Little Red Garlock

Little Red comes from an indigent family in Hammond, and is well known in the town for being an especially aggressive and foul-mouthed bully. It is never mentioned in the novel but rather insinuated that perhaps Little Red does not have the full mental capacity as other fifteen-year-old boys. Ironically, Little Red Garlock has minimal action in the narrative, yet the entire story hinges on his murder and the secret kept by two people who are guilty of the crime.

Iris Courtney

Iris Courtney is one of two main characters in the novel, the other being Jinx Fairchild. Iris is the slightly built, pale, fragile daughter of Duke and Persia Courtney, whose life is ruled by instability due to the self-serving lifestyles of her dysfunctional parents. Iris virtually raises herself as her parents indulge in a social life of drinking and parties. As an only child...