Characters

one of the novel‘s two protagonists
called "Scary Larry" by locals - a gentle weirdo to them
lives a rather simplistic life characterized by routine in a decaying house
has a faible for horror novels $\rightarrow$ enhances rumours about him
owns an auto repair shop, that he inherited from his father $\rightarrow$ unsuccessful because of the rumours about him
"person of interest" because he was last person seen with a girl that vanished 25 years ago $\rightarrow$ condemned by the town and ostracized by the community because everyone believed he had something to do with her disappearance
has always been weird, loved to read books and was interested in snakes, but not in sports for which he is criticized by his father
due to that, he only wishes for a single friend
Larry’s childhood and youth was troubled by rejection and verbal violence from his school mates
temperament is arguably that of the loner (thoughtful, solitary, sensitive, and emotionally troubled)
lack of relationship as an adult defined as much by those aspects of temperament as by his external circumstances (being suspected of being a killer)
his race doesn‘t gain him more respect than Silas $\rightarrow$ as much of an outcast (due to what is believed about him) as Silas is (due to his skin color)

second main character
key figure in the novel’s thematic exploration of racism
came to Chabot as a young boy when his mother had to leave Chicago
first meets Larry with his father Carl in the morning on their daily drive to school
Larry and Silas eventually become friends (also because Larry discovers that Silas is living in an old shack on his parents property)
friendship weakens when they are teenagers, culminating in Silas leaving town on a baseball scholarship
Silas returns to Chabot as a policeman directing traffic
refuses to get in touch with Larry when he tries to call Silas
drives a department-issued old Jeep
rather ordinary life
had never had a father figure $\rightarrow$ grew up the child of a single mother
ironical because Silas and Larry had the same biological father
clearly loved his mother, she always tried to protect and take care of him (not like Larry‘s mother), but connection to his mother is not as strong as the one between Larry and his mother
outsider: in spite of athletic success as baseball player, his race prevented him from being fully accepted and liked
character: easygoing, outgoing
affable, positive, even sexual relationships
has respect from his peers and colleagues, interact with Silas’ ambition to give him a future

first of two murdered young women
it‘s a mystery of how she died $\rightarrow$ revelation of that drives plot of story
member of wealthiest family in Chabot
disappearance / death particularly significant to the community due to her status

second young woman who disappeares in the story
disappearance defines novel‘s plot and sense of mystery
her death took place in the past but still affects present (still unresolved, Larry still ostracized due to him being the main person of interest)
primary manifestation of the novel‘s thematic interest in the relationship between past and present
character roughly described, appears several times throughout novel, willful, sexual, somewhat selfish, and something of a troublemaker

abusive, racist father of Larry
biological father of Silas Jones, who had a distant relationship with Carl years before he (Silas) knew Carl was his dad
portrayed as cruel, sadistic, and insensitive, not just to his family but also to others in the community
appears only in the past, having died before the primary events of the novel begin

Larry‘s mother and Carl‘s wife
compassionate and sensitive towards her son, and outspoken towards her husband
appears in both the past and the present
present: in a hospital suffering from Alzheimer‘s disease
provides Silas with information that changes his life and eventually that of Larry as well

Silas‘ mother
used to be the maid of Carl and Ina Ott
after getting pregnant with Carl‘s child, she moved to Chicago
raised Silas there until she had to move back to Chabot due to the betrayal of her boyfriend in Chicago
protective of her son and confused by aspects of his character (knows that something is missing in him)
strong-willed and determined
resigned to the difficulties of the situation (black single mother of a child fathered by a married white man)

emergency medical technician and the girlfriend of Silas Jones
sexual, outspoken, and compassionate
determined to both know and protect Silas in his facing and coming to terms with his history

district chief investigator, examining crime scenes for evidence
Blunt and experienced, cynical and slightly racist
admires Silas‘ skills and success
suspicious of Larry‘s involvement in the disappearances of both Tina Rutherford and Cindy Walker

Chabot‘s town clerk and police dispatcher
friendly and intelligent
eventually saves Silas‘ life when she doesn‘t hear from him after he‘s attacked by Wallace Stringfellow and his dog

lives on what the novel refers to as "White Trash Road" (a part of Chabot where poor and illicit people live)
encounters Silas when he investigates the appearance of a poisonous snake in the mailbox
later encounters him again when she provides information about who might have put the snake there
her information leads Silas to Wallace Stringfellow
sexual, flirtatious, and aggressive