Thrillers often rely on exotic settings to heighten suspense, and Thomas Green’s The Island makes brilliant use of this tradition. Spanning Tokyo, the Republic of Georgia, France, and Washington D.C., the novel places readers at the crossroads of geopolitics, where every city holds secrets and every border hides danger.
In Tokyo and Yokohama, readers encounter Kenichi Iowao, a man plotting financial schemes with global implications. The industrial pulse of Japan, with its Mahjong tournaments and corporate intrigue, becomes the perfect backdrop for a plan that could destabilize the world.
Meanwhile, in Georgia, Boris Nekrich wrestles with his identity as a former Soviet operative. The stark landscapes and political upheaval of the region mirror his own inner turmoil. This isn’t just scenery—it’s storytelling geography, shaping characters as much as it describes them.
The CIA headquarters in Virginia and safe houses in France provide the Western counterbalance. Through Dean Thomas and his colleagues, the novel dives into American paranoia, strategy, and desperation during a shifting Cold War.
The global sweep of The Island is not just ambitious—it’s essential. The book reminds readers that espionage is never local. Every action in one city has repercussions across continents. For fans of thrillers who crave more than a single location, The Island delivers a masterclass in globe-trotting storytelling.