Rachel Jenner is the primary narrator of What She Knew. She’s the recently divorced mother of Ben Finch. Rachel was originally trained as a nurse but now works as a freelance photographer. Under normal circumstances, Rachel is physically attractive with long blond hair, green eyes, and freckles across her nose. The loss of her son has left her wild-eyed, disheveled, and distraught. The media has a field day with the instability she projects on camera.

Rachel’s sole motivation over the course of the story is to find out what became of Ben. She’s prepared to go to outrageous lengths to find him, often alienating the very people who are trying to help her. As a single parent, Rachel feels vulnerable and frequently doubts her abilities to raise a son alone. She only comes to believe in herself late in the story after she overrides public opinion.

Ben is Rachel’s only child. He is a sweet-tempered eight-year-old with blond hair, blue eyes, and the freckles he inherited from his mother. We only come to understand his character through the eyes, and camera lens, of Rachel.

At the beginning of the story, Ben demonstrates an open, trusting nature. The experiences he endures during his abduction change him, and he refuses to speak about that dark time.