Wake Up Dead Man

A former boxer turned Catholic priest who arrives in upstate New York and becomes entangled in a murder investigation. His fiery sermons clash with church authority, testing his faith and resolve as he is drawn into Blanc's inquiry. Although earnest and compassionate, his past and insistence on truth pull him into danger and suspicion.

Leader of Our Lady of Perpetual Fortitude who had driven away followers with uncompromising doctrine. His sudden death during a Good Friday service exposes a web of family fortune and political ambitions tied to the church. His actions with Grace and Prentice's fortune drive the mystery and the town's power struggles.

Town doctor and follower of Wicks who wields influence behind the scenes. He manipulates events to preserve Wicks's agenda, twice crossing lines by killing key figures and trying to frame Jud. His calculated interventions push the murder plot toward a dramatic resolve.

Grace Wicks’s confidante who becomes intertwined with the church's fortunes. She orchestrates a calculated plan to protect or expose the diamond's value and confesses to the broader scheme as the truth nears. Her final act involves revealing the diamond and praying for forgiveness.

Illegitimate son of Prentice who is named as the potential heir to the fortune. He embodies the town's tension between legacy, money, and political ambition, threatening legal action if the diamond is returned. His presence drives the conflict over wealth and influence.

Groundskeeper who becomes entangled in the church's schemes. His death and burial in Wicks' place catalyze the investigation and deepen the mystery surrounding the resurrection ruse. His fate intertwines with Jud's pursuit of truth.

Grace's desperation to escape the church's control and secure inheritance shapes the early tension around Prentice's fortune. She embodies the fear and ambition that fuel the plot, a catalyst for the town's moral reckonings.

The deceased founding patriarch whose fortune anchors the plot. His past coercive actions toward Grace and his hidden wealth set the stage for power struggles that drive accusations, alibis, and betrayals.

Private detective hired to investigate Wicks's death and the church's secrets. He pieces together clues with Jud, challenging assumptions and revealing how deception has shaped the town. His analytical approach drives the mystery toward its resolution.

Police chief who summons Blanc to the case and guards the edge of the investigation. She suspects Jud but ultimately relies on Blanc's method to uncover the truth, reflecting the tension between law and faith in the town.

A priest whose role within the church intersects with its political and spiritual leadership. His presence underscores the intersecting loyalties and moral questions at the heart of the church's crisis.

A mysterious figure tied to the town’s power dynamics and the Draven name. Her loyalties and intentions are ambiguously aligned as events in the church unfold, leaving others to question where her interests lie.