The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had enjoyed reading Lucy Foley’s other books (The Guest List and The Paris Apartment), so I was super excited to get an advance reader copy of her latest. She has the mystery/thriller genre down pat. This story takes place at the opening weekend of a new luxury resort and follows multiple well developed characters through many twists and turns and flashbacks to their teenage years. What happened the night of the solstice, who died and who was responsible? You won’t want to put this book down until you find out!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. Keep an eye out for this book - due to be published June 18th.

#bookstagram #readeveryday #bookreview #fourstarread #mystery #thriller #NetGalley #TheMidnightFeast #williammorrowbooks #advancereadercopy #booksbooksbooks #lockedroommystery

Long-buried secrets begin to come to light in this twisty, dark thriller by Foley. A tangled web connects each character, their secret pasts catching up with them during one lavish weekend at a refurbished seaside manor. You'll be on the edge of your seat.

I was a little "wow these people are all insane" at the beginning, but it did't take long for this book to have me hooked! The incorporation of folklore into the mystery was done PERFECTLY. Each chapter had me questioning the characters and kept me wanting to know more. I enjoyed the dual timeline with the flashbacks coming from a teenage diary. It was a great way to clue us in on what was happing in the present without giving it all away. The cliffside manor and dark woods are atmospheric and creepy, making the perfect backdrop for a mystery thriller. I loved how Foley weaved everything together into the most satisfying ending.
This book would be the perfect summer binge read!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital ARC.

A slow start but an explosive ending!

Set at The Manor during its opening weekend, the story follows several characters and jumps back in time in the form of a summer journal kept by one of the main characters. Francesca is the lady of The Manor and her husband, the Lord. As Francesca welcomes her guests to her extravagant (and expensively redone) compound, some of her guests have less than positive intentions. As the opening weekend unfolds during the hottest solstice in years, the past is dug up and lies are uncovered with the help of the mythical Birds.

Loved the mysterious Birds that were interwoven throughout the story and really enjoyed the twists and turns and collision of past and present. This feels like a set up for a sequel almost or maybe I just would enjoy reading more in this supernatural setting!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Lucy Foley is just one of those authors I can't get enough of. While I wasn't a huge fan of the Paris Apartment I really enjoyed the Midnight Feast. The beginning of it was rather slow but once I got 75-100 pages into it I couldn't put it down.

This most recent Lucy Foley book might not be for everyone but I LOVED it. Like the horror classic "The Birds" except in this case, the Birds are some locals who are tired of rich bitches messing with their ish.

Francesca is set to open the newest Instagram famous destination hotel, The Manor. Everything is perfect for opening weekend -- but not for long. Between the locals that keep messing with her events and the strange things that guests keep seeing in the woods surrounding the estate, Francesca's "zen" attitude is about to go right out the window.

Despite asking for bios from each of the guests, there is one young woman here by herself who doesn't quite fit in with the rest of the clientele. And that is because Alice isn't here to enjoy to amenities -- she's here to confront Francesca, or "Frankie" as she knew her -- for the events that happened in these very woods fifteen years ago.

Just when I thought I figured out how all of these characters were connected, Foley added an extra twist that had my jaw on the floor. It was haunting and creepy and full of people getting their just desserts -- everything I could ask for in a thriller! I could not put it down and was so satisfied with the ending.

Ok, this book was definitely a unique one for me! I'm not typically into paranormal stuff or heavy animal symbolism, but I managed to get through this one. I feel a bit guilty because I received an ARC for it, but I believe in giving fair and honest reviews.

What initially drew me in was the storyline of Francesca and Owen. The allure of their good looks, the promise of a state-of-the-art luxury hotel, their wealth, and that whole inspirational wellness vibe had me intrigued from the start. Then, as the story delved into the past, painting the picture of a small-town atmosphere and introducing the characters and their intertwined lives, I found myself really getting into it. The way the narrative seamlessly shifted between past and present kept me engaged, and I found myself rooting for some characters while not feeling so attached to others.

Now, let's talk about the "Birds" theme. I'll be honest, that aspect had me struggling to keep a straight face. I get that the book needed a central focus to tie everything together, but I just couldn't shake off the feeling of it being a bit creepy and weird. But hey, different strokes for different folks.

Despite my reservations about the theme, I have to admit that the ending was surprisingly sweet. So, if you can stick with it through the quirky bits, it does all come together in the end.

I didn’t love The Paris Apartment (I may have been the only one), so was a little unsure of diving back into another Lucy Foley book, but this completely changed my mind. It was fun, fast paced, ever changing (with different characters and different timelines) but not overly complicated, and full of really great twists and turns, until the literal last page.

The story follows Francesca, Bella, Owen, and Eddie at the opening of The Manor, a bougie hotel with an interesting past. Though seemingly unconnected, and there with different intentions, their pasts and presents soon converge into a twisted, dark, and memorable Solstice night.

I love the quick chapters and the constant changing of perspective. There were twists that I didn’t see coming, that were really great, and one or two that were a teensy bit cheesy, but not enough to be bothersome. Some of the characters ages were tricky to line up, and I’m left wondering what happened to Delilah? Everyone else was wrapped up nicely and she seemed to be a bit forgotten about

Thanks NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishing for the eARC of this book!

3 stars. Thanks to netgally for an eArc of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Midnight Feast (in typical Lucy Foley fashion) is a multi POV, fast paced thriller. She is good at writing those short chapters that make you want more. With the added interest of journal entries sprinkled about, we also were taken back in time. And we also have POV from the 'aftermath'. Set on the shoreline surrounded by thick forests, add in a avian cult(?) with midsummer night's dream vibes, this should have been a hit.

This was fine. The characters were fine. The plot was fine. The reveals were fine. It will all amounted to being a mediocre book. Which is what I expect from a please-the-thriller-readers thriller. It felt very anticlimactic. The death was deserved and the the person who delivered the justice was the person that had the least motive to do so. It felt silly to me. And the bird cult really went nowhere and that was disappointing. I need more bird cult backstory.

Overall entertaining and a predictably mid (as the kids would say) thriller.

The Midnight Feast, the next thriller, by Lucy Foley is a perfect summer read! While my favorite of hers is still The Guest List, this is pretty close. She sets the scene in her opening chapter of this dark, foreboding manor in the woods during the summer solstice with a cast of characters, all with secrets. Without giving too much away, this took lots of twists and turns, some I saw, but all I enjoyed, until we find out what really happened the night of the summer solstice.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

The book's premise immediately caught my attention—a stunning setting with dense woods next to a cliff overlooking the sea. And out of all the characters, Eddie was my favorite; he felt genuine, But honestly, those were the only elements I enjoyed.

The book just had too many characters to keep track of. Between the Manor staff, the guests, and the police, and with some characters changing their names and identities, it was all a bit much. Plus, there's a journal from one of the characters that pops up throughout the story, filled with teenage angst, which I didn't like.

And then there's the folklore aspect—they kept bringing it up, but it was pretty predictable when it came time to reveal the big secret. Also, I found it hard to believe that after only 15 years, some characters didn't recognize each other at all. It just didn't add up for me. So, while the setting and Eddie were great, the rest of the book could have used a bit more finesse.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I’ve enjoyed Foley’s other stories and I think she has a very Agatha Christie-like quality, but this book was a total mess. There are a bunch of POVs and different timelines and it still manages to be one of the most boring pieces of literature I’ve ever read. I just could not get into any of the characters and I didn’t really care about what happened.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for my digital advance reader copy.

The Manor, the newest luxury resort destination, has just opened in the seaside town of Tome, and is somewhat at odds with its more blue collar surroundings. The guests (who have all paid a hefty price tag) are excited to attend the opening weekend, while the locals feel more resentful of the Manor's ownership, who seem to be hellbent on manicuring the property to within an inch of its life with a complete disregard for local traditions, customs, and lore. Amidst this tension, a fire starts on the property, and someone turns up dead. Now, local authorities are left to piece together the timeline and determine what or who is responsible.

Y'all, this may be my favorite Lucy Foley to date. After being somewhat disappointed by The Paris Apartment, I'm pretty excited to share that The Midnight Feast immediately captivated me and kept me hooked until the very last page. The story, similar to Foley's previous novels, is told in alternating POVs. Interspersed among the chapters are excerpts from a diary detailing events set in the past. I would say that this one is a little bit of a slower burn because there's a lot of setup, however I found all of it to be interesting.

Writing this review is one of those situations where I feel that I liked a book so much that I can't really say anything of value in attempting to complement it (why is it so much easier to talk about the books I didn't like?). Foley outdid herself!

Dark and creepy, with unexpected twists and turns, The Midnight Feast is a thriller I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

This story is set in the present day, with journal entries slowly filling in details from the past. It’s told from a number of different points of view. Francesca is the ethereal owner of The Manor, an elite getaway that caters to the uber wealthy. Bella is a guest with questionable motives. Eddie the dishwasher, Owen, Francesca’s handsome husband, and Investigator Walker round out the cast.

The locals are unhappy at how The Manor has encroached on the ancient forest. All of the narrators have secretive pasts. Add in some folklore, Night Birds, a fire, and bodies, and you have The Midnight Feast.

This was an enjoyable read! It kept my interest and I had a hard time predicting the twists. I did find it a bit convenient that there were so many nicknames/name changes that hid identities.

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

the book starts off setting the scene by a grisly discovery of a body floating in the water and the elegant weekend ending in a blaze. from there, we work backwards in alternating POV’s from the character’s pasts and opening night of the Manor. Looming throughout is the presence of the Birds, a local piece of folklore which all the characters have been warned about. we’re left questioning who died and wondering how the characters are connected.

a key piece of the story lies in sparrow’s diary, giving backstory to the piece of land from 15 years ago. as we read, we’re led to believe many different possibilities and wondering which could be true. i found these chapters very intriguing and helpful to the storyline! bonus points for the short chapters! that made the story feel like it was fast-paced and led to the harried feeling of the weekend.

many of the characters were not necessarily easy to like. with the exception of eddie, he seemed genuine and authentic. i have to say that the ending felt deserved (call me morbid), but they got what they had coming.

i found it hard to believe that only 15 years had passed and none of the characters recognized each other? particularly francesca, almost everyone around her was from her past and she didn’t even know! how embarrassing for her. but then they all somehow recognized jake at the end? seems unlikely.

i’m also wondering what it would be like to have had some of that spiked apple cider? sounded like quite a good time!

while i didn’t necessarily love this book, i can see why many would! that’s the beauty of reading, not every book hits the same.

thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this thriller!

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley is going to be the hottest mystery read of the summer! It takes place at The Manor, an ultra posh resort on its opening weekend in the small town of Tome, England. Francesca is the owner/operator, having inherited the land from her grandmother and built a spa-like oasis for the rich to flock to. Owen is her young husband and the architect. Eddie is a local boy dishwasher for the resort. Bella is a solo traveler who comes to The Manor for its opening weekend with suspect motives.
The book starts with fisherman finding a body at the bottom of the cliffs of the resort. The resort is in flames. What happened? Who died? The chapters switch back and forth between “the day after the solstice” with the policeman who investigates the death and fire, and the different main characters as narrators before the solstice, and entries in a diary from 15 years ago. We get fed little pieces of the puzzle along the way, enough to keep it interesting yet not obvious until the end. And the ending! It develops the right frenetic pace to make you drop everything and say I am not getting up until this story is done.
This plot is just about perfect- believable enough to not doubt its authenticity, characters to love and hate, great sense of place and some local folklore, “The Birds,” that may have been unnecessary for it to work, but made it more whimsical and fun.
This is by far my favorite Lucy Foley read and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fast paced mystery with great twists and turns. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for my excellent ARC.

This is my favorite book of the year so far (and I've read a lot of good books in 2024), and I'll definitely be getting the audiobook upon released.

This is a dark and unique tale. The folklore of The Birds added so many layers of intrigue and creepiness to the story. Are they a supernatural presence protecting the town of Tome or are they the townspeople themselves seeking vengeance against The Manor and it's enigmatic owner Francesca? In addition to that spookiness, we have a body on the property after the Midnight Feast event. It could be a pagan event gone wrong. Or it could be good old fashioned murder. I went back and forth so many times wondering what was going on. I loved the slow reveals throughout, which added to the suspense and tension.

Also, the setting was just stunning and so vividly written. From the Woodland Hutches to the Manor to the woods and beach, everything was so beautifully detailed, and I found myself wanting to go there a stay for a spell.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For Thriller Thursday, I’m reviewing The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley coming this June! 🔪

GENRE: Thriller/Suspense
MY RATING: 🌟🌟🌟💫 (3.5/5)
#gifted @williammorrowbooks

READ IF YOU LIKE:
▫️Atmospheric reads
▫️Multiple POV🔄
▫️Alternating timelines
▫️Journal entries📝
▫️Detective murder mysteries 🔍
▫️Short chapters

THOUGHTS & RATING:
In true Foley fashion, the atmosphere in this book was engrossing! 👀 Opening weekend at a luxury resort set at the edge of woods? With some of the most untrustworthy characters? What could possibly go wrong 🤣 Following the bread crumbs in this book was a captivating, mysterious puzzle! But it sure was interesting lol… definitely had some “out there” elements to the plot. 🙃 Some of it dragged for me a smidge. Plus, there was a lot to keep track of. Although I was entertained enough to see the finish!! It leans a little more towards a suspense novel vs true thriller IMO, which is actually pretty on brand for Foley. It was a juicy read, but it did lose me a bit at times 🤔🐦‍⬛ The ending was pure fun chaos💥 If you like her books, I’d recommend it!

DETAILS:
▫️Publishes: 6/18/24
▫️Pages: 368
▫️Format: E-book

Honestly this book feels like a replica of all of her other books, it feels like there's an algorithm that gets followed. It was not that entertaining because of this.

I’m a big fan of Foley’s books but this one just wasn’t working for me. I agree with other reviewers that it was dry and way too many POVs. It was hard to concentrate and keep all the characters straight as to who was who. I skipped a lot of the book just to find out how it ended.