The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Hello everyone.  I hope you've had a good month.

I know you probably think I'm off jet setting to wild, exciting locations for long luxurious vacations.  I'm not.  I've been reading like crazy.  I've been lucky to have received many advanced copies from blockbuster authors.  I have read their upcoming books but don't want to post about them because you can't purchase them yet.  Honestly, I would feel like someone is teasing me, dangling a great book in front of me then whisking it away.  Kind of like what my husband does with bacon.  Anyway, smoky pork products aside I will tell you that the books coming this year are fantastic.  I don't know what is going on, but my favorite author's books being released this spring and summer are their best ever!  I can see how people improve at their craft; I would hope we all do.... but wow!  Just you wait...not a stinker in the bunch.  We are talking about authors like Peter Swanson, Sarah Pekkanen, Beatriz Williams, Christina Lauren, Megan Miranda, Sally Hepworth, Elle Cosimano and more.  You are going to be so happy with your reading this year!  My point is, I haven't abandoned you.  

I recently read The Fury by Alex Michaelides.  This is my third book from him.  I have enjoyed them all.  This story is different than his others.  It is about an ex-movie star, Lana, who takes her friends to a private island off Greece.  The isolation makes for great privacy, also a great place for a murder, which, of course, is what happens.  Who is responsible?  A stranger on the island or one of the group of friends?

The construction of this story is different from the rest of Michaelides' books.  It is more complicated, more creative.  I can't imagine the work that went into writing this.  It is told in a nonlinear timeline.  Sometimes that can be annoying or difficult to follow.  It is done here in a very clear and thoughtful way.  Each time we go back and learn more, the story becomes sweeter and also much more sinister.  If this kind of storytelling bothers you, and you want a book that shoots straight thru A to Z, then this might not be for you. However, the way the story evolves is masterful and extremely effective, guiding the reader to the resolution of the mystery. This is not only a mystery but also a thriller and even a love story. The pacing moves quickly, enhanced by short chapters.  The characters are interesting, some more well developed than others, as needed.  A solid and entertaining offering.