The Fury

By: Alex Michaelides

Narrated by: Alex Jennings

Long-listed, Barnes and Noble Best New Books of the Year, 2024

"Alex Jennings' impeccable accent keeps the already propulsive novel quite engaging, and moving like a steam train about to run you over."—Vulture

"Narrator Alex Jennings offers a sparkling performance, providing layered character portraits and enlivening the story with British, American, and Greek accents...listeners who enjoy whodunits and closed-circle mysteries will want to pick this one up."—Library Journal

"Jennings confidently, confidentially embodies [the ensemble]: elegant Lara, gruff Jason, earnest Leo, biting Kate, protective Agathi, unassuming Nikos. Elliott, of course, gets star billing . . . and Jennings ensures his twists, pivots, and falsehoods are marvelously played out to the didn’t-see-that-coming final scene. The please oh-please pièce de resistance would be to put Jennings on screen in the inevitable celluloid adaptation to come."—Booklist

"Alex Jennings’ reading, with its measured pace and conversational, almost confessional tone, perfectly captures Elliot’s personality, as well as the varied voices of the small cast of characters. Listeners will be loath to press pause on this entirely unpredictable tale."—Bookpage on The Fury (Starred Review)

This program is read by Alex Jennings, who has worked extensively with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. He is also known for his role as Edward VIII, the Duke of Windsor, in the Netflix series The Crown, along with his roles in The Queen, Lady in the Van, and The Wings of the Dove. He is a three-time Olivier Award winner and has been nominated for a BAFTA.

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 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.

A Macmillan Audio production from Celadon Books.

©2024 Alex Michaelides (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Give it time

This book won't be to everyone's taste, but I really enjoyed it. The psychological aspects gave it more depth than your average mystery, and the mentions of Greek mythology kept it interesting. Its semi-unique format seems a mash-up of two famous novels, neither of which I will name for fear of spoiling anyone.

While I don't like to criticize other reviewers, it strikes me as rather silly to determine what a book is or is not based on a few chapters/hours. It is true that this novel starts off rather slowly. I, too, felt at first like it was straightforward and, as such, a little boring. Luckily, it's a slow burn. All that background information is building up to something more—a more intricate plot and character study. I was able to guess where a lot of it was going, having read so many titles in this genre, but I liked getting there just the same. It has an old-school feel to it, both in delivery and topic. Many modern plots of this nature depend on cell phones and other unromantic devices to flesh things out. This is pure vintage fun IMO, with some introspection to boot.

To begin with, I couldn't stand the narrator, his tone being too flat, but even that didn't bother me by the end.

Contrived plot annoying

Atmospheric setting but plot tricks jarring. By the end I didn’t care much for any of the characters’ fates.

Best Book I’ve Ever Read!

I listen to mysteries constantly, but this is the best book I’ve ever read. The character development, back stories, narration, and plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat. Alex M. is brilliant. Now I’m sad because I will have to wait to read his next book. Bravo!!!!!!!

Another great book!

One of the authors best books. Keeps your interest throughout. Twists and turns that even the most experienced won’t figure out.

Enjoyed it, but his other two are better

In the style of an old fashioned Who done it?, it is good but not great. The story line is very choppy, and I kept waiting for a big twist that didn’t materialize.

Good storytelling

Well-written, suspenseful, definitely kept my attention. Is there such thing as too many twists?

Didn't Meet My High Expectations

His first book, The Silent Patient, may be my all-time favorite book. So, my expectations may have been too great for this book. The storyline just didn't appeal to me, despite the initial setup. I don't think I liked any characters and really disliked main character. Narrator was good. I will give this a second listen and hope I find this more appealing.

He does it again

Such a great story. Always love the twists and turns and the tie ins at the end.

Characters

I enjoyed getting to know each character through the eyes of the narrator as the narrator then reveals more of himself. Had a few too many twists but was an enjoyable quick read.

Love Alex Michaelides

Like his other two books I was unable to anticipate the ending. I knew from the start that there would be layers to the story, as there was with his other two books. Alex Michaelides simply approaches story telling with a different perspective. His Wikipedia page says he wasn’t successful as a Screenwriter, so clearly he was meant to write suspenseful novels. As a reader I hope he never stops.