Creepy, claustrophobic and stunning and spectacular! I love Lucy Foley and this is another great novel!

The Midnight Feast refers to a tradition that a bored little rich girl started in the Summer one year. When it all goes awry, the participants
move far away from each other and try to forget the night. Many years later, a glamorous woman opens a luxury retreat in the town.
One of the summer participants returns and their flashbacks add tension to the story.

What is everyone hiding? You will not guess the twists!
#WiliamMorrow #Themidnightfeast #lucyfoley

In Lucy Foley's "The Midnight Feast," readers are immersed in a gripping mystery set within the luxurious confines of The Manor. What sets this novel apart is its eerie atmosphere and relentless pacing, making it a compelling page-turner that's hard to put down. Foley skillfully crafts a tangled web of secrets and betrayals, keeping readers enthralled until the final page. With each twist and turn, the tension mounts, drawing readers deeper into the heart of the mystery. For those seeking a captivating read that will keep them guessing until the very end, "The Midnight Feast" delivers in spades.

Thank you Lucy Foley and William Morrow for the chance to read this ARC!
*Will be posting my review to Amazon on publishing day.

The latest from Lucy Foley… and unfortunately not my favorite from her.

I do like a good locked room mystery and have enjoyed this author’s past works, but felt like her latest fell flat and was also was just a bit weird with some of it’s plot and themes.

Majority of the story occurs in Tome during the opening weekend of a luxury resort owned by by Francesca Meadows. Francesca grew up in Tome and there was always animosity between her family and the other locals and those sentiments have remained and even worsened leading up to the weekend. We have other POVs and timelines too: In the past there are journal entries written by a teenager, Bella who is befriended by Frankie, and spends a summer together only for it to end in horror. Bella is now a guest in the present looking for answers, there’s Eddie a local teenager, and Owen who married Bella but has secrets of his own. In the future there’s DI Walker who arrives at the scene to determine who died and why.

However, I struggled to like any character (Eddie maybe the only exception) and found them pretty annoying. Francesca especially, though that very well may have been intentional. I also thought all the characters were one dimensional and there wasn’t much development to them at all.

Then there’s the plot itself. Told in quick chapters, this was a fairly easy read and I did find myself interested into how all the puzzle pieces would come together at the end to tell the story. And as it progressed it did, but there was also so many extra side characters and plot points that didn’t really have a lot of relevance to the overarching story. There was also the idea of “The Birds” which sounded like small town folklore and I was curious about it early on! But the more it come up, the weirder it got and I ended up just not enjoying this inclusion.

The ending did have lots of stuff revealed and there were some full circle moments that really tied up some loose ends of the past and current. Ultimately while I think the premise was there, the execution didn't deliver for me.

This was a bit of a slow burn for me, but it picked up about a third of the way in and left me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
The story takes place at a newly-opened, high end resort in a rustic small town. Past and present story lines intertwine throughout the book, which simultaneously answered questions about the plot but opened many more.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it. That said, there were a few parts I didn’t love (i.e. the teenage-style writing in the journal, which made sense in context but annoyed me for some reason I can’t quite put my finger on). I did love how characters were unveiled in the end, but it did require a bit of suspension of disbelief in some instances.

This book is set in England at a newly renovated hotel named The Manor, the plot revolves around a mysterious event that occurred years ago. A group who wore costumes resembling giant birds appear from time to time and when they do, a death occurs. Francesca is determined to successfully open her new hotel, but everything is getting in the way. Despite a supportive husband Owen, support staff, and memories of growing up on the estate, a darkness continues to surround them.

This was a different read for me, the story unfolds through 3 POV’s plus 2 additional POV’s ( Eddie & Detective Walker), A Summer Journal from 2009 that lets the reader in on secrets from the past when Francesca ( Frankie), & Bella ( Sparrow) were young girls growing up in the town of Tome.
While I enjoyed many parts of it I also struggled with scenes that didn’t seem to connect, things that went unexplained and there were too many changes in POV. I think there was a good foundation to the story, it was just a very different reading experience from an author I have read from before.

If you like twisty thrillers with some folklore/paranormal aspects, I'd recommend giving this a read!

Available June 18, 2024.

Many thanks to NetGalley & William Morrow for granting me an early release e-ARC of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. I have enjoyed all of Lucy’s backlist. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review

THE MIDNIGHT FEAST is Lucy Foley at her best!

In rural coastal England, a new swanky resort is having its opening weekend. Owner, the eccentric and charismatic Francesca, has spared no expense and has invited London's most wealthy. But what she doesn't know is that there's someone from her past who's there to expose her--and some guests won't survive the night.

This one had all the hallmarks of a Lucy Foley book--locked room, compelling characters, and a lush setting. There were multiple POVs that kept me guessing the whole time, and so many reveals that came out of nowhere.

The VIBES of this book--IMMACULATE. Slightly Gothic, creepy, and a hint of witchyness gave the book a great ambiance.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book!

The Midnight Feast is my favorite Lucy Foley novel to date. We get another locked room murder mystery, this time set at The Manor, an old house that's been made over into a luxury resort despite ire from locals. The story is set slightly in the future, in 2025, and secrets are revealed as a mysterious guest relives what happened 15 years ago in this very place. Multiple POVs keep you guessing as to what really happened all those years ago that leads to the disaster in the current timeline. In addition to the main characters, there's also the mysterious (and creepy) The Birds that seem to be haunting the woods and willing to take revenge on trespassers. Great murder mystery to keep you guessing and entertained.

Having eagerly anticipated delving into Lucy Foley's acclaimed works for some time, receiving an advance copy of "The Midnight Feast" was a thrilling opportunity to finally immerse myself in her storytelling.

While my expectations were high, I must admit that this particular thriller didn't quite hit the mark for me. The twists and turns, while present, lacked the electrifying shock-factor I had hoped for, leaving me yearning for more profound revelations.

One aspect that proved challenging was the abundance of characters to keep track of. At times, juggling multiple narratives became overwhelming, detracting from the overall enjoyment of piecing together the intricate plot.

Additionally, while I appreciated Foley's unique storytelling approach, I found the inclusion of "The Birds" storyline to be somewhat repetitive and, in all honesty, unnecessary. Its presence seemed to distract rather than enhance the main narrative, leaving me questioning its relevance.

Despite these shortcomings, Foley's writing style undeniably shines through, showcasing her talent for crafting compelling prose and intricate plots. Though "The Midnight Feast" may not have been my favorite, it hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for exploring more of Foley's work in the future.

Thank you to Lucy Foley, William Morrow, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book but I just didn’t. It felt really dragged on and I felt kinda bored at a lot of points. I gave 3 stars because the ending was pretty good. The twists and pieces falling together was put together really well.

There were some connections at the end that I did not see coming, but overall I found the book to be unremarkable. Didn’t love it, but didn’t hate it. Following five different points of view, PLUS journal entries, PLUS going back and forth through time constantly… it’s just a lot.

Thank you so much NetGalley for this ARC!!

Started this book last night… in true Foley fashion I can’t put it down. I love the setting, it’s glamorous and creepy at the same time.

I also love the multiple pov, I always find it more interesting to read a story this way. Will be updating my review on completing the book! So far it’s giving 4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I think I need to throw in the towel and say that this is the best Lucy Foley book - I need to quit while I'm ahead! I love Lucy Foley, though her books often seem formulaic and this is certainly no exception. That said, the twists and turns in this one felt unique and interesting, and I had a very good time with it!

"The Midnight Feast" by Lucy Foley is a riveting blend of mystery, intrigue, and spooky vibes. With compelling characters, a touch of the supernatural, and masterful pacing, Foley delivers a gripping narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Despite some predictable moments, the overall experience earns a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. Fans of dark thrillers will find this book thoroughly engrossing.

This was my favorite Lucy Foley book yet! Multiple viewpoints, multiple timelines, spooky vibes - it all had me properly immersed and enthralled. There were a couple twists that genuinely took me by surprise (rare), and a few that were predictable (but not annoying).

I found Jake’s story a bit too unrealistic — his character absolutely would have returned home or made contact with his brother at some point.

Overall loved this story! Thank you for the opportunity to read an advanced copy!

The Midnight Feast is about solstice weekend at a luxury hotel. The weekend is filled with amazing events, culminating in a midnight feast on the lawns. Unfortunately hotel owner Francesca’s past is catching up with her. There is sabotage, mystery, occultism, and intrigue in the novel. Fans of Lucy Foley or dark thrillers in general won’t be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this novel for my review.

Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is arguably her best novel yet.
While many of her tried and true techniques are present, multiple viewpoints, multiple timelines, and locked room/ rural locale, this book seems more polished and than earlier works.

I like how she divested from a whole host of characters and narrowed it down to a few main viewpoints this time. The characters themselves are also more fleshed out, believable and even likable. In the past many of her characters have just been annoying to me. In this novel, the classism was shown more from the viewpoint of the workers, than the guests which I think worked well to garner sympathy for the residents of Tome.

I also liked the spooky, mystical nature of the threat. The Birds are ephemeral, and even those in the “know” like Eddie aren’t sure if they are real or not.

The pacing of this novel was great, as with all of Foley’s books. The build up to the end had me reading much later into the night than I intended.

Overall, 4.5 out of 5 stars for some minor “of course he is” moments. But I really loved this book!

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Welcome to The Manor, the newest luxury getaway for the elite featuring garden to table food, state of the art spa amenities, world class entertainment, and a unique opportunity to explore the local scenery. Cultivated and created by the Hostess, Francesca Meadows with the assistance of her architect husband, Owen Dacre-- every guest is sure to feel like family during their stay.

Told through five alternating viewpoints, including the kitchen help/local boy, the owner, the husband, the guest, and the homicide detective-- an incredibly complex story of heartbreak, betrayal, murder, and revenge leaves only four of our narrators alive.

Lucy Foley has done it again! Full of her well-known twists and turns, THE MIDNIGHT FEAST was a delight from start to finish-- and it kept me guessing until the very last page. An intricately woven story featuring a small town, local folklore (of the deadly variety), haunted woods, and someone seeking revenge, this might just be one of my new favorite thrillers. Foley does a wonderful job of creating the perfect ambience, developing her characters (in complex and incredibly surprising ways!), and building tension, creating a page-turning ending that left me satisfied but desperate for more.

I absolutely loved this book! It was a unique storyline that kept me on the edge of my seat. My favorite by Lucy Foley so far!

A bit quirky, a bit scattered with the current and past POVs swirling around but a lot gripping, intense, and thrilling. As the story rolls forward and the various plot lines merge, the brilliance of Lucy Foley’s writing is again apparent. Lots of twists, twirls and surprises!

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 stars. Here's the real tea - I wasn't the biggest fan of Lucy Foley's THE PARIS APARTMENT. I know, I know. That said, I enjoyed THE MIDNIGHT FEAST a little more. The Manor is a luxurious and exclusive woodland resort celebrating it's opening weekend when things end in MURDER. Foley weaves the past and present together in a way that will ultimately connect its founder, her husband, a mystery guest and a resort dishwasher together. Foley's known for combining her ensembles of bratty, privileged and unlikeable characters with fun settings and this certainly fits the bill.

I find Foley's characters to sometimes be one dimensional and insufferable, but you can't tell me that Francesca isn't a fun and campy character. She's feral and I'm HERE FOR IT. I could see a younger Nicole Kidman type crushing that performance in the future Emmy nominated HBO MAX limited series adaptation. Bella is also intriguing and I was curious to see how her history with Frankie shaped her present and the plot. Sure, it's the same commentary on class that we've seen time and time again - this just has more creepy hooded black birds. Was I was mostly sat for the cottagcore/Midsommar/dark foresty vibes? Absolutely.

Was the story a lil' predictable, farfetched, convoluted and convenient at times? Maybe. But the ride was quick and had some fun twists and turns (even if they were somewhat predictable and or underwhelming). But just grab your flower crown and vibe out. This felt like THE WHITE LOTUS meets GOOP meets every A24 movie that involves mysterious culty wellness retreats in forests. Tonally, this very much reminds me of THE MENU (the movie). Cue Evermore by Taylor Swift.

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