Alex Michaelides, #1 New York Times bestselling author of “The Silent Patient,” recently released a third novel, “The Fury.” Following the style of his other two novels, “The Fury” is a psychological thriller that incorporates a cast of characters with ulterior motives and a twisting storyline that never ceases to surprise readers. The novel primarily takes place on a small private island in Greece during an ex-movie star’s trip with her prominent friends, and amidst salty seas and the privileges of wealth, a murder takes place. Taking this Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery to the next level, Michaelides presents readers with an unreliable narrator who slowly reveals more of the truth as the novel progresses, and the reality of this work of fiction shifts with each turn of the page. 

The overarching plot of this Greek tragedy of a thriller is regularly interrupted by the voice of our narrator, Elliot Chase, directly addressing the reader in a conversational tone. Some readers found this breaking of the fourth wall to be tiresome and disruptive. However, readers like myself found the narrator’s voice as a positive addition to the theatrical suspense of the unpredictable sequence of events. In five acts, Elliot weaves together the past and present, in addition to revealing his own bias toward the other characters and providing insight into the factors that drive them.

With aspects of romance, a “whodunit” mystery, and character-driven suspense, “The Fury” is another page-turner by Michaelides sure to leave readers in awe at his evaluation of the human psyche and the ties between character and fate.