The premise for the book was a good one; however, so many people being on scene that had "reinvented" themselves was a little unrealistic. Just the right touch of mystery and intrigue. I enjoyed this book overall and was surprised at the ending!

Another propulsive thriller by Lucy Foley. I loved the characters, the scenery, how I was pulled into the story from beginning to end. Will be recommending to readers!

Reminiscent of Lucy Foley's The Guest List moreso than The Paris Apartment, this is a fast-paced thriller/suspense novel. As with some suspense novels, the ending twists are revealed in the last four chapters/perspective changes, and give the reader enough closure and hints to make you want to go back and re-read the book. I will say there is less "lust" than The Guest List and more family drama, which I think functions well here.

Lucy Foley is back at it! The Midnight Feast is her latest twisty mystery set at The Manor, a luxury resort on the English coast. Francesca Meadows is hosting opening weekend of her luxury resort on the weekend of the Solstice, despite the angry locals. Opening weekend isn't as peaceful as lifestyle guru Francesca would like it to be and it only gets worse when the past continues to bubble to the surface.

Foley is an expert at creating unique voices to fill her pages, that make you want more and more! The inclusion of occult separates this from her other works, but it doesn't quite have the tightness and gratifying end like The Hunting Party and The Guest List.

4.25/5 ⭐️
If you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise....

This book was captivating from start to finish. The story is a simple thrilling mystery, but told from a new interesting perspective - specifically from five perspectives. The interconnections throughout the stories left enough breadcrumbs to keep you intrigued, while also not giving too much away. I loved all of the bird references, the creepy feel from the scenic woods, and how the folklore from the town could be a great story by itself.

My one complaint is that I wish there was more about the vague magical elements, and I would love a sequel about the birds!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Not quite as good as the Paris Apartment this does have some of the same quirkiness that I enjoyed the last time. Let’s just say that no one, absolutely, no one, is who they seem which makes a fantastic ending. Spooky setting, unpleasant history among different characters, assumed names….and birds. And some really unlikely characters. I can’t write more or I’d give away the plot.

This is another winner from Lucy Foley. Francesca Meadows, a carefully “curated “ lifestyle guru, is about to open her dream resort. She has transformed her family estate on the Dorset coast into the most exclusive retreat for A listers and wannabes. It has all been curated with a capital C, down to the selection of crystals in each room. There is even going to be a midnight feast on the solstice. The locals are not as thrilled. And the mythic creatures purportedly dwelling in the ancient woods on the estate may not be either. Fifteen years ago, when Francesca was called Frankie, she hosted midnight feasts. Those feasts had a darker tone. The past may be about to catch up with Frankie/Francesca.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an eGalley of this title.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Midnight Feast.

This is a generic revenge story about something terrible that happened in the past.

Told from four perspectives; the mystery guest Bella, the founder, Francesca, of a hoity-toity wellness spa, Eddie, a staff member, and Owen, Francesca's husband, we see how these four different people are linked to a tragedy a few decades ago.

Sadly, the narrative is tedious and a long, boring slog to get through; exposition from each person, how they're feeling, what's happening.

There are flashbacks to the summer where everything changed but that takes too much time to build up and readers don't see the big revelation until the last few chapters.

The writing is good, but the story lacks suspense and urgency and takes too long to get to the point, and none of the characters are compelling or interesting.

Not even the revelation is shocking; it was just meh. Oh, this happened? So what?

There are a few twists but nothing you can't see from a mile away.

I was more intrigued by the folklore surrounding the woods and the rituals the locals believed and participated in.

At this point Lucy Foley books are like pizza or chocolate to me, no matter what I know I’ll enjoy it.

I’ve read and loved The Guest List and The Hunting Party by her and this latest mystery from her doesn’t disappoint. With her characteristically strong sense of place Foley takes us to the opening weekend of an ultra-exclusive woodland hotel in the Dorset countryside. The views are stunning, the rooms absurdly expensive, and the guest list highly curated. But this idyllic retreat isn’t as picture perfect as it seems to be and by the end of the festivities it will all come out.

Told in Foley’s characteristic “cast of characters, point of view” style the story that unfolds is immediately arresting and twists and turns through several satisfying arcs before the shocking resolution. Compelling and propulsive, this book was a delight to experience.

It’s the solstice and the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort that the locals hate and that seems to be filled with old secrets. The story features owner Francesca, her husband, architect Owen, guest-with-a-secret (which you’ll guess in about a second) Bella, and dishwasher from a local farm Eddie. One of them won’t survive the weekend.

I know Lucy Foley is very popular and I usually like her, but this? This smacked of I’ve-got-a-three-book-deal-and-I’ve-got-something-due-by-the-end-of-the-quarter. This was not good. This wasn’t good by Lucy Foley standard, by first time out standard, by any standard. She was just phoning this one in. Embarrassing. Skip it.

I have a rule- if Lucy Foley writes it, I'm going to read it. I sped through this novel, same as I generally do with her books, but i simply could not put it down. There were a couple reveals that you can see coming, but several that absolutely threw me. I love a book that ensures horrible people get their just desserts, and there was plenty of that, in the end..... I will definitely recommend this one. I can't wait for Foley's next book, and this one hasn't even been released yet!

Alright, I have a confession to make: when I first started reading this highly anticipated thriller from the brilliant author Lucy Foley, known for her mastery of multi-POV narratives, it took me a little time to get into the story. Initially, I shrugged it off, thinking it might be a slow burn. But let's look at the bright side: it doesn't have as many characters as "Guest List," so I figured I could quickly grasp the main story around the mysterious victim's identity by navigating between timelines and narratives. However, a few chapters in, my opinion completely changed, especially with the inclusion of the diary entries. Suddenly, I found myself extremely hooked, turning the pages faster. The last third of the book blew my mind. The words seemed to possess me as the adrenaline pumped through my veins. The several twists took me by surprise, and the puzzle-style climax had me jumping in my seat. And of course, the ending was amazing! Interestingly, it reminded me of the ending of "True Detective: Night County."

The incorporation of folklore, particularly the legend of the Birds, perfectly blended into the main mystery, where locals fight for justice against the invasion of the polished, filthy-rich Zenith community, with touches reminiscent of Hitchcock's classic film "The Birds." Until I read this, I thought "Guest List" was my favorite work by the author, but this book has dethroned it and become my all-time favorite. From its cynical portrayal of the ultra-rich to its sarcastic critique of class differences and the locals' fight for what they deserve, to the mind games surrounding the identities of victims and perpetrators, this book offers a uniquely immersive reading experience.

The story centers around the Manor: an ultra-luxurious estate nestled in Woodland Hutches, designed to provide a peaceful escape for its privileged guests. Owned by Francesca Woodland, who hides dark secrets beneath a facade of priestess-like purity, the Manor is set to host a memorable summer solstice feast. Her younger husband, aspiring architect Owen, might be enchanted by her dreamy facade and the illusion she's created about her persona, as he shares his own dark secrets about his past that could threaten their shared future.

However, Francesca's plans are disrupted by a mystery guest from her past, Bella, who is determined to confront the tragedy she has endured for fifteen years. Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old kitchen helper Eddie finds himself caught between the locals seeking retribution against the Manor's guests and his dedication to his new job, all while dealing with his dysfunctional family.

As the narrative shifts back to the day after the solstice, we meet DI Walker, a specialist in cold cases, who investigates the tragic events that occurred at the Manor during the solstice celebration. Deaths, terrorized guests, and a burning Manor lead to a myriad of questions: What happened on the solstice? Who perished? Who is responsible? How did the fire start? Readers are tasked with collecting the pieces of the puzzle to solve the mystery, but nothing is as it seems, and Lucy Foyle's cunning storytelling is sure to keep you on your toes.

Overall, this is undoubtedly my favorite book by the author, and it has the potential to be one of the standout thrillers of the year. Highly, absolutely, extremely recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest opinions.

There is a fair amount of the ridiculous here, but, if you can deal with the silly characterizations and unlikely events, it's an appropriately tight and deeply entertaining story.

It’s a 3.5 for me but rounding up to a 4. The main thing is all her books are the same to me. The plot is always the same with just a slightly different location. A fun spoopy read but I’ll forget about it in a week. The last line did get me and I chuckled.

I’ve loved Lucy Foleys precious books because of the gripping mystery aspects. The Paris Apartment is still a favorite of mine. The Midnight Feast is a totally different beast…. Where basically everybody is crazy and/or out for revenge. Told I’m past and present through journal entries and present in first pov you get a multitude of characters (which do get confusing at times). The biggest difference compared to her others is that there is some actual magical lore in this book but I will not say anything more than that due to spoilers. I wish the book focused on that more! I sped through this in two sittings so it’s definitely the same writing quality of her last books but I feel that the plot could be hit or miss with her past fans. Newer Lucy Foley readers might be more open to this one.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of The Paris Apartment, but this is a return to form for Lucy Foley. I loved the local, occult aspect and the twists were all clever. The only flaw is that everyone got what they deserved in the end. One thing I enjoyed about The Hunting Party and The Guest List was the sense that the killers had gotten away with it and, in the case of the latter, one of the characters had such a tragic ending. I wish this had a little bit more bite to it in that aspect, but otherwise, this was outstanding.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is a locked room murder mystery that takes readers on a journey into the dark secrets of The Manor, a luxury resort with a sinister past. As the story unfolds over the opening weekend, the author weaves together the stories of each character, all with their own agenda and secrets to hide. As tensions rise and suspicions mount, not everyone will make it out alive. With its twisty plot and complex characters, this book will keep readers guessing until the very end.