Janina is a woman in her sixties living in a remote Polish village in the Table Mountains. A former bridge construction engineer and primary school English teacher, she now manages vacation homes during the harsh winters. She is a devoted vegetarian, animal rights advocate, and amateur astrologer who assigns eccentric nicknames to everyone she meets. Her intense empathy for animals often puts her at odds with the local community, which heavily revolves around hunting.

Big Foot is a reclusive poacher and neighbor to Janina and Oddball in the remote mountain village. He lives in a messy, chaotic home and frequently traps local wildlife illegally, drawing Janina's intense ire. He also occasionally assists the wealthy upper-class hunters who visit the region. His abrupt death by choking on a deer bone sets the story's mystery into motion.

Oddball is Janina's nearest neighbor and one of the few year-round residents of the isolated mountain settlement. He is a meticulous, orderly older man who keeps his home, yard, and even his kitchen utensil drawer in perfect condition. He speaks very little, leading Janina to describe him humorously as suffering from "testosterone autism."

Dizzy is a physically delicate young man with numerous food allergies who works as an IT specialist for the local police department. He is a former English student of Janina's, and the two spend their free time translating the complex poetry of William Blake into Polish. His practical job at the police station clashes with his highly imaginative, literary nature.

Good News is a charming young woman who runs the local thrift store in the village. She has a congenital condition that prevents her from growing hair on her head or body, leading her to wear colorful headscarves and draw on her eyebrows. Despite a life of hardship, she maintains a warm, innocent, and highly optimistic attitude that Janina deeply admires.

Boros is a middle-aged entomologist who arrives in the Table Mountains to study and protect the habitat of an endangered species of flat bark beetle. Recognizable by his pigtail, he quickly accepts Janina's offer to stay on her sofa while conducting his field research. He shares her deep reverence for the natural world, focusing his attention on the tiny insects threatened by local logging.

The Commandant is the plump, greedy head of the local police force. He actively participates in the local hunting clique and ignores Janina's persistent complaints about poaching. Rumors circulate in the village that he accepts bribes to overlook illegal smuggling operations within his jurisdiction.

Innerd is a wealthy local businessman who owns several enterprises, most notably a fox farm where animals are caged and raised for their fur. He is an elite member of the local hunting circle and uses his substantial wealth to bribe law enforcement, allowing him to conduct shady smuggling operations without interference.

The President is the bombastic, self-important leader of the local mushroom pickers' club. He loves making grand speeches, frequently overusing the phrase "in truth." Beyond his club duties, he is heavily involved in the local sport hunting culture and maintains close ties with the other wealthy men in the village.

Father Rustle is the local parish priest who ministers to the mountain community. He is an avid hunter himself and sees no contradiction between his religious duties and killing animals for sport. He firmly believes in the traditional doctrine that humans have divine dominion over nature and that animals lack souls.

Black Coat is Oddball's adult son, who works as an officer for the local police department. He adheres strictly to protocol and frequently displays a condescending attitude toward his father, viewing both Oddball and Janina as eccentric nuisances who complicate police work.

Doctor Ali is a Middle Eastern doctor practicing in the Polish mountain town. He assists Janina with her mysterious physical symptoms, instructing the local pharmacy to compound special medications to treat her unique ailments and sun sensitivity.

Wolf Eye is the local forest ranger responsible for managing the region's timber resources. He represents the pragmatic, industrial side of forest management, arguing that human need for lumber and housing must take priority over the preservation of insect habitats.