Walt is the sheriff of Absaroka County, Wyoming, and a Marine veteran of the Vietnam War. He is a man in his fifties who is still mourning the loss of his wife, Martha, leading to a period of deep melancholy and lack of motivation. He uses a self-deprecating, dry sense of humor to cope with difficult situations. Beneath his world-weary exterior, he possesses a sharp investigative mind, a broad knowledge of literature, and an unshakeable commitment to the rule of law.

Vonnie is a wealthy artist who grew up in the Wyoming area before leaving for boarding school and eventually settling in New York City. She has recently returned to Absaroka County to care for her aging mother. She carries profound internal wounds from her childhood, specifically related to her father, who died when she was twelve. Sensitive and empathetic, she begins dating Walt, creating an emotional connection that challenges his isolation.

Henry is a Northern Cheyenne man, a fellow Vietnam War veteran, and Walt's closest confidant. He runs the local bar and acts as an anchor for both the white and Indigenous communities in the area. Refusing to use contractions in his speech, Henry is highly observant, intelligent, and proactive. He refuses to let Walt waste away in grief, forcing him into a regimen of exercise and home improvement.

Vic is the highly competent undersheriff of Absaroka County who moved to Wyoming from Philadelphia. Coming from a family of police officers, she approaches her job with intense energy and little patience for small-town mundanity. She frequently speaks her mind without a filter, regularly jabbing at Walt's weight and habits. Despite her brash exterior, she is deeply committed to her law enforcement career.

Lucian is the former sheriff of Absaroka County, having held the position for over twenty-five years before passing the baton to Walt. A World War II veteran who once flew planes in China, he represents a bygone era of frontier justice. Though he resides in an assisted living facility and uses a wheelchair, he remains mentally sharp, regularly beating Walt at chess and offering unfiltered advice.

Turk is a hot-headed young deputy in the Absaroka County Sheriff's Department. Hired largely as a favor to his uncle Lucian, Turk embodies a rowdy, cowboy persona that frequently irritates his superiors. He drives a flashy, heavily decaled Pontiac Firebird and nurses ambitions to eventually take over the sheriff's office, causing significant tension between him and Walt.

Lonnie is a Northern Cheyenne man and the devoted father of Melissa. He uses a wheelchair as a result of severe diabetes and struggles to overcome his dependencies on alcohol and tobacco. Despite his physical limitations and personal vices, he desperately wants to prove to his extended family that he can provide a safe, stable home for his daughter.

Melissa is a young Northern Cheyenne woman who was born with fetal alcohol syndrome. Two years prior to the events of the novel, she survived a brutal assault. Despite her trauma and developmental challenges, she maintains an air of innocence and continues to heal with the intense support of her extended family and community.

Cody is a young man from Absaroka County who recently received a highly lenient sentence for his role in a brutal assault. He holds deeply prejudiced views and demonstrates no remorse for his past actions. His sudden death from a long-range rifle shot initiates the central investigation of the story.

Jacob is one of the young men who assaulted Melissa Little Bird. Like Cody, he demonstrates a flippant attitude toward his past crimes and soon becomes another target in the series of long-range shootings.

George is Jacob's twin brother and another of the young men convicted in Melissa's assault. Filled with mounting panic as he realizes someone is hunting him, he actively evades law enforcement and attempts to hide in the vast Bighorn Mountains.

Bryan is the fourth young man involved in the assault on Melissa, though he was convicted only as an accessory. Unlike the other defendants, he shows genuine regret for his actions and expresses a strong desire to distance himself from his former friends.

Omar is a wealthy local big game hunter and firearms expert who lives in a mansion. He assists Walt's investigation by identifying antique weaponry and providing his personal helicopter for search operations in the mountains.

Ferg is a dependable deputy in the Absaroka County Sheriff's Department. He assists Walt and Vic by running necessary errands, tracking down suspects, and guarding individuals in protective custody during the intense investigation.

Ruby serves as the secretary and dispatcher for the sheriff's office. She manages the administrative side of the department and acts as a maternal figure to Walt, freely reprimanding him when he crosses an ethical or professional line.

Cady is Walt's adult daughter who works as a lawyer in Philadelphia. She worries heavily about her father's depression and stagnation, going so far as to coordinate with his friends to set him up on dates in hopes of helping him move forward.

Martha is Walt's deceased wife. Her death a few years prior deeply affected Walt, leaving him in a prolonged period of mourning and creating a sense of emotional paralysis that he struggles to overcome.

Jules is a kindhearted local resident who struggles with severe alcohol dependency. He experiences a violent altercation with Deputy Turk Connally, resulting in bruises that anger Walt when he discovers what happened.