THE FURY by Alex Michaelides (audio)

4 stars

First off, praise to the EXCEPTIONAL narrator, Alex Jennings, his deeply resonant, posh English accent sets the perfect atmosphere for another twisty mystery by Michaelides. Alex Jennings, a classically trained Shakespearean actor, also plays the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown.

This murder story features all the elements of classic Greek tragedy, set on a remote Greek Island, with the addition on a possibly unreliable narrator.

A gorgeous ex-movie star, Lana, suspects that her second husband and her best friend may be having an affair. Encouraged to confront them by her supposes best friend, the narrator, she invites them all to her private Greek Island – a majestic gift from her much beloved first husband.

Right from the outset, you find yourself questioning the narrator- as the whole book is told from his first-person perspective. This includes scenes that he clearly could not have been privy to, so what’s unclear is what he’s reporting accurately and what he’s making up. Moreover, he’s a bachelor for life, formerly living with a famous novelist from disparaged him and disparaged his writing. Post her death, being left nothing, he turned their relationship into a best-selling play. He shares that he learned from her that every character must have a goal, backed by an intent, backed by motivation. Other than being smitten as Lana long-time best friend, it’s unclear what’s at play for him in this scenario. And- is he busy narrating what will be his next best-selling play?

Meanwhile, there’s her second husband James who seems desperate for money from Lana’s estate and her best friend Kate who’s in the midst of rehearsals for a Greek play in London which is going horribly as she cannot remember any of her lines.

The Greek Island, known for its ferocious winds locally called The Fury, sets as the scene of a murder plucked straight from Greek tragedy. You wait breathless to find out who’s actually died, and how.

And will any of the characters prove worthy of your empathy?

And you’re sure a twist is coming, given Michaelides’ prior book The Silent Patient…but what the heck will it be?!

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for an advanced listen of this novel.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.