I thought I’d love this one, but the cheeky, self-important narrator wore on me. What started as a unique spin on Agatha Christie “we’re all alone on the island” murder mysteries quickly became a ping-pong game of reader deception: “This happened!” *turn the page* “but actually that did not happen and here’s why.”

If you’re a big thriller or theater fan, you might enjoy this,


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy!

Elliot goes on a trip on a Greek island with ex-star Lana and a few friends. But one of them won't make it out.
This is a psychological thriller with very short chapters, set ojt to be a page turner, and very little dialogue (which is not my favorite). I adored The Silent Patient, so I'm very surprised thay I disliked this one so much that I didn't want to finish it. Annoying narrators who keep addressing the reader is one of my biggest pet-peeve as a reader, because it completely takes me out of the story to put me back into my chair/couch/bed, and I hate it. Plus, this narrator came across as pretentious, unreliable and, frankly, insufferable. Another of my pet-peeves is someone insisting that someone else has a drink even if they've already stated they didn't want one. This almost reads as a documentary, and most of the time I found myself thinking: "will you get to the point already?" I have read many great reviews about this, so do not let my negative one deter you from reading it.
I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was giving Agatha Christie vibes, but not executed nearly as well. I keep waiting to duplicate how I felt while reading THE SILENT PATIENT and I'm afraid that this is not that. It was fine, it was a quick read, but nothing transformative to the mystery/thriller genre.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book I have read by this author. The Silent Patient is one of the best books I’ve ever read; I would say that The Fury ranks at the bottom of the three books.

The book was very well written, and with a bunch of morally grey- unreliable narrators, you are never really sure where this book is going. However, I wasn’t all that surprised by the plot twist at the end. I’m not sure if this is because I know that books by Alex Michaelides always end in a major twist and I was expecting it.

Overall, I enjoyed this. I liked the setting and the added element of the characters being on a private island on their own.

I think if you are a fan of this author’s books you will enjoy this one as well but don’t expect it to be as good as The Silent Patient.

A murder. 5 Acts. Whodunnit? Who's dead? And most importantly ... why?

A well-known ex-actress decides to go on a trip to a Greek island with her loved ones (he husband, her son, her actress best friend, her groundskeeper, her assistant, and her male best friend who is so obviously in love with her). While there, a murder occurs. Before we can find out the answers to who/when/why/etc. we must go back and understand the backstories of those involved. Each and every person on the trip has their fair share of secrets. Which of them will come to light and lead to a sad end for someone unsuspecting?

I LOVED The Silent Patient and The Maidens. The Fury, however, didn't encapsulate me like those other two did.
I was expecting bigger twists and turns, a big "WOW" moment, like in the other stories. This one felt a bit garbled and messy compared to his other stories. It didn't give me a satisfactory feeling either. I found this one to be okay. I think it's worth the read, but I won't be pushing it hard to anyone asking for recommendations.

Thank you so much for the ARC! I am so grateful to be given the chance to read and review these books ahead of their release!

Ok, I LOVED this book. Obviously loved The Silent Patient but The Fury was just fantastic! It was a completely different style of writing and it brought me back to my theatre days. I was obsessed with the drama, the intrigue, and the unreliable narratives! I really enjoyed how everything unraveled and I did not suspect things to go as they did. I am curious if the epilogue might lead into a future book 👀 I think the only thing that fell a little flat for me was that some of the characters were underdeveloped which led to the ending not feeling as exciting as the rest of the book. The Fury has gotten mixed reviews so far but I hope you’ll choose to check it out! 4⭐️

Former film star Lana has a new life in London, happily married to financier Jason. But is she? Her old friend, Kate, is off the rails, unable to learn the lines of her new play, drinking and drugging too much, and perhaps having an affair with a married man. Lana invites Kate, playwright Elliot, and her son Leo to her private Greek island for the Easter weekend, but her plan is more nefarious than the guests realize.

Tensions, fueled by alcohol, weed, and cocaine, run high and a dangerous storm highlights their isolation, particularly when gunshots ring out. Somebody was murdered. Or were they?

This is a delicious, atmospheric, Agatha Christie-style mystery. Told in first person by Elliot, who is an unreliable narrator, the novel is impossible to put down. #TheFury #NetGalley

THE FURY review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5

🧿I was soooooo excited when I saw that Alex Michaelides had a new book coming out! The Silent Patient is one of my all time favorite thrillers and I was excited to see if his new book would be a new favorite. While I enjoyed this one overall, it still didn’t top The Silent Patient.

🧿Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
A former movie star and her friends decide to take a spontaneous trip to her private Greek island for a relaxing getaway. When a storm blows in, the group hunker down for the night, realizing that the strong wind means they’d have no means to escape the island if they need help. When someone in the group is found dead, they all start to suspect one another. But who is actually committed the murder and who can be trusted?

🧿The plot synopsis sounds similar to a looooot of other thrillers; big group in a remote location, someone is killed, now try to figure out who the murderer is. However the writing style of this one was so unique and unlike Michaelides other two novels. The book is broken into different acts told by one of the characters in the book. I enjoyed the times that the narrator broke the fourth wall and talked directly to the reader.

🧿As with The Maidens, I felt like I would have enjoyed The Fury more if I was more familiar with Ancient Greek history. I still enjoyed this book but felt like I wasn’t getting as much out of it as I could. The ending really surprised me. I truly didn’t see anyyyyy of the twists coming. Also the cameo of one of the characters from his other novel?! 👀 Overall, I definitely enjoyed this one and would recommend it if you’re wanting a twisty, unpredictable thriller with a unique writing format. I honestly don’t know if any book will top The Silent Patient for me but I will definitely read whatever Michaelides releases next!

🧿Thanks to @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for my advanced e-book and audiobook copies of this one! THE FURY publishes tomorrow, January 16th!

I enjoyed The Silent Patient but not his last book quite as much, and I’m sad to say I enjoyed this one even less yet. This book uses an unreliable narrator to a degree that was supposed to be shocking but in the end I did not feel shocked or surprised at all. I thought the characters were a bit too outlandish and the whole plot felt so over the top that it just didn’t work for me. I was disappointed because I love Greek mythology and was hoping for a bit more metaphor and tie ins than the wind.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher and author for this ARC!

What a rollercoaster story this was! And full of explosive nuggets interspersed between short chapters (which I love by the way!) Like the author’s previous works, the reference in Greek mythology was prominent throughout the book. The story is also heavy on childhood upbringing/trauma as the psychodynamics as to why we are what we are as adults. The 1st person narrator is predictably unreliable, as one can expect in these types of thriller. His running commentaries and rambling thoughts made me impatient at times, but it definitely worked for the overall story. The twists came as a good surprise, although nothing could beat THE TWIST from The Silent Patient IMHO lol! The characters were very over the top and also selfish and greedy with a love/hate relationship with Lana, the retired movie star. With the bubbling suspense buildup right from the start, I was expecting for a dramatic ending. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite like how it came about. Don’t get me wrong, I can understand why the author chose to end it that way, I just wanted a more theatrical and heart-stopping finale.🤣 Nevertheless, I still enjoyed reading this fast-paced psychological thriller — it’s definitely a cool read especially if you enjoy character studies.

I’m a big fan of Alex Michaelides and The Fury did not disappoint. This book has it all; an unreliable narrator, an exotic locale, complex, unlikeable characters, a twisty, well developed plot and that ending! I didn’t see that coming! I’d love to see this made into a movie!

The Fury is a gripping thriller that unfolds on a remote and extremely windy Greek island, setting the stage for a tale of concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. The narrative, told from the perspective of one of the participants in the drama, offers readers an immersive experience.

The novel draws inspiration from Agatha Christie's style, creating an intricate web of suspense and mystery. Much like "The Silent Patient," the story keeps readers on the edge of their seats, with unpredictable twists and turns that make it difficult to unravel the truth.
The atmospheric description of the Greek island adds an extra layer of tension to the narrative. The relentless wind becomes a metaphor for “The Fury” and Michaelides uses the island's isolation to amplify the suspense.
The overall storytelling and intricacies of the characters contribute to a compelling read. Solid four stars for this book’s ability to keep readers guessing and the atmospheric setting. Fans of psychological thrillers will find themselves thoroughly immersed in this tale of deception and windy intrigue.

Talk about an unreliable narrator.... not in a bad way though.. The Fury starts slow but picks up the last half. I enjoyed this one but The Silent Patient is still my favorite Michaelides book.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides (1/16/24) Review Pub 1/15/24 4 Stars
Published by Celadon Books

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

Lana Farrar, a reclusive former movie star, always surrounds herself with her closest theatre friends at Easter. This year is no different. Invitations are sent out to Elliot along with her husband Jason, son Leo, best friend, and fellow actress Kate, plus her assistant. They all join her on Aura, her private Greek island off the coast of Mykonos to celebrate. Corks are being popped, the champagne is flowing, and secrets are about to spill. It appears not everyone and everything is quite what it seems. Before long gun shots are heard, and someone is dead. And that's just the beginning to what you think you know...

I almost set this one down in the beginning. It was a little slow for me when building the actual history, and secrets of the story and, it almost lost me. I stuck with it, and I am so glad that I did because the payoff was well worth the wait.

Elliot was a wonderfully written, unreliable narrator, the setting was divine, and the remaining cast were wonderfully horrible and morally grey.

Full of secrets, drama, obsession, and backstabbing, this story was a very entertaining read. I really enjoyed how the author intertwines Greek mythology into his books and The Fury reads like a Greek tragedy. I loved it! I think the ending is going to be divisive among readers. Some will love it while others may feel it is over the top. I can see both sides but, I’m with the loved it team. I got such a kick out of it. I gave The Fury 4 stars.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides will be available on January 16, 2024. Many thanks to Celadon Books, NetGalley for the ARC copy.

Book Review
The Fury
By Alex Michaelidis
Synopsis: 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.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

*I was given an advanced readers copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review*

My Rating: 5 stars

This book I found fascinating because it was traditional in the Greek tragedy sense, but so unique in the way that I have never read a novel in this type of classical all-knowing narration that is the pinnacle of OG Greek theatre.

I honestly thought this novel was going in one direction, and then it did a 180. It was sensational and theatrical, and such a fresh novel. The slow release of important information was really brilliant because the narrator is unreliable, but he is the one telling the story, so he is constantly trying to appear a certain way to the reader and not completely reveal his true nature.

Theater. Hollywood drama. Narcissism. Betrayal. Loved all of these themes and this novel.

NYT bestselling author Alex Michaelides surprised me with Fury, a gripping thriller about an ex–movie star and her famous friends who end up on a private Greek island vacation. What was supposed to be an enjoyable getaway is soon interrupted by a murder. The pacing was nice, maybe not overnight reading pace, but definitely a weekend read. The setting was depicted masterfully placing me right there in the characters world with them. I could see this book going to screen ala The White Lotus series.

I was so excited to read The Fury by Alex Michaelides but it turned out to be just a “meh” book for me, I think largely because of how the book is structured.

The narrator of the book, Elliot, is in love with Lana, his close friend and a popular actress. Lana invites Elliot plus her best friend Kate, husband Jason, and son Leo, to her private Greek island for a little getaway. It’s so gray and cold in London, wouldn’t they all benefit from some sun?

There is an ulterior motive, however…. and it will play out during their vacation in Greece. Of course, there is much more to the story and I don’t want to give it away. I would have enjoyed this more if it followed a linear plot, and Elliot wasn’t both the narrator and the best friend. It just didn’t grab me, but don’t let that deter you because several of my reading buddies absolutely loved it!

The plot:

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.

I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder.

We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.

But who am I?

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

Out on January 16.

I loved The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelidea, his debut novel. I was super happy when I received an ARC for The Fury because I wanted more from this author. This was a thriller about an ex-movie star and her friends who take a trip to a private Greek island and a murder. It was slow to get into but overall it was a good read.


Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I had two very different opinions of Michaelides's last two books, so I had no idea where I would land with The Fury. What I found through these pages was a captivating story told by an engaging voice. There's a part of me that wishes I would have gone with the audiobook with this one, as it felt like I was in the midst of a conversation with Elliot, our very unreliable narrator. I don't want to reveal too much because it was such a fun experience to let the characters and twists and turns unfold through this meandering storytelling. I love that I knew *something* was up the entire time but could never quite put my finger on it. While The Maidens felt like a bit of a sophomore slump, The Fury feels like an engaging triumph. I was worried I may not get into it during the first act, trying to adjust to the way Elliot tells the story but by Act II, I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for an advanced copy of The Fury in exchange for my review.

I didn’t hate it like The Maidens but I didn’t love it like The Silent Patient. The unreliable and unlikeable MC was an interesting touch. I did find it a little exhausting, however, that the narration constantly went back to feed you a little more context. But alas, that was clearly the point. In the end, it’s a fast paced thriller (mystery?) that I did have a tough time putting down.