Mary is a 49-year-old woman experiencing what a doctor quickly dismisses as textbook perimenopause. Fired from her bookstore job for her age, she returns to her hometown of Arroyo, Arizona, to care for her aging aunt. Plagued by terrifying visions of decomposing middle-aged women and a harsh inner monologue, Mary struggles with intense feelings of invisibility and the lingering trauma of her childhood institutionalization at a place called Clearview.

Damon Cross is a historical figure in Arroyo, known as the "Jane Doe Killer" who removed all identifying characteristics from his middle-aged victims before disposing of them. He died decades ago at the Cross House, leaving behind a dark legacy and mysterious journals that deeply influence the town's culture and history. His crimes shape much of the modern fascination and fear within the community.

Nadine is Mary's aging, crude aunt who raised her after Mary's parents died in a fire. She lives in a dirty, darkened house with her dog, Chipotle, relies on an oxygen tank, and harbors deep paranoia regarding the people at the Cross House. She holds crucial answers regarding Mary's troubled childhood and her stay at the Clearview institution.

Dr. Burton is Arroyo's primary physician and a powerful, unquestioned leader within the community. He operates out of the Cross House and maintains strict control over the town, enforcing rules like blocking internet access for security reasons. He relies on his authority to silence the women around him and protect the insular nature of Arroyo.

Eleanor is a teenager who works in the File Room at the Cross House. Despite her youthful, innocent appearance—which reminds Mary of her cherished porcelain figurines—she harbors an intense fascination with true crime and creates disturbing drawings of serial killer victims. She becomes a swift confidant for Mary as they investigate the town's history together.

Jane Mayhew is a figure from Arroyo's past whose medical file Mary uncovers in the Cross House basement. Before becoming one of Damon Cross's victims, Jane was a well-regarded poet who published several collections of her work. She represents the forgotten, silenced women of the town's history who suffered under male violence.

Nancy is a kind nurse working at the Cross House hospital who actively tries to build community in Arroyo, such as by organizing a local Easter egg hunt. She stands out as one of the few people to offer Mary genuine care, providing her with a job in the File Room and suggesting homeopathic remedies to help with her distress.

Victor is the intensely private gardener at the Cross House. He possesses deep knowledge about the mansion's crawlspaces and the strange occurrences on the property, frequently warning Mary to stop asking questions and to ignore the unsettling things she witnesses in the basement.

Anna-Louise is a woman in Arroyo who helps run a local tea and crystal shop with her mother, Barb. She is a former childhood classmate of Mary who suffered a severe brain injury when she was young. In adulthood, she holds strong beliefs about reincarnation and the lingering connections between past and present lives.

Barb runs a homeopathic store in Arroyo, selling teas and colorful crystals. She serves as a gatekeeper of sorts for the town's more esoteric beliefs and acts as a fiercely protective caretaker for her daughter, Anna-Louise, following a childhood tragedy.

Carole is an adult working at the Cross House school and one of Mary's former childhood bullies. She remains in Arroyo as an active part of the community, carrying the history of how she and her friends treated Mary during their school years.

Bonnie is Eleanor's mother and another of Mary's former childhood bullies. She continues to live in Arroyo, where she treats her teenage daughter with condescension, creating friction in their household while maintaining her longstanding social ties with Carole.

Wallace is a highly talkative little boy who attends the school located at the Cross House. His constant chatter and need for attention severely test Mary's patience when she is asked to help supervise the children on the playground.