The novel is set in key places all over the world. The most important settings, however, are Klipdrift, New York, and Cedar Hill House. Klipdrift is a dusty town that sprang up in the middle of the South African desert in the late nineteenth century when diamonds were discovered near there. When Jamie arrives, Klipdrift is nothing more than a collection of saloons and diamond appraisers, almost like a set from an old John Wayne movie. Later, Klipdrift grows into a major city and Jamie's company, Kruger-Brent, Limited is the heart of its commerce.