The Vicious Circle by Katherine St John
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.
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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.
My Review
I’ve always been fascinated by cults and The Vicious Circle certainly ticks all the boxes. I am also interested in endangered animals, so I was constantly worried about the two beautiful Jaguars that live at Xanadu – one called Ix-Chel almost friendly (except when hungry), the other, Xibalba, definitely not a fan of humans other than as dinner. Sveta is terrified when she’s invited into Kali’s lair with Ix-Chel sitting by her side – I just wanted to pat its head and say ‘Hello Kitty’. But I digress.
Sveta’s uncle Paul Bentzen (known to his followers as self-help guru Shiva) has just died and Sveta is asked to attend his funeral. Unfortunately, it’s going to take place at Xanadu, a wellness retreat hidden deep in the Mexican jungle. Hence the Jaguars. Strangely, Paul has left his estate worth around 180 million dollars to Sveta and not to his wife, Kali. So you’d be a bit scared to go on your own. Kali is not likely to be ecstatic about the will.
Xanadu is the home to The Mandala, a spiritual group devoted to Shiva, but we can all see it’s a cult. And they are not often known to end well. Think Jonestown or Waco.
Sveta is shocked when she discovers she will have a travel partner and even more so when she realises it’s old flame Lucas Baranquilla. Because Lucas was Paul’s lawyer and his father was a good friend. Lucas is there to protect Sveta’s interests, but after what happened all those years ago, can she trust him. Unfortunately he may be the only one she can trust, because everyone else is definitely dodgy.
The Vicious Circle is terrifying and the cult is so sinister, you know you need to escape immediately before they start trying to initiate you, but out there in the jungle there are snakes and crocodiles and more Jaguars.
I really enjoyed it. The ending is very exciting – I was just sad that one of the relationships I was so sure was going to be one of the twists turned out to be totally wrong.
Many thanks to @annecater for inviting me to be part of #RandomThingsTours
About the Author
Katherine St. John is a native of Mississippi, graduate of the University of Southern California, and author of The Lion’s Den and The Siren. When she’s not writing, she can be found hiking or on the beach with a good book. Katherine lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and two children.
