The setting of The 6:20 Man is an integral part of the novel and provides a backdrop that is as complex and multifaceted as its characters. The story unfolds in the high-stakes financial world of New York City, a place synonymous with ambition, power, and the relentless pursuit of success. This urban landscape is not just a physical location but a symbol of the cutthroat competition and corporate machinations central to the narrative. The early morning train—the 6:20—becomes a vessel for the city’s driven professionals, including the protagonist, Travis Devine. It’s here, in the liminal space between the quiet suburbs and the frenetic pulse of Wall Street, that the characters transition from their private selves to their public personas. The train ride, with its rhythm and routine, is emblematic of the characters’ daily grind and the cyclical nature of their ambition.

Within Wall Street, the novel zooms in on the microcosm of Cowl and Comely, a financial house that epitomizes the opulence and corruption of the industry. It’s a setting where glossy exteriors mask the murky ethics of trade and transaction.