Alex Michaelides is a really great writer, and he knows how to put a unique spin on each of his stories. My absolute favorite thing about this book was the writing. I loved how it broke the fourth wall. It truly felt like we were just sitting down with one of the characters listening to him talk about his story.

Unfortunately, I am one of those people that needs to love characters to love a story. These characters were unlikable, but I think that was the book of this book. However, the characters are my main complaint about this book.

I really have loved each of Alex Michaelides’ book, and I will always look forward to more!

Alex Michaelides' new novel, The Fury, is a murder mystery set on a remote island featuring a group of theater friends circling in the orbit of Lana Farrar, a reclusive and retired movie star. Elliot, a playwright and the narrator, delivers the story, revealing bits of backstory along the way. Elliot is not exactly reliable, but he does make a very engaging narrator.

The group, consisting of Lana’s friend Kate, an actress, Elliot, Lana's son, Leo, and Lana’s second husband, Jason Miller, assembles on Lana’s Greek island with her assistant, Agathi, and her caretaker, Nikos, as a wind storm, known as a Fury, blows in.

While some of the characters are a bit stock, the story is well-told through Elliot. Elliot’s tag line “Character is destiny” becomes ever more interesting as the story proceeds. And the twists at the end make perfect sense, even while they surprised this reader. I recommend this book for fans of locked room mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read an advance review copy of this book.

I recently dove into The Fury, and while my expectations were high considering the author's reputation, the novel didn't quite hit the mark for me. Here are my thoughts:

Characters: Unfortunately, I couldn't find a character to truly connect with, which impacted my overall enjoyment. Some secondary characters had their moments, but a compelling main character was missing.

Genre: As a fan of twisty mysteries and thrillers, I appreciated the book's numerous twists. However, the slow pacing at the beginning left me wanting more immediate engagement.

Setting: The setting was a positive aspect of the book, offering a backdrop that I found enjoyable and well-executed.

Originality: While the plot had potential, I couldn't help but draw parallels to another recent read in the same genre and setting, impacting the overall originality.

Plot: The plot's potential was hindered by a writing style that left me questioning the authenticity of events, as hinted by an early narrator disclaimer.

Resolution: Although the resolution addressed some questions, it left me with lingering uncertainties. Despite this, it concluded in a fair sense.

Overall Rating: I'd give The Fury 3 stars. While it might not be a book I revisit, it could appeal to certain mystery and suspense enthusiasts. It's a matter of personal taste, and others might find more enjoyment in the novel's twists and turns.

I read this in 24 hours, could not put down! The pacing was excellent. I loved the creepy narrator and how the story unfolded. Loved the Greek island setting. A great start to 2024.

The story takes a while to develop, with several long, necessary flashback episodes, but once it gets going, it is not easy to put down.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day at a private mansion on a remote island near Mykonos
Characters: A unique cast, including Elliott, the primary storyteller, Lana, a former Hollywood star and owner of the mansion, her second husband, her teenage son, their good friend, Kate, who is also an actress, and the servants that take care of the island.
Overview: To say too much would risk spoiling the continuing changes in the story. The lead characters are invited to spend a weekend on the island with the hidden agenda of determining and confronting a presumed affair between Lana’s husband and Kate. The “Fury” is the intense winds that periodically attack Greek islands – but, of course, it also defines the motives and actions in the second half of the book.
What makes the book are the changing perspectives of the characters as the story progresses and you learn more from their backstories.
Recommendation: I rate this book 4 stars
Extras: Simply, I am a fan of books with unreliable narrators and this is a good one – not only from the first-person perspective of Elliott, who is definitely not to be trusted, but also from the ultimately revealed actions of the supporting cast. While not quite as good as Michaelides’ “The Patient,” this is a considerably more enjoyable story than “The Maidens,” and is recommended.
Thanx to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

Well, I have mixed feelings about this one…..

The suspense is great, there are multiple twists and turns. Several times the plot does a complete 180, so the author definitely keeps you on your toes, and keeps you entertained.

However, all the characters are unlikeable to various degrees. This is likely deliberate by the author. I don’t mind flawed characters, however I personally find it hard to get engaged in the story when I’m not rooting for ANY of the characters. It’s a toss up, but my most loathed character would probably be the narrator - Elliot Chase. Elliot is a pretentious, unreliable and downright slimy character. Even with his traumatic childhood I had a hard time empathizing with him. I give the author props for provoking such a strong emotion in men regards to this character. However, with Elliot being the narrator we spend a lot of time with him, which is downright unpleasant.

We really don’t get to know the other characters that well, especially as we see them through Elliot’s lense. Lana, the star, and Elliot’s friend is reduced to a 2D character mostly based on her outward appearance. Kate, Lana’s BFF is a chaotic mess with a mean girl vibe. Jason, Lana’s husband is a handsome jerk.

I would say this book was an interesting, if not particular read.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

This story emerged you in it. I felt like I was on a rainy island in Greece. The whodunit was well done, and I loved the narrator. However, it didn’t give the same insane twisty psychological thriller vibes that I was hoping for after loving The Silent Patient. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4

Lana Farrar is a former movie star who invites several friends to her Greek island for a holiday. The narrator is Elliot Chase, a friend of Lana’s who struggled for years to become a playwright before finding success. Lana and her teenage son are decent characters, but every other character is selfish and horrible.

I didn’t love the storytelling technique. There were twists and turns but because I hated everyone, I didn’t particularly care what happened to any of them.

NetGalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES JANUARY 16, 2024.

I absolutely loved The Silent Patient so I was very excited to be approved for the e-arc of this one!

I loved the narration. It was so fun and unique. The twists just kept on coming as we made our way through the story. This was a quick, fun read and I would definitely recommend!

I very much struggle with an unreliable narrator. This mystery is *messy* and we jump all over the place. There’s a murder, but let’s go back to childhood. Back to the murder. Nope now let’s talk about someone else’s childhood. Not my favorite.

Another hit for Alex Michaelides. I quite enjoyed The Fury. It started off a bit too slowly though for my tastes but when it picked up, IT PICKED UP. Furiously ;). The narrator addresses the reader so if you aren’t into that type of story, I’d skip. The book is full of Greek tragedy, drama, and twists! My only gripe was the slowness to start and the fact that I really didn’t “like” any of the characters. But the storyline was excellent and I couldn’t wait to read the ending. 3.5/5 ⭐️ Thank you, Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, and netgalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pull up a chair and settle in with a drink!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Fury by Alex Michaelides. It was a really great and quick read with a great twist at the end. I enjoyed the characters - especially Elliot Chase and Lana Farrar. Elliot narrates the story and I LOVED IT! It was fun and smart and I felt like he was telling me the story of what happened that Easter weekend.

The Fury is my third read from Michaelides and probably my favorite! I really enjoyed how he incorporated characters from his previous book in this novel.

The Fury is full of secrets, drama, betrayal, obsession, and twists. It’s definitely a must read! I give it 4 stars!

Thank you Celadon Books, NetGalley and Alex Michaelides for an eARC in return for my honest review!

I have heard excellent things about The Silent Patient, so I was excited to read this ARC, but I barely got through the prologue when I DNF’d this.

It’s partially my fault, as I hate when the book addresses the reader. I dislike the tone and the over-dramatacism- of course it is a story about actors

"If anything, it's a #whydunit - a character study, an examination of who we are; and why we do the things we do."

When I heard that Alex Michaelides was writing a new book I was beyond excited. With this being a tad different from his other books, I was a bit skeptical and put off reading this for awhile but BOY am I glad I finally sat down and started it.

The book follows Elliot Chase who is... an interesting character. You ever have one of those narrators who you love but also can't figure out why you hate him at the same time? ya thats Elliot. The premise of this book is that he is telling the story of what happened on that fateful day on the island, somehow from all points of view. He seems to know everything that happened and somehow knows everyones thoughts, crazy right? Well, just wait because it gets better. The narration of this story and having it be written like a journal/play makes it so much more engaging. The flashbacks to his childhood, the secret things that he adds in hoping you would catch them, they are all so perfectly timed and you would think that you know what is going on, but jokes on you because you will never know whats going on but that seems to be the point. The island being haunted, Lana "needing" this trip, Leo wanting to go to acting school, Barbara West, the marriage, the ring, they all seem so separate but they are all so tied together and you don't know it until the very end. Now, speaking of the end... I have read the last chapter of this book probably about 10x now trying to understand what I missed but I've come to realize that I didn't miss anything. That's how Elliot wanted it to end, that is the cliffhanger, that is the last piece of the puzzle. But I just have one thought/concern/question..... Alex... please don't tell me this is how you're going to end this book. please. I beg of you to tell us there will be another. I will think about this ending until the day I die, and I really wish I was being dramatic... but just you wait and see.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.*

Alex Michaelides did it again! A artistic story of murder, love, and betrayal that had me hooked all day as I read it. I love that he wove Theo and Mariana in this *insert Leo Dicaprio meme of him pointing to screen*. I will definitely be recommending this to my friends and book club!

5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for sending me an advanced copy of this book!
Another banger by King Alex, he slayed yet another thriller novel with amazing psychology and Greek mythology lore with an absolutely WILD plot twist. Although in comparison to Alex's other novels this one would be at the bottom of the list, but I loved it a lot. A great way to start off my 2024 reading journey!

🎭🏝️🇬🇷🍃📝🔫

When I first heard about <i>The Fury</i> I was ecstatic—murder on a private Greek island by the author of <i>The Silent Patient</i> and <i>The Maidens</i>? Say. Less.

Much to my dismay though, it fell flat overall. The writing is exquisite, every bit on par with that of Michaelides’ former novels. And the story is intriguing—a classic (or maybe not?) whodunnit with a glamorous, yet troubled cast. It also deserves credit for the unique way in which the story is told directly to the reader by the narrator, as if we are sitting on a barstool and sharing a drink beside him.

But that is where the accolades end for me. I didn’t really enjoy the pace, nor did I care for the way the story would advance, then rewind and insert more information. I also disliked the narrator immensely, and while I believe that reaction is intentional by Michaelides, it made it hard for me to connect. Lastly, the ending felt rushed. I wasn’t invested in the plot until about 65-70%, but then just was I became hooked, everything abruptly wrapped up.

It wasn’t a bad book though, which is why I feel bad going on the negatives. 3/5 seems fair, as the plot is intriguing, the characters have depth, and the writing is superb. Other readers may connect more than I did, so I still think it’s a good story worth reading for fans of the genre/author.
3/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Celadon and NetGalley for this ARC!

I feel bad that this author's first novel was the Silent Patient, as he's had big shoes to fill since. Sadly, this wasn't on the same level as that one was for me.

Elliott is telling the reader's a story of a murder, who was murdered, you don't know for sure, but you can assume it's one of the other main characters in the story. Elliott tells the story from almost a second person POV, addressing you, as the reader often, and is very much an unreliable narrator, admitting to his biases and his leaving things out. Elliott promises a story with lots of twists, unfortunately, all that fell flat for me.

The format of the novel is a Greek tragedy in 5 acts, Elliott often referencing the theater. I felt like the author tried hard to make the story deeper and mean more than it was.

I very much thank NetGally and the publisher for the opportunity to read this novel early! Overall, it was a pretty basic murder mystery and nothing special. I finished it, hence the 3 stars, but was not blown away.

The Fury is one that I was so incredibly excited to read! I loved Alex Michaelides' previous books and couldn't wait to dive in.

The Fury is a story within a story. Our narrator talks directly to us and we hear the story through his eyes. He lets us know that he will be as objective as possible and tells us here and there when he knows he has a bias. But can we really trust that he's a reliable narrator? You be the judge!

The Fury is about a group of friends (or are they enemies?) who spend a weekend away on a private island. Each of them has different intentions for their stay, and it's safe to say that things don't go as planned.

The Fury does a good job building suspense. Just when you think you know what's going on, things get shaken up. Michaelides manages to keep us on our toes throughout this entire read. While I didn't enjoy it as much as his debut novel, I did really enjoy this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

Overall, I rate this a 4.5/5, rounded up to a 5. Congratulations!

I would like to start this review by saying I love Alex Michaelides. I was a huge fan of The Maidens (4 stars for me) and The Silent Patient (5 stars for me). The problem I had with The Fury was the narrator, Elliott. I had such a hard time getting through this because Elliott was God awful and so boring. I just really wanted to hear about the murder and I liked the Glass Onion vibes. I wanted to keep going with that. While The Silent Patient was really fast paced and thrilling, this one definitely lacked in that area.

If you don’t mind a slow burn, this one is for you.