Keera Duggan is a skilled former state prosecutor who reluctantly joins her family's criminal defense firm after a disastrous breakup with her boss. She approaches the law much like she plays competitive chess, always thinking several moves ahead. She is fiercely determined to step out of her family's shadow and establish her own reputation as a formidable lead defense attorney.

Frank Rossi is an experienced violent crimes detective with the Seattle Police Department who drives a custom 1969 Pontiac GTO. He is a principled investigator who prioritizes finding the truth over pushing personal agendas. Rossi has a competitive streak but generally maintains a professional and perceptive demeanor while working his cases.

Patsy Duggan is Keera's father and the founder of the family's criminal defense firm. Known locally as the "Irish Brawler," he built a formidable reputation as an aggressive and brilliant trial attorney. However, his aging and severe alcohol use disorder have recently begun to threaten both his career and his firm's future stability.

Vince LaRussa is an affluent, high-profile Seattle wealth manager known for securing incredible profits for his clients. He calls the Duggan firm for representation when he becomes the primary suspect in his wife's murder. Behind his polished exterior lies a difficult past marked by childhood abuse and an intense obsession with financial success.

Miller Ambrose is a senior state prosecutor whose arrogance and moral ambiguity make him a formidable adversary. He allows his personal grievances to dictate his professional strategies, actively attempting to obstruct opposing counsel to secure convictions.

Ella Duggan is Keera's eldest sister and the managing partner of the family law firm. While she is a steady, deliberate, and reliable administrator, she lacks the aggressive courtroom instincts of her father. She frequently takes on a caretaking role to manage her father's alcohol misuse and protect the firm's day-to-day operations.

Maggie Duggan is the middle Duggan sister who works as a paralegal and receptionist at the family firm. She is volatile and openly bitter about the toll their father's addiction takes on the family, frequently clashing with Keera over shared responsibilities.

Bernadette Duggan is the matriarch of the Duggan family who insists on regular family gatherings. She acts as a peacemaker, urging her daughters to show compassion for their father's aging and declining skills while trying to keep her family unified.

JP Harrison is the private investigator for the Duggan family firm and a former CSI detective for the Seattle Police Department. He carefully processes crime scenes to look for clues the police might have missed, helping the defense build alternative theories.

Dr. Lisa Bennet is an oncologist and Anne LaRussa's best friend. She is deeply involved in managing Anne's pain and mental health treatments following Anne's accident. She exhibits deep grief over Anne's passing but acts defensively during police questioning.

Anne LaRussa is Vince's wealthy wife, who became a wheelchair user and experienced limited mobility due to rheumatoid arthritis following a horseback riding accident four years prior. Her sudden death sets the central mystery of the narrative into motion.

Billy Ford is a Seattle police detective and Frank Rossi's partner. He assists in piecing together the evidence in homicide cases, often viewing complicated crime scenes as intriguing puzzles or locked-room mysteries.

Syd Evans is the attorney for Anne LaRussa's parents. His unusual, brief visit to Anne on the day of her murder raises questions for the investigation about the couple's prenuptial agreement.

Michelle Batista is a private investigator hired anonymously to tail Vince and Lisa. She documented their meetings, providing photographs that establish a potential motive for murder.

Dr. Litchfield is the new medical examiner handling Anne LaRussa's autopsy. He finds himself caught in the middle of a high-stakes legal battle, pressured by the prosecutor's office regarding the contents of his official reports.

Judge Maxine Hung is a strict but fair judge with a reputation for handing down maximum sentences. She does not tolerate incompetence from either the defense or the prosecution and holds a past professional rivalry with Patsy Duggan.

Mary C. Bell is Vince LaRussa's former grammar school teacher. She provides the defense team with early insights into Vince's childhood behavior and early business ventures.

Eric Fields is a former classmate of Vince LaRussa who recalls childhood incidents demonstrating Vince's lifelong fixation on profit and money.

Spencer Tickman is Vince's former college fraternity brother. He was present during an incident where Vince served as the fraternity's treasurer, shedding light on Vince's early adulthood.

Phil McPherson is a wealth manager who formerly worked for Vince's firm. He left the firm after experiencing Vince's explosive temper firsthand and provides insight into the opaque nature of Vince's business practices.

Stephanie Bowers is Vince LaRussa's elderly mother, who lives in poverty. She is paid by her son to remain quiet and out of sight, harboring grim secrets about his abusive upbringing and the trauma he endured.

Cliff Larson is an accountant whose unsolved, brutal murder in 2022 haunts the Seattle Police Department and eventually ties into the broader mysteries surrounding Seattle's wealthy elite.

Judge Valle is a fair and impartial judge who handles the initial bail hearings for the LaRussa case, adhering strictly to the guidelines regarding flight risks for wealthy suspects.