Member Reviews
This was my first Lucy Foley book and it did not disappoint! We followed 5 different point of views, which may seem confusing, however she did such a good job at distinguishing their different personalities! The audiobook was also so good as well, as they were all different voice actors! This is set at a newly opened manor by a well off couple in a smaller town. There definitely is a questionable past as we meet other characters and trying to figure out why they’re there or what they are hiding. I loved how all the loose ends were tied up at the end and figured out WHY we were following a certain persons point of view as well. Had a real good time with this one!
Lucy Foley’s The Midnight Feast sets the stage with her trademark atmosphere and intrigue, but the slow start may test your patience. Once the story picks up, the twists and revelations make it worth sticking around. If you enjoy suspenseful, character-driven mysteries, this one delivers in the end.
This was a little slower paced than other books I’ve read by Lucy Foley, but I still really enjoyed it! It was a bit of a mystery/thriller without putting you too on edge. The multi timeline and multiple POV kept it interesting throughout!
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is a gripping mystery set in a historical manor turned wellness hotel. Francesca Meadows, the granddaughter of the original owners, renovates the estate into a luxury retreat, but the locals resent its presence. Strange occurrences tied to local folklore—particularly ominous birds—cast a dark shadow.
Told through multiple perspectives and shifting timelines, the story keeps readers engaged but occasionally disoriented as past and present blur. The suspense deepens when a woman from Francesca’s past arrives during the hotel’s opening weekend. As the tragedies unfold, the mystery builds: is the woman responsible, or is the culprit tied to the superstitious myths surrounding the manor? Foley delivers an atmospheric tale that blends eerie folklore with modern drama, keeping readers guessing until the end.
The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is a suspenseful thriller full of unexpected twists and connections. I will say that it took me a while to get into the book as the pacing at the beginning was a bit slow, but once I did I couldn't put it down. The book is set during the grand opening of a rustic resort experience (it made me think of super expensive glamping), with tension between the wealthy owners and guests and the locals. The chapters jump between multiple different perspectives and timelines, weaving together the story of what has happened in the past to bring all of the characters to the same place at the same time. Of course everyone has a secret! Everything gets tied up nicely in a very satisfying resolution at the end (with a good final twist!). Overall another solid suspenseful book from Lucy Foley. Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.
TLDR: Pretty standard Lucy Foley fare - a decently entertaining page-turner with multiple POVs that slowly reveal a tale of revenge and a mystery long buried in the past.
Lucy Foley returns with another atmospheric thriller that fans of her work will find familiar. The Midnight Feast delivers on the hallmarks of her style: a multi-perspective narrative, deeply entangled past connections between characters, a peek inside the lives of those much richer than you or I, and the slow unraveling of secrets leading to a wild climax and a deadly conclusion.
Set in an opulent luxury resort on its grand opening night, right away there's a sense of unease beneath its glamour. Foley’s descriptions of the setting—a glittering infinity pool, designer cocktails, and an ancient forest full of secrets—are vivid, contrasting ancient folk horror tales with the ultra-modern, faux new age aesthetics of the resort. The dynamic between the characters is compelling, with each hiding their own motives and histories that intersect in surprising ways.
However, while the premise is intriguing, the execution felt formulaic, especially if you've read Foley's other books. The characters, while distinct, lacked much depth beyond their immediate secrets. That said, the atmosphere is undeniably engaging, and the twists are satisfying enough to keep the pages turning. While The Midnight Feast may not break new ground, it’s a solid read for fans of Foley’s style or those looking for a mix of Blair Witch creepiness and Fyre Festival chaotic drama.
VERDICT:
If you’re a fan of Foley’s previous books, you’ll enjoy the familiar structure and slow-burn reveals. For new readers, it’s a decent introduction to Foley's “Agatha Christie for the Instagram age,” style, though it might not be her strongest offering.
Thank you @netgalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. The scene is a brand new luxury hotel in the woods in England, and as always in her novels, the setting is like a character. There is a fire and a murder, and the book works on figuring out what happened. It’s a very slow mystery, but it kept me reading. #themidnightfeast #lucyfoley #advancedreadercopy #netgalley #bookstagram #mystery #thriller #lovetoread #takeapagefrommybook #readersofinstagram
Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. The Midnight Feast has a bit of Midsomar feel to it. The land protects the people and the people protect the land, and if greedy people try to change that, bad things happen, as you find out in The Midnight Feast. This was creepy and atmospheric and very much nature centric.
A great little mystery story. The beginning was a bit of a drag for me but I stuck with it and the pace quickened.
I loved this book. It was very entertaining to read and I was not expecting the plot twists throughout! Definitely recommend!
Follows the typical Lucy Foley formula. If you enjoyed her other books, you will most likely enjoy this one too.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I like Foley's work, but this one is firmly in the middle of the pack. Predictable but enjoyable read.
While The Midnight Feast did not capture and hold my attention, I will still continue to recommend Lucy Foley to thriller lovers in my social circle. I plan to try reading this again at a later date so I can post a more thorough review. Thank you!
I seriously love Lucy Foley! I love the multiple narrators and twists and turns she produces! This book was so good and had me continuing to read through the night! Also, she always has the best settings for her books and this one was no exception!
4.5 stars
Lucy Foley has become a must read author for me at this point so I jumped at the chance to read this one. Plus, that short summary was the perfect way to catch my attention and make me want to read this book. I was instantly intrigued! From the beginning pages, this felt very much like a Lucy Foley novel with the story being told from multiple viewpoints and characters. I love how she does this and how as the reader we slowly get to know each of the characters. What made this book unique was the dark, haunting vibes of the woods where The Manor was located. It gave me Yellowjackets vibes if you've watched that show (it's dark but so good!). This book is a slow burn but in the best of ways. It builds up the tension and suspense until it all boils over into a page turning ending. I cannot wait to see what she writes next!
Readers who enjoy atmospheric, suspenseful reads should pick this book up. I'm landing on 4.5 stars but rounding up on Goodreads. Here's my current ranking of her books if you are interested (from favorite at top on down):
The Guest List (this one remains my favorite so far)
The Midnight Feast
The Hunting Party
The Paris Apartment
Honestly I loved all four of these with the lowest being four stars still. They are all so good and I recommend them all especially for mystery readers.
I felt like the vibes in the book were great - the dark and spooky setting at the manor, the eerie mystery, etc. I also think that it started out strong with multiple POVs and short chapters, but ultimately I got lost quickly and became uninterested in the story. I didn't really understand the birds and felt like it would have been a more likeable story without that.
Let me start with this: I have read all of Lucy Foley's books so far and they're always hit and miss for me. This unfortunately was a miss, but I do still really enjoy her writing. There were redeeming qualities here, it just wasn't for me! I stayed so confused with all the storylines and it made it really hard for me to really get into it. I have, however, enjoyed enough of her books that I will continue to pick up her work in the future.
I love Lucy Foley, but this one didn't quite hit for me, unfortunately. I found it hard to keep up with the different characters and timelines which could be more a me thing than the writing. I didn't feel any sort of attachment to nor interest in any of the characters or what happened to them which is unusual for me with this author.
On the plus side, the place setting and atmospheric vibes of the resort in the creepy forest was on point!
Still, an auto-buy author for me, so excited to see what she comes out with next.
The setting drew me in right away and the characters kept me guessing. Another great choice by Lucy Foley!
one of my fav reads of the year and i was so taken by this prose that it has become one of those that i keep recoommending and I am looking forward to more from this author!