I went into this book expecting to like it, I had heard good things about it and everyone was hyping it up - plus I had liked the authors previous two books. I was definitely set up for disappointment. I thought the book was slow as a whole and I didn’t like the jumping back and forth between plot lines, even though I knew it was to set the story for the present day. I thought the narrator, Elliot, was too much and found him unlikeable. The only things I did like were that the chapters were short and that the author included characters from his previous two books. I’ve read worse books, but this is definitely not one of my favorites. I personally wouldn’t recommend the book.

I actually cannot decide how to feel about this one.

On one hand, I had fun guessing how things were going to end. On the other, I was right.

There were fun elements, and it felt a lot like a love letter to Agatha Christie, but I also kept finding myself pulled out of the story by the first person narrator, who seemingly knew everything, and kept telling me to “wait for the good part”

Overall felt like Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone if I hadn’t liked the narrator, and if the author wanted to make sure you knew that it was based on Greek Tragedy.

DNF at 20%

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for this arc! I have to say something about the tone and writing style of this particular book by Michelides was very off. His cheeky narrator who constantly addresses the reader was quite grating and overall didn’t lend itself to me feeling compelled by the plot. I find the characters all overall to feel detached and caricatures themselves. I did enjoy the silent patient but I think this work by the author feels clunky and forced.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of this book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

I told myself that this year, I was not going to force myself to finish reading books that do not grab my interest.

Here goes...

Let's start with the writing... It's a little intense, hard to follow, and quite confusing. The characters did not grab my attention what so ever and just seem blah. The storyline just didn't do it for me. Granted, I was only 59 pages in. With that being said, I don't believe it should take 59 pages or longer to grab a readers attention.

I have read another book by this author, the Silent Patient, and forced myself to finish that book. To say I was disappointed is putting it lightly. I wanted to give the author another go, and I did. However, I don't believe this author is for me.

I read this book for camp purposes and it did not disappoint. It was exactly what I was looking for: nothing more, nothing less. The author really leans into the themes of academia in all of his books which is why I will continue to read them. I don’t have a lot to say other than it scratched the academic thriller itch I had and I will be reading more of this author’s work.

This book had a lot of potential, but fell a little flat for me. I know Elliott is not meant to be a likable character, but I really couldn't stand him. Overall, I was kept interested and was curious to see how the island situation would play out, especially with actors involved. I wasn't sure who could be trusted, but the ending was just okay.

Thank you to Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the copy in exchange of review.

A meandering story with a bit of suspense. None of the characters was likable and I wasn't excited to solve the mystery. I didn't appreciate the tricks, frequent "well that's what I WISH happened" asides from the narrator that do nothing but make him lose the reader's trust. I love an unreliable narrator, but this one is unreliable, unlikable, and uninteresting. Some good twists near the end that aren't worth waiting for.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased a copy for my library.

Another solid psychological thriller from Alex Michaelides! Loved that it felt as though you were having a casual conversation with the narrator. While not as immediately gripping (to me) as The Silent Patient or The Maidens, it was fresh, original and creative.

I really did not enjoy this book. The narrators meta speaking about writing and play crafting was so over the top and pretentious. I loved the silent patient but btw this book and the maidens I do not believe this is the author for me.

Story kept me engaged so three stars but I was eye rolling the whole time.

This is at its core a murder mystery about a group of friends who have more secrets than they know what to do with. Elliot’s narration style was a nice play on the traditional whodunnit mixed with using playwriting as another storytelling device.

I thought the twist was clever but not entirely unpredictable but even then still enjoyable.

I did like the vibes of The Silent Patient a bit more as that skews more on the edge of your seat thriller but this was such a fun read!

A few quick notes: unlikeable characters, a nonlinear timeline, and a narrator who’s over-the-top pretentious (which I think is the point of Elliot Chase).

I think this book would be great for people who enjoy twisty plots. However, I was able to predict the ending and wasn't surprised by it. I tried both the audiobook and physical book, and I preferred the physical version. Although Alex Jennings did an excellent job of portraying Elliot Chase, I found Elliot's character to be too pretentious when listening to the audiobook. Overall, The Fury is a quick read, which is a plus because I found parts a little dull. If it had been longer, I probably would have DNF’d it.

The Silent Patient and The Maidens were wonderful reads. I was sucked into their stories right away. The Fury, however, took a little longer for me to get into, but by the end it was so hard to put the book down. The slow start is meticulously planned and with a purpose. Have faith and the story will grab you and keep you guessing until the end. I highly recommend reading The Fury.

Another fun, twisty psychological thriller with a setting to (literally) die for!

I was immediately intrigued with the promo package, a little booklet with a reading of the first chapter that drew me right in! The setting, the characters, and the intricate and twisted relationships between them were divine. I could not put this down!

The ending had a twist that I did not see coming, and as a frequent reader that is not always an easy feat! Alex Michaelides has a way of drawing you into intricate and messy plot lines and not letting go until the very end, and this fit right in! The Silent Patient is still my favorite, but this to me was a close second..

Definitely recommend for fans of atmospheric, twisty psychological thrillers seeking a good shock factor at the end!

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for my ARCs in exchange for an honest review.

Alex Michaelides knows how to write a twist!!! The narration of this one was so unlike anything I’ve ever read but I struggled sometimes to want to pick it up. I was VERY surprised by how everything ended and loved Theo’s cameo at the end.

I had a really difficult time with the narration of this book. It made the beginning feel very slow and I almost got whiplash towards the middle/end. I understood what they were trying to accomplish, an Agatha Christie type murder, but the cocky narration ruined it for me.

The Fury had me so captivated that I read it in two days! The narrator/ MC’s “style” took a bit of getting used to but certainly kept things interesting. I enjoyed the short chapters and the many twists throughout the storyline. I did find that I predicted the outcome, however the way we arrived there was completely different than I had imagined.

I would recommend this book as a quick and unique read. Not my favourite Alex Michaelides book, but I still enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for this eARC.

I was hoping to enjoy this book, as I thoroughly enjoyed The Silent Patient. The synopsis of this book sounded very interesting. Upon being 8 chapters in, I could not find myself being engaged or interested in this book in any way. The introductions of Kate and Lana didn’t do anything for me. I didn’t like them nor did I hate them. I found the interruptions of the narrator (Elliot) and his personal opinions to be distracting from the main story line. I thank NetGalley for the ARC.

I really enjoyed Alex’s other reads, so I was excited to see what this one was going to be like. I was not disappointed one bit.

I enjoyed the unique writing format. I don’t think I have ever read anything quite like it. It was written as if the reader and the writer were having a conversation. It was a bit slow at some points, but it doesn’t pull you in and keeps you captivated and waiting for the next unforeseen twist. The storyline was strong and well written. In my opinion, this is his best book yet. I can’t wait to see where he takes us next.

A special thank you to Alex Michaelides, NetGalley, and Celadon Books for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel was set like a play based on 5 Acts, narrated by Eliott Chase. Took me a bit to get used to this narration, especially since I had no idea who he was, but the author's writing kept me completely engaged. And that ending, what a way to wrap everything up!

This is a slow- burn locked room mystery set on an otherwise isolated Greek island. The plot felt familiar, but moved much slower than I tend to prefer in my books. I found the narrator annoying, which took me out of the story. I realize I was probably hoping for the twisty psychological plot of the author’s previous work in The Silent Patient- but this book is very different.

While not for me, this book is a great fit for fans of Agatha Christie, or of Elbert Lloyd’s The Club.

Thank you netgalley & the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.