Claire is a wife and mother living in a rural area. She experiences deep, quiet anxiety following her husband's discovery of a dead body during a fishing trip. She is an ordinary woman facing the ever-present threat of male violence, whose physical and socioeconomic traits are left entirely unstated. She relies on small acts of physical distancing, such as sleeping on the sofa, to cope with her marital unease.

Stuart is a traditional man who prioritizes outdoor recreation with his friends, often drinking beer and playing cards. He recently discovered a dead woman's body while camping near the Naches River but chose to finish his trip before contacting authorities. He exhibits a callous detachment toward the deceased and dismisses his wife's attempts to express her fears. He prefers to handle marital conflict with anger or by escaping into alcohol.

Dean is the young son of Claire and Stuart. While he largely remains off-page, his presence draws a clear boundary between the parental approaches of his mother and father. He represents innocence and vulnerability in a world his mother views as inherently dangerous.

Marnie is a salon technician who attends to Claire shortly after the news of the murder breaks. She serves as a rare point of female connection for Claire, providing a temporary environment away from the tension of the family home.

Arlene Hubley is a young girl from Claire's childhood hometown who was killed and thrown into the Cle Elum River. Though long dead, her horrific fate left a lasting impression on Claire.

An unnamed driver who repeatedly passes and follows Claire's car on a rural road. When Claire pulls over, he approaches her vehicle, visually assesses her body, and attempts to coax her out of the locked car. He acts entitled to her time, addressing her casually as "sugar."

An unnamed local woman who has known the recent murder victim since she was a little girl baking cookies. She shares news about the killer's arrest with Claire, though her information fails to provide any true comfort regarding the broader threat of violence.

The mother of Stuart and mother-in-law to Claire. She calls the family home during dinner, setting off the initial tension regarding who might be trying to reach Stuart about his fishing trip.

An unnamed victim of extreme violence whose body is found entirely unclothed. Rather than immediately contacting authorities, the fishermen tie her by the wrist to a tree so she will not wash away. She functions as a catalyst for the escalating tension in Claire's marriage.

A group of unnamed men who accompany Stuart on his weekend trip. They choose to continue drinking, playing cards, and fishing for two days rather than cutting their recreation short to report a dead body.