The beginning of this book is SO insanely slow. It was slow, annoying and had way too many small descriptive details that were unnecessary. The narrator Elliot was so frustrating and I couldn’t stand him.

It DOES get better once you’re about 60% done the book. It picks up the pace and is actually interesting and you will want to find out what happens. The only reason i continued to read it was because I received this as an Arc and I wanted to leave an honest review.

I gave it three stars because I did enjoy the ending. Once i got to the part that picked up, I did want to continue and find out what happened. It is a different writing style than The Silent Patient and I liked the style. I also liked that someone from Silent patient wad mentioned, which was cool.


Thank you for the Arc!

The first 20% of this book had me hooked, I liked the premises , the narration feel of the book, the point of view of the “odd one of the bunch”, and the murder mystery aspect. It was getting a little dry with the storytelling of backstories of some of the characters after the introductions, and some of the characters needed more depth and details to make me connect and care more, such as the main woman’s son. The twist at the end was good, but maybe a little too mild for what I thought this book would give. I would recommend to certian friends and viewers

I really enjoyed this new release from Michaelides. The narrator takes us on a journey that is part theater and part memoir. I really didn't expect a lot that happened. The twists and turns kept me constantly guessing and it was pleasantly surprising. The only thing I can complain about is that the narrator telling the story made the action less palpable somehow. I guess because it all seemed to be taking place in part tense or we were hearing the information second-hand. It didn't seem exciting even the content was.. I guess it was just delivery that missed the mark a tiny bit for me. overall, WELL DONE! 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Thank you #netgalley for early access to this amazing book. Just released 1/16/24. Must read!! #TheFury

So I have never read any of Alex Michaelides work, although I've seen it mentioned often enough. This book cover kept intriguing me and I had to check it out. I really loved The Fury. I had to think hard about how I would review the book, because I can see where it would be hard for some to stick with, but I personally loved the slow burn before we got to the pay off in the end.

Michaelides writing style was a little different than typical popular books that I've read, and I always enjoy reading an author with a different style. I'm also a fan of the locked room style murder mysteries. The reader is told that a murder has taken place, and I'll admit it took me a bit to figure out and follow the flow of our narrator in this book. Elliot Chase is himself an enigma, and as we go through the story we see scenes told from different perspectives, undermining what the reader thinks they know.

There are several twists and turns throughout the book, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the story on a Greek island. Each one of the characters in the novel seems worthy of their own book, they have so many interesting backstories and motivations. I saw my local bookstore advertising this in their Insta as a new release Tuesday book (they were literally placing it on the floor), and now I'm debating a physical copy to re-read and see what I didn't pick up on the first time through. I'm sure there are a few key pieces I probably missed as I burned through it. There were a few slower parts, but I felt that the slower portions of the book added to the build up of the finale. I will probably end up picking up the Silent Patient after reading through this. I don't always pick up books that are super hyped, but after reading The Fury, definitely want to check out the Silent Patient. There are several twists and turns throughout the book, and I enjoyed immersing myself in the story on a Greek island. Each one of the characters in the novel seems worthy of their own book, they have so many interesting backstories and motivations. I saw my local bookstore advertising this in their Insta as a new release Tuesday book (they were literally placing it on the floor), and now I'm debating a physical copy to re-read and see what I didn't pick up on the first time through. I'm sure there are a few key pieces I probably missed as I burned through it. There were a few slower parts, but I felt that the slower portions of the book added to the build up of the finale. I will probably end up picking up the Silent Patient after reading through this. I don't always pick up books that are super hyped, but after reading The Fury, definitely want to check out the Silent Patient. If I can be on Santorini while reading it, that would be a bonus.

Please be advised that I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"It's imperative to refrain from tinkering at this late stage. Many a great work of art has been ruined by the artist's inability to stop tampering with it. Many a criminal venture, too, no doubt."

4 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Fury!

I feel like I can always count on Alex Michaelides for a quick, engaging thriller. I loved The Silent Patient, enjoyed the Maidens, and The Fury roped me in and kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole book!

Things I Loved:

The unreliable narrator: I kind of loved how it felt like the reader is sitting in a bar listening to the narrator (Elliot) tell the story. As a playwright he is obviously a creative and essentially tells us at the beginning that he has a good grasp on how people felt. This is the first red flag that we can't trust what he's saying. There were multiple times as I was reading that I got wrapped up into one version of events only to learn that it wasn't true at all. The more we read, the more we can see that maybe we need to take Elliot's version of events with a grain of salt.

The setting of the story: We mainly jump back and forth from London to a Greek island. I loved the pictures Michaelides painted of both settings. The Greek island in particular was so vivid in my mind that I could perfectly visualize events as they happened. It was a great mix of beauty and spooky which is tough to master in a good thriller!

The twists and turns of the story: Holy toledo - twist after twist after twist. Not all of them were big. Some were small and simply gave us insight into the character of the characters. Others had me saying "WHAT?!" I thought all were executed fabulously and were very well set up throughout the story.

The tie in to the Silent Patient!

I don't have anything I absolutely did not like about this book. I thought it had a great plot, great twists, interesting characters, and an easy flow about it. I definitely recommend it for anyone who liked his previous works and also fans of Riley Sager and Ruth Ware!

A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder ― from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

This is my favorite Alex Michaelides' novel so far. The plot and character interaction is so much more complex than his previous novels. The book is beautifully written with a first person/unreliable narrator who narrates from the sidelines at times and others as an active participant. I enjoyed his psychological portraits of the characters and their impact on the others around them. It is a story of manipulation, love and revenge. The twists at the end, although a little contrived actually added to the overall mood. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a huge miss for me. I waited to listen to the audiobook and that was a mistake. I didn’t connect with the narrator at all. I switched to the ebook and still wasn’t connecting with the characters or the overall plot. The pacing was all over the place and I struggled with finishing. The story was somehow too much and not enough at the same time. I love this author so I will give him another try in the future. I’ve seen a lot of good reviews for this one so I’m definitely in the minority. So if you are a fan of this author, then give it a try. I’m curious to see what you think!

Thank you so much for my gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

dnf’ed at 47%.

i was a big fan of the silent patient and was eager to get my hands on ‘the fury’ especially since it sounded like it would resemble ‘the glass onion’ in quite a few ways.

unfortunately it was disappointing and difficult to follow. i liked the style of narration the author chose to use but i found it hard to keep track of where we were and whether or not certain moments had taken place in the past or were currently happening. i might pick it up down the road again to give it a second chance because i am very intrigued to know how it ends but for right now i think it is best to put it down.

thank you to netgalley and celadon books for an e-arc!

"The Fury" by Alex Michaelides absolutely lives up to the hype of his breakout novel, "The Silent Patient". Taking a classic murder mystery format, this book follows a group of friends (or lack thereof) that travel to a Greek island to get away from their troubles, only to realize that there problems have followed them there.

Similar to 2022's Knives Out sequel "Glass Onion", Michaelides weaves this story together by sharing the same scene from different points of view, giving readers a unique perspective that many modern thriller/mystery authors do not provide. While this format seems best suited for the screen, Michaelides does a masterful job and making reading the same scene over and over again, not as dry as it sounds.

I found "The Fury" to be a delightful read that will be a new favourite for fans of the genre.

4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this book.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides is an intriguing story recounting the horror that happened on a secluded Greek island with a famous actress and her friends. I love Michaelides's style of writing. It's so poetic and philosophical. However, this one just didn't gel for me.

The story is told in the perspective of Elliot Chase, a playwright in his 30s(?). He admits from the get go that he has taken creative liberties in how he presents the different perspectives of the players. The novel follows seven characters who have traveled to a private Greek island for a short holiday. The plot bounces around and you get a clear picture of each person who was on the island when the tragedy occurs. The characters generally aren't very likeable. The novel was a bit slow going for the first 2/3, but picks up in the last 1/3 as there's more action. It leads to an intriguing conclusion and I'm unsure if I missed something or if we should trust the narrator.

This novel takes place in the same universe as The Silent Patient and The Maidens, so some of the characters referenced play major roles in those books. I have enjoyed reading theories about the novel.

Thank you Celadon Books for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I’d read (and enjoyed) The Maidens and The Silent Patient and I can safely say that Michaelides has achieved 3 out of 3 solid novels.

The Fury, set on a private island in Greece, follows the 5-act structure of Greek theatre: exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution. I studied this format in some theatre courses in college, and I enjoyed how Michaelides paid homage to such a traditional format, especially given the novel’s setting. 

Our protagonist, Elliot Chase, is (fittingly) a playwright. Alongside him are:
-Lana, his friend, a former movie star
-Jason, Lana’s second husband, a big shot businessman
-Kate, a rough-around-the-edges actress
-Leo, Lana’s son from her previous marriage, an aspiring actor
-Nikos, the groundskeeper
-Agathi, Lana’s full-time housekeeper/cook

The fame element, while not essential to the plot, was somewhat interesting, especially in the many flashbacks that occur throughout the book. I also enjoyed that the narrator is sort of fame-adjacent, someone who canoodles with the stars but isn’t fully one himself.

The Fury has been compared to Knives Out, especially the semi-forgettable “Glass Onion” Netflix movie. With the many twists and turns and intricacies that occur throughout, I can see the parallels. I’d also compare the whodunnit plot and cast of characters — ranging from the upper echelon to the staff — to Lucy Foley’s works, which I’m fond of. One of the book’s strong points is that the reader is kept on their toes for a good portion of the story. 

The major flaw — I won’t go so far as to say *tragic* flaw — of the book is its characters, who never feel like fully fleshed out people to me. I couldn’t really connect with the characters, and not just because they are unlikeable. They almost felt like cardboard cutouts, like hollow people I was watching from afar. But maybe that was the intention? Maybe we were supposed to be voyeurs the whole time, like an audience watching a play, disconnected yet still holding onto their every line? Regardless, I don’t know if it was the right choice, as I truly didn’t care which characters lived and which ones died by the end.

All in all, this was a solid, fun read, yet another strong work from Michaelides.

I really enjoyed this book - character development was thorough, I loved the setting of a private Greek island. The ending catches you off guard and it’s a true AM story! Thank you for the ARC! I recommend reading this book highly.

Michaelides' latest is a murder mystery that builds its story with ever-increasing suspense and a growing whipping of the wind. Everything is wound tight. Pulled taut. Orchestrated within the confined structure of a five act play. It all starts off with a soft gale, where the narrator slowly introduces and details the lives of Lana Farrar and her group of friends as they gather to spend the weekend on a private Greek island. However, it isn't long before things devolve into a blustering storm of fury as sordid events unfold and murder is plotted, planned, and carried out--with secret motivations and manipulations being administered behind the scenes.

The narrative voice is unique in that Elliot Chase, one of Lana's friends, is recounting the tale. He often breaks the fourth wall, bouncing back and forth between directly addressing the audience like an old friend and offering a more detached, almost omniscient, perspective in an attempt to preserve his own credibility. It makes for an interesting unfolding of events because it encourages readers to parse through all the subtext he lays out and dissect all that he is (or is not) saying.

All in all, I thought this was a well-paced, character-driven thriller. I couldn't help but note the Knives Out: Glass Onion feel of it, with all the murder suspects not only knowing each other but being trapped together on a small island. I also couldn't help but draw parallels between Elliot Chase and Nick Carraway from The Great Gatsby because of how they both idealized Lana and Jay Gatsby in their own ways, and, as a result of that, put them up on a pedestal. They felt eerily reminiscent of one another in that respect. At the same time, I thought the unreliability their narratives struck entirely different tones in the end, leaving readers with wildly contradictory feelings about them, and I rather enjoyed that.

I imagine some readers may not enjoy the narration style in this, but if you're a fan of forced proximity in murder mysteries, or you care to witness a group of ritzy friends being shady and betraying each other on holiday, you won't want to miss this one!

3.5 stars

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

An alright book, this definitely isn't for everyone. Once the book gets going the plot is interesting but there is a lot of set up with a narrator that readers will either really enjoy or find annoying.

Alex Michaelides' debut novel, "The Silent Patient," captivated readers with its jaw-dropping twist at the end, leaving them eager for more from this promising author. Unfortunately, his latest release, "The Fury," falls short of expectations, especially for those who were drawn in by the brilliance of his previous work.

The primary letdown comes in the form of the anticipated twist. In "The Silent Patient," Michaelides showcased his prowess in crafting unexpected and mind-bending conclusions. Regrettably, "The Fury" fails to deliver a comparable punch. Readers, accustomed to the author's signature twisty narratives, may find themselves waiting in vain for the revelatory moment that never materializes.

The plot, while initially promising, lacks the same level of suspense and intricacy that made "The Silent Patient" a standout psychological thriller. The narrative unfolds at a steady pace, but the absence of a compelling twist leaves the story feeling somewhat flat and predictable.

Character development in "The Fury" also pales in comparison to Michaelides' earlier work. While the author demonstrated a great ability to delve into the complexities of the human psyche in his debut, the characters in this latest offering feel one-dimensional and fail to evoke the same level of empathy or intrigue.

Despite the disappointment, it's essential to acknowledge Michaelides' skill in building an atmospheric setting. The psychological elements are still present, but they are overshadowed by the unmet expectation of a groundbreaking twist.

In conclusion, "The Fury" may leave fans of "The Silent Patient" yearning for the same level of narrative brilliance. While Michaelides' writing style remains engaging, the absence of a stellar twist and the underwhelming character development make this novel fall short of the high standards set by its predecessor.

Thank You to NetGalley for the ARC copy of The Fury. I personally loved this book. It is thrilling and leaves you invested in the story until the very end. Couldn’t guess the plot twist which is something very important to me in mystery/thrillers. Highly recommend!

Well this was a wild ride! If you like an unreliable narrator this is the book for you. The setting moves from London to a Greek Island with a cast of unlikeable characters. Lana is a retired movie star that is loved by everyone. She invites her family and friends for an island escape which soon becomes a lot more complicated with various interesting twists and turns. Yes there is a murder but there are so many different aspects surrounding it. As this is a psychological thriller I will leave it there.

A pulse pounding page turning thriller. Alex Michaelides delivers brilliant thrillers and The Fury is no exception.

Alex Michaelides can write. Of course, I have come to know this based on his previous books, but this one felt different. I became invested in each of the characters and their hopes for their future, waiting up until the end to see how it would all resolve. Or not resolve.
This book is a ride that took me all over the place (in the best way.) Emotional whiplash, if you will.
A group of friends (although the term "friends" feels off for this book) goes on a last minute trip to a private island in Greece. Honestly, I don't think any more about the plot needs to be shared!
This book is worth devouring.

In Alex Michaelides newest book, there's a remote island, a unique cast of characters and of course, a murder. The most interesting thing I found about The Fury was the character narration. It felt and read like a play, which was intentional due to the nature of the plot. Breaking the fourth wall, addressing the audience and the way the narrator views himself leaves reader to question the reliance of him.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and its Knives Out: Glass Onion-esq plot. I did get lost and felt that the plot lulled in several areas, which made me like this book less than Michaelides' other books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.