Joanna Hunter
Joanna Hunter is one of the main protagonists in the novel. At six years old, her family was murdered by Andrew Decker. Joanna survived the slaughter by running away on her mother's demand. In the future, she becomes a doctor, has a baby (who she names after both her mother and her baby brother, who she was unable to save from the slaughter) and hires Reggie as a nanny. Joanna is married to Neil Hunter. Joanna is a loving mother to her baby and is a kind and protective figure to Reggie, who is greatly influenced by Joanna. While on the surface, Joanna appears sweet and calm, we find out later in the book that Andrew Decker (the man who murdered Joanna's family) committed suicide with a handgun provided to him by Joanna. While being held captive for ransom, she kills her two captors in order to escape.
Regina 'Reggie' Chase
Reggie Chase is a sixteen year old girl living alone in Edinburgh. Her mother died from drowning in an accident while on holiday, and her brother Billy is involved in criminal circles. Reggie works as a nanny for Joanna and in a corner shop in order to provide for herself while pursuing her A-Levels under the tuttilege of Ms. Macdonald, an elderly retired teacher from her previous school. Reggie is very intelligent and studies classics. Her father was killed in the army, and as a result the army paid for her to attend a private school, though she dropped out after finishing her GCSEs. Reggie acts as a detective figure in the novel, being the first to realise that Joanna's husband is lying about her disappearance. After the train crash, Reggie attends the scene due to being nearby in Ms. Macdonald's house, and saves Jackson Brodie's life.
Jackson Brodie
Jackson Brodie is a retired soldier who now works as a private investigator. In the beginning of the book, he is looking for a boy he believes to be his son. Due to his car breaking down, he gets on the wrong train and ends up in the train crash. Due to the crash, his memory deteriorates, and his identity is swapped with Andrew Decker's. His life is saved by Reggie, who then asks him to help her track down Joanna Hunter when she goes missing. Jackson has a personal link to finding missing women due to his sister, Niamh, being murdered when he was young. Jackson was the soldier who found Joanna after her family's murder, and helps her to destroy the evidence of the men she killed. Jackson also has history with Louise Monroe, being ex-colleagues with her. The two share a romantic connection that is thwarted due to Louise's marriage to Patrick and Jackson's marriage to Tessa, who turns out to be an impostor who takes all of his money and runs away.
Louise Monroe
Louise Monroe is a detective chief inspector. Louise grew up in a working-class setting but has married into the middle class with Patrick, which creates conflict within her throughout the novel as she feels trapped in the lifestyle. Louise has a son, Archie. Louise was the detective who informed Joanna that her family's murderer was being released from prison. She has an obsession with Alison Needler, who is hiding from her abusive and murderous husband. Reggie tries to get Louise to help her find Joanna Hunter when she disappears. Louise initially dismisses her, but eventually helps her. Louise has a romantic connection with her ex-colleague Jackson Brodie.
Andew Decker
Andrew Decker is the man who murdered Joanna's mother, sister, and brother. The attack was spontaneous and appeared to have no motive. At the time of the novel, Andrew Decker is being released from Prison. Decker's identity is switched with that of Jackson Brodie's, and he eventually commits suicide in Brodie's apartment using a handgun given to him by Joanna Hunter.
Billy Chase
Billy is Reggie's brother. He and Reggie were close when they were younger, though they have drifted apart due to Billy's involvement in crime. In the novel, Reggie finds out that Billy has been using Ms. Macdonald's books to smuggle drugs. Billy was the one who sold the handgun to Joanna, who gave it to Andrew Decker.
