The Fury
Genre: thriller
Rating: 4.5⭐️

Thanks @celadonbooks for the #gifted copy. Review on bookstagram to come!

What an incredible atmospheric thriller! This setting was beautifully described - I felt like I was right there on the island. Told from a single point of view, the narration fits Elliot’s character perfectly. Can we trust him? About halfway through the story, I started to get nervous with the direction. While it didn’t quite play out how I thought (or was wanting), the story truly comes together by the last chapters.

This reads quickly and is hard to put down. Bonus points for some Easter eggs of the author’s previous works mixed in to this story!

As always, cannot wait to see what’s next for this writer!

Read if you enjoy: locked room mystery, atmospheric setting, rich people behaving badly

I found this book to be in-fury-ating! Without giving anything away I can say that this is very clever story telling, but at the end of the book I'm still not sure what to believe. With the exception of Elliot, I don't feel like I got to know any of the characters. This kept me detached from the outcome. One quote that stuck with me: "Don't write your story for an audience, Elliot. Write it for yourself."

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

Unpopular opinion - this was not for me.

I started on audio, but switched to the ebook because I was having trouble understanding what was going on. The story didn’t grab my attention, I didn’t understand who these people were, or why they were together. Did I predict the surprise? No. It was an interesting twist, but I also wasn’t super impressed. I found the majority of the book to be filler/fluff whatever you’d like to call it, so by the time we got to the action I just wasn’t feeling it anymore. I liked the way the story was written, but the story was not for me.

I absolutely LOVED The Silent Patient and while I enjoyed The Maidens I felt kinda let down. This one didn't quite give me the same feeling The Silent Patient did, it came pretty close! This one was very psychological- you get into the brains of pretty much every character, but the protagonist as well.

The quote that really stuck with me was 'Our motivation is pain" and that right there pretty much drove every character's actions within the last 50 pages.

*ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for feedback

4/10

I was so excited when I was approved for an electronic ARC of The Fury . The Silent Patient is one of my all time favorite thrillers and while I did not enjoy it nearly as much The Maidens was a decent read as well. Unfortunately I can't say the same for The Fury .

From the very beginning something about The Fury just didn't sit right with me. That thing was the prose and the narrative choices Alex Michaelides made in telling the story. The story is told by Elliot as he writes down the events of what happened on "the island". The issue with that is that Elliot is also one of the characters in the story, yet he tells it as if he knows what every person was doing at every minute, even when he was not around. There is a brief reasoning for this given at the beginning of the novel but it still felt very strange. What made it worse was that Eliot would often jump around in time telling the story, which also led to him constantly contradicting himself. A scene would play out and then we would soon find out that everything about it happened completely differently than it was previously written, despite Elliot's assurances to us, as the reader of his story, that he would tell the truth and remain objective. As a thriller you expect a certain amount of misdirection but to be blatantly lied to is another thing entirely.

There was a line at the beginning of the book that explains some of this (and a line I genuinely really enjoyed) that states; "We are all the unreliable narrators of our own lives." Given this you can tell that it was a clear artistic choice by Alex Michaelides to do this, it just didn't seem to land. There was a very 'meta' approach taken to the prose of this novel and it really took away from it. The story itself could have been really good if told differently. Hell even some of the character backstories and motivations were fantastic and well thought out from a psychological perspective, unfortunately they were just overshadowed by the odd and distracting writing style that, in my opinion, really detracted from the story.

****5 star review for the Advanced Readers E Copy of The Fury by Alex Michaelides


"The Fury" by Alex Michaelides is an exceptional psychological thriller that grips readers from the very first page and never lets go. In this masterfully crafted narrative, Michaelides explores the intricate web of the human mind, blurring the lines between sanity and madness, reality and illusion.

The story unfolds with a hypnotic allure, drawing readers into a world where nothing is as it seems. Michaelides' writing is a symphony of suspense, expertly orchestrating tension and intrigue as the characters grapple with their own demons. The plot is a labyrinth of twists and turns, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, guessing until the final revelatory moment.

One of the novel's standout features is the author's ability to delve into the depths of the psyche, creating characters that are both enigmatic and profoundly human. The protagonist's journey is a psychological rollercoaster, and Michaelides navigates the complexities of trauma and the fragility of the mind with a delicate touch.

The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a relentless momentum that propels the narrative forward. Each chapter is a puzzle piece that adds layers to the overarching mystery, ensuring that the reader is completely engrossed in the unfolding drama. The atmospheric setting enhances the sense of foreboding, creating a palpable tension that permeates every page.

"The Fury" not only delivers a gripping plot but also explores profound themes of identity, redemption, and the consequences of past actions. Michaelides' prose is sharp, evocative, and filled with a sense of urgency that keeps the reader captivated. The novel's conclusion is a satisfying culmination of the intricate narrative threads, providing a resolution that is both unexpected and deeply resonant.

In summary, "The Fury" is a tour de force in the psychological thriller genre. Alex Michaelides has crafted a masterpiece that transcends the conventions of the genre, delivering a five-star experience for readers seeking a riveting, thought-provoking, and utterly compelling story.

Well, file this under another Alex Michaelides win for me! I found this to be such a fun ride. It felt like pulling up a bar stool and having the most random stranger at a bar captivate you with this crazy story. This is by no means a fast paced thriller, it's more a unique and twisty murder mystery, and although it does take a bit to get everything set up and going, once it does it's quite the wild ride. Not one of the characters is likable and Elliot was as unreliable as a narrator gets, but he was charming and enthralling in his story telling. He had me hooked! Thank you to the author, NetGalley, Macmillian Audio and Celadon Books for the gifted ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

If a thriller takes me more than a few days to get through, it was far too slow. I love Michaelides other works but this one fell very flat for me until the last 100 pages. While I did like Elliot’s character and not knowing his intentions/anyone’s intentions throughout the novel, I had a hard time really getting into this book. Good twists and turns, solid wrap up, loved seeing characters from his previous two novels but overall not my favorite.

liked how the story was told in 5 acts. i did think act 1 was a little slow, but it made more sense after i realized how uniquely the story was going to be told. i do think my expectations were let down slightly (the silent patient was such a good book!), but still a twisty read. enjoyed the second half!

SPOILER WARNING: If you haven't read The Silent Patient by this author yet, and you want to, be aware that the epilogue of this book for some reason spoils that one. If you want to read his previous work, either do that first or just skip the epilogue for now since it really doesn't add anything to this book.

Now, thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this book early. I read The Silent Patient last year, and while I didn't love it as much as nearly everyone else, I liked the writing well enough and wanted to continue picking up work by this author. I haven't read The Maidens yet, but I do have that one my bookshelf and do plan on getting to it in the next month or so. This is the year of staying on top of reviews, reading through the books I own, and getting through more backlist titles by authors I've enjoyed work from previously.

So this book was just okay. For starters, I actually liked the way that Michaelides sort of had the narrator TELLING you the story as if you were there. It felt more compelling and interesting that way. I found that Elliot knew things often times that he really shouldn't have thought and that he was super annoying and unlikeable. Which, in this case, I think that worked for this book in particular because I truly am a big fan of the whole "unreliable narrator" sort of thing.

I think one of my biggest complaints with this book is that it takes FOREVER to get anywhere. It takes until about the thirty percent mark for the murder to occur. After that, the story frequently goes in circles and back to past events kind of excessively and repetitively until the SEVENTY-FIVE percent point where you FINALLY come back to the present and the body. For such a short book, it just felt like it took entirely too long to get to the point.

Again, much like with The Silent Patient, I didn't find the "twists" all that shocking and didn't leave much of an impression on me. I feel like, while I didn't hate this book, in a couple of months, I will be struggling to remember the details. I just wanted something to stand out, be different, and really surprise me. And that isn't what I got from this one unfortunately.

2 STARS - DNF

I cannot express how excited I was to receive an ARC for Alex Michaelides' new novel! The author of THE SILENT PATIENT and THE MAIDENS! This guy was two for two! I recommend his books to everyone at the bookstore I work at. Both of these novels I had devoured in a day or two, I simply could not put them down!

The excitement, the high, of a new book by this author allowed my to consume a third of this in one sitting. And then, slowly, I began to realize an unfortunate truth...this is one of the slowest thrillers I have ever read!! It took me longer and longer to get through it, until finally, I gave up! This was my first DNF in years and I wanted so very much to love this book. The pacing was so utterly slow. The characters were unremarkable and forgettable. The format was very formulaic - reminiscent of the great Agatha Christie, but that would do her a disservice I am sorry to say. The only real part of THE FURY that I appreciated was the setting of the Greek Isle and the intrigue of the winds known as The Fury.

I have not given up on Michaelides, it is rare an author can bat 1000. I'm sure this novel will grab some readers but it did not grab me and I sadly, will not be recommending it to others.

I had great expectations but this was just ok for me. Well written, started well but Elliott is complete opposite of Nick Carraway and so annoying. I had no idea what's going on and who's plotting what and could not wait for this book to be over. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

This is, in my opinion, the best Alex Michaelides book yet!

For fans of Riley Sager’s whiplash plot twists and Lucy Foley’s The Guest List!

I would highly recommend knowing as little as possible for best reading experience but here’s a couple of interest points I think fit well without spoiling the story:

- Trapped on a private island
- Rich-people-being-naughty
- Breaking the fourth wall
- Theater geeks rejoice!
- An epilogue that can’t be missed
- Unguessable plot twists
- Character Easter eggs
- Staying up until 3am to finish

As a BIG fan of The Silent Patient and left disappointed by The Maidens, I feel confident in saying that The Fury is the best of Michaelides yet. I was anticipating this book like everyone else and requested the ARC (not expecting to receive it) so I am tickled to say that this honest review was made possible by NetGalley and Celadon Books. Thank you!! I cannot wait to purchase my physical copy for my personal library.

My only negative comment is to say that the pacing slowwwed down in the 50% mark but for an overall good reason. This may be tightened up in the final copy but was really the only thing that bothered me enough to start checking my kindle percentage progress. If you feel this way while reading, I would say that pushing through is completely worth it!

If there is one thing I can count on with Alex's books is that there will short chapters and a fast pace. Both of those features make up my ideal thriller. While I was not a fan of his last book, "The Maidens", I was a fan of his first book "The Silent Patient" and I think "The Fury" put the scale back in balance. I enjoyed this book and the setting. It was a quick and easy read and I was happy to also see it as a book of the month pick.

Having been a huge fan of "The Silent Patient", I went into reading "The Fury" with similar expectations. I did not anticipate for the story to break the fourth wall. I don't particularly like that style of writing so it was hard for me to be objective. I rated it 2 out of 5 stars.

I have enjoyed both previous novels by this author, so this book was an automatic NetGalley request for me.

This book is written like a story directly for the reader, as if the narrator is talking to you. Elliot is our narrator, and he opens up by telling us that the story is about a murder. From there, he details the characters, the setting, and the plot of the murder on Aura, an island in Greece. But Elliot is a bit of an unreliable narrator, with little secrets held back and tweaks to the story.

I really liked the unreliable narrator aspect of the story. The author did a good job of making Elliot someone the reader couldn't trust by dropping in little snippets of secrets. The timeline is non-linear, so Elliot goes back and forth in order to fill the story in and to give the reader some backstory on the characters and their relationships. I also liked the setting. An island where our murder suspects are the only ones around is a great setting for a thriller.

I didn't really like the overall unfolding of the story. I felt like the author wanted to do too many "Gotcha!" moments, and that led to the story changing over and over again. Instead of the ending being a surprise, I was burnt out on twists.

I liked this book, but it wasn't my favorite by this author.

I took this book on vacation and was really looking forward to it. Sadly is was a DNF for me. this made me sad because i had seen so many wonderful reviews for it. Im hoping maybe when it releases i can get the audio from library and give it another chance before the year is out.

The cover and synopsis of this book caught my attention. I loved the unique use of breaking the book up into Acts and of course the mention of Greek Mythology. This was a unique thriller which is why I did enjoy this.

However, I was not a fan of the narrator. I found him to be too self-absorbed. At times his storytelling led to some confusion on the timeline. Which led to this being a much slower burn of suspense.

I did enjoy some of the twists we got but it fell flat. I will say there is a spoiler of The Silent Patient so read that before this!

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5900192508

Greek island twisty vacay of my dreams. Really enjoyed this one! First off note to self…STOP comparing every book to The Silent Patient, nothing will top it. It’s time to treat all of AM’s books with the respect and individuality they deserve without comparing them to the annoyingly perfect older brother. Phew now that we covered that… this book! I loved the way it was written. I flew through the pages but cared enough to read each word. It stalled a bit in the middle and took a turn that could have used more build up but it all worked. It didn’t shock me but it didn’t NEED to. The way the narrator took us through the story and broke the 3rd wall was a delight. Hate every character and everything that happens but that’s what makes a good thriller right?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my very own.

This was a fun read! A murder mystery with a movie star on a private island? Fantastic. What made it even better? The fabulously unreliable narrator who would go on asides to give the reader backstory and who frequently broke the fourth wall to tell us more.

I read both The Maidens and The Silent Patient, and The Fury was a much more fun murder mystery, which I know sounds odd. But I didn't get the hints of malicious intent throughout the book the way it was dabbled throughout his previous two books. Elliott Chase, the narrator who is a playwright, invites the reader in to join him in his journey as he he shares everything about everyone.

Lana is a movie star of epic proportions (I imagined Julia Roberts-level fame) and she and her husband Jason, capricious bestie Kate, Elliott, and Lana's son Leo decide to spend Easter weekend on Lana's private island, Aura (the goddess of wind). But they're all hiding something, and as Elliott tells you everyone's secrets, you're trying to figure out who the murderer and who the murdered are.

Some challenges with The Fury included the preposterous second twist and the fact I thought Elliott was gay for most of the book (his sexuality is relevant to the plot). But it was a fun read, and I thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!