If you forget the narrator is telling you a story, don’t worry, he’ll remind you. A lot. I gotta be honest. It’s giving nineties M. Night Shyamalan vibes. The fans will dig it, though.

This book wasn't awful, certainly better than The Maidens, but not nearly as good as The Silent Patient. I'm all about a good unreliable narrator, but I'm also not about so much foreshadowing. So balanced out, this is a solid 3 star read for me. Good, worth reading, but not great.

Our narrator, Elliot Chase, unfolds a tale of deceit, deception, and murder. It takes place mostly on a remote, privately owned Greek island called Aura. Close enough to Mykonos for an evening out, but far enough that when the intense winds, nicknamed "The Fury" come up, those on Aura are stranded. When Elliot joins six others on the island for an Easter holiday, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much more going on than initially meets the eye.

Elliot tells the story from his first person account, which only worked part of the time for me. I had difficulty grappling with his omniscience and almost gave up because of it. Others assured me that it would eventually make sense--and they were right, it does. I tried very hard to figure out how it could work, and wasted a lot of energy on it. So if you have a logical brain that is forever trying to puzzle things out, rest assured that you can let that go and just join the story for the ride.

I liked the twists, they were unique, but the melodrama is HIGH. If you are a fan of the theater or are a theater geek, this is the book for you. The theater references and the actions of the characters fit right in with that crowd and those themes.

You won't be waiting long for the twists, there are a good number of stops and restarts from a slightly or completely different lens, which I liked because it kept me on my toes. The characters are wholly unlikable, there's not one good guy in the bunch, but it didn't bug me as much as it would have with a different plot.

I listened to this as an audiobook and the narrator perfectly captured Elliot in all of his questionable glory.

Be forewarned, there are some Easter eggs and spoilers for Michaelides' first two books here, so if you haven't read them (and plan to) then definitely read those first.

I saw so many friends who enjoyed it.
This book was not for me. I didn't enjoy that the narrator was speaking on everyone's thoughts, because he was also a character himself & it was separated strange to Me.

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, MacMillan Audio and Alex Michaelides for both digital and audio galleys of The Fury in exchange for an honest review.

I think everyone was beyond excited when we learned that Alex was releasing a new books & I was right there with them!

The title, the cover, the synopsis - just the fact that it is Alex Michaelides - made this a MUST READ book for me.

This story was full of twists and turns with Elliott Chase as our narrator. The media would lead us to believe that one of Lana Farrar's Easter weekend getaways on her private Greek Island resulted in a tragic death that still gets talked about to this day. Elliott is here to set the record straight and tell us what REALLY happened that weekend on the island.

It was a bit slow for a while, during the character introduction and development stage. I would have liked that to go a bit quicker as slow set-ups usually turn me off quick. But, I refused to give up on Michaelides.

Once the story finally got going, I was fully gripped. I enjoyed the Glass Onion type concept of having a scenario presented, but then going back and presenting the same scenario from a different perspective. Showing us that "what you see is what you get" is not necessarily accurate.

All of the characters were absolutely horrid, as they were intended to be. They were written to perfection.

The second half of the book is definitely the best part of it. The twists just kept coming all the way to the very end and the end was a jaw dropping twist that I did NOT see coming!

Silent Patient fans will love the author's subtle nod to it.

The slow first half of the books is really what kept this from being a 4.5 or 5 Star book for. With that said, if had been any one other than Alex Michaelides, I probably would have DNF'd it well before the halfway mark due to the slow pacing.

Overall, I rate this 4-Stars and will happily recommend this title.

Genre: Mystery/Thriller
TW: PLEASE CHECK
Spice: Closed Door
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 [3.75/5]
Format: Audiobook
Review written by: M
*Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

I want to start this review by saying this is my first Alex Michaelides and I truly was intrigued by his format and style of telling a story. The narrator did a fantastic job of selling the character.

You have been invited by Elliot Chase to enjoy a drink and let him tell you the story of love and murder. The story of Lana, an ex-movie star, inviting her closest friends to her private and isolated Greek Island for some R&R. All is going well until hatred soon starts to rear its ugly head and things get out of hand, culminating in murder.

The format and way in which this book was written was extremely enticing. I heard it as an audiobook format and the narrator and script made me feel as though I was listening to a friend recount the story of what happened on that isolated Greek Island. I do want to mention that this was not a linear plot line, they do circle around quite a bit.

The psychological drops of the inner child were fantastic. I think that is something many people can relate to and therefore props to the author for making the reader stop and think of their own life/traumas therefore relating and forming a stronger connection with the narrator Elliot.

I had two issues with this book. The first being the pacing. The stark contrast between the slow and repetitive 2/3 and fast 1/3 was a bit too jarring for me. The second issue I had was that I felt as though there were too many carrot dangling moments. We kept being told we were about to get information only for us to continue to wait. Once I received the wanted information it has lost its power slightly.

I did enjoy the overall story and listening to it, however I don’t think I would re-read it. Also, I am dying to read ‘The silent patient” now.

I love the author, and have loved both of his previous books. I liked this book but did not love it.

The second half of the book was great. It told an intriguing, surprising, entertaining, and really wonderful story. The characterization was fascinating, the twists were surprising but had me kicking myself for not seeing it coming, which is the best kind of twist. It was thrilling, it was a little heartbreaking, and it was all-around wonderful. I just wish the first half of the book had the same energy.

That said, the first half dragged and spun around in circles going over things too many times, backtracking and rehashing and giving away plot lines without explaining them. I understand the intention was likely to keep the reader engaged and in suspense, but I do not think it was intriguing enough to keep my interest during several chapters of the narrator going off on a tangent. By narrator, I do not mean the audiobook reader, I mean the narrative voice telling the story. It was too in-your-face with the constant reminder that he was speaking directly to me, the "reader". It was mentioned and brought attention to too many times that the narrator was a part of the story but not the main part, and that he was telling it from an omniscient perspective. The overexplanation was grating and broke my attention from the story at least three or four times.

If I read this book without knowing the author's other work first, and holding it in such high regard, I would have quit this book forty percent through. I am glad I stuck it out, because it got so much better, but I only wish it was excellent throughout.

This book was not what I was expecting. A literary narration of a murder that started slow, but kept me going to the end. Twist after twist that I didn't see coming. The evolution of the main character was so well done. I really enjoyed this one. Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook.

I enjoyed the first person narrator telling this story of murder on a Greek island. The storyteller, Elliot, reminds me of Nick Caraway in The Great Gatsby. This murder mystery thriller was too slow for my liking.

I agree with the current Goodreads score, which is 3.65 stars. I loved The Silent Patient and DNF'd The Maidens, so I was very curious to read this book. Like many have said, it was a slower pace to begin with, but it didn't take too long for me to start enjoying the book and I felt like the end of the book had lots of twists and turns that made up for the slow pace. I loved the way the narration broke the fourth wall and was self-aware of the story structure. I listened to the audiobook and I think the narrator added a lot of personality to the story.

Heads up: there's a spoiler for The Silent Patient in the epilogue.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The production of this audiobook was top tier. The narrator’s voice was fantastic, their acting skills were outstanding, and their pace was perfect. It checked all of the boxes for me in an audiobook.

Sadly, the story just wasn’t for me, but maybe in a good way for you? I absolutely adored The Silent Patient so I may have jumped into this book with a little too high of expectations, but I had no idea I was going to follow the most unreliable narrator I’ve ever read in my life. Some people may really enjoy that, so I will recommend it with caution, but I however, did not enjoy at all. All of the backtracking the story did made it very confusing and annoyed me to no end.

I did enjoy how unpredictable the story was, though. So many twists and turns that I wouldn’t be surprised if it wins the Guinness World Record for the most unpredictable twists. I just found the story layout and the “well, that’s not exactly true” moments to be extremely annoying.

I will not be writing a bad review on any of my social media accounts, and I will be leaving the rating section on Goodreads blank.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to be an early reader!

In all honesty, I struggled with this book. The narrator did not bother me, but keeping up with all the characters and storylines was a bit much at times. The slow pace of the book offered opportunity for my mind to wander as I listened, causing me to have to rewind several times.

I loved the Silent Patient and felt it was more of a phycological thriller. Don't let this be your first Alex Michaelides book. While not terrible because Michaelides does explore themes of love, obsession, and revenge to keep readers guessing, it just doesn't reach the level of The Silent Patient in my opinion..

Thank you to Celadon, NetGalley and Macmillan audio for my ALC. All opinions expressed are strictly my thoughts.

I haven't read any other books my Alex Michaelides before, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Great story, kept me entertained, and also kept me guessing until the end. I can't wait to read more. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC. This was my first NetGalley audiobook, and the narrator was great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Alex Michaelides for the gifted ARC.

In this masterfully paced thriller, a private getaway on a Greek island takes a dark turn as hidden resentments among friends lead to murder. Narrated by Elliot Chase, the story unveils a game of cat and mouse, revealing motives and secrets until a climactic, unforgettable end. The characters, notably the ex-movie star Lana Farrar, add depth to the suspense. Marketed as a murder mystery, the book's core is a compelling love story, making it a captivating blend of mystery, romance, and suspense. With unexpected twists and rich character dynamics, it's a must-read for thriller enthusiasts.

✔️ Murder mystery
✔️ Unreliable narrator
✔️ Isolated setting
✔️ Unlikeable characters
✔️ Quirky
✔️ Meta
✔️ 2nd person point of view
✔️ Quick read

With this book, you might think you know what’s going on at all times, but you’d be wrong. It’s not only a whodunn𝘪𝘵, but a whodunn𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵, and takes the idea of an unreliable narrator to a whole new level.

This felt a little bit like The Guest List, a little bit like White Lotus, and a little bit like Looking Glass Sound. And despite having aspects of all of these stories, and feeling extraordinarily familiar at first glance, The Fury stands apart because of its bizarre narrative structure. It is written in 2nd person point of view, which isn’t commonly used in much these days beyond short stories, which makes it immediately feel different. Our narrator, Elliot Chase, breaks the fourth wall often, and refers directly to the reader, pulling us into the story and investing us more deeply in its outcome. I would say that if you can enjoy this style of narrative voice, then there’s a good chance you will like this book. If you find it off-putting and can’t get past it, there’s a good chance this won’t be for you. Luckily, I was able to get used to it fairly quickly, and even found it kind of fun when all was said and done.

And although being billed as a psychological thriller, I would say this book is much more of a mystery that has psychological components than a true thriller. The storytelling is not quite as fast paced as you’d expect from a thriller, and the narrator takes his time peeling back the layers of this twisted tale. However, the author compensates for the pacing with short chapters and small reveals sprinkled throughout, always giving you just enough to want to turn the page.

Another aspect I feel deserves mentioning is the tone of this book. Alex Michaelides’ writing always reads a little pretentious to me, but in the case of this book, I think it actually works. The writing fits well with the narrator’s personality, and makes it seem as though the pretentiousness is meant to be a part of his overall character and is not of the writing itself. This pretentiousness even comes across quite playful at times—like he, our narrator, is the cat and you, the reader, are the mouse. I don’t think the same effect could have been achieved had this been a multiple POV book like The Hunting Party or The Guest List, but because there is only the sole narrator this worked in the book’s favor and lended itself well to the vibe.

Thanks so much to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

Dear Reader, this won't be long -

Upon opening The Fury, whether by opening the book's covers or by clicking your preferred device, be aware that you'll be having a book-long conversation with Elliot Chase. He's charming, witty, wise even. Don't be sucked in. Listen closely, and do stay up. Don't let the spaces between reading and not reading be long. He'll be sure to take good care of you (he knows you've bought the book and so are invested in this tale), although he digresses from time to time. Not that those digressions are unimportant. . .you might want to take a few notes. . .

After this read you might suffer from whiplash, need to strap your jaw back into place, and do something about those tall eyebrows and wide-open eyes. . .

Other than that, happy reading, enjoy with a tasty beverage of your choice. (And don't trust Elliot as far as. . .oh, wait. jk. jk. . . .)

*A sincere thank you to Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and independently review.* #TheFury #NetGalley 52:10

I read the Silent Patient this summer and enjoyed it, so I was excited to give this one a try! It gave very strong Knives Out: Glass Onion vibes. I enjoyed the retrospective view of the events with time jumps recalling different things. The story itself was good.

My one issue was reading from Elliot’s point of view. I didn’t enjoy the character and struggled to connect with him or anyone else as told by him. We’re only introduced to other characters through Elliot, so it’s hard to know what they were actually like, as the narration was skewed. I think the author had an interesting concept and purpose for writing it like that, it just didn’t work for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

𝘼 𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙮, 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙪𝙡𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙭-𝙢𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧, 𝙨𝙞𝙭 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙖 𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙂𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙠 𝙞𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙...𝙤𝙛 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝙖 𝙢𝙪𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙧.

I’m a diehard Alex Michaelides fan and he’s become an auto-buy author for me - also a favorite author. I just loved his writing and always get pulled into his storytelling.

The Silent Patient was one of my favorite and most shocking thrillers I’ve ever read. I also enjoyed The Maidens, and just like those two, I absolutely loved The Fury.

I listened to the audiobook while following along with the physical copy, which I’m glad I did because the characters can get confusing to remember at first.

The story follows a group and I thought Elliot was the perfect narrator, he was interesting and unreliable. I also loved the Greek island setting, I love how Michaelides references mythology without going overboard.

The format of this book was so unique and twisty. I loved the ending so much, it won me over with plot twist after plot twist. I love this author’s writing so much and his detail in storytelling. The prose was fantastic and the character depth was so well done. It was dark and enjoyable. I can’t wait to see what this author comes out with next.

Addicting, captivating, engaging, and unputdownable, The Fury was another successful story written by Alex Michaelides.

Thank you so much Celadon Books for the physical copy and NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Elliot Chase was transformed the first time he saw Lana Farrar in a film. He found her on-screen presence fascinating and watched all of her movies. Years later, when he had made friends with wealthy and influential people, he was at a party where she made an appearance, and he got the chance to meet her. They became fast friends, and eventually Elliot found himself in her inner circle. So when Lana decided to go to her private Greek island over Easter, Elliot was invited.

Years passed, their friendship cemented through Elliot becoming a successful playwright and Lana getting married. And once again, Elliot finds himself invited to Lana’s island for Easter along with Lana’s husband and son and her best friend Kate, who is taking a break from rehearsals for the latest play she is starring in.

They get settled in on the island, surrounded by beauty, delicious food, and plenty of alcohol. They relax and enjoy themselves, leaving their troubles behind. But Elliot knows the truth about the weekend. Lana has an agenda, a wrong she wants to make right. And there is something he is hoping for as well. But that’s only if everything goes perfectly.

And life rarely goes perfectly.

Before the weekend is over, there will be secrets, betrayals, relationships torn apart, a windstorm so strong that keeps them trapped on the island, and a killer. Who will survive?

Told by Elliot, The Fury goes back and forth through time, the narrative winding through the years of their lives, as the master storyteller slowly doles out just the information he wants his readers to know, when he wants them to know it. Author Alex Michaelides masterfully lets his narrator control the story, giving away more clues than he realizes as he crafts his story.

I listened to The Fury on audio, narrated to perfection by Alex Jennings. Jennings brought Elliot to life, his thoughts, his feelings, his disdain, his arrogance. It all comes through as you listen to Jennings’s pitch-perfect reading of the story. I thought it was the perfect way to enjoy the book.

I was so excited for a new book by Michaelides, because his previous books were so amazing. And I spent much of The Fury being excited and wanting to hear more. However, I was disappointed at the ending. I had figured out who was not going to make it off the island, and I had figured out who the killer was. But I found the specifics of the crime to be disappointing and not as elegant as the rest of the story. It fit with the rest of the book, but after seeing how beautifully Michaelides can write, I thought he could have found a better way to wrap this one up. It’s still a lovely thriller, with ups and downs, twists and turns. It’s just not up to his usual standards.

An early copy of the audio Book for The Fury was provided by Macmillan Audio through NetGalley, with many thanks.

The anticipation for this book was high and I was NOT disappointed!! This story pulled me in immediately by the narrators sing-song voice and emotion that was evident from the very beginning. An unreliable narrator is my favorite kind and this novel was a prime example. Set on an island, intrigue, mystery and wealth are dripping with intrigue and the character driven plot kept me wanting more, but didn’t ever leave me hanging. Mr. Michaelides has a way with words that reminds me of Shakespearean sonnets, but with a sure of mystery and suspense that pulls you in and refuses to let go until you are exhausted. As an avid reader, this novel is everything I wanted it to be and more. If you’re looking for blood, gore and sex, this isn’t the book for you. But, if you want to feel transported to a remote island where Agatha Christie would vacation in order to write her next novel, you found it!! Bravo!!! Please keep writing prose that makes the reader cheer for the characters, fall in love with the characters, hate the characters and feel intense empathy all at the same time. Lana and Elliot will stick with me for some time. Thank you for this wonderful story of intrigue, love and murder.

In his third book, the author changes his style a little and has his main character talk directly to the reader. This is a bold choice and readers will either love it or hate it. Growing up in the days of Ferris Bueller and Ally McBeal, I’m no stranger to this but it might be the first for me in a book. Personally I would’ve appreciated it more if it was used more sporadically.

I found this to be a slow burn mystery where most of the action and twists take place in the last third of the book.

The narrator lulled me into complacency before turning the table and pulling the rug out from the story. While all of it didn’t come as a surprise to me, I was surprised at a bit of it.

Alex Jennings narrated and did a good job of being the sass and swagger to the main character.

While this wasn’t my favorite read of the month, the last third did keep me interested and wondering if any of my guesses were correct. I think fans of The Silent Patient will like this one.