You know that feeling when you're stuck in a routine that feels like a slow-motion car crash? That’s Travis Devine. He is the 6 20 man, named for the grueling morning commute he takes every single day from Mount Kisco into the heart of Manhattan. Most people see the title and think it’s just another generic thriller name. It's not. It represents a specific kind of penance. Devine isn't just a guy going to work; he’s an ex-Army Ranger who is essentially punishing himself by wearing a cheap suit and grinding away in an entry-level analyst job he absolutely hates.
Who Exactly is the 6 20 Man?
Honestly, Travis Devine is a bit of a walking contradiction. He’s 32, highly decorated, and possesses skills that could probably topple a small government, yet he spends 70 to 80 hours a week crunching numbers at a powerhouse investment firm called Cowl and Comely. He’s what the industry calls a "Burner." Basically, he's expendable labor in a high-stakes game of financial chicken.
The name comes from the Metro-North train. Every morning, he stares out the window at the massive estates of the ultra-wealthy, wondering how they got there. It’s a classic setup by David Baldacci, but there’s a darker layer here. Devine left the military under a cloud of suspicion. There's a secret in his past involving a murder cover-up in the ranks that keeps him up at night. He thinks he’s escaped that world by entering the world of high finance, but he’s really just traded one war zone for another.
The Catalyst: "She Is Dead"
The story really kicks off when Devine gets an anonymous email with those three words. Sara Ewes, his former girlfriend and coworker, is found hanging in a storage room at the office. The police want to call it a suicide. Devine knows better.
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Then things get weird. A mysterious figure named Campbell from a clandestine government agency shows up. He knows all about Devine’s "dirty" military exit and uses it as leverage. The deal is simple: investigate your own firm from the inside, or go to prison for the things you did in the Army. Suddenly, the 6 20 man isn't just a commuter; he’s a double agent in a world where "dark money" isn't just a buzzword—it’s the actual engine of the economy.
Why the Financial Setting Matters
A lot of readers ask why Baldacci chose Wall Street for a military thriller protagonist. It’s because the corruption is identical. In the book, Baldacci explores the idea that the financial industry is a "rigged system." We aren't just talking about a few guys skimming off the top. We're talking about an influx of dark money that is twice the GDP of the United States.
Think about that.
When you have that much capital, you aren't buying more boats. You're buying influence. You're buying people. Devine realizes that the "Burners" he works with are just as much infantry as the guys he served with in Afghanistan, only they’re fighting for a bonus instead of a border.
The Weirdness of the Plot
If you've read the book, you know it takes some... interesting turns. Some fans on Reddit and book forums have pointed out that the ending feels like it comes out of left field. Without spoiling too much for those who haven't finished, the mystery involves secret siblings, artificial insemination, and roommates who aren't who they say they are.
It’s definitely not your standard "corporate whistleblower" story. It’s more of a Hitchcockian "locked-door" mystery superimposed onto a global conspiracy.
- The Roommates: Devine lives with a rotating cast of characters, including a Russian white-hat hacker named Will Valentine and a law student named Helen Speers.
- The 51st Floor: The firm's top floor is a literal fortress that even the analysts can't access, symbolizing the untouchable nature of the elite.
- The Past: Devine’s guilt over his actions in the military acts as his "internal compass," often leading him to take risks that a normal analyst never would.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Readers
If you're diving into the 6 20 man series—the second book is titled The Edge—there are a few things you should keep in mind to get the most out of the narrative.
- Watch the routine. Baldacci uses the repetition of the 6:20 train to signal when Devine’s internal state is shifting. When the routine breaks, the danger spikes.
- Follow the money, not just the murder. While the death of Sara Ewes is the hook, the real story is about the "dark money" and how it’s used to manipulate global events.
- Don't trust the "good guys." In this series, the government agencies are often just as manipulative as the corporate villains. Campbell isn't Devine’s friend; he’s his handler.
- Look for the military parallels. Devine uses Ranger tactics in boardrooms and back alleys. His ability to "read a room" comes from his time in combat, not his MBA.
The 6 20 man represents the modern struggle of trying to find a moral path in a world that feels increasingly hollow. Whether you're a fan of Baldacci's older series like King and Maxwell or you're new to his work, Travis Devine is a character built for the complexities of the 2020s. He’s flawed, he’s tired, and he’s just trying to survive the commute.
If you want to keep up with Travis Devine's journey, you should check out The Edge, where he's sent to a small town in Maine to investigate another suspicious death. It takes him out of the city but keeps him firmly in the crosshairs of the powerful people he met in the first book.
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To dive deeper into the series, start by tracking the recurring characters in Devine's life, especially the hackers and government handlers who seem to know more about him than he knows about himself. Pay close attention to how Baldacci describes the "Dark Money" mechanics; it’s based on real-world financial loopholes that are often more terrifying than the fiction itself.