For a book that progressed so slowly, the ending had twist after twist that was not congruent with the rest of the story. Michaelides has proven his ability in the past with taut plots and building tension, but this book felt like he was trying too hard to be different and shocking. I'd have probably felt more comfortable with the book had it not been for the annoying twists at the end that employed some of my least favorite reveal techniques. All the excess crafting would've been better if there had been a single likable character, too.

1 star because I finished it. 1 star because I was invested in the ending. And 1 star for shocking me, despite not liking the shock.

I really loved this one for the first half of the book. The narration style is fun, the setting of a secluded greek island, and a set of characters who all have secrets makes for an intriguing story. I also personally love following celebrities, so the fact that one of our MCs was a famous movie star was really fun, as well! My issues came in the second half of the book. Without spoiling anything, I the narration style is ultimately what caused this to not quite work for me. I think if it had been told differently I actually would've liked the twists a lot more.

Overall I did still have a good time and would still recommend this book! It just isn't my favorite from the author.

A highly atmospheric read, this story is full of untrustworthy characters and lots of twists and turns. The book is well crafted with wonderful writing, but I found it a little hard to connect with and care for these characters who were a little whiny and annoying.

The narration for this audiobook was superb and very reminiscent of famous radio plays of the 1940-50s (reminded me a bit of the show The Shadow).

4.5 ⭐️! Some authors write stories and others tell stories through their writing; Alex Michaelides is a truly artistic story-teller. This particular story was told in such a unique and refreshing way, frequently breaking the fourth wall, and, (oftentimes humorously) combatting cliches usually seen in thriller/suspense novels.

I was worried it wouldn’t live up to how much I thoroughly enjoyed The Silent Patient (also written by Michaelides), but The Fury was another page-turner that I couldn’t put down! Probably one of my top reads of 2023 that I can’t wait to recommend when it releases in January 2024! I alternated between physically reading this book and listening to the audiobook version and I equally enjoyed both formats.

(Huge thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Alex Michaelides for a free e-ARC in exchange for this honest review!)

Book: The Fury
Author: Alex Michaelides
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fiction, Thriller
Places Featured: Fictional island near Mykonos, Greece
Review Score: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Review: Michaelides gives us another thriller where the thrill is all about the perspective–this story is told by Elliot Chase who has traveled to a private Greek island owned by his best friend (Lana–a famous actress) who has invited her closest friends for a little getaway. The getaway becomes less than idyllic though when someone ends up dead, meaning there is a killer loose on the island. The story is a little complicated, but it really is the author’s style of writing that makes the book. It keeps you engaged and wondering.
*I was given a version of this book for free in exchange for an honest book review. The book will be released on 16 January 2024.

Lana, a famous actress, needing to escape flys herself, husband, son, and small group of friends to her private island in Greece. They find themselves cut off from the outside world by strong winds know as “The Fury”. Lies and checkered pasts lead to a possible murder and complex whodunit storyline.

It started off a little slow with a lot of characters, but listening to the audiobook made it easier to get into and the next thing I knew I was completely absorbed and couldn’t put it down.

This twisty tale is told through the eyes of one unlikable narrator who sets up the atmosphere for this unique and unexpected murder mystery. The audiobook narrator, Alex Jennings embodied the unlikable and questionable Elliot perfectly.

The short chapters, and different acts build and propel the mystery forward. This is more mystery than thriller. Expect to be surprised by unexpected twists, secrets, affairs, and lies.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARL of The Fury by Alex Michaelides. At first, The Fury started off slow and I wasn’t sure how it would pan out, but as we got into Act II, the pace started picking up and I really started to enjoy the story. I love how Alex Michaelides structured the story. With the main character being an aspiring play writer, the story was told in first person POV and was really a story within a story. Broken into five Acts, the story was structured just like a playbook, which I thought was brilliant. Alex Jenning did a wonderful job bringing the main character, Elliot’s voice to life. This story was full of twisted friendships and love. If you’re into thrillers or murder mysteries and love a good “whodunnit” story with a twist, then this is the book for you. ❤️

I am so sad! I spent months trying to get this book as an ARC and got approved and started it right away! Unfortunately, this was not what I had hyped it up to be in my brain after loving this author’s previous books! I truly have no idea what really happened in this book. If you needed me to summarize it… I could not do that. The narrator is so unbelievably unreliable that I don’t know what’s real and what’s not! I’d love to hear what others think about it!

This book publishes 1/16/24 and if you’ve read Michaelides previous books, check it out and let me know your thoughts!

I was SUPER EXCITED to read this book because I LOVED The Silent Patient. The book moved fast and just when you think you figured it out, you’ve realized you have not. Good book but would not recommend to a friend.

The Fury a mystery book that I thought was going to be predictable, but ending up completely surprising me and had me questioning everything! Definitely keep me wondering and a quick listen! Would definitely recommend to any mystery lover

This book is such a page turner and keeps you on your toes until very end. Just when you think you know what happens, here comes another twist. Loved the way the narrator broke the fourth wall; makes it feel like a friend telling you the story. Well done Michaelides.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC audiobook version.
This books is a character study. Are any of us really what we seem or are we all actors on the stage of life?
Though this book is fairly fast paced, even more so thanks to audiobook narrator Alex Jennings, it’s not what I would call a thriller. It’s more of a book about who people are, why they think the way they do and how they act. There were lots of moving parts and I never would’ve guessed the ending.
I always enjoy Michaelides “easter eggs” in each of his books. It feels like you’re part of an inside joke.

The Fury is a very unique mystery that I never could have unraveled on my own. Get ready for the most unreliable narrator & unlikeable characters if you dive into this one. It’s a private island mystery like no other. The writing style is very different. It switches between 1st and 3rd constantly, but for good reason. Very slow burn thriller that leads into a shocking finale. Loved the audio. It really set the mood of the book.

📚Review: The Fury 🏝️
This book was so fun. I received this as an ARC from @netgalley and had to start it right away. It has been one of my most anticipated reads for 2024, so I was super excited that I finally had got approved. The Silent Patient by this same author is one of my all time favorite books, so I have been patiently waiting for his next book. Although this was nothing at all like The Silent Patient, I still really liked and enjoyed this book a lot. Talk about unreliable narrators! Wow! I really liked how the narrator “talked” to the readers as he went on with telling his story. I thought that was unique and well done. 👏🏻👏🏻
This last 25% of the book was so good and suspenseful, I had to keep going to find out what was going to happen. Not to mention the twists that kept coming too. After the epilogue my head was spinning. And I thought the ending was so clever. My mouth literally fell open. Without telling too much, this book is about a small group of people who go on vacation on a greek island. The narrator tells the story and introduces each person and you get to know each of their stories and how they are all connected. There is a murder (or two) and you are left trying to figure out who did it and why. It reminded me somewhat of an Agatha Christie book, Evil Under The Sun. (Minus the detective) But it was just so good. Cleverly written. I really enjoyed this one. I hope you do too. It was a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars for me. Be sure to check this one out when it’s released next month. I can’t wait to add it to my collection. Thank you again to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: January 16, 2024.

Have you read any books by this author yet? Which is your favorite?

This book would be great for anyone who loves Agatha Christie type mysteries, or anyone who enjoyed the previous books by the author, Alex Michaelides.

Elliott Chase is friends with a famous former actress and goes for a visit on her Greek island, where there is a murder. The story shows what leads up to the murder and the aftermath of it. I don't want to say too much more because of spoilers, but you will have fun trying to figure it out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced edition of the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

Elliot Chase is our narrator, who promises to tell us about a murder. Elliot is constantly addressing us, the readers, in a very meta-fourth-wall-breaking method which I can see had some mixed reviews.

Elliot befriended the reclusive actress Lana Farrar. Lana used to be all over the screen but her time has passed. Lana invites her friends, including Elliot, to travel with her to a private Greek island, the perfect setting for a locked room mystery.

We don't find out the victim of the murder for some time. Instead we learn about each of the seven characters that went to the island, including Elliot, all of which are hiding secrets and could be murderers.. or victims.

I thought this was an enjoyable thriller. It had great narration that kept me interested. Thank you Macmillan Audio for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC of this book.

This is my favorite book of Michaelides’s yet! I loved how the storyline was written out like a performance. It was a very enjoyable read. I love mysteries/thrillers where the characters are stranded somewhere and isolated trying to solve a crime and this was a really fun twist on that.

📚 #BOOKREVIEW 📚
The Fury by Alex Michaelides
⭐️⭐️⭐️ / Pages: 320 / Genre: Murder Mystery / Narrator: Alex Jennings

A reclusive ex-movie star invites her closest friends to her Greek island for a getaway. The trip ends in murder. How delicious!

I’m a big fan of this author. I loved The Silent Patient and The Maidens, but this one really didn’t do it for me. The twists and surprises were great, it’s the main character Elliot Chase that I just couldn’t stand. And you’re supposed to not like him, he’s very unlikeable. But I hate whiny characters who go off on their inner monologues and this is one of those. I listened to the audiobook on this one and the narrator Alex Jennings does a great job, but maybe if I read it I would have liked it more as I could have skipped past some of the rantings. Oh well, I’m still a Michaelides fan and am looking forward to his next book.

Thank you @NetGalley and @CeladonBooks for the advanced copy.

Well, there was a lot to take in and many characters to semi sort through.

7 people are trapped on a Greek island; 1 killer and 1 unreliable narrator; this person wasn't quite the person we all thought he/she was.

I really enjoyed listening to The Fury, written by Alex Michaelides and narrated by Alex Jennings. Jennings voice brought the suspense and head scratching moments to life in my mind. There are many characters and some "hmmmm" moments that made me take notes on who was who (otherwise I got lost). While I feel Michaelides redeemed himself from the Maidens (not my favorite after his breakout Silent Patient), I'm curious on what's next.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my alc in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Celdaon for allowing me to participate in the January little free library drop!

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm one of maybe 5 people who didn't read The Silent Patient, so this is my initial foray into Alex Michaelides, and I was not disappointed! The story was a little repetitive in the first half, and then things start to happen very fast. I could have done with far less setup of the cast of characters, but I'm feeling forgiving.

A group of friends, all involved with film/theatre or ancillaries to that world, go away for a long Easter weekend to a Greek island owned by their host, Hollywood starlet of yore, Lana Farrar. But all is not as it seems; there is subterfuge underfoot: a plot to test the worthiness of some of Lana's oldest friends and family members. Telling the story is Elliott Chase, now a writer but once an unwanted, unloved child, like so many in the entertainment business. He's loved Lana from his perch in the Friend Zone for decades, and might finally see his chance to escape it during this trip, if he plays his cards well.

The Fury refers to the whipping winds around the island, which cut off the place from mainland boats when strong (as in our story). Elliott is voiced by Alex Jennings, best known to me as Edward, Duke of Windsor from The Crown, and he is most capable (and not sounding quite as plummy as he did on that show). In my mind, he was Tim Roth, who I think would be well-cast as a somewhat debauched, aging playwright with a seedy past.