A down on its luck coastal town, populated with locals who closely guard their home’s scenery and dark folklore, plays host to Foley’s newest suspense novel. Told from multiple points of view and through alternating timelines, this mysterious story unwinds in fits and starts. A wealthy, Goopy out-of-towner revives her family’s ancestral property by transforming it into a luxe holiday resort. In so doing, she reawakens decades-old resentments and calls a host of former associates back to their summer home. The story wraps up perhaps a bit too neatly, but the journey is full of fanciful diversions and imagery,, much like The Manor itself.

The Midnight Feast is a multi-POV mystery centering around the opening of 'The Manor" an exclusive ultra-luxury hotel in remote Dorset. The Midnight Feast is an interesting story that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole thing. Personally, I didn't think this was one of Lucy's strongest novels. The characters were a little bit one dimensional and hard to connect with. The hardest part of this story was that there didn't feel like there was anyone to root for the entire time which resulted in me not being very invested in the people at stake. The writing was well done, and I personally enjoyed the journal entries giving us a sneak peak into the history of the characters. The POV's were helpful to visualize the whole picture, but I wish that we got a little more insight into the 'secrets' that the characters kept referencing prior to the last 2 chapters.

Thanks to NetGalley and to William Morrow for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I've enjoyed Lucy Foley's other thrillers so I was excited to check out this new one. It also has multiple POVs and switches from before the main event, during, and after like the other books. It was really good and I was able to guess parts of the reveals but still was surprised by other elements. This story had some folklore involved which was interesting and different. It was a good mystery and I enjoyed seeing all the secrets and details unfold. I'd recommend this if you like thrillers or liked her other books!

Sexy, luxurious, exclusive, a peaceful escape.. a few words to describe the exceptional Manor of Woodland Hutches owned by the darkly mysterious Francesca Woodland. The manor is hosting a summer solstice feast and some of the coveted guest list have no idea of the dark past this hotel holds. Old friends arrive. They know and they are bringing the secrets with them!! Lucy Foley captures us in with an old summer journal, bringing us back to the past and present as the mystery unfolds from the different 5 point of views. Elements of folklore and the locals are folded in to create texture and foundations of the elements. Surround yourself in a grave of secrets, be ready to feast and stay mindful of the birds.

I really enjoyed the range of characters, short chapters, and fast pace. However, the characters and ending felt cliche. Overall I enjoyed the book and was engaged. Thanks to netgalley for the arc!

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"This... this gave me a purpose. When I put on that mask and cloak—I am something different. I am powerful. I am something more than myself."


It took me a few days to get through The Midnight Feast. There was so much going on and so many clues to keep track of, that I just wanted to take my time and see if I could figure out everything before the big reveal. Spoiler alert: I am not a good detective whatsoever and was very shocked by most of the reveals at the end.

Each person you meet throughout this book is so interesting. They might be who they say they are, or they might be playing a game you never knew you were a part of. There's a lot of moving parts and some are hard to keep track of. Or maybe that's just how I felt throughout the entire thing. Either way, I was completely hooked and just wanted to see where it was all heading.

So many secrets come out. My head hurt from them all, but it kept the pages turning. I probably shouldn't have been so shocked that they were all tied to this place, whether they were local or not, but I definitely was. The birds, the diary from the past, and the twists and turns of the present had me in a chokehold. I don't want to spoil anything, but just know that like three or four characters were just creepy and made me cringe.

In the end, I'm happy with how everything went down. There was vengeance, death, and mini reunions that needed to happen. My brain is still trying to get over everything that was revealed towards the end. This was such a good mystery thriller, and I can't wait for the next one that Lucy writes.

Honestly, was hard to get into the story here. I almost put the book down and didn’t finish multiple times. The plot points that were meant to be thrilling and leave readers on edge felt like they were trying too hard.

Midnight Feast was a good thriller with many twists that unfold towards the last half of the book. The book is written from the perspective of several characters and is relatively easy to follow.

Midnight Feast is about Francesca Meadows, who inherits her grandparent’s property, turns it into a high class resort. The property is located in an area where there is a legend of, the birds. Locals don’t want to disturb the land and upset the birds, and Francesca Meadows does just that. Read, The Midnight Feast, for a journey of twists and turns.

3.5 stars | A lot of buildup in the first 2/3 of the book for everything to start coming together in the end. A fine thriller, there was just *something* missing that made the book feel like it dragged a bit.

The Midnight Feast is deep and at some points it feels complex. Lucy Foley’s characters are well- developed and their interactions are fraught with jealousy, betrayal, and unresolved past issues. As a result, this book is not just a mystery but a story about the dynamics of relationships.

The book is told from the viewpoints of several characters and the viewpoints switch every chapter. This may cause some readers to find it difficult to follow at times. This is not a “beach read” or the type of book you pick up for 10 minutes while you are in the parent pick up line. The intricate plot requires careful attention to detail. For those who enjoy a richly layered narrative, this book it for you. The story will keep you guessing. The characters are well developed and Lucy Foley is an impressive writer.

I've read a handful of Lucy Foley books (The Guest List, The Hunting Party, The Paris Apartment) and I have to say I think this might be the book I liked the best out of them. Like her other books there was some effort required to suspend disbelief, but I do really enjoy the way things seem to always come together in the end, no matter how coincidental they may seem.

The Midnight Feast is told from several points of view and I found it to be really satisfying as those characters came together and the dots were all connected. This mystery felt the most believable to me and the most enjoyable. It makes me want to go back and re-read the books of hers I've already read to see if they feel the same upon second reading.

If you're a fan of Lucy Foley or like a good mytery/thriller in the same vein as stories like Gone Girl or the Girl on the Train then I think this is a great read.

Thanks NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The Midnight Feast- Lucy Foley

(ARC Read - Release 6/18/24) 5 stars
Lucy Foley has done it again with an incredible twisty thriller that will have you searching for more and more clues about the characters and the crazy story that pulls them all together!
Childhood friends…or are they? The kids with privilege who bully their way thru life…and those they bullied and treated horribly…they are all now adults…who don’t want to forget the past… and each of them has their own story to tell. Set in a scenic woodsy resort, it’s opening weekend at a high end manor, spa and retreat. Only the best for the guests…except some of these guests are looking for revenge! There is a fear and danger lurking in the folklore of this same town, so when the spa opens, the local folks also appear to oppose this new facility and the owners. Get ready for a wild ride and surprises on every page! Be prepared for a slow burn start, but savor all the details and all the nuances of these childhood playmates….the story starts to take off at breakneck speed and doesn’t let up through those final pages! Phenomenal read if you like dark, twisty thrillers!! Cudos to Lucy Foley for an incredible story!

Simply put, I loved it. I enjoyed the guest list by this author then did not love the Paris appointment so I knew this could go either way but it did not disappoint.

The dual timeline that so many books use was really well done in this instance. You were learning about formative events and character development through its use. Let’s just say not everyone is who they appear to be. My favorite character was Eddie. Although not a main protagonist, he furthered the story and connected the dots. Plus, he seemed sweet.

I read a lot of thrillers and they can start to blend and feel formulaic. This one is a standout, though. I will definitely talk it up to my reader friends.

I sadly didn’t love this one: the bird theme threw the book off for me. I was disappointed because I really loved some of Lucy’s other books but this one didn’t excite me.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I love Lucy Foley’s books so was excited to be approved for this ARC. It spent the first half building all of the background details and introducing characters, explaining the past, jumping back and forth between the past and present (be prepared for that if the lack of a consecutive timeline is something that is jarring to you) but in true Lucy Foley fashion, after the 50% mark the action and connections just start flying! And the end! Gah!! She gives great twists at the end. All I will say is never underestimate a good bookclub. 🙃

With apologies to Lucy Foley, I did not like her latest book, The Midnight Feast, at all. The characters were overly-eccentric and unrelatable, the storyline was creepy and the writing was not up to Ms. Foley’s usual standards.

I was a little nervous about reading this book since I have previously DNFed Lucy Foley's books before, but I was pleasantly surprised! This book was spookier than I anticipated but I ended up really enjoying it. The 5 POVs were very manageable and it was neat how it all tied together in the end. I liked this book much more than I excepted to and will be recommending it to my friends. Thank you William Morrow for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Francesca Woodland's creation, the Manor, is the poshest getaway destination on England's Dorset coast, sparing no expense even greasing the wheels of the local council to get what she wants. As the solstice approaches a buried secret and old enemies come back to haunt the festivities. Lucy Foley has done it again with an eerie atmospheric thriller that kept me guessing from start to finish! I loved the descriptive locations of the wild and beautiful seaside versus the frightening, supernatural feeling in the dense woods surrounding the Manor. It was a slow burn to an explosive finish that I highly recommend!

I really enjoy Lucy Foley’s writing style! As with many of her other novels, she draws me right into the setting. I was invested in the characters and did not want to put this book down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Midnight Feast

As soon as I saw the familiar font on the cover of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party, I knew I wanted to read it.

Francesca Woodland, the owner and founder of the Manor, a wellness retreat/hotel, is in her element for its opening weekend. The converted family estate was designed by her husband Owen, an architect.

The novel was written from the point of view of the characters and frequently jumps from person to person and to different places in time.

The main characters are well written.

Some people have remarked upon the difficulty of keeping track of the many characters and who was presenting their point of view at a given time and I agree with that-but I think that was meant to happen by design.

The Setting of the Manor and the surrounding area feels rich and deep. And the forrest Dark and somewhat frightening. Perfect. I also enjoyed reading about all the special touches at the Manor.

While I did enjoy reading this book, in regard to the plot, while there was definite intrigue, I was unsatisfied with several aspects of it.

There were a lot of references to local lore throughout the story and I would have liked to have that been given a larger focus with a more mysterious spin to it at the end of the book.

I would’ve liked to seen the villain/villains suffer more in return for their abhorrent behavior.

I also felt there were some important unresolved issues.

William Morrow
Publication date: June 18th, 2024

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