Mercia Murray
Mercy, or Mercia, is an expatriated South African who left the country before a time of turmoil and thus, hasn't visited in 25 years. She is left by her husband in the opening sequence of the novel, so she decides to re-immigrated to South Africa, but when she arrives and sees the damage that the 25 years have brought to her family, she is left in crisis.
Jake Murray
Jacques Theophilus Murray, or just Jake, is Mercia's brother. Jake knows about life in South Africa, and he helps her to adjust again, offering her station and food at his house. Mercy meets Jake's wife and child, Sylvie and Nicky, and she realizes that life has truly changed in her family.
Nicholas Murray
Meester, whose real name is Nicholas, is Mercia and Jake's father. He has a long history that is highly influenced by South African historical events. Plus, he has made mistakes, so he is private about these things, but when Mercy comes home, he is 25 years older than he was when she left, so they start to actually understand one another as adults, and that is how she thinks through her identity crisis.
