What do you think?
Rate this book
The Vicious Circle
For fans of We Were Never Here and Nine Perfect Strangers, a twisty, escapist suspense about a mysterious wellness retreat center harboring violent secrets.
A perfect paradise? Or a perfect nightmare?
On a river deep in the Mexican jungle stands the colossal villa Xanadu, a wellness center that's home to The Mandala, an ardent spiritual group devoted to self-help guru Paul Bentzen and his enigmatic wife Kali. But when, mysteriously, Paul suddenly dies, his entire estate--including Xanadu--is left to his estranged niece Sveta, a former model living in New York City.
Shocked and confused, Sveta travels to Mexico to pay her respects. At first, Xanadu seems like a secluded paradise with its tumbling gardens, beautiful people, transcendent vibe, and mesmerizing de-facto leader Kali. But soon the mystical façade wears thin, revealing a group of brainwashed members drunk on false promises of an impossible utopia and a disturbing, dangerous belief system--and leader--guiding them.
As the sinister forces surrounding Sveta become apparent, she realizes, too late, she can't escape. Frantic and terrified, she discovers her only hope for survival is to put her confidence in the very person she trusts the least.
A perfect paradise? Or a perfect nightmare?
On a river deep in the Mexican jungle stands the colossal villa Xanadu, a wellness center that's home to The Mandala, an ardent spiritual group devoted to self-help guru Paul Bentzen and his enigmatic wife Kali. But when, mysteriously, Paul suddenly dies, his entire estate--including Xanadu--is left to his estranged niece Sveta, a former model living in New York City.
Shocked and confused, Sveta travels to Mexico to pay her respects. At first, Xanadu seems like a secluded paradise with its tumbling gardens, beautiful people, transcendent vibe, and mesmerizing de-facto leader Kali. But soon the mystical façade wears thin, revealing a group of brainwashed members drunk on false promises of an impossible utopia and a disturbing, dangerous belief system--and leader--guiding them.
As the sinister forces surrounding Sveta become apparent, she realizes, too late, she can't escape. Frantic and terrified, she discovers her only hope for survival is to put her confidence in the very person she trusts the least.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2022
186 people are currently reading
21311 people want to read
About the author
Katherine St. John
5 books983 followersThe author of The Lion's Den, The Siren, and The Vicious Circle, Katherine St. John is a native of Mississippi and graduate of the University of Southern California. Over the years she has worked as an actress, screenwriter, director, photographer, producer, singer/songwriter, legal assistant, bartender/waitress, yoga instructor, real estate agent, and travel coordinator… but finds she likes writing novels best. Katherine currently lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 738 reviews
August 15, 2022
A Nighttime Soap Version of a Cult Drama
3.5 stars
The Vicious Circle is a soapy read about a model who inherits a fortune from her uncle, who happened to be the leader of a world-famous wellness retreat, aka a cult.
Sveta, a former model, engaged to a prominent millionaire, is shocked to learn that her deceased Uncle Paul left her $180 million. She travels with her Uncle’s lawyer, Lucas, to a compound in the Mexican jungle, Xanadu, to attend Paul’s funeral. But something isn’t right at the so-called wellness retreat, and Sveta must put the pieces together to keep her inheritance and escape with her life.
This is an easy read to sink your teeth into. There is mainly one timeline with a few flashbacks and one narrator. Narrated by Sveta, she constantly reminds the reader of how sharp she is. The problem is that she isn’t all that sharp. She is likable and has a relatable voice. I enjoyed her chemistry and banter with Lucas.
I loved the remote setting in the Mexican jungle. However, I found the members of the cult, especially Kali, a bit cartoonish. The plot is more about the drama over Sveta's inheritance than the cult dynamics, although some over-the-top rituals, ceremonies, and weirdness are shared.
The Vicious Circle is a fun, guilty pleasure read. It is predictable but action-packed and twisty. Some of the events are a little ridiculous, but it has all of the elements I associate with St. John’s novels: mystery, intrigue, and romance. I couldn't put this down, and I recommend it for when you need a fun diversion!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
The Vicious Circle is a soapy read about a model who inherits a fortune from her uncle, who happened to be the leader of a world-famous wellness retreat, aka a cult.
Sveta, a former model, engaged to a prominent millionaire, is shocked to learn that her deceased Uncle Paul left her $180 million. She travels with her Uncle’s lawyer, Lucas, to a compound in the Mexican jungle, Xanadu, to attend Paul’s funeral. But something isn’t right at the so-called wellness retreat, and Sveta must put the pieces together to keep her inheritance and escape with her life.
This is an easy read to sink your teeth into. There is mainly one timeline with a few flashbacks and one narrator. Narrated by Sveta, she constantly reminds the reader of how sharp she is. The problem is that she isn’t all that sharp. She is likable and has a relatable voice. I enjoyed her chemistry and banter with Lucas.
I loved the remote setting in the Mexican jungle. However, I found the members of the cult, especially Kali, a bit cartoonish. The plot is more about the drama over Sveta's inheritance than the cult dynamics, although some over-the-top rituals, ceremonies, and weirdness are shared.
The Vicious Circle is a fun, guilty pleasure read. It is predictable but action-packed and twisty. Some of the events are a little ridiculous, but it has all of the elements I associate with St. John’s novels: mystery, intrigue, and romance. I couldn't put this down, and I recommend it for when you need a fun diversion!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2022
Wow, I'm so glad I received this book! From start to finish, I was completely hooked! I loved the main character's vibe, she seems so relatable (minus the whole being a heir thing lol). The story takes place deep in the Mexican Jungle and the author had a beautiful way with words to make you feel like you're there in the jungle too. I expected some of the twists, however, toward the ending I didn't see half of it coming!! Totally gripped me and kept me on my toes. I'm so glad with how it ended and loved every bit before that as well! Such a gripping and fascinating read!
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.
November 19, 2024
A letdown for sure, The Vicious Circle lacks the fun, soapy goodness of Katherine St. John’s second novel, The Siren.
When Sveta learns she’s inherited a multi-million dollar wellness estate from her deceased uncle, the leader of a self-help spiritual group, she travels to the Mexican jungle to pay her respects and make peace with his wife, Kali. What she finds at Xanadu, however, is more cultish than self-help – brainwashed people devoted to Kali, who, as the new group leader, promises an eternal utopia alongside a dangerous belief system.
I thought St. John had a strong handle on cult dynamics at the start. She had my attention with the intrigue of the story and the exotic locale, and I enjoyed the weird vibes of Kali and the other Xanadu residents. Initial signs pointed towards St. John offering up a thoughtful examination of the persuasive control a cult leader exerts over their followers.
But it soon falls apart. St. John leaves all seriousness behind in the second half and resorts to typical thriller theatrics: dumb decisions made by the protagonist, predictability, convenient plot turns, and absurdity.
It’s not her best. She can do better.
My sincerest appreciation to Katherine St. John, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
When Sveta learns she’s inherited a multi-million dollar wellness estate from her deceased uncle, the leader of a self-help spiritual group, she travels to the Mexican jungle to pay her respects and make peace with his wife, Kali. What she finds at Xanadu, however, is more cultish than self-help – brainwashed people devoted to Kali, who, as the new group leader, promises an eternal utopia alongside a dangerous belief system.
I thought St. John had a strong handle on cult dynamics at the start. She had my attention with the intrigue of the story and the exotic locale, and I enjoyed the weird vibes of Kali and the other Xanadu residents. Initial signs pointed towards St. John offering up a thoughtful examination of the persuasive control a cult leader exerts over their followers.
But it soon falls apart. St. John leaves all seriousness behind in the second half and resorts to typical thriller theatrics: dumb decisions made by the protagonist, predictability, convenient plot turns, and absurdity.
It’s not her best. She can do better.
My sincerest appreciation to Katherine St. John, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
July 12, 2023
A former model who is engaged to marry into a wealthy family suddenly inherits a massive fortune when her estranged uncle passes away. Her uncle’s attorney, and one time lover, offers to escort her to the remote Mexican estate for the funeral. Once there she discovers that what she thought was a spiritual community is actually a cult. Was her uncle’s death truly a natural one? And will she be able to escape with her life?
Sveta Bentzen, a former model, is living in New York City and is engaged to the wealthy and devastatingly handsome Chase Ayres. But, after learning at a New Year’s Eve party at Chase’s brother’s home that her future mother-in-law has single-handedly pushed off their wedding by an entire year, she and her fiancé take a brief separation to reevaluate whether they want to be together. Sveta gets a phone call soon after from her uncle’s attorney and former lover (who ghosted her after taking her virginity), Lucas Baranquilla. He informs her that Paul ‘Shiva’ Bentzen, her estranged uncle, has passed away and that she is the sole beneficiary of his massive $180 million fortune. But the funeral is the following day…in an isolated estate in the jungles of Mexico.
After Sveta and Lucas finally arrive at the secluded paradise following a long, exhausting journey, she and Lucas find not a spiritual retreat but a cult lead by a captivating yet dangerously capable individual, Sveta’s uncle’s widow, Kali Bentzen. They soon learn that there are no doors or cell service (okay, duh, since it’s in the middle of the jungle), all devices must be relinquished, and they must wear clothes that are provided. But Sveta quickly brushes off these concerns assuming that’s just how things are done in the spiritual community. Before long, however, Kali reveals she has found another, newer will and offers Sveta just a portion of her uncle’s personal estate. But she quickly begins to realize that not all is what it first seemed to be in the community as people begin to reveal the problems that truly run wild in Xanadu. She must put her trust in a person she barely knows in order to get out of ‘paradise’ alive.
In this third novel by Katherine St. John, we find a seductive landscape filled with snakes. And not just the reptile. Fast-paced and twisty, it may take on a popular thriller trope, but it is so well done that I didn’t care. And the language…absolutely beautiful without being flowery.
The characters were outstanding. I could completely immerse myself in the novel and be swept away by Kali, Sveta, and Lucas (although there is definitely more character development with Sveta and Lucas). An excellent example of how well Kali, a very charismatic and talented manipulator, was written is when she and Sveta privately discussed the wills. While a total cliché, Kali’s power is what I’d imagine every cult leader is like and the entire time I was reading that scene I wanted to either throw the book across the room or scream at Sveta to wake up. The fact that I felt this strongly is an excellent illustration of how well-written and authentic the characters are. In the same respect, Sveta is the stereotypical model: not the sharpest knife in the drawer (I’m not saying that models are really like that, by the way). This works marvelously to further the plot as Lucas has to work even harder to get her to open her eyes thereby allowing the reader to slowly learn exactly how terrifying Xanadu really is. Bravo, St. John!
In short, if you couldn’t already tell, I absolutely adored this novel. A nice quick read (I read this in just over a day) that provided the perfect escape. I have only read The Lion’s Den so I’m now going to quickly go and get her remaining book, The Siren, and inhale that one as well. Obviously, highly recommended. Rating of 5 stars!
Trigger warning: discussion of eating disorders and suicide
Sveta Bentzen, a former model, is living in New York City and is engaged to the wealthy and devastatingly handsome Chase Ayres. But, after learning at a New Year’s Eve party at Chase’s brother’s home that her future mother-in-law has single-handedly pushed off their wedding by an entire year, she and her fiancé take a brief separation to reevaluate whether they want to be together. Sveta gets a phone call soon after from her uncle’s attorney and former lover (who ghosted her after taking her virginity), Lucas Baranquilla. He informs her that Paul ‘Shiva’ Bentzen, her estranged uncle, has passed away and that she is the sole beneficiary of his massive $180 million fortune. But the funeral is the following day…in an isolated estate in the jungles of Mexico.
After Sveta and Lucas finally arrive at the secluded paradise following a long, exhausting journey, she and Lucas find not a spiritual retreat but a cult lead by a captivating yet dangerously capable individual, Sveta’s uncle’s widow, Kali Bentzen. They soon learn that there are no doors or cell service (okay, duh, since it’s in the middle of the jungle), all devices must be relinquished, and they must wear clothes that are provided. But Sveta quickly brushes off these concerns assuming that’s just how things are done in the spiritual community. Before long, however, Kali reveals she has found another, newer will and offers Sveta just a portion of her uncle’s personal estate. But she quickly begins to realize that not all is what it first seemed to be in the community as people begin to reveal the problems that truly run wild in Xanadu. She must put her trust in a person she barely knows in order to get out of ‘paradise’ alive.
In this third novel by Katherine St. John, we find a seductive landscape filled with snakes. And not just the reptile. Fast-paced and twisty, it may take on a popular thriller trope, but it is so well done that I didn’t care. And the language…absolutely beautiful without being flowery.
The characters were outstanding. I could completely immerse myself in the novel and be swept away by Kali, Sveta, and Lucas (although there is definitely more character development with Sveta and Lucas). An excellent example of how well Kali, a very charismatic and talented manipulator, was written is when she and Sveta privately discussed the wills. While a total cliché, Kali’s power is what I’d imagine every cult leader is like and the entire time I was reading that scene I wanted to either throw the book across the room or scream at Sveta to wake up. The fact that I felt this strongly is an excellent illustration of how well-written and authentic the characters are. In the same respect, Sveta is the stereotypical model: not the sharpest knife in the drawer (I’m not saying that models are really like that, by the way). This works marvelously to further the plot as Lucas has to work even harder to get her to open her eyes thereby allowing the reader to slowly learn exactly how terrifying Xanadu really is. Bravo, St. John!
In short, if you couldn’t already tell, I absolutely adored this novel. A nice quick read (I read this in just over a day) that provided the perfect escape. I have only read The Lion’s Den so I’m now going to quickly go and get her remaining book, The Siren, and inhale that one as well. Obviously, highly recommended. Rating of 5 stars!
Trigger warning: discussion of eating disorders and suicide
July 12, 2023
When her Uncle Paul dies, Sveta is surprised to find out she has inherited his estate, including the wellness center he built deep in the jungle of Mexico, Xanadu. Sveta wasn’t close with Paul, especially in recent years, and assumed all of his assets would be left to his wife, Kali.
Though it isn’t easy to access, Sveta travels to Xanadu to finalize Paul’s estate and attend his funeral. While she’s there, Sveta begins to question what’s really going on at the wellness center, which initially seemed like a serene retreat, but doesn’t feel that way anymore with everything she’s learning about it — The compound is truly isolated, the rules are strict, and the beliefs are worthy of skepticism.
I enjoyed The Vicious Circle which mostly takes place in the present with a few flashbacks to the past. I was curious to see what was really going on as secrets and past histories were revealed in the story. The isolated jungle setting and venue of Xanadu were well-done. This is my third read from Katherine St. John and I am here for the drama and suspense.
Though it isn’t easy to access, Sveta travels to Xanadu to finalize Paul’s estate and attend his funeral. While she’s there, Sveta begins to question what’s really going on at the wellness center, which initially seemed like a serene retreat, but doesn’t feel that way anymore with everything she’s learning about it — The compound is truly isolated, the rules are strict, and the beliefs are worthy of skepticism.
I enjoyed The Vicious Circle which mostly takes place in the present with a few flashbacks to the past. I was curious to see what was really going on as secrets and past histories were revealed in the story. The isolated jungle setting and venue of Xanadu were well-done. This is my third read from Katherine St. John and I am here for the drama and suspense.
September 1, 2022
I have no idea why I haven't read anything by Katherine St. John by now because she's a fabulous author. Maybe I stayed away because the author's first two novels had more of a Jennifer Weiner aesthetic? I have no idea. However, St. John is back with another mystery—THE VICIOUS CIRCLE! As usual, I'm judging a book by its beautiful cover, but this one was definitely a win for me.
The story centers around Sveta and her life after finding out that she's inherited her uncle's wellness center's fortune. Sveta is engaged to Chase, a business man with a family coming from extreme wealth. Sveta is not wealthy and is consistently judged by Chase's family for being a former model and possible gold digger. Sveta loves Chase but wants to prove herself to his family that she isn't after his money. When Sveta arrives at her uncle's wellness center in Mexico, she starts seeing that this place is more than just a retreat, but also a lifestyle. Sveta worries that this group cohabitating here have a disturbing outlook on life that is being brainwashed and embedding into their psyche. As Sveta navigates how to deal with her uncle's passing and her inheritance, she starts seeing that this group of people don't take kindly to outsiders and she quickly discovers that she's in for a rude awakening.
This book is interesting to me because it could've been a 5-star read if it focused on the first 1/3 of the book and the last 1/3 of the book, and redid the between. The pacing was off in this middle section, while the other sections were fast and deliciously entertaining. That being said, this book is not so much of a suspense/thriller, but a light mystery/drama. So go into that while reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Sveta and how she handled each situation. She's not a perfect protagonist (I HATE THOSE!), and the way the mystery develops is unique. I kind of knew where it was going, but also was shocked at one of the developments for sure. I'm glad the author didn't go the route I was initially thinking. I think readers will eat this book up and I will gladly read the next book that Katherine St. John releases.
The story centers around Sveta and her life after finding out that she's inherited her uncle's wellness center's fortune. Sveta is engaged to Chase, a business man with a family coming from extreme wealth. Sveta is not wealthy and is consistently judged by Chase's family for being a former model and possible gold digger. Sveta loves Chase but wants to prove herself to his family that she isn't after his money. When Sveta arrives at her uncle's wellness center in Mexico, she starts seeing that this place is more than just a retreat, but also a lifestyle. Sveta worries that this group cohabitating here have a disturbing outlook on life that is being brainwashed and embedding into their psyche. As Sveta navigates how to deal with her uncle's passing and her inheritance, she starts seeing that this group of people don't take kindly to outsiders and she quickly discovers that she's in for a rude awakening.
This book is interesting to me because it could've been a 5-star read if it focused on the first 1/3 of the book and the last 1/3 of the book, and redid the between. The pacing was off in this middle section, while the other sections were fast and deliciously entertaining. That being said, this book is not so much of a suspense/thriller, but a light mystery/drama. So go into that while reading this book. I thoroughly enjoyed Sveta and how she handled each situation. She's not a perfect protagonist (I HATE THOSE!), and the way the mystery develops is unique. I kind of knew where it was going, but also was shocked at one of the developments for sure. I'm glad the author didn't go the route I was initially thinking. I think readers will eat this book up and I will gladly read the next book that Katherine St. John releases.
November 26, 2022
Hidden island meets cult with very dangerous secrets.
October 3, 2022
This was yet another mediocre cult thriller. It is a quick read but the characters are incredibly flat, the plot was pretty predictable, and the twist was unnecessary.
I generally find cult thrillers to be boring because you know how they’ll start, you know they will have depraved secrets and you know how they’ll end. I made an exception with this one because I have really loved this author’s previous books but unfortunately she didn’t do anything spectacular with this plot line. The story follows Sveta whose uncle was a famous self-help guru. After he dies he leaves his entire inheritance to Sveta and she travels to visit his remote Mexican retreat to meet his wife and attend his funeral. However while there she gets embroiled in the organization and the more she tries to get out, the deeper she falls
I found Sveta and Lucas’ relationship to be irritating because it was being yanked around just to create some fake tension. By the end I was very much done with them. I also found the arbitrary soap box on body image to be jarring. I absolutely agree with the author on her stance but it was out of place and felt really forced. It was almost as if she wrote that scene just to pass on that message.
All in all, a fast read but I can’t say it was worth my time.
I generally find cult thrillers to be boring because you know how they’ll start, you know they will have depraved secrets and you know how they’ll end. I made an exception with this one because I have really loved this author’s previous books but unfortunately she didn’t do anything spectacular with this plot line. The story follows Sveta whose uncle was a famous self-help guru. After he dies he leaves his entire inheritance to Sveta and she travels to visit his remote Mexican retreat to meet his wife and attend his funeral. However while there she gets embroiled in the organization and the more she tries to get out, the deeper she falls
I found Sveta and Lucas’ relationship to be irritating because it was being yanked around just to create some fake tension. By the end I was very much done with them. I also found the arbitrary soap box on body image to be jarring. I absolutely agree with the author on her stance but it was out of place and felt really forced. It was almost as if she wrote that scene just to pass on that message.
All in all, a fast read but I can’t say it was worth my time.
October 6, 2022
How have I not read a novel by this author until now?! I must have been living under a rock! St. John is officially one of my favorite, new-to-me authors, upon finishing her fantastic third novel, The Vicious Circle! A story about receiving an astonishing inheritance from an estranged family member, who may or may not have been the leader of a cult based deep in the Mexican jungle immediately had my interest and I just had to bump this book up to the very top of my TBR list!
When Sveta receives news of an inheritance from her estranged uncle, she's not only shocked but saddened. Not only has her uncle inexplicably withdrawn from her life the last ten years, but he's also MARRIED to Kali, who now heads the operation of her uncle's 'wellness compound,' Xanadu, located in the Mexican jungle. Why name Sveta beneficiary of his $180 million estate and not Kali?! When Kali invites her to the funeral ceremony, Sveta boards a plan from NYC to Mexico, accompanied by Lucas - a blast from her past - to pay her last respects, finalize her uncle's will and get some long-awaited answers! But, will Kali welcome her with open arms or does she have other plans? Will Sveta be safe going into unknown, and possibly enemy territory?!
Goodness, this book was quite the ride! It felt like this 302 page novel just flew by, and before I knew it, it was over and I was still reeling, catching my breath! I haven't read a thriller this suspenseful in quite some time! This book had it all - a stifling, palpable sense of dread throughout, add in the fact that it was located in the heart of the jungle at the compound of a spiritual (and possibly also sex) cult, with a mysterious leader I just couldn't get a firm read on - I was hooked from to first page!! I also really enjoyed our protagonists, Sveta and Lucas, who had undeniable chemistry, and I was at the edge of my seat hoping they would find a way out of the ever-growing danger they were assuredly in.
The Vicious Circle is a book any suspense/thriller junkie definitely needs to read! It never had a dull moment, and that's exactly what I crave in a fantastic book! I highly recommend it. It's safe to say I'm definitely going to be reading this insanely talented author's forthcoming releases (and her two previous ones!).
When Sveta receives news of an inheritance from her estranged uncle, she's not only shocked but saddened. Not only has her uncle inexplicably withdrawn from her life the last ten years, but he's also MARRIED to Kali, who now heads the operation of her uncle's 'wellness compound,' Xanadu, located in the Mexican jungle. Why name Sveta beneficiary of his $180 million estate and not Kali?! When Kali invites her to the funeral ceremony, Sveta boards a plan from NYC to Mexico, accompanied by Lucas - a blast from her past - to pay her last respects, finalize her uncle's will and get some long-awaited answers! But, will Kali welcome her with open arms or does she have other plans? Will Sveta be safe going into unknown, and possibly enemy territory?!
Goodness, this book was quite the ride! It felt like this 302 page novel just flew by, and before I knew it, it was over and I was still reeling, catching my breath! I haven't read a thriller this suspenseful in quite some time! This book had it all - a stifling, palpable sense of dread throughout, add in the fact that it was located in the heart of the jungle at the compound of a spiritual (and possibly also sex) cult, with a mysterious leader I just couldn't get a firm read on - I was hooked from to first page!! I also really enjoyed our protagonists, Sveta and Lucas, who had undeniable chemistry, and I was at the edge of my seat hoping they would find a way out of the ever-growing danger they were assuredly in.
The Vicious Circle is a book any suspense/thriller junkie definitely needs to read! It never had a dull moment, and that's exactly what I crave in a fantastic book! I highly recommend it. It's safe to say I'm definitely going to be reading this insanely talented author's forthcoming releases (and her two previous ones!).
September 25, 2022
Full review on my YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/Tcouz-suo6I
December 21, 2022
Sveta is quite surprised when her uncle Paul passes away and leaves his Mexican villa Xanadu to her instead of his wife, Kali. It's been a while since Sveta and Paul were in touch, and Paul was a wealthy self-help guru known for his famous videos and teachings. Sveta accompanies Paul's lawyer to Xanadu, where she finds Kali and a group of Paul's faithful followers. At first, she finds the group inspirational, but soon she starts to see a dark side to their teachings. Trapped in the jungle with no escape, Sveta starts to question why she inherited Xanadu--and what lengths those around her will go to stop her.
Ugh, this book just didn't work for me. It featured an overdone cult plot that brought nothing new: a tale of a current cult mixed with the tale of an old cult. Sveta inherits this exotic place from her uncle and is fascinated by it at first, but soon realizes it's a scary cult led by his creepy wife. By now she's trapped in the jungle with no way out--shocking. No real surprises occur, and I kept waiting for something, anything to happen other than for Sveta to sneak around and get spooked by the folks at Xanadu. The lush setting is exotic, sure, but that's about all this book has going for it. There's a weird side plot involving Sveta and whether she's sticking with her boyfriend that adds nothing. Honestly, everything in CIRCLE just seemed over the top and weird. Still, many others enjoyed it, so hopefully you'll like it more than me! 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from William Morrow/Scene of the Crime and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Ugh, this book just didn't work for me. It featured an overdone cult plot that brought nothing new: a tale of a current cult mixed with the tale of an old cult. Sveta inherits this exotic place from her uncle and is fascinated by it at first, but soon realizes it's a scary cult led by his creepy wife. By now she's trapped in the jungle with no way out--shocking. No real surprises occur, and I kept waiting for something, anything to happen other than for Sveta to sneak around and get spooked by the folks at Xanadu. The lush setting is exotic, sure, but that's about all this book has going for it. There's a weird side plot involving Sveta and whether she's sticking with her boyfriend that adds nothing. Honestly, everything in CIRCLE just seemed over the top and weird. Still, many others enjoyed it, so hopefully you'll like it more than me! 2.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from William Morrow/Scene of the Crime and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
May 27, 2023
2.5 stars rounded down
I really loved The Lion's Den, and liked The Siren, but this was a big miss for me.
I really loved The Lion's Den, and liked The Siren, but this was a big miss for me.
December 12, 2023
A new author to me and first thing asked myself after pretty much devouring this book in one sitting is ‘why have I not read her previous books?’,I will be rectifying that…I read this intriguing tale pretty much in one sitting ( after deciding to read a ‘couple of pages’ before reading it in rhe next week or so …) for me it was such an addictive read and once started I got involved in the life of Sveta ( our main character and story teller ) who unexpectedly is left the Mexican ‘utopia’ of Xanadu in her estranged Uncle’s will ( and yes the song was and still is in my head…)all seems perfect but as we know reality is often very different and as Sveta realises what is really happening and the fact she cannot escape she has some very difficult choices ( and alliances ) to make
There are themes of underage sex,drugs and body dysmorphia in the book but handled well and sensitively
A powerful book about cults and how people become involved and how hard it is to leave once you are,I loved the writing,the scenic descriptions,the realism of the book and the way I was just going to read ‘one more page’…….
There are themes of underage sex,drugs and body dysmorphia in the book but handled well and sensitively
A powerful book about cults and how people become involved and how hard it is to leave once you are,I loved the writing,the scenic descriptions,the realism of the book and the way I was just going to read ‘one more page’…….
April 24, 2023
3¾⭐
…the bullet points
- mystery thriller
- cults
- an inheritance
- with plenty of twisted lies & truths revealed
- Amazon jungle setting (which wasn’t nearly as cool as I thought it would be)
This was one weird-ass cult book. It was definitely different but maybe it was a little too different to be believed…I’m not sure, but either way, it was entertaining enough.
…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
- Christine Lakin gave an adequate performance.
...the score
➨ 7.11/10 | Opening-6.8 | Characters-7.3 | Plot-6.8 | Atmosphere-7.5 | Writing Style-7 | Ending-7.2 | Overall Enjoyment- 7.2
…the bullet points
- mystery thriller
- cults
- an inheritance
- with plenty of twisted lies & truths revealed
- Amazon jungle setting (which wasn’t nearly as cool as I thought it would be)
This was one weird-ass cult book. It was definitely different but maybe it was a little too different to be believed…I’m not sure, but either way, it was entertaining enough.
…about the narration
🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
- Christine Lakin gave an adequate performance.
...the score
➨ 7.11/10 | Opening-6.8 | Characters-7.3 | Plot-6.8 | Atmosphere-7.5 | Writing Style-7 | Ending-7.2 | Overall Enjoyment- 7.2
November 27, 2022
🐯 The Vicious Circle 🦁
“The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask.” - Agatha Christie
One can only hope that who you are seeing and what you’re believing is the truth…
Sveta, a young and beautiful model should be living her best life right now. She resides in New York City with a fiancé so wealthy (and handsome!) that that she can already retire. Now if only her IN-LAWS would step out of the way and stop trying to convince their son that she’s a gold-digger.
But, nevertheless, she agrees to go to New Year’s Eve dinner at their house even though it ends in a fight that could cost her entire relationship with Chase. They decide to take some space from one another and she goes to stay with her friends. This is where she receives THE call.
Sveta receives word that her uncle Paul passed away. She hasn’t seen him since she was younger, but that doesn’t leave her any less shocked or saddened. They were once very close. That’s not all though— in his will he left his entire estate to a sole heir- Sveta. This includes millions of dollars AND Xanadu, an villa deep within the Mexican Jungle that houses a wellness center for a spiritual group. But not just any type of group, people who have fled their to escape something.
But, his wife Kali couldn’t possibly be as understanding as she seems, something is amiss. She wants Sveta to visit immediately and her uncle’s lawyer insists that it’s imperative they go and file this paperwork ASAP as well. It should be over and done with in a single day and she will be able to attend the service.
When she arrives she will quickly find out that this paradise isn’t all that it’s cut out to be. It’s not a resort to help it’s residents at all, but actually quite the opposite. For what reason could Kali possibly have two pet Tigers?
A cult- based thriller I assure you is like no other you’ve ever read…
🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝
#theviciouscircle #katherinestjohn #thrillerbook #thrillerbooksaddict #overbooked #overbookedbookclub #beyondoverbooked #bookengagement #bookenthusiast #booknerd #bookie #bookiesupport #bookdragon #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #falltbr #tbrcart #newrelease #cultbooks #cult
“The human face is, after all, nothing more nor less than a mask.” - Agatha Christie
One can only hope that who you are seeing and what you’re believing is the truth…
Sveta, a young and beautiful model should be living her best life right now. She resides in New York City with a fiancé so wealthy (and handsome!) that that she can already retire. Now if only her IN-LAWS would step out of the way and stop trying to convince their son that she’s a gold-digger.
But, nevertheless, she agrees to go to New Year’s Eve dinner at their house even though it ends in a fight that could cost her entire relationship with Chase. They decide to take some space from one another and she goes to stay with her friends. This is where she receives THE call.
Sveta receives word that her uncle Paul passed away. She hasn’t seen him since she was younger, but that doesn’t leave her any less shocked or saddened. They were once very close. That’s not all though— in his will he left his entire estate to a sole heir- Sveta. This includes millions of dollars AND Xanadu, an villa deep within the Mexican Jungle that houses a wellness center for a spiritual group. But not just any type of group, people who have fled their to escape something.
But, his wife Kali couldn’t possibly be as understanding as she seems, something is amiss. She wants Sveta to visit immediately and her uncle’s lawyer insists that it’s imperative they go and file this paperwork ASAP as well. It should be over and done with in a single day and she will be able to attend the service.
When she arrives she will quickly find out that this paradise isn’t all that it’s cut out to be. It’s not a resort to help it’s residents at all, but actually quite the opposite. For what reason could Kali possibly have two pet Tigers?
A cult- based thriller I assure you is like no other you’ve ever read…
🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝
#theviciouscircle #katherinestjohn #thrillerbook #thrillerbooksaddict #overbooked #overbookedbookclub #beyondoverbooked #bookengagement #bookenthusiast #booknerd #bookie #bookiesupport #bookdragon #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #falltbr #tbrcart #newrelease #cultbooks #cult
December 10, 2022
I really have no idea why I skipped over The Lion's Den and The Siren and instead started with The Vicious Circle (all titles start with 'the' and I somehow just noticed this) but I have no regrets. The majority of this novel is a really slow burn with not a ton of action, but I thought it got better and better as it went on and it ended with quite the bang! I loved that the setting was in a jungle, and it made this a very atmospheric read with Katherine St. John providing plenty of description of the vegetation and animals to make it feel very real and vibrant. Even though our MC Sveta wasn't quite sure if she was dealing with a cult, it was visible to me from the moment she set foot at the wellness center. I thought this religious cult was reminiscent of things I have read before, so it wasn’t completely original, but the setting sure was and for that, I was very happy! And the fact that The Mandala kept jaguars and regulated phones and computers just made everything feel that much more ominous.
I also really enjoyed the blend between what was going on with the cult as well as Sveta dealing with her uncle’s death and some trouble in her love life. The plot was intriguing to me, and I liked how all of these different aspects came together, even the dash of romance! I got to listen to The Vicious Circle, and I would highly recommend it on audiobook. Not only was the narrator Christine Lakin fantastic, but even though it is a slow burn I felt like it flew by on audio. It is somewhere in the middle as far as length goes, with the audiobook being about ten and a half hours long, but it honestly felt like a fraction of that to me. I could have listened to a lot more of Lakin and I thought her narration was spot-on the entire way through. Sveta isn’t the smartest character I have ever read, but somehow that didn’t bother me, and this still ended up being a great book for me. I have nothing to compare it to really, but I would say if you like stories with cults and don’t mind a somewhat naïve protagonist, you should give The Vicious Circle a shot!
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I also really enjoyed the blend between what was going on with the cult as well as Sveta dealing with her uncle’s death and some trouble in her love life. The plot was intriguing to me, and I liked how all of these different aspects came together, even the dash of romance! I got to listen to The Vicious Circle, and I would highly recommend it on audiobook. Not only was the narrator Christine Lakin fantastic, but even though it is a slow burn I felt like it flew by on audio. It is somewhere in the middle as far as length goes, with the audiobook being about ten and a half hours long, but it honestly felt like a fraction of that to me. I could have listened to a lot more of Lakin and I thought her narration was spot-on the entire way through. Sveta isn’t the smartest character I have ever read, but somehow that didn’t bother me, and this still ended up being a great book for me. I have nothing to compare it to really, but I would say if you like stories with cults and don’t mind a somewhat naïve protagonist, you should give The Vicious Circle a shot!
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
![Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1645808644i%2F7494844._UX200_CR0%2C6%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
September 23, 2022
You know you're reading a Katherine St John book when:
✅ the main character is talented but stuck in between things and a little gullible
✅ she's lured into an isolated setting
✅ that's really nice and filled with rich people
✅ who are led by an egomaniac
✅ and that egomaniac traps them in that isolated setting
✅ and shit goes sideways fast
I've read her previous two books, and while The Siren is hands down still my favorite, this one was up there (right until the last chapter, because I felt things were wrapped up a little too neatly, plus one of the characters did a 180 in personality), except I kept wanting to swat Sveta across the face.
I mean, IT'S CLEARLY A CULT.
How does it take her so long to figure it out, particularly when she's got her buddy there telling her it's a cult?! Granted, she's been gaslit literally her entire life, but still. When faced with a cult, you get the fuck out as soon as possible. Hell, you do not even try to go there by yourself. You go with a team of highly trained professional peoples because CULTS are seriously deadly. They do not fuck around.
I gobbled this book up in one day. I haven't done that in a while, but I found that I just could not put this down. I had to know what would happen next.
Anywho, a little tip for you all: if someone, anyone starts talking vibrations relating to higher planes of existence, RUN. I don't care if you trust them. I don't care if they're a friend. They're on some next level shit and have their guru on speed dial.
Metaphysical vibrations=weird shit=GET OUT NOW.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
I received an ARC from NetGalley
✅ the main character is talented but stuck in between things and a little gullible
✅ she's lured into an isolated setting
✅ that's really nice and filled with rich people
✅ who are led by an egomaniac
✅ and that egomaniac traps them in that isolated setting
✅ and shit goes sideways fast
I've read her previous two books, and while The Siren is hands down still my favorite, this one was up there (right until the last chapter, because I felt things were wrapped up a little too neatly, plus one of the characters did a 180 in personality), except I kept wanting to swat Sveta across the face.
I mean, IT'S CLEARLY A CULT.
How does it take her so long to figure it out, particularly when she's got her buddy there telling her it's a cult?! Granted, she's been gaslit literally her entire life, but still. When faced with a cult, you get the fuck out as soon as possible. Hell, you do not even try to go there by yourself. You go with a team of highly trained professional peoples because CULTS are seriously deadly. They do not fuck around.
I gobbled this book up in one day. I haven't done that in a while, but I found that I just could not put this down. I had to know what would happen next.
Anywho, a little tip for you all: if someone, anyone starts talking vibrations relating to higher planes of existence, RUN. I don't care if you trust them. I don't care if they're a friend. They're on some next level shit and have their guru on speed dial.
Metaphysical vibrations=weird shit=GET OUT NOW.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk.
I received an ARC from NetGalley
July 17, 2022
Katherine St. John's books keep getting better and better. I have read all three and she is the queen of writing escape suspense novels that are impossible to put down. Like her former books, this one also centers, to some degree, on the world of the elite, as Sveta, the main character, is a former model and her uncle is a multi-millionaire spiritual guru. What's different is that this one is a cult story that felt all too real and was filled with many surprises.
Synopsis: When Sveta's estranged uncle, and famous wellness guru, passes away, she receives a call from his lawyer telling her she is the sole beneficiary of his inheritance. The only catch is that she has to go to the retreat he lived on, which is located in an isolated jungle in Mexico. When she gets there, Sveta quickly realizes that this retreat is in fact a cult, now led by her uncle's wife, who is called the Shiva. What is supposed to be a quick 24 hours to sign the will and attend the funeral turns into a suspenseful and intense attempt to escape.
What I loved: There is nothing better than a thriller read that actually makes you feel scared and shocked! The twists and turns got me everytime. The setting and characters were well described. And Sveta was the kind of reliable and trustworthy main character you want to be rooting for!! Do not skip out on this one!
Read if you like:
-Escape thrillers
-Cult stories
-Second guessing who should be trusted
-Vivid, remote settings
Thank you so much William Morrow for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! Pub date: 9/27
Synopsis: When Sveta's estranged uncle, and famous wellness guru, passes away, she receives a call from his lawyer telling her she is the sole beneficiary of his inheritance. The only catch is that she has to go to the retreat he lived on, which is located in an isolated jungle in Mexico. When she gets there, Sveta quickly realizes that this retreat is in fact a cult, now led by her uncle's wife, who is called the Shiva. What is supposed to be a quick 24 hours to sign the will and attend the funeral turns into a suspenseful and intense attempt to escape.
What I loved: There is nothing better than a thriller read that actually makes you feel scared and shocked! The twists and turns got me everytime. The setting and characters were well described. And Sveta was the kind of reliable and trustworthy main character you want to be rooting for!! Do not skip out on this one!
Read if you like:
-Escape thrillers
-Cult stories
-Second guessing who should be trusted
-Vivid, remote settings
Thank you so much William Morrow for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! Pub date: 9/27
September 8, 2022
toying between 3-3.5 stars for this upcoming release. here are my quick thoughts…
pro’s:
- the cover
- the setting
- plot was very creative
- very on point with the cult theme this year
- first half of the book was great. pacing was good, background and context was good, plot was good. i was invested
- very quick book; i read it in 2 sittings. would be a good beach/pool binge!
con’s:
- the back half. the execution fell so flat for me :(
- the side plots were halfway flushed out. the book was only 300 pages and for once, i feel like an addition 20-30 pages on more context of her history growing up, her fiancé’s family, the resolution at the end (keeping spoiler free) would have really helped out
- speaking of resolutions… there were HUGE plots that were legit over in 2-3 paragraphs? like maaaajor conflict resolution that again, needed more detail and more context. hard to say more without spoiling 😅
i’m really sad the ending didn’t WOW me because this started off so great! this comes out later this month. full review to come over on my IG soon. thanks to William Morrow for the gifted ARC ❤️
pro’s:
- the cover
- the setting
- plot was very creative
- very on point with the cult theme this year
- first half of the book was great. pacing was good, background and context was good, plot was good. i was invested
- very quick book; i read it in 2 sittings. would be a good beach/pool binge!
con’s:
- the back half. the execution fell so flat for me :(
- the side plots were halfway flushed out. the book was only 300 pages and for once, i feel like an addition 20-30 pages on more context of her history growing up, her fiancé’s family, the resolution at the end (keeping spoiler free) would have really helped out
- speaking of resolutions… there were HUGE plots that were legit over in 2-3 paragraphs? like maaaajor conflict resolution that again, needed more detail and more context. hard to say more without spoiling 😅
i’m really sad the ending didn’t WOW me because this started off so great! this comes out later this month. full review to come over on my IG soon. thanks to William Morrow for the gifted ARC ❤️
Read
September 30, 2022dnf @50%
yet another in a long stack of disappointing dnf’s ive had lately. loveee this author but i had to call it quits halfway through when i realized i really did not give a fuck about what was going on. too much business/money talk and i think i’m exhausted on cult thrillers
yet another in a long stack of disappointing dnf’s ive had lately. loveee this author but i had to call it quits halfway through when i realized i really did not give a fuck about what was going on. too much business/money talk and i think i’m exhausted on cult thrillers
March 20, 2023
My anxiety was through the roof there at the end!! What a fun and twisty ride. Once it got going I couldn’t put it down!
March 24, 2022
Masterfully plotted and superbly twisty, The Vicious Circle is a read-in-one-sitting thriller. Katherine St. John enthralls the reader with this high-stakes battle between a charismatic cult leader and a young woman whose quest for the truth might prove to be her undoing. This novel will send you spiralling into a deadly vortex of greed, lust and lies.
April 12, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Audiobook narration was great!
December 26, 2023
“The Vicious Circle” was impossible for me to forget once read. The depth of writing, the superbly developed characterisation, the intense descriptive surroundings and the transcendent and spiritual ambience made this book such a compelling and addictive read. Being set in the Mexican jungle the stunning scenery and nature were amazingly portrayed and I could almost hear the howling monkeys and the purr of the Jaguars for myself.
I’ve always had an interest in reading novels involving cults and their beliefs and the residents of Xanadu were typical of the brainwashed followers who often believe death is a portal to another world. It’s a constant intrigue into how a leader can control people into following their faith and in this book we see several differing attitudes from the cult, including the leader and their plans for the future.
I liked the main protagonists Sveta and Lucas and I enjoyed how you don’t know throughout whether he’s trustworthy or not. A very exciting denouement and a satisfying ending concluded this first class book by Katherine St. John and if thrillers of this type of theme interest you, then I can highly recommend.
#TheViciousCircle - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I’ve always had an interest in reading novels involving cults and their beliefs and the residents of Xanadu were typical of the brainwashed followers who often believe death is a portal to another world. It’s a constant intrigue into how a leader can control people into following their faith and in this book we see several differing attitudes from the cult, including the leader and their plans for the future.
I liked the main protagonists Sveta and Lucas and I enjoyed how you don’t know throughout whether he’s trustworthy or not. A very exciting denouement and a satisfying ending concluded this first class book by Katherine St. John and if thrillers of this type of theme interest you, then I can highly recommend.
#TheViciousCircle - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 22, 2022
“𝘈𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘺, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶.”
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
This book had me entranced. On the edge of my seat, shaking with nerves about what would happen next. With every conversation, every revelation, every detail, it opened up another layer of crazy cult. I couldn’t put it down, it was a race to the end and I highly recommend!
My favourite part of this book was actually that Kali kept two Jaguars as pets, it was so original and yes I would be freaking out if it was me sat in that room! I love the setting of this book, in the middle of the Mexican jungle with no way to get there except a helicopter and a boat 🚤, and the history of the building itself was also really captivating, although I’m not sure it would be sold for that cheap, or I’d be buying land like that too! The characters were brilliant and the story was incredible, I’m looking forward to more from this author, but for now this will take pride place on one of my shelves!
Thank you to Harper 360 UK and Katherine St. John for the gifted proof, and to Random Things Tours for my space on the blog tour.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
✮ ✮ ✮ ✮ ✮
This book had me entranced. On the edge of my seat, shaking with nerves about what would happen next. With every conversation, every revelation, every detail, it opened up another layer of crazy cult. I couldn’t put it down, it was a race to the end and I highly recommend!
My favourite part of this book was actually that Kali kept two Jaguars as pets, it was so original and yes I would be freaking out if it was me sat in that room! I love the setting of this book, in the middle of the Mexican jungle with no way to get there except a helicopter and a boat 🚤, and the history of the building itself was also really captivating, although I’m not sure it would be sold for that cheap, or I’d be buying land like that too! The characters were brilliant and the story was incredible, I’m looking forward to more from this author, but for now this will take pride place on one of my shelves!
Thank you to Harper 360 UK and Katherine St. John for the gifted proof, and to Random Things Tours for my space on the blog tour.
𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲.
October 17, 2022
Sveta, a has-been model engaged to a rich kid, suddenly inherits a fortune from her uncle. His estate is in Mexico, where he's been running some kind of retreat. She travels there with her lawyer to attend the funeral, is warmly welcomed - before everything goes expectedly sideways. The plot is extremely farfetched, and I struggled to buy into any of it. I didn't particularly like Sveta and her cohort Lucas either, although I presume that I'm supposed to be fascinated about her growth as person. No, sorry. This wasn't for me.
March 27, 2024
I chose to start this at the worst time because it would be PERFECT for a summer vacation read. I love a great atmosphere like this one - a tropical, eery, culty wellness retreat in the middle of a Mexican jungle. I wouldn’t say this had any major twists or anything, but I still had fun. It would make a great movie (someone at Neflix plz read this book and make this dream a reality).
September 22, 2022
3.5 ⭐️. A twisty, culty, retreat story that resembles Seven Perfect Strangers. Certainly there are elements that seem farfetched; however, having read a few memoirs about living in a cult, St. John accurately depicted what cult life can look like. Makes for a good listen, and fans of St. John's other work will likely enjoy this as well!
September 15, 2022
3.5 stars
Sveta is a model who lives in New York City with her fiance, Lucas, but they’re having problems because his family doesn’t accept her. When her estranged uncle dies, she is shocked to learn he has named Sveta as his sole heir of a fortune made from his wellness and spiritual retreats, presentations, books, and other merchandise. Paul had fled to a large compound in the middle of the jungle in Mexico and retired from the public eye after a scandal, leaving his wife Kali to be the face of their teachings. Sveta agrees to travel to Mexico to pay her respects and is accompanied by Paul’s lawyer, with whom Sveta has a history with going back to when she was a teenager. Things seem perfect at first, but Sveta realizes looks can be deceiving.
This book started out really good for me and Sveta’s struggles with her fiance and his family were relatable. I was intrigued at first when she arrives in Mexico and gets to know Kali better as well as those who lived at the retreat. The descriptions of the grounds are detailed and allowed me to really picture the setting. Sveta eventually realizes this retreat is actually a cult and could be dangerous. This is when the tension in the book turns creepy. I didn’t realize the story would focus so much on the cult and those elements are dark and disturbing. There are twists that seem to come out of nowhere and some of them don’t add anything to the story. Communication between a few of the main characters could have prevented so many problems and even deaths, so that was frustrating. After a tense atmosphere throughout the book and a very dramatic showdown at the end, other storylines are wrapped up very quickly, leaving some important questions open-ended.
I’ve read both of Katherine St. John’s previous books which also deal with some dark topics. However, those books as a whole were entertaining, while this book one didn’t have enough light moments and was very downbeat. St. John is a talented writer and I look forward to other books by her, but this was my least favorite of her three books. Since I really liked the beginning, I’ve rated the book 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Scene of the Crime Early Reads for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Sveta is a model who lives in New York City with her fiance, Lucas, but they’re having problems because his family doesn’t accept her. When her estranged uncle dies, she is shocked to learn he has named Sveta as his sole heir of a fortune made from his wellness and spiritual retreats, presentations, books, and other merchandise. Paul had fled to a large compound in the middle of the jungle in Mexico and retired from the public eye after a scandal, leaving his wife Kali to be the face of their teachings. Sveta agrees to travel to Mexico to pay her respects and is accompanied by Paul’s lawyer, with whom Sveta has a history with going back to when she was a teenager. Things seem perfect at first, but Sveta realizes looks can be deceiving.
This book started out really good for me and Sveta’s struggles with her fiance and his family were relatable. I was intrigued at first when she arrives in Mexico and gets to know Kali better as well as those who lived at the retreat. The descriptions of the grounds are detailed and allowed me to really picture the setting. Sveta eventually realizes this retreat is actually a cult and could be dangerous. This is when the tension in the book turns creepy. I didn’t realize the story would focus so much on the cult and those elements are dark and disturbing. There are twists that seem to come out of nowhere and some of them don’t add anything to the story. Communication between a few of the main characters could have prevented so many problems and even deaths, so that was frustrating. After a tense atmosphere throughout the book and a very dramatic showdown at the end, other storylines are wrapped up very quickly, leaving some important questions open-ended.
I’ve read both of Katherine St. John’s previous books which also deal with some dark topics. However, those books as a whole were entertaining, while this book one didn’t have enough light moments and was very downbeat. St. John is a talented writer and I look forward to other books by her, but this was my least favorite of her three books. Since I really liked the beginning, I’ve rated the book 3.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Scene of the Crime Early Reads for this ebook. An advance copy was provided to me at no cost, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
February 5, 2022
The Vicious Circle is a chilling immersion into a disturbing cult disguised as a wellness center tucked away in a secluded jungle paradise at the villa, Xanadu. With the sudden death of spiritual leader, Paul, his estranged niece Sveta is left his entire estate. As we follow Sveta to Mexico to claim her inheritance - the terror ramps up page by page. When utopia turns sinister, Sveta struggles to survive and must put her faith in the person she trusts the least. A haunting, gripping novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 738 reviews