I really enjoyed The Silent Patient so I am bummed this one did not work for me at all. I really did not like the narration style, seemingly inspired by Stevenson's 'Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone,' where the narrator is talking directly to us, his audience. Where Stevenson excels, this book did not do it well. Elliot was obnoxious, and I did not enjoy any of the supporting characters. I don't ask for much from thrillers other than to be shocked, and this one did not shock. Instead, this books really focuses more on the why instead of who, and all of the characters were surface-level and had no defining qualities to differ them from one another. If this book was any longer, it probably would have been a DNF. I am all for suspending belief when reading this genre, but any deeper inspection and the book fails at what it is trying to do. The plot is fragmented, and discombobulated. The narrator overhypes the events that transpire. I would recommend this book only to those new to the genre and who don't read often.

Thank you to Celadon and Netgalley for the e-ARC!

This book reads almost like a fever dream. An ex-movie star, her husband, son, and small group of close friends are vacationing on a remote, isolated privately owned Greek island. The opening pages jump right into action and reveal a murder that has just occurred on a stormy night. However, the reader is unaware of WHO the victim is from the small party of guests or who committed the act.

From there, readers are introduced to each guest through the first person narrator, Elliot; he was on the island when the murder occurred and is a friend of Lana, the ex-movie star. His unique perspective and own internal biases regarding each of the other characters were brilliantly portrayed by the author. Readers are provided glimpses into each guests' lives in the weeks leading up to the vacation. How each character intersects and acts with the others is what truly weaves the story together. By the time the reader is brought back to the island action, I was completely unsure of who might be dead and or might be the perpetrator. While the cast of characters were long-term friends and loved one another, they were each uniquely flawed with their own secrets, lies, darkness, jealousies, and insecurities. As the story progressed I found myself completely immersed in this small microcosm of 'life' and had to see the ending.

Michaelides is the master craftsman of shocking twists and unreliable narrators and he has once again delivered! The last 30% of this book I felt shock after shock and wasn't sure where the story was going to land, even into the epilogue! I think mystery and thriller readers who enjoy complex and flawed characters will love this read.

The narration was performed by Alex Jennings, a renowned actor with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and his brilliant performance made me feel as if just he and I were sitting by the fire, sipping a cocktail while sharing secrets. His story-telling was intimate, candid, and he embodied Elliot's role perfectly. I strongly recommend listening to the audiobook.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon books and MacMillan Audio for my advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc!
3.5 stars

I’m a fan of The Silent Patient and Maidens, (they were both 5 star reads for me) so I was really excited to get an arc of The Fury!

Elliot Chase is one of Lana Farrar’s close friends. Lana is a beautiful actress who everyone adores, including Elliot. When Lana invites her group to her private, reclusive Greek island, everyone says yes, having no clue what drama is about to unfold.

As secrets are revealed and people are tested, the members on the island find their lives in danger. Is it a novel about murder? Love? Both? Neither? The reader will have to decide for themselves.

At times, this book did remind me of the Great Gatsby. There were multiple people that had similar traits as Daisy, Tom, Jordan and Myrtle, and a Gatsby wannabe who really is more like Nick. I also felt like there was a theme of “look how awful, selfish and careless rich people can be.” For some reason the characters being stuck on the island reminded me of the scene in Gatsby where tensions are high and everyone is at the hotel to get away from the heat of the city.

In true Alex Michaelides form, the reader really will not know what to expect and won’t be able to guess what’s going to happen. Unfortunately, in this case I felt like I was having whiplash. Instead of being wowed by twists or revelations like I have been with the author’s past two books, with this book I was just always unsure what was actually happening.

I do appreciate how the author makes subtle connections to his other novels, and I thought that Elliot was an interesting and complex character. There were some surprises that I enjoyed and some that I hated.

Even though I didn’t like this book as much as the Silent Patient or Maidens, it was still an interesting read. I had arcs of this book as both e-book and audiobook, and I thought the narrator did a great job as Elliot. It was a little frustrating that the e-book and audiobook weren’t exactly the same. (Minor differences: some sentences would be phrased differently between the two formats, still holding the same meaning but just kind of irritating)

I did enjoy how the book was kind of set up to pretend you’re at a bar listening to Elliot’s story. I could definitely see this becoming a movie.

Overall I gave this book 3.5 stars because it was interesting and a quick read for me, and I still enjoyed the book despite the fact that I didn’t love it.

The Silent Patient was so good. So so good.. In fact, maybe I will read it again to remember how good it was. When I read Michaeldies’ next novel, The Maidens, I hated it. HATED. I didn’t understand how they could have been written by the same author. Unfortunately, I found The Fury somewhere in the middle, but closer to The Maidens. It’s a lot of fluff to get to the point and then….was the point really that great anyway? I was in for the first part. I liked the narration and could believe the suspense he was selling, constantly saying that the big news was coming. But then by the second part, I started to get bored. I had assumed it was going to be a murder story where the characters were dying one by one. But that was not the case. And even if they had been, I don’t know that I would’ve cared much because every single one was horribly unlikable.

I finished this book yesterday but I just had to go back and reread the ending to remember what all of the fuss was about. And….ok? Maybe the quick reference to The Silent Patient is supposed to be the jaw dropping moment?

I’m sure this will work for some, but Michaelides is no longer a must-read author for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars rounded up

I was a huge fan of both The Silent Patient and The Maidens so this was a VERY anticipated read for me.

I will say, this is my least favorite of the three. The big reveal and twist didn’t get me like the previous two books did.

However, I did read through it very quickly, and I enjoyed the unique storytelling approach. It was like the narrator was talking to me, and telling me the story directly. However, that being said, I’m not sure of the narrator would know some of the things he did, as he wasn’t present for them. Unless he is speaking from what he was told after the fact.

I give this one ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5) stars.

If you need likable characters, this is not the book for you, but I don’t mind reading about a book full of terrible rich people and watching their demise unfold.

The setting sounded beautiful, and I really want to go to Greece. Just maybe not on a doomed island with murder.

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

When Lana Farrar invites her two friends along to spend Easter weekend on the Greek island “Aura”, gifted to her by her late first husband, none of them could have predicted that it would end in murder. Lana, Elliot, Kate, Lana’s current husband Jason, and Lana’s son Leo are a cast all their own as the events unfold with twists and turns abound.

Elliot invites you to sit down with him at the bar, and in exchange for you listening to his story, he’ll buy you a few drinks. But each time he pauses to buy you another, your head spins with new revelations until you can hardly stand it.

This was a very unique take on the unreliable narrator as “you” are a part of the story, with Elliot addressing you directly. While this new novel is extremely different from Alex Michaelides’ other works, "The Maidens" and "The Silent Patient", it was a fresh direction for him to go in, and I would say that he did so fearlessly, and it has paid off.

Elliot is a playwright but has only had one successful play. Lana is a former Hollywood actress who retired after the death of her first husband to take care of their son, but she is needing more from life, and this weekend getaway is the stepping stone for her. Leo is 17 and dreams of following in his mother's footsteps and becoming an actor in Hollywood, but she doesn’t want him to. Kate is an alcoholic actress who is struggling with her career, all while trying to persuade Jason to leave Lana because their love affair that’s been carrying proves that they’re meant to be together. Jason’s business world is crumbling after making a few too many bad business deals, and now he’s trying to keep the law from his heels by using Lana’s money to do so, as that is the only thing he will truly ever love; money. Island caretaker Nikos has been madly in love with Lana from the first time he saw her and has been waiting for her to notice him all these years. Agathi, who is highly superstitious, is Lana’s assistant/cook/housekeeper, who is strictly loyal to her and only her. Nothing can break that bond.

While being in the “thriller” book genre, to me, it doesn’t fit there completely. Elliot tells you who the victim is going to be and that it will all go down from midnight to dawn, but being the unreliable narrator, he omits parts of the story so that he can manipulate it to fit his vision. He’s at least honest about all of this that the characters will be playing the roles that he has deemed them to play. That’s really what makes this book special and veers it more toward psychological thriller with a manipulative, unreliable narrator.

By him telling the story in this way, it’s almost as if the reader has become inducted into their friend group. What you’re seeing at first may seem face-value, but as you learn the intricacies of the group, you will grow to understand their motivations. And as Elliot says, it is like writing characters in a book or play. But there’s a lot of Elliot’s character that is left unknown to us, like the narcissist writer, Barbara, who he most likely killed after having lived/dated her for years. Or the year he, or “The Kid” as he refers to that version of himself, spent on the street doing horrible things to survive. The story he wants to spin isn’t the true version at all, and like with almost all of Michaelides’ characters; you’re left with questions that will bother you long after you put the book down.

Before reading "The Fury," I highly recommend reading his other two books, "The Silent Patient" and "The Maidens," since there are few character cameos. If Michaelides is just creating one big, crazy thriller universe, I’m here for it.

Thank you to Celadon Books for allowing me to be an early reader of this highly anticipated thriller novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. "The Fury" is scheduled to be released on January 16, 2024.

"We need to ask why. Why isn’t a question we tend to ask often. It’s not an easy question to answer—it requires self-awareness and honesty. But if we ever want to understand ourselves or other people—real or fictional—we must explore our motivation."

Let me start by saying I love Alex Michaelides. I loved his first two novels and legitimately screamed when I received this ARC. & let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I read this in 24 hours and barely engaged with my husband, much to his dismay. A beautiful twisty mystery set an idyllic Greek island with an unreliable narrator? Say less. I loved it! I truly didn't know where it was going and found the story and storytelling refreshing. Michaelides has this unique ability to truly transport you into his worlds. The cameo appearances from characters in past books was the cherry on top. I'm a sucker for running characters.

"Human beings are complex creatures, with shades of light and dark operating in all of us." Delve into this cleverly written suspenseful page turner to find out just how dark these characters can be.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. Snag this on 1/16/24!

Having read and loved the author's first book, THE SILENT PATIENT, I was absolutely ecstatic to receive early access to read Alex Michaelides's newest, THE FURY.

THE FURY is told over five acts, like a play. It delivers THE SILENT PATIENT vibes in the opening as we look to find the lay of the land, who is telling the story, and whether or not they can be trusted. We are introduced to Elliot, a playwright who is detailing the events leading up to this epic tale of murder on a private Greek island.

Right away you can tell that Elliott has an agenda and may not necessarily be able to be trusted. He does admit his bias - or is he just trying to trick you? The first two acts really pulled me in, but I did find myself getting a bit fatigued in being teased. The final act is worth the wait though with some incredible twists.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for access to this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was totally different then I expected. But I loved the twist, turns and style of the book. It is my first Alex Michaelides book and I'm looking forward to reading more.

I found this to be a bit of a slow burn and didn't think I was going to enjoy it in the first few chapters. However, I became totally invested as the characters developed and couldn't put it down. I found the narration of the book and it broken into the various acts an interesting way to keep the story going. It kept me guessing throughout the book.

🏝️The Fury🏝️

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Author: Alex Michaelides
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Dual Timeline

Synopsis:
Elliot Chase is a struggling play write who is madly in love with his movie star friend Lana Farrar. Unfortunately for him, she is married, and a mother. When he discovers Lana’s husband cheating with her best friend, he takes this as an opportunity to formulate a plot in which she can confront them both on her private island where they can’t avoid the confrontation. Lana is all for this plan, however, the plot includes murder, directing, and incredible acting. Elliot is hoping by the end of their little island deception, he will finally have Lana’s love for himself. However, screenwriting always has a bit of editing before the final act, and actors love rewriting their scenes.

I have very conflicting thoughts about The Fury. I loved the premise of this book, and thought it had very creative and original ideas tied to it. However, I was a little bit bored with the unusual pacing of this book. It felt like a rollercoaster of intense moments vs boring background. Elliot is the main character of this book. He speaks directly to the reader as if he is in a bar telling you his story. He wants to turn his experience into a play write, but he starts mixing fact with fiction, which makes it as a reader very hard to trust him as our protagonist. Elliot explains the plot by jumping back and forth from before the island to on the island. I thought this was nice at first because he only lets you know so much at first and let’s secrets come out when they are most impactful to the reader, but I quickly started to not enjoy it because you find out that the events he is telling you are sometimes events that he plotted for his play write and it wasn’t actually how that event occurred. I love an unreliable narrator, but in this situation, it confused me a lot. You quickly find out that Elliot is troubled from his own recounting of his childhood and possessive nature. I wish I loved this more than I did, but nothing left my jaw on the floor, or wanting to pick the book back up. I did love however love the authors breadcrumb of Theo from The Silent Patient at the end!

Thank you to the NetGalley, the author, and Celadon books for this ARC!

After the disappointment from The Maidens, I decided to have no expectations for this book. I really enjoyed the way this story was told. Were the twists as shocking as The Silent Patient? No. I had pretty much figured what the twist would be but that didn't take away any of the entertainment from the story. A fun read. I think it would make for a great series or movie.

I just reviewed The Fury by Alex Michaelides. #TheFury #NetGalley

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, particularly because it felt so different from Alex Michaelides other books. While I have enjoyed everything of his I have read, this book felt to be written in a different tone which was a nice surprise since you typically think you know what you are getting when reading a known author.
I could see some having a hard time getting into this but for me I fell right in. Smooth story to follow with some good twists and interesting cast of characters. This might be my favorite so far from Alex Michaelides.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

“This is a tale of murder. …this is a true story, not a work of fiction. It’s about real people, in a real place. If anything, it’s a whyunit—an examination of who we are; and why we do the things we do.” Thus, the narrator, Elliott Chase, opens the story of The Fury. I found this to be riveting, diabolical, and unputdownable.

Lana, a young widowed Hollywood star, retires to London on the death of her husband to raise her young son. Her best friend of thirty years, Kate, is a theater actress. The aforementioned Elliott is a playwright. And Agitha is the long-serving attendant, cook, organizer to Lana and sees to every aspect of her life. Lana is remarried to Jason, and totally in love. This cast of characters, along with her son, Leo, joins Lana on her Greek Island of Aura, to escape the bleak days in London where a murder takes place.

In the style of an Agatha Christie locked room murder, the characters are examined Their motivations and aims are questioned. “…we like to keep moral questions simple, don’t we? Good/bad, innocent/guilty. That’s fine in fiction; real life is not so clear-cut. Human beings are complex creatures, with shades of light and dark operating in all of us.” Elliot proves to be quite an unreliable narrator as the tale takes many twists and turns. I found it to be a very clever and compelling tale of love and friendship. Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

This book is insane. I could not put it down. It is so fast paced, and something is always happening.

There’s so many times where Elliot (the narrator) would tell us 1 thing happened and then in the next chapter what really happened. And it took me on such a journey. I absolutely loved the inside of Elliot’s mind.

This book is so thought out and such a masterpiece. I really really enjoyed this and all of the characters. So unique! Great way to start out the new year!

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon for allowing me to read this book in advanced in exchange for my honest opinion!

“…let me give you something to hold on to: do not despair at being different. For that very difference, initially such a source of shame, so humiliating, and painful, will one day become a badge of honor and pride.”

The Fury is a whodunit/who died type of thriller, and while it doesn't add anything spectacularly original to the genre, it was an incredibly entertaining journey. The [unreliable] narrator is interwoven through the story and all POVs, which is not something I've experienced before—sometimes you could be in a different character's POV (third person) and then the narrator would jump in in first person and take over the story a bit—I think that's a unique choice.

Lana Farrar, an elusive movie star, plans an Easter getaway to her private island in Greece with her husband, son, and closest friends, and a bloody, tense hot mess express ensues. As the group falls apart, a storm looms in the distance, and when they clash together, hell rains down.

Once again, Michealides leans into playing with the reader's mind, presenting them with things and soon after telling them those things are false. However, I loved this a bit more, because I love an unreliable narrator who doesn't care if you like or believe them.

Warning: There is a huge spoiler for The Silent Patient at the end of this book, so, if you've never read it, I recommend reading The Fury <i>after</i> The Silent Patient.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 ⭐️s
Pub Date: 1/16/24

Wow what did I just read? I loved the flow of this book and how it was broken up into acts and told as a play. We get insight on the narrators mind/thinking although at times he is unreliable. This story had twist after twist and if you love unreliable narrators, and not knowing truth from made up, this is definitely a read will enjoy! I also enjoyed the little easter egg at the end and nod to “The Silent Patient”. I love me some crazy main characters and a book that will have me ruminating days after I finished, 4⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this title via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed the writing style of this book. The narrator was quirky and unreliable in his own way. I had an easy time visualizing the scenes of this book. I wasn't too surprised by the twist in this book but I did enjoy it. I have read both of the author's previous works and gave them 3 and 5 stars. This book fell right in the middle for me. I wouldn't hesitate to pick up his next work.

A group of “friends” take a trip to a Greek island when one of them is found murdered.
- Some of the characters are absolutely unhinged but we love it.
- It was a good pace for me, never stale or boring.
- Idk how I felt about Elliott’s narration at first but as I got to know his character it did feel like just a casual chat that made it really engaging.
- The amount of gasps from me while reading this I lost count. Michaelides knows how to write thrillers and it didn’t disappoint.
- Easter eggs from previous books are a nice touch BUT if you plan on reading Silent Patient ever, do it before Fury or else you get a spoiler in the epilogue.

After loving The Silent Patient, disliking the Maidens, I am happy to report I enjoyed Michaelides new book, The Fury. 
The Fury is full of twists and turns. We don't even know who the narrator is until a few chapters in. There is a lot of back and forth with this one. When you think you know whats going on, you're wrong. 

I enjoyed this one. It was uniquely told, but that caused some confusion sometimes. I like that this had short chapters and ended each chapter in a way that made me as the reader want to keep reading. I felt like the first few chapters had a lot of potential and I was immediately intrigued. As the story went on, I was still intrigued but some of the twists seemed very unrealistic. 

I really liked the narration. I thought the narrator did a great job with this unreliable narrator.

I really enjoyed this from beginning to end. The story hooks you from the very beginning to the very end, the characters are all very well developed and it leaves you guessing.