The Fury is a fast paced book with short chapters that kept me entertained. The plot was interesting though familiar, in fact it is self-referential in the fact that it resembled Agatha Christie. Though it was a fast read, the plot twists were somewhat unbelievable and as i didn't really find any characters likeable, i was not very invested in the ending. I prefer Michaelides' other novels to this one.

I don't know how anybody says this is a slow burn thriller, I found the pacing to be perfect and really enjoyed this one! Having read The Silent Patient when it first came out, I knew that the author was capable of some really great twists and turns, and The Fury did not disappoint. I found the unreliable narrator to be great, I loved the breaking of the fourth wall, but didn't take it too seriously. Sure, he couldn't have possibly known a lot of the situations that happened, but I could personally overlook this technicality because I had so much fun reading this one. It kept be hooked right up until the end, and I enjoyed the book very much. I love a mystery that takes its twists and turns right up until the last page, and that's definitely what this book did. Overall, this book was a fun way to spend a day reading for me!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

One thing is clear about Alex Michaelides, his writing style doesn‘t follow a certain script. After The Silent Patient and the Maidens comes his third novel, The Fury, a tale of a murder, but not really. Because at it‘s heart is a love story. Beautifully written to capture the reader and incorporates so many twists and turns that you can‘t out the book down until you‘ve finished reading it. It is absolutely brilliantly written and I‘m looking forward to his future releases!!

I wanted to badly to love this one. It was decent but it wasn’t a hit. It was a bit drawn out but the story kept me from DNF

The Fury by Alex Michaelides - 2.75⭐️

We meet the narrator from the beginning, telling the story of him & 5 others being on a private island in Greece & it ending in a murder. From the beginning, I could tell the narrator wasn’t reliable, and that none of the characters were likable. I think I struggled with this because not only were there unlikeable characters and stream-of-consciousness narration (which I don’t typically love), but the plot was also very slow for me.

If you like books where the narrator is talking to the reader & explaining what happens, I do think you’d like this! Michaelides has such a unique style of writing his mystery books like a screenplay, and I did love how that was still very present in The Fury!

Having read & enjoyed The Silent Patient & The Maidens, I had high hopes for this! Unfortunately, this was my least favorite of his so far. I will say, I read it one sitting because it was short & easily digestible writing!

Overall, it wasn’t for me, but I could see the merits & how someone else would like it 😊

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC & giving me the chance to review.

I think this is my favorite of Alex's books so far. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but I loved it. So much more than I expected I would. The writing style took some getting used to, but, once I did, I flew through this. A fantastic mystery with an excellent unreliable narrator. This is not your standard locked room murder mystery by far. Definitely recommend.

Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. Elliot Chase is going to tell you a story unlike anything you’ve heard before. Seven suspects are trapped the island and this story about murder.
I thought I had everything figured out, but then the book threw me for a loop!
The Fury is a super slow burn, and honestly, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it at all. But eventually, it got going, and once it did, it was interesting. It has a very unique writing style and an unreliable narrator. So that by the end, I wasn't really ever sure exactly what I'd read. It was a decent read and kept me guessing all the way through. This book is very Agatha Christie-like with intriguing (but not very likeable) characters and a locked room theme - those this 'room' is a desert island. There are plenty of twists and red herrings to keep the suspense up.
I overall enjoyed this novel - another hit from Michaelides, although not quite as spectacular as his first two in my opinion. It was twisty with great characters and excellent writing.
Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon books for an arc of this book for my honest opinion.

2.5 Stars

Meta Mystery- told to you buy a unreliable narrator .

This book didn't particularly work for me. The narrator breaking the forth wall and never knowing if you could trust him took me out of the story. At the end I the reader was left not caring how it ends. The first few chapters were lovely and compelling but the more in I got into the book the less I was interested in the events. That being said this book is easy to get through.

That being said if you like meta books about writers this could be a big hit for you. If you also like the unreliable narrator trope this might also be a hit for you. Would make a good pick for a readathon book.

I posted reviews to both story graph and good reads. (Note because goodreads doesn't have have stars I also round up the rating to 3 stars).

While I didn't personally love the book I always try to put who I think the book might work for in my reviews. My hope is that the books that didn't work for me are able to find a reader that will adore them.

I ATE this book up. I enjoyed the Silent Patient and thought the Maidens was just okay. I really didn't know what to expect from this author's third book and omg this is my perfect book. The comparisons to Glass Onion are spot on in terms of vibes. This writing style is not going to be for everyone. I think readers can know within the first chapter or two whether the book will be for them. I LOVED it. I love writers, stories about writers, and books/stories that play with storytelling in a unique way. Not only was the writing and narrative structure fun, but the actual storyline had me totally hooked. I highly recommend this book (but also recommend that if you don't like it to start you won't start to like it.

The Fury purports to be a "masterfully paced thriller," but that was definitely not my experience. To me, the pace for most of the book was infuriatingly slow, with the story constantly being interrupted by the narrator's self serving "charm" and way too much foreshadowing. Then, the pace at the very end felt like whiplash in comparison. Most of the characters were pretty unlikeable (intentional, I'm sure), but more than that, none of them ever felt real to me, so much so that I found I didn't really care what happened to any of them.

I was excited for another slow burn from Michaelides, though at times this one just feels slow. I both read and listened to the audio for this book to be able to recommend to my patrons. Such a great premise for a locked-room murder mystery on a private island, but I didn't ever get a real feel for Elliot and the other characters with the convoluted, unreliable narration of Elliot's character which hops around in reality and make-believe a little too much, though it becomes evident why at the end. While I thought the narrator of the audio was fantastic, I enjoyed reading this novel a little bit better to keep track of when the jumps were happening so that I could flip back and see how I should've noticed. I will definitely recommend this book to fans of Michaelides and mystery-lovers. Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinions.

Great island murder mystery! I really liked how there was a “fourth wall break” in this one. The narrator speaks directly to the reader, and it felt like I built a relationship with him. The story took so many different turns I felt like I was on a tilt-a-whirl! I had to go back and reread the last few chapters to make sure I didn’t miss anything because I sped through it to see what was going to happen.

Thank you @NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy for an honest review!

This was a fun twist for a mystery! Unique in the set up and an entirely different take on an unreliable narrator. I loved the one person narration for a whodunit! It was a nice change from a lot of the current Agatha Christie like plot.

I could really tell that the setting and characters were something Michaelides was passionate about. Each character came across so vivid.... I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Mystery and or thrillers don't necessarily need to catch me by surprise or have some outlandish twist or reveal in order for me to enjoy them... But I did feel like the ending of this book fell a little short for me, There were several twist but I just know Michaelides can do so much more with the psychological aspect, like we seen in The Silent Patient.

As always, I love the reference to his past characters in the end.. I look forward to his next one!
Also, how great would it be if the next book was a story written by Elliot Chase, now that we know him fully as a character... a reveal that the book we just read was actually written by Elliot... JUST A THOUGHT lol

*SPOILERS*
I enjoyed this book! I thought I knew how it was going to end but I was wrong. I think Act I was a little slow, but it started picking up after that and then I started to enjoy it. I like how he ties in all his books/characters, I wasn’t expecting him to bring up Mariana and Theo so I was pleasantly surprised when he did. I like how it feels like you’re having a conversation with the narrator; I really enjoy Michaelides’ writing style. Ready for him to write another book!!!

I loved Silent Patient and the concept of this book really grabbed me so I was excited and honored to receive a copy. Overally, the omnipresent narrator who wasn't necessarily this truly all-knowing voice but an actual character in the book who seemed to know things he would not have been privvy was distracting enough to make it difficult for me to enjoy the story.

So, I just finished "The Fury" by Alex Michaelides, and oh my, we need to talk about this book. It's like nothing I've read before. You know how we love a good mystery, right? Well, this one takes the cake. It's not your average whodunit—it flips the entire genre on its head, thanks to the way the story is told.

The narrative comes from Elliot Chase, and his take on the events is so biased it's like you're seeing everything through a kaleidoscope. He's recounting a trip to a Greek island, which turns into a murder mystery. But here's the kicker: it's not just a murder story. At its core, it's about love, with a hefty dose of revenge and obsession.

Lana, the ex-movie star, invites her circle, including her husband's mistress, to her island, and that's where things get really interesting. Elliot as a narrator is something else. He's a playwright, which makes every word he says suspect. Is he adding drama, or is it all real? And then there's that twist at the end—was that real, or just another layer of his storytelling?

Alex Michaelides' writing style hasn't lost its touch since "The Silent Patient." It's unique, intricate, and he masterfully uses an unreliable narrator to keep you on your toes. Honestly, I felt like Elliot was pulling my leg the whole time, but I couldn't help but get sucked into his story.

The strengths of this book are its unique storytelling and the way it makes you root for characters you shouldn't. However, it's not without its flaws. Some characters seemed a bit superfluous, and a few twists were on the predictable side.

What really got me thinking was the pacing. It felt slow to some, but (as others have noted) considering Elliot's narcissistic control over the narrative, it made perfect sense. It's like he's playing a game with the reader, revealing the story in his own time, which, in a way, is genius.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who loved "The Silent Patient" or enjoys Agatha Christie's mysteries. It's a solid 4-star read for me. And if you were disappointed by "The Maidens," don't let that stop you from picking this one up. It's a whole different ball game.

Thanks to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the ARC—this was a ride and a half!

Alex Michaelides’s newest murder mystery involves 4 main characters: a retired movie star, her husband, a London theater actress and a playwright who is also the narrator of the story. While I enjoyed the unusual structure of the book, it also irritated me or more accurately, made me anxious as I never knew what was coming. The unreliable narrator tells a story with an unreliable structure. The experience was akin to reading a “what if” book. The narrator would lead you down a path just to state a couple of chapters later: sorry, that is how it was supposed to go, now let me tell you what really happened.

More and more of the real picture - if such a thing is possible - was revealed with every unexpected turn or with a change of perspective. It is at its core a closed circle murder mystery, with the entire cast of characters secluded on a remote Greek island. However, once the murder actually happens (yes, there are a few intentional false starts), there is no mystery as to who committed it.

I am giving this book 3 stars because I really disliked the main character and narrator, Elliot. I did not even feel pity towards him, although I wanted to. The author calls him a psychopath a few times in the novel. However, (and I don't know how true this is since the narrator is unreliable), Elliot suffered a lot of abuse, parental neglect and bullying in his childhood and younger years. I certainly could not blame him for seizing the day when he met a famous female writer, who took him under her wing. I could not, however, understand a lot of his motivations. Perhaps that is how psychopaths are supposed to act. But also feel that humanity utterly failed with this lonely man if what he described about his past really happened. So while an exercise of writing an entire novel from a perspective of someone who could or could not be a psychopath is interesting, I just can't get a higher rating to the book where the entire narrative could be distorted because presented through the eyes of someone who is mentally ill.

A locked door (or island) mystery set in Greece should have been one of my favorite books of the year. I did enjoy reading this, but not nearly as much as I'd hoped. It's definitely possible that I built it up too much in my mind because I was <i>very</i> excited to read it. My biggest issue was the likability of the narrator. I think it's fine to really dislike the narrator for being a horrible person, but this was more an issue of a character being the clingy friend that needs constant reassurance and overshares too early in the relationship. There are several other characters on the island, but the only one that left much of an impression for me was Agathi, the housekeeper. I didn't really care what happened to anyone else on the island.

I would still recommend this to most people who like mysteries with a twist. For me, it was a fun way to spend a few days and not a book that will stick with me forever.

This book was good but not as good as the author’s other two books. The ending was a little confusing for me. I would still recommend it to my friends though!

I’ve enjoyed the psychological twists in this author’s books. The Fury was no different. It didn’t go the way I anticipated which always makes me enjoy a story even more!