Unfortunately, this took a really long time to pick up. The last half was really good though. I love an unreliable narrator and Michaelides did it well. It was such a slow thriller though, and that really took away from the book as a whole.

Guys this book was such a fun read! I love a good thriller/murder mystery and this definitely was a great one to start the year off with. I really enjoyed the style of writing and how the narrator was aware of the reader the whole time. The novel is written almost as a play starting with Act I, it's told from multiple POVs, and has an unreliable narrator.

it's set on a isolated Greek Island with these old ruins and multiple houses. It's not super suspenseful, but it has plenty of twists to keep you reading. There are 7 characters that have messy, complicated relationships. It starts of slow, but once it gets moving it really takes off.

Read if you love character driven novels, a fun murder mystery, and unreliable characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Celadon Books for the e-ARC! Out January 16th!

A solid 3.5/5 stars. Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for The Fury by Alex Michaelides in return for a free review.

I was so shocked and excited when I got the chance to read Michaelides' The Fury. I hate to compare the thrill of this book to The Silent Patient but you just can't help it. I'm not exactly sure of my feelings about this book because I liked it and also didn't like it. The narrator is the one telling you this story and I think that's the reason why I'm feeling unsure about this book is because I'm not sure if I like or don't like the style - haha, if that makes sense?

The beginning was hard to get into and it dragged a little bit but it DID pick up! The writing style is quite different than The Silent Patient and The Maiden but I can see now the slow build-up for the twisted plot to unravel. Elliot is a playwriter and is in love with his famous actress friend, Lana. They and a group of friends are in Greece on Lana's private island and a murder happens, it's a whodunnit thriller with an unexpected ending. It's a very unique writing style of Alex Michaelides that I can't decide if I like or not, but overall I still enjoyed it.

Rated 3.5 ⭐️

Seven people are on a private island in Greece. 1 person is murdered, but who did it and who died?

It took me a bit to get used to the way this book was written. It's a narrator telling you a story. Not sure I'm a fan of this style of writing. The story is very slow. At about 73% in a twist happens which, left my mouth open.
My favorite part of the book was where they talk about comparing everyone to a Wizard of Oz Character. I think I'm the Scarecrow.

Thank you to Netgalley, Alex Michaelides, and the publisher for this free ebook. This review is 100% my own and honest review.

Elliott is one of Lana’s best friends. He really takes pride in their friendship as he is just a plain ol’ playwright and she is a famous actress. Elliott narrates this book…telling us the ins and outs of their weekend trip to Lana’s private island. He tells us right up front that there is a murder on the island. The questions we now have…who died and who did it?

If you are waiting for a Silent Patient twist in this book then you should stop. There is a twist but it fell kind of flat for me. The whole storyline felt very familiar to me…like I have read it many times before, but still waiting for something new. Elliott narrating provided some differences, but not enough to make this one to remember for me.

wow! this format was so unique, i loved the style and the omniscient narration. there were so many twists that kept me guessing until the end. i loved so many elements- the retired movie star, the setting.

3.5 Stars, rounded up.

With a twisting, changing plot that doubles back on itself so many times you might get whiplash, this book has all the makings of a very fun whodunnit. And to a point, it is. However my issue lies in the exposition which was overdone, wordy and went off on far too many tangents. I have found that this holds true for Michaelides novels in general - a good plot that gets dragged along by excessive background. The setting was lovely, the characters interesting and the concept enjoyable. Unfortunately, this writing style just does not seem to do it for me.

There were also quite a few edits to be made prior to publishing, notable errors listed below:

"I'm not where sure I am" -loc 266
"bad hair, big nose, and no jaw." -loc 291
"Tt was Agathi" -loc 2436
"100 hundred percent" -loc 2554
"Mariana--I smiled--"I am a professional writer..." -loc3 072

Alex Michaelides does it again! What a wonderful ride. Everytime I thought I knew where it was going I was pulled somewhere else. A bit of a slow start but it all comes together beautifully.

I would first like to thank Celadon Books, Alex Michaelides, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Fury in exchange for my honest review.

This book was probably my most anticipated release for 2024. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides is my favorite book of all time, so when it was announced that he had a new book releasing in 2024 I was beyond excited to read it.

The Fury is written through the narration of Elliot Chase who tells you to pull up a bar stool and grab a drink because boy does he have a tale for you. This is a tale of murder, love, and lies that will leave you surprised until the very end.

Chances are, you’ve seen this story line before. The group of friends goes to a remote island, somebody is murdered, and we spend the book trying to figure out who did it. However, this story isn’t so cut and dry, and it’s a must read for anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

Alex Michaelides knows how to write an interesting story with creative plot lines you won’t find anywhere else. Pick The Fury up as soon as you can, you won’t regret it.

I was super excited that I got an arc of The Fury. The Silent Patient was one of my favorite books of all time. I also really enjoyed The Maidens. I was intrigued to read another book by the same author.

The Fury is set in London and in Greece. I thought that Greece would be a great place to have a thriller. Unfortunately, I found the book hard to follow and boring for a thriller. I had to dnf the book at 20%. I hope someone else likes the book better than me.

Super well written, it really feels like Elliot is narrating the story just for the reader. Knowing Alex Michaelides, I was ready for the unforseeable. He did not disappoint me. I especially loved the very end! Nice touch!

Thank you for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Mr. Michaelides for giving me the opportunity to review "The Fury." Having read Michaelides's other books I have to say that this is written very differently than his other books. It is told by a narrator, who makes you feel like he is talking directly to you. I really enjoyed this style. I felt it draws the reader in more. Also, the story keeps you guessing about what really happened. You think it is one way only to find out it is another. Much like "Clue" at the end of the movie. I found it a joy to read and flew right through it.

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

Synopsis: A reclusive, ex movie star and her friends take a vacation to a secluded Greek island. The trip is upended when one of them is murdered.

My thoughts: I went into The Fury blind, just knowing it was written by the same author as The Silent Patient. I didn’t enjoy this one quite as much but it’s still worth the read. I loved the atmospheric Greek island setting and the way the story was told like a play! An unreliable narrator, a love story, and a murder — sign me up 🙋🏼‍♀️ I wish I had tried this as an audiobook because I think it would have held my attention a little better. Unfortunately, Acts I & II had such a slow start that I found myself putting it down and reaching for a different book. By Act III, it definitely picked up and I became invested in the story. The unpredictable plot twists and satisfying ending made the slow start worth it. In my opinion,The Fury’s, a solid thriller but if you’re expecting another SP level book, this might fall short.

I wish I liked this more but after The Silent Patient, I feel that it felt flat. The characters were one dimensional and predictable, plot twist could see from a mile away, and the world building was lacking. The only saving grace that allowed me to finish it is the audio narrator. I'm slightly disappointed but I think the concept of the story he did so well in the previous book but just did not translate to this one. Hopefully Michaelides will continue as I bet the next one will be better.

I loved The Silent Patient and was so excited to get this arc, but I did struggle with it. There were parts where i was so absorbed in it and then it would change, i do think it had the possibility of being great but i was just left confused and trying to remember things. I think that it just wasnt the book for me with too many views coming into play.

I am truly grateful to be given the opportunity by Netgalley and the publisher to read and review this book. 3.5 stars would be more accurate.

Loved the premise — former movie star, Greek island — as well as the whodunnit/working backwards structure, but was exhausted by the narrator

The Fury was a fun mystery set on a Greek island. I liked the setting and the mirroring of Greek tragedy. It kept me guessing!

The Fury is about Lana Farrar, a movie star who goes to a remote Greek island with a few close friends. While there, someone ends up murdered. But who?

This novel brings together a few of my favorite tropes, including a locked room style mystery and tales of the super rich behaving badly.

I'm a fan of Alex Michaelides, and have read the prior books by this author. Of these, The Fury is not my favorite. I struggled with the narrative voice, which seemed to shift as the story progressed, as well as the frequent flashbacks. However, I enjoyed the thoughtful way that this novel was structured to mirror a Greek tragedy. I found this extremely satisfying and appropriate to the type of story and setting. It is evident that Alex Michaelides used great skill in plotting The Fury. I also found the descriptive setting enjoyable and immersive.

As in a Greek tragedy, all is revealed in the end. The twist made me wonder what I had missed, and prompted an urge to discuss The Fury with my husband immediately. The shifts in voice began to make sense, again in a way that showed the thoughtfulness and care with which the novel was plotted.

In final thoughts, I rate this book 4 stars. Although it wasn't a favorite from this author, I found it thought provoking and discussable, and think it would great for a book group.

I thank Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book for my review.

I think I enjoyed this book, but I'm not sure.
The Fury is a locked-door murder mystery set on a wind ravaged Greek Island. The narrator is extremely unreliable, which lead to lots of twists and turns.
While I loved the setting, and Alex Michaelides did a superb job at keeping me guessing, the actions of the characters seemed odd to me. However, I don't think the characters are intended to behave like "normal" people.

THE FURY is another spin on the classic locked room mystery with a twist of Greek tragedy. Actor Elliot Chase narrates the events that led to the death of his dear friend, ex-movie star Lana Farrar, on a private Greek island. While there is a mystery to solve, this story is undoubtedly a slow-burn character study rather than a typical thriller.

Elliot breaks the 4th wall and speaks directly to readers as he conveys the tragic events from his perspective. Throughout his monologue, our snarky narrator makes remarks about the traditional conventions of the classic mystery genre and weaves in Agatha Christie references.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-Are not expecting a psychological thriller like Michaelides’ The Silent Patient
-Enjoy being in one character’s mind throughout the story
-Appreciate characters who believe revenge is a dish best served cold

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: January 16, 2024

Many thanks to NetGalley and Celadon for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.