The Laughing Corpse characters

Appears from the start

A St. Louis animator and licensed vampire executioner. Anita begins the case with two unwanted mystical marks from Jean-Claude, the city's new master vampire, but still insists that her work and decisions are her own. She refuses animation jobs that require a human death and assists police when a crime appears to involve the raised dead.

Appears from the start

A wealthy businessman who offers Anita an extraordinary fee to raise a long-dead ancestor. Gaynor uses a wheelchair, expects money to overcome objections, and is unwilling to accept Anita's refusal when she explains that the proposed animation would require a human sacrifice.

Appears from the start

Owner of Animators, Inc. and Anita's employer. Bert is impressed by Gaynor's money and less attentive than Anita to the ethical boundary built into the requested job.

Also known as Manny

First appears in chapter 3

Anita's friend and former teacher in the practice of raising the dead. Manny accompanies her when she consults a powerful vaudun practitioner, and his past knowledge of that circle is deeper than Anita first realized.

Also known as Señora Salvador

First appears in chapter 4

A feared St. Louis vaudun priestess whom Anita consults about the power needed to raise an exceptionally old corpse. Dominga is courteous but controlling, and the practices Anita witnesses in her home cross boundaries Anita will not accept.

Also known as Dolph

First appears in chapter 6

The police detective who leads the Regional Preternatural Investigation Team. Dolph asks Anita to assess a series of deaths whose evidence suggests something far more powerful than an ordinary zombie.

First appears in chapter 6

A detective on Dolph's squad. Zerbrowski uses irreverence to ease tense scenes, but he is an observant investigator who treats Anita as part of the working team.

First appears in chapter 9

The new master vampire of St. Louis. Jean-Claude wants Anita to acknowledge the bond created by the two marks he placed on her, while she refuses both the title and the personal claim he attaches to it.

First appears in chapter 15

A vaudun practitioner recently arrived in St. Louis after his brother's death. Burke has enough power to attract suspicion when the police seek someone capable of creating the killer they are tracking.

First appears in chapter 24

A former companion of Gaynor who understands his private affairs and the purpose behind his demand to raise an ancestor. She is frightened of him but willing to help Anita establish what he is doing.

First appears in chapter 30

One of Gaynor's enforcers. Bruno relies on intimidation and physical force to make his employer's demands effective.

First appears in chapter 30

An enforcer working with Bruno for Gaynor. Tommy helps confine and threaten people who stand between Gaynor and the secret he wants from his dead ancestor.