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.

Excellent read. In a twist love story Lana a retired actress joins forces with her friend to kill her husband on a small island. Told by the friend who has his own reason he outlines the plan, provides the key points and then watches all go wrong.
The authors books are always well received but I enjoyed this one the most. A review hard to write without giving away the plot and characters.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides.

Summary: 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 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.

Review: Personally I connected with this book since the beginning. It's like taking a vacation with Donna Tartt! Alex writes so beautifully, you truly feel immersed in the setting. Plus the story?! 4TH WALL WHO. WOW.
It's a page turner. You need more and more and more. MY NEW ROMAN EMPIRE. The whole book was mind blowing and kept me at the edge of my seat. Just WOW.

#TheFury #NetGalley

The Fury by Alex Michaelides and narrated by Alex Jennings

Narration is well done by Alex Jennings.

Another piece of admirable writing by Alex Michaelides. I thoroughly enjoyed this brilliant thriller with so many twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out—you don’t.

Takes place on a private Greek island that Lana Farrar, a reclusive ex-movie star owns. Friends are invited to the island for a spontaneous trip, and Elliot, one of Lana’s friends, starts the storytelling of a murder that will happen on this trip.

Full of suspense, love, unrequited love, lies, friendship, hatred, jealousy and revenge.

This is amazing!!! I loved Alex’s other works The Maidens and The Silent Patient and this is just as incredible as I had expected it to be. He has such a way with words. So poetic even though he’s writing psychological thrillers with twists you don’t see coming. I will say (spoiler alert?) Elliot gave me Joe Goldberg vibes from the beginning. That being said, I was thoroughly entertained and this definitely lives up to the hype that’s been set by his other books. I hope he keeps books as great as these coming because I will always read them.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able to read this ahead of its release.

The fury is a tumultuous tale of love and chaos at its best! Wow what a thrill ride of relationship whiplash. With view points that make you think you know how the story will end however the ending will haunt you and make you wonder who to keep close to you and who to keep at an arms length. This was an epic read that kept me on the edge of my seat! I was shocked by this tale of friendship, love and the fury definitely is real! Wow!

THE FURY 🧿🧿🧿🧿/5. What an interesting ride! Lana is a retired movie star, after earning her Oscar and making enough money to live on forever she retires. With time/freedom on her hands she invites her closest friends and family to her private island off the coast of Mykonos. When one of them is found dead, and the weather so bad a boat can’t travel to save them, they must survive the night and find out who the murder is. With short, page-turning acts/chapters this will keep you guessing til the end. Each character has their own secrets and motives. A spin on a whodunnit. A quick, suspenseful read!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and give it 3.5 stars. The story jumps around some and gets a little confusing. The middle is a little boring but I understand the importance of it by the end of the book. I always love the Easter eggs Alex leaves in his books referencing The Silent Patient.