Chap
The protagonist of the story, Chap Hathaway is an orphaned teenager, formerly living under the care of his "Grandad." He bears an uncanny resemblance to a missing boy named Cassiel Roadnight, and he assumes his identity, joining the family. Loyal and clever, he undertakes a mission to find out what happened to the real Cassiel while maintaining his false identity. He is both kind-hearted and deceitful, but is generally good-natured. At the end of the novel he realizes that he is Damiel Roadnight, Cassiel's twin.
Edie
Edie Roadnight is Cassiel's sister, a kind but occasionally harsh young adult who struggles with accepting Cassiel's supposed return. She is a talented artist and could have gone to college to pursue art, but chose to stay at home to wait for Cassiel to come home. Despite her reluctance to embrace Chap as Cassiel, she comes to grow closer to him and ultimately helps him in his mission to take down Cassiel's killer.
Frank
Frank Roadnight, Cassiel's older brother and Helen's oldest son, is an arrogant, wealthy, flamboyant man who takes care of his family by giving them money. He seems to have his life put together, but there is much more to him than may be first evident, including many dark secrets in his past concerning Cassiel and his wealth.
Helen
Helen Roadnight is the mother of Frank, Edie, Cassiel, and Damiel Roadnight. She lives in a perpetually dissociated state because of her habit of taking drugs, but she is a kind and caring person despite her flaws. She lives in her "dream house," which Frank bought for her, and lives off his support. Although she lacks complete presence of mind, she still unintentionally helps Chap on his mission to uncover the truth.
Floyd
Floyd is an odd, eccentric, half-native American young man Cassiel's age who serves as a crucial witness to Cassiel's last moments. He is generally lonely and misunderstood because of his interests and appearance, but he and Chap develop a close friendship through their shared purpose. He is likable and highly literate, and he has a strong moral compass; he refuses to take money when it is ill-gained, and he wants to help justify the wrongs done against Cassiel.
Mr. Hathaway
Mr. Hathaway (known as Grandad to Chap) is an elderly man who likes to sit inside, drink, and read books. He is highly introverted and shy, and he devotes his life to bringing up his adopted ward, known to him as Chap. He suffers from severe social anxiety, which prevents him from living the life that he wants, but he contents himself with setting Chap up to have the life he never could.
