Frank McCrone
A miserable, unhelpful servant who “comes with the house” that Uncle Hugh rented for the summer.
Bella McCrone
Frank’s miserable, unhelpful, chain-smoking wife who does as little as possible except gossip with her friends.
Nigel McCrone
Frank and Bella’s son, who works as a waiter in the Burntfield Hotel in Edinburgh.
Sir Alistair Paterson
Chief military officer, stationed at Edinburgh Castle, who is in charge of preparation for the Military Tattoo.
Bonzo
A slobbering Tasmanian rhino hound who dislikes thirteen-year-old American teenagers but really likes Marmite and peanut butter sandwiches.
John Brackenbridge
Bella McCrone’s brother, a crooked building contractor who, along with the McCrones and Sean Agnew, is part of Marie-Claire’s gang.
Inspector Maurice Kendall
An unhappy, long-suffering Scottish detective.