Glamour, love, obsession, murder all in a sun-drenched private island location. The audiobook is narrated well, which helps keep the story moving.

Despite several tries, I had a very hard time getting into this story. I just never felt connected to the plot.

Little wonder ratings are low for this would-be thriller. I'm disappointed in Michaelides--yet again! Didn't like The Silent Patient either. But this mish-mash is worse. Yes, the author keeps us misled with red herrings, but at no time is there really any tension...essential to a so-called thriller. I'm shocked that David Baldacci, who knows how to write so well, wrote nice things about this book. Michaelides is a Cypriot Greek, and we would like to see/get some color of place about this Greek Island. We do not. The best characters are the indigenous Greek caretaker and the woman assisting the "star." The rest of the bunch are dreary and unlikeable. Good writers make you empathize with, relate to, or like the protagonist.

I had a hard time getting into this one. However, I can see why others will like it. I had to DNF 70% thru sadly.

I was really disappointed with this book, especially after loving The Silent Patient and The Maidens. Compared to those, this thriller felt painfully slow. The narrator was meant to be unreliable and unlikable, but it was taken to such extremes that it made reading a struggle. The ending redeemed it somewhat, but by then, it had lost all its initial thrill. I found myself bored and couldn't connect with any of the characters. The attempt to break the fourth wall didn't work for me; instead, I found it annoying. None of the plot twists surprised me, and I never felt on edge. The ending fell flat, although I appreciated the short chapters.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately I could not get past the first bit of the audiobook. The plot and narrator bored me. I ended up DNFing at 10%.

I was lucky enough to receive both the E-Arc and the audiobook. I tried switching back and forth but it did not work for me. The book just didn't capture my attention. So sadly I DNFed the book. However I'm rating it 3 stars because while it wasn't the book for me it might be the perfect book for someone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the E-ARC. And to Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Lana Chase a former movie star invites her friends to a Greek Island getaway. One of them will not return and well dramatized novel will keep you on your toes! The shocking ending isn’t one to miss.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC copy.

While this book doesn't really feel like Alex's other books, I still liked it! For me the characters were the biggest issue. I just really didn't like any of them! The narrator made the story hard to follow at times, and maybe that was the point, but I struggled a bit in the middle trying to figure out what was really going on. Overall it mostly kept my attention, and I would say it's a decent read! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I wasn't a fan. I tried and I tried, but I don't think anything he writes will live up to The Silent Patient for me.

In The Fury by Alex Michaelides, readers are transported to Aura, a secluded Greek island in the Cyclades. The story unfolds amidst the chaos of the Menos (The Fury), an unpredictable wind that isolates the island. At its center are seven characters, including the beautiful ex-movie star Lana Farrar and our narrator, writer Elliot Chase. As three gunshots echo through the ruins of Roman marble columns, a body is discovered, setting the stage for a gripping Greek tragedy filled with love, death, and deception.

This novel isn’t your typical Christiesque “locked island” whodunnit; instead, it’s a compelling whydunnit, focusing on character studies and motivations. The scene is meticulously crafted with the ferocious weather, intense emotions, and intricate schemes, leaving readers wondering if fate or free will will prevail. Pull up a seat and listen closely as Elliot recounts the events—or does he? It might be wise to hold off on that second or third martini as the layers of this story unravel.

Alex Michaelides’ writing captivates from start to finish, weaving elements of a classic Greek tragedy with a modern twist. The setting on Aura is evocative, and the Menos adds an extra layer of tension to the unfolding drama. The novel is rich with omens, oracles, and premonitions, featuring characters who seem almost magical, casting spells and enchantments that mirror the actions of ancient gods, leading to chaos and ultimately, tragedy.

The narration by Elliot is lively, witty, and conversational, drawing readers into the story as if he’s speaking directly to them. His frequent insertions into the narrative keep the story dynamic and constantly shifting through its five acts. The short, sharp chapters perfectly complement the unfolding drama.

The complex characterisation is outstanding, with some characters wearing masks and facades, leaving readers to continually reassess their trustworthiness. The shifting dynamics among the seven characters mirror the unpredictability of The Fury itself.

The multilayered plot is utterly immersive, revealing calculation, delusion, vengeance, and destruction as lives crumble like a house of cards. The toxicity builds in tandem with the Menos on that fateful night, creating a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Michaelides’ genius lies in keeping readers guessing about who the true mouse and cat are, with more twists than the labyrinth of Daedalus.

Overall, The Fury is a clever, addictive read, blending elements of Agatha Christie with the Greek tragedies of Sophocles or Euripides, all wrapped in a modern-day thriller. Highly recommended.

I adored the author’s previous books, so I was highly anticipating THE FURY. I paired the book and audio formats, and the narration was definitely entertaining. I just struggled with the story, and shouldn’t have expected it to be in the writing style of The Silent Patient which I loved. The narrator was hard to trust, and I think that kept me from loving this more.

*many thanks to Celadon, Macmillan audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Unfortunately this one was a miss for me. It probably didn’t help that I read it right after The Silent Patient and it wasn’t even remotely comparable.

I listened to this one, and while the actual narration was good, the character narrator was awful. He was a very unlikeable character, and while sometimes unlikeable characters have their time and place, nothing about this character was redeemable. I liked that it was set in Greece, although I would have liked more about the setting. There was a lot of back stabbing in this book. I was not expecting the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ALC of this book.

The Fury
By Alex Michaelides
This was my first read by this author and I read it through NetGalley and listened to the audio through Macmillan Audio. The narration was okay for me, the book wasn’t bad, I just couldn’t stay focused. I thought it was a little boring. I had high hopes for this book. I saw it a lot on book too and people hyped this book up so much. For me, it didn’t really deliver. It was just okay. The narrator gives a lot of details on the characters and the setting. It’s basically has to do with a murder that took place. I have this book a 3 stars.

The Fury was a fun locked room mystery full of characters that were insufferable but I couldn't look away. Much like reality TV, sometimes we just crave that kind of trashy voyeurism. The unreliable narrator always makes for a fun story. I was definitely a fan of the narration, and would choose the audiobook over the physical for this one.

It was alright. Nothing spectacular and I still find The Silent Patient to be the author's best outing yet.

If you like books with unreliable narrators, this is the book for you. In true Alex Michaelides style, we never know quite what is the truth, even when our narrator, Elliott, swears that it is. Generally, speaking, I LOVED this book. I really enjoyed the characters, even though they were shallow and hard to connect with, at times.

There were surprises and suspense, and just the right amount of humor. Also, the Easter Eggs that the author places in his books to connect back to his previous books is always fun to look for.

Thank you to the Author, Narrator, Publisher and Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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

I really liked the format of this story. Told from a the POV of a narrator looking back on the events and speaking directly to the reader about what happened. A story about love, friendship, jealously, betrayal, and murder - all while trapped on an isolated island; I had high hopes for this one. It was an interesting read, but felt slow moving with a little too much fluff for me. It did keep my attention, just didn't have the shocking twists and turns that I had hoped for.
The book does deliver what it promised, a mystery that would be solved by the end of the weekend trip on the island. If you like the isolated island mystery trope, and enjoy a slower burn, I think that you would like this book.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)

Thank you to @netgalley @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

The premise of this one is interesting. Told in first person as if the narrator is reading a journal or having a conversation with the reader, I was a lot lost. When I first started the audiobook, I listened to nine chapters before I realized I had no idea what was happening. So I put myself on hold for the ebook at the library and when it came in, I started the book again reading in tandem with listening. This helped me keep things in order in my brain and allowed me to follow the story. I ended up liking it way more than I thought I was going to. It is very twisted and that's what makes it so interesting. Definitely worth a read or listen once you adapt to the writing style.

I have to remember when I read Alex Michaelides’ books that nothing will ever compare to The Silent Patient. I thought this book was good, there was a ton of twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I really didn’t enjoy the unreliable narrator in this book. I was so sick of hearing “well this is how it really happened…” Overall, I am glad I read it, and would still recommend it. I think it’d be the perfect book to read for a book club.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.