As one of the novel’s protagonists, Matt Shank is a dynamic and round character whose journey forces him to confront a horrifying inheritance and determine whether he will follow in his grandfather’s footsteps or decide his own path. He begins the story as a man defined by his ambition and a fierce desire for self-made success through his restaurant, Adobo. Matt’s entire life is centered on his work throughout the novel, and, as Jason reminds Sam, Matt has never hidden the fact that his career is his priority above all personal relationships. Matt’s career and his restaurant, which offers his contemporary take on Marisol’s Filipino recipes, represent a positive connection to his grandmother’s legacy, standing in contrast to the destructive, violent legacy of his paternal side. This juxtaposition is a source of tension for Matt throughout the novel, complicated by the fact that his character is marked by a volatile temper, a trait that connects him directly to the theme of Fighting a Legacy of Inherited Violence.

The pivotal event of the novel occurs when a heated confrontation with his employee, PJ Wu, results in PJ’s accidental death. This shatters Matt’s world and serves as the catalyst for his near-descent to his grandfather’s level as he turns to Edward to help cover up the crime. His earlier discovery of a buried crate containing Edward’s trophies—literal and figurative skeletons—has already triggered Matt’s central conflict: the choice between exposing the truth or protecting his own future. With PJ’s death, Matt instinctively goes to his grandfather to solve the problem, as he has throughout his life, but this time, with more serious moral consequences. However, Matt’s arc is ultimately one of redemption. Upon learning that Edward is actually his biological father, Matt rejects the monstrous legacy. In the final moments, he refuses to kill Edward and turns his attention to saving Sam, even though she can expose the crimes of both him and his grandfather, because doing so “would mean I’m like him” (319). This decision signifies his ultimate break from the cycle of violence, giving Matt the opportunity to reclaim his morality and atone for his crimes.

Sam is the novel’s other protagonist, a determined and inquisitive true-crime writer whose professional pursuits are inextricably linked to her personal history. A round and dynamic character, Sam’s investigation into the Beacon Hill Butcher case is driven by the conviction that he was responsible for her mother’s unsolved murder. This quest embodies the theme of The Blurred Lines Between Justice and Vengeance. Her work is more than a career; it is an attempt to address and heal from the trauma of losing her mother.

Sam is smart and driven, characteristics exhibited through her already successful true-crime writing career. Her personal life is characterized by a deep-seated longing for stability, which comes into direct conflict with her relationship with Matt, who consistently prioritizes work over their relationship. As Matt withdraws further, Sam too withdraws into her investigation, and her investigation, which questions Edward’s capture and killing of the Butcher, places further strain on their relationship.

Sam’s drive for truth is both her greatest strength and her greatest vulnerability, leading her to take significant risks to uncover the Butcher’s identity. The revelation that Edward Shank is the killer validates her long-held theories but places her directly in the path of the man who murdered her mother. Her survival and subsequent decision to end her relationship with Matt represent her liberation from the shadows of the past, a freedom that is further underscored by the fact that she turns down lucrative deals to write about her ordeal, instead choosing to spend time on physical and emotional healing and her burgeoning relationship with Jason. She emerges from the ordeal wounded but not broken, finally free to build a future unburdened by the ghosts she has chased her entire life.

Jason Sullivan serves as a foil to Matt Shank and a loyal confidant to Sam Marquez. A former NFL quarterback, Jason possesses a relaxed confidence and emotional intelligence that contrasts with Matt’s intense, often volatile ambition. He is a static, round character whose primary role is to act as a voice of reason and a moral center for the protagonists. His friendship with Sam is a cornerstone of the narrative, providing her with the steadfast support and brotherly protection that Matt fails to offer. Having known her since childhood, he understands her history and motivations deeply, and his comments and behavior imply that he has a long-standing romantic interest in Sam. While he supports her investigation, he also grounds her, cautioning her about the dangers of her obsession. His integrity and genuinely platonic love for her are cemented by his constant reassurance: “I am always on your side, okay?” (101). The end of the novel, in which Sam and Jason share fast-food tacos, highlights their bond and his difference from Matt, who they both agree would never eat fast-food tacos, illustrating both their commonality and their difference from Matt.

PJ is a flat, static minor character whose significance lies in his role as a catalyst for Matt Shank’s moral decline. As both a long-time friend and an employee, his relationship with Matt is fraught with tension that highlights Matt’s escalating anger and inability to maintain control. PJ attempts to rein in Matt’s emotional volatility at work, an attempt that ironically leads to his death. PJ’s accidental death at Matt’s hands during an argument is the novel’s pivotal turning point, and it metaphorically highlights how Matt is turning away from his friends, isolating himself. This event pushes Matt from a state of internal conflict over his temper to one of active complicity in a crime, as he turns to Edward for help and entangles himself in the Shank family’s legacy of secrecy.