New Media Strategies and CBS have provided Mystery Books News with the biographies of the characters in the upcoming Harper's Island Mystery Event.
In alphabetical order (by character name):
Madison Allen "The Flower Girl" (played by Cassandra Sawtell) is Shea and Richard's daughter. She's cute, sweet and, at times, horribly spooky. Lots of kids enjoy mischief; Madison might enjoy it a little too much. She has a tendency to say things that indicate she has a better idea about what's happening on Harper's Island than the adults do. She knows something they don't … something bad.
Richard Allen "The Brother-in-Law" (David Lewis) is Shea's husband, a guy who married into the Wellington family and business and lives everyday with that fact hanging over his head. Henry sees Richard as an example of what not to become – a meek subordinate who has completely broken under the thumb of Mr. Wellington. Richard keeps his severe contempt for Mr. Wellington under wraps, but is already in the process of taking revenge on the man who has made his life so miserable.
Shea Allen "The Maid of Honor" (Gina Holden) is Trish's big sister and the Matron of Honor. From the outside, she appears to have it all – a great husband, a beautiful daughter and all the money in the world. But nothing is as it seems. There are problems in her marriage and her daughter Madison is acting out. The stress of keeping up appearances has Shea trapped in a life she never wanted for herself.
Beth Barrington "The Single Girl" (Amber Borycki) is a bridesmaid and Trish's former college roommate. She's beautiful, energetic and athletic. Though she didn't grow up as privileged as Trish, she's very comfortable in that world.
Nikki Bolton "The Biker Chick" (Ali Leibert) is an old friend of Abby's who lives on the island and manages The Cannery, a bar on the island. She's a tough, sexy, straight-talking local who doesn't back down from confrontation. She's thrilled Abby's back on the island, and looks forward to having fun while the wedding party's in town.
Joel Booth "The Nerd" (Sean Rogerson) is a groomsman. Everyone calls him "Booth." He is a loyal friend who lacks some of the social graces of the other groomsmen. His hypochondria amuses his friends to no end.
Danny Brooks "The College Buddy" (Brandon Jay McClaren) is a groomsman and one of Henry's best friend's from college. Danny is the sensitive guy in the group. He's thoughtful and always wants to do the right thing. Danny feels things deeply, and when he senses injustice, he can't walk away, but has to try and make things right.
Chloe Carter "The Flirt" (Cameron Richardson) is one of Trish's bridesmaids. She's sexy, playful, impulsive and always looking for ways to live life to the fullest. She has a surprising curiosity about serial killers, especially John Wakefield. But beneath the blonde bombshell exterior is an intelligent woman searching for romance and love.
Lucy Daramour "The Socialite" (Sarah Smyth) is a bridesmaid and one of Trish's childhood friends. Their families traveled and summered together. Though Lucy is more of a socialite than the other bridesmaids, she's trying to find her own way in the world by attending law school. Gigi is Lucy's handbag dog.
Henry Dunn "The Groom" (Christopher Gorham) is a pauper marrying a princess. While growing up, Henry worked summers on Harper's Island, tending to the boat of real estate mogul Thomas Wellington. Now he returns to the island as the fiancé to the mogul's beautiful daughter, Trish Wellington. Henry may have won the heart of Trish, but he still faces stern resistance from his soon-to-be father-in-law who disapproves of Henry and would love nothing more than to see this wedding never happen.
J. D. Dunn "The Black Sheep" (Dean Chekvala) is Henry's brother. He's a dark and brooding loner with tattoos all over his body that speak more to his true nature than he ever lets on in conversation. Being the only brother of the groom should have made him a lock for "best man," but J.D.'s barely a guest at the wedding and wouldn't mind just missing it all together. His childish antics make Henry's life more difficult, and sometimes there's a malevolence in them that makes everyone wonder if J.D. has some secret endgame.
Marty Dunn "The Uncle" is a surrogate father to Henry, the only family besides J. D. he has at the wedding. Uncle Marty loves being the center of attention; he started partying sometime in the `70s and just never stopped. But behind his blithe demeanor is someone who cares deeply for Henry, who would do anything to protect him. And behind that is a guy who pops pills when no one is looking while toting around a bag stuffed with bundles of cash and a gun.
Hunter Jennings "The Other Man" (Victor Webster) was Trish's college boyfriend. He's from a family as affluent as the Wellingtons. He's exciting and passionate and every bit her equal. He's also selfish and completely unreliable, which is why Trish broke up with him. But now that she's getting married, Hunter has shown up uninvited, hoping to convince Trish that he's the one she should be marrying.
Maggie Krell "The Wedding Planner" (Beverly Elliott) is the energetic manager of The Candlewick Inn. She knew Abby, Henry and Trish when they were kids and couldn't be happier to have them all back … especially for such a special occasion. She's meticulously planned the week's events and has more than just a few surprises in store for the wedding party.
Jimmy Mance "The Old Flame" (C. J. Thomason) is a local fisherman who couldn't be happier about the Wellington-Dunn wedding coming to Harper's Island because it brings Abby, his high school sweetheart, back to the island. Jimmy immediately renews his pursuit of Abby, even though he harbors some resentment toward her; in seven years she never wrote or called. The years have been difficult for Jimmy, and he did some things that Abby will find very surprising.
Abby Mills "The Good Girl" (Elaine Cassidy) is a natural beauty in her mid-20s who hails from Harper's Island. She is the groom's best friend and his wedding brings her back to the island for the first time since her mother was murdered seven years ago. Abby's father, the local Sheriff, gunned down the psychopath at the end of his killing spree, but the event shattered Abby's relationship with her dad and left her haunted by her mother's death and the memory of the man who killed her.
Sheriff Charlie Mills "The Sheriff" (Jim Beaver) is the law on Harper's Island, the man who killed John Wakefield, and Abby's father. He ended Wakefield's deadly rampage seven years ago, but not before Wakefield took the life of his wife, Sarah. In his grief, Mills sent Abby away, and now that she's back for the wedding, he hopes to reconcile with her. But times have changed, and Sheriff Mills has some dark secrets he has no intention of sharing with his daughter.
Shane Pierce "The Townie" (Ben Cotton) is a Harper's Island local who pretty much dislikes everyone. He works on a boat with his best friend, Jimmy Mance, and hates that the return of Abby Mills has turned Jimmy into her little whipping boy. He has a particular distaste for Henry Dunn's brother, J.D., especially after J.D. starts flirting with his ex-girlfriend. Shane's got a short temper and a history of violence, which makes him capable of just about anything.
Malcolm Ross "The Hustler" (Chris Gauthier) is a groomsman. He's a big, boisterous guy who not only brings his own beer to a party, but he brews it himself. Malcolm is trying to start up a business to mass-produce his microbrew, Sacred Turtle. His friends are very supportive emotionally, but lack the funds to finance his endeavor. His inability to raise capital has put a lot of stress on Malcolm, and made him desperate enough to do things his friends would never suspect.
Kelly Seaver "The Outcast" (Ana Mae Routledge) has a unique connection with Abby; both of their mothers were killed by John Wakefield. But where Abby left the island, Kelly stayed behind and has never gotten over her mother's murder. She's struggled with depression and suicide attempts and a secret belief that John Wakefield is still alive and coming back for her.
Christopher "Sully" Sullivan "The Best Man" (Matt Barr) is Henry's best man. All of his friends call him Sully, and he has lots of friends. He's a fun-loving frat boy at heart whose good buddies live vicariously through his many sexual escapades. He's been Henry's best friend since high school, but it's questionable if he's at the wedding more for Henry's benefit or for the bachelor party and bridesmaids, particularly when he gets and eyeful of Chloe.
Cal Vandeusen "The Outsider" (Adam Campbell) is Chloe's boyfriend and a doctor. He's a charming British outsider who doesn't know anyone in the wedding party, but tries to fit in with the tight knit group. He treats Chloe like gold, and bought an engagement ring before ever stepping foot on Harper's Island. As he waits for the right moment to pop the question, things keep getting in the way and at times the frustration causes his "nice guy" demeanor to fall away and reveal something darker.
Katherine Wellington "The Stepmother" (Claudette Mink) is the very definition of a trophy wife; a sexy woman closer in age to her stepdaughters than her husband. Trish resents her, but Shea tolerates her because she makes their dad happy. But considering Katherine's secret dark desires, that might not be for long.
Thomas Wellington "The Father of the Bride" (Richard Burgi) is the father-of-the bride. He's a conservative real estate mogul. He only wants the best for his daughter; but as far as he's concerned that doesn't involve marrying Henry Dunn. Mr. Wellington is accustomed to getting his way, and plans on stopping this wedding at all costs.
Trish Wellington "The Bride" (Katie Cassidy) is the radiant bride-to-be who loves Henry Dunn with all of her heart and can't wait to marry him. Money is no object for a Wellington, so Trish's perfect wedding comes in the form of a grand week-long stay on Harper's Island, full of activities, food and fun for her family and closest friends. Trish doesn't care about Henry's lack of pedigree, but she is "Daddy's Little Girl" and finds herself torn between the two men in her life.
Two locations on the island are:
The Cannery is the island tavern for locals. It's a rustic dive-bar filled with islanders and fisherman, and not always welcoming to outsiders like the wedding party.
The Candlewick Inn is a boutique hotel that was built back in the early 1900s during prohibition. It is a charming, cozy, picturesque inn with gorgeous landscaping that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. It is the perfect place for a romantic, destination wedding, but the Candlewick Inn has a few secrets of its own.
Harper's Island is a 13-episode murder mystery about a group of family and friends who travel to a secluded island for a destination wedding. They've come to laugh ... to love ... and, though they don't know it ... to die. As the wedding festivities begin, friendships are tested and secrets exposed as a murderer claims victims, one by one, transforming the wedding week of fun and celebration into a terrifying struggle for survival. Abby Mills, whose mother was killed on the island by a homicidal maniac's rampage seven years ago, journeys home for the first time since the horrific event for the wedding of her best friend, Henry Dunn. Henry, the boy next door, is marrying the woman of his dreams, Trish Wellington, a beautiful and wealthy heiress. But as the wedding week begins, people start dying. Every episode, someone is killed. Wedding guests and island locals, every person is a suspect. No one is safe. No one can be trusted. By the end of the 13 episodes, all questions will be answered, the killer will be revealed and only a few will survive.
Watch an introductory video to the series courtesy of CBS below:
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