Can You Keep a Secret? characters

Appears from the start

A junior marketing assistant at the Panther Corporation in London who is anxious to prove she deserves promotion. She avoids conflict through small lies and concealed opinions, especially with her boyfriend, family, and intimidating colleagues. During a turbulent flight she impulsively tells a stranger nearly every private thought she has.

Appears from the start

The American co-founder of the Panther Corporation, known to employees mainly through company legend until he visits the London office. Intelligent, observant, and accustomed to authority, he is also the stranger who listened to Emma's confessions on the plane.

First appears in chapter 2

Emma's handsome, orderly boyfriend and a colleague at Panther. Dependable and considerate, he seems ideal on paper, but Emma has hidden from him how often his preferences bore or irritate her.

First appears in chapter 2

Emma's closest friend and flatmate, a lawyer whose intelligence and loyalty do not prevent her from worrying about her career and romantic life. She is the person most likely to hear Emma's unedited version of events.

First appears in chapter 2

Emma's other flatmate, a confident and image-conscious woman from a wealthy background. She treats social life as a strategic contest and is always ready with advice about appearances, status, and how to investigate a man.

First appears in chapter 2

A poised and competitive colleague in Panther's marketing department. Her self-assurance makes Emma feel professionally inadequate, and their outward politeness conceals a steady current of rivalry.

First appears in chapter 2

A kind colleague in the marketing office who lacks Artemis's status and confidence. Emma likes her but has privately concealed impatience with some of her habits, one of the many minor truths disclosed on the flight.

First appears in chapter 2

The head of Emma's department, whose approval she needs to advance. Busy and status-conscious, he gives her limited responsibility and leaves her uncertain whether her work is noticed.

First appears in chapter 4

Jack's discreet senior colleague and aide during the London visit. He manages corporate details efficiently and understands more of Jack's movements and intentions than the London staff do.

First appears in chapter 7

Emma's glamorous and successful cousin, continually praised by their family as the standard Emma should match. Kerry presents confidence as effortless and has long benefited from Emma's reluctance to challenge the family's preferred version of their shared past.

First appears in chapter 7

Kerry's husband, whose prosperity reinforces the family's impression that Kerry makes uniformly good choices. He participates in family occasions where Emma feels compared with her cousin.

First appears in chapter 18

Jack's late friend and co-founder of the Panther Corporation. Although he died before the novel begins, his history with Jack remains important to the company and to private matters Jack does not discuss publicly.