A thirty-something British aristocrat who suffers from traumatic World War I memories. He has built a formidable reputation as an amateur detective with keen observational skills. Beneath a sometimes frivolous exterior, he hides a logical mind that responds strongly to the mathematical precision of change ringing.

Wimsey's unflappable manservant who has been in his employ for 15 years. The two men served together in the military. He is perfectly prepared for any eventuality, demonstrating an easy charm that makes him quite capable of extracting information from witnesses.

The jovial, somewhat absent-minded curate in charge of the parish at Fenchurch St. Paul. He possesses an absolute passion for change ringing, having written a monograph on the subject. His enthusiasm leads him to conscript Wimsey into an exhausting nine-hour bell concert.

A pragmatic local police officer representing conventional law enforcement. He forms a pleasant camaraderie with Wimsey, sharing information openly rather than feeling threatened by the amateur detective's involvement.

The spirited 15-year-old daughter of Sir Henry and Lady Thorpe. Despite facing sudden family tragedies and financial uncertainty due to her parents' past debts, she remains determined to make a living as a novelist and eventually study at Oxford.

The former butler of the Thorpe family whose larcenous streak led him to steal a costly emerald necklace from a wedding guest. After being convicted and sent to prison, he managed a violent escape and vanished. He demonstrates a ruthless willingness to exploit everyone around him for his own financial gain.

A hard-working farmer and dedicated change ringer who lives in Fenchurch St. Paul. He is deeply devoted to his wife and family, but his nervous demeanor during police questioning suggests he carries heavy burdens regarding events in the village.

A London-based thief who considers himself a step above common criminals. He partnered with the Red House butler to steal a valuable emerald necklace, insisting at trial that his accomplice betrayed him and kept the jewels.

A former maid at Red House who was previously married to the convicted thief Geoffrey Deacon. She is now married to a local farmer and manages a supply of beer for her family, working to distance herself from the scandals of her past.

William's brother and a merchant seaman. He returns to Fenchurch St. Paul around the time of the mysterious events in the graveyard, drawing police attention due to his vague alibi and sudden departure.

The local aristocrat of Fenchurch St. Paul and lord of Red House. His family has fallen on hard times after selling off much of their property to compensate a guest for a stolen emerald necklace.

The wife of Sir Henry. Her sudden passing deeply affects the Thorpe family and prompts the tolling of the Nine Tailors. Her freshly dug grave soon becomes the center of a local mystery.

Hilary's guardian following the death of her father. He is a quaint, old-fashioned man who disapproves of sending young women to Oxford for higher education.

An eccentric, wealthy wedding guest whose priceless emeralds were stolen 15 years prior. Because she refused to use banks or insurance, the Thorpe family felt obligated to ruin their own finances to repay her.

One of the local change ringers. He maintains the church bells and holds a healthy respect for their dangerous mechanics, particularly warning visitors about the notoriously deadly bell named Batty Thomas.

The local church sexton in Fenchurch St. Paul. He makes the shocking discovery of an unknown corpse dumped into a recently filled grave.

The local busybody who inadvertently provides a crucial clue regarding the timeline of the graveyard disturbance.

A local farmer's wife who, along with her husband, helped a delirious William Thoday out of a snowdrift. She also mentions rumors of a ghost in the cemetery.

A French farm woman whose husband traveled to England in disguise. She is drawn into the investigation when her mending work on a piece of clothing is identified.

The local police constable in France who assists Wimsey in tracking down the origin of a mysterious letter.

A local villager with an intellectual disability. He provides a frightening account of a late-night encounter in the church, though his reputation for making up stories causes the police to question his reliability.

A maid at the vicarage who accidentally destroys potential physical evidence by washing an empty beer bottle.

An elderly man who manages the local waterways. He frequently chats with Wimsey, complaining about government bureaucracy and voicing his philosophy that it is better to leave things alone than to dig them up.

The bell-ringer assigned to the bell named Tailor Paul. He firmly believes that the church bells are righteous forces that will punish the wicked.