Max is a young cockney detective. He is not averse to voicing his opinions and has an ongoing feud with his younger partner, Charlie. However, his overconfident approach to life comes from being the youngest of a large East London family and having to find ways to hold his own. And whereas he can have a go at Charlie, heaven help anyone else who tries it. Max is fiercely loyal to the team and would be a good man to have beside you in a tight corner.

DC Charlie Button

Charlie is a scruffy “Just William” lookalike. He is the youngest member of the team but he is willing and eager to learn. He is good-natured and copes well with having the mickey taken out of him. Charlie’s growing strength is that he has occasional flashes of brilliance, seeing something blindingly obvious that everyone else has overlooked.

DC Robbie Melton

Robbie transferred to Saltern-le-Fen after his friend and colleague DS Stella North was shot in a bungled raid. He had not managed to settle after the shooting, but transferring to work with Marie and Jackman put his career firmly back on track. He looks more like a teenager, even though he is in his thirties, and has an easy way of talking to people.

Superintendent Ruth Crooke

Ruth has worked her way up the ladder from being a fearless PC, and has found a real penchant for flying a desk. She is a wizard at budgets and keeping the station running smoothly. She is not an easy woman to work for, being abrasive and short tempered, but she is very fond of Jackman and is the only one who he lets get away with calling him by his first name, Rowan.

Professor Rory Wilkinson

Rory is the area’s Home Office pathologist, and is well liked by all the detectives. He lives with his partner, David. He has a wicked, dark sense of humour, but is fiercely intelligent and treats all the souls that end up in his care with the utmost respect and sensitivity.

Laura Archer

Laura is the force psychologist and an expert on trauma-induced stress and coping mechanisms. She is in a relationship with Jackman.