“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it.” —Peyton Manning
Yep. On Superbowl Sunday I’m quoting my boy Peyton. And why wouldn’t I? Today is about winners (including Jesus, of course.) You know who’s winning off the field—who’s got panache and a pen and not afraid to wield it? Alex Michaelides. It’s no secret we love the former screenwriter turned phenom of fiction. He’s the Greek Freak of psychological thrillers. If you haven’t read The Silent Patient, stop reading this post haste. Go grab yourself a copy of the bestseller sold in 50 countries. (A record breaker.) You’ll talk about those pages long after you close the cover. Guaranteed.
The point is Michaelides won’t need 20 years to build a reputation. Not even close. His second novel The Maidens was spellbinding. Lucy Foley gushed, “A deliciously dark, elegant, utterly compulsive read—with a twist that blew my mind.” This guy’s got it like Patrick Mahommes has got it. His latest, The Fury, was compelling. This observation won’t surprise anyone familiar with the Greek Freak: “Michaelides’s deliciously twisty and fiendishly clever third novel takes the classic locked-room mystery and delivers a fresh spin on the genre.” The story revolves around a likable former movie star, Lana Farrar. Old friends and old feelings surface when they visit Lana’s private island. Murder ensues. I agree with the reviewer who explained, “What sets the book apart is its innovative structure and the compelling voice of its narrator, Elliot Chase; wonderfully sinister and beautifully unreliable, he guides us—with sleights of hand aplenty–through this impressive and highly enjoyable tale of subterfuge, secrets, and murder.”
P.S. People are talking about The Fury’s audible narrator, Alex Jennings. Here’s a glimpse: “Jennings' impeccable accent keeps the already propulsive novel quite engaging and moving like a steam train about to run you over." I couldn’t agree more. Must be in the name!