Member Reviews

<originally posted on Instagram>

Dual reading experience ✌️ Thanks to @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio I listened to the auto book for The Fury while I read along 📖👀🎧 Which is by far my favorite way to consume literate - is’t Alex Jennings reading voice absolutely dreamy!?!

Listen, if thrillers have taught us anything, it’s “do not, under any circumstance, join “friends” on a private island excursion”. Lucky for us, this group of trash for human beings did not get the memo - as a result, one of them is murdered... Dun dun duuun.

We learn from the very beginning this brilliantly structured murder mystery is not a whodunnit, but a whydunnit... and I’m going to tell you, it’s also a whodunnwhat - to no surprise, a very unreliable character is our guid through the tangled web.

Overall, I had fun reading 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗿𝘆. It is filled with backstabbing, secrets, and deception... 🎶 these are a few of my favorite things.

However, I really craved stronger character development. I feel the lack of characterization may have been intentional, as Elliot has no reason to show all his cards, but one cannot form a full loaf of bread with mere breadcrumbs - nonetheless, the unique storyline that unfolded like a play kept me fully captivated.

Final thoughts - If you love unfolding the mystery more than suspense, this is a good book for you. I went in with hesitation, because I was not a fan of The Silent Patient, but I found the Fury to be significantly better developed and if you’re in the same boat as me with the former novel, you will too.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the writing style and story progression of this book! The Fury is a story told by Elliot Chase, in a first person interview dialogue style. The pacing of this book was so good. It really did feel like I was sitting down with Alex as he told me this story. I loved his tangents he would go on to give more context to the story and it gave this story more life. The way he revealed information to the reader also made this story more enjoyable!

I received the audiobook version and it was so good! This is the perfect book on audio. It feels like a friend is telling you a bedtime story. Alex Jennings was the perfect narrator for this book! I don’t think I would have enjoyed this book as much if I didn’t listen to the audio version.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audio-arc of the The Fury by Alex Michaelides!

Was this review helpful?

We're getting there Michaelides. I keep waiting for another Silent Patient level novel from him...fingers crossed for the next one.

I couldn't stand the ending of The Maidens. I literally threw the book. Thankfully the ending of this one was much better. I saw some of it coming, but not all. I enjoyed the storytelling of this novel, but it did drag at times and I would feel myself becoming less invested. Thankfully I stuck with it because the last 50 or so pages were really good...but you are probably going to need to push through to get there if you are an "action packed" lover. You also need to be able to enjoy a book that doesn't have any likeable characters.

Overall, I give it four stars and recommend picking it up if you enjoyed his other books.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun quick read/listen. I have loved Michaelides’ books and while it was different than his other two-it was still really good.

There is no really mind shattering turns, but I do like how he sets the book up in 5 Acts. And the reader quickly becomes invested in the characters (who are all vacationing on a Greek island when one of them gets murdered).

Was this review helpful?

The Fury is a fast-paced, closed environment style mystery with a relatively small cast of characters and suspects.

It’s one of those books where basically every character is unlikable, but especially the narrator. That said, I started off reading this physically, then switched to the audio about halfway through, and I really felt that the audiobook narrator matched the energy and vibes of Elliot, our MC, and overall did a great job!

One if the things I liked best about this book was the unique storytelling style! It’s told in part like a play, like a classic tragedy, but also like the narrator is speaking conversationally directly to you, the reader. That bit of fourth wall breaking I thought was well done and added a lot of dimension.

Story-wise I feel like the book was trying a little too hard, but I was pretty entertained. The ending was twisty but not quite mind blowing.

In general, I would recommend to thriller lovers, and I’m looking forward to picking up Michaelides The Silent Patient, as I’ve heard that one is even better!

Was this review helpful?

Didn't love this. Found the story telling to be a bit disjointed. The main character went of frequent tangents which distracted from the overall story.

Was this review helpful?

A murder-mystery with red herring upon red herring, with each of the 5 acts revealing a twist I did not see coming. Elliot is the narrator of this story, and his self-proclamation of being unreliable made me intrigued from the beginning. He sets out to tell the story of a murder on a famous actress’ island with the killer being one of a close band of comrades. This plays out between a playwright (Elliot), two movie stars turned best friends (Kate and Lana), a husband (Jason), and a devoted son (Leo) on a remote Greek island with a widowed caretaker (Nikos).

Listening to this story as opposed to reading it hooked me immediately as it connected me to Elliot as the narrator, and allowed me to understand his biases in a more personal way. His continual breaking of the fourth wall also felt more tangible when listening as if Elliot was a real man retelling this tale to me over the phone.

Overall, I was entertained and sped through this book, ravenous to hear the ending especially with all of the twists that appeared in each part. However, I was ultimately dissatisfied by the ending, and felt instead of leaving me gutted (which I believe it was meant to), I was just irritated. Each of the five parts contained some reframing of the story either in narrator or revealing a previously believed truth to be a lie; at first this was shocking, but it grew old after the second time it happened. Perhaps my opinions of this book are best summed up by a quote from Elliot himself; it was “a tale of beautiful, well-intentioned failure”.

Was this review helpful?

Alex Michaelides, acclaimed author of "The Silent Patient," once again delivers a riveting psychological thriller in "The Fury," and the audiobook version brings this gripping tale to life in an unforgettable way.

Narrated with precision and intensity, the audiobook of "The Fury" plunges listeners into a world of dark secrets and twisted mysteries. The narrator's command of tone and pacing keeps the tension palpable throughout, drawing listeners deeper into the tangled web of the story.

Michaelides' masterful storytelling shines through in "The Fury," weaving together a complex narrative filled with unexpected twists and haunting revelations. From the opening chapter to the final, chilling conclusion, the audiobook keeps listeners on the edge of their seats, eager to unravel the truth behind the enigmatic characters and their intertwined fates.

What sets "The Fury" apart is its exploration of the human psyche and the depths of obsession and betrayal. Michaelides delves into the darkest corners of the mind, crafting a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

Whether you're a fan of psychological thrillers or simply enjoy a well-crafted mystery, "The Fury" audiobook is sure to captivate and enthrall. With its expert narration and spine-tingling plot, it's an experience that will linger in your thoughts long after the final chapter has concluded. Dive into "The Fury" audiobook for an immersive journey into the heart of darkness.

Was this review helpful?

This one I was highly anticipated since I absolutely loved Silent Patient! I also enjoyed The Maiden and now this one was also amazing!The twist had me gagging in shock so good! A most read for all mystery lovers!

Was this review helpful?

This is the story of a murder on an island as told by one of the guests at the island for a vacation. The host, Lana, is a retiree actress invited a couple friends to the island for a vacation but there are secrets among them. And then there is a murder and the Elliot tells us the story of this murder and the solving of the crime.

This was fascinating. I really enjoyed the unique winding storytelling in this book. After it got to the first pivot moment, I was hooked. The story and the style really makes you think about what is happening the motives behind all the characters actions. I didn't really like nay of the characters and wasn't really all the invested in them, but I enjoyed the style of the book and did want to know how it ended.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced copy of the audiobook. The narration was solid and enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

I listened to The Fury by Alex Michaelides as The Silent Patient was great and The Maidens was very good. This one just didn't hit the mark for me. The plot had a creative edge but overall it was on the dull side for me. The characters were quirky, distant, and unlikable with nobody standing out except for maybe one.

I did like the super subtle connection to the previous books. Each subsequent book has now dipped a star for me so I really need him to do something special with the next one. The audiobook narration was ok @ 1.25 speed which was necessary to pick up the pace.

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to love this one, but I'm not sure I was ever really feeling this twisty, dizzying novel. THE FURY reminds me of two recent loves of mine: It has some plot crossover with Chris Bohjalian's THE LIONESS (A starlet takes her crew on an exotic vacation, folks die), as well as WEST HEART KILL (a murder mystery breaks the fourth wall as it breaks itself down), but this didn't feel as sexy or structured as LIONESS, nor as ingenius as KILL. The novel's structure (a story, then more detail to that story, then more detail) felt deceptive at times, and I never found myself connected to Elliott, which I know makes me less of a sociopath than he was :). I couldn't understand the love for Jason in the story, nor the relationship between Lana and Elliott. While I was taken aback by the twist, the ultimate finale felt predictable way too early as, having read his prior books, I knew Mr. Michaelides would make the murderer who it was.

I will still recommend this book, but it wasn't for me personally!

Was this review helpful?

The story was not emotionally engaging. The characters didn't have depth and I didn't care what they did or what happened to them. DNF.

Was this review helpful?

Lana, a retired Hollywood star, invites several of her closest friends to join her on the Greek island of Aura. This weekend getaway was supposed to serve to provide a little sunshine to their lives, but little do the attendees know that it will also result in someone’s murder.

This story is told in an interesting way. It uses the first-person perspective, but the narrator is also omniscient. The all-seeing narrator does play a small part in the story and, like everyone, his POV might be a bit skewed or unreliable. There was also some breaking of the fourth wall in this book, but not in a way that felt contrived. I enjoyed this approach to telling the story, and although there was plenty of meandering, backtracking, and ignoring things we thought we knew, I was a fan of the ride. The book was also written in five acts like a play, which was a fun nod to several aspects of the plot and characters.

With the backtracking and rambling, this story does require a little patience. The beginning is also quite heavy on nonlinear backstory for the characters involved, which does bog down the overall feel of the book. This also felt like less of a thriller and more of a unique and creative take on an Agatha Christie styled mystery (although the narrator swears several times that Agatha Christie had nothing to do with these events).

If you enjoyed atmospheric islands, murder mysteries, the theater, and unreliable narrators, then this is worth checking out. My thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This was an interesting book and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it. I LOVED the Silent Patient, but Alex Michaelides seems to be hit or miss for me, and unfortunately this one was more of a miss. Although I did enjoy the psychological "nothing is as it seems" aspect of this, I did not like or care for the narrator which made this book hard to finish. There were so many twists that at times it was hard to follow, but I pushed through as I was trying to figure out what in the world was going on. Overall, I did enjoy this one and I feel many people would love it.

As far as the audiobook goes, I unfortunately was not a fan of the narrator. Normally I love all of these different narrators, but this one did not flow with me.

𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙤𝙧: Alex Jennings
𝙇𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙩𝙝: 8h 8m

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙣𝙟𝙤𝙮:
• Greek tragedy
• psychological thriller
• slow burn

"Now, I know only this for sure- the first half of life is pure selfishness: the second half, all grief."

Thank you for the complimentary copy! I really appreciate it🙂

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much @celadonbooks and @macmillanaudio for sending me an ARC of this book! The Fury is out on shelves now!

This was an anticipated read for me but unfortunately it fell so short. I think I’ll forever be chasing the thrill that Alex Michaelides’ The Silent Patient gave me… I didn’t see that twist coming at all and really loved reading that book.

I liked his next book, The Maidens, a bit less. And this new book, The Fury, I sadly enjoyed even less….

There were some fun aspects. As a theatre person, the theatre tidbits were a fun addition! And I love the Easter eggs and connections Michaelides includes in all his books!

But overall this thriller felt weak to me. Michaelides has a talent for writing unreliable narrators, but there was something about Elliot that drove me crazy in a I-don’t-want-to-keep-reading way. I also thought the premise wasn’t exciting. The twists were lackluster and predictable.

Did I love this book? Not at all. Will I keep reading Alex Michaelides’ books? Absolutely

Was this review helpful?

In "The Fury" by Alex Michaelides, the tale unfolds on a private Greek island where seven individuals find themselves trapped with a murderer among them. Narrated by Alex Jennings, known for his role in "The Crown," I found that this mystery takes much too long to unfold.

Told through the narrator's perspective, listeners experience the dynamic web of relationships and secrets. With Lana Farrar, Kate Crosby, and others in the mix, tensions escalate as suspicions rise. At any given point, everyone has a motive. But it's just too boring.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for providing an advanced listener copy via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

another classic from Alex Michaelides. I loved the incorporation of all the Greek lore and tragic tales in this one. A few twists and I liked the narrative style

Was this review helpful?

This was an odd duck for sure. I listened to this which with how it is written, I wouldn't recommend. The author has this written like he is talking to you and tell you a story. But it goes back in forth in timeline like how a normal conversation can go when you remember something or go off on a tangent. So that made it difficult as a listener. Is made the story feel disjointed and I didn't really know where he was going with it all.

Was this review helpful?

As always, Alex Michaelides delivers a thrilling novel filled with twists and gripping drama. I loved this and I'm pretty sure all thriller lovers will as well. The characters are well written and the setting is ideal for a thrilling ride.

Was this review helpful?