Emily is an author managing a bitter divorce from her husband Matt. Once a promising writer, she currently writes the safe, predictable "Petal Bloom" mystery series but suffers from severe writer's block on her tenth installment. She accepts an invitation to stay at an Italian villa to escape her domestic stress, where she becomes obsessed with researching a 1970s murder that occurred on the property.

Chess is a wildly successful author and self-help guru who monetizes her slogans into a lucrative personal brand. Born Jessica Chandler, she shed her less-privileged background to become a polished influencer with a massive following. She rents Villa Aestas in Italy to work on her next book and invites Emily along, acting alternately as a supportive friend and a competitive rival.

Mari is a delicate-looking woman with reddish hair living a bohemian lifestyle in the 1970s. As the daughter of a famous feminist author who died in childbirth, Mari feels the heavy pressure of her mother's intellectual reputation. Disowned by her father for her affair with a married man, she travels to Villa Rosato where she works on a Gothic horror novel titled *Lilith Rising*.

Lara is Mari's eager, attractive stepsister and an aspiring songwriter. During the summer of 1974 at Villa Rosato, she channels the turbulent group dynamics into writing the acclaimed album *Aestas*. She frequently competes with Mari for the attention of the men in their orbit, maintaining a complex dynamic of sibling rivalry and mutual dependence.

Pierce is a talented musician with curly brown hair who comes from a wealthy, aristocratic family. He abandons his wife and child to pursue a bohemian lifestyle with Mari, prioritizing his artistic dreams over domestic responsibilities. He travels to Italy seeking musical collaboration with Noel but struggles to match the rock star's success.

Matt is an accountant and Emily's estranged husband. Traditional and controlling, he previously pressured Emily to have children against her wishes and demanded she use his last name professionally. During their divorce, he aggressively pursues a financial stake in her mystery novels, claiming his early feedback entitles him to her royalties.

Noel is the incredibly famous lead singer of the rock band The Rovers. The son of an earl, he possesses a deep blue-blood pedigree that separates him from the working-class musicians around him. He uses his wealth and status to command the room at Villa Rosato, often amusing himself by manipulating his guests and observing their resulting drama.

Johnnie is an attractive but untalented musician who functions as Noel's drug supplier. Desperate to belong to the rock star's inner circle, he follows the group to Villa Rosato. He develops strong feelings for Mari and grows increasingly vocal about his disgust for Pierce's selfish behavior.

Giulia is a local resident of Orvieto who provides domestic help and cooking for guests at Villa Aestas. She possesses direct familial knowledge of the property's dark history, warning Emily not to dig too deeply into the events of the past.

Elena is Giulia's aunt who worked as the domestic helper at Villa Rosato during the infamous summer of 1974. Her proximity to the musicians and the subsequent murder deeply impacted her life.

Marianne is Mari's late mother and a highly influential feminist author. She died of complications while giving birth to Mari. Her writings, particularly a short story reframing the mythological figure of Lilith, deeply inspire Mari's worldview and creative output.

Frances is Pierce's wife, left behind when he begins his affair with Mari. Though entirely off-page, she acts as a haunting presence in Pierce and Mari's relationship, representing the collateral damage of Pierce's bohemian choices.

Billy is the infant son born to Mari and Pierce. His tragic death from a fever deeply traumatizes Mari and fractures the already fragile household dynamics in their London flat.

Jane is Lara's mother. Following the death of Marianne Godwick, Jane marries Mari's father, moving into the family home and blending the two distinct families together.

Lady Annabelle is an heiress and the wife of rock star Noel Gordon. She remains removed from the claustrophobic and messy events at Villa Rosato while her husband pursues his affairs in Italy.

Rose is Emily's literary agent. She manages Emily's publishing contracts and reminds her of looming deadlines, expressing concern when Emily pivots away from her established thriller series to write about the villa.