Eli is a 19th-century bounty hunter and the narrator of the novel. Sensitive and philosophical, he frequently questions the morality of his violent profession and the lifestyle it requires. He struggles with his weight, his romantic yearnings, and a growing desire to break free from the influence of powerful men. Despite his reputation as a killer, he actively seeks genuine emotional connection in a harsh, transactional world.

Charlie is Eli's older brother and a highly capable, remorseless hired killer. Cocksure and fiercely competitive, he respects brute strength and aspires to emulate wealthy, powerful men. He masks his inner turmoil and the trauma of his violent life through heavy drinking and the theft of medical anesthetics.

Warm is an eccentric inventor with a wild red beard and gangly arms. The son of a German immigrant, he uses his knowledge of chemistry to create a formula that illuminates hidden gold in riverbeds. He possesses a charismatic energy that easily draws others to his cause, offering an alternative way of living based on creation rather than destruction.

The Commodore is a powerful, manipulative crime boss who employs Eli and Charlie as his personal enforcers. He issues cryptic orders and seeks to crush anyone who stands in the way of his wealth, demanding absolute loyalty from his hired muscle. He represents the peak of materialistic success and corruption on the frontier.

Morris is originally a go-between employed by the Commodore. He possesses an inherently honest demeanor, featuring a genuine smile that earns him the fast friendship and trust of those around him. Breaking away from a dark past, he chooses to align himself with scientific curiosity rather than brute violence.

Mayfield is a wealthy man who amassed a fortune from a lucky gold strike and built an entire town named after himself. He surrounds himself with stuffed animals, paid companions, and hired muscle to project absolute dominance over his environment. He views human interaction strictly through the lens of commerce and control.

A pale, tired-looking woman who manages the accounts for the wealthy Mayfield. She takes a quiet interest in Eli, showing him a secret room to protect him from local hostility. She offers Eli a piece of blue silk as a token, representing a fleeting chance at a non-transactional human connection.

Sally is a pragmatic maid who supplements her income through sex work. She explicitly prefers slight men and rebuffs Eli's clumsy romantic hopes, while maintaining a strictly physical, transactional relationship with his older brother.

Tub is Eli's inferior, accident-prone horse. The animal suffers numerous brutal injuries on the trail, including a severe bear attack, serving as a physical manifestation of the painful, grueling reality of frontier travel.

Watts is a medical practitioner who introduces the brothers to modern hygiene tools and local anesthetics. His professional refusal to sell his valuable medical supplies leads to a violent confrontation with the ruthless Charlie.

A witch-like figure who unnerves the brothers by claiming she can see the ghosts of their victims trailing behind them. She attempts to curse them by hanging a string of beads over her doorway, representing the inescapable guilt of their violent profession.

A young teenager whose prospecting party either died or abandoned him during the Gold Rush. Desperate and ill-equipped for frontier survival, he unsuccessfully attempts to join the heavily armed brothers for protection.

The mother of Eli and Charlie, who suffered physical abuse at the hands of her erratic husband. She represents a rare source of unconditional shelter, maternal love, and emotional safety for her adult sons.

An erratic, abusive patriarch who drove his family to the edge of craziness. His domestic violence forced his sons into early acts of brutal self-defense, ultimately shaping their adult lives as professional killers.