Pete is a 43-year-old World War II veteran and former prisoner of war who runs his family's cotton plantation in Clanton, Mississippi. A West Point graduate, he survived the Bataan Death March and fought as a guerrilla in the Philippines. He returns home physically and psychologically scarred. After committing a shocking murder, he resolutely accepts his arrest and refuses to offer any defense or explanation to the police, his lawyer, or his children.

Liza is Pete's wife and the mother of Joel and Stella. Once adventurous and vivacious, she experiences a severe mental health crisis following Pete's return from the war. She currently resides in a state mental hospital where she is largely isolated from her family. Her mysterious breakdown becomes the center of local speculation regarding her husband's violent crime.

Joel is Pete and Liza's 20-year-old son, currently a senior in college with plans to attend law school. Confronted by his father's sudden violence and his mother's institutionalization, he attempts to understand the sudden collapse of his family. He feels a conflicted sense of duty toward the family farm as he considers building a life outside of Mississippi.

Stella is Pete and Liza's teenage daughter, a college student studying journalism with dreams of moving to New York. She relies heavily on her older brother as they try to comprehend their father's silence and the sudden loss of their parents. She attempts to focus on a practical future rather than the tragedy consuming her family.

Dexter Bell is the respected pastor of the Methodist church in Clanton. His shocking murder at the hands of a prominent citizen throws the town into chaos. Prior to his death, he spent significant time comforting Liza Banning when Pete was reported missing in the Philippines.

Florry is Pete's older, divorced sister, who lives quietly in a cottage in Clanton. She acts as the primary intermediary between Pete and the outside world, bringing him specific supplies in jail and keeping his children informed from a distance. She holds the difficult position of managing the family's immediate affairs while harboring her own anxieties.

John is the Banning family's longtime lawyer and a close personal friend. He is entirely baffled by Pete's refusal to mount a defense or explain his actions. He works tirelessly to build a case against capital punishment, repeatedly suggesting pleas of temporary insanity based on Pete's war trauma.

Jackie is Pastor Bell's wife. Left widowed by Pete's sudden act of violence, she is devastated and searches for ways to secure her children's future. She pursues a wrongful death lawsuit against the Banning estate to secure financial compensation for her husband's murder.

Errol is a lawyer and former schoolmate of Jackie Bell. Burdened with extensive debts, he takes a keen interest in Jackie upon realizing the potential value of her wrongful death suit against the wealthy Banning estate. He is ambitious and views the Banning land strictly as a source of incoming wealth.

Clay is a US soldier who endures the grueling Bataan Death March and Japanese prison camps with Pete. The two men bond through extreme suffering and eventually fight together in a guerrilla resistance unit after escaping a torpedoed transport ship.

Nix is the sheriff of Clanton. He handles Pete's arrest and incarceration with respectful caution, given Pete's prominence and wealth in the town. He allows Pete unusual privileges in jail, such as serving as a trustee and managing the prisoners' meals.

Nineva is the Banning family's longtime Black housekeeper. She and her husband Amos live on the estate and manage the daily household operations. She observes the family's private interactions, particularly during the time Pete is presumed dead, and she responds carefully to Joel's inquiries about the past.

Jupe is Nineva and Amos's teenage grandson. He grows up on the Banning property and frequently helps with chores around the farm. He holds a quiet fascination with his employer, Liza Banning, as she takes an active interest in the lives of the field hands.

Judge Oswalt is the local judge who oversees the criminal proceedings against Pete. He formally charges Pete with first-degree murder and manages the courtroom during the highly publicized trial.

Jimmy is an ex-convict and the state executioner in charge of Mississippi's mobile electric chair, known as "Old Sparky." He is tasked with handling executions for the state and approaches his job with a disturbing level of enthusiasm.

Dr. Hilsabeck is the physician at the Mississippi state hospital treating Liza Banning. He communicates with the Banning children regarding their mother's condition, her psychiatric treatment plans, and the administration of Thorazine.

General Granger is a British officer commanding a guerrilla army of American and Filipino soldiers. He plans strategic strikes against Japanese supply lines and planes, utilizing the combat skills of escaped soldiers like Pete and Clay.

Mary Ann is a beautiful young woman who catches Joel's attention on a train. She becomes his romantic interest and represents a fresh start for him, entirely separate from the dark history and legal troubles of the Banning family.

Judge Rumbold is a Chancery Court judge tasked with deciding if Pete Banning's transfer of his farm to his children was a fraudulent move to avoid civil damages. He delays his ruling for months, leaving the fate of the Banning land in limbo.