Lionel is a thirty-something aspiring detective who grew up in a boys' home in Brooklyn. He has Tourette's syndrome, a condition that causes him to produce uncontrollable verbal outbursts and physical tics, isolating him socially. Rescued from the orphanage by Frank Minna, Lionel fiercely values his place among the "Minna Men" employees. When his mentor is killed, Lionel uses his obsessive attention to detail and stubborn persistence to investigate the murder.

Frank is a charismatic small-time neighborhood hood who runs L&L, a moving and car service that fronts as a makeshift detective agency. Decades earlier, he recruited four misfits from St. Vincent's orphanage to work for him, becoming a father figure to them in the process. His sudden kidnapping and violent death launch the novel's central mystery, leaving his employees to unravel his secretive operations.

Julia is Frank's widow, possessing a dark allure and a sharply guarded demeanor. Her relationship with Frank had cooled into a tense stalemate over the years, and she maintains an uneasy, sexually charged dynamic with his young employees. Following her husband's death, she acts evasively, harboring grievances about the life Frank pulled her into.

Gilbert is one of the four original orphans recruited to be part of the "Minna Men." Growing up, he had a reputation as a minor bully who pressured weaker kids into risky pranks. As an adult, he is a steady presence at Frank's agency, frequently partnering with Lionel on street assignments.

Tony is the most confident and aggressive member of the "Minna Men" orphan crew. He operates with a perpetual sneer and an unshakeable sense of superiority. After Frank's death, Tony immediately attempts to take charge of the business, sharply dismissing Lionel's attempts to act as a real detective.

Danny is the fourth member of Frank's crew of orphans. He is characterized as an athletic man with a deep love for funk music and very little interest in intellectual pursuits, content to simply follow Frank's orders at the agency.

Kimmery is a quiet, studious young woman with short black hair and glasses who works odd jobs at the meditation center. She introduces Lionel to Buddhist philosophy, offering him koans and spiritual perspectives that provide him a rare, soothing mental quiet.

Gerard is Frank's older brother, who operates as a Buddhist teacher, or Roshi, at the Yorkville Zendo. He disappeared from Brooklyn years ago under murky circumstances. He maintains a composed, serene exterior that contrasts sharply with the violent underworld his brother inhabits.

Alphonso is an elderly, dapper Italian gangster who exerts significant control over Frank Minna's business operations. He operates in the background of Brooklyn's organized crime scene, doling out cash and speaking in riddles.

Leonardo is an old-school Italian mobster who works in tandem with Alphonso. He maintains a quiet, menacing presence over Frank's business and expects absolute loyalty from everyone operating in his Brooklyn territory.

Seminole is a city detective assigned to investigate Frank Minna's death. He is blunt and easily frustrated, frequently losing his patience with the evasiveness of Frank's associates and the uncooperative nature of the widow.

Loomis is an inspector assigned to the city's sanitation department and a personal friend of Gilbert Coney. He uses his city connections to help Lionel track down addresses and municipal information during the murder investigation.

Ullman is an accountant whose name serves as the only concrete clue Lionel has following Frank's death. His sudden murder early in the investigation raises the stakes for the remaining Minna Men.

An exceptionally tall, unidentified man whom Lionel spots shoving Frank into a vehicle at knifepoint. He operates as a formidable enforcer in the shadows of the central mystery, presenting a looming physical threat to anyone investigating the murder.