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The Circle
IMAGINE YOU HAD ALL THE MONEY YOU EVER WANTED at the push of a button. The power to control law enforcement, politicians at the highest levels, the judicial system as a whole. To have what you want when you want it, whatever it is. All you have to do is kill someone . . . before someone kills you.MEMBERS of THE CIRCLE don’t have to imagine such a life. They live it. The liberation of being both hunter and hunted. The salvation that comes with such freedom. A chance to feel truly alive. A chance to savor each precious moment. Because in THE CIRCLE any moment could be your last.DOUGLAS GOODWIN isn’t rich. He isn’t powerful. What could the sacred society of THE CIRCLE possibly want with him—just a regular guy with a regular job leading a regular life? What would drive them to coerce a young man who has always valued integrity over hedonism into their midst? And why would Doug agree to submersion in a world of secrecy and murder? It’s unthinkable. THE HARSH REALITY? Doug has been inducted into an institution where friends become enemies overnight, loyalty is a nothing more than a punchline, and conscience is a burden. Where he will be hunted and expected to hunt other members to their death. With no escape from THE CIRCLE’s ubiquitous influence and domination.HOW FAR WILL DOUG GO? How much will he sacrifice to preserve his way of life? Will he be swayed by the money, the women, the power? Or will THE CIRCLE consume him, as it has hundreds of others before him, and leave nothing but another nameless corpse in its wake?
Kindle Edition
First published August 15, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
February 15, 2022
Wow! Such an amazing book with a very different plot. It kept me interested the entire time. So much that I am now about to dive deep into the 2nd book of this series. Loved the different characters and how the plot just kept thickening throughout the book! Very interesting, very gripping!
Side Note: I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I was not paid or required to leave a review. This review is just my true opinion after reading this book.
Side Note: I won this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I was not paid or required to leave a review. This review is just my true opinion after reading this book.
July 11, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to @thecircleisreal and Stephen Galgon for my free copy to review.
OK so lemme just start my review with this quote that stuck with me and really just explains the whole entire book:
"You will hunt this target, a member of the Circle, to..his..death. Do you understand, Mr. Goodwin? At the same time, you will also be hunted. And your hunter, he will be hunted as well. This is the Circle of death that represents all of us, that defines us, unites us, gives our lives...purpose."
So when I read this paragraph, I immediately turn to my fiance and say, "let me read these couple of paragraphs to you because this is crazy" (crazy good!). This book is a kind of book that I have never read before, which just amazes me. The whole premise of this book is so original and the characters are original. There were a lot of characters in this book, and at times I found myself trying to remember who was who, but don't let that deter you from reading this because it really just adds to the plot.
The way the chapters are written cause for quick scene changes, which really builds this world. I loved that the chapters were also short, and that we saw different perspectives from other characters. Sometimes it was even a kind of mystery to who the chapter was about, which just caused for more suspense!
I could totally see this as a movie, and I hope one day it will be! Definitely check this one out if you're wanting to read something that's got some suspense, mystery and a great story line!
Thank you to @thecircleisreal and Stephen Galgon for my free copy to review.
OK so lemme just start my review with this quote that stuck with me and really just explains the whole entire book:
"You will hunt this target, a member of the Circle, to..his..death. Do you understand, Mr. Goodwin? At the same time, you will also be hunted. And your hunter, he will be hunted as well. This is the Circle of death that represents all of us, that defines us, unites us, gives our lives...purpose."
So when I read this paragraph, I immediately turn to my fiance and say, "let me read these couple of paragraphs to you because this is crazy" (crazy good!). This book is a kind of book that I have never read before, which just amazes me. The whole premise of this book is so original and the characters are original. There were a lot of characters in this book, and at times I found myself trying to remember who was who, but don't let that deter you from reading this because it really just adds to the plot.
The way the chapters are written cause for quick scene changes, which really builds this world. I loved that the chapters were also short, and that we saw different perspectives from other characters. Sometimes it was even a kind of mystery to who the chapter was about, which just caused for more suspense!
I could totally see this as a movie, and I hope one day it will be! Definitely check this one out if you're wanting to read something that's got some suspense, mystery and a great story line!
August 25, 2020
I really loved this fast paced thriller suspense read - this was such a well written book that had my heart speeding, and my breath stopping short from Galgon’s intense story line, razor sharp writing, and great characters with surprising and shocking twists.
When I picked up this book, and after reading the prologue, I knew I was hooked. The writing was clear, easy to read and easy to follow despite the great number of characters introduced to us in the story. This was a truly unique reading experience I really enjoyed a lot!
When I picked up this book, and after reading the prologue, I knew I was hooked. The writing was clear, easy to read and easy to follow despite the great number of characters introduced to us in the story. This was a truly unique reading experience I really enjoyed a lot!
September 5, 2021
To be honest, this is outside my normal genre, being an action thriller, but when the author reached out with an offer of the audiobook, I couldn't resist.
This is edge of your seat suspense.
Doug has been essentially voluntold to join the secret society of The Circle. It's an elite group of people who have immense wealth at their disposal. They also have the police in their back pocket and powers beyond belief. The catch? Oh it's simple, kill or be killed. It's a real life game of cat and mouse where the winner is a murderer and the loser is.. DEAD.
This book was intense and had my full attention all the way through, rooting for Doug to find his way out of this impossible predicament. At times, it gave me Ocean's 11 vibes (high praise) and I loved some of the retro references of Back To The Future and Clue.
The audio book was superbly narrated, making it even better
This is edge of your seat suspense.
Doug has been essentially voluntold to join the secret society of The Circle. It's an elite group of people who have immense wealth at their disposal. They also have the police in their back pocket and powers beyond belief. The catch? Oh it's simple, kill or be killed. It's a real life game of cat and mouse where the winner is a murderer and the loser is.. DEAD.
This book was intense and had my full attention all the way through, rooting for Doug to find his way out of this impossible predicament. At times, it gave me Ocean's 11 vibes (high praise) and I loved some of the retro references of Back To The Future and Clue.
The audio book was superbly narrated, making it even better
January 21, 2023
THE CIRCLE
Good fast paced thriller featuring a secret society.
Good fast paced thriller featuring a secret society.
April 11, 2021
Crazy. Wild. Unique. Just WOW. This book totally put me outside of my reading comfort zone and I couldn’t put it down!! I have never read a book with such a creative storyline before. Galgon brings the secret society, known as 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗲, to life. It’s pretty simple: no one must know that you are a part of this sacred society and be sure you kill before you are killed. I’m nervous to write this review are they watching?! I kid. But seriously, my husband and I had a whole conversation about secret societies after I finished this one. And for anyone listening, 🗣 THIS WOULD MAKE A GREAT MOVIE. Someone send a copy to Chris Hemsworth, please. What really got me through, was knowing that there’s going to be a sequel. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!!!
December 5, 2020
The Circle is reminiscent of the classic The Most Dangerous Game but in tone it reminded me a lot of one of my favorite classics The Magus. While there was lots of violence and gratuitous killings it was the psychological aspect that really intrigued me. Our main character, Doug, is brought into this secret society where the members must hunt one another. They are given all the financial resources they need but must follow the rules of the hunt which offers them temporary safety only after they have successfully completed a kill. While this is unbelievably attractive to some of the members who relish the thrill of the hunt, Doug is reluctant from the start but there is no way out once you know about the society.
I especially enjoyed all of the unique methods the society members employed for their hunts and kills. The creativity of the story and how it progressed has me excited to see where the story might go in a second book.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I especially enjoyed all of the unique methods the society members employed for their hunts and kills. The creativity of the story and how it progressed has me excited to see where the story might go in a second book.
Thank you so much to the author for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 23, 2020
Unique plot
Doug was just an ordinary man when he comes to the big city and that is where he is introduced to the Circle. The events which follow – both the cat and mouse chase and the reason for the killed and being killed motto of the Circle is different and unique. The story definitely sets the pulse racing and Doug is the perfect character to tell the story – his character and his point of view makes the story far more appealing. While the others in the Circle and their reasons for joining the Circle, are also understandable, Doug is the best person to tell the story.
Unique story and one that a perfect mix of all the elements of mystery, suspense and action woven together.
Doug was just an ordinary man when he comes to the big city and that is where he is introduced to the Circle. The events which follow – both the cat and mouse chase and the reason for the killed and being killed motto of the Circle is different and unique. The story definitely sets the pulse racing and Doug is the perfect character to tell the story – his character and his point of view makes the story far more appealing. While the others in the Circle and their reasons for joining the Circle, are also understandable, Doug is the best person to tell the story.
Unique story and one that a perfect mix of all the elements of mystery, suspense and action woven together.
September 15, 2020
This book was truly a page turner from the very beginning! A lot of times, when you pick up a thriller there is a slow burn before it gets good - not with The Circle. The moment I started this book, the entire world fell away and I was enveloped in the world of Doug Goodwin, of the Chemist and Mr. Cufflinks, and of Elizabeth Hughes... As a novel it has everything a reader could want: deeply developed characters you fall in love with (and characters you hate), a rapidly advancing plot that leaves you on the edge of your seat, and a jaw-dropping twist that even the most seasoned of thriller lovers won't see coming.
I enjoyed every minute of it and can't want to see what's next - a sequel cannot come soon enough!
I enjoyed every minute of it and can't want to see what's next - a sequel cannot come soon enough!
March 31, 2021
A fast-paced, high-octane thriller that grabs you by the throat and won't let go!
April 19, 2021
Welcome to the Circle.
Everything about The Circle was absolutely perfect. This thriller was so fast paced my attention was captivated from page one until the last page. I couldn't read this book fast enough.
What if you had the option to have access to unlimited funds? Would you do anything you could to have that chance? Would you kill someone? What if that someone was going to kill you first? If you are inducted to The Circle, that's exactly what you have to do. Douglas Goodwin was someone who valued integrity over everything. However, will Doug change his mind once he's inducted into The Circle? Once you're inducted, there is no way out. You must kill your target before another member makes you their target. Will Doug be able to keep up with the other members, or will he be an easy target for the person who is hunting him?
I have seen this book all over Instagram, I was so excited when Galgon reached out to me about reviewing his book. I had read the synopsis and was instantly hooked. This book is filled with so much action that I promise you'll never feel bored while you're reading this.
I really enjoyed how this book had multiple point of views. You were really able to dive deeper into the world of The Circle with it. The characters that are involved with The Circle are absolutely brilliant. Each one brings a different personality and aura to the book that helps to hold your attention. You want to know everything you can about everyone. One thing I loved about The Circle was the multiple backstories of the different characters. Their backstories helped to see how they progressed into the members that they are today.
I promise that if you start this book, you won't want to stop reading. It was very well written and perfect for any thriller fan. There were many different twists that you didn't see coming. The suspense throughout the book was gripping. Would you be able to survive in The Circle - will you become the hunter before you're hunted?
Thank you to Stephen J. Galgon for a copy of The Circle in exchange for an honest review.
Everything about The Circle was absolutely perfect. This thriller was so fast paced my attention was captivated from page one until the last page. I couldn't read this book fast enough.
What if you had the option to have access to unlimited funds? Would you do anything you could to have that chance? Would you kill someone? What if that someone was going to kill you first? If you are inducted to The Circle, that's exactly what you have to do. Douglas Goodwin was someone who valued integrity over everything. However, will Doug change his mind once he's inducted into The Circle? Once you're inducted, there is no way out. You must kill your target before another member makes you their target. Will Doug be able to keep up with the other members, or will he be an easy target for the person who is hunting him?
I have seen this book all over Instagram, I was so excited when Galgon reached out to me about reviewing his book. I had read the synopsis and was instantly hooked. This book is filled with so much action that I promise you'll never feel bored while you're reading this.
I really enjoyed how this book had multiple point of views. You were really able to dive deeper into the world of The Circle with it. The characters that are involved with The Circle are absolutely brilliant. Each one brings a different personality and aura to the book that helps to hold your attention. You want to know everything you can about everyone. One thing I loved about The Circle was the multiple backstories of the different characters. Their backstories helped to see how they progressed into the members that they are today.
I promise that if you start this book, you won't want to stop reading. It was very well written and perfect for any thriller fan. There were many different twists that you didn't see coming. The suspense throughout the book was gripping. Would you be able to survive in The Circle - will you become the hunter before you're hunted?
Thank you to Stephen J. Galgon for a copy of The Circle in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2020
First off I want to thank Stephen J Galfon (@thecircleisreal) for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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.
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I have to be honest I am always a bit skeptical going in when I know a book has been independently published - not because I think all books have to go through big publishers, but it makes me question what the editing will be like. With that said.... this book was well written, edited and delivered. I was very enthralled by it and outside of 70 pages of it I read the majority in one day (yesterday).
I am a huge fan of the purge and this book reminded me of a classy version of the purge, in which only the rich are included, mixed with clue and The Tournament (circa 2009 - good movie). I loved the classy aspect of the "gentleman's club", whereas everyone treated one another with respect and everyone had an assigned name based on their first kill. I felt this storyline was unique and very engaging. The author managed to keep you entertained and wanting more throughout the entire book - and surprisingly added a bit of sex and romance in there, and did it well.
What I struggled with however was the main character at times - he was too self righteous for me and consistently considered himself smarter than others. I felt that he could be a bit whiny at times when he had no problem living off the money he was taking from the circle without embracing the rest of it. Despite that however, he was a strong character to follow and the book did eventually come full circle (pun intended).
.
.
.
I have to be honest I am always a bit skeptical going in when I know a book has been independently published - not because I think all books have to go through big publishers, but it makes me question what the editing will be like. With that said.... this book was well written, edited and delivered. I was very enthralled by it and outside of 70 pages of it I read the majority in one day (yesterday).
I am a huge fan of the purge and this book reminded me of a classy version of the purge, in which only the rich are included, mixed with clue and The Tournament (circa 2009 - good movie). I loved the classy aspect of the "gentleman's club", whereas everyone treated one another with respect and everyone had an assigned name based on their first kill. I felt this storyline was unique and very engaging. The author managed to keep you entertained and wanting more throughout the entire book - and surprisingly added a bit of sex and romance in there, and did it well.
What I struggled with however was the main character at times - he was too self righteous for me and consistently considered himself smarter than others. I felt that he could be a bit whiny at times when he had no problem living off the money he was taking from the circle without embracing the rest of it. Despite that however, he was a strong character to follow and the book did eventually come full circle (pun intended).
October 2, 2020
What if you could have all the money you ever wanted? What if you could have the power to control law enforcement, politicians, and the judicial system? What would you be willing to give up? Those who are part of The Circle have made these desires a reality. All you have to do to be a member is be willing to kill someone...before they kill you. Douglas Goodwin isn’t rich or powerful. He’s an average guy with an average life. When he finds himself among The Circle and held within their grasp he must decide if he’s willing to submit to this new lifestyle or find a way to escape.
THE CIRCLE is a story revolving around a murderous secret society of serial killers. They’re a group of individuals who live life to the fullest despite constantly living through a game of cat and mouse. This story is absolutely mesmerizing and feels ripped from the big screen!
Immediately when I started reading THE CIRCLE I got huge John Wick vibes as the reader was introduced to various members of this secret society along with Doug. I loved the special touches to each member, such as their nicknames, which set them apart from simply being ordinary secondary characters and made them integral to the story as a whole. Galgon wisely chooses to sprinkle in backstory for how several members of the society ended up here, which was fun to compare with Doug’s own path. I loved that this story, while certainly focused on Doug, allowed the reader to experience the society as a whole.
Our main character, Doug, exudes a genuinely kind personality. This is the guy you want in your corner, the guy you want as your best friend. How could he possibly sign up to be a member of The Circle? The story progresses as Doug finds himself deeper and deeper within the society and along with that progress we see Doug’s personality and outlook on life start to shift. I really enjoyed how Galgon wrote Doug’s character and I found it easy to bond with him and cheer him on along the way. It was fascinating to see how Doug reacted to various situations he found himself in and to then compare with what I would have done if I was in his shoes.
THE CIRCLE is an excellent example of what a binge read should be. This book is perfect for fans of high intensity and fast paced stories. Lovers of thrillers and crime fiction are in store for something unique with THE CIRCLE. If this book isn’t already on your radar, you must add it to your list!
A huge thank you to Stephen Galgon for sending me a gifted copy!
THE CIRCLE is a story revolving around a murderous secret society of serial killers. They’re a group of individuals who live life to the fullest despite constantly living through a game of cat and mouse. This story is absolutely mesmerizing and feels ripped from the big screen!
Immediately when I started reading THE CIRCLE I got huge John Wick vibes as the reader was introduced to various members of this secret society along with Doug. I loved the special touches to each member, such as their nicknames, which set them apart from simply being ordinary secondary characters and made them integral to the story as a whole. Galgon wisely chooses to sprinkle in backstory for how several members of the society ended up here, which was fun to compare with Doug’s own path. I loved that this story, while certainly focused on Doug, allowed the reader to experience the society as a whole.
Our main character, Doug, exudes a genuinely kind personality. This is the guy you want in your corner, the guy you want as your best friend. How could he possibly sign up to be a member of The Circle? The story progresses as Doug finds himself deeper and deeper within the society and along with that progress we see Doug’s personality and outlook on life start to shift. I really enjoyed how Galgon wrote Doug’s character and I found it easy to bond with him and cheer him on along the way. It was fascinating to see how Doug reacted to various situations he found himself in and to then compare with what I would have done if I was in his shoes.
THE CIRCLE is an excellent example of what a binge read should be. This book is perfect for fans of high intensity and fast paced stories. Lovers of thrillers and crime fiction are in store for something unique with THE CIRCLE. If this book isn’t already on your radar, you must add it to your list!
A huge thank you to Stephen Galgon for sending me a gifted copy!
March 16, 2021
Hey quick question. WHY ARENT PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT THIS BOOK!?
I recently read The Chain and really liked the premise of it so I went on a search for books comparable and stumbled on this book. In it, we follow Doug Goodwin, a simple man from Colorado who transplanted to NYC. Through a series of events (Think Marty from Ozark here) he comes into contact with “The Circle”, a secret society whose purpose of life is to hunt or be hunted.
I’ll admit the first few chapter had me wondering if this was the book for me but it didn’t take long at all for me to become glued to the story! There were so many turns throughout this book and it was one of those stories where you’re rooting for the good guy to turn bad for some wild reason. It was also one of those books that just makes you smile with satisfaction when the story comes to a close.
I need this book to take off and spread through the book community because it deserves far more reviews than it currently has!!
I recently read The Chain and really liked the premise of it so I went on a search for books comparable and stumbled on this book. In it, we follow Doug Goodwin, a simple man from Colorado who transplanted to NYC. Through a series of events (Think Marty from Ozark here) he comes into contact with “The Circle”, a secret society whose purpose of life is to hunt or be hunted.
I’ll admit the first few chapter had me wondering if this was the book for me but it didn’t take long at all for me to become glued to the story! There were so many turns throughout this book and it was one of those stories where you’re rooting for the good guy to turn bad for some wild reason. It was also one of those books that just makes you smile with satisfaction when the story comes to a close.
I need this book to take off and spread through the book community because it deserves far more reviews than it currently has!!
October 13, 2020
A secret society, a deadly game, money, power......welcome to “the Circle. “ May your skills be better than your adversaries. ⠀
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Forced into a game of kill or be killed, what would you do? Would you kill to save your own life? Could you hunt a human for sport? ⠀
Would you change your mind knowing you automatically become rich? ⠀
⠀
Doug, thanks to his asshole friend Eric, is now part of “The circle”. His life as he knew is over, and he faces the choice of kill or be killed. ⠀
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The Circle is a fast paced thriller that Keeps you on your toes until the very last page! I loved the names the circle members gave each other, and their very demented perception of “friendship”. Each member had their own uniqueness they brought to the book. ⠀
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You have been recruited, ⠀
Welcome to the Circle, the hunt starts now.....⠀
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March 25, 2021
The Circle
Best book I have read in a while. Kept my interest from start to finish. I hope the sequel is as good as this one!
Best book I have read in a while. Kept my interest from start to finish. I hope the sequel is as good as this one!
September 24, 2020
The Circle is basically action movie book porn and I mean that in the best way possible. It took me a minute to get into this one, but once I was in The Circle, there was no going back.
Douglas Goodwin is unwittingly inducted into a top secret society of people (mostly men) who basically have the world at their disposal. All Circle members have access to unimaginable wealth and power. Oh, and they’re all hunters. Oh, and they hunt each other. For fun. Is this just a bunch of bored rich guys? A society of sociopaths? A club for serial killers?
This book was fun and fast-paced. There were some good twists and although I had many theories about what was going to happen, none of them were correct. And when I told my husband the plot of this one he was actually interested, which is probably the highest compliment of all.
Thank you so much to @thecircleisreal for sending me my own signed copy and inducting me into The Circle. Henceforth is like to be known as Ms Raven—and if you’d figures out why it might already be too late.
Douglas Goodwin is unwittingly inducted into a top secret society of people (mostly men) who basically have the world at their disposal. All Circle members have access to unimaginable wealth and power. Oh, and they’re all hunters. Oh, and they hunt each other. For fun. Is this just a bunch of bored rich guys? A society of sociopaths? A club for serial killers?
This book was fun and fast-paced. There were some good twists and although I had many theories about what was going to happen, none of them were correct. And when I told my husband the plot of this one he was actually interested, which is probably the highest compliment of all.
Thank you so much to @thecircleisreal for sending me my own signed copy and inducting me into The Circle. Henceforth is like to be known as Ms Raven—and if you’d figures out why it might already be too late.
June 20, 2020
I loved this book so much. The story line was unique, the character development of Doug was great, the supporting characters were amazing you hate them but love them at the same time. I didnt want this book to end and so glad a sequel is in the works. Highly recommend this one to everyone that’s loves a great suspenseful thrilling read
August 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this fast paced unique story. It kind of gave me some vibes of the movie John Wick. A secret society of killers that must kill each other. 😮 I thought the characters were well writen and appreciated the back stories of how each of them became members of the circle. The audiobook was also very well done! It's one you can binge in one day because the quality was so good.
September 27, 2020
4.5 from me, such a brilliant book. So fast paced and exciting. A unique plot too, different from most thrillers. The ominous club was filled with brilliant characters and a certain decorum that really engrosses you into their twisted world. You really feel for the main guy.
Looking forward to what the author puts out next!
Looking forward to what the author puts out next!
May 29, 2020
°--𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠--°
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐽. 𝐺𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑜𝑛
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 421
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📕📕📕📕📕
•
𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋'𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝗂𝗋𝖼𝗅𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋, 𝖽𝖾𝗉𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝖼𝗂𝗋𝖼𝗅𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖻𝗅𝗎𝖾 𝖿𝗅𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌.
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𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘, 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐴𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑀𝑐𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑒. "𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆...𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖." 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 "𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫" 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 "𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝." 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡. 𝐼 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝐼 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒!!!!!!! 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤.
•
𝙌𝙊𝙏𝘿: 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐?
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝐽. 𝐺𝑎𝑙𝑔𝑜𝑛
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 421
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝑆𝑢𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑒 𝑇ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑟
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 📕📕📕📕📕
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𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋'𝗌 𝖽𝖾𝖻𝗎𝗍 𝗇𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗅. 𝖳𝗁𝖾 𝖢𝗂𝗋𝖼𝗅𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝖾𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗂𝖿𝗎𝗅 𝖼𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋, 𝖽𝖾𝗉𝗂𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖺 𝖼𝗂𝗋𝖼𝗅𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖻𝗅𝗎𝖾 𝖿𝗅𝖺𝗆𝖾𝗌.
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𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑐. 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘, 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑖𝑛 𝑏𝑦 𝐴𝑑𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑀𝑐𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑦 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑖𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑠𝑒. "𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒊𝒔 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆...𝒃𝒆𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖." 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡'𝑠 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑡'𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑦 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑟𝑜𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 "𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫" 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 "𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝." 𝑇ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 ℎ𝑎𝑑 𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑝𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑡. 𝐼 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑚𝑒𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑦 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑡 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔. 𝐼 ℎ𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑙𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑡𝑜 𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒!!!!!!! 𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑝ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑒𝑥𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤.
•
𝙌𝙊𝙏𝘿: 𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚕𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚍 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚛 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚎𝚛 𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚕𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐?
July 28, 2020
Holy Thriller!! Thank you to Stephen Galgon for a free copy in exchange for my review.
This book is so good, that I don't even know where to start! Quick synopsis: Doug is a small town guy that followed his friend, Eric, to New York. Eric is your regular big time, self-absorbed lawyer. Doug was living the mediocre life of being a museum tour guide and swooning over a girl he is too nervous to talk to. Then, Eric introduces Doug to some of his high-class clients, and is unwillingly initiated into The Circle. What is The Circle you ask? Think "Fight Club" on steroids. Doug no longer has to worry about money because The Circle members are RICH. Doug no longer has to worry about his mediocre life. Why? Because he is trying to stay alive! The Circle is a society of assassins. You either kill or be killed. How long can Doug last while members of The Circle hunt him? Is there a way out?
My thoughts: I was a little critical of the plot at first thinking, "come-on...what guys go around killing each other in all hours of the day?" BUT Doug's story sucks you in! He has good morals, and is not like the other Circle members. Every detail was so well thought out and planned. The writing was easy to follow. Not only do you get Doug's point of view, you also get the point of view from some of the other Circle members which made the story so much more complex (it isn't just men killing men)! This thriller kept me turning pages with all the twists that I never saw coming. This would make an AWESOME action packed movie!
I will be recommending this book to everyone, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out!
This book is so good, that I don't even know where to start! Quick synopsis: Doug is a small town guy that followed his friend, Eric, to New York. Eric is your regular big time, self-absorbed lawyer. Doug was living the mediocre life of being a museum tour guide and swooning over a girl he is too nervous to talk to. Then, Eric introduces Doug to some of his high-class clients, and is unwillingly initiated into The Circle. What is The Circle you ask? Think "Fight Club" on steroids. Doug no longer has to worry about money because The Circle members are RICH. Doug no longer has to worry about his mediocre life. Why? Because he is trying to stay alive! The Circle is a society of assassins. You either kill or be killed. How long can Doug last while members of The Circle hunt him? Is there a way out?
My thoughts: I was a little critical of the plot at first thinking, "come-on...what guys go around killing each other in all hours of the day?" BUT Doug's story sucks you in! He has good morals, and is not like the other Circle members. Every detail was so well thought out and planned. The writing was easy to follow. Not only do you get Doug's point of view, you also get the point of view from some of the other Circle members which made the story so much more complex (it isn't just men killing men)! This thriller kept me turning pages with all the twists that I never saw coming. This would make an AWESOME action packed movie!
I will be recommending this book to everyone, and I can't wait for the sequel to come out!
June 11, 2020
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.
First off, I find the plot very unique. I have said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m honestly surprised no one has published (maybe they have thought) of this concept! Therefore, I can say with complete certainty that if the plot intrigues you, then you will probably not find it somewhere else… yet. I personally think this is the type of book the publishing industry will start going for, as it is not like other thrillers, but also not too similar. So don’t let the fact that it is a self published book throw you off. I know that many people worry that the writing is going to be atrocious and lack editing, but I must say I was mostly pleased with the editing.
That said, I do believe the tenses were a bit mixed up in the beginning of the book. It seemed to shift from present to past in the same paragraph. Either the problem sorted itself out in the middle of the book or I just found myself mentally changing it and not caring about it because the story was that good.
Full Review: https://overlookingcovers.wordpress.c...
First off, I find the plot very unique. I have said it before and I’ll say it again; I’m honestly surprised no one has published (maybe they have thought) of this concept! Therefore, I can say with complete certainty that if the plot intrigues you, then you will probably not find it somewhere else… yet. I personally think this is the type of book the publishing industry will start going for, as it is not like other thrillers, but also not too similar. So don’t let the fact that it is a self published book throw you off. I know that many people worry that the writing is going to be atrocious and lack editing, but I must say I was mostly pleased with the editing.
That said, I do believe the tenses were a bit mixed up in the beginning of the book. It seemed to shift from present to past in the same paragraph. Either the problem sorted itself out in the middle of the book or I just found myself mentally changing it and not caring about it because the story was that good.
Full Review: https://overlookingcovers.wordpress.c...
January 31, 2022
“The! Circle! is! real!”
I cannot believe it took me this long to write a review for one of my favorite reads of 2021! To say that this book is a thriller, is an understatement! My eyes were wide with anticipation at every page turn!
The author did an outstanding job at creating an intricate network of assassins that was both unfathomable and extremely believable. The characters had a depth that pulled me in and made me want more from them, the kill scenes were extremely creative, and the complexity of rules made me envision the life of a member. I am excited to continue following this series and author!
I recommend this for anyone who likes reading about assassins, secret organizations, conspiracy theories, grey areas, interesting characters, and un-put-down-able (that’s a word right?!) books!
I cannot believe it took me this long to write a review for one of my favorite reads of 2021! To say that this book is a thriller, is an understatement! My eyes were wide with anticipation at every page turn!
The author did an outstanding job at creating an intricate network of assassins that was both unfathomable and extremely believable. The characters had a depth that pulled me in and made me want more from them, the kill scenes were extremely creative, and the complexity of rules made me envision the life of a member. I am excited to continue following this series and author!
I recommend this for anyone who likes reading about assassins, secret organizations, conspiracy theories, grey areas, interesting characters, and un-put-down-able (that’s a word right?!) books!
August 21, 2020
There is a reason this one has won awards. It is such a compelling & disturbing idea and it really piques the interest of the reader & holds it throughout the book. Think, “classy, more structured version” of The Purge. That’s what I thought of at least. The second half of this book had me devouring it to find out what happens & it literally comes full circle (PUN INTENDED) by the end with Mr. Archer & I LOVED the transformation of Doug.
This Circle is well-written, descriptive, and flows perfectly. My husband is not a reader but one day I’m going to convert him & I bet this book will be the one that does it.
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Thank you so much @thecircleisreal for this signed copy & I cannot wait to purchase the SEQUEL. Yes I said it, there’s going to be a sequel. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
This Circle is well-written, descriptive, and flows perfectly. My husband is not a reader but one day I’m going to convert him & I bet this book will be the one that does it.
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Thank you so much @thecircleisreal for this signed copy & I cannot wait to purchase the SEQUEL. Yes I said it, there’s going to be a sequel. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
April 14, 2021
Doug is a bright guy, stuck in a job that's beneath his education. When a close friend invites him to a secret club, he soon finds himself trapped in an organisation dedicated to hunting down and slaughtering its own members. Will he hold true to himself, or succumb to the darkness in his soul?
With the club's serial killers known by a nickname based on their preferred mode of murder, and the paranoia of being both hunter and prey, the narrative reminded me of Reservoir Dogs, being stylised, brutal and twisted.
Whilst relentlessly dark, this book was nonetheless a pageturner. My only concern was that the few female characters were mainly viewed in terms of sensuality.
Four stars for a dark thriller with a good premise, well realised.
With the club's serial killers known by a nickname based on their preferred mode of murder, and the paranoia of being both hunter and prey, the narrative reminded me of Reservoir Dogs, being stylised, brutal and twisted.
Whilst relentlessly dark, this book was nonetheless a pageturner. My only concern was that the few female characters were mainly viewed in terms of sensuality.
Four stars for a dark thriller with a good premise, well realised.
February 28, 2022
The Circle by Stephen Galgon was a highly suspenseful novel of intrigue, wealth, and murder. The plot centers around Doug's (aka Mr. Archer) initiation and membership in a club known as The Circle whose members are some of the wealthiest and most bored people in the world. However, once tapped to become a member, there is no way to leave the Circle. The captivating characters engage themselves in timely and straightforward dialogues of wit and wisdom. The suspense is high-level with a creative concept and keeps you engrossed to the final pages. A novel with a different take on wealth, freedom, life, and death. I finished this novel in two days. Thanks, Goodreads for the Kindle edition of this book.
February 22, 2021
This thriller is downright scary if an organization described in the book truly exists. The concept of this story is mind blowing, and I can see this being a blockbuster movie. It’s a page turner and kept me on the edge of my seat. I’ve never read anything like it—clever and creative. The main character is well-developed and the dilemma he faces is disturbing. Imagine a world where at every turn you must look over your shoulder—unsettling. If you like suspense and lots of action, read this.
July 9, 2020
4.5⭐️
This thriller was so unique and I really enjoyed it. The premise of to kill or be killed was fast paced and kept me turning pages until late into the night. The main character, Doug, is very likable. I recommend this if you like the show Black Mirror!! There is some gore, but nothing too excessive. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
This thriller was so unique and I really enjoyed it. The premise of to kill or be killed was fast paced and kept me turning pages until late into the night. The main character, Doug, is very likable. I recommend this if you like the show Black Mirror!! There is some gore, but nothing too excessive. I can’t wait to read the sequel!
April 21, 2021
Ok whoa! This book is truly nuts! When I read the synopsis I was wondering where in the world this book would go and I was shocked I tell ya! This one is dark! The premises of having all the money in the world but not feeling safe is trippy. If you are a fan of thrillers in any way, pick this one up! It is completely unique and the story just keeps building and building the whole way through.
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