When Lewis Barnavelt's parents died, he went to live with his uncle Jonathan. In the John Bellairs/Brad Strickland books Lewis's age ranges from ten to twelve years old. He used to live with his parents in Milwaukee, Wisconsin but went to live with his uncle Jonathan in New Zebedee, Michigan. Mrs. Zimmermann who lives next to Lewis becomes Lewis's friend. Lewis goes over to Mrs. Zimmermann's house often to eat her delicious cooking. Lewis is overweight and has an overactive imagination. He is always thinking something bad will happen. In the stories, Lewis is usually the one who saves the day or the world when a demon or spirit is attempting to do something evil. However, he is usually the one that brought it into the world in the first place. Lewis is also best friends with Rose Rita Pottinger, who is often important in the outcome of the stories.

Books Lewis is in: The House With a Clock in its Walls, The Figure in the Shadows, The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder, The Doom of the Haunted Opera, The Specter From the Magician's Museum, The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge, and The Tower at the End of the World.

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Rose Rita is the same age as Lewis and lives in the same town, New Zebedee, Michigan. She is Lewis' best friend and plays a very similar role to Lewis in the books. Unlike Lewis, Rose Rita is skinny. She is also bold, brave, and claustrophobic. She seems to be closer to Mrs. Zimmermann than Lewis and in a few stories Rose Rita and Mrs. Zimmermann are the main characters. Rose Rita is usually the one that takes charge and persuades Lewis into doing something. She is a tomboy and enjoys a lot of the same things Lewis does. In several of the books, Rose Rita comes up with ideas to stop the villain or spirit.

Books Rose Rita is in: The Figure in the Shadows, The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring, The Ghost in the Mirror, The Doom of the Haunted Opera, The Specter From the Magician's Museum, The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge, and The Tower at the End of the World.

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Jonathan Barnavelt is Lewis' uncle. He is a potbellied, red-haired parlor magician who enjoys drinking and playing poker. Jonathan likes to make illusions for Rose Rita, Lewis, and Mrs. Zimmermann. He usually invites Mrs. Zimmermann over and devours her delicious cooking. When something bad happens, he usually learns about it and tries to help. Sometimes, however, there are things he doesn't know. Jonathan is very kind and forgiving. He isn't the kind of person who would get very upset at a tiny thing. He barely gets angry when a big thing happens.

Books Jonathan is in: The House With a Clock in its Walls, The Figure in the Shadows, The Vengeance of the Witch-Finder, The Doom of the Haunted Opera, The Specter from the Magician's Museum, The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge, and The Tower at the End of the World.

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Mrs. Florence Zimmermann is the neighbor of the Barnavelts. Like Uncle Jonathan, she is a magician, but she is more powerful than Jonathan. Mrs. Zimmermann is a wonderful cook and is obsessed with the color purple. In the stories, she usually has conferences with Jonathan about what is going on and makes an effort to help. In one book, she loses many of her powers, but in another book she gets them back. When Lewis is away Mrs. Zimmermann doesn't want Rose Rita to feel left out so she takes Rose Rita when she goes on vacation. Usually sinister things happen on those trips. Mrs. Zimmermann plays a similar role to Jonathan in the outcome of the story.

Books Mrs. Zimmermann is in: The House With a Clock in its Walls, The Figure in the Shadows, The Letter, the Witch, and the Ring, The Ghost in the Mirror, The Doom of the Haunted Opera, The Specter From the Magician's Museum, The Beast Under the Wizard's Bridge, and The Tower at the End of the World.

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Jute is a man who works for the New Zebedee Public Works Department. He helps Lewis, Rose Rita, Jonathan, and Mrs. Zimmermann in many of the Lewis Barnavelt books. Usually at the end of the story when they have just finished defeating the villain or spirit, Jute will come along and pick them up. Jute swears a lot and at everyone. Jute appears in several Lewis Barnavelt stories.

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