Although Earl Beale, the protagonist of Trust is a native of Occident, Vermont, the action is set primarily in Massachusetts, and it offers a broader range of characters from the wealthy to the poor. Victories makes a single excursion to the Boston office of the political consultant; most of the characters are tied to the vicinity of Occident, and none are as wealthy as Simmons or as dislocated as Earl. Victories does include scenes of Congressman Wainwright's Washington, DC.

A number of the characters play roles in both novels. Don Beale, the Occident car dealer, appears briefly in Trust, expressing his distrust of his brother, but nonetheless accepting Earl's assurances that the Mercedes, which is stolen, is not (his sale of the car is mentioned in both novels). Don takes a major role in supporting the candidacy of Henry Briggs in Victories.

Ed Cobb, the Vermont Assembly Speaker...