The Long Witch Goodnight Characters

Bay Winchester is a necromancer, newspaper owner of The Whistler, and member of the Winchester witch family. She is married to Landon Michaels and is closely tied to her mother, cousins, and Aunt Tillie. She is determined to help the dead and the living, even when her own powers are inhibited.

Arc: Bay is attacked, lingers between life and death, and wakes to find her necromancer powers and ghosts missing. She investigates Amy Copeland's dream imprisonment, identifies the mare Matthew Morton as the threat, and helps her family trap and defeat him. By the end she survives, Amy wakes, and Bay reflects on her chaotic but loving family.

• Landon Michaels — her husband
• Winnie Winchester — her mother
• Aunt Tillie — her great-aunt
• Chief Terry Davenport — family friend and trusted police officer
• Amy Copeland — hospital roommate and dream contact
• Evan — bodyguard and friend
• Clove — cousin raised like a sister
• Thistle — cousin raised like a sister
• Scout — friend and ally
• Matthew Morton — the mare who attacked her

Matthew Morton, also called Dr. Morton, is a doctor who treated Bay after her attack and owns the old Copeland house. He is revealed to be a mare, a dream demon who feeds on fear and magical people. He has kept Amy Copeland trapped in a dreamscape and attacked his own mother, Kendra.

Arc: Matthew first appears as a cautious hospital doctor, then becomes the suspected mare behind Amy's condition and Bay's attack. He targets Thistle for a fresh feeding and attacks the inn with nightmares, but Chief Terry shoots him dead. His death coincides with Amy Copeland waking up.

• Bay Winchester — his patient and later target
• Amy Copeland — victim he kept in a dreamscape
• Larry Morton — his father
• Kendra Morton — his mother, whom he attacked
• Chief Terry Davenport — the man who kills him
• Thistle — his intended fresh target

Landon Michaels is Bay's husband and a protective, investigative partner. He keeps vigil at her hospital bedside, tracks Aunt Tillie's truck, and tries to balance his fear of losing Bay with respect for her autonomy. He is later revealed to have witch blood and can see ghosts.

Arc: Landon begins terrified and protective after Bay's attack, insisting on bed rest and backup. He gradually supports her investigation while setting conditions such as taking Evan or Scout and keeping him updated. He vows to kill Morton but ultimately supports the family plan, and Chief Terry kills Morton instead.

• Bay Winchester — his wife
• Chief Terry Davenport — ally and colleague
• Evan — ally in protecting and investigating
• Aunt Tillie — adversarial family member whose truck he tracks
• Winnie Winchester — his mother-in-law

Aunt Tillie is Bay's great-aunt, a powerful witch, and a chaotic, combative family figure. She makes healing potions, helps Bay escape bed rest, and takes charge of plans while feuding with Winnie, Scout, and Thistle. She refuses to apologize and treats confinement as a personal war.

Arc: Aunt Tillie helps Bay sneak out and later joins the effort to understand and defeat the mare. She is trapped by Scout's wards, declares war on her family, and repeatedly tries to escape. Despite the infighting, she participates in the Morton confrontation and remains ungrounded at the end.

• Bay Winchester — her great-niece and accomplice
• Winnie Winchester — her niece and feuding adversary
• Scout — rival witch
• Evan — her self-described number one sidekick
• Thistle — great-niece she threatens and spars with
• Marcus — her favorite, who catches her during escape attempts

Chief Terry Davenport is the police chief in Hemlock Cove and a close family friend. He supports Bay through her hospitalization and investigation, helps question Sid and Joseph in prison, and takes the decisive shot against Matthew Morton. He is protective of the Winchester family and tells Bay she does not always have to be the hero.

Arc: Terry begins as a worried family friend investigating Bay's attack, then becomes her ally in the prison interviews and the mare investigation. He plans to stop Morton during the family's trap and shoots him dead. He later admits he is not sorry and feels better after Amy Copeland wakes.

• Bay Winchester — family friend and ally
• Winnie Winchester — close family connection; notes describe them as engaged
• Landon Michaels — ally and colleague
• Matthew Morton — the man he shoots dead
• Amy Copeland — receives the call that she has woken up

Amy Copeland is Bay's hospital roommate, long trapped in a persistent vegetative state and then in a dreamscape. She is the daughter of Joseph and Joanne Copeland, the abused girlfriend of Sid Burton, and Dustin Carruthers's older sister. She communicates with Bay in dreams and fears a demon or gatekeeper who hunts her.

Arc: Amy begins as an unconscious stranger and becomes a dream contact who warns Bay of the demon holding her. She reveals her abuse history and hopelessness, then appears to give up before Bay urges her to have faith. After Matthew Morton is killed, Amy wakes up.

• Bay Winchester — hospital roommate and dream contact
• Matthew Morton — the mare who trapped her in a dreamscape
• Sid Burton — her abusive boyfriend
• Joseph Copeland — her abusive father
• Joanne Copeland — her mother
• Dustin Carruthers — her younger brother
• Margaret Little — former employer who tried to help her

Evan is a day-walking vampire assigned as Bay's bodyguard and becomes a loyal friend and investigator. He searches The Whistler, accompanies Bay to Mrs. Little and the Morton house, and helps plan the trap for Matthew Morton. He is protective, dryly funny, and values being part of Bay's family.

Arc: Evan starts as Bay's assigned bodyguard and grows into a trusted ally who accompanies her through the investigation. He searches for Joanne Copeland's body and provides backup at the Morton property. He remains part of the family plan and helps keep Bay safe during the confrontation.

• Bay Winchester — bodyguard and friend
• Landon Michaels — ally in protecting Bay
• Scout — bonded over difficult family backgrounds
• Aunt Tillie — her self-described sidekick
• Larry Morton — threatens him when he grabs Bay
• Charles Archer — carries him into the woods

Winnie Winchester is Bay's mother and the protective matriarch of The Overlook. She arranges Bay's bed rest, enforces Aunt Tillie's punishment, and works with Scout and Evan to keep Bay safe. She is practical, worried, and determined to protect the family.

Arc: Winnie begins angry and worried after Bay's attack, ordering bed rest and planning around Bay's escapes. She gradually supports Bay's instincts and the plan to trap Morton while keeping Aunt Tillie confined. At the end she refuses to unground Aunt Tillie and plans to help Amy recover.

• Bay Winchester — her daughter
• Landon Michaels — her son-in-law
• Aunt Tillie — her aunt and feuding family member
• Chief Terry Davenport — close family connection and romantic partner according to notes
• Scout — ally she enlists to ward the inn

Scout is Bay's friend and a pixie witch who wards the inn at Winnie's request, trapping Aunt Tillie to certain rooms. She is confrontational, enjoys provoking Aunt Tillie, and is willing to stand between Bay and danger. She also theorizes about how Morton's power works.

Arc: Scout begins as the witch enforcing Aunt Tillie's confinement and becomes a key ally in the fight against Morton. She shields Bay during the confrontation and explains that she kept Bay back so Chief Terry could act. Her feud with Aunt Tillie continues after Morton is killed.

• Bay Winchester — best friend and ally
• Gunner — her boyfriend
• Aunt Tillie — rival witch
• Winnie Winchester — ally who enlists her to ward the inn
• Chief Terry Davenport — ally during Morton's attack

Thistle is Bay's cousin, a witch, and Marcus's pregnant wife. She is mouthy, taunts Aunt Tillie, and resists being hidden during the Morton threat. She becomes Matthew Morton's intended target because she is pregnant.

Arc: Thistle begins as a teasing cousin who provokes Aunt Tillie despite warnings. She is forced to stay in a warded room during Morton's attack and later opens the door after he is shot. She survives the confrontation and remains part of the family's chaotic dynamic.

• Bay Winchester — her cousin
• Clove — her cousin
• Marcus — her husband
• Aunt Tillie — great-aunt she provokes
• Matthew Morton — his intended target

Clove is Bay's cousin, a witch, Sam's wife, and Calvin's mother. She is emotional and protective, hugging Bay after her hospitalization and worrying about the family. She hides with Calvin during Morton's attack and promises to watch over Thistle.

Arc: Clove begins deeply afraid for Bay and relieved when she returns. She supports the family through the investigation, hides with Calvin during the attack, and survives the confrontation. She remains a warm, anxious presence in the family.

• Bay Winchester — her cousin
• Thistle — her cousin
• Sam — her husband
• Calvin (Clove's son) — her son
• Marnie — her mother

Stormy Morgan is Bay's friend, Hunter's fiancée, and Charles Archer's granddaughter. She runs or works around Two Broomsticks and is concerned about Bay's health after the attack. She joins the investigation by taking Bay and Evan to question her grandfather and later travels to the Morton house.

Arc: Stormy begins by scolding Bay for leaving bed rest and worrying her family. She becomes an ally in the Morton investigation, insists on joining the trip to the chicken farm, and stays in Shadow Hills to talk to Hunter. She remains part of the family gathering and the plan against Morton.

• Bay Winchester — her friend
• Hunter Ryan — her fiancé
• Charles Archer — her grandfather
• Brian — her cousin
• Alice — her cousin

Sid Burton is Amy Copeland's abusive boyfriend, imprisoned for domestic violence and heroin possession. He denies hurting Amy and claims he was with his brothers the night she was injured. He also reports that Amy spoke of a monster stalking her in dreams before she was hurt.

Arc: Sid begins as a suspect in Amy's condition and is interviewed by Bay, Landon, and Chief Terry in prison. He denies responsibility and asks for help with his appeals, but Bay does not believe he deserves help. His account of Amy's dream monster helps point Bay toward the mare.

• Amy Copeland — her abusive boyfriend
• Joseph Copeland — in the same prison
• Bay Winchester — interrogator
• Landon Michaels — interrogator
• Chief Terry Davenport — questioned him in prison

Joseph Copeland is Amy and Dustin's abusive father, imprisoned in Antrim Correctional. He denies killing or causing Joanne's disappearance but admits Joanne spoke of a monster stalking her in dreams before she vanished. He is confrontational and dismissive of his family.

Arc: Joseph is interviewed by Bay and her allies as a possible source of information about Joanne and Amy. He denies responsibility and mentions his lawyer seeking parole, but unwittingly confirms the dream-monster pattern. Bay forces him into a chair with magic and ends the interview in disgust.

• Amy Copeland — his daughter
• Joanne Copeland — his wife who disappeared
• Dustin Carruthers — his son
• Sid Burton — in the same prison
• Chief Terry Davenport — knew him from a prior arrest
• Bay Winchester — interrogator

Joanne Copeland is Amy and Dustin's mother and Joseph's abused wife. She disappeared, and notes suggest Joseph likely killed her, while Bay suspects Matthew Morton may have kept her alive in a dream state. Before disappearing, she spoke of a monster stalking her in dreams.

Arc: Joanne is absent but central to the mystery of Amy's family and the mare's victims. Her disappearance is linked to Joseph's abuse and to the same dream-monster pattern that affected Amy. Evan searches for her body, and Bay wants her found so Amy and Dustin can mourn.

• Joseph Copeland — her abusive husband
• Amy Copeland — her daughter
• Dustin Carruthers — her son
• Matthew Morton — suspected dream-state predator
• Evan — searches for her body

Larry Morton is Matthew Morton's father and a reclusive mare living on a chicken farm. He demonstrates waning illusion magic, disavows responsibility for Matthew's choices, and keeps his unconscious wife Kendra in the house. He asks Bay to kill Matthew and to tell him he is disappointed.

Arc: Larry begins as a hostile, isolated mare who refuses to answer for Matthew. He reveals the mares are dying out, shows Bay Kendra's condition, and explains mare feeding and dreamscapes. He ultimately asks Bay to stop Matthew and offers to sacrifice himself for Kendra.

• Kendra Morton — his wife
• Matthew Morton — his son
• Bay Winchester — interrogator and ally against Matthew
• Stormy Morgan — questions him at the Morton house
• Evan — threatens him when he grabs Bay

Kendra Morton is Larry Morton's wife and Matthew Morton's mother. She lies unconscious in the Morton house after being found face down in the garden two years earlier. Her condition matches Amy Copeland's, and Bay suspects Matthew attacked her and trapped her in a dreamscape.

Arc: Kendra is discovered unconscious during Bay's visit to the Morton house. Her condition confirms the pattern of Matthew's attacks and gives Bay a possible way to fight him in the dreamscape. She remains unconscious when Bay leaves.

• Larry Morton — her husband
• Matthew Morton — her son and attacker
• Bay Winchester — hopes to use her against Matthew

Margaret Little, also called Mrs. Little, owns the Unicorn Emporium and is a town busybody. She formerly employed Amy Copeland and provides Bay with the history of Amy's abuse, Sid's violence, and Joseph's cruelty. She helps Bay because she hates owing her and wants to settle the debt.

Arc: Mrs. Little begins as a possible source of information and becomes an informant about Amy's past. She admits guilt over failing to help Amy leave Sid and offers to help her if Bay succeeds. Her information helps Bay understand the abuse and dream-monster pattern.

• Amy Copeland — former employee she tried to help
• Bay Winchester — informant who settles a debt
• Aunt Tillie — lifelong nemesis
• Joseph Copeland — knew him and believed he was a monster

Dustin Carruthers is Amy Copeland's younger brother, adopted and living under a new name. He barely knew Amy and believes Joseph killed their mother. He refuses to feel guilty about separating himself from his abusive father's legacy and tells Bay to let Amy rest.

Arc: Dustin is visited by Bay because she dreamed of Amy and wanted family information. He gives her limited answers, confirms his belief that Joseph killed Joanne, and shuts the door on the investigation. He does not become involved further.

• Amy Copeland — his older sister
• Joseph Copeland — his father
• Bay Winchester — visited him for information

Viola is a ghost haunting The Whistler and Bay's newspaper office. She argues with Edith over television, is upset when Bay is hurt, and wakes Aunt Tillie to tell her Bay is in trouble. She and Edith disappear after Bay's attack and may have intervened to protect her.

Arc: Viola begins as a comic ghost arguing over TV schedules. After Bay is attacked, she alerts Aunt Tillie and becomes a possible witness or protector. She remains missing during much of the investigation and is suspected of helping stop Morton from taking Bay.

• Bay Winchester — the necromancer whose office she haunts
• Edith — fellow ghost she argues with
• Aunt Tillie — alerted her about Bay's attack
• Matthew Morton — may have intervened against him

Edith is the former office ghost Bay banished and who later returns to The Whistler. She argues with Viola, insists the office was hers first, and refuses to leave. She disappears after Bay's attack and may have intervened to protect her.

Arc: Edith returns from the other side because she was bored and claims The Whistler as her home. She clashes with Bay and Landon but vanishes after the attack. Her disappearance is linked to the possibility that she and Viola helped save Bay from Morton.

• Bay Winchester — former office ghost she banished
• Viola — fellow ghost she argues with
• Landon Michaels — wants her gone
• Aunt Tillie — dislikes her and says she should not have come back
• Matthew Morton — may have intervened against him

Ginger is Bay's grandmother who appears in the in-between world after Bay's attack. She insists Bay is not dead, explains that Bay is between life and death, and warns that leaving too soon will kill her. She stays with Bay until it is time to return.

Arc: Ginger guides Bay through the liminal world and helps her understand that she must wait until her body is ready. She remains a comforting, protective presence and promises Bay she will go home. She later appears in Bay's dreams with Uncle Calvin.

• Bay Winchester — her granddaughter
• Uncle Calvin — appears alongside her in Bay's dreams
• Aunt Tillie — family member

Uncle Calvin is Bay's deceased uncle who appears with Ginger in the in-between world and in Bay's dreams. He greets Bay warmly, tells stories, and helps keep her occupied until she can return. He is also the love of Aunt Tillie's life and the namesake of Clove's son.

Arc: Uncle Calvin helps Ginger keep Bay from crossing over accidentally. He later appears in Bay's dreams as a guide, commenting on the dream images and trying to direct her attention. He remains a warm, protective family figure.

• Bay Winchester — her uncle
• Aunt Tillie — the love of his life
• Ginger — appears alongside her in Bay's dreams
• Calvin (Clove's son) — his namesake

Marnie is Bay's aunt, Clove's mother, and a member of the Winchester family. She helps Bay after she falls out of bed, advises her about Amy and Landon, and bakes with Winnie and Twila. She is warm, practical, and concerned about family tension.

Arc: Marnie supports Bay during her recovery and listens to her dream about Amy. She helps keep the household running during Aunt Tillie's standoff and remains a steady family presence. She is present for family meals and planning.

• Bay Winchester — her aunt
• Clove — her daughter
• Winnie Winchester — family member and baking companion
• Twila — family member and baking companion

Twila is Bay's aunt and Thistle's mother. She helps make breakfast and turnovers, disapproves of Thistle's jokes, and is part of the family's care for Bay. She remains a background but steady family presence.

Arc: Twila appears mainly in family domestic scenes, helping feed and care for Bay. She supports the family during Aunt Tillie's confinement and the Morton threat. She does not have a major independent arc.

• Bay Winchester — her aunt
• Thistle — her daughter
• Marnie — family member and baking companion
• Winnie Winchester — family member

Marcus is Thistle's husband and a helpful member of the family. He checks Aunt Tillie's recliner, catches her during escape attempts, and insists Thistle stay hidden during Morton's attack. He is protective of his family and often caught in the chaos.

Arc: Marcus helps with household tasks and tries to keep Aunt Tillie from hurting herself. During the Morton threat he firmly keeps Thistle in their warded room. He survives the confrontation and remains part of the family.

• Thistle — his wife
• Aunt Tillie — her favorite, who catches her
• Bay Winchester — family member and ally

Sam is Clove's husband and Calvin's father. He appears at family meals and games, holds Calvin, and avoids drinking too much so he will not have to share a roof with Aunt Tillie. He is a steady background family member.

Arc: Sam participates in family dinners and cornhole games during the investigation. He helps keep Calvin safe during Morton's attack by staying in the warded room. He remains a minor but present family figure.

• Clove — his wife
• Calvin (Clove's son) — his son
• Aunt Tillie — avoids sharing a roof with her

Calvin is Clove and Sam's young son and the namesake of Uncle Calvin. He is held by his parents, sits in a highchair, and giggles at family chaos. He is kept in a warded room during Morton's attack.

Arc: Calvin appears mainly as a baby in family scenes. He is protected during the Morton threat and survives unharmed. He remains a symbol of the family's next generation.

• Clove — his mother
• Sam — his father
• Uncle Calvin — his namesake
• Bay Winchester — family member

Gunner is Scout's boyfriend and a comic presence at family meals and the Morton confrontation. He jokes about Aunt Tillie and Scout, panics about creepy children from horror movies, and eats cake with Landon after Morton is killed. He is loyal to Scout but not eager to fight.

Arc: Gunner appears as Scout's admiring boyfriend during the family dinner. He participates in the Morton trap mainly by reacting to the nightmares and providing comic relief. He survives the attack and celebrates afterward.

• Scout — his girlfriend
• Bay Winchester — family ally

Hunter Ryan is Stormy's fiancé and Chief Terry's mentee. He gets a call from Terry about Bay's hospitalization and works on the dream home he and Stormy plan to share. He is present with Stormy at the family gathering and during the Morton threat.

Arc: Hunter is mostly mentioned as Stormy's partner and as someone connected to Chief Terry. He supports Stormy during the investigation and is later tucked into a warded room during Morton's attack. He remains a background ally.

• Stormy Morgan — his fiancée
• Chief Terry Davenport — his mentor
• Charles Archer — lives with Stormy and Hunter

Charles Archer is Stormy's grandfather who lives with her and Hunter. He identifies Larry and Kendra Morton as reclusive chicken farmers and warns that the Mortons are dangerous. He insists on joining the trip to the farm and is carried into the woods by Evan.

Arc: Charles provides key information about the Morton family and insists on accompanying Bay and Stormy despite the danger. He is carried into the woods by Evan as backup and survives the visit. He remains a gruff, comic family figure.

• Stormy Morgan — his granddaughter
• Evan — carries him into the woods
• Hunter Ryan — lives with Stormy and Hunter
• Bay Winchester — ally in the Morton investigation

Brian is Stormy's cousin who argues with her at Two Broomsticks about moving into her apartment. He wants Stormy to persuade their grandfather to let him move in and gives her a dirty look when she refuses. He is a minor family irritant.

Arc: Brian appears briefly to argue about the apartment and is refused by Stormy. He does not participate in the main investigation. He remains a minor background character.

• Stormy Morgan — his cousin

Alice is Stormy's cousin who takes orders at Two Broomsticks and makes snide remarks about Hunter. She is bitter about Stormy's life and about not getting powers from the Ouija board. She is a minor source of family tension.

Arc: Alice appears briefly during lunch to snipe at Stormy and show jealousy. She does not participate in the main investigation. She remains a minor background character.

• Stormy Morgan — her cousin
• Hunter Ryan — someone she has long had a crush on

Hayley Mortensen is a younger girl whose grave Bay visits in the prologue. Bay comes to tell her it is okay to let go and cross over. She does not want to leave her mother and is connected to Bay's role as a necromancer.

Arc: Hayley appears only through Bay's visit to her grave. Bay tells Terry that Hayley is not ready to leave her mother. She does not appear again in the main plot.

• Bay Winchester — the necromancer who visits her grave