Meyer is a cynical, alcoholic homicide detective working in Sitka on the eve of the district's Reversion to American control. He lives in a decaying hotel and struggles with the lingering grief of his father's suicide, his sister's recent death, and his divorce. When his neighbor is murdered, Meyer becomes obsessed with solving the case despite his department's strict orders to suspend all open investigations.

Bina is Meyer's ex-wife and his newly appointed commanding officer at Sitka Central Homicide. Following their divorce, she quickly ascended the administrative ranks through strict adherence to rules and protocol. She is highly organized, carrying a massive tote bag that holds practical solutions to daily obstacles, and she frequently uses her authority to subtly aid Meyer's stubborn investigations.

Berko is Meyer's partner and cousin, a devout Jewish man of mixed Tlingit heritage. Raised briefly on Tlingit land before moving to Sitka, he struggles with his mixed cultural identity while working as a homicide detective. He balances his dangerous police work with his responsibilities to his pregnant wife and young children.

Litvak is an elderly, highly guarded man who lost his voice in a tragic car accident and communicates exclusively through writing. He previously worked as an unofficial covert enforcer for Hertz Shemets, specializing in demolitions. He operates in the shadows of Sitka, heavily protected by armed bodyguards and motivated by military strategy rather than religious idealism.

Initially known to his neighbors under the alias Emanuel Lasker, Mendel is the estranged only son of Sitka's most powerful criminal kingpin. As a child, he demonstrated incredible intellectual and perceived supernatural abilities, leading to widespread rumors that he was the Tzaddik Ha-Dor, a messianic figure. He fled his family and responsibilities decades ago, struggling with addiction in isolation.

Hertz is a former FBI counterintelligence operative whose career ended in public disgrace. He lives a hermetic lifestyle in an inauthentic longhouse on Tlingit land, completely estranged from his son Berko. He possesses a sharp, analytical mind and an extensive history of manipulating regional politics for the benefit of the Sitka settlement.

Rabbi Heskel Shpilman is a massive man with a surprisingly high-pitched voice who rules the Verbover criminal sect in Sitka. He operates a highly profitable, morally bankrupt empire and prioritizes his organization's power over personal relationships, maintaining a long estrangement from his son Mendel.

Batsheva is Heskel's wife and Mendel's mother. She holds a complex perspective on the rigid expectations of her community and distances herself emotionally from her husband's criminal syndicate, choosing instead to secretly support her estranged son from afar.

Zimbalist is an elderly border maven who helps religious sects navigate the geographical boundaries of Jewish law. He taught Mendel to play chess during the boy's childhood and holds a deep reverence for the young man's perceived spiritual gifts.

Ester-Malke is Berko's wife and the mother of his children. She faces the constant anxiety of raising a family in Sitka as the date of Reversion approaches, complicated by their uncertain legal residency status.

Isidor was a Holocaust survivor and Meyer's father. He was an agonizingly obsessive chess player whose intense criticism severely traumatized Meyer, and his eventual death by suicide continues to define his son's pessimistic worldview.

Freydl was Meyer's mother, Hertz's sister, and a journalist in Sitka. She fell in love with Isidor shortly after he arrived as a refugee and helped him integrate into the Alaskan settlement.

Naomi was a charter pilot who died in a mysterious plane crash earlier in the year. Her death stripped Meyer of his last immediate family member and plunged him deeper into despair.

Baronshteyn is Heskel Shpilman's son-in-law, legal counsel, and heir apparent. He acts as a firm gatekeeper for the Verbover leader and handles the organization's defensive legal strategies.

Wilfred is a Tlingit police inspector operating in Peril Strait. He maintains a friendly but competitive rivalry with Berko and possesses keen insight into the clandestine operations occurring on tribal lands.

Brennan is a reporter who previously gained fame by exposing Hertz Shemets's intelligence operations. His history with the Shemets family makes his interactions with Berko highly combative.

Cashdollar is an American FBI agent operating with significant political interests in Sitka. He represents the overarching, intimidating power of the United States government as the district prepares for Reversion.

Tenenboym is the night manager at the decaying Hotel Zamenhof where Meyer lives. He serves as an informal source of local gossip and nervously monitors the impending sale of the hotel.

Dr. Roboy runs a remote rehabilitation clinic that serves as a front for militant training operations in Peril Strait. He speaks a peculiar dialect of Hebrew reserved for religious devotion.

Buchbinder is a local dentist who recently closed his museum dedicated to the Koyenim. He shares Meyer's profound sense of loneliness but counters it with a fervent belief in religious prophecy and the eventual restoration of Jerusalem.

Laurie Jo Bear was Berko's mother, a Tlingit woman who died violently in the Synagogue Riots. Her death deeply fractures Berko's relationship with his heritage and his father.

Shpringer is a local criminalist preparing to relocate to Saskatchewan before Reversion takes effect. He works efficiently alongside Meyer to document the physical evidence in the victim's room.