Michael Gardiner: The narrator and central figure of the novel, Michael has lived in Coldhaven his entire life but feels like an outsider. As a teenager, he had a brief romance with Moira Birnie. He harbors a dark secret from his youth, having been responsible for the death of Moira’s brother, Malcolm, the town bully. Michael becomes increasingly obsessed with Hazel, Moira's daughter, suspecting she might be his own child.

Moira Birnie: Michael's former teenage love, Moira marries Tom Birnie, whom she later believes to be the devil. In a tragic act, she kills herself and her two young sons by setting their car on fire, sparing only her 14-year-old daughter, Hazel.

Hazel Birnie: The surviving daughter of Moira, Hazel is 14 years old at the time of her mother's death. Michael becomes fixated on her, partly due to the possibility that she is his biological daughter. Hazel, aware of Michael's obsession, persuades him to take her away from Coldhaven and her father, Tom.

Malcolm Birnie: Moira's brother and the town bully during Michael's youth. His death at the hands of Michael is a pivotal event that haunts Michael throughout the story.