October 22, 2013 / Leslie

Review: The Circle of Thirteen by William Petrocelli

The Circle of Thirteen
by William Petrocelli

Genre: Thriller / Science Fiction
Publisher: Turner Publishing
Publish Date: October 22, 2013
Format: Hardcover | 336 pages
Rating: 4 of 5

From the Publisher:

In 2082, a catastrophic explosion rocks the dedication ceremony of the new United Nations in New York City. Security Director Julia Moro is on the job, chasing after the misogynistic leader of Patria, a long-disbanded international terrorist organization now being whispered about again on the streets. This dangerous, shadowy figure has been linked to several bombing attempts and vicious attacks on women, including the Women of Peace—an organization headed by thirteen bold women who have risked their lives to restore worldwide peace.

My Thoughts:

The story opens with a jump back in time to 2012 where a violent event will have an effect on a young boy’s future. Fast forward to the present, 2082 New York, and the opening ceremony of the new United Nations headquarters where all the world’s leaders have assembled. A sculpture is to be dedicated to the founders of Women for Peace. The thirteen women were murdered by a terrorist attack years ago and today are symbols of the peace movement. As the ceremony begins, an explosion rocks the building and people around the world watch in horror.

Much of the novel takes place in the two weeks leading up to the opening ceremony. Julia Moro, Security Director for the event, has reason to believe the terrorist organization Patria, know to despise the leadership and power women have gained, is planning an attack. The shadowy, reclusive leader of Patria is not easy to find and Julia has limited time to track him and his group. We go back and forth in time as Julia races against the clock. Her investigation leads into her own past, revealing long buried secrets about her own family.

I almost didn’t pick this one up because of the title. It made me think of the way-too-many paranormal books on the market today, and I was not in the mood for one of those. Don’t be fooled, this is not about the supernatural. This is a fast-paced action thriller with a complex, compelling plot. The title refers to the thirteen women killed in the terrorist attack.

The story is multi-layered with many jumps in time and flashbacks that require a little extra concentration, but once I got used to the time shifts the plot flowed and moved quickly. The setting is believable and the world of 2082 feels familiar. There are some advances in technology and electronics, climate change has continued to warm the planet, and factory farming and genetic engineering has created world-wide food shortages. It feels like the future we are creating today. The story is more thriller than science fiction.

This is an exciting debut novel that will appeal to fans of multiple genres. Recommended.

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The author, William Petrocelli, is the co-owner of Book Passage a well-known West Coast independent bookstore. The book is available at Indie Bookstores everywhere.
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Source: Review copy from Turner Publishing.
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