TW/CW: Language, drinking, classism, sexual assault, cheating, bullying, family drama, child abandonment, animal death, gore

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:
It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.

But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

THE FOUNDER * THE HUSBAND * THE MYSTERY GUEST * THE KITCHEN HELP

It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at… The Midnight Feast.
Release Date: June 18th, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 354
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Sucker for the cover
2. Writing style was good
3. Quick read

What I Didn't Like:
1. All the talk about how women's bodies look compared to other women's
2. Meh story
3. Repetitive things happen over & over
4. Underwhelming ending

Overall Thoughts:
{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}

God Frans annoying and endless "darling" and "my love" is driving me insane.

Can we kill Delah and Tate? Talk about horrible humans!

Wow so Fran is filming people inside their rooms.... She claims it's for the customers. How?

Wow Owen is Shrimp! And he's married to Fran but she didn't know it's shrimp but Michelle knew who he was.

How did Delilah and Tate just end up showing up everywhere where Eddie is? It's insane dude can't go anywhere without running into them

God I forgot that Bella had a kid it's been so long since she was mentioned.

Once again for 100th time mentioned that Bella has a smaller chest.

Everyone has their part and they definitely never break their stereotypes.

The big reveal of that Francesca poisoned Cora and Cora is Shrimps/Owen's mother. That's why the £20,000 was sent to Shrimps father via mail. Well that was underwhelming.

Plus Eddie's brother reappears randomly and why?? What was the point of him coming back? Who cares....

Final Thoughts:
I'm sorry but I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen. Reading this book I had to take a few naps because it made me sleepy. Honestly that's a shame because I enjoyed the writing style the author gave use and was invested in the characters crossing paths as adults. Too bad that couldn't turn into more that countless talks about;
• Bella's small chest
• Birds birds birds
• Owen's obsession with Fran
• Fran's obsession with Owen
• Eddie being tormented by Delilah and Tate
• Hugo endlessly sexualizing every woman

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
1 like

I loved the concept of this book and am generally a fan of Lucy Foley but this book was a miss for me. I was frustrated by the way every single chapter ended on a cliff hanger. I understand that the intention was likely to make it a page turner, but I ended up feeling annoyed as it continued. Anticipating what's going to happen next is fun, but so is following a scene to its conclusion. I love the concept of the crows and thought it was inventive. I also wished that the main antagonist had some kind of redeeming qualities, rather than being a through and through villain.

After reading The Guest List, I was really excited to be approved for this ARC of Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. While I enjoyed the book overall, I did find it a bit tough to get into. I also found myself thinking that I'm noticing a theme here as if she has developed a sort of formula for her books, whether or not intentional. The book did start to pick up about half to 3/4 of the way in, and I enjoyed it in the end. However, between all of the different characters, and the pattern I'm starting to pick up on, it wasn't my favorite. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Midnight Feast is Lucy Foley at her finest. Her ability to seamlessly weave multiple POVs and timelines while still telling a clear story is unmatched.

This book is set on the British coast in the small town of Tome. The setting is the opening weekend of a lavish wellness resort on the edge of the woods so shrouded in creepy folklore that the locals know better than to go in to them. There is the classic conflict between the resort and the local community escalated by the town's history and superstition.

I hesitate to say much of anything about the characters or the plot beyond that because it all ties together so perfectly with twists that I truly did not see coming (and I always see them coming). Lucy Foley is a master of the genre and The Midnight Feast is truly her best work to date.

Thank you to Lucy Foley, William Morrow, and NetGalley for this advanced copy!

I have only gotten to spend a little bit of time with this book but so far, it is turning out to be exactly what I am needing this summer! It is the perfect balance of "rich people behaving badly" combined with a mystery and even a little twist of a cult vibe in there maybe? Lucy Foley is an auto read for me with all of her novels and am loving this one!

Thanks Net Galley for the ARC!

This was so intriguing and keep me reading at a lightning-fast pace just to find out what exactly happened! I did figure out some of the twists but there was so much I didn’t that it still felt so fun to be along for the ride. And I LOVED the setting, it was so good.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC, the below review is of my own thoughts.

This was my first book by Lucy Foley, I was so happy when I was approved for this book as I have heard so many positive things about this author.

The Midnight Feast tells the story of the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort, that has old secrets that are threatening to be exposed. The story is told through multiple POV's, these characters are Francesca (the owner of the Manor), Owen (architect of the project and Francesca's husband), Eddie (an employee of the manor), Bella (a guest of the Manor) and DI Walker (investigator). Besides the multiple POV we also get journal entries, from 15 years ago.

I love multiple POV books, I usually enjoy having multiple people giving their POV of what is happening and I feel it brings more depth to the story and to the characters. So I did appreciate to have multiple characters telling their own story, however I felt at times got a bit confusing with all the jumping around on the timeline and between each character POV.

I liked the journal entries I think they helped navigate what happened 15 years ago and thought they were a great addition to the story. These to me where a great addition and did help connect the dots between the past and the present

To me the pacing of the book was a bit slow, some parts did seem to drag a bit long, making it a bit boring.

Overall, I enjoyed the book it is a solid 3 stars read.

2.5-3⭐️ The first half of this book dragged and it seemed like nothing was really happening. The last 40% or so was better and things finally started to pick up.

A few issues-
There are SO many characters introduced, some of whom had different identities when they were younger. Not only was it hard to keep everyone straight, but it also didn’t make sense that these people wouldn’t recognize each other after only 15 years.
The general plot line (a large group goes on holiday to a remote location) is just too similar to Foley’s other books, The Guest List and The Hunting Party.

Overall, not my favorite of Foley’s books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC.

This is my fourth read from Lucy Foley and yet again, she does not disappoint. The twists and turns in this story kept me coming back. I found myself wanting to pick up and read it all the time.

There were several plot points I didn’t see coming and even the ones that I found slightly predictable, were only made clear right before the final reveal.

My one critique and word of advice for future readers would be the comparison I made to the story from Nine Perfect Strangers. The descriptions of the setting felt very similar and while at first it helped me visualize it, it did become a distraction that I needed to move pst. The plot was nothing like that of the book/show and once I let go of that comparison, I really settled into this story and found it captivating.

Twisty and fast paced. Would be a perfect beach read for those that enjoy a murder mystery. Kept me guessing and interested the whole way through.

This is the third book I have read by Lucy Foley and is so far, my favorite.

It’s like The Club, Nine Perfect Strangers and The Night She Disappeared got together one full moon evening, did mushrooms and created a folkloric and twisted tale of privilege, manipulation, narcissism, deceit, guilt, bravery, comeuppance and retribution.

Francesca has inherited The Manor, a residence built in the woodsy land along the Dorset coastline upon the death of her grandparents. She and her twin brothers summered there as children and now, as an adult, she has transformed the property into a luxury resort designed as a peaceful escape for the privileged guests who can afford to stay there. The locals are not happy with this decision.

The opening weekend culminates in an event called the Midnight Feast which is something Francesca and her brothers enjoyed as teens during their summers. However, not everything is as idyllic as it seems. An event that happened and was covered up 15 years ago will finally be dealt with and ends in fire and a body is found on the cliffs below The Manor.

Though told from different POVs, the main storyline takes place during a three-day timeline. I’m not sure why, but I found this interesting and enjoyed that in itself. Interspersed, are diary flash backs from 15 years ago that encompass a one-month period that fills in the gaps. I had no trouble keeping the story line clear.

I found this book to be a slow burn with several twists and surprising revelations which kept me entertained especially through the last seventy percent of the story. Every character and connection is explained easily and I had several moments where I thought I knew what was going on but then the reveal was just slightly tweaked and even better than what I had originally thought.

Well-written and suspenseful, read this if you enjoy twisty, spooky tales that include an element of folklore. In this case, birds.

I received this ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Feast is a fantastic story full of twists and reveals. The setting is easily visualized and excellent for this story.

I loved the multiple POVs that gave insight into the story from different unique perspectives. Figuring out how the different POVs were important to the story was part of the fun as a reader. I especially loved how the backstories of each character contributed to how they ended up all in the same place at the same time.

This is a well written, perfectly woven story. I definitely recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this advanced reader copy.

I'm a fan of Lucy Foley. Her books promise a reading experience and they always deliver. The stories are built in layers, each character has a past and a present that are slowly fed into the overall thread until the mystery is woven through with a few loose threads that Foley dares you to pull. Foley's books always give me a feel of Liane Moriarity's books.

A grand opening with a celebrity packed attendance ends with a fire and a body. The readers are then taken from past to present while the clues build. But, pull on that one thread and you'll never see the twist that has suddenly changed how you look at each character. I hope Foley has as much fun writing these books as I do reading them. 5 easy stars.

The Midnight Feast was my favorite Lucy Foley release since The Guest List! 

WHAT I LIKED
- The chilling atmosphere was so immersive. I also read about this luxury resort in the woods while staying at a luxury resort in the woods, so I'm sure that helped! (I'm posting this review as we wait at the luggage carousel after our flight home.)
- I loved the way everything came together in the end. It was such a satisfying conclusion. 

WHAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME
- There were a too many character POVs mixed in with past journal entire as the story progressed; it felt a bit like whiplash bouncing between the different perspectives. 
- The story lagged quite often in the lead up to the conclusion, but then the last third was a chaotic ride that sped too quickly through events.

It is opening weekend for The Manor; a fancy and luxurious new oasis for the wealthy guests who are lucky enough to book a cottage. The Manor's grounds include an infinity pool, breath taking ocean views, and trails throughout the woods. So far, opening weekend has been a hit. The guests are being welcomed by a bottle of champagne in their cottages, crystal pouches for healing, and all the Manor Mule they would like. But, the night of the Midnight Feast things start to change. Rocks are raining into the pool hitting the guests. Hundreds of birds are on the grounds. The guests start acting strange. What is happening at The Manor and how is it tied to the secret that the grounds have kept for 15 years? Told in alternating POVs from The Manor's owner, the owner's husband, a mystery guest, the kitchen help, the detective, and a summer journal; The Midnight Feast has begun and no one's secrets will be safe.
Review:
3.5 stars
The Midnight Feast starts off a little slow as the scene is set and characters are introduced. However, as the story goes along it picks up pace and does not slow down at all!! I did not guess a single twist in this book, so props to Lucy Foley for that! My jaw was on the floor a few times. The atmosphere of this book is so creepy! The descriptions of the birds and woods had me yelling anytime someone stepped foot into the woods! GET OUT!!! I really liked how this book wrapped up and how every single puzzle piece fit perfectly. There were connections that I did not for a single second expect and I loved that! The Midnight Feast is available now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Foley, and William Morrow for this ARC of The Midnight Feast in exchange for an honest review!!

"<i>The Midnight Feast</i>" is an exciting mystery story about a lavish party where secrets from the past come back to haunt everyone. As tensions rise and old conflicts resurface, the event takes a dark turn when a fire breaks out and a body is found. Set in a luxurious mansion and its mysterious surroundings, this gripping tale unfolds as characters with hidden agendas are drawn into a deadly mystery.

Lucy Foley is the queen of multiple POVs and the short chapters make this such a bingable read. Perfect to read pool side with a Manor mule. Just watch out for <i>The Birds</i>. 😉

<i>Shout-out to my homies at Netgally and Harper Collins for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review</i>

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow & Lucy Foley for the eARC of this book to read & review!

Whoa. What a crazy, trippy, twisty and absolutely addictive experience this was! And creepy? Oh ya … totally, perfectly and eerily creepy!

The atmosphere is brilliantly set up ... deep in the woods, on the edge of a sea cliff, in a small town where folk lore & dark legends run amuck. The characters are all a bit on the unreliable side. each with their own secrets.

The dual timelines and multiple pov’s and the wham-bam bomb drops handed out in short, snappy chapters are a work of art! A number of times I literally sat with my jaw open, totally speechless & in shock! And the ending is everything I needed for this story! (Insert me giving a great big standing O right here!)

A perfectly done thriller that is seriously unputdownable! I gobbled this one up so fast … I left the table completely & utterly satisfied!

As hard as it is to choose, I think this is my favorite Lucy Foley book so far!

It’s the opening night of The Manor, a brand new hotel amongst a rural town. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; but the locals are not happy about this happening. Under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And the Sunday morning of opening weekend, the local police are called. Something’s not right with the guests. There’s been a fire. A body’s been discovered.

I didn't hate this book but I didn't love it either. I found myself not caring much about any character (minus Eddie) because there were too many of them and they all annoyed me lol. I thought there was too much telling instead of showing. I did not need to be reminded a million times of the Birds. I also saw the twist coming from almost the beginning. Which isn't always the worst thing, but in this case I was hoping the end would save the book for me and sadly it did not.

What I did like was the setting of the book, I like Foleys style of writing, and I like when there is justice served.

Overall I rated this book a 2.5 (rounded up to 3)

Lucy Foley has done it yet again! I've read her last three "locked room" (and/or island?) mysteries, and have enjoyed them all since The Hunting Party. The Midnight Feast is another great entry.

Told from multiple perspectives and timelines, this story weaves together a creepy tale that is ultimately about class, and how we are defined by our choices and childhoods. Every perspective adds to the growing mystery, and there are tons of callbacks and fake-outs through. I thought all of the characters really shined, although I would have liked more understanding of Francesca. I felt that even though I spent multiple chapters with her, I never really understood her motivations.

I will say that if you are familiar with Foley's writing, you may seem some of the twists coming. I figured out at least two of them, but found myself genuinely surprised at others. Almost every character plays a pivotal role in the mystery surrounding the Manor. That being said, if you are familiar with her work and have enjoyed it, I suspect you will enjoy this one as well. I finished it in about a day and a half because I wanted to know what would happen next.

This is my 3rd book by this author, I’ve read The Guest List and The Paris Apartment. With this book I did like the multiple POV of the character that made the story. I loved the small town vibes with folk legends. The story was very slow paced which made it hard to stay interested in. The last 20% of the story with the reveals was amazing. The plot reveal wouldn’t have been guessed….it just took too long to get there.