Cory is a 12-year-old boy living in the seemingly peaceful town of Zephyr, Alabama, in 1964. He filters the world through stories, monsters, and magic, relying on his active creativity to make sense of his environment. His idyllic worldview fractures after witnessing a brutal crime, forcing him to confront the frightening realities of the adult world. He aspires to be a writer and uses storytelling as a tool to process his experiences.

Tom is Cory's father and a dependable milkman who embodies the simple virtues of Zephyr. He believes in the fundamental goodness of his neighbors and trusts his community implicitly. This optimistic perspective shatters when he discovers a murdered man handcuffed to a sinking car. He subsequently suffers from severe psychological trauma, struggling to maintain his role as a strong patriarch while haunted by nightmares of the victim.

Dr. Lezander is a Dutch immigrant who serves as Zephyr's kind and competent veterinarian. He presents a charming, sympathetic public persona, giving affectionate nicknames to the children who bring their animals to his clinic. He is a trusted figure of authority in the community, tending to beloved pets during emotionally fragile moments for their owners.

The Lady is the 106-year-old matriarch of Bruton, Zephyr's African American community. She commands immense respect and operates outside the traditional white power structure of the town. She possesses a deep understanding of human nature and local folklore, acting as a spiritual guide and a powerful community leader who challenges the rigid racial hierarchies of the 1960s South.

Vernon is a wealthy eccentric who wanders the town without clothes, living in his own isolated reality. He was once a promising young writer, but the failure of his literary ambitions and the psychological abuse of his cruel father broke his spirit. He retreats into a miniature world of model trains, yet retains sharp insights into the people of Zephyr.

Johnny is one of Cory's closest friends, a quiet and stoic boy who values his Indigenous heritage. He collects arrowheads and views himself as a temporary custodian of history rather than an owner of objects. He frequently endures bullying due to his heritage but possesses a deep internal strength.

Ben is a good-natured, loyal, and somewhat clumsy member of Cory's friend group. He provides steady companionship but harbors deep anxieties about his home life. He struggles with the reality of his father's severe alcohol addiction, learning early on that the adults he depends on can transform into frightening figures.

Davy Ray is the most reckless and adventurous boy in Cory's circle of friends. He embraces a bold spirit, harboring a deep love for mysteries, folklore, and the bizarre. His adventurous nature drives much of the group's outdoor explorations and storytelling sessions.

Biggun is the patriarch of the notorious Blaylock family, a clan that controls the region's bootlegging, illegal gambling, and brothels. He is a massive, intimidating figure who operates with brute force and brazen criminality, using fear and bribery to maintain his power over the town's law enforcement.

Donny is a violent and unpredictable member of the Blaylock criminal family. He partakes in the family's bootlegging operations and exhibits a dangerous lack of conscience, heavily contributing to the town's underlying atmosphere of menace.

Gotha, along with his brother Gordo, is a notorious town bully who patrols Zephyr on his black bicycle. He thrives on intimidation and senseless adolescent cruelty, preying on smaller or more vulnerable children like Cory and Johnny.

Gordo is the other half of the Branlin sibling duo, terrorizing the youth of Zephyr. He uses physical violence and mockery to assert dominance, bringing a real-world, mundane sort of evil into Cory's otherwise magical childhood.

Mr. Cathcoate is an elderly resident of Zephyr who claims to be the legendary gunfighter known as the Candystick Kid. He fiercely defends his stories of surviving the Old West and saving Wyatt Earp, walking a hazy line between factual history and local tall tale.

Nemo is a frail, transient nine-year-old boy who speaks with a lisp and wears thick glasses. Despite his vulnerable appearance, he possesses an astonishing ability to throw a baseball with perfect speed and accuracy. His oppressive home life forces him to repress this talent.

Sheriff Amory is the local law enforcement officer in Zephyr. He represents the town's compromised authority, struggling to investigate the murder at the lake due to a lack of evidence while simultaneously ignoring the blatant, long-standing crimes of the Blaylock family.

Sim is Ben's father, a man whose jovial, joke-telling exterior masks a severe struggle with alcohol. When intoxicated, he transforms into a verbally abusive and threatening figure, providing Cory with a terrifying example of domestic trauma.

Mr. Moultry is a boorish, deeply prejudiced resident of Zephyr. He embodies the systemic racism of the 1960s South, openly resisting integration efforts and engaging with white supremacist groups to terrorize the Black community.

Mr. Hargison serves as Zephyr's mailman, presenting a mundane face to the community while secretly harboring violent, racist ideologies. He participates in local Ku Klux Klan activities, using intimidation and terror to uphold segregation.

Rebecca is Cory's mother and Tom's wife. She provides a steady, practical foundation for her family as they manage the aftermath of the murder they witnessed. While Tom spirals into fear and Cory retreats into his imagination, Rebecca pushes for practical solutions and encourages her husband to seek help.

The Moon Man is a prominent figure in Bruton's community, known for his mystical presence and involvement in local rituals. He operates as an enigmatic, stabilizing force, assisting the Lady in maintaining spiritual and social order.

Jaybird is Tom's father and Cory's paternal grandfather. He is an eccentric, selfish man with a severe gambling addiction. His folksy demeanor covers a deep-seated cowardice and casual cruelty that frequently alienates his family.

Mrs. Neville is Cory's elementary school teacher who recognizes and nurtures his early talent for writing. She provides him with crucial encouragement, urging him to participate in a town writing contest and instilling in him an appreciation for the written word.

Stevie Cauley was a local young man who died violently when his dragster, Midnight Mona, crashed on Route Sixteen. His spectral car continues to haunt the road, serving as a reminder of the town's unresolved injustices.

Miss Katharina is one of the Glass sisters in Zephyr, known for her ownership of an emerald green parrot. Her household inadvertently holds a key piece of information regarding the mystery Cory investigates.

Known as Miss Blue Glass, Sonia is a piano teacher in Zephyr who shares a home with her sister. She teaches local children how to play the piano and provides Cory with important information regarding her sister's pet.