Iris Winters

A 49-year-old native New Englander, Iris moved to Mason from Boston for unexplained reasons some time after her divorce 12 years earlier than the events depicted in the novel. Iris used to be married to Ed and own a clothing consignment shop in Boston, and she is defined by her eye for color, decor, beauty and her good taste in general. She teaches baking classes in Mason for adults and children, and the titular Confession Club started as a spin-off group by a circle of existing friends from Iris' baking classes. Iris learned to bake from Lucille, who lived with Arthur Moses in the house where Iris now lives, which was bequeathed to Maddy after Arthur died.

Iris is the central character in the novel, and while her narrative perspective provides much less exposition and background than other characters', revealing little of her inner life, Iris' dramatic arc...