Katherine St. John: On Pacing a Thriller, Researching Cults, and Her Novel, "The Vicious Circle"
Katherine St. John’s latest novel, The Vicious Circle, takes place in the Mexican jungle in a wellness center called Xanadu, home to a group of devout followers of self-help guru Paul Bentzen. We follow his niece, Sveta, who much to her shock, has just been informed that she, not Paul’s wife, has been given his entire estate now that he is dead. Sveta travels from New York to Mexico to see this secluded paradise for herself. But soon, she discovers that the promise of utopia that Paul has left behind has shifted, guided by a disturbing belief system and a dangerous leader. Cult fans, get ready.
We spoke with Katherine about how she tackled the captivating pacing of this thriller novel, our society’s fascination with cults, what her cultish research looked like and what she has learned while writing her third novel.
What was the initial spark of inspiration for The Vicious Circle?
This is not a political book, but it was during the runup to the 2020 election that I started really thinking about the human need to belong. Today we live in this era of polarized political beliefs and different social worlds that share a lot of similarities with cults. I saw it on the national stage of course, but also in my own neighborhood and in Facebook Mom’s groups. Even my 6 year old talks about wanting to fit in. I also wanted to write something set in the jungle, and what better setting for a cult than the lush, isolated Mexican jungle?
The pacing of this novel is amazing. As a thriller writer, how do you keep up the suspense? What does your writing process look like when drafting a tense thriller such as this? Do you have any advice for writers who are working on pacing and suspense in their own work?
There is a lot of editing involved! The first draft looks very different than the final draft. I throw out entire chapters that don’t drive the narrative forwards. Every single thing that happens has to serve the story, either by developing character or forwarding the plot (always better if it’s both!). I try to drop nuggets of information throughout the book that both answer and ask a question, keeping you turning the pages wanting to know more, without feeling lost.
The Vicious Circle is your third novel. I’m curious, has your process changed at all? Is there anything you have learned from writing your other two novels that helped you write this one?
I understand the editing process better now, but I still have all the same insecurities I did when I typed the first word of my first book. Writers are so known for torturing themselves that it’s a cliché, and I am no different. I do have faith now that whatever stumbling block comes up in the editing process, I will find a way to surmount it. I also realize you can’t please everybody, you just have to write the book you want to write.
As a culture, why do you think we are so obsessed with cults? It seems like each year there are more documentaries, podcasts, and books unpacking and dissecting another group. Where does your fascination stem from?
I think our fascination is two pronged. First, cults are secretive and exclusive, which makes us want to peer behind the curtain to know the salacious details. Second, we realize that the same thing could happen to us or to those we love, so we want to learn the red flags to be mindful of. We all have this human desire for acceptance, and we all have insecurities, which can make us vulnerable to manipulation by leaders with dangerous intentions. I think our fascination with cults is actually healthy because learning about cults can help us avoid becoming involved in cults and cultlike groups.
Did you have to do any research into cults or anything in the realm of wellness or retreats for this novel?
I did so much research! As you mentioned, there is no shortage of books, documentaries, and podcasts about cults, and I absorbed all I could. I didn’t base the cult on any one cult but borrowed elements from many different cults (the vast majority of which share certain ingredients). It was important to me that the cult in the book be believable, that readers could understand how the belief system could at first seem appealing enough to draw people in. No one intentionally joins a cult. People join a self-improvement group, prayer group, or service group that gradually turns down the lights until they’re completely blinded by its belief system.
Do you have any book recommendations for us? What did you read last that captivated you?
I really loved Jennifer Egan’s The Candy House. Her storytelling technique is mind blowing. For spooky season reading, I’m a big fan of Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic. My current read is Wanda M. Morris’s All her Little Secrets, which has kept me turning the pages way past my bedtime. Next up, Ruth Ware’s The It Girl. I’ll read anything she writes!
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 with her husband and two children.
