Explore the real-world places that appear in Radiant Angel by Nelson DeMille. Each location on the map shows what happens there in the novel, the real history of the place, and what's there today. Featured locations include Russian Mission to the United Nations, United Nations Headquarters, 26 Federal Plaza, Southampton Oligarch Estate, Coopers Beach and 6 more.
136 E 67th St, Upper East Side — Home base of the Russian diplomats Corey surveils
John Corey's Diplomatic Surveillance Group watches the Russian U.N. Mission, where Colonel Vasily Petrov of the SVR works under diplomatic cover. Corey tracks the comings and goings of Russian diplomats and spies from this post, and Petrov's disappearance turns routine surveillance into a hunt for a possible nuclear plot.
The Russian Mission to the U.N. occupies a building on East 67th Street that was built in the 1970s for the Soviet delegation. It has long been a focus of U.S. counterintelligence monitoring.
The building remains the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations and is a working diplomatic facility closed to the public. Visitors can only see the exterior from the street.
First Avenue at 46th St — The diplomatic world behind Petrov's cover
The U.N. is the larger stage for the Russian diplomatic presence that Corey's DSG team tracks. Petrov's cover as a Russian U.N. diplomat gives him legal protection and freedom of movement in New York, complicating Corey's efforts to confront him.
The U.N. headquarters complex was built between 1948 and 1952 on land donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. The Secretariat tower was designed by an international team led by Wallace Harrison.
The complex is open for guided tours, which include the General Assembly Hall and Security Council chamber. It remains the seat of the United Nations.
Visit: United Nations Headquarters Visitor Centre (landmark)
Foley Square, Lower Manhattan — Federal law enforcement hub
Federal Plaza represents the FBI and federal bureaucracy that Corey fled from the Anti-Terrorist Task Force. His clashes with federal officials here underscore his wish to work independently, and his superiors there doubt his warnings about Russia.
26 Federal Plaza was completed in 1969 and houses the New York FBI field office and other federal agencies. It sits in the Civic Center, near Foley Square courthouses.
The building still hosts federal offices, including immigration courts and agencies, and requires security screening for business visitors. It is not a tourist attraction.
Meadow Lane, Southampton — The party where Petrov vanishes
At a lavish party hosted by a Russian oligarch on the Southampton oceanfront, Colonel Vasily Petrov slips away from the DSG surveillance team. His disappearance sets the plot in motion and forces John Corey to follow his trail across Long Island.
Southampton's Meadow Lane oceanfront became a prestigious estate district in the late 19th and 20th centuries. Wealthy New Yorkers and, more recently, foreign billionaires have built enormous summer estates there.
The estates along Meadow Lane are private and gated, and visitors cannot enter them. The nearby public Coopers Beach is regularly ranked among the best beaches in America.
Southampton — Public oceanfront near the oligarch estates
The Southampton oceanfront provides the backdrop for the Hamptons part of the novel, where Corey and his surveillance colleagues operate amid the wealth and summer crowds. The glittering shoreline contrasts with the dark intelligence game he pursues.
Coopers Beach is a village-run beach in Southampton, named for the Cooper family of early local residents. It has been a popular summer destination for generations.
The beach is a public park with a pavilion and lifeguards, though parking requires a village permit in season. It is a scenic spot for visitors to see the Southampton coast.
Visit: Coopers Beach (park)
Main Street, Southampton — Town center of the Hamptons
Corey's search for Petrov leads him through the Hamptons communities, where he works with local police and tries to find where the missing Russian colonel could be hiding. The village's genteel summer atmosphere makes the Russian threat seem even more out of place.
Southampton was settled by English colonists in 1640, making it one of the oldest English settlements in New York. It grew into a fashionable resort colony in the late 1800s.
Main Street offers boutiques, restaurants, and the Southampton History Museum. It remains a hub of Hamptons summer life.
Visit: Southampton Village Main Street (landmark)
Brooklyn — Little Odessa, Russian-American enclave
Brighton Beach is the heart of New York's Russian émigré community, and Corey looks there for leads on Petrov's network and contacts. The neighborhood's Russian restaurants, shops, and boardwalk offer a haven where Russian operatives could blend in.
Brighton Beach developed as a seaside resort in the 1870s and became a center of Russian-speaking immigrants after Soviet Jewish emigration in the 1970s. It earned the nickname Little Odessa.
The neighborhood has Russian restaurants, delis, and a lively boardwalk along the Atlantic. It is a popular destination for visitors interested in Russian-American culture.
Visit: Brighton Beach Boardwalk (landmark)
Brooklyn waterfront — Maritime access point for a possible weapon
The harbor and its shipping terminals loom in the novel's fear of a radiant angel being smuggled in by sea. Corey and his colleagues consider how a nuclear device could enter the country through container ports and the waterfront.
Red Hook has been a working port since the 19th century and was a major hub of Brooklyn's shipping industry. Containerization moved much of the activity to New Jersey after the 1950s.
The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and some industrial piers remain, alongside restaurants and art spaces. Parts of the waterfront are publicly accessible.
Visit: Red Hook Waterfront (park)
Eastern tip of Long Island — Remote end of the East End
The far eastern end of Long Island represents the remote coastline where Corey's pursuit of Petrov could end. Isolated shores and coves provide cover for covert landings and secret meetings.
Montauk Point Lighthouse was commissioned by George Washington and first lit in 1797. It is the oldest lighthouse in New York State.
The lighthouse is part of a museum and Montauk Point State Park. Visitors can climb the tower and walk the cliffs.
Visit: Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum (museum)
Manhattan — Corey's new unit
Corey reports to his DSG supervisors as part of a team that tails Russian diplomats around Manhattan. The post is supposed to be a quiet end to his career, but it places him at the center of the Petrov investigation.
The Diplomatic Surveillance Group is a fictionalized counterintelligence surveillance unit modeled on FBI and NYPD operations in the city. Midtown Manhattan has long hosted government offices and surveillance activity connected to the U.N.
The exact fictional office has no public site. Midtown remains a hub of government and diplomatic activity, with Bryant Park and the Library nearby for visitors.
Greenpoint, Brooklyn — Russian community landmark
Russian communities across New York provide the background for Corey's attempts to trace Petrov's contacts. Cultural landmarks like this reflect the diaspora where intelligence officers can find sympathizers and cover.
The cathedral at Driggs Avenue was built in 1916–1921 and features five blue domes. It serves the Russian Orthodox community in Brooklyn.
The cathedral still holds services and is a notable architectural landmark in Greenpoint. Visitors can admire its exterior and attend services respectfully.
Visit: Cathedral of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (landmark)
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