Cork is the former sheriff of Tamarack County, holding a complicated position in the community due to his mixed Irish and Anishinaabe heritage. Following a tragic shooting at a spearfishing protest a year prior, he lost his job and withdrew into deep grief, which ultimately strained his marriage to the breaking point. Despite his removal from elected office, many local residents—particularly those on the reservation—still view him as a trusted authority figure and turn to him for help.

Molly is a waitress at the Pinewood Broiler who wholly embraces the physical challenges of the northern Minnesota environment. As a descendant of Finnish immigrants, she regularly skis to work across the frozen lake and takes traditional saunas. She ignores the town's gossip about her personal life and expects directness and respect in her new romance with Cork.

Jo is a sharply intelligent lawyer who relocated to Aurora from Chicago with Cork ten years ago. She runs her own independent law firm, representing both white and Anishinaabe clients in high-stakes local matters. Frustrated by Cork's emotional withdrawal following his career-ending tragedy, she has asked him for a divorce and is focusing on her professional future.

Henry is an Anishinaabe elder and a recognized member of the Midewiwin, the Grand Medicine Society. He lives independently in an isolated cabin on Crow Point, accompanied by his dog Walleye. He acts as an unofficial spiritual mentor to Cork, warning him about mythological forces like the Windigo and interpreting natural omens.

Sandy is a wealthy local real estate developer who was recently elected to the United States Senate. Through his company, Great North Development, he acts as a bridge between the white business community and the Iron Lake reservation's new casino. He plans to move to Washington, D.C., soon and projects a polished, liberal public image that sharply contrasts with his father's conservatism.

Father Tom is a Catholic priest assigned to revive the old mission on the Iron Lake reservation. Known affectionately as "St. Kawasaki" for riding a motorcycle in summer and a snowmobile in winter, he prefers jeans and flannel to traditional clerical vestments. He is deeply invested in the Anishinaabe community, carrying both a physical eye patch and emotional scars from previous missionary work in Central America.

Wally is the current sheriff of Tamarack County, taking over the position following Cork's recall election. He is a tall, hollow-cheeked man trying to manage the demands of local law enforcement while shouldering the heavy personal burden of caring for his wife, who has early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He recognizes his limitations with the Anishinaabe community and frequently relies on Cork for informal assistance.

Judge Parrant is a powerful and deeply conservative political figure in Tamarack County. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, he lives in an imposing house filled with hunting trophies. His sudden death from an apparent suicide in his home office sets off the central investigation of the story, leaving behind a legacy of financial and political leverage over the community.

Darla is a white woman living in the Aurora area who instinctively turns to Cork—rather than the current sheriff—when she needs help. She was previously married to a local Anishinaabe basketball star and retains a fierce protective instinct over her teenage son, fearing he has been taken by his estranged father.

Paul is a dedicated teenager who takes his job delivering newspapers seriously, braving severe winter weather to complete his route. He goes missing shortly after entering Judge Parrant's house, sparking a frantic search by his mother and the local community.

Joe John is an Anishinaabe man and former high school basketball star whose athletic career ended tragically following a car accident. He struggles with alcohol use disorder and operates an office cleaning service. He has been missing for two months, leading many to assume he relapsed and abandoned his life.

Wanda is a fierce advocate for the Anishinaabe community who runs the women's shelter on the Iron Lake reservation. She is a recognized member of the Midewiwin, marked by a Wisdom Tree tattoo, and refuses to cooperate with white law enforcement out of historical distrust.

Sam was Cork's lifelong mentor and a deeply respected figure on the Iron Lake reservation who stepped in as a father figure after Cork's biological father died. His death during a violent spearfishing protest a year ago serves as the catalyst for Cork's personal crisis and professional downfall.

Russell is the manager of the Chippewa Grand Casino and an ambitious leader among the younger generation of the Iron Lake tribe. He holds deep animosity toward Cork, viewing him as an agent of systemic oppression who failed to protect the Anishinaabe people during the spearfishing protests.

Rose is Jo's sister and lives with the O'Connor family, having moved in shortly after their oldest daughter was born. She acts as a secondary caretaker for her nieces and nephew, keeping the household running while Jo focuses on her legal career.

Jenny is Cork and Jo's fourteen-year-old daughter. She is highly observant of the marital tension between her parents and frequently checks in on her father's living conditions at Sam's Place, showing concern for his well-being.

Anne is Cork and Jo's eleven-year-old daughter. She possesses a strong affinity for the natural world, taking responsibility for a pair of injured geese that she names Romeo and Juliet, and eagerly listens to her father's stories about Anishinaabe traditions.

Stevie is Cork and Jo's five-year-old son. As the youngest member of the household, he is somewhat insulated from the deeper tensions of his parents' separation.

Arletta is Sheriff Wally Schanno's wife, described as a woman of rare beauty with striking blue eyes. She suffers from early-onset Alzheimer's disease, requiring constant supervision to prevent her from wandering off into the harsh winter environment.

Harlan is a hostile and reclusive taxidermist who lives in isolation outside of Aurora. He is associated with the Minnesota Civilian Brigade, a local white supremacy group, and maintains a highly aggressive stance toward any visitors to his property.

Helmuth is a local journalist and editor who uses his newspaper columns to promote hard-right political views. He actively despises Cork and used his media influence to help drive the recall election that stripped Cork of his sheriff's badge.

Sigurd is the local mortician who also serves as Tamarack County's elected coroner. He owes his political position to Judge Parrant's influence and frequently clashes with Cork, preferring to rush through investigations rather than look for complicated answers.

Ernie is Henry Meloux's nephew. He works at the reservation's newly built casino, handling administrative tasks and equipment management for outside vendors.

Stu is a local realtor who finds himself on the opposing end of one of Jo's civil lawsuits. He freely expresses prejudiced assumptions about the Anishinaabe community, erroneously conflating different Indigenous groups and complaining about casino wealth.

Jack the Ripper is Harlan Lytton's aggressively trained guard dog. Rumored to have been trained to kill on command, the dog patrols the perimeter of Harlan's isolated property to keep trespassers away.