Paul is a skilled former financial analyst who goes into hiding under the alias Grant Anderson to escape a dangerous past tied to a Russian oligarch. He works as a boat builder in a small New England town, relying on cash transactions and a low profile to avoid detection. He possesses a strong ethical foundation and eventually utilizes wilderness survival skills taught by his estranged father to stay alive when his past catches up to him.

Tatyana is a talented photographer and the daughter of a wealthy Russian oligarch. She initially uses her mother's maiden name, Belkin, and lives in a modest East Village apartment to maintain independence from her father's massive fortune. She approaches her street photography with deep empathy, focusing on marginalized individuals to highlight their humanity.

Arkady is an imposing, bald Russian oligarch who amassed extraordinary wealth by acquiring state-owned businesses after the fall of the Soviet Union. He runs a highly lucrative American investment firm built on questionable financial practices. He takes great pride in his self-made narrative and surrounds himself with extreme luxury, including a massive private yacht and private jets.

Berzin is a former colonel in the FSB (Russian state security service) and a veteran of the Soviet KGB. He currently serves as the chief of security for Arkady's operations. He operates with cold efficiency, utilizing his extensive intelligence training to eliminate threats to Arkady's business empire.

Stanley is a former computer scientist and Vietnam veteran who abandoned his academic career to live entirely off the grid. He resides in a tiny lean-to deep in the wilderness, rejecting modern societal structures. He possesses deep knowledge of outdoor survival, encryption software, and evasion tactics.

Geraldine is a high-level Russia expert within the CIA. She oversees sensitive intelligence gathering regarding Russian oligarchs and their financial movements. She presents a cold, commanding exterior and approaches covert informants with strict pragmatism.

Sarah is Paul's girlfriend during his years in hiding under the name Grant Anderson. She lives a quiet life in their small town and remains entirely unaware of Paul's true identity or his past connections to the criminal underworld.

Alec is the local police chief in Derryfield, New Hampshire. He is a loyal friend to Paul and values community protection over strict protocol, demonstrating his willingness to look out for locals in trouble.

Thomas is Paul's kind and loving uncle who lives in Boston. After Paul's father retreated to the woods, Thomas provided Paul with a stable home, raised him alongside his own two sons, and taught him the intricate craft of building and repairing wooden boats.

Polina is Arkady's second wife and Tatyana's stepmother. She thoroughly enjoys the privileges of extreme wealth and focuses heavily on high-status appearances, creating frequent tension with Tatyana regarding wedding plans and lifestyle choices.

Galina is Arkady's ex-wife and Tatyana's mother. She is a sleek, elegant woman residing in Russia who provides Paul with valuable historical context regarding Arkady's early rise to power during the chaotic post-Soviet transition.

Niko is Tatyana's brother who works at their father's investment firm. He holds a cynical view of his sister's artistic career, openly suggesting that any success she achieves will be due to their father's influence rather than her own talent.

Rick is a friend of Paul's who works for an HIV/AIDS educational nonprofit. He serves as an early sounding board for Paul's relationship and cautions him about the dangerous reputation of Russian oligarchs.

Bernie is Paul's direct supervisor at his first investment firm. He is a highly ethical manager who respects Paul's thorough research habits. He tries to warn Paul about the dark realities of Arkady's world and later facilitates Paul's introduction to federal authorities.

Born Morozov in Russia, Mr. Frost anglicized his name upon immigrating to the United States. He serves as Arkady's demanding second-in-command, expecting employees to execute massive stock purchases without hesitation or proper vetting.

Chad is an analyst at Arkady's investment firm who openly admits that the staff is ethically compromised. He helps Paul understand the unspoken rules of the firm but later grows terrified for his own safety when management suspects a security breach.

Larsen is a colleague at Arkady's firm who becomes deeply disturbed by orders to purchase obscure real estate. His discomfort with the firm's illegal activities makes him a liability to management.

Addison is an FBI agent spearheading an investigation into Arkady's finances, racketeering, and money laundering. He recruits Paul to gather internal data and pushes him to take increasingly dangerous risks to secure evidence.

Stephanie is an FBI agent assigned to the task force investigating Arkady's operations. She serves as a critical lifeline for Paul when his primary contacts become compromised, helping him navigate the severe fallout of his espionage.

Ludmilla is Arkady's former teacher and a past member of a Kremlin committee. She is an elderly, nearly blind woman who helped select business-oriented men to manage privatized state assets, effectively creating the oligarch class.

Stephen is an anti-government isolationist living off the grid in the deep woods. He served in Vietnam with Paul's father and utilizes a vast communication network among fellow survivalists to help Paul safely traverse the wilderness.

Gilette is a well-connected statesman and the father of Paul's college friend. He possesses access to classified federal databases and provides Paul with disturbing information regarding the true nature of the files Paul stole.

Philip is a former intelligence operative who lives under tight personal security. He possesses inside knowledge regarding specialized black-ops units and provides Paul with critical context regarding his pursuers.

Moss is a university professor and a former student of Stanley Brightman. He utilizes his advanced technical expertise to help decode heavily encrypted digital files that Paul smuggled out of Arkady's facility.