The Vicious Circle
Ratings8
Average rating3.6
For fans of Lucy Foley and Liane Moriarty, a twisty, escapist suspense about a mysterious retreat center harboring violent secrets.
“Masterfully plotted and superbly twisty, The Vicious Circle is a read-in-one-sitting thriller.... This novel will send you spiraling into a deadly vortex of greed, lust and lies.” —Rose Carlyle, author of #1 international bestseller The Girl in the Mirror
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 an ardent spiritual group devoted to self-help guru Paul Bentzen and his enigmatic wife Kali. But when Paul mysteriously dies, his entire estate—including Xanadu—is left not to Kali, but to his estranged niece Sveta.
Shocked and confused, Sveta travels from New York City to Mexico to pay her respects. At first, Xanadu seems like a secluded paradise with its tumbling gardens, beautiful people, and transcendent vibe. But soon the mystical façade wears thin, revealing a group of brainwashed members drunk on promises of an impossible utopia, guided by a disturbing belief system and a charismatic, dangerously capable leader.
As the sinister forces surrounding Sveta become apparent, she realizes, too late, she can’t escape. Frantic and terrified, she discovers her only chance of survival is to put her confidence in the very person she trusts the least.
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Closer to a 3.5. This dragged a lot more than I would think for a story with these themes which was disappointing. But I do like this author and the writing!
This book was just meh and boringgg
I was reading this book for more than 2 MONTHS(yes u read that right 2 MONTHS!)
And the plot and characters were also soo boring, I literally read this book at night if I couldn't sleep and wanted to coz this actually helped me sleep lol.
Other than that I also realized that I am not a huge fan of cult thrillers so maybe that was also a reason as to why I didn't enjoy the book:(
3.5 stars
A bit of a slow start but fun once they actually get to Xanadu. A lot of twists and kept me guessing. The cult aspect took a backseat until after the middle. It's remarkable that Sveta did not notice the cultish vibes earlier. Very fun read and well-resolved. I liked the insight into her inner doubts about her body, her past and her strained relationship with her mother.
