Kate is a former art historian and current prison visitor volunteer living a comfortable, affluent life in London. Initially presenting herself as a perceptive and socially conscious woman, her world shatters when she discovers her late husband's intimate secrets broadcast on a popular television show. This revelation exposes the fragility of her supposedly perfect marriage and forces her to confront a devastating betrayal, pushing her to seek answers from the show's creator.

Phoebe is a sharp and cynical television writer who has just achieved major success with her new series, *Cheating*. Raised by a bitter single mother, she harbors deep intergenerational resentment toward the affluent baby boomer class. She uses her writing to process her family's past trauma, channeling her grievances into her work while maintaining a hardened, unapologetic public persona.

Jack is a successful London architect with a passion for smart home technology and modern gadgets. He shares a deeply private, code-filled relationship with his wife, Kate, while projecting outward devotion. His sudden death leaves behind a legacy of secrets that contradict his seemingly ideal persona, kicking off the story's central mystery.

Tony is a gentle primary school teacher and aspiring folk musician who lives with his partner, Phoebe. Unlike Phoebe, he is passive and disconnected from the cynical world of television production. He finds himself bewildered when a series of unsettling events and accusations begin to target their home, placing immense strain on his quiet life.

Sarah is Phoebe and Tristan's mother, a woman who lives in a gloomy London basement flat. Her life has been defined by a deep sense of victimization stemming from a devastating university heartbreak decades earlier. This long-held bitterness shapes her children's lives, as she passes down her resentment and cultivates a toxic, emotionally demanding environment.

Conor is a polite, wealthy finance professional who previously served time in prison for a crime he was tricked into committing. Mentored by Kate during his incarceration, he credits her with saving his life. Now incredibly wealthy due to cryptocurrency investments, he handles his past betrayals with a slow, highly calculated approach to retribution.

Tristan is Phoebe's twin brother who has escaped their mother's toxic influence by relocating to Australia. Though he shares a deep bond with his sister and understands their complex family dynamics, his physical and emotional distance leaves Phoebe to bear the brunt of their mother's demands alone.

Daphne is a senior civil servant and Kate's oldest, most loyal friend. She represents stability and conventionality in Kate's social world, offering immense comfort and practical support following Jack's sudden passing. Her well-meaning insistence on routine inadvertently leads Kate to the shocking discovery about her husband.

Aloysius is a pragmatic and commercially driven literary and television agent who represents Phoebe Mull. He prioritizes marketability over ethics, actively encouraging Phoebe to embrace the darker, amoral elements of her writing to generate buzz and publicity for her series.

Michael is an old friend of Kate and Jack, an affluent member of the baby boomer generation who enjoys the comforts of his heavily renovated London property. He represents the comfortable, property-rich class that sparks resentment from younger generations.

Tanya is Michael's wife and a longtime friend of the Hittlestones. She shares her husband's affluent lifestyle, living in a meticulously designed home that serves as a status symbol of their generational wealth.

Katrina is a millennial journalist married to Aloysius Jones. During social gatherings with older, wealthier couples, she struggles to mask her weariness and intergenerational resentment regarding their unearned economic advantages.

Carlos is a dry, analytical psychotherapist who begins treating Kate after she experiences a mental health crisis. Though initially irritating to Kate, his sessions provide her with the space to recount her past and process her complicated marriage.

Ambrose is a former friend of Conor who betrayed him by tricking him into holding a suitcase of drugs, leading to Conor's wrongful imprisonment. He is now the target of Conor's patient and calculated revenge.

Detective Sergeant Clarke is a police officer who takes the reports of the bizarre deliveries and online attacks targeting Phoebe's home. He systematically dismisses their concerns, attributing the incidents to the acceptable costs of public exposure.

Hester is a defense lawyer retained to assist Tony Mull after his sudden arrest. She pragmatically handles the legal system, advising her clients on the grim statistical realities of the Crown Prosecution Service's case.

Gary is Tristan Mull's partner. The couple plans to marry and move to Tasmania, further solidifying Tristan's distance from his family's London-based drama.