The Fury by Alex Michaelides is an Amazon pick for best mystery and #1 new release for this #suspensethriller. This is a twisty plot that will have your head spinning. All of the characters are involved in his play and as the work develops he becomes detached from reality. He writes the dialogue as the changes to the play develop. He talks to himself and the reader as the plot develops and it does, indeed, defy the reader to keep up with the twists. A CE review.

Read on January 12th, 2024.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides is a unique and suspenseful thriller, that undoubtedly lives up to the hype of Michaelides's first novel, The Silent Patient. It takes place on a small private island in Greece, called Aura, owned by a reclusive movie star Lana Farrar. The book follows Lana and her rich friends over the course of a spontaneous weekend trip to the island and a murder takes place. It is narrated by one of Lana's friends Elliot Chase, in an extremely conversational style, and the story unfolds in 5 acts as a play would. It was well-paced, had an interesting cast of characters, and had multiple twists and turns throughout the story that kept me on the edge of my seat. I've yet to be disappointed by an Alex Michaelides's novel, it is fair to say that he is one of my favourite authors, especially when it comes to thrillers. I think that fans of If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio and The Guest List by Lucy Foley Would really enjoy this book!

Thank you Netgalley and Caledon Books for an advanced reader copy of this book! And thank you to Caledon Books for mailing me a 'The Fury' themed Playbill with a code for the audiobook as well - that was some super cool promo to receive!
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THE FURY
Alex Michaelides
Celadon Press
320 pp.
$28.99

“Character is Fate.”

That’s a heady premise behind a classic mystery novel with seven people trapped on a Greek Island. Does who we are, determined by our younger selves, then determine what actions we take? And, in this case, murder someone?

Elliot Chase is the self-professed unreliable narrator who presents this quote from the Greek philosopher Heraclaites early in the novel. With a slow start, he then finally gets us to the island of Aura, owned by retired movie star Lana Farrar. Along with playwright and sycophant Elliot and Lana, the other inhabitants, all unlikeable in some way, are Kate, Lana’s friend and London West End actress; Leo, Lana’s diffident son; Jason, Lana’s financier husband; and two servants, Nikos who lives on the island and Aurithia, who travels with Lana. After a brief time on the island, the group is trapped by the mythical winds, cutting off access to the mainland. At that point, the narrator takes us on a labrynthine trip through repeats, replays, and reveals, in third person, that shed light on the page-turning action. Michaelides does a fine job of whirling us toward the finale, where THE FURY grabs one of the “kids” deep inside one of the character’s character, and they kill someone. With so many actresses, as well as a playwright in the cast, Michaelides creates a theatrical context that would be over the top in another story, Here, the drama only heightens the finale. It looks like the author has another best-seller—and a streaming special—in hand.

I’ll be honest, I struggled to get through Act I. I had some preconceived ideas and expectations for what this book should be, based on my experiences with the author’s first two books, and this wasn’t it. But, I’m SO glad I stuck with it because this book paid off in spades. I was glued to the pages for Acts II-V and the chapters just flew by. And the fever with which I read this book proves the book is aptly named. The Fury is in references to the winds of the Greek islands. And it, also, serves as the perfect metaphor for the pace with which this story gradually gains speed then just whips into a frenzy. Sure, there were too many chapters that ended with those vague allusions of what was to come and too many instances where you read part of the story only for the narrator to say, “psych! That’s not what happened. Jkjk! Here’s how it really happened…” But you know one thing that was fresh AF? Having an unreliable MALE narrator. I am so, so grateful the author avoided the overly workout unreliable-female-narrator trope. I think for some readers, like myself, approaching this as more of a character-driven, Agatha-Christie-esque murder mystery gives this story a better chance at success than expecting your typical run-of-the-mill thriller.

Ever since the "Silent Patient", I have been an instant fan of Alex Michaelides so I knew I had to read "The Fury" as soon as I could. This book was different in such a good way. I really enjoyed the narration of the character as if he was reading a greek tragedy to me only that this was his own story. I really enjoyed the twists and turns as well. This was a great change from the usual murder-mystery books that usually follow the same pattern and are usually forgotten as this does the opposite.

In The Fury we meet Elliot, a forthcoming narrator who guides us through the theatre-like story. Set on an island in Greece, readers will love both the escapism setting and the page turning drama. Fame and fortune, affairs, jealousy, family and finance add to the drama. Readers will fly through this one.

I plowed through this book in a week (would've been less if I didn't have to work!) and when I tell you it delivers, believe that. There are so many twists and turns in the story and I loved every second of it. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something else happens. It gives "The Talented Mr. Ripley" vibes. I loved the way that Alex used different voices throughout the novel and how it in with mythical Greek legend. He never disappoints (hello, Silent Patient!) and this is most definitely one of his best books yet. Highly recommend!

Truly about a 3.5/3.75 for me. It felt a little chaotic. Particularly in the beginning for me. When we would meet new characters and I’d be like who tf is this? Maybe my brain was just off though. I also feel like it goes in too many different directions with the plot. With that said though this was still a pretty fun read. The narrator was unreliable and I caught myself smirking at his words a few times throughout the book. It’s fast paced and easy to read. I always appreciate short chapters. All in all I thought it was good but maybe just a tad overboard in some areas.

It’s no secret that THE SILENT PATIENT I one of the best thrillers there ever was (don’t @ me) and while THE MAIDENS wasn’t my favorite (I still liked it) I was excited to see how I liked Alex Michaelides newest book THE FURY. I’m here to tell you I really liked it! This book took place on a remote island with murder and a whodunnit type thriller. HOWEVER - this book has a very different take on just a normal whodunnit. When I tell you you won’t be able to trust a single character in this book I mean it! This story takes unreliable narrator to a whole new level but in the best way possible. You definitely want to get your hands on this unique and fun thriller!

I loved Michaelides’ first book, “The Silent Patient” and was thus, very excited to read this follow-up novel. A dead body, a Greek island, and a cast of characters that includes an actress seemed like a plot that I would absolutely adore. However, the execution of this story while unique, became a bit too meta for me. There were some POV twists that made the story a bit confusing and the ultimate ending up drag a bit. The book was fine, but not a novel that I ended up loving. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy for review.

“… the first half of life is pure selfishness; the second half, all grief.”

I think I fell in love with this book before I even opened it. The cover with the evil eye on it intrigued me as a result of my interest in Turkish culture.

I enjoyed how uniquely written the book is, from the perspective of an obviously unreliable narrator who jumps around in an unpredictable and very interesting way.

He introduces us to the main characters, Lana, her closest friends and family. He tells us that everyone is getting together on an otherwise uninhabited island and, Agatha Christie style, one person will die.

One third of the way in, the murder victim has been revealed, and we discover the narrator has left gaps in the story. Back we must go, to fill in these gaps. But will we get the complete story this time around?

The Fury had lots of psychological details focusing primarily on how pain in childhood has a continued impact into adulthood. It also doesn’t disappoint for readers who really enjoy unexpected twists!

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan for the ARC of The Fury by Alex Michaelides⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#bestbooksof2024
#fivestarthrillers
#psychologicalthriller

Alex Michaelides' "The Fury" is a captivating and frankly UN-PUT-DOWN-ABLE psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. With a unique narrative style, an unreliable narrator, and unexpected plot twists, this book is a rollercoaster of suspense and intrigue.

One of the standout features is the narrative style, which is conversational and draws readers into the protagonist's mind with a gripping intimacy. The use of an unreliable narrator adds a layer of complexity, making it challenging to discern truth from deception and keeping the suspense alive throughout the story.

The plot twists in "The Fury" are nothing short of brilliant. Michaelides skillfully subverts expectations, taking the narrative in directions I never saw coming. Each revelation adds a new layer to the mystery, creating a sense of urgency that makes the book truly "un-put-down-able."

"The Fury" is a masterfully executed psychological thriller that deserves high praise. The narrative style, unreliable narrator, unexpected plot twists, and immersive setting contribute to a reading experience that is both gripping and satisfying. Alex Michaelides has crafted a tale that lingers in the mind, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Human beings are complex creatures, with shades of light and dark operating in all of us."

The Fury is the second book I've read by Alex Michaelides. Michaelides's writing is consistent with a drawn out beginning and then he drops these tiny crumbs of suspense to keep you hooked until the very end. His writing is very unique in The Fury, unlike anything I've ever read before. I thoroughly enjoyed all five acts, loved the short chapters, the references to Greek mythology, and the meaning behind "the fury." I was really drawn in by Elliot Chase's character. He's a little irritating and more than a little unreliable. I thought it was interesting how about 95% of the book was told through his POV. Usually I enjoy multiple POVs, but having one POV in this book worked really well. I also really enjoyed the mental health representation of childhood trauma and how that carries on in adulthood. Overall, a very interesting thriller that left my head spinning at the end. Highly recommend!

Also --- one of my favorite book covers of 2024!

I was extremely excited to read this one as The Silent Patient was one of my top reads in 2021. And while this one was great, it wasn't TSP great. Don't get me wrong- the first 2/3 really pull you in but the last 1/3 fell flat and like the author didn't know where to go with it. A very fast paced, quick read though (I read it in the span of one afternoon). And I loved that the chapters were on the shorter side.

When retired movie star Lana Farrah invites a group of friends to her private Greek island over the Easter holiday, no one expected it to end in murder. But it did. And this is the story of how it did, and who did it, told by one of the guests who was on that trip, trapped in the web of secrets and lies that engulfed everyone on the island. But which ones caused someone to snap? And who was their victim? Settle in and find out.

This book is definitely another triumph by Alex Michaelides, who also wrote another of my favorites, The Maidens.

I saw someone compare this book to “Knives Out,” and I would agree a bit with that assessment. It’s a careful dissection of a crime, with some amazing twists and turns, but I would slow say it’s mixed with a Greek tragedy, fittingly enough to fit with the setting and the numerous Greek playwrights mentioned throughout the book.

As we slowly learn more and more about the story, I definitely got more and more hooked, just desperate to know how everything was going to turn out. By the end, even as we, as the readers think we know everything and how it’s going to end, there are still more things to reveal, still more jaws to drop. READ TO THE END, PEOPLE.

Overall, I would never doubt Michaelides’ storytelling skills and his abilities to craft an amazing tale. His characters are deeply developed and his storylines are complex and layered. If you’re a fan of good stories and good mysteries, pick this one up.

Overall I liked the premise of the book but the narrator rambled and it took me a bit to get into it. It did pick up and then I flew through it. I think the author tried to throw in too many twists. Also, I was not a big fan of any of the characters.

This is a quick read with an interesting style of writing. I was intrigued by the narrator, being initially unnamed, talking directly to the reader. It is initially written as though it is Agatha Christie in nature, but the narrator tells us that rather than being a who done it, it is a “why done it”. The story is about a group who go out to a private Greek island for a getaway and someone winds up dead. Who did it and why did they do it. I enjoyed the setting although it felt slightly rushed for me. I prefer stories like this, where the setting is such a part of the story, to embellish this aspect of the writing. That would give it even more atmosphere that can only enhance the intrigue.
I enjoyed the twists and turns and want to be careful to give nothing away in this review. My only complaint is the pace is rushed making me less invested in the characters.
#CeladonBooks #TheFury #NetGalley

THE FURY by Alex Michaelides (The Silent Patient) is a locked room mystery of sorts. Seven people are trapped on an island by a storm: former movie star Lana; her son, Leo; her current husband, Jason; her friends, actress Kate and playwright Elliott; plus, housekeeper Agathi and groundskeeper, Nikos. Elliot acts as a rather unreliable narrator and describes events on the Greek island as well as using flashbacks to provide background on the characters' inter-relationships. There is a murder and readers may struggle to solve it, especially since about halfway through Elliott muses, "I'm aware of the conventions of this genre. I know what's meant to happen next. I know what you're expecting. A murder investigation, a dénouement, a twist." Readers may find multiple dénouements and certainly will deal with "several dark turns." The story slows too much until about eighty percent of the way through when the action picks up again and jealousy, anger, and revenge all have an impact. THE FURY received a starred review from Library Journal and if readers wade through the slower sections they will likely concur that "the tension, unrequited feelings, lies and resentment, friendship and jealousy that permeate this suspenseful page-turner" kept them guessing. 3.5 stars

I really liked the writing style of this one. I really like 2nd person writing and writing where the narrator is talking to the reader. I did guess the first twist, but there were several that I didn’t guess. I also liked the overall pacing of the book. Kept me guessing. There was a couple times where you thought you were going to learn something new, then he would change the subject, which was slightly annoying, but did keep me wanting to read on to learn the truth. Overall, good book.

I liked that this was more psychological/intellectual than thriller, but I get that might not be for everyone. I loved the storytelling and perspective, and the fast pace of the second half was bingeworthy.