4.5 stars

The Fury by Alex Michaelides is a mesmerizing tale that masterfully interweaves mystery and psychology, skillfully blurring the boundaries between sanity and reality. Taking place on a secluded Greek island with a cast of seven, the narrative unravels in five acts, each chapter unfolding like a compelling scene in a dramatic production, with the characters taking on their roles with theatrical flair. The fury, a wild Greek wind, serves as a symbol of the intense emotions swirling through the story.

Amid a murder mystery on the island, Michaelides brings a fresh perspective to the locked room mystery trope. Our storyteller, Elliot Chase, adopts a conversational tone with a touch of messiness, delving into the web of jealousy, ambition, obsession, and infidelity surrounding the characters.

But

Elliot unfolds the characters' backgrounds through flashbacks, easing tension and slowing the pace to a snail's crawl. This approach, while momentarily agonizing, sets the stage for the upcoming juicy drama, which might have felt exaggerated if not for the backdrop of characters immersed in the entertainment industry.

However

Michaelides possesses a remarkable talent for catching readers off guard and skillfully orchestrating unexpected actions by his characters. These surprising twists, woven throughout the narrative, culminate in a satisfying payoff by the story's conclusion.

Retired movie star Lana Farrar wants to get away for a weekend and arranges for her friends Kate Crosby and Elliot Chase to join her family on the Greek island her late husband gifted her. Shortly after arriving on the island, the wind picks up and leaves the group stranded. Cabin fever sets in rapidly, driving high temperatures even higher and resulting in someone’s death. Written in the format of a Greek tragedy Michaelides expertly develops the narrative through Elliot Chase, our beloved unreliable narrator. Chase describes the events that took place on that fateful trip to the beautiful private Greek island. Reminiscent of Dolores Claiborne, sometimes we are not aware of what our story holds until after the end. As Chase tells his audience about the events that preceded the murder, he gradually reveals himself and his friends for who they truly are.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

The atmosphere in this book is perfection and was one of my favorite aspects of this book just for vibes alone. The characters felt real and well rounded, even if most of them were unlikable for the most part. I think what knocked a star off for me was how slow the beginning of this book was. It felt like we took a long time to get to the really interesting parts, but once we got there I was invested! It felt like I was listening to a modern Shakespearean play and was living for the drama.

Another great one from Alex Michaelides!

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆

Marked DNF at 66%

Pros: Murder mystery, not too many characters

Cons: 1 POV, unreliable narrator who makes the story a lot about himself, the title of the book is used frequently

My Review: At 66% I could just not go on anymore. I really hate to DNF a book. In fact this is only the second book I have ever marked as DNF. For me it was the narrator deviating from telling the actual story about the murder mystery. I am a thriller and mystery lover. There was nothing exciting, thrilling or even suspenseful about this book. I really wanted to find out what happened to Lana and thought I could get around the weirdness of how the story is told by Elliot, but when he went back deep into his childhood for entire chapters, I just lost interest. This was my first read of 2024 and it almost put me into a reading slump. One day I might pick it back up to find out who killed Lana, but for now I have moved on to more exciting thrillers. Life is too short.

This third novel from Michaelides, after The Silent Patient and The Maidens, again showcases the author’s narrative skill, placing his characters this time on a lush, isolated Greek island. Unfortunately, the characters and plot didn’t grab me. Rich “Hollywood-types”, infighting, and the flow of the story lacked the mystery and suspense elements I sought in my reading. But maybe others will revel in it.

Hmm, better than The Maidens but not as good as the Silent Patient. The setting of the Greek island was lush and honestly I want to go there. The “twists” because the narrator was purposefully unreliable got kinda of annoying by the third or fourth thing that didn’t actually happen. I wish we had spent more time with Lana and Kate and I think i would have been more invested and their story and friendship. Honestly, by the finale I was just ready to be done with the back and forth of who died and who did it. The book finished and I thought “oh okay.” and put it down and walked away.

I loved the Silent Patient and was really excited to read this one. This one was uniquely told by a character who talks directly to the reader. An odd quirky man played the unreliable narrator. It was interesting and entertaining but didn't quite live up to my expectations. I did love the brief cameo from The Silent Patient.

The Fury was an interesting read that immediately peaked my interest. The writing style was so unique in that the main character was so conversational and convincing that it felt almost as if a friend was telling you a story.

The twists and turns were satisfying and exactly what I would expect from Michaelides. And bonus points for an ending that isn't exactly what you're expecting. At times it felt a little long but ended strong as the pace picked up during the final act of the book.


I'll definitely be recommending this book to all my mystery and suspense-loving friends.

Having read The Silent Patient, I was looking forward to another intriguing book from Alex Michaelides but it was not to be. Do not go into The Fury thinking it’s going to be a similar read because it’s not; it’s very different.
Elliot, the narrator of our story, is a bit smarmy and at times I liked him and other times I felt sorry for him. But I never really felt I got to know him throughout the book.
A group of friends, Elliot included, travel to a private Greek island for a few days of R and R. The only way to get to this island is by boat. Tension runs high after everyone gets settled in, the games begin and of course, they can’t leave. All the while, Elliot is telling the story, letting us know that most of the so-called friends don’t really get along. I didn’t really connect with any of them and began to dislike Elliot and his constant chatter.
For me, this was a disappointing read. Although there was an element of suspense, the story seemed to be disjointed and didn’t flow smoothly. The best part was the final third of the book…some unexpected twists.
I give it *** 1/2 stars.

Thank you to Celadon Books for the eARC and to NetGalley.

After loving Silent Patient, I was really looking forward to this one. It fell a bit flat in character development and formulaic plotting. The format and play structure was unique and enjoyable, but not my favorite thriller

Having loved THE SILENT PATIENT, thought THE MAIDENs was ok, I wanted to read Michaelides new book, THE FURY, to see if it would capture’s my attention like his first book did. I thought it was going to do so until it didn’t.

Elliot Chase, the writer, is the narrator. The setting for most of the book is set on an island. Right from the beginning, it was difficult to figure out which character the reader could believe. Stories keep changing! Lana, an actress decides she is inviting Kate, also an actress who has had an affair with her husband, Jason, their son, Leo, and Elliot to spend Easter on an island that was given to her as a wedding present.

The story just gets to weird for me. It is like Elliot, as the writer, is writing a script of what happened on the island over and over again about the murder that happened. I don’t want to say anything more as it is confusing as to what the reader is supposed to believe. You will need to decide for yourself. My thanks to BookishFirst, NetGalley, and Celadon Books for an ARC of this book. The opinions in this review are my own.

This was a fun twisty thriller. The writing style took just a little bit to get used to but was enjoyable. Just when you think you have it all figured out another twist is thrown at you. The Fury was a solid 4 star read.

What a ride! This twisty thriller seems to be an homage to Agatha Christie and it works! Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC. Alex Michaelides is a talented author. I adored The Silent Patient, felt less passionate for The Maidens and now The Fury unfortunately did not resonate with me despite its beautiful scenery.

This was fine, just like The Silent Patient was fine. It was a little slow-moving, but i didn't think it was horrendously slow.

Slower pacing than I anticipated, but I loved the narrator’s style and the setting. Characters were well developed and easy to follow in this twisty murder mystery

While this was good, just wasn’t great for me.

Being a big Silent Patient fan, was super excited for this one and it just fell a little flat for me.

Elliott Chase, quite a character for sure. Definitely an unreliable narrator and wordy with some flare. Lana was likeable enough but not really relatable. Kate and Jason, insert eye roll. Leo, Lana’s son, would have liked a bigger part from him.


The ending just had me sitting there like what in the actual…..didn’t find it enthralling as some others but more of like what was the point. To each their own.

Not sorry I read it, had me thinking about it some when I wasn’t reading. Probably won’t make my top 10 list though.

Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon books for advanced electronic reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I've loved his other two books & wasn't surprised I loved this one too. It wasn't like his others, the writing style was a little different but that what makes it awesome. It kept me engaged, on the edge of my seat. He has a way of making his stories atmospheric, the character development was awesome, the twists & turn were a roller coaster.
Thank you for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for sharing this book with me early to read and review. This book wasn’t my favorite but I do love bits of it and know others will too!

This was a fun twisty story with a possibly unreliable narrator, several different timelines, and multiple perspectives. The characters, including our fascinating narrator, are all suspicious with hidden motives. There were plenty of twists and the ending was a shock. I really enjoyed this. While I’m not sure Alex Michaelides will ever top the unparalleled “The Silent Patient”, this one comes pretty close.