Florent Sorel is Charlotte Kominsky’s "boyfriend" and one of the most unsettling figures in All the Battles I Have Lost. Initially introduced as a charming and attentive partner, Florent is later revealed to be a manipulative pawn, hired by Charlotte’s mother, Amelia Whiteridge, to “straighten” her daughter’s sexuality. Behind his romantic facade lies deep betrayal, his mission was never love, but surveillance and emotional diversion. Though not inherently cruel, Florent is weak, complicit, and ultimately dangerous, blending manipulation with fake affection. His downfall comes not just from his lies, but from underestimating Charlotte’s intelligence and resilience. He becomes the embodiment of quiet, smiling treachery.

Jean-Marie Duval is a deputy prosecutor in The Sum of All Our Fears, known for his authority, political acumen, and manipulative ambition. As a leading figure in the French justice system, Duval operates with a sharp legal mind and a ruthless sense of strategy. Beneath his polished rhetoric lies a cold bureaucrat who balances public morality with private interests. He is both an enforcer of the law and a gatekeeper of institutional power, often veiling calculated decisions behind procedural legitimacy. Duval’s influence is vast, his convictions often secondary to expedience, making him a pivotal figure in France’s judicial elite.

Joris Laurent is a 30-year-old French police officer operating from the Stalingrad precinct. Handsome yet unsettling, he’s a deeply ambiguous figure in All the Battles I Have Lost, caught between authority and exploitation. While he exudes charm, Joris is implicated in a human trafficking ring, working alongside Kelly Royer and connected to Claire Cobert’s descent into abuse and blackmail. Though he occasionally shows guilt or emotional confusion, his actions reveal manipulation, control, and emotional volatility. Joris is a corrupt product of the system, more misfit than mastermind, dangerous not only for what he does, but for the trust he manipulates.

Kelly Royer is a manipulative and dangerous antagonist in All the Battles I Have Lost. With striking beauty hiding a rotten core, she is a master of seduction, blackmail, and control. Beneath her crafted charm lies a vicious young woman who orchestrates psychological games to isolate, exploit, and destroy. Her relationship with Claire Cobert is central to the narrative’s emotional devastation, as Kelly manipulates her into submission and betrays Charlotte. Far more than a rival in love, Kelly represents the rot beneath glossy surfaces, a predator disguised as a friend, whose calculated cruelty anchors the novel’s darkest twists.

Michael "Mike" Whittingham is a senior police officer and strategic pillar within the Free Expensive Lies universe. As a high-ranking member of Taskforce 12 alongside Heather Reed, he serves as both a guardian and enabler for Charlotte Kominsky, often guiding operations from behind the scenes. Calm, pragmatic, and deeply experienced, Mike embodies the institutional wisdom of the unit. A Black British officer with a history of ground-level operations, he has grown into a respected tactician and quiet leader. Though not flashy, he is consistently effective. His loyalty to Charlotte, while professional, is underpinned by a quiet admiration for her tenacity and evolving purpose.

Marc Beauregard is a French military officer an counter-terrorism expert in The Sum of All Our Fears. Firm, patriotic, and deeply experienced, Beauregard embodies France’s institutional will to restore control amidst rising extremist threats. A decorated officer with decades of service, he serves as a tactical bridge between France’s domestic intelligence and European partners like MI6. Though outwardly stern, he carries a quiet sense of honour and regret. His loyalty lies with the Republic, not politics, and he is among the few authority figures to earn Charlotte Kominsky’s respect. Beauregard is stability personified, rigid, deliberate, and often forced to navigate moral ambiguity.

Vasara Romeka is Charlotte Kominsky’s most trusted ally and one of the story’s most enigmatic and powerful figures. An undercover operative with ties to the CIA, Vasara moves through shadows with lethal precision and emotional control. Calm, stoic, and intensely loyal, she serves as Charlotte’s silent anchor. Her presence a stabiliser in chaos. Though her backstory remains partly concealed, her actions speak of deep trauma and quiet resilience. Unlike many others in Charlotte’s orbit, Vasara never wavers. She is not just a protector or operative, she is a mirror to Charlotte’s own broken strength, forged in blood, silence, and unwavering resolve.

Claire Cobert is Charlotte Kominsky’s girlfriend and emotional anchor, one of the main protagonists in All the Battles I Have Lost. Intelligent, poised, and quietly resilient, Claire bears a deep emotional complexity behind her refined appearance. Aged eighteen, she embodies both strength and vulnerability, grappling with her identity, heartbreak, and inner wounds. Her relationship with Charlotte, though fractured, remains a poignant, ever-burning thread in the narrative. Claire’s charm hides a tumultuous past and a maze of difficult choices, which drive much of the story’s emotional and moral tension. Despite her calm exterior, she carries immense sorrow and hidden guilt.

Clarisse Kominsky is Charlotte’s twin sister. Identical in appearance but starkly different in temperament. Polished, popular, and outwardly poised, Clarisse is wrapped in privilege, shaped by her decision to live with their father after their parents’ divorce. While Charlotte faced hardship and emotional abandonment, Clarisse remained shielded, and that divide marks a deep rift between them. Though they share a lifelong bond, Clarisse often appears shallow, selfish, or indifferent to Charlotte’s suffering. Her passive betrayals, especially during Charlotte’s darkest hours, reveal her complicity in the story’s moral ambiguities. Clarisse is both a reflection of and contrast to Charlotte, marked by comfort, guilt, and silence.

Amelia Whiteridge is a poised, elegant fashion designer and the estranged mother of Charlotte and Clarisse Kominsky. Born in Manchester and raised in a strict Catholic household, she moved to France in her youth and built a prestigious career in haute couture, creating the iconic Maison des Peupliers. Beneath her refined appearance lies a cold, calculating woman whose emotional detachment profoundly shaped her daughters’ lives. Known for her flawless presentation and biting control, Amelia prioritises appearances above all, often masking her cruelty in politeness. Though brilliant and ambitious, she is also manipulative and distant, maintaining a perfect image while hiding deep familial fractures and unresolved guilt.

Adam Kominsky is the estranged father of Charlotte and Clarisse, a morally ambiguous figure in All the Battles I Have Lost and The Sum of All Our Fears. Once a respected entrepreneur in Montpellier, Adam chose wealth and reputation over fatherhood, ultimately abandoning Charlotte and favouring Clarisse. His polished exterior hides a deeply selfish and opportunistic man, who avoids accountability by manipulating truth and legality. Realising that he made the wrong choice by giving up his children, his emotional neglect and betrayal shaped much of Charlotte’s psychological damage. Adam represents the dangers of selective love: a father who adored only the daughter who played by his rules.

Heather Reed is a transgender police officer and a vital force in All the Battles I Have Lost. Introduced first as a threat to Charlotte, Heather soon reveals herself as one of her most reliable allies, forming a bond rooted in survival, trauma, and shared defiance. Despite her no-nonsense approach and military precision, Heather offers empathy, leadership, and a deep understanding of pain. Her journey from adversary to steadfast support is a defining arc in the narrative. Dignified, courageous, and pragmatic, Heather is both a mirror and a mentor to Charlotte, helping her navigate a world built on lies and violence.