The Naked Runner

A senior British civil servant who orchestrates the covert operation, using networks of contacts to summon Sam Laker. He is calculating, patient, and willing to bend rules to keep sensitive information from the Soviets. His role centers on managing the mission while navigating political oversight.

A former spy turned furniture designer, living in London with his young son. He is drawn into a dangerous mission by Slattery, torn between personal loyalty and professional peril. His resourcefulness is matched by a growing unease about the price of obedience.

A British contact with wartime ties who becomes an intermediary for Laker during the Leipzig strike. She operates under pressure, balancing personal history with professional duty. Her presence underscores how personal connections fuel espionage.

Another British agent who coordinates with Slattery to arrange Laker's involvement and push him through the escalating plan. He is calm, calculating, and pragmatic, often navigating between official orders and on-the-ground improvisation.

East German security officer who uses coercion to force Laker into the mission. He represents the regime's willingness to exploit individuals for political ends and to intensify pressure when plans diverge.

A British agent who books a hotel room and liaises with Laker, orchestrating surveillance for the mission. She embodies professional detachment and quick adaptation to shifting circumstances in high-stakes operations.

Another British agent who helps to broker the final moves of the assassination plan. She collaborates with Laker, sharing information to enable the hit while maintaining plausible deniability.

Sam Laker's young son, whose safety is used as leverage to coerce the mission. He appears as a catalyst and later as a reminder of the personal stakes involved in espionage.

The spy whose knowledge must not reach the Soviets; his supposed transfer triggers the entire mission. He is the target of the hit, and his movements drive the tension of the plan.

A government minister who dispatches Slattery to handle the crisis, representing political oversight and the pressure to protect national security at any cost.