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.

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.