I expected to love this book. I did love the narration. But I found the story slow, the characters unlikeable. The twists anticlimactic. I did appreciate the clever unfolding of the story into multiple layers of truths. This was not a bad book. It was just overhyped to be something that, for me, it was not.

Well. This book has a few twists and turns along the way. It’s about how Elliot loves his best friend who married someone he does not like. He feels that her now husband is not worthy of her. So Elliot writes a play for her and him to act out to get her husband to leave his mistress and admit he is cheating on her, all while Elliot plants on her husbands mistress to kill the husband. It is a well written well played out play until Elliot’s friend discovers what the play he is writing in tails. So she decides to write a play within his play that Elliot is not aware of.

Poor Elliot feels so betrayed the same way his friend does when the truth comes out to what she did that he becomes the character from his play the kills his love.

Reading Between the Wines book review #5/130 for 2024:
Rating: 3 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Fury
Author: Alex Michaelides
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: Alex, Alex, Alex! How do you come up with these different types of novels?! In this book, Elliot is the narrator who takes you through a tale of love, lust, lies, betrayal and murder. Nothing is like it seems but it is also a little predictable. I enjoyed this book but not as much as his other books.

Cheers and thank you to @MacmillanAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced copy of @TheFury.

#TheFury #AlexMichaelides #MacmillanAudio #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

The first half was dull. The point of view is from Elliot and he is a very unlikable character from the beginning to end. I could not focus at all. I wanted to quit but I kept on and the second half started to pick up and the twists and turns came. The narrator was okay mostly but there were some scenes where I could not tell who was talking - he did not have distinct voices for everyone. But overall, this was a slow-burn thriller, keep at it and you will enjoy it.

Huge thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook copy.

Wow. This was a pretty good book. So, I DNFed the Silent Patient about 20% in and now I wonder if I should have stuck it out, because this book from the same author takes a while to get going, but once it does, it takes you on a rollercoaster with loopty loops and huge drops. It just takes a minute to climb up that first largest incline.

I did love this book once it got going but I gave it one star less because the ending wasn't for me. Maybe for others but it felt a bit like a let down for me. I wanted something bigger, more shiny as the ending. It left me personally with a feeling of morosity.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys unreliable narrators which seems like a large theme in books lately. I would also recommend this to people who enjoy thrillers. I don't know if people who enjoy figuring out who done it would like this book because the unreliable narration lends to that not happening in my opinion.

The narrator was excellent. He kept the pacing of the book really well with the right amount of pause and I also think he took on the character he was narrating as well so that he was a believable Elliot.

Elliot Chase tells us the story of a murder that occurs when reclusive ex-movie star, Lana Farrar, invites her famous friends to a Greek island. Can we trust Elliot’s version of events to be accurate or is he an unreliable narrator?

Alex Jennings did a great job voicing Elliot Chase and was the main reason I wanted to keep listening to find out what happened next. The story is told in acts kind of like a play. I enjoyed the first two acts and then it slowed down in the middle for me. The last act and the epilogue tied it all together nicely and were once again very enjoyable. I think what was lacking for me overall was a connection to the characters. I didn’t feel like I truly cared about any of them, including our narrator, Elliot. Overall, it was a decent read. I would give it 3/5 stars. I highly recommend the audiobook to anyone interested in this one!

Contrary to some reviews describing The Fury as a slow burn, my experience, perhaps enhanced by listening to an eight hour audiobook at 1.25 speed with a captivating narrator, was riveting from start to finish. Having rated all three books by Alex Michaelidis five stars is remarkable for me. The narrator of "The Fury" was perfect, breaking the fourth wall by narrating in a second person point of view, addressing the reader as "you." Consuming this as an audiobook felt like a person you just met at a bar buying you a drink and sharing a captivating, crazy story. Despite not knowing if the narrator is reliable, the intrigue remains. The murder on an island involving an ex-movie star, one of the world's most famous people, adds an exciting dimension. The unique perspective of an unsettling narrator who involves the reader so deeply that you feel part of the plot is commendable. The narrator even outlines red herrings, echoing your thoughts.The portrayal of flawed, complex characters, though unlikable, is appreciated for its execution. Likability isn't necessary if done well. Additionally, the nod to " The Silent Patient and "The Maidens" adds an extra layer for those familiar with these works. If you know, you know. 😋 I highly recommend this book!

This was such a fun twist on the locked-room suspense thriller! Very Agatha Christie-like in both writing and atmosphere, although from the start we are assured this is not a "whodunnit" but rather a "whydunnit". A character study of sorts. The slower paced yet meticulously crafted plot had me gripped from the beginning.

Meet Elliot Chase, the narrator of this twisted mystery. He alludes to a murder having been committed on his best friend Lana's Greek island as he begins his story. The small cast of characters are introduced in sequence - Lana Farrar, the aging beautiful wealthy ex-moviestar (think Ginger from Gilligan's Island), Jason, her second husband, Leo her young adult son, Kate, her younger best friend and a somewhat emotionally unstable actress, Agathi, her most trusting personal assistant and confidant and Nikos, her island caretaker.

This group becomes the focus of Elliott 's tale as he weaves in and out of past and present timelines. The reader is taken on a twisty journey of sorts that feels much like cat and mouse games.

I will admit I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. The building suspense, the twists and turns, the unreliable narrator...it all came together and led to the perfect ending.

The audio performance was well acted with the narrator bringing Elliitt's character to life.

A gracious thank you to @MacMillanAudio and @Netgalley for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic thriller! I love the unreliable narrator and nonlinear story line. This was a thriller unlike any I’ve ever read and the twists kept coming up until the very end. Can’t wait to read more of Alex Michaelides.

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley and Macmillan Audio, all opinions are my own.

The narrator was very good. The pacing of the audiobook was excellent and the narrator does a good job voicing each one of the characters.

This book was really interesting. The pacing was good and I liked the way the story was told. I was hesitant to pick this up as I haven't read The Silent Patient and I didn't love The Maidens. The cover kept calling to me and I'm so glad I took a chance on this. I ended up really enjoying it! This is going to be hard to review without giving spoilers, but I will do my best.

This was an interesting whydunit mystery. It is told from the perspective of Elliot Chase, and as the story progresses you quickly realize he is a very unreliable narrator. His tale of what happened that night on the Greek island owned by his best friend Lana, continues to morph and change as he tells his tale. The way this is told is certainly unique. The story is told in parts similar to a play, which after reading the book the structure makes more sense. As each act unfolds we learn more about Elliot and more about what really happened or didn't happen on the island. We get closer to finding out who the murderer is and what their motivations really were. I feel like to say anything more would spoil the book.

This book isn't going to be for everyone. The way this is told from Elliot's perspective and the way he tells the story is not going to appeal to every reader. I actually enjoyed it, but it will not be to every reader's taste. Unreliable narrators can be hit or miss for me, but it really worked well here and the author did a good job. Because the story is told in parts, the timeline isn't straightforward or linear, I'm normally not a fan of that either but again it really works here and the author does a great job filling in the blanks and making it make sense. This is something else that won't be to everyone's liking.

I flew through this one! The unreliable narrator combined with the repeating story kept me a little confused and on my toes trying to figure out what really happened.

Elliott Chase is our narrator, ready to give a tell-all as to how the infamous Lara Farrar was murdered on a remote Greek island. He frequently revisits flashbacks and breaks the fourth wall to make commentary to the reader. The only problem? He may be more storyteller than just telling the story.

I actually loved the way this was presented. It was a fresh take on a thriller where the story restarted several times from the beginning for Elliott to give more context or to correct a few <i>embellished</i> details. He's not a likeable person, but I found myself endeared to him and his grandiose style of narration. The only thing I wasn't fully sold on was the ending and epilogue. I wanted something more concrete, though considering NOTHING in this story is straightforward or concrete, that's probably a big ask.

If you want something that feels original, more literary, and fast paced, then give this one a try!

I also loved the audiobook narration! It sounded great and helped me fly through this one even faster.

4🌟 - I liked it!

I am a huge fan of Alex’s books, and I was so thrilled to receive an early copy!

I really enjoyed the setting in Greece, the slow burn build, and the ending was super strong!

The twists toward the end really kept me hooked! This format was really different compared to his other books , and I liked the little nod to his other books at the end!

Overall, this was an atmospheric and slow-burn twisty read!

A group of friends marooned on an island, with long-held secrets and resentments; a murderer among them. Blending themes of locked room thriller, whodunnit mystery, with an epic love story, The Fury takes readers on a journey to the Greek isles, from the perspective of an unreliable narrator.

I wanted to love this one more than I did, but in the end it was just ok for me. Unfortunately I struggled to become invested. It took me four tries, and I finally was able to finish on my fourth try (though I may have skimmed a bit).

While this may not be my favorite by Michaelides, I still appreciate it for its creativity and skilled writing (hence the three star). The author certainly has a way with words. I think this will be a huge hit for a certain type of reader - unfortunately that just wasn't me this time. 💗 That said, I'll most certainly pick up his next, and the next after that.

I listened to this book rather quickly and finished within 24 hours. That bumped my star rating from a 3 to a 4 because I love a fast read and it did hold my attention pretty well. I did find it a little hard to decipher when it was fake and when it was reality from the narrators perspective. The ending was also something I had not guessed which I do enjoy in a suspense novel. .

I was so excited to read this one after seeing such rave reviews! While I did see a few misses as well, I’m happy to report that I loved this one!! After being an immediate fan from The Silent Patient, I was a bit hesitant after not loving the Maidens but Michaelies is back and I cannot wait to read more from him!

I absolutely relished in his writing style for this murder mystery and his short chapters had me absolutely flying through this one! I loved how it was continuously evolving and nothing was ever what it seemed! Just when you think you know where this one was heading, BAM, Michaelides delivers curveball after curveball and I had to ultimately give up on even guessing where I thought it was heading and just enjoyed the thrilling ride!!

It starts off a bit slow while the characters are being introduced and the plot is being set up but i promise it all comes together with an action packed ending! Elliott was a fantastic unreliable narrator and I enjoyed Michaelides general prose with this one!!

Bonus points for the gasp and clap at the end for the Easter egg 👏

Disclaimer! Read this one over audio, I’ve heard a lot have gotten confused with the audio and I’m so glad I chose to physically read this one! It will certainly blow you away! 😉 #IYKYK

I had high hopes for the The Fury by Alex Michaelides after the hype of the author’s The Silent Patient. While I personally didn’t love The Silent Patient, the book was rated one of the best thrillers in 2019.
The Fury centers around an ex-movie star and several of her friends as they vacation on a private Greek Island.

We are told in a first-person narrative that there is a murder that takes place on the island. The book is a essentially a whodunit as we learn more about the characters and their motivations.

Ultimately, I didn’t care about any of the characters. The story was slow. The mystery a bit far-fetched and the ending wasn’t satisfying. Maybe someone saw something in the book that I didn’t, but it was a bit of a disappointment.

If you are listening to the audiobook, I highly recommend increasing the speed of the narration. The narrator reads the book at a slow pace with a monotone voice.

This was a very twisty story, full of drama and lies. All of the characters were unlikable, and for books like this, I think a cast of unlikable characters is perfect. The story is told by a very unreliable narrator. I really liked how the story was told; the narrator, ElLiot, is telling the story directly to you. He breaks the fourth wall to talk to you and make comments here and there. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrator of the audiobook fits well as the character/story narrator, Elliot. I thought it was done very well. The first 80% of this book had me completely enthralled, but towards the end, when it felt like twist and twist, it lost me a bit. The ending definitely wasn’t completely predictable from the beginning, but as the story went on, I was able to piece a lot of it together, so I wasn’t surprised by the ending.
This was my first Alex Michaelides book; it definitely won’t be my last. I really liked the writing and the story-building.

Overall, this was a fast read, and I really liked it. I would definitely recommend it for lovers of thrillers or mysteries. It was definitely more suspenseful than a thriller, so if you're looking for a milder thriller, this would be great for you!

Thank you, McMillan Audio, for this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love when a suspenseful thriller is told by an unreliable narrator and this one is very well done. I enjoyed the idyllic Greek island setting, perfect for a murder mystery, and the characters were all interesting in their own way. With just the right amount of distraction and an unforeseen twist at the end this audiobook, narrated by Alex Jennings, was a fun way to spend an afternoon while organizing my library.

6 people on a Greek Island..only 5 will survive

This story has everything you want; the rich and famous, gorgeous Greek private islands, and of course a murder. Elliot Chase is our narrator throughout this story and you are not sure if you can trust him or not; I thought he added a quirky sarcastic edge to the story. We follow him and his famous friends as they relax on a Greek island. The relaxing is short lived till one of the six guests is found dead. Who is the murderer? You will have to find out in this trapped island mystery.

Wow. Have you ever finished a book and thought “Can I read this again?” That was this book for me. This book took me for a ride. I have read all of Alex Michaelides novels and this was his best one by far. I could not put this down, I read the bulk of it in one day. There were a few twists and turns in this book that I didn’t see coming and was genuinely shocked about. A few times I said out loud “Elliot, I don’t trust you mate.” This is an easy 5 star for me, I liked everything about it and I would highly recommend.

Thank you Netgalley, Macmillan Audio and Celadon Books for for providing me an advance copy of this audio to review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing this audiobook advanced copy for review!

I had an enjoyable time with this book. It is extremely well written and the narration was great. I found the story interesting, and I was engaged and intrigued to see where it was going, but I wasn't completely riveted.

On the positive, the book was really giving me Glass Onion vibes. It centered around all of these rich people alone on an island, and then there's a murder, and the story unfolds in twists and turns. I really enjoyed that aspect of it!

I’m not sure why this book didn’t totally work for me. Maybe there were just one too many twists or perhaps the tone just didn’t quite work for me.

However, if you are into suspenseful mystery reads, or you liked The Silent Patient, I think this book is worth checking out! It didn’t entirely work for me, but I still enjoyed the ride.