Douglas Raymer is the hapless chief of police in North Bath. He’s still grieving the loss of his wife, Becka, who died a year ago.
Donald “Sully” Sullivan, a man in his seventies, has always shirked the responsibilities of adulthood. He has a serious heart condition.
Ruth is the proprietor of Hattie’s, a local diner. She and her husband have a daughter, Janey.
Zack is Ruth’s husband. They’ve been married a long time, but Ruth doesn’t like him much.
Roy Purdy, Ruth’s former son-in-law, is a violent criminal who was just released from prison. His ex-wife is Janey.
Charice Bond is an African-American police officer who works for Raymer. She’s also Raymer’s budding romantic interest.
Jerome Bond, Charice’s twin brother, is a cop in a neighboring town. He and Raymer’s late wife, Becka, were secret lovers.
Carl Roebuck is an unscrupulous entrepreneur whose bad business practices are catching up with him. He’s good friends with Sully.
Gus Moynihan is the mayor of New Bath. His wife, Alice, suffers from a severe, unnamed mental illness.
Rub Squeers is Sully’s mentally challenged best friend. His namesake, Rub the dog, is Sully’s other best friend.
William Smith is an exotic reptile dealer who runs his illegal operation out of the Morrison Arms apartments.
Beryl Peoples, a late English teacher, was a prominent citizen in North Bath. She was an important mentor to Sully and Raymer.
Officer Miller is Raymer’s inept underling. The two men are similar in many ways.
Kurt Wright is a psychopathic grifter who dated Alice before she married Gus Moynihan.
Spinmatics Joe is a local racist who’s injured in a hit-and-run accident.