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El Círculo #1-3
The Circle
The plot of the novel The Circle:
The famous psychiatrist Solomon Lewin has left his humanitarian work in India to serve as the chief psychiatrist at the Center for Psychological Illness located in London's Square Mile financial district. Though well paid, the job is monotonous, and Solomon is also going through a rough patch in his marriage with Margaret. He begins scrutinizing the more mysterious cases of the center’s long-term residents hoping to find something worth his time. When he comes across the chart of Maryam Batool, a young broker from London who has lived in the center for seven years, his life will change forever.
Maryam Batool is an orphan from Pakistan who became one of the most promising female employees of the financial institution General Society, but in the summer of 2007, at the start of the financial crisis, the young broker loses her mind and tries to kill herself. Since then she has been stuck, able only to draw circles yet unable to understand their meaning.
A snow storm looms over the city at the start of the Christmas holidays. Before Christmas Eve dinner, Solomon receives an urgent call from the center to come at once: Maryam has attacked a nurse and seems to be awakening from her long stupor.
Solomon heads downtown in the snow, clueless that this will be the most difficult night of his life. The psychiatrist does not trust his patient, the police are after them, and his family seems to be in danger. The only way to protect himself and those he loves is to discover what “The Circle” is and why everyone seems to want his patient dead. It’s a surprise ending and a mystery you won’t believe.
What is hiding in the City of London? Who is behind the biggest business center in the world? What is the truth behind “The Circle”? Can Solomon save his family?
Mario Escobar is a historian and writer with more than 40 published titles, and his work has been translated into over twenty languages. His essays and novels have already conquered hundreds of thousands of readers.
The famous psychiatrist Solomon Lewin has left his humanitarian work in India to serve as the chief psychiatrist at the Center for Psychological Illness located in London's Square Mile financial district. Though well paid, the job is monotonous, and Solomon is also going through a rough patch in his marriage with Margaret. He begins scrutinizing the more mysterious cases of the center’s long-term residents hoping to find something worth his time. When he comes across the chart of Maryam Batool, a young broker from London who has lived in the center for seven years, his life will change forever.
Maryam Batool is an orphan from Pakistan who became one of the most promising female employees of the financial institution General Society, but in the summer of 2007, at the start of the financial crisis, the young broker loses her mind and tries to kill herself. Since then she has been stuck, able only to draw circles yet unable to understand their meaning.
A snow storm looms over the city at the start of the Christmas holidays. Before Christmas Eve dinner, Solomon receives an urgent call from the center to come at once: Maryam has attacked a nurse and seems to be awakening from her long stupor.
Solomon heads downtown in the snow, clueless that this will be the most difficult night of his life. The psychiatrist does not trust his patient, the police are after them, and his family seems to be in danger. The only way to protect himself and those he loves is to discover what “The Circle” is and why everyone seems to want his patient dead. It’s a surprise ending and a mystery you won’t believe.
What is hiding in the City of London? Who is behind the biggest business center in the world? What is the truth behind “The Circle”? Can Solomon save his family?
Mario Escobar is a historian and writer with more than 40 published titles, and his work has been translated into over twenty languages. His essays and novels have already conquered hundreds of thousands of readers.
145 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 28, 2014
111 people are currently reading
307 people want to read
About the author
Mario Escobar
296 books1,328 followersMario Escobar Golderos has a degree in History, with an advanced studies diploma in Modern History. He has written numerous books and articles about the Inquisition, the Protestant Reformation, and religious sects. He is the executive director of an NGO and directs the magazine Nueva historia para el debate, in addition to being a contributing columnist in various publications. Passionate about history and its mysteries, Escobar has delved into the depths of church history, the different sectarian groups that have struggled therein, and the discovery and colonization of the Americas. He specializes in the lives of unorthodox Spaniards and Americans. Books
Autor Betseller con miles de libros vendidos en todo el mundo. Sus obras han sido traducidas al chino, japonés, inglés, ruso, portugués, danés, francés, italiano, checo, polaco, serbio, entre otros idiomas. Novelista, ensayista y conferenciante. Licenciado en Historia y Diplomado en Estudios Avanzados en la especialidad de Historia Moderna, ha escrito numerosos artículos y libros sobre la Inquisición, la Reforma Protestante y las sectas religiosas.
Publica asiduamente en las revistas Más Allá y National Geographic Historia
Apasionado por la historia y sus enigmas ha estudiado en produndidad la Historia de la Iglesia, los distintos grupos sectarios que han luchado en su seno, el descubrimiento y colonizacíón de América; especializándose en la vida de personajes heterodoxos españoles y americanos.
Su primera obra, Conspiración Maine 2006, fue un éxito. Le siguieron El mesías Ario (2007), El secreto de los Assassini (2008) y la Profecía de Aztlán (2009). Todas ellas parte de la saga protagonizada por Hércules Guzmán Fox, George Lincoln y Alicia Mantorella.
Su libro Francisco. El primer papa latinoamericano ha sido traducido a 12 idiomas, entre ellos el chino, inglés, francés, italiano, portugues, japonés, danés, etc.
Sol rojo sobre Hiroshima (2009) y El País de las lágrimas (2010) son sus obras más intimistas. También ha publicado ensayos como Martín Luther King (2006) e Historia de la Masonería en Estados Unidos (2009). Los doce legados de Steve Jobs (2012). La biografía del papa Francisco. El primer papa latinoamericano (2013). La Saga Ione (2013) o la Serie Apocalipsis (2012).Saga Misión Verne (2013)
www.marioescobar.es
http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Escobar/e...
http://www.sagamisionverne.es/
Autor Betseller con miles de libros vendidos en todo el mundo. Sus obras han sido traducidas al chino, japonés, inglés, ruso, portugués, danés, francés, italiano, checo, polaco, serbio, entre otros idiomas. Novelista, ensayista y conferenciante. Licenciado en Historia y Diplomado en Estudios Avanzados en la especialidad de Historia Moderna, ha escrito numerosos artículos y libros sobre la Inquisición, la Reforma Protestante y las sectas religiosas.
Publica asiduamente en las revistas Más Allá y National Geographic Historia
Apasionado por la historia y sus enigmas ha estudiado en produndidad la Historia de la Iglesia, los distintos grupos sectarios que han luchado en su seno, el descubrimiento y colonizacíón de América; especializándose en la vida de personajes heterodoxos españoles y americanos.
Su primera obra, Conspiración Maine 2006, fue un éxito. Le siguieron El mesías Ario (2007), El secreto de los Assassini (2008) y la Profecía de Aztlán (2009). Todas ellas parte de la saga protagonizada por Hércules Guzmán Fox, George Lincoln y Alicia Mantorella.
Su libro Francisco. El primer papa latinoamericano ha sido traducido a 12 idiomas, entre ellos el chino, inglés, francés, italiano, portugues, japonés, danés, etc.
Sol rojo sobre Hiroshima (2009) y El País de las lágrimas (2010) son sus obras más intimistas. También ha publicado ensayos como Martín Luther King (2006) e Historia de la Masonería en Estados Unidos (2009). Los doce legados de Steve Jobs (2012). La biografía del papa Francisco. El primer papa latinoamericano (2013). La Saga Ione (2013) o la Serie Apocalipsis (2012).Saga Misión Verne (2013)
www.marioescobar.es
http://www.amazon.com/Mario-Escobar/e...
http://www.sagamisionverne.es/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
November 28, 2021
Novela corta, de fácil lectura, tanto por una narrativa muy ágil como por un argumento que engancha desde las primeras páginas y que no decae hasta que llegas a un final totalmente inesperado. Es un thriller policial en toda regla, enfocado en mantener la intriga, aunque quizá por eso cae en algunos errores, pero que tampoco molestan. Recomendable.
May 7, 2018
A woman who had been locked up in a psychiatry for eight years and the psychiatrist who just happened to check her file for some reason have to run from some mysterious people who want to kill them (the police, maybe? who knows).
Also, the woman doesn't remember much about her past and didn't say anything for eight years except 'THE CIRCLE', so they're trying to figure out what that could mean.
And the psychiatrist has to try to save his wife and his children, who are being held hostage in their own home, also by the police (???).
Plus, the psychiatrist and his wife have to work through their marriage issues (seperately, because they don't really exchange more than two sentences in this entire story).
And it's christmas, for some reason.
Writing ★☆☆☆☆
Characters ★☆☆☆☆
Plot ★★☆☆☆
This book really isn't worth a review but I have nothing better to do at the moment so -
First, the good things: The Spanish is quite simple and easy to understand, and the chapters are very short.
Now, in no particular order, the bad things:
The characters have no personality whatsoever. Everybody does what the plot needs them to do and seems to have only a minimum of feelings about any given situation. You never really care about them, so when they die (there's a lot of people dying for no reason in this book), you don't really care. The psychiatrists children conveniently sleep through most of the plot. Maryam, the patient, who didn't really move from her bed for eight years, is she still fast and strong and extremely dangerous (and attractive, because that's also important for the plot), except when her unexplained mental illness causes her to forget everything except THE CIRCLE.
The POV switches wildly between pretty much all the characters and it's annoying as well as confusing. And to make matters even worse everyone is mostly referred to as 'the man' or 'the woman', unless of course they're a bad guy-
Then the author uses the word 'terrorist' constantly, and I'm actually not sure he knew what it means. Or maybe he just didn't care? Maybe it means something different in Spanish? Either way every person who does a terrible thing in this book is called a terrorist for some reason and it made absolutely no sense.
The plot is so ridiculous that I don't even know where to start. Someone with obviously minimal knowledge about the stock market and psychology tried to write a book that involved a lot of both and the result really doesn't make a lot of sense. The author also tried to include as many plot twists as he possibly could but none of them really work, and especially the epilogue is obviously just there for shock value - it makes no sense in connection with the story whatsoever.
Just... don't read this incoherent piece of crap. It's not worth the time.
Also, the woman doesn't remember much about her past and didn't say anything for eight years except 'THE CIRCLE', so they're trying to figure out what that could mean.
And the psychiatrist has to try to save his wife and his children, who are being held hostage in their own home, also by the police (???).
Plus, the psychiatrist and his wife have to work through their marriage issues (seperately, because they don't really exchange more than two sentences in this entire story).
And it's christmas, for some reason.
Writing ★☆☆☆☆
Characters ★☆☆☆☆
Plot ★★☆☆☆
This book really isn't worth a review but I have nothing better to do at the moment so -
First, the good things: The Spanish is quite simple and easy to understand, and the chapters are very short.
Now, in no particular order, the bad things:
The characters have no personality whatsoever. Everybody does what the plot needs them to do and seems to have only a minimum of feelings about any given situation. You never really care about them, so when they die (there's a lot of people dying for no reason in this book), you don't really care. The psychiatrists children conveniently sleep through most of the plot. Maryam, the patient, who didn't really move from her bed for eight years, is she still fast and strong and extremely dangerous (and attractive, because that's also important for the plot), except when her unexplained mental illness causes her to forget everything except THE CIRCLE.
The POV switches wildly between pretty much all the characters and it's annoying as well as confusing. And to make matters even worse everyone is mostly referred to as 'the man' or 'the woman', unless of course they're a bad guy-
Then the author uses the word 'terrorist' constantly, and I'm actually not sure he knew what it means. Or maybe he just didn't care? Maybe it means something different in Spanish? Either way every person who does a terrible thing in this book is called a terrorist for some reason and it made absolutely no sense.
The plot is so ridiculous that I don't even know where to start. Someone with obviously minimal knowledge about the stock market and psychology tried to write a book that involved a lot of both and the result really doesn't make a lot of sense. The author also tried to include as many plot twists as he possibly could but none of them really work, and especially the epilogue is obviously just there for shock value - it makes no sense in connection with the story whatsoever.
Just... don't read this incoherent piece of crap. It's not worth the time.
October 23, 2025
When I read the synopsis, I was expecting a different kind of novel, thinking it would focus more on the protagonists’ psychology. Although our main character is portrayed as someone not entirely sane, I feel this aspect isn’t given much importance nor explored in depth. I would describe this novel as an action thriller—pleasant to read, but nothing particularly outstanding. The ending felt a bit unexpected and doesn’t have much connection with the story’s plot or the mysterious circle.
En Español:
Cuando leí la sinopsis esperaba otro tipo de novela, pensando que trataría de temas mucho mas relacionados con la psicología de los protagonistas, y aunque el estado de nuestra protagonista sea de una persona no cuerda, creo que a ese aspecto no se le da mucha importancia ni se juega mucho con ello. Diría que esta novela es un thriller de acción, agradable de leer pero que no destaca por nada especial. El final me pareció un poco inesperado, que no tiene gran relacion con el trama de la historia ni con el misterioso circulo.
En Español:
Cuando leí la sinopsis esperaba otro tipo de novela, pensando que trataría de temas mucho mas relacionados con la psicología de los protagonistas, y aunque el estado de nuestra protagonista sea de una persona no cuerda, creo que a ese aspecto no se le da mucha importancia ni se juega mucho con ello. Diría que esta novela es un thriller de acción, agradable de leer pero que no destaca por nada especial. El final me pareció un poco inesperado, que no tiene gran relacion con el trama de la historia ni con el misterioso circulo.
February 22, 2016
Wow I loved this book! Psychological thriller and very fast paced. I couldn't decide who to trust! I really liked (and hated) the characters, and was shocked over and over. I would highly recommend reading this
December 2, 2014
Incomprensible. Totalmente falto de lógica, del más mínimo ritmo narrativo y con un final que te deja asqueado y es es innecesario en su totalidad. Casquería sin sentido.
May 29, 2015
***I received this book for free from the Author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.*** WTF just happen?! OMG this book!!! I was literally on the edge of my seat for the entire thing! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I have to reread it just to catch the stuff I missed. Because there is no way all these things happened! I finished this book and literally stood there with my jaw on the floor. It took a little time to recover. What starts out as a day in a life of a young successful woman, next thing you know you're ripped from your seat and thrown through one loop only to be yanked back and tossed through another! I love this kind of writing simply because I can never predict what's going to happen. As the story unfolded I found myself physically responding. Some cursing, gasping, yelling "NO!", and jumping up from my seat only to sit slowly back down to turn the next page (admittedly there was one fist pump). I thought I knew where the story was heading, boy oh boy was I ever wrong. My words fail in describing this tale. It's definitely a mind bender. The ending totally blew me away!!!! I don't want to give away anything. This review will be totally spoiler free. You've just got to read it!
December 19, 2015
Maryam Bartool, a powerful presence in the stock market, snapped one day and had to be institutionalized. As Patient 128, she comes to the attention of Solomon Lewin, chief psychologist in the institution. During his sessions with her, he is only able to get her to say that she is in danger from The Circle. Suddenly, during one of their sessions, Maryam starts to get her memory back—just as she does, people arrive and try to kill her.
Mario Escobar’s The Circle is a dark psychological thriller that chronicles Maryam and Solomon’s flight to survive. It is well written, suffering only from the author’s tendency to head hop from character to character, often within the same chapter, which at times can be confusing.
This story starts on a dark note of high tension and continues to rise until the startling conclusion. It’s hard to know who the good guys are—if, in fact, there are any good guys left in the world. Kudos to Escobar for creating a world you’ll be glad only exists between the covers of his book, or does it?
Mario Escobar’s The Circle is a dark psychological thriller that chronicles Maryam and Solomon’s flight to survive. It is well written, suffering only from the author’s tendency to head hop from character to character, often within the same chapter, which at times can be confusing.
This story starts on a dark note of high tension and continues to rise until the startling conclusion. It’s hard to know who the good guys are—if, in fact, there are any good guys left in the world. Kudos to Escobar for creating a world you’ll be glad only exists between the covers of his book, or does it?
June 21, 2015
4 stars because some of the translation was awkward and the beginning was a little slow. The secret behind the patient was what kept me going in the beginning. I'm glad I pushed on, because the ending surprised me and kept me on the edge of my seat!!
March 25, 2015
Magnífica
Se lee de un tirón, inquietante te mantiene en tensión. Un ritmo cinematográfico. Final trepidante. Una lectura más que recomendable
Se lee de un tirón, inquietante te mantiene en tensión. Un ritmo cinematográfico. Final trepidante. Una lectura más que recomendable
April 5, 2015
El circulo
Muy bueno. Mantiene el interes del lector. Triste final, pero los errores por falta de juicio, se pagan, inclusive con la muerte.
Muy bueno. Mantiene el interes del lector. Triste final, pero los errores por falta de juicio, se pagan, inclusive con la muerte.
December 25, 2021
Titulo: El circulo
Autor: Mario Escobar
Año publicado: 2014
Motivo de lectura: #NavidadInfernal
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Fisico / Electronico: Electronico
Mi edicion: -
Idioma: Español
Puntuacion: 1/5
El principio atrapa, pero el resto es tan cuesta arriba que la lectura no se disfruta.
No hay gran desarrollo de los personajes, la extructura es caotica.
Se nota mucho que el autor no indago sobre temas religiosos, ni de salud mental, lo que habria aportado muchisimo a mejorar este libro.
En las ultimas paginas aplica el recurso de plot twist, casi puedo imaginarlo "uy, seguro que esto no lo ven venir y sorprendo a los lectores", el plot twist es un arte que no muchos saben manejar, este es un claro ejemplo, cuando se usa este recurso en un manotazo de ahogado para salvar algo que es insalvable, deja de ser un plot twist para convertirse en un enjendro hibrido.
No volveria a leer a este autor.
Autor: Mario Escobar
Año publicado: 2014
Motivo de lectura: #NavidadInfernal
Lectura / Relectura: Lectura
Fisico / Electronico: Electronico
Mi edicion: -
Idioma: Español
Puntuacion: 1/5
El principio atrapa, pero el resto es tan cuesta arriba que la lectura no se disfruta.
No hay gran desarrollo de los personajes, la extructura es caotica.
Se nota mucho que el autor no indago sobre temas religiosos, ni de salud mental, lo que habria aportado muchisimo a mejorar este libro.
En las ultimas paginas aplica el recurso de plot twist, casi puedo imaginarlo "uy, seguro que esto no lo ven venir y sorprendo a los lectores", el plot twist es un arte que no muchos saben manejar, este es un claro ejemplo, cuando se usa este recurso en un manotazo de ahogado para salvar algo que es insalvable, deja de ser un plot twist para convertirse en un enjendro hibrido.
No volveria a leer a este autor.
January 13, 2019
Es un libro entretenido, con personajes sólidos y un buen ritmo narrativo, pero el final me ha sacado completamente de la historia dejándome un mal sabor de boca y convirtiendo una lectura placentera en una que quiero olvidar cuanto antes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2019
No me gustó el final
October 5, 2019
I seriously am confused regarding my thoughts on this book.
As I came toward the end of this book, picturing a routine, happy ending, everything turned upside down!!
As I came toward the end of this book, picturing a routine, happy ending, everything turned upside down!!
August 15, 2017
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
The Circle is a psychological thriller that delves into the world of economic brokers and the secrets they hold.
The book is written where you hear the thoughts of characters, but not necessarily every characters' motivations. This is important to know because I had an issue with one character because of this. However, I digress.
The Circle, begins with a character going crazy. You don't learn much, only that she is an orphan and an economic broker. Her insanity happens shortly after an economic crash. As a reader, you're led to believe that it is the crash that caused her mental downfall, but there may be more than that. A conspiracy is soon realized when, years later, her new psychiatrist decides to delve into her file and break down. Solomon Lewin wants nothing more than to cure her, but he ended with something far worse.
I honestly didn't care for Solomon's story in the book. He seemed too trusting and not completely skeptical as he should have been. Then again, I can see how he sympathized with Maryam. I just don't understand why he had a deep need to solve the mystery. It was his personal white whale. I can see what his motives were and his obsession, I just don't agree with him as a character. That's all.
His wife on the other hand, Margaret, let me just applaud her now. She has gumption. Whereas her husband is running around solving a mystery and keeping fairly safe away from the baddies, Margaret has the baddies in her own home. Let me just say that one shouldn't mess with a woman and her home.
I found that Margaret's part had more action and more emotion. It was easy to root for her. It wasn't completely easy to root for Solomon, though there were times I did.
I also couldn't get into Maryam all the way. There were moments where Solomon notices she is remembering something, but the reader doesn't see it. Instead, we hear her memories from her and she isn't a reliable character. It is hard to find her as reliable as Solomon does. Yet again, that's why I don't get Solomon.
The ending was definitely not something I expected. I'm still wondering if I like the ending better or if I would have wanted something else. Either way, you are going to get teary eyed. You are going to be shocked.
All in all, the book had action and mystery. It wasn't my favorite thriller, but I did like the story. It's the ending that makes me hate and like the book. You just have to read it to understand my feelings about it.
The Circle is a psychological thriller that delves into the world of economic brokers and the secrets they hold.
The book is written where you hear the thoughts of characters, but not necessarily every characters' motivations. This is important to know because I had an issue with one character because of this. However, I digress.
The Circle, begins with a character going crazy. You don't learn much, only that she is an orphan and an economic broker. Her insanity happens shortly after an economic crash. As a reader, you're led to believe that it is the crash that caused her mental downfall, but there may be more than that. A conspiracy is soon realized when, years later, her new psychiatrist decides to delve into her file and break down. Solomon Lewin wants nothing more than to cure her, but he ended with something far worse.
I honestly didn't care for Solomon's story in the book. He seemed too trusting and not completely skeptical as he should have been. Then again, I can see how he sympathized with Maryam. I just don't understand why he had a deep need to solve the mystery. It was his personal white whale. I can see what his motives were and his obsession, I just don't agree with him as a character. That's all.
His wife on the other hand, Margaret, let me just applaud her now. She has gumption. Whereas her husband is running around solving a mystery and keeping fairly safe away from the baddies, Margaret has the baddies in her own home. Let me just say that one shouldn't mess with a woman and her home.
I found that Margaret's part had more action and more emotion. It was easy to root for her. It wasn't completely easy to root for Solomon, though there were times I did.
I also couldn't get into Maryam all the way. There were moments where Solomon notices she is remembering something, but the reader doesn't see it. Instead, we hear her memories from her and she isn't a reliable character. It is hard to find her as reliable as Solomon does. Yet again, that's why I don't get Solomon.
The ending was definitely not something I expected. I'm still wondering if I like the ending better or if I would have wanted something else. Either way, you are going to get teary eyed. You are going to be shocked.
All in all, the book had action and mystery. It wasn't my favorite thriller, but I did like the story. It's the ending that makes me hate and like the book. You just have to read it to understand my feelings about it.
May 4, 2015
This is from reading the English version e-book recently added to the Amazon Kindle selection of books, titled "The Circle."
"An Exciting Suspense Surrounding the Stock Market Crash of 2008"
This is an extremely suspenseful story about the stock market crash of 2008. It's when economic injustices, fraud, and robbery in the financial systems were exposed. This story is about truth, but the events and names are fiction. Maryam Batool is a London stockbroker, one of the most successful in the stock market world. She was born and raised as an orphan in Pakistan. Though raised as a Muslim, she has declared herself an atheist. She values power, wealth, and pleasures. She has no conscience. The morning after attending a party with too much champagne and cocaine, she turns on the TV where the news is all about the failing stock market .. the world is facing the biggest stock market crash since 1929. She's in shock realizing her plans to retire to a vacation home in Greece have gone up in smoke. Now, seven years later, she's the longest patient at the London Center for Psychological Illnesses. She suffers from amnesia caused by severe neurosis and has made several suicide attempts. Solomon Lewin, the chief psychiatrist, 35 years old, has returned from Calcutta, India where he did research and treated the poor. His new job brings in more money for his wife and two young children who are happy to be back in London. Yet, he's a little bored with the number of wealthy patients he treats, most are hospitalized neurotics with compulsive behaviors to include drugs, alcohol, gambling, or sex addictions. The previous chief of the facility warns Solomon to not try to aid Maryam Batool as there is no hope of restoring her to a normal life. However, Solomon does visit her and finds that there are only two words she has ever spoken since her admission: the circle, the circle. He's puzzled and works more with her and she starts to reclaim her memory slowly and violently. This story evolves quickly with madness and mayhem. It's an exciting story which will stun you with revelations which could possibly really happen in our current wild world. I applaud this author for his creativity, for his philosophical statements which really do impact all of our lives such as we are seeing the rich getting richer, and the poor get poorer. The story becomes vigorous and you'll be shocked at the ending. Highly recommended.
"An Exciting Suspense Surrounding the Stock Market Crash of 2008"
This is an extremely suspenseful story about the stock market crash of 2008. It's when economic injustices, fraud, and robbery in the financial systems were exposed. This story is about truth, but the events and names are fiction. Maryam Batool is a London stockbroker, one of the most successful in the stock market world. She was born and raised as an orphan in Pakistan. Though raised as a Muslim, she has declared herself an atheist. She values power, wealth, and pleasures. She has no conscience. The morning after attending a party with too much champagne and cocaine, she turns on the TV where the news is all about the failing stock market .. the world is facing the biggest stock market crash since 1929. She's in shock realizing her plans to retire to a vacation home in Greece have gone up in smoke. Now, seven years later, she's the longest patient at the London Center for Psychological Illnesses. She suffers from amnesia caused by severe neurosis and has made several suicide attempts. Solomon Lewin, the chief psychiatrist, 35 years old, has returned from Calcutta, India where he did research and treated the poor. His new job brings in more money for his wife and two young children who are happy to be back in London. Yet, he's a little bored with the number of wealthy patients he treats, most are hospitalized neurotics with compulsive behaviors to include drugs, alcohol, gambling, or sex addictions. The previous chief of the facility warns Solomon to not try to aid Maryam Batool as there is no hope of restoring her to a normal life. However, Solomon does visit her and finds that there are only two words she has ever spoken since her admission: the circle, the circle. He's puzzled and works more with her and she starts to reclaim her memory slowly and violently. This story evolves quickly with madness and mayhem. It's an exciting story which will stun you with revelations which could possibly really happen in our current wild world. I applaud this author for his creativity, for his philosophical statements which really do impact all of our lives such as we are seeing the rich getting richer, and the poor get poorer. The story becomes vigorous and you'll be shocked at the ending. Highly recommended.
June 27, 2015
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This book grabs you and won’t let you go. I loved everything about this book except the ending. The only reason I didn’t love the ending is it didn’t end the way “I” wanted it to. It did end the way it was supposed to. Solomon and Margaret are a simple couple with two children. Solomon is the head of a psychiatric clinic. He has one patient that intrigues him. She has been there for years and yet no one has been able to help her. When he starts trying to get through to her things go extremely bad.
All the way through this book I flip-flopped between who I thought the good guys and the bad guys were. My reason was simple. They all had qualities that made them appear to be good and then the next minute they did something that made me think they were the bad guys. I was completely stumped until the very end. I felt terror for the family involved. As I got toward the end of the book I was so emotionally involved I thought I was going to puke. Yes the book is definitely that emotionally well written. I felt like I was a family member going through this terror with them.
The characters were well written. Margaret especially impressed me. She showed what a mother would do to protect her children. Solomon, being a psychiatrist knew all of the sign exhibited by those terrorizing his family, yet he was unable to put all of the pieces together until the very end.
So who won out? You really must read this book to find out.
This book grabs you and won’t let you go. I loved everything about this book except the ending. The only reason I didn’t love the ending is it didn’t end the way “I” wanted it to. It did end the way it was supposed to. Solomon and Margaret are a simple couple with two children. Solomon is the head of a psychiatric clinic. He has one patient that intrigues him. She has been there for years and yet no one has been able to help her. When he starts trying to get through to her things go extremely bad.
All the way through this book I flip-flopped between who I thought the good guys and the bad guys were. My reason was simple. They all had qualities that made them appear to be good and then the next minute they did something that made me think they were the bad guys. I was completely stumped until the very end. I felt terror for the family involved. As I got toward the end of the book I was so emotionally involved I thought I was going to puke. Yes the book is definitely that emotionally well written. I felt like I was a family member going through this terror with them.
The characters were well written. Margaret especially impressed me. She showed what a mother would do to protect her children. Solomon, being a psychiatrist knew all of the sign exhibited by those terrorizing his family, yet he was unable to put all of the pieces together until the very end.
So who won out? You really must read this book to find out.
April 27, 2015
Maryam Batool is in the psycho ward of a hospital.She's been their for years in an almost catatonic state, It all started win 2007 with the market crash and Maryam's suicide attempt.. When Psychiatrist Solomon takes over her case he is going to find a lot more than he bargained for as he is pulled into the intrigue and espionage of this well written novel. This is a conspiracy, mystery thriller with an interesting tale to tell and an author who did an amazing job telling it.
May 18, 2015
This book is really good, this is not my normal genre that I read but I was blown away by this book. This book has many twist and turns and it keeps you so hooked, that it is hard to put it down. It had me guessing throughout what was going to happen but the things that did happened really surprised me. I was on the edge of my seat with this one and I was not expecting what happened at the end. Give the book a try, you will be glad you did!
April 15, 2015
Follow Maryam in this exciting story of suspense and thrills. Mario Escobar is masterful in building character, setting, and plot line. Intrigue, killers, and escape. This book was definitely one to get the blood moving and bring the reader along for a chaotic trip! If you love a great story, don't miss The Circle! I loved it!
February 15, 2016
Procesando el final
No leas esto si no quieres un spoiler.
Estaba verdaderamente loca, Maryam está loca! Ya lo dije.
Buen desarrollo de la trama en tan pocas páginas me dieron la sensación de estar leyendo 300 páginas en vez de las 157 que realmente posee.
No leas esto si no quieres un spoiler.
Estaba verdaderamente loca, Maryam está loca! Ya lo dije.
Buen desarrollo de la trama en tan pocas páginas me dieron la sensación de estar leyendo 300 páginas en vez de las 157 que realmente posee.
December 31, 2014
Bueno...excepto el final
Como que el autor tenía prisa por terminar el libro...lo demás muy recomendable. Pensé que sería mucho mejor de lo que fue.
Como que el autor tenía prisa por terminar el libro...lo demás muy recomendable. Pensé que sería mucho mejor de lo que fue.
March 9, 2015
Sencillamente me encanto!
Me mantuvo al vilo del asiento! Ciertamente una novela inquietante, que mantiene al lector a la espectativa de qué va a suceder.
Sencillamente me encanto!
Me mantuvo al vilo del asiento! Ciertamente una novela inquietante, que mantiene al lector a la espectativa de qué va a suceder.
Sencillamente me encanto!
June 8, 2015
Very suspenseful
A real page turner, the author was very descriptive. Enjoyed the read and it really made me think twice about everything.
A real page turner, the author was very descriptive. Enjoyed the read and it really made me think twice about everything.
September 2, 2015
Excellent Book
Great book. Well written. Could not put it down. Great storyline. I especially liked the way the story unfolded. Would definitely read more by this author.
Great book. Well written. Could not put it down. Great storyline. I especially liked the way the story unfolded. Would definitely read more by this author.
February 9, 2016
Diferente!!
Un thriller con toques diferentes. Mantiene al lector a la expectativa. Muestra como el ser humano es capaz de actos terribles cuando se trata de «SUPERVIVENCIA»
Un thriller con toques diferentes. Mantiene al lector a la expectativa. Muestra como el ser humano es capaz de actos terribles cuando se trata de «SUPERVIVENCIA»
March 28, 2025
La idea tenía posibilidades hasta que empiezas a leer y se cae todo el argumento por momentos.
June 25, 2015
Excelente libro el final no me gustó mucho pero no deja de ser muy buen final
July 22, 2022
El famoso psiquiatra Salomón Lewin ha dejado su labor humanitaria en la India, para ocupar el puesto de psiquiatra jefe del Centro para Enfermedades Psicológicas de la Ciudad de Londres. Un trabajo monótono pero bien remunerado. Las relaciones con su esposa Margaret tampoco atraviesan su mejor momento y Salomón intenta buscar algún aliciente entre los casos más misteriosos de los internos del centro. Cuando el Psiquiatra encuentra la ficha de Maryam Batool, una joven bróker de la City que lleva siete años ingresada, su vida cambiará por completo.
Maryam Batool es una huérfana de origen pakistaní y una de las mujeres más prometedoras de la entidad financiera General Society, pero en el verano del 2007, tras comenzar la crisis financiera, la joven bróker pierde la cabeza e intenta suicidarse. Desde entonces se encuentra bloqueada y únicamente dibuja círculos, pero desconoce su significado.
Una tormenta de nieve se cierne sobre la City mientras dan comienzo las vacaciones de Navidad. Antes de la cena de Nochebuena, Salomón recibe una llamada urgente del Centro. Debe acudir cuanto antes allí, Maryam ha atacado a un enfermero y parece despertar de su letargo.
Salomón va a la City en mitad de la nieve, pero lo que no espera es que aquella noche será la más difícil de su vida. El Psiquiatra no se fía de su paciente, la policía les persigue y su familia parece estar en peligro.
Llega a la clínica y ve sangre por todos lados y la paciente que tanto le tenía intrigado por fin le habla. Eso lo deja impactado pensando si ella fue quien los mato. Viendo qué hay dos agentes en el edificio decide creer que los agentes quieren matar a su paciente y la toma del brazo y salen corriendo. En ese tramo de huida tienen momentos de meditación en donde el trata de hurgar en el pasado de su paciente para ver qué significa el círculo y el porqué la quieren matar. Al tiempo lo llaman de su casa, su mujer le dice qué hay dos policías en su casa y que lo están esperando, que lleve a la paciente allí.
El decide que es peligroso y empieza a averiguar qué significa el círculo. Hipnotiza a su paciente para obtener información, llegan a la conclusión que el círculo es una organización que roba información valiosa de los poderosos y que con eso los extorsiona. Ella era un agente activo en la organización pero que decide retirarse y mediante ocultar los datos en una usb en el London eye tiene información privilegiada y por ello la buscan. Mientras tanto en casa de Salomón los agentes se ponen violentos y la esposa con el afán de salvar a sus dos hijos mata a uno de ellos de un hachazo.
Cuando finalmente los capturan, los llevan a la casa y los van a ejecutar. De repente entre forcejeos y todo logran matar a todos los agentes y la familia queda sana y salva.
Sin embargo en el camino al desenlace Maryam se enamora de Salomón; y al estar ya todo resuelto el (que nunca la enamora ni hace algún gesto para que ella pudiera pensar que era correspondida) la rechaza. Maryam enojada mata al hijo y esposa de Salomón. El enojado al ver esto trata de matarla pero llega la policía y lo mata.
Maryam logra escapar, esta vez su memoria de ha restablecido y huye al caribe para empezar de cero …
Maryam Batool es una huérfana de origen pakistaní y una de las mujeres más prometedoras de la entidad financiera General Society, pero en el verano del 2007, tras comenzar la crisis financiera, la joven bróker pierde la cabeza e intenta suicidarse. Desde entonces se encuentra bloqueada y únicamente dibuja círculos, pero desconoce su significado.
Una tormenta de nieve se cierne sobre la City mientras dan comienzo las vacaciones de Navidad. Antes de la cena de Nochebuena, Salomón recibe una llamada urgente del Centro. Debe acudir cuanto antes allí, Maryam ha atacado a un enfermero y parece despertar de su letargo.
Salomón va a la City en mitad de la nieve, pero lo que no espera es que aquella noche será la más difícil de su vida. El Psiquiatra no se fía de su paciente, la policía les persigue y su familia parece estar en peligro.
Llega a la clínica y ve sangre por todos lados y la paciente que tanto le tenía intrigado por fin le habla. Eso lo deja impactado pensando si ella fue quien los mato. Viendo qué hay dos agentes en el edificio decide creer que los agentes quieren matar a su paciente y la toma del brazo y salen corriendo. En ese tramo de huida tienen momentos de meditación en donde el trata de hurgar en el pasado de su paciente para ver qué significa el círculo y el porqué la quieren matar. Al tiempo lo llaman de su casa, su mujer le dice qué hay dos policías en su casa y que lo están esperando, que lleve a la paciente allí.
El decide que es peligroso y empieza a averiguar qué significa el círculo. Hipnotiza a su paciente para obtener información, llegan a la conclusión que el círculo es una organización que roba información valiosa de los poderosos y que con eso los extorsiona. Ella era un agente activo en la organización pero que decide retirarse y mediante ocultar los datos en una usb en el London eye tiene información privilegiada y por ello la buscan. Mientras tanto en casa de Salomón los agentes se ponen violentos y la esposa con el afán de salvar a sus dos hijos mata a uno de ellos de un hachazo.
Cuando finalmente los capturan, los llevan a la casa y los van a ejecutar. De repente entre forcejeos y todo logran matar a todos los agentes y la familia queda sana y salva.
Sin embargo en el camino al desenlace Maryam se enamora de Salomón; y al estar ya todo resuelto el (que nunca la enamora ni hace algún gesto para que ella pudiera pensar que era correspondida) la rechaza. Maryam enojada mata al hijo y esposa de Salomón. El enojado al ver esto trata de matarla pero llega la policía y lo mata.
Maryam logra escapar, esta vez su memoria de ha restablecido y huye al caribe para empezar de cero …
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2019
I chose to read this book after receiving a free e-copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased.
Solomon has had a rewarding career as a psychiatrist but has now settled in London with his family and is the head of a psychiatric facility. He’s afraid that he’s going to be bored, and his wife Margaret is already bored. She loves her children with all her heart but she wants more. Their marriage is suffering but they both want it to work and are starting to take steps to improve it.
Suddenly, everything changes on Christmas Eve when a patient suddenly awakens from a stupor of 7 years. Solomon is called into the hospital when this happens but when he arrives, he finds a couple of the employees murdered and the patient awake but confused.
From this point on, I had to read the rest of the book. It’s confusing at times but everything falls into place by the end of the book. There’s a lot of action and suspense. The ending was unexpected and one that I’ll remember for quite a while.
Solomon has had a rewarding career as a psychiatrist but has now settled in London with his family and is the head of a psychiatric facility. He’s afraid that he’s going to be bored, and his wife Margaret is already bored. She loves her children with all her heart but she wants more. Their marriage is suffering but they both want it to work and are starting to take steps to improve it.
Suddenly, everything changes on Christmas Eve when a patient suddenly awakens from a stupor of 7 years. Solomon is called into the hospital when this happens but when he arrives, he finds a couple of the employees murdered and the patient awake but confused.
From this point on, I had to read the rest of the book. It’s confusing at times but everything falls into place by the end of the book. There’s a lot of action and suspense. The ending was unexpected and one that I’ll remember for quite a while.
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