I wish I liked this more but after The Silent Patient, I feel that it felt flat. The characters were one dimensional and predictable, plot twist could see from a mile away, and the world building was lacking. The only saving grace that allowed me to finish it is the audio narrator. I'm slightly disappointed but I think the concept of the story he did so well in the previous book but just did not translate to this one. Hopefully Michaelides will continue as I bet the next one will be better.

I loved The Silent Patient and was so excited to get this arc, but I did struggle with it. There were parts where i was so absorbed in it and then it would change, i do think it had the possibility of being great but i was just left confused and trying to remember things. I think that it just wasnt the book for me with too many views coming into play.

I am truly grateful to be given the opportunity by Netgalley and the publisher to read and review this book. 3.5 stars would be more accurate.

Loved the premise — former movie star, Greek island — as well as the whodunnit/working backwards structure, but was exhausted by the narrator

The Fury was a fun mystery set on a Greek island. I liked the setting and the mirroring of Greek tragedy. It kept me guessing!

The Fury is about Lana Farrar, a movie star who goes to a remote Greek island with a few close friends. While there, someone ends up murdered. But who?

This novel brings together a few of my favorite tropes, including a locked room style mystery and tales of the super rich behaving badly.

I'm a fan of Alex Michaelides, and have read the prior books by this author. Of these, The Fury is not my favorite. I struggled with the narrative voice, which seemed to shift as the story progressed, as well as the frequent flashbacks. However, I enjoyed the thoughtful way that this novel was structured to mirror a Greek tragedy. I found this extremely satisfying and appropriate to the type of story and setting. It is evident that Alex Michaelides used great skill in plotting The Fury. I also found the descriptive setting enjoyable and immersive.

As in a Greek tragedy, all is revealed in the end. The twist made me wonder what I had missed, and prompted an urge to discuss The Fury with my husband immediately. The shifts in voice began to make sense, again in a way that showed the thoughtfulness and care with which the novel was plotted.

In final thoughts, I rate this book 4 stars. Although it wasn't a favorite from this author, I found it thought provoking and discussable, and think it would great for a book group.

I thank Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book for my review.

I think I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure.
The Fury is a locked-door murder mystery set on a wind ravaged Greek Island. The narrator is extremely unreliable, which lead to lots of twists and turns.
While I loved the setting, and Alex Michaelides did a superb job at keeping me guessing, the actions of the characters seemed odd to me. However, I don't think the characters are intended to behave like "normal" people.

THE FURY is another spin on the classic locked room mystery with a twist of Greek tragedy. Actor Elliot Chase narrates the events that led to the death of his dear friend, ex-movie star Lana Farrar, on a private Greek island. While there is a mystery to solve, this story is undoubtedly a slow-burn character study rather than a typical thriller.

Elliot breaks the 4th wall and speaks directly to readers as he conveys the tragic events from his perspective. Throughout his monologue, our snarky narrator makes remarks about the traditional conventions of the classic mystery genre and weaves in Agatha Christie references.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-Are not expecting a psychological thriller like Michaelides’ The Silent Patient
-Enjoy being in one character’s mind throughout the story
-Appreciate characters who believe revenge is a dish best served cold

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 16, 2024

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved that this took a different storytelling approach to a locked-in, rich/glamorous thriller. I did find our unreliable narrator quite obnoxious though. Still, was a fun read with a good twist!

Thank you to Netgalley, as well as the publisher, for the e-ARC.

"Why do we want something? What is our motive? According to Mr. Levy, there is only one answer: 'A human being will act to remove pain.'"

This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, so it's unfortunate to say that this book was very mid.

I think my biggest problem is that, compared to Michaelides past works, this feels lifeless and mundane. It lacks passion and it feels like it was written in a few days to meet a deadline.

The plot itself is fun enough to keep you reading, and I can always appreciate short chapters - they truly help you feel like you're reading at lightning speed. But the writing itself was dull, the characters were placid, and it, unfortunately, very much felt like the 'airplane terminal shop thriller' our main character was so desperate to avoid.

I much prefer Michaelides other two works and will always recommend them, but if you're new to the genre and need something basic, this will do just fine.

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

I can honestly say that I wasn’t expecting that. Or at least, not all of it.

Readers of The Silent Patient will be quick to the twist. Despite that, I enjoyed the ride.

One thing I’ll mention that regards spoilers, if you HAVEN’T read The Silent Patient, you should absolutely read it first. In the final chapter of The Fury, there is a call back to The Silent Patient which may cause spoilers if you have a memory better than a goldfish. As far as all of Michealides’ thrillers go, read them in chronological order.

I do love the way these novels cross over ever so slightly. A la Taylor Jenkins Reid for mystery buffs.

A windy Greek island is more or less the stage where our scene is set. It does feel more like a stage. A carefully selected batch of props. The descriptions of London and its theatre are atmospheric, but the draw for me was that it was set in Greece, and I didn’t get to feel like I was there. I couldn’t feel the fury.

But I loved the cadence of the narrator, as unreliable as he was. I did feel like I had stepped into his shoes. The characters were witty and flawed. Elliot and Lana were great character studies.

And it kept me guessing through every twist. I sprinted through it because I could not put it down. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Having previously enjoyed "The Silent Patient" and finding "The Maidens" passable, I approached "The Fury" with anticipation, hoping for another gripping psychological thriller. Unfortunately, this novel falls short of expectations, making it my least favorite of Alex Michaelides' works.

On a positive note, the book is a quick read; I managed to finish it in under two hours. However, speed doesn't compensate for the shortcomings in plot, setting, and character development.

The initial promise of a groundbreaking thriller falls flat, with the plot proving to be disappointingly predictable. The narrative begins with assertions that it's not just another Agatha Christie novel, but the execution feels pretentious rather than innovative. The lack of substantial character development, especially with the main point-of-view character, contributes to the overall shallowness of the story.

The setting, a private island in Greece, lacks the vivid descriptions that could have added depth to the narrative. The absence of details about the island leaves readers with a missed opportunity to immerse themselves in the atmosphere and intricacies of the location.

The main character, Elliot Chase, serves as the storyteller, but the novel fails to provide any meaningful insight into his character. Throughout the book, Chase comes across as condescending, creating a disconnect between the reader and the protagonist. The supposed privilege of reading his story feels more like an imposition, leaving the audience wanting for a more relatable and well-rounded character.

An additional downside is the epilogue, which, if read before "The Silent Patient," gives away a significant plot twist. This lack of consideration for the reader's experience diminishes the impact of what could be one of the novel's redeeming qualities.

In conclusion, while "The Fury" may satisfy those seeking a swift and undemanding read, it falls short in delivering the depth, unpredictability, and well-developed characters that one might expect from a psychological thriller. If you're a fan of Michaelides' previous works, approach this one with tempered expectations.

This book follows our main character Elliot Chase in a tragic love story. This is an interesting story with twists and turns that heavily relies on the information that the reader does not know to weave skepticism and doubt.

We are told at the beginning that this story will end with a murder and that through weaving the story we will learn to know how that happens. However, a lot of the why and the how exists in the story that we are not given.

I greatly enjoy Alex Michaelides' writing this one for me was not as good as "Silent Patient" but better than "The maidens" definitely a great way to start 2024

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Fury by Alex Michaelides published by Celadon books

This was an awesome book, written so differently from other novels, parts of it like a screenplay, going from present to past to tell the story, I loved it.  I have not read anything by Alex Michaelides before. What a superb story, I was engaged from the beginning. The plot and characters are brilliant

The story focuses in Lana and her good friend Kate, both actresses and the other people in their world. Lana is feeling the dreariness of England and must get away for the Easter weekend, what better place than her private island
Omg, the twists and turns that this author has created, just loved it, a must read! Honestly! I'll be reading more of his novels.

I was eager to read The Fury by Alex Michaelides. It is getting lots of buzz on Instagram, and I thoroughly enjoyed his previous book, The Silent Patient. I was a little unsure going into this one, because his other past novel, The Maidens, was not a good fit for me. The Fury surprised me with a unique storytelling style and lots of nods to characters and events from his past books. That said, you can read this as a standalone that would only minorly spoil those earlier titles.

Told by an unreliable narrator, this is a story about close friends with secrets on an isolated Greek island. I loved the setting and Michaelides' descriptions of it. The characters are relatively intriguing, if a bit one note. We have two famous actresses (one more self-centered than the other), spouses, a maid, an island caretaker, and the side kick friend that is our narrator. As the story progresses, there are narrative shifts that give some insight into other characters thoughts and motivations. This one moves at a good clip, so I don't want to say much about the plot other than that there is a murder and the police won't be able to arrive for quiet some time due to weather.

This book landed solidly between The Silent Patient and The Maidens for me. I had fun and I recommend it for a quick, fun read that moves at a good clip. Just don't think too hard about it or you'll end up with some potentially angsty questions about a few dubious plot decisions. I was fortunate to have both the ARC and ALC of this one and I preferred the e-book. Many folks are enjoying this narrator, but his voice wasn't my cup of tea.

I won't remember much about this one as time goes on, but I will remember the unique way that Michaelides divided up the story, turned traditional thriller plot narrative style around, and that I didn't want to stop reading!

(4.5) ⭐️

“𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓼𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓪𝓵𝓵, 𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓭 𝓸𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓼𝓵𝓪𝓷𝓭. 𝓞𝓷𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓾𝓼 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓪 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓻.”

𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: give me an island murder thriller, and i’m all yours. 🤯 i flew through this book!!!! i thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - the twists and the turns. i enjoyed the writing style and the narrative (how the narrator, Elliot Chase talks directly to you throughout the book telling you his version of how the events unfolded). i loved the short chapters. i loved the development of the characters. i loved how easy and fun it was to read. 😂

the reason it isn’t a 5⭐️ is because despite the twists and turns, i guessed it rightly in the end. 🥳ooohhhhh and i loveee the infusion of ‘Theo Faber’ from ‘The Silent Patient’ at the end. 👏👏

𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘥 ‘𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘎𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘓𝘪𝘴𝘵’ 𝘢𝘯𝘥 ‘𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘐𝘵’, 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘥 𝘦𝘯𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴!

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

I was SO excited to get this ARC approval email in my inbox, and I was thrilled that this one didn’t disappoint! Alex Michaelides is such a great thriller author - I am admittedly not much of a thriller fan, but I am a huge Michaelides fan!

I don’t want to give any plot away, but I will say there were many twists I wasn’t expecting, and I love how all of his books exist in the same universe. I am sad the book is over, but I will be thinking about it for a long time to come!

Thank you again for the ARC!

This was hard to get through. Insufferable narration, drawn out and pointless exposition, and a one dimensional, unlikeable cast of characters.

I haven’t read other books by Alex, but I’m not tempted to after this one. I almost didn’t finish it, but was determined to see if it would get better. It didn’t - would not recommend.

There’s something so compelling about Alex Michaelides’ books. I have loved each of them in turn, and I think they only get better with each release. THE MAIDENS was going to be hard to top, but THE FURY was incredibly enjoyable. From the setting on a remote Grecian island to the interesting pool of characters (plus an unreliable narrator), there is really a great set up here. THE FURY felt so fresh and interesting. The format was unique and didn’t play out like most thrillers which I enjoyed. This book took a bit of a turn into the more psychological, and I appreciate how Michaelides always imbues his novels with those aspects.

I do wish the eeriness of this remote island had been leaned into a bit more. But perhaps that’s just personal preference as I love anything teetering toward the gothic and creepy in a book. Ultimately, I loved this with all its twists and turns and fresh format. Can’t wait for more from Michaelides!

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A group of friends on an island alone and there’s a murder - sounds like a ton of other mystery thrillers right? Errrrr, wrong! With wildly erratic narration, The Fury is less of a ‘whodunit’ more a ‘whydunit’. Slow to start and with lots of backstory and character development, this book kept me reading mainly because I was so dang confused and wanted answers! The amount of times I verbally said HUH?! out loud while reading this is insane. I feel like a wadded up ball of Christmas light cords after reading this. I genuinely have no idea what the heck just happened. If there’s one thing I can say, this book is very different from most out there. Its unique angle might just be what propels it forward. For me, it definitely wasn’t my favorite (easily The Silent Patient), but also not the worst (I couldn’t make it through The Maidens 🥱). The author did leave some little easter eggs to tie his books together.

Thank you to NetGalley & Celadon Books for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a fairly solid read, however the first person narration style with this particular main character was a bit challenging for me. I enjoyed the stetting and most of the characters, but the style got a bit confusing by the end of the story. However the idea to have so many of the characters have a connection to acting really helps make the plot a bit more believable. Overall a vast improvement over the Maidens!

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.