Pinkie Brown - The young, sociopathic leader of a gang in Brighton. He is Catholic but has no moral qualms about committing heinous acts, such as murder. Pinkie is described as having a "horribly thin body" and being "undersized".

Ida Arnold - A kind-hearted yet persistent woman who becomes an amateur detective who investigates Fred Hale's murder after he confides in her. Ida is agnostic and represents a moral counterpoint to the Catholic yet morally corrupt Pinkie.

Rose - A naive young waitress who gets drawn into Pinkie's world after witnessing one of his gang's crimes. Despite her devout Catholic faith, she marries the violent Pinkie out of fear.

Fred Hale - A journalist who is murdered by Pinkie's gang after stumbling upon their criminal activities. His death sets the main events of the novel in motion.

Kite - The former leader of Pinkie's gang who is before the novel begins, allowing the young Pinkie to take over.