Thank you to Macmillan audio for my audio copy and to Celadon Books for my physical copy.

I hate to say this, but I think I need to break up with this author. I absolutely LOVED The Silent Patient so when I have received his last 2 ARCs I have been overjoyed and so excited to receive them. However I found them both very dull. I found them both very predictable as well. I didn't like the audio narrator for this story at all either. His voice to me was very monotone and I just wanted to get through this one as quick as possible so I might be biased in my review because the narrator effected my enjoyment of this one. I have recently read a positive audio review so again a personal preference on the narrator. I've seen a ton of good reviews for this one, but just not for me. I can't recommend this one, but if you haven't read The Silent Patient I think you should check out that one instead!

This was one I was really looking forward to but unfortunately found it a bit disappointed. How I managed to be bored and overwhelmed by what was going on at the same time remains a mystery to me.

I am so sad to say that I just couldn't get into this one. I LOVED Michaelides other books, and The Fury was on my list of most anticipated reads of 2024. Over the course of the year, I picked it up in different formats, under different moods, and nothing stuck. I really dislike the narrator chosen, his voice is exaggeratedly pompous, which I suppose is ideal for our character, but I could not listen to it. Then reading it, I still had to imagine the characters pompous voice. It just wasn't for me. I made it a third of the way through before DNFing.

Since I did not finish, I will not be rating or sharing with my audience socially, but I wanted to provide my thoughts as NetGalley kindly chose me to review this audio e-arc. Sorry this feedback is a year late. 😂

The Fury by Alex Michaelides was an enthralling experience from start to finish. The novel masterfully intertwines elements of classical drama with a modern psychological thriller, creating a narrative that is both compelling and thought-provoking.

The story centers on Lana Farrar, a reclusive ex–movie star who invites her closest friends to her private Greek island for an Easter retreat. Among the guests is Elliot Chase, a playwright and the novel’s unreliable narrator, whose perspective adds layers of complexity to the unfolding events. As the idyllic getaway descends into chaos, secrets are unveiled, relationships are tested, and a murder turns the serene island into a claustrophobic crime scene.

Michaelides’ writing is both elegant and engaging, with a structure that mirrors a classical five-act tragedy. This format enhances the tension and pacing, making each revelation and twist feel both surprising and inevitable. The atmospheric setting of the isolated Greek island, combined with the psychological depth of the characters, creates a haunting backdrop that lingers long after the final page.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a mystery thriller set on a secluded Greek island, following a tangled web of relationships and betrayal. The narrator, Elliot Chase, guides the reader along while retelling the events of the tragedy, albeit in a distracted, deceptive manner. At times I lost track due to an overcomplicated plot.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another perfectly narrated and layered mystery from Alex Michaelides. Here, we see him dig deeper into family dynamics and give a literary spin on the summer murder mystery.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC! I enjoyed the theatrical and mediterannean vibes of this one. The story itself left some to be desired but I enjoyed the production and audio very much.

Writing: sure | Plot: had potential | Ending: the most exciting part

SYNOPSIS

Elliot Chase and his rich ass friends decide to spend Easter weekend on a secluded Greek island. And even though Jesus has risen, unfortunately one of their group has fallen. DUN DUN DUN!!!!

MY OPINION

Two quick things before I get into it:

1) If you have not read The Silent Patient, there are MAJOR FKING SPOILERS in the epilogue. There's a lowkey spoiler for The Maidens as well. If you don't want to read both books before this one, you can safely skip the epilogue. It doesn't bring anything extra to the book.

2) DO NOT EXPECT THE SILENT PATIENT 2.0. This is a completely different vibe and cannot be compared with his chart-topping debut.

This was def my most anticipated read for 2024; I considered it the tiebreaker between TPS (5 star banger IMO) and The Maidens (RIP to the trees that lost their lives for that book). Thankfully it was much better than his last.

Elliot Chase = Great Value Nick Caraway. I feel like he's tryna solidify himself as a "serious" author with this one; the book is structured like a play, he's doing thee most with the Greek mythology references, and Elliot breaking the fourth-wall and being an omnipresent narrator, etc. Did he do it? Idk. Do you think people knew Pride & Prejudice went extremely hard when it dropped?

The ending had more twists than a bag of pretzels or Simone Biles' floor routine. Some reviewers didn't like that. Some did. In the context of the characters and their backgrounds, I think it worked. They're actors — and if you've ever been around theatre geeks, you know the vibes — so all the drama seemed on brand. It was the most engaging and entertaining part of the story by-far.

FYI all of the characters are unlikeable. If you need someone to cheer for, turn on ESPN. Oh and the timeline is not linear. You're circling back A LOT.

Ultimately it was a middle of the road for me. If it had been any longer, I think the rating would've been lower. It's a quick read but it drags for 2/3 before chaotically charging to the end.

PROS AND CONS

Pros: better than The Maidens, interesting story structure, final third was more engaging, pop psychological facts about "inner child" were doin their thing

Cons: mid writing as always, Elliot Chase was trying too hard to be Nick Caraway, first 2/3 a little slow and repetitive

I disliked The Silent Patient. I hated this. Alex Michaelides is not for me.

🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio

I wanted to love this book, but I just didn't. What a winding tale of nothing. I didn't feel any connection to the narrator, and felt the plot was very lost. A lot of staircases to nowhere.

A patron recommended this book to me which is the only reason I didn't bail. I should have. I hated the protagonist with all his red flags. (view spoiler)

As for the plot twists, for the most part they were predictable. By the time the big unpredictable plot twist finally came around, I was so done with the story that it felt more annoying that surprising.

I actually liked the meta aspect of this story. It felt very movie like or theatrical and I could see this being turned into a screenplay for sure. I thought it was pretty fast moving and loved the story. I loved the narration of the audiobook and it made it a quick easy read.

Third time was the charm! I didn’t get the hype for Michaelides’ first two books, but “The Fury” completely hooked me. It was a slow burn in the best way possible, methodically introducing a fascinating mix of characters before the murder happened. The pacing felt deliberate, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of Agatha Christie. With the secluded island setting, I was hoping for a locked-room mystery—a subtle nod to *And Then There Were None*, one of my all-time favorites. Also, Alex Jennings as the narrator was fantastic. His measured, unhurried voice made the slow build even more enjoyable. I could’ve listened to him all day!

Lana Farrar is a famous movie-star who has decided to quit her "job" and become a recluse. She and several of her famous friends decide to take a last minute trip to a private island in Greece, as you do when you are a famous ex-movie star. As luck would have it, and as you could guess, the weather goes bad, someone is murdered and everyone is trapped, cut off from the rest of the world. I feel like this story has been done many times before, and much more successfully.

The book starts out with promise and then turns slow very quickly. Maybe my expectations were set way too high after the silent patient, but I was hoping for a lot more out of this lackluster story. There is a lot of set up that honestly seems to fall flat. There are parts of this book that are entertaining, but overall the pacing of this book left me disappointed.

If you haven't read The Silent Patient read that first because for some reason the author chose to put in a spoiler in the epilogue! The narrator of this book did an excellent job.

The Fury was very well done and I enjoyed the audiobook. This is the 3rd book I've read by the author and I will continue to read his books.
It was a very interesting story telling format and it hooked me right away. I recommend this one if you like a murder mystery between friends and frenemies during a Greek island vacation.

I have been a long time fan of Alex and this book did not disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat through almost all of the story. The twists towards the end were well crafted in true form of the author. I have recommended this book to fellow readers.

I really enjoyed the story overall. The narrator is really good! This is probably is my last favorite of all of his books though.

I was apprehensive after seeing so many negative reviews but I throughly enjoyed this one. I loved the interesting POV, the story broken into acts and treated like a play, and the many twists.
I also read via audio and I believe the narrator really helped to make this an enjoyable read. His inflections and intonations were great.

I'm a big fan of Alex Michaelides, but this was my least favorite of his novels. I did like the unreliable narrator and the tie in to previous novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for a chance to listen to the audiobook of "The Fury" by Alex Michaelides. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a slow burn. It's strange, it's messy, it's filled with unlikeable characters. It felt a bit repetitive at times, but it reads beautifully like a play and has an old-school vibe. I would consider this a psychological vacation thriller!