A private island, celebrity and a narrator that is very hard to like.

I think that previous books by the author have had a bit more impetus and this one seems soporific in comparison, though that doesn’t make it a bad read.

The characters are hard to like but the story is a very good sleepy thriller.

The Silent Patient and The Maidens were exceptionally inventive and engaging mysteries with impeccably plotted stories, which set such high expectations for The Fury that Michaelides’s third novel could easily have readers poised to nitpick it in search of any flaws that might diminish the legitimacy of how the author became massively successful and earned universal praise when his first book was still only available to those fortunate enough to obtain an uncorrected proof or advanced review copy. But Michaelides’s talents for engaging readers with his masterful prose and his inventive and expertly crafted plots and characters are undeniable. The Fury is his third novel and possibly his best yet. Its excellence cements Michaelides as a gifted novelist who unquestionably deserved his immediate and rare success, both in his massive commercial sales and in his widespread enthusiastic acclaim among book critics. The Fury is another completely unique story that shows the author’s consistent dedication to evolving and taking risks in a genre full of writers content to recycle the same formula in every book as long as it sells. The Fury is a gripping and wholly original story written with the level of quality rarely seen beyond books officially designated as literary fiction. I can’t recommend this book highly enough and I applaud Michaelides for elevating the mystery/thriller genre for readers like me who love psychological thrillers and crime fiction but have no interest in or patience for thinly drawn characters, unrealistic or over the top twists, weak motives, plot holes, or predictable endings we can see coming from the first chapter. Crime fiction and thrillers can be exceptional books too, and The Fury is a perfect example of this!

I had very high hopes for this, after really enjoying The Silent Patient, but this just didn’t have the same OOMPH for me.

We start by being introduced to our first person narrator – the theatrical Elliot. He explains from the offset that he is going to tell some of the story through the eyes of the other characters and will therefore be guessing some of what they said and thought. It’s an intriguing narrative method which I did enjoy as it was so different. Elliot tells the story through once – before revealing that he’s not been quite honest about some things. We then go back through the timeline again – and again – with more information available to us.

Elliot has loved movie star Lara since he was a teenager and bullied in school. As he pursues a career in theatre, he meets her one day and they become close friends. But Elliot has always wanted more. One morning, Lana surprises her friends with a getaway to her private island off the coast of Mykonos. But the holiday is not at all what it seems and Elliot keeps reminding us that someone ends up dead by the end of the holiday.

As the story is untold, more and more light is shed on what happens and why.

Whilst interesting, different, and really unpredictable, it didn’t make for a very fast-paced story. Together with the unlikeableness of Elliot.. and Lana… and Kate.. and Jason.. it made for a powering-through read at times.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 | 𝐌𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲
𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫: 𝟏/𝟐/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟐.𝟓 ⭐️

Please make sure you read The Silent Patient, as the epilogue in The Fury spoils it.

I’ve had time to process this book and decided it was an ok read. Nothing mind blowing like The Silent Patient. I feel that was the best book this author has done.

The narrator, Elliot breaks the fourth wall and invites you as a reader to grab a drink and enjoy this whirlwind of a murder mystery with him.

I honestly don’t know what it was but I found this a hard read, I found it hard to get into and hard enjoy, I didn’t care for any of these characters and when it came to the twist, I didn’t really care for it.

It’s a shame as I was so excited to read. Maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind 😅!

However, I can appreciate how pretty the front cover is!

Thanks to Netgalley & penguin random house for this arc for my honest review

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Alex Michaelides does it again! This time, we are on a secluded island with a troubled movie star and her so called friends, and no one is safe… A terrific read!

Alex Michaelides proves once again why he's a master of psychological suspense in "The Fury," an enthralling and brilliantly crafted thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

The narrative unfolds on a small private Greek island, where former movie star Lana Farrar invites a select group of individuals, including the enigmatic Elliot Chase. As the sun-drenched paradise becomes a backdrop for hidden truths and suspenseful revelations, Michaelides skilfully guides the reader through a maze of deception, uncertainty, and the relentless plotting of an unseen murderer.

The strength of "The Fury" lies not only in its meticulously plotted mystery but also in Michaelides' ability to create a palpable sense of tension and unease. The atmospheric setting of the Greek island becomes a character in itself, adding layers of complexity to the unfolding drama.

The characters, especially Elliot Chase, are expertly crafted, each with their own secrets and motives. Michaelides weaves a narrative through the eyes of Elliot, offering a unique and compelling perspective that keeps the reader questioning the reliability of the narrator. The intricacies of the characters' relationships and the gradual unveiling of their pasts contribute to the novel's immersive quality.

The pacing is flawless, with each chapter unveiling new layers of the intricate plot. Michaelides skilfully integrates psychological elements that add depth to the story, inviting the reader to delve into the complexities of the characters' minds.

As the mystery deepens, Michaelides introduces unexpected twists that challenge preconceived notions and keep the reader guessing until the final pages. The plot is a rollercoaster of suspense, and the resolution is both satisfying and thought-provoking, showcasing the author's mastery in crafting a compelling and unpredictable narrative.

In "The Fury," Alex Michaelides has created a psychological thriller that stands out in the genre. With its atmospheric setting, well-drawn characters, and a plot that defies expectations, this novel is a testament to Michaelides' storytelling prowess. If you're a fan of psychological mysteries that deliver on every front, "The Fury" is a must-read that will leave you breathless and contemplating its twists long after you've turned the last page.

**POTENTIAL SPOILERS**




Retired movie star Lana Farrar decides to escape London for the sunny tropics of her private Greek island with her nearest and dearest. What ensues is a tale of murder, deceit, betrayal and justice.

The novel is written in first-person with Elliot, Lana's best friend, driving the non-linear narrative. This is a great plot device as Elliot can weave the narrative, leading us to the end or up the garden path. Gives you real Who Murdered Roger Akyroyd vibes. It is also told in a play-like structure, with different parts split into acts. This is not surprising given the author has a penchant for Greek mythology and is similar to his previous books.

Most of the characters are awful people, but the author does a great job of humanising them and eliciting sympathy for them even at their worst.

Overall, I loved this book! There are so many unforeseeable twists at the end that made it an absolute pleasure to read and had me searching the floor for my jaw. You are completely deceived about how the book is going to end. The author has a fantastic gift for keeping you hooked and the pages turning. It's a slow-burn, but the pay-off is so worth it.

Thank you NetGalley and Michael Joseph for sending this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard...

This is a tale of murder.

Or maybe that’s not quite true.

At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it?

Elliot Chase is a bit of an outsider in his gang of misfit friends.

Elegent, beautiful American actress Lana.

Stubborn English rose Kate.

Lana's bit of rough husband Jason.

Agathi the loyal housekeeper and Leo, Lana's son, her pride and joy!

Throw in a beautiful Greek island, lies, betrayal, deceit, an affair to remember and someone out to get revenge..

No, not revenge...

Justice!

This was one hell of a story and it's definitely taken me a hot minute to process what I've read.

I loved the tongue and cheek humour of this one with the first person view. It was a slow burn yet highly addictive page turning thriller with twist upon twist!

How well do you really know the people closest to you and just how far can you go before being pushed...

If you loved The Silent Patient then this one's next on your list!

I haven’t read The Silent Patient or The Maidens, so Alex Michaelides’ work is new to me. I love a 'locked room mystery' so the synopsis drew me in. The storyline was impressive, as was the unique play-like structure but Elliot's incessant ramblings were rather irritating!

The title refers to ancient Greek tales (The Furies) and the protagonist Elliot tells a tale of Lana, a glamourous actor who is recognised everywhere she goes and her less successful friend Kate whose acting career is not going quite so well. Lana invites her friends, along with her husband Jason and her son Leo to an isolated Greek island and the tale tells of an affair and petty jealousies. A whodunnit with narcissists that is written in four acts. The Greek reference seems lost as the tale progresses and the characters are not likeable and the tale fell a bit flat for me with too many twists.

Thank you for my ARC Netgalley! This book was interesting - I liked the format it was written in, a play of sorts. The storyline was good too, but for me the twists and turns were a little too late.

This was a great read and I loved how it was written. Elliot talks us through the story as if he was a friend chatting. He introduces us to the main characters and then like a play the story is presented in acts. Each act tells us more about all of the characters. Each act gives another twist to the story and changes your view on your feelings towards Elliot, who isn’t what he first appears.
The premise was unique and worked well for the story. It was like sitting with a friend whilst they tell you their deepest secrets.
Thanks to Michael Joseph and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#ReadTheFury #NetGalley

My name is Elliot Chase and I am going to tell you a story like no other.

I quite enjoyed two of his previous books, so thought this would be an engaging easy read. Friends on a Greek island and there is a murder. Sounds a bit Agatha. Well it isn’t.

Too many twists and turns that become more and more implausible.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A retired film star and a group of her friends spend a weekend alone on an isolated Greek island she owns. We know from the start that there will be a murder but the narrator of the book, Elliott, is the very definition of unreliable and the plot skips around who has been killed, why, who by and what the relationships are between all those present. It's impossible to say what the book is, it skips all over the place, and we are told at the start that the narrator has had to invent things he wasn't there for and that he uses writing as a form of revenge, so it's impossible to tell what is truth and what is invention. By the end I wasn't even sure any of it had happened or if it was just his imagination!

I have to say I really enjoyed this book. None of the characters were particularly likeable, apart from the perfect movie star he adores, but how much of that is down to the narrator playing with us? His own troubled background explains a lot of his behaviour and I liked the fact I had no idea what was happening through most it as it kept surprising me. I'm still thinking about it and figuring it out a while after I finished it and I love that. It's a really unusual book and stands out from most thrillers, which is always welcome. 4.5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

#ReadTheFury #NetGalley

An interesting idea, I enjoy a good unreliable narrator. I was intrigued in the relationships between all of the people that went to Greece together, because it seemed none of them truly liked each other. It gave an impression of the glamorous and cutthroat life of hollywood. But when it came to the actual story itself, I found the pace to be quite slow and disjointed, and as soon as we got to the twist at the end it felt like it was too long coming.

I need a holiday on a secluded Greek island after reading this book. Twisty turns, a lot of betrayal, and a big reveal. Very entertaining read.

Well this certainly kept you guessing! A classic Who did it? Told by Elliot who you strangely came to love.

The characters were fab, the storyline was clever and it keeps you hooked throughout.

A group of friends on a Greek island, a twisty turny backstory, a murder. A narrator of the story, but are they reliable, what has really happened, and why?

Initially I found this a real page turner; with the plot twisting and turning back around. I liked the voice of the narrator. However, sudden leaps back into first person narration and uneven pacing became rather jarring.

In the end I felt that I did not really know or understand the characters, most seemed pretty shallow and two dimensional. Perhaps more about who they really were and where they came from, filling out their back stories, would have helped make them more fully realised? By the last chapters the story felt sillier and sillier. The Fury promised a lot but ultimately it fell flat.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

The Fury, sadly wasn't the book for me. Although from other reviews I can see that lots of people enjoyed this and maybe I wasn't the right audience for this as I couldn't get into the story or like any of the characters. Obviously I can tell a lot of people love this and this is solely my opinion so I still recommend this.

I was pleasantly surprised by 'The Fury'- this is my third book by Alex Michaelides, and I would say this is his best so far, in my personal opinion. It's definitely not perfect - the character development is quite poor here, particularly the narrator of the story - but the story itself is twisty and enjoyable fun. I could picture this being made into a film, in the same vein as Knives Out, with strong Agatha Christie-style vibes. The plot keeps you guessing, and throws many twists throughout the story. I also enjoyed the connection to 'The Silent Patient' (although beware of spoilers if you haven't read The Silent Patient). I'd recommend this to fans of murder mysteries and twisty thrillers; I had a lot of fun reading it. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy- due for release January 2024.