San Fransisco

The majority of Counterfeit is set in San Francisco, California, where Ava lives with her husband and child. While the protagonist does not feel connected to the city, as long as she lives in San Francisco she can convince herself that she is on an extended maternity leave, not walking away from her career in law. As Ava works with Winnie, she travels more and spends less time in California. Toward the end of the novel, Ava leaves San Francisco and sheds the guilt she has for exiting the law firm.

Hong Kong

After Oli rents and an apartment on the Peninsula, Ava books a trip to Hong Kong to visit her aunt and uncle. At dinner, Ava attempts to pay the bill but her card is declined. When she speaks with the bank, they inform her that her access to the credit cards was cut off...