The way this book began was all feet in and lets get the story going until move from one character and down a rabbit hole of the why's of the relationships of Lona, who everyone loves. This twist of tales is being told by our narrator, Elliot, who wants you to know every detail of their friendships even though it is in his viewpoint. You are able to visualize each character through the eyes of Elliot.

As with Alex Michaelides books you read and get lots of background information and think where you are heading down until the end of the book and you go well dang I didn't see that coming and man was I glad that I didn't see that coming this is so much better. You think this person is dead, no, then you think another one is dead, no and then you think a third is killed and yes in fact death did happen.

You think you are sitting at a bar hearing Elliot's tale is being shared when in fact you are in the lock up for the clinically insane. Nod to Silent Patient - love this Easter Egg so much!! Theo is in the same facility. We also learn that this is not the first murder that Elliot has been involved with and how simply deceitful he is with stealing Barbara's papers and turning it into his own work and realizing he is the vulture trying to con others and have no consequences for the awful behavior.

I like how we were given in the end the truth even if it is somewhat a skewed version from Elliot.

Thank you to NetGalley @MacMillianAudio for the ARC!! I look forward to sharing this book with others. I highly recommend it!! Keep Reading and find your next adventure through the black and whites. Momstr

This was a great murder mystery book with lots of twists and turns until the very end. I felt like the narrator, Elliott was talking to me as he told this crazy tale. I had a few concerns about the story that was never fully explained which was why I only gave it three stars. I wanted more back story about Jason and Kate’s love affair. I also couldn’t figure out what Lana saw in Elliott even after Barbara told her about how evil he was. But overall, I was fully into the story. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

3.5 stars.
This twisty (and often twisted) book will have you guessing until the end! Loved the narrator!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my advance reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Alex Michaelides said he had great fun writing The Fury and it comes through. It was a book that left me smiling frequently.
There are seven people on Lana’s island. At the end of the stay, only six are alive. It was quite the sensational story. Now, Elliot Chase, playwright, promises to tell what really happened.
As seems to be the current trend, the story is told from the viewpoint of a narrator who speaks directly to the reader. Every now and then, I would question how Elliot could possibly know something. But don’t worry, all will be revealed. In fact, I had to hand it to Michaelides. Every time I felt a part was extraneous it came back to have an import on the ending.
The story is a bit like peeling an onion, with layer after layer removed to take us to the core. There are five “acts”, in the style of a Greek tragedy, with each giving additional information of previous scenes. No one is likable, everyone is hiding secrets. Elliot is the typical unreliable narrator, but he is entertaining. He’s at turns catty, pathetic and untrustworthy. In fact, the book is great intelligent entertainment. If you think you’ve figured it out, trust me, you haven’t. I fell for that myself, convinced I knew how it was going to play out. I was three or four twists off.
The narrator, Alex Jennings, did a great job with Elliot although some of his other voices were so similar that I would struggle as to who was supposedly speaking.
My thanks to Celadon Books for a paper ARC and Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of the audiobook.

3.5 stars 🌟
The entire time I was reading this book (audiobook), I was trying to decide how I felt about it. I enjoyed the author's first two books, although they were a bit overrated. I appreciate intelligent mysteries/thrillers, and I think Alex Michaelides really tries to elevate common tropes with smart literary devices and knowledge of the classics. The protagonists are always confidently well-educated and classy. It comes off as a bit pretentious at times, though. (Giving "I'm not like other books!!") As soon as I pressed play, I heard the very proper articulations of a Shakespearean narrator and thought, of course it has to be fancy! But luckily the rest of the read didn't come off as proper pretentious.

The plot was interesting... I was very drawn into the premise of fancy, old Hollywood-style actors getting tangled in a murder mystery on an island. The promise of the murder not being like other murders was very prominent throughout! I wanted to enjoy the anticipation but found it was dangled for way too long. Something shocking will happen, just you wait! Over and over again until the shocks were finally revealed. I think the twists were well-crafted, but also not as impactful as I'd hoped. I kept thinking... is this the shock we were promised? Nope, apparently not. THIS part is the shock because he was just joking about the other one. The flow was off because the long anticipation and quickfire of twists just didn't quite balance out. There were no clues to return back to, only omitted information that was suddenly revealed afterward as an explanation. Perhaps there wasn't enough investment into the buildup as the momentum wasn't quite there leading up to the ending.

I will say I did enjoy the story overall as it truly held my attention. Some plot devices I could have done without (like back-tracking)... but I appreciated this story much more than I expected. There were some neat ties between his previous books. Although not likely a favourite of mine, I think others will enjoy this one. It's worth the read.

WOW !

This is a very interesting story, and one I believe is far better as an audio presentation, as opposed
to reading it on the screen, or paperback copy.

WHY?

This book is presented in the first person narrative, which I find difficult to enjoy. When listening to
a complicated story with many characters, some of whom are frequently in play (mainly the Narrator)
with others who drop in and out, some with not much importance to the overall story, I lose interest.

REVIEW:

I enjoyed this story because it had a lot of unsuspected twists and turns. The characters are
actually characters, and the Narrator is actually the most important, though he fades in and out.

I recommend this story to everyone ~ read it or listen to it, the choice is high;y individual,
but do not miss this really interesting, well written book.

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for the audio copy of this book for review purposes.
My rating, of 5 stars is, in part, reflective of the amazing job done by Alex Jennings.
My sincere thanks to NetGalley for offering this audio presentation for review purposes.

First off, praise to the EXCEPTIONAL narrator, Alex Jennings, his deeply resonant, posh English accent sets the perfect atmosphere for another twisty mystery by Michaelides. Alex Jennings, a classically trained Shakespearean actor, also plays the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown.

This murder story features all the elements of classic Greek tragedy, set on a remote Greek Island, with the addition on a possibly unreliable narrator.

A gorgeous ex-movie star, Lana, suspects that her second husband and her best friend may be having an affair. Encouraged to confront them by her supposes best friend, the narrator, she invites them all to her private Greek Island – a majestic gift from her much beloved first husband.

Right from the outset, you find yourself questioning the narrator- as the whole book is told from his first-person perspective. This includes scenes that he clearly could not have been privy to, so what’s unclear is what he’s reporting accurately and what he’s making up. Moreover, he’s a bachelor for life, formerly living with a famous novelist from disparaged him and disparaged his writing. Post her death, being left nothing, he turned their relationship into a best-selling play. He shares that he learned from her that every character must have a goal, backed by an intent, backed by motivation. Other than being smitten as Lana long-time best friend, it’s unclear what’s at play for him in this scenario. And- is he busy narrating what will be his next best-selling play?

Meanwhile, there’s her second husband James who seems desperate for money from Lana’s estate and her best friend Kate who’s in the midst of rehearsals for a Greek play in London which is going horribly as she cannot remember any of her lines.

The Greek Island, known for its ferocious winds locally called The Fury, sets as the scene of a murder plucked straight from Greek tragedy. You wait breathless to find out who’s actually died, and how.
And will any of the characters prove worthy of your empathy?

And you’re sure a twist is coming, given Michaelides’ prior book The Silent Patient…but what the heck will it be?!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced listen of this novel.

While this authors first book will without a doubt forever be one of my favourite thrillers, I didn't read his second because of really negative reviews. With this third book, I went in totally blind, without reading into anyone else's reviews. It didn't hold up to The Silent Patient's caliber, but it was still a really great book. Albeit very different and a little strange, it was enjoyable.

It was a twisty, weird and wild ride told by a very unreliable and frankly unstable narrator. I was on the edge of my seat most of the book, trying to figure out what was going on, what was going to happen and who I could trust. The POV was told in almost a script form, which I found really refreshing and well done for a different perceptive. The ending left quite a bit to be imagined, which I don't always love, but I think it was meant to keep you guessing even after you finished. Again, it won't be making any favourites lists for the year, but it was definitely good and worth the read!

The Fury by Alex Michaelides was fast paced and engaging. The self-proclaimed unreliable narrator kept you guessing until the very end. Sometimes his narration was too much and I wanted to hear more of the story, and other times it felt like we were engaged in a casual conversation. It was a lot to get used to, but I overall enjoyed it.

Alex Michaelides does it again! He is a master of suspense! The plot, the characters, the twists! Were top notch. I finished this in a day because I simply couldn’t put it down! I loved the references to Agatha Christie as well. I also enjoyed the nods to ‘The Silent Patient’ and ‘The Maidens’. This is a MUST read for everybody this year!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the advance audiobook! Well ... I admit I started this one with caution and a little skepticism. Having really enjoyed 'The Silent Patient' and not so much enjoyed 'The Maidens', I felt a little like the author needed to vindicate himself as having not fallen victim to a sophomore curse that never resolves itself in later releases. But the good news is, it definitely did resolve.

I should say first off that between his last book and this one, I very much appreciate that Michaelides infuses his novels with opportunities for us to learn about what I assume (from his surname) is his Greek culture, as well as Greek history and mythology. Some of my favorite contemporary authors are those who bring with them into their stories a very strong sense of their heritage, and solidly locate us in the places they are familiar with or come from (Tana French, Sally Rooney, Jane Harper, for example). And not only is Michaelides' heritage overtly celebrated in this one, it's there in the structure and plot as well—this story has all the elements, the scale and scope of a Greek tragedy.

At no point during the reading of 'The Fury' did I have as firm a grasp on what was happening as I sometimes believed I did. There were times where I thought I knew precisely how things would evolve, and felt smug in my certainty but I was almost always wrong. And when I was wrong, it only heightened the urgency I felt to keep going. I would love to say more about the various twists and turns, but it would be impossible to do so without giving something away.

I will say this though, the hook is as good as that of Michaelides' debut novel. This time, a beautiful former movie star and her friends gather on a private Greek island and someone is killed; and for much of the book, we don't know who, and we don't even know why but in the meantime, we are treated to the backstories and eventual unraveling of a web of friendships comprised of envy and dislike almost as much as they are of love and affection. The gradual exposure of ugly underside of those relationships serves as a catalyst for the tragedy that eventually unfolds.

If you like intelligent, well-plotted mystery-suspense that doesn't give short shrift on character development, this might be one you would enjoy. Highly recommended.

Audiobook note: The narrator is obviously an Actor that deserves the capital 'A'. His tone is Shakespearean in nature and at first felt off-putting and read as perhaps older than the character he portrayed, but as the story unfolds, this vocal choice began to make more sense. And at the very end, and I mean the very, very end, proves entirely perfect.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for the ALC copy of this book.

I am honestly not 100% sure how I feel about this book. The way it was written, the doubling back, the ending… were definitely all choices, but it kept me reading and wanting to find out what happened. I also loved the setting! I think I’ll need to read spoilers for the book when it actually comes out to fully grasp.

The Fury by Alex Michaelides
Uniquely original murder mystery! This creative story features a famous Hollywood actress and her problematic friends on holiday on her private Greek Island. You are introduced to her friend Elliot Chase who is a play writer and who happens to be narrating the story. This mystery is told to the reader as if you are sitting in a bar having a drink with Elliot and he has decided to tell you a story of murder. This was fantastically fun and I enjoyed Elliot’s quick wit and the shocking twists and turns.

This novel by Alex Michaelides reads more like an Agatha Christie novel than his earlier novel The Silent Patient and I love the little Easter Egg at the end.

The Fury is being released January 16, 2024 and I will definitely be recommending this book to anyone who loves a cozy, quirky murder mystery. Thank you Macmillan Audio and Net Galley for the Advanced Reader Copy. #NetGalley #TheFury

This novel is the perfect example of how to utilize an unreliable narrator. I wish the twists and turns or a little more unpredictable within the book. But overall I did have a fun time reading it!

I really enjoyed THE FURY by Alex Michaelides! I really enjoyed his two other books The Silent Patient and The Maidens so I was very excited to read this book and I found it very entertaining. I loved the Greek island setting and the setup of a locked in murder mystery. The protagonist, Elliott, is a playwright and he tells his story with a cast of interesting characters including a movie star and her son. I really enjoyed the intense foreboding right from the start and the love triangle and secrets from Elliott’s past and how he’s such an unreliable narrator. I liked the twists at the end. The audiobook narrator Alex Jennings did a really great job. I was hooked in this novel and read it in 24 hours. I can’t wait for his next book!!

Really enjoyed this book. Just when I thought I had the story figured out there would be a twist and turn I wasn’t expecting. Highly recommend!

4.25★

This is my first Alex Michaelides book and it was such a fun read. I loved the writing style, the pov, and the ending???? I was hooked pretty early into the book. This story was so well rounded that it kept me guessing at every turn. I never knew if I could or should trust the narrator but it was so easy to be in their mind as they painted a great picture. I was absolutely shocked in the third act. It was so fast paced towards the end, I could barely keep up.

This book is perfect for you if you love a murder mystery/whodunit, an unreliable narrator, and complex characters/motives.

I loved the narrator for the audiobook! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This book was so fun! I felt like I pulled up to a bar to listen to the narrator tell me a story of love, a beautiful island and murder. The writing style of this book was probably my favourite thing about it.
Alex Michaelides always has many woah wait what? moments and this book was not short of them. There was a few times I was stopped in my tracks because of the twist that happened.

Alex Michaelides is an auto read author 100%

I have to be honest, this audiobook was not for me. I think I’ve come to learn that I actually don’t really enjoy when the fourth wall is broken, and I found the main character to be insufferable. It’s not the narrator’s fault, but after being a huge fan of The Silent Patient and then not really loving The Maidens, this also didn’t work for me.

This is like a Greek Agatha Christie retelling and even though it had some perks (like the ending and epilogue was actually shocking and brought everything together), the content itself wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy every chapter alluding to someone being sketchy or that something bad is going to happen soon. If it happens a few times, great, but it was all over the place.

This also absolutely spoils The Silent Patient for people, which I really don’t think is a good move seeing as that’s this author’s best work so far…

I just couldn’t vibe with the narration or the writing style. Thank you NetGalley, MacMillan audio, and Celadon for the advanced copies!

What a strange and extremely slow book. The plot was all over the place and the narrator is annoying always promising an upcoming twist. The first 150 pages just creep by as the group of friends celebrate on a private Greek island.
By the time I got to the end of the book, I didn’t like anyone and frankly didn’t care if any of them lived or died. Most of all though, what is up with the spoiler alert for the “The Silent Patient”?
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for my ARC.