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.

***Thank you NetGalley for the Arc of this book in return for an honest review***

***My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.

This is a tale of murder.
Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

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.
A private island cut off by the wind…and then a murder!***

This is the third book by Alex and he does have an incredible mind and talent when it comes to writing!
Unfortunately, this book did not live up to the hype of his other books especially The Silent Patient, which even now I still recommend!

The book is set out like a play and told by narrator Elliot but by the time you get to the end of a scene, I was left feeling let down, like I was being lied to!
It was a pretty quick read with short chapters which I like! but mainly because I just wanted it to be over! there was no major twist just lots of little ones throughout the book.

Would I recommend this book? Probably not as a first choice! 3* read for me!

Much like The Silent Patient, this book starts out slow and gets more and more interesting as the story goes on! I liked that it was told from someone who was on the trip and enjoyed his commentary on being as accurate as possible.

Thank you to NetGalley, Alex Michaelides, and Celadon books for this ARC!

Let me just start off by saying.. I LOVED The Silent Patient. Hence, why I gave this book a read. The twisty turns and unreliable narrator of Elliot made this a good read, but DANG did it take forever to get into. Give me a twist or turn if you’re going to world build for so long! I get it was important but sheesh it took me until almost 50% to convince myself to not DNF this book.

With that all said, I loved the twists and turns and the unreliable narrator of the main character, which made this book a saving grace of 3 stars! I also loved that she tied in some characters at the end from The Silent Patient! I’m sure I could deep dive more and find more Easter eggs and things I didn’t notice, but I hated how slow the beginning was!

Alex Michaelides is known for his slow burn thrillers that will have you surprised at the end, and this one did exactly that.

This twisty and suspenseful slow burn thriller takes place on a remote greek island following a group of friends and.. murder.

I personally loved the way the story was written, especially how the narrator was narrating the story, even as unreliable as he was.

This was a great read & a must read if you love The Silent Patient by Michaelides.

The Fury is an atmospheric slow burn. I loved how the story slowly divulges information that altered your perception of what happened ever so slightly until the ultimate twist at the end. Every turn was a surprise. It all played out so creatively. It was so artfully descriptive that I could picture it happening like I was watching a play on a stage.

I have posted this review on Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6093287250

Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2KrwdQrB_d/?igsh=M2Jnd2VsbjNjODRn

And Amazon

Wow, what a fantastic read!
This is my second book I’ve read by Michaelides and it did not disappoint.

The setting was amazing, a secluded Greek island with twist and turns. The middle got a little slow for me but I was still intrigued. The ending I did not see coming!
Bravo! What a great read.