#TheFury #NetGalley
Awesome.
This is a tale of murder.
Or maybe that’s not quite true. At its heart, it’s a love story, isn’t it? Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex–movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and spend Easter on her idyllic private Greek island. I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time ― it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press sensation: a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind…and a murder. We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse ― a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered. But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a story unlike any you’ve ever heard.
Loved this one.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Micheal Joseph UK for giving me an advance copy.

✨The fury by Alex Michaelides ✨
Pub date: 1 Feb 2024

“If anything, it’s a whydunnit- a character study, an examination of who we are, and why we do the things we do”

Thank you #netgalley and #penguinrandomhouse for early access to this title.

I saw Alex Michaelides announce his third a book a while back and was very curious so was delighted to see it on NetGalley. Like most of bookstagram and booktok I was influenced to read both the Silent Patient and The Maidens a few years ago. I’d like me, you’ve read those already, then you will recognise Michaelides no non sense writing style straight away.

This time we are taken to a Greek island owned by a famous and wealthy actor, Lana. There we witness her death and the story begins to unravel around us like a Greek play. Like the quote above this fairly short book (just over 200 pages) explores different people’s motivations based on their past and where they are in life as well as their relationships with eachother.

I have to admit, the narrator is a pretty unbearable guy to listen to, he’s supposed to be, but people who don’t like to read from an unlikable character’s POV might not enjoy this one.

Overall it was a quick read, plenty of twists to be expected like his previous work and an entertaining few hours reading.

A love child of an Agatha Christie book and Dangerous Liaisons - you have the Christie setting of a murder on an island with seven characters, and the unpleasant, machiavellian narrator in Dangerous Liaisons. The setting lured me in - what's not to like, a Greek island and a mystery? The narrator unfortunately started to annoy me fairly quickly - he is one of those puffed up people so sure of themselves and their cleverness, and I do admit that having finished the book that that is the point, but it didn't make him an enjoyable companion for the duration of the tale.
There are so many twists and turns that I felt that the author was becoming a bit too much like Elliot. I imagined him writing yet another twist and flinging down his pen in delight - a mic drop for authors if you will, which having thought about it will now be known as a 'pen drop'. where does one go to copyright phrases?!
So all in all, it's fine, perfectly serviceable and easy to read.

I enjoyed The Fury - it has some great literary writing and interesting if divisive characters plus an intriguing setting so very readable.

For me on a personal level where it fell down slightly was in it's predictability but that probably comes down to the sheer number of psychological thrillers I read and how many unreliable narrators I've encountered. It is hard to catch avid readers of these things out these days.

Overall though this is a very good twisty thriller brought up a notch by the group dynamic and central premise. A fun addictive read I have no problem recommending.

An unreliable narrator and a murder on a secluded island? Yes, please! This book had lots of twists and excellent character development to hold my interest. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, I was wrong. I loved “The Silent Patient” and now this author has won me over again with “The Fury..” It’s a classic whodunit with a little extra meat on the bones. I loved it!

I loved this story, quite different writing style to Alex’s previous novel but was a fantastic storyline with good characters.

An absorbing clever take on the original murder mystery theme. Full of twists and turns, an unreliable narrator, well developed characters and excellent writing. I have no doubt that this will hit the bestseller charts.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the advance review copy.

An interesting story, different in many ways to Michaelides other books. Elliott is our unreliable narrator. It’s like when ‘that friend’ tells a story and gives you a hundred other stories before you get to the crux. I liked how it was split into acts, so it felt like a play.
The backstory to our characters was very thorough and I enjoyed learning about how they had become the unlikable human beings they are now. However, I wasn’t a fan of the whole murder mystery as it felt a little long winded. Nevertheless, a fascinating concept and a well written story, giving us an insight into the inner psyche.
If you are a fan of Benjamin Matheson’s Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone, you’ll love this.

I absolutely loved this! Compelling, clever and twisty, this is my favourite Alex Michaelides so far. Back in August I saw author Clare Mackintosh with an ARC of The Fury and was incredibly jealous, I jumped at the chance to request one on Netgalley. Quintessential unreliable narrator Elliot was a delight and felt like chatting to a friend over drinks. His constant digressions made me chuckle and the twists had me smiling away at being completely fooled! Unmissable.

Thank you very much Netgalley, Random House and Alex Michaelides for this incredible ARC.

It was a great read. I felt the plot was slight convoluted and the end twist wasn’t as shocking but it was really quite enjoyable overall. Much better than The Maidens

Simply Outstanding..
Meet Elliot Chase. Elliot is about to tell you a story. It will be atmospheric, intense and incredibly twisted. It will be set on a beautiful and remote island that sits in the sun - but where nothing is quite as it first seems. It will include a cast of eclectic and enigmatic characters with a plot populated with red herrings and excruciating hair bend turns. It will also be unbelievable - but is it true? The thing is, should the reader entirely trust Elliot? Elliot is, perhaps, wholly unreliable. Or is he? Simply outstanding, beautifully penned and deftly drawn, compelling and completely engaging. Quite possibly, this authors best work yet.

This might just be my favourite Alex Michaelides book. I'll be very careful not to give anything away, but the twists and turns of this book take you on a JOURNEY.
It's fast-paced, exciting, and packs a tense thriller into a remote island setting.
As pressure begins to mount and a storm sets in, you see the characters you've got to know throughout the book become stranded on an island with a murderer at large.. Has a stranger accessed the island? Can they trust each other?

I was very excited to read this and had to start it straight away! I loved The Silent Patient by this author and although I didn’t enjoy The Maidens (the second novel) as much, it was a clever and intriguing read, so I had high expectations for the author’s third book, The Fury. I was not disappointed and can say this was up there with the same quality as the The Silent Patient.

The story is narrated by our unreliable narrator, Elliott and is set out like scenes from a play. We explore the murder, or possible love story, between ex movie star Lana Farrar and her closest friends on a remote Greek island. As we follow the acts in this story we get more and more of an insight into Elliott’s mind and the scene that played out on that final day, although we find out that the final day was just the beginning.

This was a captivating, clever story and what made it was the writing style. Although a lot of the characters were unlikeable, I loved the narrator and felt like he was talking directly to me. I found the style refreshing and unique in the deliverance. The story comes together seamlessly and nothing is as it seems. I connected to the setting and felt the ‘Fury’ of the wind within the isolated island. Overall, this is definitely one I will be recommended and is great for those who enjoy strong character studies, entertaining thrillers and stories that make you think long after you close the pages. 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

4.5 Stars.
Great opener: ‘We are the unreliable narrators of our own lives.’
Told in the first person by Elliot (the unreliable narrator).
This is a multilayered, complex and fun murder mystery.
Set on a small Greek Island which added to the atmosphere and suspense. The story unfolds over 5 Acts and is skillfully structured. A tale of murder, love and obsession it has a Greek tragedy feel to it.
Excellently plotted and beautifully written, I especially loved the conversational style of the narrator.
The characters are realistic and well developed. Enthralling read. Recommended.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

I really enjoyed The Silent Patient but, after reading some lukewarm reviews, I decided to pass on The Maidens. However, when I saw an ARC of this was available I decided to give it a go and I am glad I did.

Michaelides seems to be the king of the unreliable narrator. From the very beginning of this novel, told via the perspective of Elliott Chase, we know that we are not getting the full story and there is much more to this than meets the eye.

The story centres around Lana Farrar, a movie star, who invites her friends to a Greek Island. We know there is a murder but who is the victim (and the perpetrator) is anyone's guess. We are lead down dark alleys, told stories which are then recanted but eventually we get to the end with a very satisfying conclusion.

I don't want to say too much about the format for fear of spoilers but will be happy to discuss then further when everyone has read it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is an atmospheric tale set on a private Greek island named after Aura, who is the goddess of the morning air. The gentle caresses conjured up by that description are very far from the unpredictable, ferocious winds that are known to come out of nowhere to batter the islands on the Aegean. Those are nicknamed - in their English translation - "The Fury".

Elliott Chase is the storyteller of this narrative, one of seven people trapped on the island at the time when a murder takes place. According to him though, this story is not so much a murder mystery as it is a tragic tale of romance. The truth of that, the listener must decide for themselves...

It begins when a reclusive and famous one-time actress, Lana Farrar, invites a handful of people to join her on Aura. In addition to her housekeeper and the caretaker of the island, those present include Lana's son, her seemingly reluctant husband, and two of her close friends.

Beneath the friendships and the confidences shared between the members of this group, lie the toxic secrets and hidden resentments that eventually burst forth in the form of one person's death. Unable to leave the island due to the weather conditions, the remaining individuals must face the fact that they are sharing the space with a murderer...

This is a compelling story well-told, which is what you would expect from Alex Michaelides. Especially when it is delivered in the voice of an narrator who is a dramatist himself, namely Elliott.

But as Elliott memorably points out, we are all unreliable narrators when it comes to our own stories, so take his narrative with a pinch of salt! The pacing is a little uneven, but things do pick up after the first 25% of the book has been completed, and overall, the story is a satisfyingly twisty ride.

A group of 7 people on a private island not far from Mykonos, Greece. They are Lana Farrer, former Hollywood actress and owner of the island; Jason, her second husband; Leo, her son from her first marriage; Elliott, a close friend and playwright; Kate, a fellow actress and very close friend; Nikos, the island's caretaker and Agathi, Lana's housekeeper. They have travelled to the island to escape the dreary weather in London but there are lots of things going on between several of the people on the island and it leads to murder.

An absolutely fantastic read - loved how it was written from the pov of one of the people on the island as if they were sharing a story with someone.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House and Alex Michaelides for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I have read the two previous books by this author with mixed feelings, I loved ‘The Silent Patient’ but felt a little let down by ‘The Maidens’. For me this book fell somewhere in between. “The Fury.” is set on an idyllic private Greek island and revolves around a former movie star Lana Farrar. She invites her closest friends for an annual Easter retreat but this beautiful setting hides lies, secrets, grudges, and hidden motives.

The story is told by one of the guests, Elliott Chase and he tells of what happened on the island. What looked to be a dream weekend turned out to be a nightmare when one of the guests is murdered.

I did enjoy the novel but ‘The Silent Patient’ set the bar so high. 3.5 rounded up to 4.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Michael Joseph for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.