Emma on Facebook |
| Barry |
Philber | Leo's adoptive father |
| Jane |
Philber | Leo's adoptive mother |
| Leo |
Philber | Emma's husband and an obituary writer |
| Ruby |
Philber | Emma and Leo's daughter |
| Billie |
Roland | Mistress of half the cabinet in the early 80s |
| Robbie |
Rosen | Runs BBC Scotland |
| Charlie |
Rothschild | Janice's adoptive son and Emma's biological son |
| David |
Rothschild | Emma's lover and Jeremy's cousin |
| Janice |
Rothschild | Missing person and Sheila's friend |
| Jeremy |
Rothschild | Janice's husband |
| Jill |
Stirling | Emma's closest friend |
| Mags |
Tenterden | Emma's agent |
| Anna |
Wilson | Leo's biological mother |
| Casey |
| Emma's friend |
| Charlie |
| Emma's grandmother's dog |
| Claire |
| Leo's old friend |
| Darya |
| Next-door patient |
| Erica |
| Woman Emma's father used to visit |
| Frogman |
| Emma's former dog |
| Jess |
| Leo's ex-girlfriend |
| Jonty |
| Leo's colleague |
| Kelvin |
| Leo's editor |
| Mikkel |
| Son of Olly and Tink |
| Olly |
| Leo's brother |
| Oskar |
| Son of Olly and Tink |
| Patrick |
| Runs court and social desk |
| Shazia |
| Nurse |
| Sheila |
| Leo's colleague |
| Tink |
| Olly's wife |
| Vivi |
| Emma's housemate |
