The Mirror

Nora Roberts

The Mirror

Nora Roberts
62 pages2-hour read
Fiction
Novel
Adult
Published in 2024

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Character List

Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.

Major Characters

Sonya is a 28-year-old graphic designer who inherits the grand, sea-facing Poole Manor in Maine from her late uncle. She possesses the characteristic green eyes of the Poole family and a strong, adaptable nature. Rather than fleeing the supernatural occurrences in her new home, she chooses to face them directly by living actively and fearlessly. She works hard to establish her freelance design business while investigating her complicated family history.

Key Relationships

Romantic interest of Oliver (Trey) Doyle III

Cousin of Owen Poole

Adversary of Hester Dobbs

Daughter of Andrew (Drew) MacTavish

Granddaughter of Lillian (Clover) Poole

Niece of Collin Poole

Daughter of Winter

Ex-fiancé of Brandon Wise

Owner of Yoda

Cleo is a 28-year-old artist and children's book illustrator originally from New Orleans. She moves into Poole Manor at Sonya's invitation and quickly claims a studio space for her oil painting. Embracing her Louisiana Creole heritage, she uses tools like white sage and protective talismans to ward off dark magic. She handles the manor's haunting with irreverent humor, purposefully starving the evil spirits of the fear they crave.

Key Relationships

Best friend of Sonya MacTavish

Romantic interest of Owen Poole

Granddaughter of Imogene

Daughter of Jackson

Daughter of Melly

Owner of Pyewacket

Trey is a 32-year-old lawyer based in Maine. He comes from a prominent local legal family and frequently takes on pro bono cases to help vulnerable clients. He has dark hair, blue eyes ringed in black, and a patient, empathetic personality. Though he actively protects the people he cares about, he respects the independence of the women in his life.

Key Relationships

Romantic partner of Sonya MacTavish

Best friend of Owen Poole

Son of Oliver (Deuce) Doyle II

Son of Corinne

Brother of Anna

Lawyer for Marlo

Owner of Mookie

Owen is a ruggedly handsome ship-maker and carpenter with dark brown hair and light green eyes. As a member of the extended Poole family, he shares Sonya's ability to enter the mirror timelines. He is highly skilled at drafting and building, designing a custom boat featuring carved mermaids. He willingly physically confronts the evil forces in the manor to protect his friends.

Key Relationships

Romantic interest of Cleopatra (Cleo) Fabares

Cousin of Sonya MacTavish

Cousin of Clarice Poole

Owner of Jones

Hester is the hostile spirit haunting Poole Manor. Always appearing in a black wedding dress, she has wild dark hair and intimidating features. As a witch who died by suicide in 1806, she bound her curse to the house, ensuring tragedy for generations of Poole brides. She draws power from objects she has stolen and feeds heavily on the fear and grief of the living inhabitants.

Key Relationships

Murderer of Astrid Granville Poole

Enemy of Arthur Poole

Supporting Characters

Clover is the spirit of a 19-year-old girl who died in childbirth in 1965. As Sonya's grandmother, she acts as a benevolent guardian within the manor. Unlike the brooding ghosts typical of haunted houses, Clover is playful and deeply engaged with the present day. She communicates primarily by manipulating modern electronics to play culturally relevant songs that express warnings, approval, or joy.

Key Relationships

Grandmother of Sonya MacTavish

Wife of Charlie Poole

Mother of Collin Poole

Mother of Andrew (Drew) MacTavish

Collin was the twin brother of Drew, separated from him at birth and raised by Gretta Poole under the strict orders of the family matriarch. A talented artist, he painted beautiful portraits of the historical brides who died in the manor. Though he never met his twin in life, he worked to break the family's toxic patterns by ensuring Sonya inherited the estate.

Key Relationships

Twin brother of Andrew (Drew) MacTavish

Husband of Johanna

Adopted son of Gretta Poole

Drew was separated from his twin brother Collin shortly after their mother's death. Adopted by the MacTavish family, he grew up unaware of his biological origins or the cursed manor in Maine. Like his twin, he possessed a talent for painting. He provided Sonya with a happy, normal childhood before passing away when she was young.

Key Relationships

Father of Sonya MacTavish

Twin brother of Collin Poole

Husband of Winter

Patricia was the iron-fisted matriarch of the Poole family during the mid-20th century. A controlling bully with sandy brown hair and light blue eyes, she manipulated her family members to suit her desires. She famously held her engagement party at Poole Manor but refused to ever set foot in the house afterward, locking it away for two decades.

Key Relationships

Wife of Michael Poole

Mother of Charlie Poole

Mother of Gretta Poole

Mother of Lawrence

Grandmother of Collin Poole

Arthur is the wealthy patriarch who originally built Poole Manor. An immigrant from England who started with nothing, he built a highly successful shipbuilding business in Maine. He fiercely protects his family and refuses to be intimidated by dark forces.

Key Relationships

Enemy of Hester Dobbs

Astrid is the first bride of Poole Manor to die under mysterious circumstances. Her death on her wedding day sparked the centuries-long curse surrounding the house.

Key Relationships

Victim of Hester Dobbs

Johanna was the seventh bride to move into Poole Manor. She married Collin Poole but died shortly after her wedding, adding to the house's tragic legacy.

Key Relationships

Wife of Collin Poole

Victim of Hester Dobbs

Charlie was Sonya's grandfather. He defied his domineering mother to live freely with Clover, filling Poole Manor with music and art before his untimely death by suicide.

Key Relationships

Father of Collin Poole

Father of Andrew (Drew) MacTavish

Gretta is Patricia's daughter. Now suffering from memory issues in an assisted living facility, she carries deep-seated resentment and trauma from her youth. She was forced by her mother to raise her nephew Collin as her own son.

Key Relationships

Adoptive mother of Collin Poole

Patient of Jen

Deuce is Trey's father and a senior attorney at the Doyle law firm. He was Collin Poole's best friend and attorney, and he helps Sonya understand the complicated past of the Poole family matriarchs.

Key Relationships

Husband of Corinne

Friend of Collin Poole

Corinne is Trey's mother. She is heavily involved in the community and readily offers hands-on help to those in crisis, such as organizing a yard sale to assist a victim of domestic abuse.

Key Relationships

Wife of Oliver (Deuce) Doyle II

Imogene is Cleo's grand-mère. A wise and highly intuitive Creole woman, she senses the spiritual battle occurring at Poole Manor. She provides Cleo and Sonya with protective talismans and practical advice on starving the evil entity.

Key Relationships

Winter is Sonya's mother. She raised Sonya in Boston alongside her husband Drew. Though she remains safely away from the supernatural dangers of the manor, she provides Sonya with essential emotional support.

Key Relationships

Mother of Sonya MacTavish

Widow of Andrew (Drew) MacTavish

Marlo is a woman dealing with a violent and abusive ex-husband. She relies on Trey for pro bono legal representation to help secure her safety and reclaim her life.

Key Relationships

Ex-wife of Wes

Brandon is Sonya's former fiancé and a rival graphic designer. He previously broke her heart by sleeping with her cousin, and he continues to badmouth her professionally in an attempt to steal clients.

Key Relationships

Ex-fiancé of Sonya MacTavish

Clarice is Owen's cousin. She works in the family's shipbuilding business and owns antique items similar to a vintage compact Sonya finds. She shares frank stories about Patricia's controlling behavior.

Key Relationships

Cousin of Owen Poole

Molly is the friendly spirit of an Irish woman who died of the Spanish flu. She acts as the manor's resident housekeeper, providing beautifully arranged meals and clothes to help Sonya and Cleo.

Key Relationships

Housekeeper for Sonya MacTavish

Jack is the spirit of a young boy who died before turning ten. He frequently entertains the manor's pets so the humans can work in peace, occasionally leaving notes written in childish cursive.

Key Relationships

Playmate of Yoda