Interview (#2!) with Alex Michaelides, Author of The Fury
Jan 20, 2024
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A fascinating chat with Alex Michaelides delves into his new mystery novel 'The Fury', drawing parallels to Agatha Christie's style. The discussion covers narrative voice, unreliable narrators, literary inspirations, and the use of the unreliable narrator trope in modern literature. Stay tuned for more literary discussions and upcoming analyses on Agatha Christie's 'The Mousetrap'.
Alex Michaelides' 'The Fury' intertwines murder with romance on a Greek island, challenging traditional mystery conventions.
'The Fury' by Alex Michaelides draws inspiration from Ford Maddox Ford's structural and thematic elements, emphasizing unreliable narrators and human complexities.
Podcast delves into Ruth Rendell's narrative complexity, contrasting with Agatha Christie's style, highlighting Rendell's unique storytelling and character depth.
Deep dives
The Busy Body Novel Release
The debut mystery novel, 'The Busy Body,' by author Kemper Donovan is finally released, initially available as an e-book in the United Kingdom with physical copies to follow later. The book pays homage to Agatha Christie's mysteries and incorporates familiar tropes for listeners of the podcast, creating a solvable puzzle mystery with clues.
Introduction of 'The Fury' by Alex Michaelides
Alex Michaelides, known for 'The Silent Patient,' introduces his latest mystery novel, 'The Fury,' featuring a murder tale intertwined with a love story set on an isolated Greek island. The narrative unveils a complex web of characters in a gripping plot that challenges traditional whodunit conventions, offering a character-driven exploration of human motivations.
Inspiration from 'The Good Soldier' and Modern Adaptation
The influence of Ford Maddox Ford's 'The Good Soldier' is apparent in Alex's structural and thematic approach to 'The Fury,' emphasizing the unreliable narrator trope and introspective storytelling. Alex's contemporary take respects the essence of Ford's narrative style by acknowledging the intricacies of personal perspective while enhancing transparency with readers on the intricacies of storytelling and human complexity.
Analyzing the Craft of Unreliable Narrators in Mystery Novels
Discussing the art of using unreliable narrators in mystery novels, the episode explores the parallels between different authors like Agatha Christie and Alex Michaelides in deploying this technique. Drawing comparisons to acclaimed works like 'The Murder of Roger Ackroyd' and 'Endless Night,' the podcast delves into how these authors manipulate perspectives to create suspense and intricate plot twists.
Exploring the Influence of Ruth Rendell on Mystery Writing
The episode highlights Ruth Rendell's impact on the mystery genre, contrasting her style with Agatha Christie's approach. It praises Rendell's ability to blend narrative complexity with character depth, elevating her novels beyond traditional crime stories. By recommending 'A Judgment in Stone' and 'The Dark Adapted Eye,' the discussion sheds light on Rendell's unique storytelling prowess and thematic explorations.
Alex Michaelides has a new mystery out, and I had such a great time geeking out with him about Agatha Christie and other literary inspirations of his, including the great Ruth Rendell.
You can purchase Alex's new book, The Fury, in the United States here. And you can pre-order it in the UK (it's out February 1st) here.
You can purchase my new book, The Busy Body, in the United States here, the United Kingdom here, and Australia/New Zealand here.
For details on my upcoming book tour, visit my website here.
You can visit and subscribe to the podcast's Patreon page here.
This episode is sponsored by Even the Royals, which you can find wherever you listen to podcasts, including here.
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