Sadly… this one missed the mark for me. I was Such a huge fan of The Silent Patient, but his follow up books have not given me that same feeling. It’s sometimes hard to love up to a great debut.

This story overall did not hold my interest. I didn’t care for our unreliable narrator, Elliot, one bit. I actually found all of the characters unlikeable which made it hard for me to stay engaged. By the end of it, I found myself not caring who died or who did it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an ARC of The Fury in exchange for an honest review.

Seven people are alone for a weekend on a private Greek Island owned by the famous former movie star, Lana Farrar. There’s Lana, her husband Jason, and her son Leo. There are her friends—or maybe frenemies—fellow actress Kate and playwright Elliot. Finally, there’s the staff: Lana’s longtime housekeeper Agathy and the island’s caretaker, Nikos. Allegedly designed to be a relaxing trip with friends and family, several of the seven have come to the island with secrets and secret agendas. So it’s not entirely surprising that before the end of the weekend, at least one of the seven has been murdered ….

The above description may make The Fury sound like every Agatha Christie book you’ve ever read, but the similarities pretty much stop with the set up. The story is being told not by some omniscient narrator, but by Elliot, who speaks to the reader like we’re having a private conversation and who very quickly reveals he’s not the most reliable of narrators. His version of the story loops back upon itself several times, as we see a scene, then see it again with more context, and then again with him recounting another character’s perspective. Or he’ll describe a scene, and then admit it didn’t really happen like that, and then tell what truly happened.

The Fury is a solid mystery with multiple plot and narrative twists that will likely come as a surprise. Still, I suspect your enjoyment of The Fury will probably be made of broken by how much you are captivated by Elliot’s storytelling style. I found it fairly original and certainly absorbing. I enjoyed the five act structure and the many digressions that examine these characters and situations as if they were fictional (which, of course, we know they are). And the audiobook narration by Alex Jennings—who played the Duke of Windsor on The Crown—is great. He’s a talented actor who very effectively conveyed Elliot’s contradictions and foibles. Recommended.

A fun mystery with some Hollywood glam, an unreliable narrator and a gossipy vibe. While the plot didn’t really surprise, it was entertaining.

4.25/5

As a fan of The Silent Patient and The Maidens, I had high hopes for this book. This book was definitely entertaining, but it did not live up to my expectations. I enjoyed the unreliable narrator, but it did make it difficult at points knowing what was real or not. As in his previous novels, you never know where the story is going; the third act twist definitely surprised me. All in all, I did enjoy the book even though it did not meet my high expectations.

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

This is the first book by Alex Michaelides that I’ve read although I’m familiar with his other works. I was drawn in by the way the story is structured, as though we’re being told the story first hand. It has a very intimate quality to it, like you’re being let in on a secret. But soon it’s all too apparent that our unnamed narrator (later revealed as Elliott Chase) is completely unreliable.

We’re told early on that the events that transpired - where a group of people holiday on a remote Greek island and someone ends up dead - are told entirely from Elliott’s perspective even going so far as to fill in thoughts of others and dialogue for moments that he was absent for.

Clearly, he’s leading the story which I was happy to allow because as I said you’re pulled in by the intimacy of feeling like you're getting in on the secret of finding out what happened. Considering one of the people in the group that day was a famous and beloved actress and it adds another layer of almost salacious gossip. But don’t get too comfortable as the narrative quickly twists to add other unforeseen layers.

Told like the acts of a play, I really appreciated the way in which Alex Michaelides added those layers of the story. It lends itself well to the performative aspect of Elliott's iteration of events. The repetition between the "acts" while also revealing new morsels of information was done really well.

While I like the reframing of the story as we go - which allows for a lot of change of perspective - I think it treads too fine a line and for me just crossed over into being too much. Too much unreliability in the things I was reading. Little to nothing that I could believe in without a shadow of a doubt which is an aspect I need in my books, even if it's just a morsel of truth. Unfortunately, all of this boils into the conclusion of the book, so it's not until then that I could confidently say that these were issues for me.

Beyond that, I did like the narrative choice. Despite being unlikable and unreliable, I like Elliott. He has a charisma about him that comes across so well, particularly in the audiobook as narrated by Alex Jennings. You can't help but lean into the story to see where he takes you.

Jennings further layers this kind of sinister quality into Elliott's voice at times which makes one a bit wary and unsettled. You almost brace yourself for the other shoe to drop and realize you're doing this throughout the entirety of the book.

Overall, I think it's a worthy read (or listen). I'd say it's more of a character study than a hard-hitting mystery. Maybe that's the key that I was missing while reading.

Unreliable narrator? Check!
Remote location? Check!
Murder? Check!

Michaelides has put together a fun, quirky, twisty, locked-room style mystery with The Fury. Set on a remote Greek island, our main character, Lana, has gathered her closest friends. What lies below are secrets that threaten to tear everything apart. But what’s real? Our narrator, Elliot, takes readers on a trip that lets you decide just what truths he has to tell. I loved the way that Michaelides structured this with glimpses into the past and the days that led up to everyone meeting on the island. The pacing was just right to keep the reader hooked and coming back for more.

The less you read about this book’s plot before picking it up, the better. Let it take you for a ride!

🎧: One thing I will strongly suggest is listening to this one on audio. I absolutely adore the way that Alex Jennings brought Elliot to life! Perfection!

I read and listened to The Fury via Netgalley and Alex Jennings is one clever narrator! That’s all I can say!

Alex Michaelides is back with another unputdownable and even twistier thriller! The most striking part of The Fury is the narrator who breaks the fourth wall with the reader by hashing out the events that unfold in the remote Greek Island with Lana, a former movie star, and her group of friends.

Everyone loves Lana and everyone wants a piece of her albeit for different reasons. Loyalties and old friendships are put to the test culminating in a deadly event. The narrator and cast are unreliable and mostly unlikeable. The narrator, in particular, is patronizing and ingratiating which I strongly suspect is by design. With short chapters and a narrator whom you get a sense isn’t quite right, the reader will swiftly turn the pages to find out what the heck is truth from fiction.

The first two-thirds are a bit of a slow burn with mostly the development of the main characters and their shared history. However the final third of the book more than makes up for it with twists after twists and a big final reveal that will shatter the main narrative of the story. That’s all I can say for now, the rest you’ll have to find out for yourself. The Silent Patient is still my number one favorite but The Fury comes a close second!

Elliot Chase is an author, who greets the reader (super meta) sits us down and tells us a story of murder; Seven people on a private Greek island, trapped by the furious wind

Author Alex Michaelides quotes several well known authors, using their writing techniques to create his third thriller. I immediately sensed Agatha Christie’s essence which acted like a big ol’ spoiler. I won’t say which book specifically, but if you’re a big fan like me, some of the twists will not surprise you

We’re told by Elliot that he’s unreliable and although I usually loathe unreliables, in this instance it worked for me. His honesty meant that I was on my guard and I respect honesty above most things. Elliot is methodical in his story telling, choosing when to share elements of his story and life, manipulating the reader and his friends. He’s unlikeable but because I “got him” I liked him. I would suggest that if you don’t like Elliot, you won’t like this book

Elliot believes this story is about love and the inner child - how we react to things because of who we were in childhood and I completely agree. He also talks about humans primary goal is to avoid pain and that resonated with me too

The writing style and gripping story kept me hooked and I whizzed through this quickly. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Alex Jennings so if you can listen to this, I recommend it

Overall, a fast paced, addictive, twisty book that I really enjoyed reading

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review

I went into this book not having read any of Alex Michaelides's work before. It was definitely an interesting read. I found myself confused at times about what was "real life" in the story and what was part of the play. It was written differently than most books I've read. Not going to lie, but it was not one of my favorite reads. However,I could see it being a tv show or a movie! Thank you, Celadon books and NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book was fantastic as far as interesting timelines. I really enjoyed seeing the same events from various perspectives and the insight that the book brought on Greece and even unexpectedly the characters of the Wizard of Oz.

This gripping and suspenseful book is about a murder that takes place on a Greek island, but it is so much more than that. It is also a tragic love story. It is about seven people trapped on a Greek Island. It's a Greek Tragedy. Whew! It's The Fury! What a brilliant title. It is so fitting in so many ways.

Lana Farrar is a married famous movie star. She values her privacy and has a small group of friends. At her friend Elliott's urging, she invites her nearest and dearest to spend Easter on Aura, her private Greek Island. There will be a total of seven people (Lana, Elliott, Kate, Jason, Leo, Agathi and Nikos) on the island but when it is time to leave, only six will be leaving alive!

Elliot Chase, Lana's friend, is the narrator of the tale. He is quite the interesting narrator and I enjoyed how he told readers the events in acts as this reads very much like a play. Like a Greek Tragedy! There is mystery, obsession, revenge, tragic love, drama and displays of wits!

Go into this book as blind as possible. I found this book to be atmospheric with a nice amount of drama, secrets, lies and twists. It also has the trapped feeling that I love in books. Lana and her guests are on an island and are trapped there overnight due to the winds. They are not the most likeable bunch of characters, but they are interesting. The beginning begins slowly but by the 50% mark, things get interesting. Then there is that ending!

I had the pleasure of having both the book and audiobook and thought Alex Jennings, the narrator, did a fantastic job. He really brought Elliott and the other characters to life! Well done!

Gripping, atmospheric, clever, and dramatic! I'm looking forward to what Alex Michaelides writes next.

I must admit I was disappointed by this audiobook, It was too confusing. I think it would have been less so if there had been numerous voices for the different characters. There was too much back and forth. To much past present and dang sideways too.

Michaelides really nails it with the atmosphere of this book. You have a reclusive movie star. A private island off the coast of Greece with a small group of family and friends. A murder. And a narrator that takes you on the best ride.

Our narrator, Elliot, has been friends with Lana for most of his life. He tells you from the start this is a story of murder and love and he's not wrong. As he tells the story of what happened, he jumps back and forth to lead the reader on a trail as we try to figure out who died, who did what, and what we should believe. There is a myriad of twists and turns throughout. I loved Elliot's narration and how he really makes you question whether he is reliable or not. It was great! I did not guess the ending at all and was entertained the whole time. I couldn't stop reading.

The audiobook grabs you from the moment Elliot begins talking to you. Alex Jennings does a great job of bringing him to life and masterfully portrays the unreliable narrator that he is. It simply levels up this already fantastic book.

If you enjoyed Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, I think you will enjoy this one a lot. Michaelides delivers a psychological thriller that is sure to be a hit.

Books by Michaelides always feel like, and I mean this as a huge compliment, a throwback to classic British mystery shows on BBC. They take me back to my youth, just discovering a passion for mysteries.

The Fury is a murder mystery on the private island of Lana Farrar, a reclusive retired movie star, when she plans an impromptu vacation for herself and her famous friends. The weekend’s tragic events are recounted by Elliot Chase, one of her best friends, as he retraces what happened during those days and the complexities of emotions and relationships over the previous weeks (and years) that brought them all to the island tragedy.

In this first-person narration, Elliot regularly engages directly with the reader as he tries to make sense of what unfolded. There were a couple of points in this book where I thought, “Wait, is this going to be exactly what I thought from the first page?” But Michaelides provides several twists that made me smile that I hadn’t (quite) understood the complexity of the tale. Does this have the shock-and-awe of his debut, The Silent Patient? No. But is it a really entertaining mystery novel? Absolutely.

The true gem is the audiobook, narrated by actor Alex Jennings. He does an extraordinary job and will have you absolutely hypnotized by his captivating narration.

Thanks to @netgalley, @macmillian.audio, and Alex Michaelides for the free audiobook and the opportunity to provide my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded
If you, at any point, have watched the movie - or attended the theatrical play of Sleuth, this book will come as absolutely no surprise to you. If you have NOT then I think you'll have a good time. The narration by Alex Jennings was well done. I will say that Alex Michaelides writing has certainly improved since the publication of The Silent Patient. I thought the choice to have the main POV tell this story to us was a good one, this is definitely a book you should read when the weather is dreary/rainy, in my opinion.

The Fury tried to be witty. It tried to establish an interesting form of narration in which they participate in the events of the book and try to tell us the story. From the first pages, those remarks establish him as an unreliable narrator. I knew I couldn't trust him. As to this point, I was intrigued, but the further the story went, the wittiness became annoying. The story began to transform into a boring blob of unrelated and chaotic events. Evidently, there was a problem with establishing a timeline. The lack of objectivity and negative approach to every single one of the characters (except one) make it sound whiny and unbearable. I lost track of what I was experiencing, the story of the murder or the story of why nobody loves the narrator, and they are justified for it. I wasn't charmed, I was boiling for a waste of time.
The plot had an interesting twist, to which I would gladly come quicker if not for the unnecessary fluff. And believe me, I like a good setting. This was just not good for me.

*format of a play
*annoying narrator accent
*slow first half
*felt more like a literary exercise than a thriller
*Greek tragedy meets Edgar Allan Poe

I really enjoyed this one and flew right through it. It had a unique structure and I do love the way Michaelides work is influenced by Greek literature. It definitely kept me on my toes and I squealed at the reference to The Silent Patient at the end 👀! I alternated between the audiobook and physical book and preferred the physical book. The narrator was just ok for me but I think it’s just a personal preference since other reviews loved the narrator.

Sigh. It’s finally happened. Alex Michaelides has let me down.

It seems Michaelides is a rather divisive author, people seem to either really love his books or really hate them. I for one- have really loved them. And I tried very very hard to love The Fury as equally as I had his previous two novels, but alas. The main character of this book drove me absolutely bonkers. And honestly it was hard to find a character in the story who was likable. The plot was meh and kind of drawn out. But, even though Michaelides would likely hate hearing this- it was VERY Agatha Christie. Three stars from me this go round.

The Fury is about a murder that occurs when a group of friends are vacationing on a secluded Greek island. It’s kind of an Agatha Christie whodunnit mixed with a Greek tragedy play and is told in five acts. As one of the characters on the island, the narrator provides an unreliable account of what happened, continually breaking the fourth wall to bring the reader in.

This was just okay for me. I usually enjoy unreliable narrators but in this instance, my head was spinning by the end in a way that made me just not really care who did what. I wished there was more character building at the beginning, instead of all this “you’ve never heard a story like this before” and all the bravado. I didn’t really think it picked up until around 50-60%. After enjoying the Silent Patient, I was anticipating a twist but this felt predictable for me.

However, without spoilers, I do think this book could provide a great discussion at a bookclub.

I thought the narrator did a great job engaging the listener and telling the story. I thought it could have gone a step further with a full cast, but it was well done regardless.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.