The Fury is an Agatha Christie style murder mystery set on a remote Greek island where six people have gathered for a holiday. The story is laid out like a play in five acts that jump back and forth in time and slowly unveil the truth. As we learn more and more about the characters, we start to question who can be trusted, the narrator included. I’ve been chasing the high of The Silent Patient and hoped this book would fill the void. Sadly, it did not live up to my expectations BUT I still had a good time winding through the twists and turns and got to enjoy a few TSP cameos.

A twisty, metafictional page-turner.
The core story here is very strong: a locked-room mystery about a murder on a private island in Greece. I was swept away by the setting, the propulsive plot, and the tricksy relationships among the characters. However, I didn't love the metafictional aspect where the narrator breaks the fourth wall to address the reader, jump in time, and generally demonstrate his cleverness. I thought the story and the storytelling was strong enough that I didn't need (or want) those additional layers. That said, if you like your mysteries with a dose of metafiction, this is a smart entry in that category.

I had such high, high hopes for this book. The Silent Patient was a book I ZOOMED through and was left reeling at the end. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with The Fury.

I dove right in and the beginning chapters were incredibly promising. Elliot did such an excellent job of building the suspense, and making you second guess everything he said. That was where my enjoyment of Elliot ends. As a character, I didn’t like him much at all. He made me feel as if there was something slimy hiding beneath the surface waiting for its opportunity to come out and surprise everyone. None of the other characters ended up much better, if any. I ended up wanting the absolute worst for everyone involved.

The pacing was all over the place. Drawing you in, then slowing back down, climbing to a climax, and then a secondary twist that went so left field it was hard to suspend belief in order to continue along for the ride.

The only part I did enjoy immensely was the epilogue that crosses over with The Silent Patient, but is a spoiler if you’ve yet to read it.

I was ridiculously excited for this book, it was my most anticipated read of January, I just wish it had been done in the usual, thrilling and exciting style Alex Michaelides usually favors.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and the author for this ARC.
Publication date: 1/16/24

alex michaelides’ writing style is so unique and entertaining, i loved the silent patient and i was so excited to read this one, i just knew he’d deliver
having an unreliable narrator kept me on the edge of my seat because i just had to keep reading to know what was real and what wasn’t
having elliot narrating the book in a play style was very unique and the self aware moments were so creative, it made this book much more entertaining
his ability to manipulate the reader is extraordinary bc he brings so many elements to justify what he’s describing, and as a reader you believe it … and then boom! plot twist it wasn’t what you thought
this was such a fast paced entertaining read, the prose felt very natural like i was talking to the narrator and the complexity of the characters made it so hard to guess how it would end
it was another captivating read from this author

“Good/bad, innocent/guilty. That’s fine in fiction; real life is not so clear-cut.”

Fans of the film ' Glass Onion' will love this take on the classic murder mystery. Alex Michaelides gives us an unreliable narrator in Elliot Chase, who tells us, in truth, a love story with a good mystery on the side. Through the many twists and turns, time jumps and POV changes, we are given a deeper look into the lives of Elliot, his friend Kate, and the alluring Lana Farrar and her family, all of whom come to Lana's private Greek Island for an Easter weekend they will never forget.

I found the narrator's direct conversation with the audience refreshing, although constantly questioning whether we had all the details through Elliot's perspective left me with anxiety! Overall, I found the first few acts of the book beautifully set up the ending, and left me wanting to read the book all in one sitting to discover the truth of the murderer. While the narration style took a moment to adjust to, I found myself looking forward to the additional details we would get in each chapter...details that helped color the cast of characters and their complex relationships with one another. The only true downside to this style of writing was that I didn't feel I could truly connect with the characters, as the unreliable narrator made me feel as if I never knew who they truly were.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for the ARC!

The Fury was the most delectable read that offered similar vibes to Knives Out: Glass Onion and the TV show, White Lotus. I am a sucker for a book told from an unreliable narrator’s POV, especially a vain one like Elliott Chase. Elliot’s mannerisms from the start made him a likeable character that, at the same time, made you wary of his motives. He was only ever going to share details that interested him and/or shed the best light on his story.

I think a lot of people may get frustrated with the non-linear storytelling, but in my opinion, that made the storytelling more realistic. Who recalls a story that they lived from start to finish without jumping around a little? I believe it fully added to the suspense and allowed the plot to be entirely character driven.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of this book and found the ending mostly satisfying. I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of this book!

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Fury. All thoughts and opinions shared herein are my own.*

While the writing style is very different from The Silent Patient (the first Michaelides book I read), the overall cat and mouse feel of this murder mystery psychological thriller is what I’ve come to expect from this author. It was an interesting read with lots of plot twists at the end.

Elliot Chase, your narrator, is incredibly unreliable. This story was told in a meandering fashion, jumping through time and going on tangents. Elliot dangles many, many carrots in front of the reader and because of that, the ultimate outcome of the plot didn’t come as a surprise to me but I was intrigued to see how we arrived there.

I have ADHD and to be honest, the pacing of the story left me struggling at the beginning but I powered through after reading other reviews that there would be lots of twists and exposition towards the end of the book and those reviews were right! Now that I’ve reached the end, it’s a fun read overall and I look forward to reading more of Alex Michaelides’s work.

Thank you, NetGalley, Alex Michaelides, and Celadon Books for allowing me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was SUPER EXCITED to read this book because I LOVED The Silent Patient. The book moved fast and just when you think you figured it out, you’ve realized you have not. Good book but would not recommend to a friend.

Whoa. This was a deep, dark story. Really, really dark. It was entertaining & filled with more twists than anything I’ve previously read. I enjoyed it & found it hard to put down. I have to say it’s no Silent Patient (that story was perfection) but it’s a consuming, entertaining read for sure!!

I would definitely recommend The Fury. I have enjoyed the author's other two books and this one was no different. I really like the style of narration and think it added to the story's twist and turns. Unlike Michaelides' other books there were far more characters in this storyline, but, they were so well developed you could easily keep them all apart. I believe my favorite aspect of the book was how thoroughly the island was described. I feel like I have visited Greece and saw the place myself. Check this one out!

The thing I loved the most about this is how the story was told. We have an admittedly unreliable narrator who leaves out important information as he tells us about the events that unfolded on a private Greek island. He tells the same story a few times, and each time he interjects some more of the truth and some backstory as to how they all ended up on the island.

I found the narrator very interesting, and I enjoyed being in his head and hearing his thoughts. There is a lot of character analysis since he loves to analyze why people might do the things that they do. I liked the psychology of it, and I found both the narrator's voice and the plot very engaging.

Thanks to Netgalley and Celadon Books for providing me with an early copy in exchange for a review!

Thanks to the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for a review. This was a slow burn thriller written by one of the great authors of the genre. I enjoyed it much better than The Maidens, and it is full of twists. The narrative structure is fascinating and I could not put this down. This will be a must-read in 2024!

"The Fury" by Alex Michaelides presents a suspenseful narrative that explores themes of friendship, fame, and hidden vendettas against the backdrop of a private Greek island.

The author adeptly crafts a sense of unease and entrapment, leading to a compelling psychological drama. However, while the premise is intriguing and the storytelling is unconventional, the execution may leave some readers wanting more depth in character development and a more cohesive resolution.

The novel's exploration of loyalty and deception retains some compelling elements, but the overall impact may not fully meet the expectations of all thriller enthusiasts.

You are going to want to add this one to your TBR for 2024. Alex Michaelides is back with a fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. Elliot Chase has a story to tell...but what is true and what is not will be woven throughout. Although not as amazing as the The Silent Patient, this was definitely a step up from The Maidens. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Unique. Intriguing. Telling.

When film star, Lana, and her husband Jason, invite a handful of friends to their island in Greece it should be a relaxing getaway. The reader soon comes to know that many of the invited have ulterior and sinister motives. All this is proven when one of the six turns up dead…

The story is structured as a five act play, with an incredibly unlikable and unreliable narrator. The main and supporting characters are of the usual sorts: rich, demanding, entitled, insincere, and mostly unlikable. The story is slow going to start, but the narrator has a certain way of encouraging you to keep reading.

I wouldn’t consider The Fury to be a gripping thriller, it’s more a slow burn of an unfolding of events that is heavily character/narrator driven. Keeping that in mind I feel like the story was extremely well done, and was quite unique.

This book is such a page turner and keeps you on your toes until very end. Just when you think you know what happens, here comes another twist. Well done Michaelides.

Alex Michaelides’ first two books were both hits for me, so I was highly anticipating the release of The Fury!


The Fury centers around ex-movie star Lana Farrar who invites her family and famous friends on a spontaneous trip to her Greek island over Easter. Their trip is upended by murder, but this isn’t a whodunit, and might not be a story of murder. Maybe it’s more of a love story? Told to us by her friend Elliot Chase, he tells us the tale of his friendship with Lana and the events around this trip, spinning twists and turns along the way.

This book hooked me really early on. I’d heard other reviewers saying they couldn’t get into Elliot’s perspective, but I actually liked the way he tells this story. He is a bit unreliable, and you’ll get that feeling early that you aren’t getting the whole truth up front. I liked that we got some of his backstory as well, as I felt that added to why he is the way he is. I really enjoyed learning about the other characters too, especially loved Leo, Lana’s son. I thought the story was well plotted and paced I enjoyed most of the twists too.

My only reason for knocking one star is that there is a twist that comes about 90% of the way through the book, which I didn’t love. After that twist though, I felt like the story redeemed itself. Love the mention of Theo too.

Overall, I would recommend The Fury. It kept me on my toes and curious as to what was next!

Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Release Date: 1/16/24

What can go wrong when you get together a bunch of movie and theater stars on a secluded island in Greece? Apparently quite a lot. 😅 In The Fury, you get an intimate, (and very biased) telling of the tale from playwright Elliot, best friend of Lana - the owner of the island. But as events unfold, you wonder if you can trust anyone in the “cast”…especially the narrator.

I wanted to love this novel. AM has never missed with me - The Silent Patient was a top read for me a couple of years ago, and I devoured The Maidens. It can’t be argued that this author knows how to craft a setting, and in The Fury, Michaelides accomplished the tricky task of making the setting, specifically the wind on the island, a main character itself.

Let’s dive right in: I really, really liked our narrator…as a character. As was said in the text, people either thought he was charming or irritating, and I am definitely the former. I loved the cheeky way Elliot would interrupt a scene to give the audience another tidbit of knowledge or opinion. I loved that he told the story as though we were sharing a drink, bellied up at the bar. But, the twists he revealed in this novel were a miss for me. While I understand Elliot is a writer who wants to make slow reveals, it felt manipulative in a not fun way. By the end, I was assuming everything was BS, and it made me ultimately care less about what happened.

The constant backpedaling in the timeline made the novel slow down and made me lose interest.

I felt that the drama was foreshadowed so much, that the result fell flat. Oh…just another affair novel about liars we haven’t had enough time to truly get invested in…

In the end, and here is my spoiler, when Elliot was to be murdered, but lived because the gun had blanks, I had to roll my eyes…Someone shot in the head at such close range would die either way from the impact of the blow. Huge plot miss.

I was also surprised that AM chose to disclose a MASSIVE spoiler for The Silent Patient in the epilogue, as well.

I’ll always be a Michaelides fan, but this was my least favorite of his. 2.5 stars rounded up, because I will be first in line for his next one, regardless of my experience with The Fury.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and Celadon Books for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3 stars
Well that was a lot to unpack... I can tell there was a LOT of thought that went into writing this book as it was incredibly complex and multifaceted. My biggest complaint is that because of its complexity, I found it hard to follow. I constantly didn't know if whatever was happening was real, if that person was truly dead or alive, or if we had gone back/forward in time. I think there was a great premise here & I think it had the potential to be a great story, but I found it too jumbled/difficult to keep up with. I felt like I needed to make notes in order to remember everything & pleasure reading shouldn't be like that. Even with thrillers, I prefer them to be easy to follow & not need to concentrate super hard in order to understand what is happening. With this book, I had to constantly remind myself what had just happened & I found the reading/comprehension of it to be stressful. I also wanted to DNF up until about 30% in, so it was very much a slow burn for me. Loved the Easter eggs from Michaelides' other books, that was fun!
Overall, a story with potential, but quite confusing with so much going on!!
*Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to give this book a read ahead of its January publication*

I love a book that catches my attention right from the beginning, also who doesn’t love an unpredictable narrator? When you settle down at that figurative bar seat to hear this story of a famous actress caught up in a real life drama and how it will unfold, you think…. How could he know what people think? Don’t we all fill in the gaps of a story with our own narrative at times? So it seems plausible.
I have loved the littered Greek mythology throughout the book. The explanations are fabulous and relatable so that if you aren’t familiar you don’t have to do any quick google searching.