A young, intelligent Scotsman who trained as a lawyer at Cambridge before abandoning his studies. Fleeing family troubles, he arrives at the New Zealand goldfields seeking fortune. As an impartial outsider newly arrived in Hokitika, he becomes the sounding board for the local men gathered to discuss a series of strange events.

A 21-year-old woman from Sydney who travels to the New Zealand goldfields seeking financial independence. She finds herself coerced into sex work and trapped by mounting debts. She struggles with severe opium and laudanum addiction, leaving her highly vulnerable to the controlling men operating in the frontier town.

A wealthy, idealistic 21-year-old prospector from Sydney. Known for his striking good luck and sudden financial success, his unexplained disappearance on the night of January 14 deeply unsettles the town and sets off a wide-reaching investigation.

A charming, highly manipulative businesswoman who operates gambling parlors and fortune-telling enterprises. She uses her keen understanding of people to con them and secure power on the colonial frontier, showing little remorse for those she ruins in the process.

A tall, intimidating ship captain with a dark past involving smuggling and a stint in a penal colony. He uses coercion and violence to further his aggressive pursuit of wealth, making enemies across the settlements.

A reclusive English digger who lived in a small cabin in the Arahura Valley. Though he previously struck it rich on the goldfields, his fortunes quickly turned, leading him to a solitary, alcohol-dependent life before his sudden demise.

A middle-aged Chinese man who operates an opium den in the Kaniere mining camp. Hailing from a formerly prosperous family in Canton ruined by the Opium Wars, he lives a solitary life fueled by a deep desire for revenge against the man who destroyed his family's livelihood.

A young banker at the Reserve Bank in Hokitika. Born in New Zealand, he affects an English sensibility to mask his humble background. Despite his quiet demeanor, he possesses a strong moral compass and manages the town's surging wealth.

The Jewish owner and editor of the West Coast Times. He is principled, proud of his business, and adheres to a strict ethical code. He provides an important hub of information through his daily newspaper, often piecing together clues from advertisements.

The 43-year-old manager of the Gridiron Hotel. He purchases Crosbie Wells's estate shortly after the hermit's death. He views himself as a caretaker but often crosses the line into invasive control over the people living under his roof.

An impulsive, wealthy English gold magnate who owns an opera house and invests heavily in local claims. He is bombastic, openly prejudiced, and views the people around him as commodities meant to serve his businesses.

An indentured Chinese gold digger working the Aurora mine. Driven by a desire to earn enough to return home, he works tirelessly while enduring the intense prejudice of the colonial frontier. He maintains a strict personal stance against opium use.

A handsome, proud Māori man from the Poutini Ngai Tahu people. Displaced by colonial land purchases, he earns his living gathering valuable greenstone and acting as a guide. He carries a deep sense of loss for his ancestral lands.

Hokitika's sole chemist and pharmacist. Intense and moody, he lives an isolated life while controlling the town's supply of laudanum and opium, making him essential to the local population.

A cheerful, talkative shipping agent. Having made his fortune following various global gold rushes, he embodies the successful colonial opportunist and uses his wealth to aid his political allies in the new settlements.

An imposing, ambitious politician campaigning for a newly created parliamentary seat in Westland. He projects a forceful public image that hides personal vulnerabilities and damaging past indiscretions.

The rigid, vindictive governor of the Hokitika prison. He professes a strict adherence to law and duty but harbors deep-seated racial prejudices and a personal desire for vengeance regarding his brother's tragic death.

A gentle, modest Free Methodist reverend who serves as the prison chaplain. He is one of the few men in town who treats marginalized citizens, including sex workers and addicts, with genuine compassion.

A Norwegian commission merchant who appreciates the finer things in life. He handles the sale of Crosbie Wells's estate, a position that accidentally subjects him to severe pressure and financial extortion from local authorities.

A slim, elegant French junior clerk at the Hokitika courthouse. He manages the legal bureaucracy of the town, collecting bails and filing paperwork, and occasionally uses his position to show unexpected mercy to those in trouble.

The fearful wife of Governor Shepard. Previously married to his brother, she is trapped in a tense, silent marriage marked by past tragedies and her husband's intense, demanding nature.