The Midnight Feast was an incredible piece of writing. Early on you're given glimpses of where the story will end up, but not the to whom or reasons why until much later in the book. The narrative deftly switches back and forth between several characters, fifteen years ago, and the day before, the day of and the day after the main events of the tale. With short chapters, the book always gives you just another small piece of the puzzle at a time, but always progresses in an enticing and exhilarating manner. And just when you think you've got it all figured out, one more twist comes along you never say coming and leaves you gobsmacked. This was Foley's best thriller yet.

Welcome (if you can afford to be here) to the grand opening of The Manor, an elite & sumptuous Eden hidden in depths of a forest steeped in folklore & legend. This pricey Bohemian experience has been rigorously curated to be as chic as possible with signature fragrances & selected crystals, but there’s just a hint of pagan eeriness in the air from the unhappy locals with their tall tales of ancient rituals adding a slight frisson of danger to the festive atmosphere…

I loved this book!!! The short chapters written from multiple POVs kept me turning pages, & gradually piecing together the past while seeing events unfold in the present heightened the many twists (seriously, just when I thought there couldn’t possibly be any more surprises: there were!). The modern-day luxury juxtaposed with the vague (but maybe somewhat true?) folklore was brilliantly plotted & I already can’t wait to read what Lucy Foley’s working on next.

Thank you very much to NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It makes me really sad that I didn't like this book because I've liked so many other books by this author.

There were a few things that really put me off. One of them was the whole situation with the birds. Honestly seemed like an unnecessarily and weird addition to the novel.

Also, logically, nothing about this book made sense. How would no one recognize each other from years later? And was was a mother hanging out with teenagers?

Lastly, there were way too many characters and far too many names for said characters. It was confusing to follow.

This book was easy to get there in a 24 hour period of time which is the only reason I rated it two stars.

This was a great story! I couldn't put this down, especially once the diary entries were introduced. This is on par with The Guest List for me, and I loved that one!

Thank you to William Morrow & Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m sorry but if I rounded, it’d be 5 stars. This was an entertaining, almost fable-like read. Woodsy, mysterious, creepy……But the last 10%, know your jaw will drop & eyes will pop wide open with realization & recognition!!!👏🏼👏🏼

3.5 stars! This murder mystery takes place during the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort built on top of old secrets in an ancient wood. I really enjoyed the setting of this book and felt like Lucy transported me there with her vivid writing. She somehow created backstories for five people and brought everything full circle in under 400 pages. However, it was a pretty slow read due to the amount of information and POVs she had to fit in. In the first half, I had a hard time keeping track of everything and staying invested, but it all came together really well in the end, which elevated my rating.

Overall, I think people who enjoy Lucy Foley's writing will like this book! It gave me very similar vibes to The Guest List, just in a different setting. Who doesn't enjoy a little rich people drama, dark secrets, and folklore?

I look forward to seeing what people think when it releases. Thank you to William Morrow & NetGalley for the ARC. The Midnight Feast releases on June 18!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After being in a reading slump for months, this was a refreshing change of pace. Although the book started off really slow, I enjoyed reading about the lore and I really liked the diary entry chapters. I like stories that do diary entries rather than flashback scenes as it tends to flow better. I’ve had a 50/50 success rate with liking Lucy Foley books but this one blew it out of the water. Once it got to the midway point I was hooked and every time I thought I guessed what happened, there was another twist. I think if you like to be kept on your toes then this is the book for you!

Absolutely loved it!!! Page turn from beginning to end. Anything by Lucy Foley is never a disappointment!! Definitely a must read book.

Lucy Foley wrote another great book. There were several characters to follow which sometimes made the story difficult to follow but once you had them down it, it was interesting. I read it over an airplane ride!

The Manor is everything you can imagine and more. Built on local land there's a bit of tension between the older, established residents and the new business but things should work themselves out in the end.

Swapping between the present and the past, the Manor and the townsfolk, as the story emerges you'll question everyone. Why is this happening? Who will this benefit? The climax will leave your mouth wide open and the ending is so unexpected. You have no idea what you're in for with The Midnight Feast.

Lucy Foley's The Midnight Feast serves up a tantalizing blend of mystery, intrigue, and a hint of menace, set against the backdrop of an opulent resort with a dark history. From the moment you step into The Manor, Foley's prose weaves a web of secrets that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

The story unfolds over the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxurious retreat nestled in the heart of an ancient wood, concealing secrets as old as time itself. As the Founder, the Husband, the Mystery Guest, and the Kitchen Help converge, each with their own hidden agenda and murky past, tensions simmer and suspicions rise. Foley expertly crafts a cast of characters, each with layers waiting to be peeled back, ensuring that no one is quite what they seem.

At the heart of the narrative lies the eponymous Midnight Feast, a lavish culinary event that promises indulgence and decadence. Yet, beneath the surface of gastronomic delight lurks danger, as old rivalries resurface and hidden motives come to light. Foley's meticulous attention to detail brings the feast to life, tantalizing the senses even as it becomes a battleground for the characters' conflicting desires.

What sets The Midnight Feast apart is Foley's skillful navigation of suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every twist and turn. As secrets are gradually unearthed and alliances shift, the stakes soar ever higher, culminating in a finale that is as satisfying as it is surprising.

In The Midnight Feast, Lucy Foley serves up a literary banquet that is as deliciously dark as it is irresistible. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and spine-tingling plot, this is a book that will linger in your mind long after the final course is served. Whether you're a fan of mystery, suspense, or simply appreciate a well-crafted tale, The Midnight Feast is sure to leave you hungry for more.

I have never read Lucy Foley before, but the covers and descriptions always seemed intriguing. When I received an ARC of The Midnight Feast, I wasn’t sure how I would like it, as it didn’t seem like my usual read. I ended up really enjoying the book. Several characters narrate the story, and the story flips between two significant times in the characters’ lives. While it could have been confusing, it wasn’t, as long as I paid attention to who the narrator was, and when the story was taking place. The story connected the dots between the characters, with several surprises and twists along the way. The only thing I found annoying was the characters kept going into the woods. It was like a scary movie, when you want to scream at the actor to not open the front door when they hear a noise. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy suspense, with a happy ending by way of karma.

Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’m not sure what I thought of this one… it was fast-paced and kept my interest, especially with the short chapters, which I normally love. I think the premise was better than the execution though. I love the elements that make up this story - an old manor, creepy folklore vibes, eccentric characters, and more. I think the characters jumbled together a little bit though and I cared less about the story as it went on. It makes me sad to say that though because there was so much potential. Hopefully others will enjoy it more!

3
I’m conflicted. The beginning first few pages I really thought I was going to enjoy this book but the more it kept going not that the premise wasn’t interesting but I just kept getting a little turned around. I feel like there was just too many characters. Too much going on that made me just not really enjoy this as much as I wanted to.

I feel like this is the majority of my feelings when I read her books but it might just be me because I know a lot of others really enjoy. Just not for me.

#TheMidnightFeast #NetGalley
A cinematic experience. 5 ⭐
The story opens with an unsettling and mood-setting prologue, hinting at the mystery central to the plot in case it was not clear from the title. The notion of a cult is further reinforced by the first few chapters, which are reminiscent of Liane Moriarty’s, Nine Perfect Strangers. As the reader continues the journey, however, the cult theory branches off into one of several potential premises. Whether it is the inner workings of a cult, dark magic, or hallucinogens remains unanswered until the conclusion. The cast of characters include two protagonists (obvious spoiler: one is actually an antagonist), a few supporting characters, and many side characters, though the story is mostly told from the perspectives of the two mains and one supporting that could arguably be considered a tritagonist given their role and the number of chapters dedicated to them. Bella, a single, 30-something-year-old, woman, is the first character introduced and is a guest at The Manor. Then there is Eddie, who is a nineteen-year-old farm boy, townie, and a dishwasher at The Manor. Finally, there are the married owners of The Manor, Francesca Meadows and Owen Dacre. Francesca is a wealthy, spiritual guru (think Gwyneth) who envisioned The Manor as a luxury weekend escape from the hectic pace of city life for the privileged. Owen Dacre is Francesca’s husband and a renowned architect who built The Manor and helped Francesca achieve her dream retreat
OMG!!! It was 🔥. I really enjoyed this very much. Now I see why they picked it up for a movie. This is huge. A game changer in mystery.
Definitely recommend this one to everyone.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for giving me an advance copy. .

While the mystery and twists in this one are the classic Foley formula, I love the added bits! A tad bit horror, a change of season (if you can wait to read this on Halloween I bet it would be even more fantastic), and younger characters. This story felt way darker than her other ones and I loved that! Thank you for the advanced copy.

this book had SO much potential. the exclusive manor full of wellness crazed rich people, the creepy folklore ingrained upon the surrounding community, the animosity between the locals and the manor staff and attendees. there were enough cool spins on an overused trope for this to be really promising, but it just fell short for me in the actual execution.

the setup was great, the setting was great, the history was great; but everything else wasn’t as good as i was hoping for. the lead up to this grand feast wound up being very underwhelming, and it’s a shame because it COULD have been great.

still giving it 3 stars because there were a fair amount of things i liked about it, but im just disappointed with how it all turned out compared to the promise it had at the start.

Thank you to #NetGalley and William and Morrow for granting me early access to Lucy Foley’s The Midnight Feast. As usual, Ms. Foley did not disappoint in providing yet another riveting mystery for readers everywhere to delight in over the summer months. While skewed a bit more young adult fiction than her previous thrillers, #TheMidnightFeast turns into a total creep festival by the time the reader arrives at the final showdown. I, for one, will never look at crows quite the same again. If you can survive until October, this is a great one to get you in the mood for the Harvest Solstice…erm I mean Halloween. Happy reading!

OMG, OMG, OMG! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I'm so grateful to the publisher for this advanced copy <3

"The Midnight Feast" is classic Lucy Foley with a couple of twists. If you enjoyed "The Guest List" (or even "The Hunting Party"), you're in for a treat. However, if you're a little tired of the "Foley Formula" and looking for something new (like I was), don't get your hopes up. This is a fun read, and although it has its WTF?? moments, it's nothing Foley hasn't written before. While reading this review, consider that I've enjoyed every mystery Foley has written so far—aka, I am the target audience for this book.

My favorite thing about "The Midnight Feast" (and all of Foley's works) is the way everything falls into place. Every little detail is significant. Remember the way that character reacted in chapter 1? Well, that's gonna be important in twenty chapters when _____. I love it!!! I feel like a detective, and there is nothing more satisfying than correctly guessing a twist before it happens.

My only complaint with the story is the setting. I guess since I've never been to the English coast, I struggled to picture any of the scenery. Woods, farms, beaches, cliffs, and infinity pools all clashed in my mind while reading, and I was never sure where things were taking place. I wish there was a map or at least a drawing of the Manor's grounds because I was STRUGGLING. Looks like I might need to take a trip to England and scout out the place—hopefully, I won't be taken by the Birds.

Now, I mentioned above that this is a pretty standard Foley book (which it is), but I also feel like it would be wrong of me not to say that there are some new elements. There is **gasp** political commentary, some horror elements, and... a cult. I won't get into the details for fear of spoilers, but the locals vs. influencers conflict is where this book truly shines. The commentary was both surprising and refreshing, and it elevates this book from a 3-star thriller to a 4-star 'oh shit' revenge thriller.

Recommendation: Read it! Lucy Foley has never let me down. "The Midnight Feast" is fun, twisty, and surprisingly impactful. If you're looking for a book to read before bed, be careful—it's hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!
Release Date: June 18th

I absolutely loved this book! Easily one of my top reads of this year so far. I thought Lucy Foley did a fantastic job of creating a dark yet magical atmosphere. I thought that the multiple points of views blended so well together. I seriously couldn’t put this book down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new murder mystery