Note: Despite its title, neither the characters or setting from this book are featured in Goosebumps #45: Ghost Camp''.
Dustin Minium
A scrawny, cowardly boy being sent to Camp Full Moon against his will. At the urging of his mom, Dustin tries to view this as an opportunity to be someone new and takes her suggestion almost literally by swapping identities with Ari Davis as a joke. Unfortunately, Dustin soon learns Ari's been chosen as Camp Full Moon's latest sacrifice to The Snatcher and can't convince anyone of his real identity.
- Butt-Monkey: He's afraid of almost everything and finds out he's been sent to a camp where at least one kid dies every year. Oh and he just so happens to have been saddled with the identity of this year's sacrifice.
- Grew a Spine: He makes a conscious decision to help the dead kids of Camp Full Moon even though he wasn't selected for it and they really didn't help matters by being vague about what they needed the selected kid to do until the absolute last minute.
- Take a Third Option: When stuck between the ghostly Noah and suspicious Laura, Dustin decides not to listen to either of them and runs down the river path. He later sides with Noah when Laura is revealed to be The Snatcher.
Ari Davis
An athletic kid who enjoys pulling practical jokes, he convinces Dustin Minium to switch identities as a gag when they arrive at Camp Full Moon in Return to Ghost Camp. However when the boys learn Ari's been selected as The Snatcher's latest opponent Ari does everything he can to make sure Dustin dies in his place.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: He acts chummy with Dustin when they first meet, and is even willing to go along with the prank a bit longer despite his discomfort in the crappy Cherokee Cabin. The moment Ari finds out he's been selected to be The Snatcher's victim, he turns into a complete asshole and not only refuses to reveal his identity but actively tries to stop Dustin from leaving the camp.
- The Chosen One: He was selected by Camp Full Moon to fight The Snatcher because he's a gymnast. Unfortunately, no one bothered to explain this to Ari or Dustin and everyone's vagueness about the situation led both boys to assume Ari was selected as a human sacrifice and not a potential savior.
- Didn't Think This Through: At no point does he ever consider the idea of teaming up with Dustin so they can both escape the camp, and instead chooses to head Dustin off whenever he can to ensure Dustin absolutely will die in his place.
- Dirty Coward: While it's understandable Ari wouldn't want to face The Snatcher since he never agreed to such a thing, it doesn't excuse his almost sadistic glee in mocking Dustin about what'll happen, his attempts to stop Dustin from escaping, and his threats against Dustin's brother.
- Faux Affably Evil: Even after Ari refuses to switch identities with Dustin, he still tries to act friendly with him. The friendly part disappears when he not only mocks Dustin over the switch, he stops Dustin from trying to call his parents to go home and threatens Dustin's younger brother if he doesn't lie.
- Lack of Empathy: He doesn't want to just hide behind Dustin's identity, he wants to make sure Dustin dies in his place so Ari's absolutely certain he'll be in the clear.
The Snatcher
A fox-like spirit that haunts the woods of Camp Full Moon in Return to Ghost Camp. It feeds off a new camper every summer, but said camper is usually chosen as a representative to finally destroy the creature for good. It finally meets its end when Dustin Minium manages to cross the river near the camp, where The Snatcher is then dragged into the water by its ghastly servants.
- Child Eater: One who specifically only eats a single camper every summer.
- The Dreaded: The ghost campers are terrified of The Snatcher, recoiling in fear simply from listening to campfire tales about it. Dustin soon shares their fear when he learns that he's The Snatcher's selected victim.
- Evil Is Petty: Eating children isn't enough for it. as The Snatcher keeps the spirits of those it feeds on trapped at Camp Full Moon. The reason a new camper is selected every year is so the campers will have someone to fight for them so they can be free.
- Fantastic Foxes: It takes on the form of a fox, but whether or not it actually is a fox or just assumes the form because of the many foxes that live in the woods surrounding the camp is unknown.
- Flunky Boss: The Snatcher seems to have some form of control over monsters who live in the river. Those who try to swim across get dragged under by ghastly green, rotted hands. The monsters turn on The Snatcher when Dustin gets to the other side. When it falls in the river, they pull it under. It's entirely possible they were the ones in control and The Snatcher served them.
- Karmic Death: Is destroyed by the same monsters it tried to use to kill Dustin.
- Manipulative Bastard: It takes on the form of a girl called Laura and tries tricking Dustin into believing she's from a nearby girls camp. This is all to get him into the river so she can kill him, but she blows her disguise when she gets tired of waiting.
- Nothing Is Scarier: Like the villains of the original Ghost Camp, The Snatcher's backstory is shrouded in mystery. There's no explanation given to where it came from or why it only hunts one person a year. There's the possibility that the creatures living in the river are actually its masters instead of the other way around, with The Snatcher bringing them new victims every year. Considering they tore The Snatcher apart when Dustin got to the other side, it's quite possible this was a case of You Have Failed Me.
- Our Monsters Are Different: There are a set of rules when dealing with The Snatcher. It will only select one camper every year, and if that camper is able to cross The Snatcher's river to the other side The Snatcher will be defeated.
- Pronoun Trouble: It disguises itself as a young girl, but the book doesn't clarify if The Snatcher really is female or simply took the form of one.
- Spell My Name with a "The": "The Snatcher", which is always identified with a capital "The" in its name.
