Okay, so this is such a tough review for me to write because I don’t know how to express my thoughts on this one. I was for sure hooked and couldn’t wait to find out where this was going. I really loved Lana’s character but hated everyone else and yet I still really enjoyed this book for its uniqueness and wit. This is so unlike Michaeline’s other novels but I still felt it was “his” story if that makes sense. The Greek tragedy aspect was well done as was the use of past and present timelines. I did bail on the audiobook (couldn’t get behind the narrator’s voice) so I would say read this one instead.

This book is a unique style of mystery. It starts with Lana, a retired movie star, who invites a group of friends to join her for Easter on her own private Greek Island. They're trapped there overnight due to a wild storm called a Fury, and right from the beginning the omniscient first person narrator tells us that there is a murder, but it takes a lot longer to find out who is murdered or how it happens.

The Fury is a lot different from the other 2 Alex Michaelides books I've read.. cerebral, slower paced and witty, with tie-ins to Agatha Christie and Greek mythology. It also has an easter egg from the Silent Patient, which could be considered a bit of a spoiler if you haven't read it.

British actor Alex Jennings has the perfect voice and personality to narrate this audiobook, he almost sounds like a butler as he presents the story. But I wish I also had the book or ebook to refer back to as things gradually start to click into place.

I really enjoyed this Agatha Christie-like murder mystery. It was theatrical, dramatic, self deprecating and funny. It was a quick read/listen and I really enjoyed the audiobook. The narrator did a great job with all of the characters.

I enjoyed the setting being in Greece on an island although it kind of felt like it could have been on an island anywhere. The characters were well written and the relationships were interesting. I liked Elliott’s back story and how it contributed to the overall story. This was a fun read!

Thank you @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for my ARC and ALC of this story which releases today!

Lovers and enemies; truth and lies; fame and failure; wealth and financial ruin; life and death; peace and fury. These are some of the contradictions brilliantly woven into the newest novel by Alex Michaelides.

Set in Greece over Easter weekend, we learn the consequences of being duplicitous - of being a walking contradiction. The story is told from Elliot's perspective in a manner as intimate and cozy as chatting with a friend on a bar stool - this is stated to the reader/listener early on. And, as Elliot reminds us, every story contains tangents that occur naturally in conversation to provide much needed background information.

As the story progresses we learn Elliot loves Lana; Lana loves Jason; Jason loves Kate. And all of them are on a Greek island for the weekend while a storm closes in. Along with the storm comes the fury and that fury sees that one of the guests won't leave the island alive.

Alex Michaelides is a master at his craft and possesses such a unique, intelligent, and thrilling way to hook and engage readers. The narrator, Alex Jennings, delightfully brought the story to life so once I started listening, I didn't want to stop.

If you haven't had the pleasure of reading any of Alex Michaelides works yet, I highly recommend you purchase them immediately! This is an author who will always jump to the top of my "to be read" pile!

Thank you NetGalley, Alex Michaelides, and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to listen to this in exchange for an honest review. The novel releases today so go get your copy of this 5 star read now!

I really liked the set-up of this novel. Told from the POV of one character who explains the thoughts, feelings, and behaviours of everyone around him, this has the classic feel of an unreliable narrator. I was constantly questioning what was real, how much of the story I could trust, and what was real. This tale had many twists and turns -- some of which were predictable, and some that caught me completely off-guard.

This story reminded me of "The Glass Onion" on Netflix -- a group of wealthy, if slightly estranged, friends travel to a private island for a spring getaway. While there, a murder occurs. Told from the POV of one one character, the story bounces between his interpretation of the actions and motivations of those around him.

If you've read Alex Michaelides's previous novels, you'll enjoy the cameos of characters from The Silent Patient and The Maidens, but reading these is not necessary for the purpose of this book. I did find the story to be somewhat predictable and felt that it was a little unoriginal (see "The Glass Onion"), but overall enjoyed the premise.

This audiobook was not for me. I had to stop after the first few chapters because I did not care for the narrator. The sound of it reminded me of an old Sherlock Holmes tale, which just isn't my cup of tea.

Plot -
Elliot Chase tells us the tale of the murder of ex-movie star Lana. The murder takes place on a secluded island during the night of a storm.

Thoughts -
This one just didn't work for me. The narration style has Elliot speaking directly to the reader, telling us a story that he was involved in. The reader is made aware right off the bat that Elliot is an unreliable narrator, which I don't care for. It makes the rest of the book frustrating as you are trying to figure out if what he is saying is true. To make matters worse, there was at least one instance where you'd finish a whole chapter and it would end with, "if only it had happened that way." Which felt like I was wasting my time. I just don't enjoy that type of book.

The way it was written left little room for character development because we were only introduced to everyone through Elliot's eyes. This created a lot of confusion where everyone kept doing things that felt "out of character," but mostly because we didn't truly know who the characters were.

Additionally, Elliot's character was just overall icky, and I felt icky reading from his POV. Usually I enjoy when books make me feel uncomfortable, but this was a different feeling. I felt like I needed a shower every time I set the book down.

Overall, this type of writing style coupled with the main character just didn't work for me.

Extremely unpopular opinion, but I didn't really like this book. This is a constant whiplash of despicable characters, none of whom I enjoyed or loved. They could have all died and I seriously would not have cared.

The worst past of the book is the unreliable and extremely unlikable narrator, Elliot Chase. He's a horrid person with a massive ego that consistently tosses the audience around in a blender of emotions. You can never tell when he's telling you the truth so beware as you go through the book that you're going to be whiplashed more times than necessary.

If I hated the book, why am I rating it a 3? Great question. I truly believe that if an author can write a character who pulls so many emotions from me they deserve better than a 1 or 2 star review. This is the case here and I respect Michaelides for the way he wrote them.

As for the format, do NOT listen to this book. I'd highly recommend this as one you read rather than listen. It is so confusing for the first 50-60% of the book as there are so many characters and narratives. This is not something you can casually listen to while working or doing something else because there is far too much detail and nuance. Outside of that I thought the voice actor chosen was great and have no qualms with him!

Loved: The locked island setting, a full cast of unsavory characters paired with an unreliable narrator. I really tried to play armchair detective with this one... And was close but not entirely right!

Liked: Short chapters and quick pacing! Present and past timeline along with Agatha Christie vibes (similar to The Murder of Roger Ackroyd).

Lukewarm: I was occasionally annoyed with the narrator but I suspect that was what the author intended!

Thank you to

What one item would you bring with you to a deserted island? Aside from a book or Kindle...

Thank you to @netgalley and @Cedadonbooks for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillan.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

There is a lot of hype around The Fury. I enjoyed the Silent Patient, but The Maidens was just ok. I was compelled enough to keep turning the page. There were references to Agatha Christie and audiobook narrator was perfect, as he gave me AC vibes right away.

I wouldn’t move this to the top of your TBR, but if you want a quick thriller read, it is worth a try. I missed the LFL Drop Day due to weather here in the Midwest, but my copy of the book is out there now to share!

3.5 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #celadonbooks #macmillanaudio #ltbreaderteam #littlefreelibrary #lfldropceladon

The Fury
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Alex Michaelides

I requested an audio advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: This is a tale of murder. Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it? 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.

My Thoughts: This was a slow burn claustrophobic, atmospheric psychological thriller with a twist of love. The main setting is a secluded island in the Greek Islands. Lana Farrar invites her friends to spend Easter with her on this private island. Their friendships, which they thought were closed knit were tested when trapped on an island and the hatred oozes out. Then a murder happens inspiring a wonderful cat and mouse game of whodunit. We have all heard the phrase, “Hell hath no fury like a scorned woman”, the plot basis of this novel.

The story is narrated by Elliot, from his POV, in first person. The story is not narrated in a linear timeline, more of circling back and forth. The story is told over five acts, formatted similar to a play, and our narrator, Elliot, does embellish here and there, as great storytellers do. The format that Elliot narrates in becomes so easy to get pulled into the story, just both of you sitting on a couch enjoying a drink. The story opens with a bang, a murder, and then goes back to the beginning to construct the story. This story is told a little differently from what I am used too, it plays out a scene and then plays out the same scene later on, with a different perspective. I love how Michaelides builds characters with their backstories with large information drops, and this books holds true to this format. The characters have lied, have secrets, and have resentments and when you couple this with being trapped on a private island, you know you are in for a real treat. The characters were developed with depth, mystery, and intrigue. None of the characters are likable. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, and captivates the reader. The characters backstories were built throughout the story, the plot was delivered in many twisty layers, and the ending, well I did not see that one coming, Michaelides knocked it out of the park.

The narrator (Alex Jennings) was fabulous with distinctive voice variation. His voice was smooth with great pitch and flow, I was able to listen at 2x with no issues. The narrator’s voice was very smooth, and just relaxes you. I read The Silent Patient last year and fell in love with Michaelides style. While this was not along lines of TSP, it was still very well written and I still love the story very much, I would recommend to other readers.

I loved the way this atmospheric mystery played out in parts. Each part adding a little more to the mix. The story was told from Chase’s perspective through multiple timelines. Just when I thought I knew where it was heading, the storyline backtracked and veered off onto a new path. The characters weren’t particularly likable but they had a dramatic, old Hollywood flare. This was truly an entertaining read that was quick and captivating. It made me feel like I was watching an old whodunnit detective show set on a luxurious Greek island! I switched to audio midway through and found the narrator perfect for the role of Elliot Chase!

Another good book for Alex Michaelides. A good murder mystery store. Personally it wasn’t my favorite from this author. A slow developing story line with an ending you need to really pay attention to.

I was really let down by this book. I am glad I had an audio copy as well; I think this book is much easier to digest on audio. By the end, though, it feels like a big waste of time.



I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

This review is based on an advanced audiobook copy by Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books. Thank you to @NetGalley, @CeledonBooks, and @MacmillanAudio for the opportunity to listen to the ADC!

Alex Michaelides does it once again in The Fury, a psychological thriller that is one heck of a ride. The twists keep on coming throughout the book. When the story begins, we meet Elliot Chase who is the narrator of the story, but we find that is not all. He tells us that we are going to hear a story like no other before and in my opinion that is the truth.

A group of “friends” vacations on a private Greek island only to learn that the word friend is maybe not the correct word to use. There are trials and tribulations, meaningful twists, superior character development, and an unbelievable plot in this one.

The biggest question in the book concerns Elliot and the question as to who he is. You will not want to turn this off until the end.

This was the audiobook version was narrated by Alex Jennings. His voice matched perfectly with the tone of the book and Elliot’s character. I was able to listen at a higher speed easily and didn’t feel it was rushed or that the voice was running away.

* By: Alex Michaelides
* Narrated by: Alex Jennings
* Length: 8 hrs and 8 mins
* Release date: 01-16-24

@AlexMichaelides
@AlexJennings

What a wild take on an unreliable narrator! Okay, I was hesitant going into this one; like many readers, I loved THE SILENT PATIENT and I hated THE MAIDENS. For me, THE FURY sits happily in the middle of them.

It probably won't be for everyone, but I loved the quirky narration style. He talks directly to the audience, seeks to build inside jokes, and lets us in on his stream-of-consciousness; I think the style lends itself well to the audiobook format; had I read a physical copy, I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much. With that, the book felt a bit slow - working through the plot, on top of the narrator's commentary, pulled the pacing down a bit. (But I did adore Alex Jenning's performance!)

However, even with my issues of the pacing, I did love the ending! There were two twists that I audibly gasped at - in the primary ending and again in the epilogue. I wish there were more of that punch throughout the novel.

I think Michaelides really went for something different with this novel - which I appreciate! - but, when looked at as a whole, it just missed the mark every so slightly for me.

First of all, I loved listening to this book. The narrator did a fantastic job and I don't think I would have enjoyed this book as much on paper. The narrator gave emotion and life to the story. I was really questioning if I would end up liking the book through the first half. It was a little slow and uneventful, but as the novel wrapped up I realized that everything had been perfectly set up. So if you're bored at the beginning, stick it out as the second half makes it worth it. The mystery was unique with a beautiful but ominous secluded setting. The cast of characters were eclectic but we mainly get to know the main character through his point of view. Overall, I highly enjoyed how unique and twisty the story was. I highly recommend to anyone who loves suspenseful secluded mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I really enjoyed The Silent Patient but not so much The Maidens so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book, but it turned out to my favorite of his 3 books. The unreliable narrator was unlikable in the best way. He reminded me of Nick Carraway from the Great Gatsby. Michaelides brings the Greek island setting to life beautifully. There were many twists and turns, some predictable and others not, and I flew through this even though I wanted it to last much longer, I just couldn’t put it down.

I was lucky enough to receive the digital and audio ARCs. The narrator, Alex Jennings, was wonderful and really brought Elliott to life.

4.5/5 stars!

Thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for the audio ARC!

Thank you @celadonbooks for the #gifted ARC/ALC of THE FURY!

I’m not going to lie, I was so nervous to get burned again after reading THE MAIDENS and while I enjoyed this one more than THE MAIDENS, this will also be my last book by Alex Michaelides that I read.

I’m instantly mistrusting of narrator’s who promise to tell you the whole truth because really whose truth is it they are telling? And this particular narrator, Elliot Chase, just gave off the vibes that he was trying to play cute with “the truth” from the very beginning. Add in the fact that he keeps circling back and adding more details or slightly changing events, and I was over it.

My biggest complaint about this book (and THE MAIDENS) is how all of the side characters, but the female characters especially, felt like cardboard cutouts who were there just to prop up the narrator and make him interesting. We have Lana, the beautiful and tragic movie queen who he clearly adores, and Kate, the angry and bitter working actress. It just felt so tropey. I’m still not convinced the author knows any women in real life and is instead just writing how he thinks women are.
The saving grace for me was the audiobook narrator. His voice and narration were fantastic and I would definitely listen to more books narrated by him.

I’m certainly in the minority for not loving this book or this author. So if you’re a fan, please don’t let my review discourage you from picking up a book you’re excited about. And if you didn’t love it, just know you’re not alone!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6157877248
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2Kt4QKxzWs/

I’ve never read a book quite like this one. This murder mystery with an unreliable narrator was exciting and interesting with reveals at just the right time and was incredibly bingeable! For fans of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The way the characters were introduced with just the right amount of background information for me to feel for them with out info dumping. So glad I picked this one up!

A book I can’t stop thinking about. This book kept me up late reading because I couldn’t stop. Full of twists and turns and always had me guessing. I absolutely LOVED it! Thanks NetGallery!