The narrative style is intensely self-aware, and I found myself getting pissed at Elliot. The dynamics among the other characters or so-called friends on the island appeared to be marked by mutual disdain, perhaps even bordering on loathing. Not a single character resonated with me. The overall flow of the story is erratic. The initial stages were sluggish and repetitive, while the conclusion took a hit from left field.

Having thoroughly enjoyed "The Silent Patient," this novel failed to meet expectations. The characters failed to capture my interest, and my investment in the story was lukewarm at best. Despite the lingering desire to unravel the mystery of who did what, upon finishing, I was left with a rather lackluster feeling.

While you know within the first chapter that a murder has been committed, the book's first half is a slow-paced development of the characters, the relationships, and their motives for being the murderer or the victim.

By 60%, the pacing changes into a non-stop action plot with twists and turns around every corner. It reached a furious crescendo that I did not see coming, but Alex’s books tend to do that to me!

Why we love it: I loved the settings - mostly gorgeous Greece, sometimes rainy London. I loved the characters (and by loved I mean loved to hate them all.) The book being in journal format was stellar storytelling, as was the audiobook narrator’s reading of it. #gifted by Celadon Books

I almost want to come in giving this 2.5 stars. I was not a fan. The narrator, Elliot, tells us he is an unlikable character. The reader knows that immediately and even if he didn't warn us, we would still dislike him very much. The internal dialogue, which was meant to be narration/storytelling, just came across of sniveling nonsense. The amount of times he interrupted himself to say he was getting off track and would get back to that line of thought another time was borderline infuriating. I did not like this book. I did listen to the audiobook. I think that the actual audiobook narrator did such a great job in production of making Elliot unlikable. So kudos to him!

The Fury is told by our narrator Elliot Chase. Our story is about Lana Farrar, a reclusive ex-movie star. Elliot is a friend if Lana’s, who is accompanying her and her family and a mutual friend Kate on a trip to a price Greek island.

While there, tension amongst friends thickens, gun shots are heard, and a body is discovered. Who did it? A friend? An intruder on the island? As Elliot starts to unravel the story, we see that not all are who they seem to be and everyone is keeping secrets.

Honestly, this was not my favorite by this author. I very much disliked the narrator Elliot. I also didn’t love how the “twists” were done-I felt like I had whiplash.

If this is your first read by Alex Michaelides and you didn’t love it, please pick up The Silent Patient or The Maidens. In my opinion they were better!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for access to an early recording of the audiobook.

As always, all opinions are my own.

I always appreciate that Alex Michaelides is going to create unique formats for his stories. While the ending of this one didn’t work for me, I enjoyed the listen!

There was a slow burn in the beginning. I thought it was slow until I got half way through it then the book takes off and I couldn't put the book down. I was so intrigued and just loved this story. I am a big fan of this author. All of the characters are so unlikable.

I thought I had the whole book figured out but I did not see the twists coming at the end. I was so surprised my jaw hit the floor.
This book was one of my most anticipated reads. When I got the copy of the book I screamed with excitement. I was thrilled.

This is my second book from Michaelides and I have to say that I enjoyed it more than the first one. The twists and turns were dramatic and gripping. However, I did find the constant switch from the current timeline to a flashback slightly confusing at times and they weren't as seamless as they could have been. I enjoyed the drama and the flair that came with the atmosphere and setup of this book. And even though I knew where the story was going, I enjoyed how Michaelides told it. The narration was wonderful too.

Twists, turns and unable to put it down. This book builds layers and keeps you guessing. I loved it. A locked room mystery on a Greek island. Celebrities, egos, jealousy, greed, ambition - everyone has a motive. It begins as a narrator sitting at a bar telling a tale that you may or may not believe. You are swept into the lives of a handful of people and learn all of their back stories. Lana a worldwide movie celebrity has a home on a Greek island to escape her life. In the first chapter, someone dies. Was it the reclusive island local caretaker, the longtime housekeeper who holds superstitions, the two best friends (one male, one female and also a celebrity), the husband or the son. Oh, you won't know till you read/listen and then you still won't get it right. I did the audio version of this book, and the reader was great, and made the book go from 4 to 5 stars. Definitely one to read and then discuss!

I enjoyed the ultimate story of this but found the narration story telling a little bit hard to follow, with the voice of the narrator coming through so loudly. I like that the author was trying something different here, but it came across a little bit annoying to be. Still, this was a compelling story and I would recommend it to friends who love thrillers.

Michaelides' third novel is my least favourite by far. This book is so weird and messy. I found it impossible to suspend disbelief for. In the end I didn't care who had done it. I didn't care which of these flat characters would live or die. I didn’t hate this but I’m definitely feeling underwhelmed,

From wind to murder. "At its heart it's a love story, the saddest kind. about the end of love. The death of love." Narrator and character in the story was an interesting concept. There were 7 people trapped on the island. One of whom was a murderer. Not a who done it but rather a why done it.

This was such a slow thriller then the end seemed rushed. There is not much which kept my attention. I found I kept putting this book down. It was a slow burn. The story comes full circle after listening to an unreliable narrator who is telling the story. There were tangents that seemed silly but in the end made sense. It was an interesting read, and the story line overall was intriguing.

I listened to The Fury on Audiobook, written by Alex Michaelides and narrated by Alex Jennings. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I adore a closed-circle isolated mystery, and I was excited to try The Fury despite my past experiences with the author because I love this trope so much. I was further intrigued because The Fury is told in five parts, like a Greek tragedy, and the narrative structure is very meta. Which has been very big in publishing recently, and I am finding that I like it. Yet, here, it was underwhelming and poorly executed.

Bogged down by backstory and exposition, the first 3rd of the book is slow and meandering, and despite the number of pages dedicated to the formation of the characters, they still feel underdeveloped. Further, our narrator gives so much away at the beginning that the remainder of the story, including the "shocking twists," has no tension.

By the end, I was so bored I didn't care who died or who did it. I just wanted off the island.

The Fury confirms my suspicion that Alex Michaelides is not for me. I am always intrigued by the premise of his stories, but I find the execution poor. He relies on unbelievable, obvious, and uninteresting twists to hide that his mysteries are ultimately poorly plotted and unsatisfying.

Despite all my issues with the story, I did find that I enjoyed the audiobook narrator.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I think I'm done with Alex Michaelides. His last couple of books have been very dull, in my opinion, and it's probably time I stop reading his work.

The Fury is a fast paced thriller that hooks you from the first minute and doesn’t let you go until the very last! I absolutely loved this audiobook!

This one a book that kept me guessing. One minute I was sure I had solved it then the next I was second guessing myself. Well written and I loved the way it was “scripted” to sound less like a book. Great story line not ending the way I expected it too. Wonderful read or listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ARC of this book. Comments below are my own opinions.

Personally, I loved Silent Patient, but this book was not it. I feel like it took half the book to figure out who died. This was where the mystery started for me. I’m not sure what to call everything before besides background to set the scene? This book was hard to follow and if it weren’t for being an audiobook, it probably would have been a DNF for me.

Full disclosure at the start: I did not finish this book, but I feel that I read enough to provide feedback. This book is going to be great for a certain type of reader. One who is not very discerning. Unfortunately I found the writing to be incredibly manipulative and I could not enjoy the story without feeling like author was forcing me to try to feel a certain way. I do not enjoy this experience, and therefore I quit reading.

For what it’s worth, I did love the narrator.

I really enjoyed the narrator banter throughout the book, and it made it a quick enjoyable read. However I felt nothing really happened. Once something did happen it would be fake or recanted. Nothing seriously happens until the last little bit of the book. I also noticed the spoiler for silent patient in the book, and im glad I read that book first. Overall, an enjoyable read that I will not remember a thing about in about 2 days.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC copy. The narrator was an absolute win in this book! I appreciate the advanced copy for my opinion on the book.

Man, another Michaelides books bites the dust for me. The premise sounded so good, but I think it’s the style of writing that doesn’t do it for me. Maybe it’s me or the time I read it, but I thought being optimistic about the book being set in Greece would help. Nope, I was wrong.

The first half of the book is pretty snail paced, slowly introducing you to a bunch of characters who really dislike each other. Drama? Yes please. There were so many little twists that kept me intrigued especially when Michaelides began to peel back the layers of each person, but in doing so, the pacing was a rollercoaster.

Our MC, Elliott, isn’t a reliable guy. We learn so much from his POV, but then you see learn the scene from a holistic point of view, giving the readers a more accurate sequence of events. While I typically like this, it was a tad confusing.

Reading this book became a chore and I don’t like that in books.

If you give this a try, I’d love to know your thoughts. Big thank you to Celadon and Netgalley for the gifted copy.

Content warnings: murder, gun violence, death, child abuse, infidelity, domestic abuse

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced audiobook copy of The Fury by Alex Michaelides in exchange of an honest review.

"With its captivating blend of suspense, Greek mythology, and nods to classic mysteries, 'The Fury' by Alex Michaelides takes readers on a thrilling journey. The atmospheric setting of Lana Farrar's Greek Island, Aura, provides the perfect backdrop for a story filled with secrets, obsession, and deceitfulness. The author masterfully weaves together a plot reminiscent of old school mystery novels, keeping readers guessing until the very end. The incorporation of Greek mythology adds a fascinating layer to the narrative. Fans of Michaelides' previous work, like 'The Silent Patient,' will appreciate the subtle connections. In 'The Fury,' the author delivers yet another page-turner that will leave readers captivated and craving more." Do not expect this book to be another Silent Patient kind of book but a new thriller with suspenseful twist.