Alison is on a summer break with her family to Tome, with her parents. They aren’t extraordinarily well-off, so they are staying in a caravan park. Alison spends some time at a local beach where she meets Frankie (Francesca). Frankie’s family is well off, she is spending her summer at Tome Manor (owned by her grandparents) with her twin brothers, as well.

Alison quickly learns that Frankie is a bit dodgy. She does some weird things to “test” Alison’s allegiance to her, tries to dissuade her from continuing to meet local boys at the beach (Jake), and runs very hot/cold at the weirdest of times. Additionally, she tells a “scary story” of The Birds and the mysterious tree of eyes that accepts written grudges to be resolved.

Fast forward 15y and it is opening weekend of Francesca’s (highly advertised) business venture - a high-end, outdoor oasis, at (the inherited) Tome Manor. There are outdoor bungalows in the woods, an infinity pool, a spa, and….townspeople who are (rightly) angry that Francesca has taken over some “shared space” that used to be walking trails used by the locals. Francesca’s husband, Owen, is the architect that has brought this dream to life.

All guests attending opening weekend have been vetted for the appropriate energy (by providing bios and photos). Bella, a single guest assigned a bungalow on the woodside, keeps to herself. She attracts Francesca’s attention the first full day when Francesca wonders if she recognizes Bella as someone from her past. That afternoon, Owen finds a mysterious handwritten letter addressed to Francesca. Finally delivering it to her that evening, Francesca indicates the letter indicating a “midnight meeting in the woods” must be some sort of prank, but it has confirmed (to Francesca) that Bella is not who her bio pretends her to be.

Will the past come back round and will wrongs be righted? Will the rich continue to be able to skate by on their loads of cash with no repercussions?

Thank you Netgalley for the eArc!

The Midnight Feast is set up similarly to Lucy Foley’s other novels, with multi-POV with a timeline of about 24 hours, though there are “flashbacks” to the past. We have the opening of The Manor, a fancy wellness retreat sort of setting that’s run by Francesca Meadows, a Gwyneth Patltrow wannabe with a questionable past. We also see from her husband, Owen’s POV as well as Bella (a guest, or someone else??), Eddie (a teenage worker at the hotel), and Detective Inspector Walker, whose point of view we see after the inciting event has occurred (a body is discovered after a wild summer solstice! oooh!).

I can typically keep track of multi-POV stories, and I really enjoyed it for The Guest List, but The Paris Apartment fell flat for me. This felt similar to The Paris Apartment where everyone’s perspectives felt disjointed with each other’s, and there were a couple (ahem, Francesca) that I just couldn’t stand reading from, because they were just too over the top.

The middle of the book got a bit better for me, and I found myself wanting to pick up the book more to see what happened; it felt like everything was building up to this crazy solstice night with the fear of “The Birds” in the woods, but then the ending fell pretty flat for me. I rolled my eyes quite a bit at the cheesiness of the ending, honestly.

What I liked: The multi-POV set-up kept the story moving, and kept things interesting for the most part. I thought the scenes in the woods were particularly tension filled and creepy. I like reading about rich, privileged people getting their due.

What I didn’t like: There were a lot of different names thrown around outside of the main POVs, which made this story very confusing at times. Similar names used in present and past timelines didn’t help. The past timeline is told through journal entries, which I’ve solidified is a writing device I strongly dislike because it provides a surface level telling of what happened, at least that’s how I feel when I read journal entries; I feel like I’m not getting the full story. The whole concept of “The Birds” was so interesting in the beginning, and I feel like the full potential of that storyline was not realized. There could’ve been more creepy scenes with them! The story line with the trespassing teenagers seemed incredibly unnecessary. You’re probably thinking now, wow there were a lot of storylines and components to this story! Yes, you’re right, and they didn’t all fit together at all, which made the story convoluted and took away from the meat of it, in my opinion.

Overall, giving this a 3 star. I liked it more than Paris Apartment, but didn’t beat The Guest List for me, but I will keep giving Lucy Foley a chance in the future.

Lucy Foley returns to form with another fantastic dark, edge of your seat thriller. Told from multiple POV's that brings the past into the present, once you learn who everyone is, you will be truly mind blown.

Loved the atmosphere, the creepy dark woods with some supernatural elements and loved the ending!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down. Similar to the Guest List and Hunting Party, Lucy has a way of sucking you into a thriller. The different POVs really help the story along and the twists are great. I thought I saw some coming and I was totally wrong. Definitely pick this book up!

I received an ARC from Netgalley and the publisher.

The Midnight Feast was a gripping and intense dark thriller, filled with unexpected twists and excitement. I love a multiple point of view novel as I feel it helps really give a unique fly on the wall who has access to characters thoughts and motivations. This novel employs that feature, along with journal entries from the past and describes the events at a luxury hotel over the course of a few days. The first third of the novel was spent setting the scene and giving us some in depth view of our main characters. After that is established, we learn how everyone is connected and the dark secret they all share. The folklore about “The Birds” was a wonderfully creepy addition that adds to the scenery surrounding this hotel. I couldn’t put this book down as the twists and turns kept coming!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A slow burn to start, this book ended up being a bit of a wild ride! Lisa Foley definitely has carved her own little niche of thriller writing and she does a great job at making the reader feel a little creeped out and anxious at times. The twists weren't as great as I would've liked but the book was written well and the characters are relatable.

I have to admit that when I started reading The Midnight Feast, it generated some eye rolling from me, as multiple Pov's are not my favorite writing style. However, as proceeded through the story, I became more invested in the characters. The local lore threaded into the mystery was unbelievable at times, but still enjoyable. The ending was very satisfying. I was so delighted to see the "villain" get what they deserved. Entertaining read!

This book started off slow but was definitely worth the read… it was one of the most bone chilling thrillers I have read in 2024! This was my first Lucy Foley book and now I am ready to dive into every they have written!

Oh my gosh. What a trip. This book was wild and creepy. I honestly did not know what was going to happen next, and I LOVED it! This is hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year. It hit the ground running and didn’t stop until the end. Lucy Foley outdid herself and leveled up the thriller game. I will be recommending this book to all my thriller reader friends for sure. Also, I am in love with the cover. I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Paris Apartment, so I’m really glad I gave this one a chance. Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this AWESOME ARC.

I found myself immersed in a narrative that emphasized not the destination, but the paths each character traversed. Bella, Francesca, Owen, Eddie, and DI Williams each embarked on their own journey, navigating through life's twists and turns. While the plot lacked the exhilarating twists typical of a thriller, it compensated with its straightforward approach, allowing the characters to take center stage. Foley's strength lies in the meticulous development of characters, with each protagonist undergoing a transformative journey, for better or worse. However, amidst the rich character tapestry, Bella stood out as a glaring anomaly. Unlike her counterparts, Bella's character felt underdeveloped and lacked the depth that would have enriched the narrative. The confrontation between Bella and Francesca, a pivotal moment in the story, fell flat, failing to contribute meaningfully to the overarching plot. Additionally, Owen's character, despite being the most profoundly impacted, remained largely peripheral, a missed opportunity to delve deeper into his psyche. Despite these shortcomings, "The Midnight Feast" is a poignant exploration of personal growth and the myriad ways in which life shapes us. This is a must-read.

I would like to express my gratitude to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this one! It has a unique premise and an interesting blend of characters.

Francesca is opening up a resort named The Manor (think White Lotus), and she has hired some locals (Eddie, Ruby) to staff the resort. Along with her architect husband Owen and resort manager Michelle, they are overseeing the grand opening and the "midnight feast"/solstice celebration. Will their plans for the resort be thwarted by the locals or maybe even the guests?

I liked how this novel had tension between the locals (the "have nots") and the resort (the "haves"). There were enough POVs to be interesting but not overwhelming. And I thought the writing was fairly strong, particularly at the beginning, when it was setting the scene.

The downside: This one really dragged in the middle, in my opinion. Most of the story leads up to the "midnight feast"/solstice, but then it will occasionally flash to afterward. While the reader doesn't find out the details until the end, broad strokes are brushed far before you get there. To me this took away the tension, and the middle was a little saggy.

I did like how one character shows up towards the end. I found that gratifying.

Overall, I think this will be one of Lucy Foley's more memorable novels!

This was my first Lucy Foley book and it turned out to be a quick and fun read for me. It’s told in multiple POVs but was easy to follow and not confusing. The chapters are short, the pacing fairly quick, and each chapter leaves you with a cliffhanger making you want to read more and more. The story wasn’t predictable and I was not sure who did what until everything unfolded.

4.5 ⭐️!! Lucy Foley can really do no wrong in my opinion, but this was by far my favorite Lucy Foley book I’ve read. It was unique in that you’re figuring out what happened and to whom at the same time. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like that element, but found myself saying “one more chapter” … and now it’s finished. It was gripping and I enjoyed it from beginning to end!

Thank you to William Morrow and author for this ARC!

3 ⭐️. I was so excited to get Lucy Foley’s newest book but unfortunately this one wasn’t it for me. It is a very slow burn, it unfolds through past, present and the day before present with multiple POVs. Many chapters were “cliff hanger” chapters that set up something up or teased something crazy happening but it felt like they never delivered on the build up. It got to a point where I felt like nothing was ever going to be revealed. I was rolling my eyes when one after another chapter was like that, too repetitive with minimal payoff. It picked up the last 20% of the book, which was a little too late to save it for me.

Quick blurb, takes place at a new fancy resort for the wealthy with exclusive guest lists and something happens one night on opening weekend that slowly (and I mean super slowly) gets revealed as the book unfolds. It is told from the perspective of the owner, a guest, a worker, a detective and the owners husband. Typically multiple POVs and time jumps can get jumbled, but this is Lucy’s specialty it seems since it is done in such a way that it never gets confusing. I also really enjoy locked room/isolated settings, so that worked really well too. I do think it ended a bit too abruptly and it could have gone into more detail but I wasn’t too bummed.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Lucy Foley for access to the egalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Lucy Foley's books and this one proved to be just as good as the rest. Something I love about her books is just when I think I've figured out whats going on there's a twist that shows I was wrong. Part of the fun of these books is trying to follow the mystery, whether I'm guessing correctly or not. The story unfolded The setting for this one was certainly spooky, as there really is something scary about a forest after dark. The characters were compelling and I enjoyed the swapping between their POVs. If you've enjoyed Foley's other books, then you'll definitely enjoy this one. I will for sure be recommending it to my friends!

I haven’t read a Lucy Foley book I haven’t liked yet, and this book is no exception!
15 years after a terrible night a midnight feast happens. The craziness that ensues through this book keeps you guessing after every page! I absolutely could NOT stop reading until the very end of this book!
Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

This mystery story tells about secrets and other things before, during, and after the opening weekend of The Manor. Each chapter is in each character’s point of view. There’s also journal entries from the past. When I read this book, I couldn't put it down. Thanks to the publishers William Morrow and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book and do a review.

Lucy Foley does it again with another multiple POV masterpiece mystery to keep you guessing ‘till the very end!

Old, ancient secrets, secret agendas and secret pasts. Who dies and who survives?

This was so fun to read, the journal entries were such a fun touch, I was engaged cover to cover.
Getting chills, biting my nails, and ultimately dropping my jaw!

So fun, love a good Lucy Foley and this not disappoint!

Keep a look out for this on pub day June 18!
Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this gifted eARC!

Lucy Foley did it again! This mystery-thriller kept me on the edge of my seat the entire read, I didn’t know what was going to happen next! This book definitely could be a TV series of “who did it?!”!

SUCH a great read. Highly recommend.

I will link and post my public review below this, these are just some thoughts/suggestions directed to the author.

-Include a map drawing (it works perfectly because there is one in the diary anyway) at the start of the book. It was difficult to build a mental image of the area with the descriptions alone and would be a great touch.

-Completely change the wind blowing the diary open to. a convenient page, that read kind of lazy.

- The “I’m your brother, Eddie” line wasn’t great and that whole scene felt inorganic.

-Personally I would ditch Owen having the bird tattoo. There was enough misdirection in the book, not everything needs to be a twist or subversion.

*I received this book for free for review purposes*

#NO SPOILERS#

“Deep in the woods they gather. The same clearing they have always used; and their forebears before them, since the legends began. A strange flock. Black-robed, beast-headed. Born of the unknown depths of the wood: an image from a medieval woodcut, a dark folktale to frighten badly behaved children.”

Lucy foley has the impeccable ability to write thrillers that read like dramas.

From the deep interpersonal connections between characters, to the rich world building, you never quite know what you stepping into... but you know it'll be good.

Set on the sprawling English contry side of the Dorset Coast, Secrets lie deep in the brambles of tribal forests.In the year 2025 Francesca Meadows has decided to turn her ancestral manor into an Insta-worthy luxury resort. With the love of her life Owen by her side opening weekend is promising to be a smash hit, she has seen to every detail and left nothing to chance.

However, the locals in the nearby town are less than pleased with her plans for their native lands, old friends have decided it’s time for past secrets to come to light, enemies have infiltrated her perfect world, mysterious cults lurk in the shadows, and absolutely nothing is as it seems.

With maybe just one too many twists, this is a fun read that is highly engaging. You may have to operate under some suspension of disbelief to fully immerse yourself into the fantasy of the story, but if you do it’s worth it!