Jonathan is a former British soldier who operates as a night manager at luxury hotels, living a quiet and isolated life. Haunted by a sense of failure from his time in Cairo, he is recruited by a British intelligence agency to infiltrate a dangerous criminal syndicate. He is highly observant and capable, masking his trauma and military skills beneath a polished, accommodating exterior.

Richard is a charismatic, wealthy English arms dealer who publicly poses as a legitimate international entrepreneur. Known by intelligence agencies as "the worst man in the world," he trades in massive illegal weapons deals masked by offshore companies and corporate bureaucracy. He is deeply cynical, viewing global conflicts merely as market opportunities.

Burr is the zealous, idealistic head of a small, under-resourced British enforcement agency. A pragmatic man with a blunt Yorkshire demeanor, he views the fight against Roper as a personal crusade. He attempts to circumvent corrupt intelligence rivals within Whitehall to bring his primary target to justice.

Jed is Richard Roper's beautiful mistress and the chatelaine of his private island, Crystal. Her public persona is one of witty, carefree worldliness, masking a growing unease with her gilded cage. Raised in a convent school, she begins to reclaim her suppressed moral compass as she interacts with Jonathan.

Corkoran is Roper's cynical, debauched right-hand man and legal cutout. A disgraced ex-army officer, "Corky" signs his name to Roper's illicit deals, accepting extreme legal vulnerability in exchange for immense wealth. He uses camp wit and heavy drinking as a shield, but possesses a sharp, perceptive intelligence.

Rex is an idealistic, high-minded Whitehall mandarin who champions Burr's small enforcement agency. Driven by a reforming zeal, he attempts to dismantle corrupt factions within British intelligence to support the investigation into Roper. He uses his bureaucratic influence to protect the operation but faces immense pushback.

Sophie is the beautiful, sophisticated mistress of a dangerous Cairo hotel owner. Possessing a fierce moral conscience, she discovers her lover's illicit arms deals with Roper and attempts to expose them. Her courage sets the entire plot in motion and serves as the moral anchor for the protagonist.

Darker is the sinister head of the Procurement Studies Group at the River House. He represents the institutional corruption within British intelligence, viewing international arms dealers as geopolitical assets to be managed rather than prosecuted. He actively sabotages efforts to investigate Roper.

Mark is the second man at the British Embassy in Cairo and an intelligence operative. He is a pompous functionary who prioritizes the neat handling of intelligence over the protection of his sources.

Rob is Leonard Burr's pragmatic second-in-command and a retired army officer. He serves as a stabilizing, cautious counterpoint to Burr's impassioned idealism, providing essential training and logistical support for Jonathan's deep-cover operation.

Joe is an intense American law enforcement officer driven to stop Roper from arming South American drug cartels. Like Burr, he is an idealist operating within a compromised system, frequently frustrated by the political maneuvering of intelligence agencies.

Apostoll is the chief lawyer and intermediary for the Colombian drug cartels. Coerced into cooperating with US and UK intelligence, he acts as a key informant regarding Roper's massive arms-for-cocaine deals.

Harry is a deeply compromised legal adviser working for Darker's faction within British intelligence. Caught between rival agencies, he attempts to play both sides, supplying information to Goodhew while remaining under Darker's thumb.

Freddie is a wealthy, dangerous Egyptian gangster and part-owner of the Queen Nefertiti Hotel. His business arrangements with Richard Roper draw the scrutiny of intelligence services, sparking the novel's initial tragedy.

Daniel is Richard Roper's beloved eight-year-old son. He spends time on his father's private island and represents one of the few genuine emotional attachments in the arms dealer's life.

Yvonne is the sharp young daughter of Canadian hotel proprietors. She engages in a passionate affair with Jonathan, ultimately being manipulated into providing him with crucial documentation for his cover identity.

Sir Anthony is a corrupt former associate of Roper's with deep ties to Whitehall. He acts as an arms procurer and inside contact, skimming money from deals while operating at the intersection of government and crime.

Sandy is an aristocratic associate of Roper's and a known crook. He assists in the logistical and legal management of Roper's massive arms transactions, acting as a key player in the syndicate.

Caroline is Sandy Langbourne's unhappy wife. Her deep dissatisfaction with the criminal world she has married into serves as a warning and catalyst for Jed's own moral awakening.

Mrs. Trethewey is a sharp-witted local postmistress in Cornwall who interacts with Jonathan during his deep-cover phase as Jack Linden. She tracks local gossip and pieces together a fabricated profile of his criminal persona.

Marilyn is the quiet daughter of the Cornish postmistress. She develops a guarded attachment to Jonathan during his time as Jack Linden, highlighting the emotional collateral damage of his undercover work.

Frisky is one of Richard Roper's primary bodyguards, providing muscle and constant, subtle surveillance on the island of Crystal.

Tabby is another of Roper's loyal bodyguards, working alongside Frisky to enforce Roper's commands and monitor guests at the compound.