ARC Review Book Review

ARC Book Review | The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Title: The Fury
Author: Alex Michaelides 
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Published On: January 16, 2024
Publisher: Celadon Books
Source: Paperback via publisher
Pages: 320

Synopsis:

A masterfully paced thriller about a reclusive ex–movie star and her famous friends whose spontaneous trip to a private Greek island is upended by a murder ― from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Patient.

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 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.

My thoughts

(Spoiler free)

The Fury by Alex Michaelides is my second novel by the author (you can see my review of The Maidens here), and once again I found myself entertained. He crafts his thrillers with atmosphere and suspense, building to an unpredictable conclusion.

When Celadon kindly sent me an early copy of The Fury, I knew from just reading the synopsis on the back cover that I would be picking it up. The book is set mostly on a small island in Greece, which has always been one of my dream destinations. 

“The fury” is what the locals call the unforgiving and relentless wind that can blow through the area making travel between the islands dangerous, and it’s this fierce wind that is the backdrop for our story.

Besides the alluring setting, the cast of characters also lulled me in. Lana, a reclusive ex-movie star trapped overnight on the Greek island her first husband gifted her, along with a small group of friends, all of whom are keeping secrets. Including Elliot, the unreliable narrator of the tragic tale. Also present: Kate, Lana’s best friend for many years; Leo, Lana’s teenage son; Jason, Lana’s second husband; Agathi, Lana’s faithful caretaker and friend; and Nikos, the island’s caretaker.

We get the story of the events on the island intertwined with the characters’ relationships and how they formed. But all told from Elliot’s point of view, which might can or might not can be trusted.

…I’ll do my best not to hijack the narrative too often. Even so, I hope you’ll indulge me the odd digression, here and there. And before you accuse me of telling my story in a labyrinthine manner, let me remind you this is a true story—and in real life, that’s how we communicate, isn’t it? We’re all over the place: we jump back and forth in time; slow down and expand on some moments; fast-forward through others; editing as we go, minimizing flaws and maximizing assets. We are all unreliable narrators of our own lives.

Alex Michaelides, The Fury

If they’re done well, I usually enjoy stories told from unreliable characters. And I think The Fury is done well. I’m not sure how I feel about how the story was wrapped up, but the journey to get there was engrossing!

I started this novel with our own Texas winds blowing ferociously. It definitely enhanced my reading experience. If you’re a fan of unreliable narrators or Greek settings, you should give The Fury a try!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with a copy.

(All quotes are taken from the advance copy and are subject to change in final print.)

Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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About the Author

Alex Michaelides was born and raised in Cyprus. He has an M.A. in English literature from Trinity College, Cambridge University, and an M.A. in screenwriting from the American Film Institute in Los Angeles. The Silent Patient was his first novel and was the biggest-selling debut in the world in 2019. It spent more than a year on the New York Times bestseller list and sold in a record-breaking forty-nine countries. Alex lives in London.

A Song For A Book

Maybe this is too on the nose, but I’ll be highlighting “Fury” by Muse, one of my favorite bands. I thought the lyrics and music fit well.

You’re so happy now
Burning the candle at both ends
Your self loving soothes
And softens the blows you’ve invented

Breathe in deep
And cleanse away our sins
And we’ll pray
That there’s no god to punish us
And make a fuss

Cracks healing up
The future soul forgives this mess
You waste twenty years
And wind up alone demented

Breathe in deep
And cleanse away our sins
And we’ll pray
That there’s no god to punish us
And make a fuss…

Have you read The Fury? Or did you add it to your tbr? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Wandering!

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