| Douglas |
Adams | English author and humorist. |
| Edward |
Barnes | British television producer and former BBC executive. |
| Dan |
Brown | American author. |
| Paul |
Clacken | Former remedial English class student from 1983. |
| Donna |
Cole | Former remedial English classmate from 1983. |
| Noel |
Coward | English playwright and composer. |
| Leonardo |
da Vinci | Italian Renaissance polymath. |
| Roald |
Dahl | British author. |
| Pablo |
Escobar | Colombian drug lord and narcoterrorist. |
| Ian |
Fleming | British writer. |
| Graham |
Greene | Canadian actor and musician. |
| Andy |
Harrison | Member of the powerful Harrison family. |
| Anthony |
Harrison | One of Andy's associates. |
| Billy |
Harrison | One of Andy's associates. |
| Bradley |
Harrison | Trusted Harrison cousin. |
| Gary |
Harrison | Trusted Harrison cousin. |
| Ginger |
Harrison | One of Andy's associates. |
| Harry |
Harrison | Andy's father. |
| John |
Harrison | One of Andy's brothers. |
| Orin |
Harrison | One of Andy's associates. |
| Patricia |
Harrison | Harry Harrison's wife. |
| Raymond |
Harrison | One of Andy's brothers. |
| Sonia |
Harrison | Andy's wife. |
| Toff |
Harrison | Trusted Harrison cousin. |
| Edward |
Horton | One of Horton's children. Aka: Ethan. |
| Horatio |
Horton | One of Horton's children. |
| Iris |
Horton | One of Horton's children. Aka: Lily. |
| Mr |
Horton | Father of the Super Six children. |
| Piers |
Horton | One of Horton's children. Aka: Peter. |
| Rose |
Horton | One of Horton's children. |
| Sophie |
Horton | One of Horton's children. |
| Max |
Ian Mansfield | Professor; biological son of Steven Smith. |
| Alice |
Iles | Remedial English teacher. |
| Mr |
Jackson | Steven's acquaintance. |
| Gwendolen |
John | Welsh artist. |
| Michelle |
Madden | Former classmate of Steven Smith. Aka: Shell. |
| Harry |
Potter | Fictional character from a fantasy novel series. |
| Razor |
Ray | One of the Harrison brothers. |
| Werner |
Richter | German military personnel during World War II. |
| Herbert |
Rowse | English architect. |
| Professor |
Scott | Steven's acquaintance. |
| Colin |
Smith | Steven's estranged older brother. |
| George |
Smith | English sculptor. |
| Steven |
Smith | Ex-convict recently released after 11 years; protagonist and narrator. Aka: Smithy. |
| Big |
Smithy | Steven's father. |
| Margaret |
Thatcher | Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. |
| Edith |
Twyford | Fictional, disgraced 1940s children's author. |
| Oliver |
Unwin | Associate Director at an architecture firm. |
| Inspector |
Waliso | Police official who initiates the narrative voice notes. |
| Arthur |
Waugh | English writer of novels, biographies, and travel books. |
| Nathan |
Welch | Former classmate of Steven Smith. Aka: Nate. |
| Kit |
Williams | English artist and illustrator. |
| Tom |
Wilson | New teacher. |
| Rosemary |
Wintle | Academic and expert on 20th-century children's literature. |
| Alex |
| Donna's partner. |
| Honoria |
| Aunt of the Horton children. |
| Lila |
| Librarian. |
| Lionel |
| Boy's name meaning young lion. |
| Lorraine |
| Lucy's acquaintance. |
| Lucy |
| New librarian. |
| Maeve |
| Irish feminine given name referenced in discussion. |
| Maxine |
| Parole officer assigned to Steven Smith upon his release from prison. |
| Rigsy |
| Umpire of the game. |
| Robbie |
| Steven's new acquaintance. |
| Simon |
| Shy and insightful character symbolizing innate goodness. |
| Wally |
| Steven's acquaintance. |
| Zander |
| Michelle's husband. |
