Thwaites, the family whose children Adam saved from drowning. Marina Troy, a librarian who goes to live in a house that Adam bequeathed to her. Roger Cavanagh, Adam's shady lawyer. Robin Cavanagh, Roger's teenage daughter. Lionel Hoffman, married to Camille. After his affair he finds out he has AIDS and he ends up being killed by Camille's dogs. Camille Hoffman, married to Lionel. When her husband leaves she starts looking after dogs, and ends up with seven of them. Siri Joio, Lionel's Asian mistress; a massage artist. Abigail Des Pres, a divorced mother. Jared Tierney, Abigail's teenage son. Augusta Cutler, married to Owen. She leaves her husband after making a fuss at the Thwaites. Then she goes on a quest for Adam's real persona, and on the road calls herself Elizabeth Eastman. Owen Cutler, married to Augusta. Rick Pryde, a petrol station hand, maimed in the 1991 Gulf War. Lorene, a girl whom Marina rescues from an abusive boyfriend at Walmart carpark. Beatrice Archer, a busybody who visits Camille after she has split up from Lionel. Gerhardt Ault, an architect with whom Abigail Des Pres ends up getting engaged. Tamar, an Asian American girl whom Gerhardt has adopted. Donegal Croom, a renowned poet. Noami Volpe, a feminist paralegal whom Roger Cavanagh has to work with. Later she gets pregnant from him and she takes advantage of him. Elroy Jackson Jr, a Death Row criminal. Reginal Boomer Spires, Elroy Jackson Jr's unconcerned lawyer. External links Review from New York Times Review from The Guardian Novels by Joyce Carol Oates 2001 American novels American romance novels Novels set in New York City HarperCollins books Ecco Press books