Harper is a young woman living in the coastal town of Cape Carnage under a stolen identity. After escaping a brutal serial killer years ago, she attempts to find safety by working as a gardener and acting as an accomplice to her landlord, Arthur. She compartmentalizes her life to avoid public attention and relies on her gardening skills to dispose of bodies using a woodchipper. Her carefully constructed sanctuary is threatened when online detectives arrive in town to ask questions.

Nolan is a former firefighter and Search and Rescue specialist who originally traveled to Cape Carnage seeking revenge for his brother's accident. Realizing his assumptions about Harper were incorrect, he shifts his focus to protecting her from outside threats. He actively works to obstruct official investigations by volunteering to lead the search for a missing tourist. He tries to balance his violent tendencies with his growing desire to establish a stable future.

Damian Yates is the local sheriff of Cape Carnage. He presents a folksy, congenial demeanor to the town residents while directing official resources toward a string of disappearances. He relies on local gossip and recruits specialists like Nolan to handle fieldwork. He consistently observes the residents and conducts interviews to piece together the events surrounding the missing tourists.

Arthur is the elderly owner of the Lancaster Distillery and Harper's landlord. Experiencing early-stage Alzheimer's disease, he struggles with fluctuating memories and unexpected impulsivity. He acts as a secret vigilante who targets predatory tourists to protect the coastal town. His cognitive decline makes him increasingly unpredictable, creating constant danger for Harper as she tries to keep their actions hidden.

Lukas is Arthur's responsible grandson, tasked with running the family's distillery business. He worries constantly about his grandfather's health and advocates for moving him into a professional memory care facility. Unaware of the violent secrets kept by his family, he focuses on practical matters and setting up a new tasting room.

Tylor is an amateur true-crime investigator who arrives in Cape Carnage to look into recent deaths. He actively questions locals and displays photographs to uncover hidden identities, treating the town's disappearances like an interactive puzzle without regard for the residents' privacy.

Emma is a member of an online true-crime community who travels to Cape Carnage. She actively seeks information from the town's residents and later reports to the sheriff's office following a tragic incident involving one of her peers.

Charlie is a true-crime enthusiast who travels to Maine to investigate local mysteries. He finds himself targeted when his persistent presence threatens the town's hidden residents.

Maxine, known as Max, is the sheriff's daughter. She recently returned to Cape Carnage to work for a company developing land along the Ballantyne River. She remains oblivious to Lukas's romantic feelings for her.

Harvey is a notorious serial killer from Harper's past. He previously held Harper and her boyfriend captive in a cellar, a traumatic event that ultimately forced Harper to adopt a new identity to escape public scrutiny.

Adam is Harper's deceased boyfriend. He shared a van with her and played chess before they were captured by a serial killer. His violent death left a permanent psychological mark on Harper, making her fearful of forming new emotional attachments.

Peter is a tourist visiting Cape Carnage. His sudden death at the hands of Arthur Lancaster triggers an extensive official search that threatens to expose the town's secrets.

Mrs. Evanston is the distressed wife of a missing tourist. She actively pushes town officials to locate her husband, interrupting community events to demand action.

Maya is the owner of Maya's Magical Mixtures. She is fiercely loyal to her fellow Cape Carnage residents, actively lying to outsiders to protect her neighbors from unwanted scrutiny.

Billy is Nolan's younger brother. He was left in a coma following a severe assault and a subsequent hit-and-run accident, an event that completely altered the trajectory of his older brother's life.

Jake is a local man known for peering through residents' windows. His sudden disappearance requires Harper and Nolan to construct a believable cover story involving a local shark legend.