Summary: Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and is one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to 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.
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: ★★★
My Thoughts:
This is Alex Michaelides's third novel and his third psychological thriller. I went into this novel excited to read it because I loved his first two books. They were both five-star reads for me. And just like the first two books, just when I felt like I knew what would happen ~ I didn't.
The omniscient narrator of this story speaks directly to the readers as he retells the story from his perspective. His narration gives us a bit of a snarky narrator vibe that breaks the conventional tone that most mystery novels give. I am still undecided if I liked this approach, which partially plays into my rating of three stars.
The Greek Isles provide a beautiful backdrop for the story, with some Greek mythology woven throughout. The story is centered on Elliot's group of friends and, of course, Lana Farrar. Elliot starts out by telling us he is an unreliable narrator in the first chapter, so when the twists and turns start to take shape throughout this novel, I was constantly questioning what is real or not.
As I got further and further into the story, I realized I wasn't ever truly pulled into the story. The main characters didn't grab my attention like Alex's first book did. This new book felt like it had one too many plot twist.
It's worth the read if you loved The Silent Patient or The Maidens... however, it ranks lower/doesn't quite hit the mark for me like his other two book for me. It is a quick read with short chapters that you can finish in a few days.
Thanks NetGalley and Celadon publishing for the ARC in exchange for my review! Pub Date: 1/16/2024
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