Honestly I was very confused through most of this book. I was not a fan of the constant flipping between first and third person. There were a lot of time jumps and it was hard to keep everything straight.

Alex Michaelides’s satirical twisted psychological thriller, “The Fury,” takes it’s title from the explosive and fierce winds on the Greek islands that were named by locals after the mythical goddesses of vengeance and justice, the Furries, who travelled the earth and underworld tormenting sinners and implementing punishments as they passed.

It’s an appropriate metaphor for this bizarre tale of twisted love and loss because with family, friends and lovers like the ones depicted in “Fury,” their conspicuous, as well as concealed, abuses and misdeeds are favorite passions.

This is an oddly narrated tale about a retired Hollywood movie star, Lana Farrar—blonde, beautiful, widowed, and living in London with her teenage son. From her deceased husband, Lana inherited a small Greek island across the sound from Mykonos that she visits several times each year.

Recently married to exciting, handsome new husband, Jason, who makes her swoon in every way. Lana finds evidence that he may be cheating. Could he just be after her money??

Elliott Chase is a male friend of Lana’s who wants to be much, much more. Although we aren’t told his name from the outset, Elliott is the strange narrator of this often convoluted non-linear tale.

However, he’ll settle for being a friend for the time being if necessary. Elliott and Lana, have similar childhood backgrounds that they want to forget. These dark secrets tie them together through emotional connections, but also shamefully in their desire to keep them hidden.

Because of Elliot’s desire for Lana, he’ll do just about anything to get her attention and make sure that she doesn’t trust her husband Jason—perhaps even plot his murder…

What happens when Lana invites her family and closest friends to the Greek island for rest and relaxation over Easter vacation? Locals say the little island is cursed.

Is a villain lurking in the ancient ruins? Will everyone return to England alive? Or do the Furies have other plans?

JoyReaderGirl1 graciously thanks NetGalley, Author Alex Michaelides, and Publisher Celadon Books for this advanced reader’s copy (ARC) for review.

Sure to be a hit, this is another solid suspense novel from Michaelides. While the Maidens is still my favourite, this was a good read -- full of tense moments, interesting characters, and a setting unmatched.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy to read and review.

Thank you Netgalley, Caledon Books and Alex MICHAELIDES for the advance reading copy of this book.

Another fabulous offering from Alex Michaelides. The book is a twisting, brilliant murder mystery. An eclectic cast of character, most of whom have motive to kill. The book is set in London and on an idyllic private Greek island. This story kept me guessing until the shocking finale.
I was completely absorbed from beginning to end. 4.5 out of 5 ⭐️

First I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Celadon Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for my opinion.

I really enjoyed Alex Michaelides last book, The Silent Patient, and had such very high hopes for this book. Sadly this one left me frustrated for the majority of my reading experience. Every single chapter ended with a cliff hanger comment, the unreliable narrator revising history multiple times throughout the story, and a few loose ends that were not fully addressed left me wishing this story was told in a different way. The narrator stopping the story to address the reader, and justify his actions in a very unconvincing way became annoying about halfway through the book.

I did enjoy the plot twists, and trust me there were several, but the constant cliffhangers got old quick. Parts of the book were slow, some of them were quite repetitive. Overall, glad I read the book, but not one I would insist on having on my shelf.

For Easter Lana invites four of her friends on an isolated island in Greece. Aura was given to Lana as a wedding gift from her first husband Otto. Otto was an abusive husband and his death was a blessing for Lana. Lana met Jason her second husband through her friend Kate. It was the type of love Lana had been searching for her entire life. As an actress it’s difficult to find genuine love in the business. Her star quality drew fans from all areas. Lana was tired of the famous lifestyle and stepped away from it to raise her son Leo.
…
Included on the island was her groundskeeper and chef making it seven individuals together. The island is known for its fierce winds known as The Fury. The only way to reach the island is by boat but only when weather permits. During a wind storm transportation is halted.
…
Elliot Chase is a long time friend of Lana’s. He knows all her secrets. He is one the guests invited on the island. It’s his voice the reader reads. It’s from his perspective on how each character behaves. I found it odd reading Elliot’s point of view as at times he was stating information about others when he wasn’t in the same room. Which led me to believe something else was transpiring. On the same note readers will notice that the story is divided into five Acts which resembles that of a performance which then makes it’s easier to concede how Elliot knows things happening in places he’s not present.
…
The Fury is a character driven story. In the beginning it’s a lot to process. I didn’t gain my footing on this story until Act 2. Readers know going in there is murder and one of the guests is a killer. As the Acts were written the reader slowly gains insight as to what takes place. Alex Michaelide’s was careful in how he directed the suspicion while also allowing readers to question his direction.
…
The Fury is a story that should be read in one sitting to allow the reader an opportunity to feel the characters roles. To step away from this makes it’s challenging to understand what is happening. It’s all about the mood.
…
A great book begins with a great concept, a great execution and a great writing voice. The concept lays the groundwork for the storyline building characters and the setting around it. In Alex Michaelide’s recent book The Fury the concept begins with murder. The reader knows from the beginning someone is killed on the island. What is to be determined is motive. Michaelide builds the story by creating multiple characters. Here’s where it becomes tricky, finding the right reader and matching it with the perfect writing voice. In this case, Michaelide’s writing voice didn’t speak to me on a level that had me glued to these pages. I had high expectations for this book given that I read The Patient. There was brilliance in the concept but not the execution. It was too drawn out for my liking. My mind wasn’t invested in the story the way Alex Michaelides intended. I appreciated the writing process and much enjoyed the twists at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and
Celadon books for this ARC! I was a fan of Alex’s two other books and I enjoyed The Fury as well.

The Fury was fast paced and I enjoyed the short chapters too. This was a cleverly written story that reminded me a lot of an Agatha Christie book! I would recommend The Fury to all thriller fans.

A famous actress invites her friends to her personal island in Greece. She has just learned of a betrayal that has hurt her terribly. She plans to get her revenge on the island, but someone else also wants revenge. Thanks to net galley for an advance copy. The Fury by Alex Michaelides comes out in January. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A whodunnit written in five acts, this book tells the story of a murder amongst friends on an isolated Greek island.

This is NOT your typical secluded island murder mystery. The voice of the narrator added a unique touch that kept me invested in the story, and each act introduced a new viewpoint/added layer that turned the story on its head. It really keeps you on your toes!

It’s fairly easy to workout who committed the murder early on, but not necessarily how or why. So while I can’t say I was super surprised by the big reveal, it was certainly an enjoyable ride to get there. Overall, the ending did not disappoint, which is characteristic of Alex Michaelides!

Not my favorite but did enjoy the setting. It was a unique perspective and I enjoyed the time jumps. Overall, it was fine but I won’t remember much from it.

I don’t understand what the point of this book was? I wanted to love it after not enjoying the Maidens, but while it was better than the Maidens, overall just didn’t like it. The narrator was unnecessary & quite annoying. I wish we got different POV’s to get more of a well rounded story. I think because we *knew* what was going to happen before it did, it fell flat. I feel like Michaelides is really grasping to get that big “wow factor” we got in the Silent Patient, but it just never lands. Also, we get it, you’re smart, stop trying so hard to prove so.

My summary: A murder occurs on a secluded Greek island with seven people present, one of whom is Lana, a reclusive movie star. Told in a first person format, the narrator is a playwright and friends with Lana and is present on the island. As everyone present has something to hide, motives become apparent as the truth is sorted out.
••••••••••••
Genre: Mystery, suspense, psychological thriller
My thoughts: This is a twisty and suspenseful read. The first person narration was interesting, told as if you and the narrator are having a chat over a drink. It kept me turning pages in anticipation of sorting out the truth from the lies. I did not see all of the twists coming, which is always a good thing. The setting was perfect and the characters were intriguing. I definitely recommend it if you’re looking for a good psychological thriller.
My rating: 4.2

Firstly I would like to thank Celadon Books for an advanced copy of The Fury!

The Fury has it all. Love. revenge. murder. theatre, greek mythology, and written unlike anything I’ve read before.

I have a feeling The Fury will have some mixed reviews. It is definitely the kind of book that you will either love or hate. With that being said, I LOVED THIS BOOK. I was so excited to start this when I saw someone compare it to Glass Onion (I love a good whodunnit). However, like the narrator says, this is moreso a “whydunnit”.

This book requires some patience. I feel like this may receive mixed reviews due to the back and forth timelines and constant rambling by the narrator, Elliot. I personally love unreliable narrators so I thoroughly enjoyed it.

In true Alex Michaelides fashion, The Fury had me guessing until the very end. I think this was a brilliant story with incredible writing and twists. I will be thinking about this book for quite some time, and it has joined my list of 5 star reads!

A very quick and entertaining read. Right off, you know you're in for a few surprises and twists since the narrator is a bit unreliable. The characters all have secrets and are in ways unlikable, but that doesn't keep you from becoming invested in their story. It's hard to explain the story without spoilers, and is best to go into this one without too much prior knowledge about the plot. An interesting writing style and quite a good book in my opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rounded up to 3.5 ⭐️
I did enjoy the way this book was written - as if the narrator is sitting down chatting with you throughout. That’s not something you see a lot and I liked it. The narrator himself (Elliot) was certainly unlikeable, in fact, I didn’t really like any of the characters. While I did find a lot of the details to be important here and there, it felt a bit long winded at times. The murder mystery wasn’t one of my favorites but there were definitely moments that took me by surprise. Not one of my favorites but I did find that I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see what was going to happen next.

THANK YOU to the author, Netgalley and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A 3 ⭐️ Journey

"The Fury" by Alex Michaelides takes readers on a psychological rollercoaster that intertwines suspense and the complexities of the human mind. While the narrative skillfully weaves together elements of mystery and intrigue, the overall execution left me with mixed feelings.

The author's talent for crafting a gripping plot is evident, keeping the reader on the edge with unexpected twists and turns. Michaelides explores the depths of psychological trauma, adding layers to the characters that make them both fascinating and flawed.

However, the pacing at times felt uneven, with moments of intense suspense followed by slower stretches that tested my engagement. Additionally, the resolution, while cleverly conceived, left me wanting a bit more closure for certain characters and plot threads.

Despite these reservations, "The Fury" is a thought-provoking journey into the darker recesses of the human psyche, making it a worthwhile read for fans of psychological thrillers. Michaelides' unique storytelling style and ability to delve into the intricacies of the mind make this novel a commendable addition to the genre, even if it falls just short of reaching its full potential.

Another great book by the author I’ve read his other books also, and they start off with a bang and keep going

DNF - I have had mostly neutral if not, less than favourable experiences with Michaelides' previous two books. I didn't read the synopsis for this one because I wanted to go in utterly uninhibited by my best guesses. The result was that I did not like the format; I did not like the narrator; I did not like the writing style; I did not like the absence of prose nor the vapid nature of the plot. This story was tedious to work through & I could not make it far into the book before concluding that this was not meant for me. I am inclined to believe that readers who have no qualms about the quality of writing or the ties that bind a well-thought-out plot, will very much enjoy this. I, on the other hand, found it a monstrous bore.

Thank you NetGalley & Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. This review can also be found on Goodreads.

I honest to goodness don't have many positive things to say about this novel, so I want to keep the review short and sweet. From the start, we are told our narrator, Elliot Chase, is unreliable. Elliot continuously breaks the fourth wall, and his story really just centers around his narcissistic and manic thoughts. This may appeal to some readers, but I was bored and annoyed the entire read.

I would not call this a "thriller", as we are told everything that happens up front with Elliot's narrations. I also would not call this "fast paced"; the chapters are simply just short. The plot twists felt messy and overall didn't add anything to the plot. This is not one I would recommend to others.

This story was unique in its telling as it is presented in a way that makes you feel you’re a part of a conversation. The beginning drew me in immediately and continued to keep me engaged as I thought I had a clear understanding of each character and the plot but I was quickly proved wrong each time. Elliot, our narrator, retells a very sad and unfortunate story of a boy who hasn’t experienced love or compassion once in his life…a man passed up time and time again by those who entered his life. By the time I reached the end of this story I was genuinely questioning if this retelling was a true story of his character or yet another perception of his own fate and reality. Lots of twists and turns and a bit of a mind game all wrapped up in one.