Dorothy is a 52-year-old former food critic and self-identified psychopath serving a life sentence in prison. She possesses a highly sophisticated palate, an extensive vocabulary, and an absolute lack of remorse for her actions. She views human interaction entirely through a lens of power dynamics, treating her prison memoir as an opportunity to address the reader directly and assert final control over her narrative.

Emma is a famous agoraphobic painter living a fiercely private life in New York. Operating from her isolated studio, she creates provocative self-portraits that attract a massive fanbase. She maintains a complex, enduring correspondence with Dorothy, acting as the only person capable of challenging the narrator on equal intellectual footing.

Marco is a handsome, successful butcher overseeing an extensive kosher meat empire. He initially draws Dorothy's attention by appearing completely unreadable and resisting her usual methods of gathering damning personal information. His dedication to his business and the strict rules of his craft make him a subject of deep, long-lasting fascination.

Alex is an earnest editor at a publication where Dorothy once worked. Divorced and lacking the aggressive edge of the other men in her orbit, he offers a calm and genuine companionship. His presence in her life challenges her usual transactional approach to romance, introducing her to an unfamiliar sense of domestic comfort.

Andrew is an executive at Noir magazine who hires Dorothy to write high-paying restaurant columns after a chance meeting. He represents the kind of wealthy, flawed man she enjoys manipulating for professional gain. His personal choices regarding traditional family life eventually draw her intense ire, prompting retaliatory actions.

Casimir is a stockbroker and poet whom Dorothy meets shortly before her arrest. Their sudden, impulsive encounter on Fire Island sets off a chain of events that directly impacts her freedom and brings law enforcement into her carefully constructed life.

Detective Wasserman is a tenacious, muscular law enforcement officer operating out of the Yaphank precinct. She investigates Casimir's disappearance and approaches Dorothy with an unsettling mix of professional suspicion and personal flattery regarding her food writing. Her physical presence and sharp questioning throw Dorothy off balance during their interviews.

Detective MacDonnell is a police officer who works alongside Kiandra Wasserman. He assists in the investigation into Casimir's disappearance and participates in the questioning of persons of interest, providing steady backup to his partner.

Giovanni is a man Dorothy encounters while on a truffle-hunting assignment in Italy. Their brief association on the road results in a violent altercation that permanently alters her life trajectory.

Gil is a man Dorothy becomes involved with following a significant professional setback. He provides her with access to leisure activities like sailing, though his severe allergies make him vulnerable while out on the water.

Joyce is a prison staff member who facilitates mental health and rehabilitation discussions for the inmates. She attempts to guide the women toward self-forgiveness, though she frequently struggles to comprehend the logical gaps in their personal philosophies.

Luciana is an inmate serving time alongside Dorothy in the correctional facility. She openly shares her traumatic personal history regarding her foster family during therapy discussions, providing context for the emotional environment inside the prison walls.

Margaret is a defense attorney who handles high-stakes criminal charges. She works to secure release conditions for her clients and strictly controls their participation during formal courtroom proceedings.

Chloe is the editor of the Eat & Drink section at a major publication. She is a pragmatic media professional who makes the cold financial decision to terminate expensive writers when budgets tighten.