Jim Nashe

Jim Nashe is the protagonist of the novel. The story gives very little backstory on Nashe, but he seems to be in his thirties or early forties. He used to work as a firefighter in Boston, Massachusetts. He used to be married, but he and his wife Thérèse have divorced. Thérèse has custody of their daughter, Juliette.

The novel follows Nashe's life after he inherits a large sum of money from his estranged, recently deceased father. Nashe spends a year driving aimlessly around the country. He meets a talented poker player named Jack Pozzi. Nashe and Jack contrive to make a large sum of money in a poker game against two millionaires. But, their plan backfires, and they find themselves deep in debt.

Jack Pozzi

Jack Pozzi is a diminutive man in his twenties. He is originally from Irvington, New Jersey, and he...