Who’s Who in The Detective Harper series

From detectives and deputies to the ones they can’t quite trust, every name holds a piece of the story.

Some are heroes. Some are liars. All of them cast a shadow.

The Badge and Beyond

Police Detectives, military buddies, Special Agents and their families

  • In Shadows of the Badge:

    Stonehaven Police Department

    Recently promoted to Detective after years on patrol, Jake Harper is a decorated officer with a reputation for seeing what others miss. He’s a Coast Guard veteran and devoted family man, finding strength in his wife Alyssa and their young daughter, Adelyn. But his badge hasn’t always been clean. A past betrayal at the Blackridge County Sheriff’s Office nearly ended his career, and the scars still follow him. With his name cleared and a second chance in hand, Harper is determined to prove that integrity isn’t a weakness; it’s the job.

    In Shepherd’s Wake:

    Coast Guard Investigative Service

    When called to temporary active duty as a special agent with Coast Guard Investigative Service, Harper steps into a world where jurisdiction is murky and justice moves slower than the tide. Balancing his responsibilities to the badge and his family, he must navigate a case that tests not only his instincts, but his resolve.

  • Wife. Mother. Philanthropy Professional

    Alyssa Harper brings grace and grit to every room she enters. As a fundraiser and outreach coordinator, she balances high-stakes campaigns with the chaos of parenthood and the quiet strength of being married to a man who walks daily into danger. Fierce, brilliant, and unshakably grounded, Alyssa is the center of gravity in the Harper household — and the reason Jake never forgets what he’s fighting for.

  • United States Coast Guard

    Logan Cross is the kind of man who would rather save lives than chase glory. A former tactical operator and Boatswain’s Mate now at a quiet search and rescue station, he carries the weight of leadership with quiet strength and unwavering resolve. Years ago, he and Jake Harper served side by side, and when Harper’s world fell apart, Cross was the one who helped him rebuild it. Steady, principled, and unshakably loyal, Cross has a way of finding trouble—and making sure justice finds it too.

    For more of Logan Cross, explore The Dark Waters Trilogy by D.M. Webber, coming soon.

  • Stonehaven Police Department

    A veteran investigator with a calm voice and a spine of steel, Craig Foster has seen what this job can take from a person. After nearly two decades in Portland working major crimes, he stepped away from the chaos to finish out his career in quieter Stonehaven. Now he leads the city’s detective unit, bringing sharp instincts and a steady hand to every scene. Foster is a quiet force, respected by his peers and trusted by those who know what he’s carried. A husband and father of four, he has become a mentor to younger detectives like Jake Harper, teaching them that doing the right thing often comes at a cost, but shows them it’s worth it.

  • Seattle Police Department

    Detective Tate Maguire sees the world a little differently—and that’s exactly what makes him good at his job. A seasoned investigator with a sharp mind and a sharper wit, Maguire brings years of experience and an unshakable moral compass to every case. A Navy veteran, devoted husband, and unapologetic pagan, he has no time for hypocrisy or power plays. At home, he shares life with his husband Thomas, an airline pilot and his partner of more than two decades. At work, he is known for asking the questions others won’t, and for seeing through the noise when others miss the truth.

    Partnered with Jake Harper on a joint case with CGIS, Maguire proves that instinct, empathy, and insight are sometimes the sharpest tools a detective can carry.

  • Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

    Austin Briggs doesn’t waste words and doesn’t miss details. A former Stonehaven detective turned federal agent, he now works high-stakes cases with Homeland Security Investigations. Calm under pressure and sharp as a scalpel, Briggs brings a tactical mind and quiet intensity to every operation. He’s one of the few people Jake Harper trusts without hesitation, and one of the few who never stopped believing in his return.

  • Stonehaven Police Department

    Carrie Hurst is the squad’s digital forensics expert and a master of turning cold data into live leads. Smart, methodical, and relentlessly organized, she doesn’t miss details. With a background in patrol and years of investigative experience, Hurst is just as comfortable combing through hard drives as she is clearing a crime scene. Quietly loyal and fiercely protective of her team, she’s the one you want watching your blind spot.

  • Stonehaven Police Department

    Ryan Cho is equal parts sharp mind and sharp mouth. Known for his irreverent humor and offbeat crime scene banter, he is the detective most likely to crack a joke mid-autopsy and still land the case. Beneath the sarcasm is a relentless investigator with a knack for spotting patterns and getting witnesses to talk. Cho may not always follow the rules, but he always finds the truth, no matter how deep he has to dig.

The Others

Suspects, victims, and those in between

  • Blackridge County Sheriff’s Office

    John Dunham is the kind of lawman people either admire or fear. A former Marine with a chip on his shoulder, he rose quickly through the ranks by being louder, harder, and more aggressive than the men around him. Once known for pushing rookies to the edge, he now holds serious power in Blackridge County, and he never forgets a grudge.

  • Blackridge County Board of Commissioners

    Thomas Alvarez knows how to climb. A former patrol officer and detective, he rose through the ranks to become undersheriff before stepping into public office. Now serving as county commissioner, he trades in policy, influence, and well-timed appearances. To the public, he is a model of civic leadership. To those who have worked under him, he is a man who always finds a way to come out clean.

  • CEO, Grant Technologies

    Michael Grant was a man who moved in the shadows of influence. Brilliant and commanding, he built a company known for innovation and philanthropy. But power has a price, and not every connection he made was meant to be seen. Now, even in death, the questions around him are only growing.

  • Executive Vice President, Grant Technologies

    Alan Whitaker lives fast and dresses sharp. Behind his polished smile and curated office is a man who knows how to navigate high stakes and high society. As second-in-command at Grant Technologies, he handles pressure with charm and keeps secrets close. In a world built on image, Whitaker knows exactly how much truth to show.

  • United States Coast Guard

    Daniel Rainier is a decorated Coast Guard officer with a quiet sense of purpose and a sharp legal mind. Known for his calm under pressure and dedication to justice, he served as a JAG officer before transitioning to a new chapter of life with his wife, Malia. Off duty, Daniel sought peace on the water and time away from the demands of service; craving stillness after years of high-stakes cases and long deployments.

  • Malia Rainier is thoughtful, intuitive, and deeply rooted in her Native Hawaiian heritage. With a background in nonprofit work and community engagement, she built a reputation for compassion and quiet leadership. A gifted storyteller, she shared glimpses of her life and travels with Daniel through vibrant social media posts that reflected both joy and depth. Their time aboard The Halcyon Way was meant to be a new beginning—one filled with reflection, love, and the promise of what’s next.

  • Registered Nurse, Jake’s Ex-Wife

    Erin was once the fire in Jake’s life. Confident, magnetic, and sharp-witted, she could light up a room or shut it down with a single look. Their love story began with chemistry and conviction, the kind of romance that felt too intense to ever fade. But life had other plans. What started with passion eventually gave way to pressure, and the cracks that followed were deep and unforgiving. Erin remains a complicated presence in Jake’s past, a reminder of both who he was and who he refuses to become.

  • Musician. Soldier. Brother in Everything but Blood.

    Quentin Everstone once felt like a permanent fixture in Jake Harper’s life. With talent that could light up a stage and a smile that could charm a crowd, he was magnetic from the start. They shared everything: dorm rooms, heartbreaks, late-night drives, and the kind of bond that only deep friendship can build. But some stories don’t end where you expect. And some betrayals cut deeper when they come from the people you once trusted most.

  • Local Resident. Enigma.

    Rafael Calderón keeps to himself. A quiet presence near the marina, he’s known more by rumor than fact—an artist with a watchful eye and a past no one seems to fully know. When questions surface around the Rainiers’ disappearance, Calderón finds himself on the edge of an unfolding mystery. He doesn’t say much, but what he sees—and what he’s hiding—might matter more than anyone expects.

  • Pastor, Founder, the Way Forward Foundation

    Asher Kincaid speaks with conviction and carries himself with quiet authority. A family pastor and nonprofit leader, he oversees The Way Forward Foundation, an organization dedicated to mentoring young couples and supporting spiritual growth. Charismatic and polished, Kincaid is the kind of man who makes people lean in when he talks. He says all the right things—and that’s exactly what makes some people nervous.

  • Yacht Broker

    Trevor Oliver keeps a low profile. He doesn’t talk much, but when he does, people tend to listen.

  • Notary Public. Church volunteer.

    Cindy Glorevich keeps her head down and her paperwork in order. A longtime church volunteer and trusted notary, she’s known for being dependable, polite, and hard to rattle. But even the most ordinary people can find themselves in the middle of something bigger than they ever expected. When a signature she witnessed comes under scrutiny, Cindy must decide what she really knows—and whether she’s willing to say it.