I’ve read and enjoyed a couple of Lucy Foley’s mystery thrillers now, but this one really got me hooked!

You get a classic murder mystery set-up – a select gathering of people with secrets to hide in an isolated location, in this case provided by a cultish wellness influencer and her entourage of staff-slaves and adoring wealthy fans at the opening of her new elite wellness-themed hotel – but with the added bonus of creepy Midsommar-style folk-horror vibes to really add to the already-oppressive atmosphere.

Somehow, despite the story being told from multiple characters’ points of view, the author still manages to keep the twists and turns secret, and without it feeling like cheating or too forced! I was able to guess little bits of what was happening and what had happened in the past (there is something of a dual timeline effect thanks to excerpts from a teen diary), but the whole picture successfully eluded me.

And that, combined with the creepy Night Birds folklore, had me reading on the edge of my seat right to the end.

This was a real up-all-nighter of a read for me and one I would heartily recommend to other murder mystery fans who like a bit of folklore fun on the side.

The latest from Foley combines a lot of her useful ingredients - a group of mysterious subjects, an event that allows for a vacillating timeline, and plenty of twists and turns, leading to a final product that is familiar, yes, but none of the less satisfying.

If you love glamorous drama with a dark twist, The Midnight Feast is so your vibe. Set at a luxury coastal resort’s opening weekend, this story serves secrets, scandals, and a murder mystery that’ll keep you flipping pages like mad. 👀🍷

Think: flowing dresses, stormy beach nights, and everyone hiding something. Lucy Foley gives us multiple POVs, lots of tension, and that addictive “who can you trust?” energy.

Perfect for a weekend binge with a glass of wine and a face mask. 💅📚

Lucy Foley’s The Midnight Feast is an atmospheric, cleverly woven thriller that draws you in from the first page. Set at a luxurious coastal retreat, it’s full of tension, a cast of unlikeable characters, layered secrets from years gone by and as expected from Foley, multiple points of view. The setting is vividly drawn, and the pacing keeps the suspense building without being rushed. I found it really clever that the chapters got shorter, which increased the pace as we reached the big reveal.

While I enjoyed it, I didn't find it the most likely of scenarios - but then I ALWAYS want my thrillers to be completely logical which kind of defies the creative licence of fiction, so that's a me problem 😂

Finally, I have to commend the excellent full cast of narrators as I chose to audio it - highly recommend consuming it this way!

A really well written thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The way it is written means that it’s fast paced and I couldn’t stop reading once I’d started.

I love when authors use a setting, in this case a house, as almost an extra character.

The tone is ominous from early on and I enjoyed the ride.

The Midnight Feast was atmospheric and well-written but a little slow for my liking. There was loads of great imagery and a fascinating setting but ultimately I found there to be too many characters and coincidences.

As a long-time reader of Lucy Foley’s novels, The Midnight Feast did not disappoint. True to form, Foley delivers a moody and atmospheric mystery filled with tension and layered perspectives. The setting was particularly vivid in this book, creating a sense of claustrophobia and unease, and the rotating viewpoints kept the pace engaging throughout.

I enjoyed the slow build and how the different strands of the story gradually came together. I felt the resolution could have been slightly stronger, but overall it was a satisfying read. Foley’s signature style is very much present, with shifting timelines, complex characters, and simmering suspense.

This is an easy recommendation for fans of her earlier titles such as The Guest List and The Hunting Party. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this novel. Apologies for the very delayed feedback.

While this one wasn't as good as previous books from the author, I appreciated the skilled writing, as always. Other readers may find much to enjoy here, so don't give it a miss.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This writer knows what she is writing for her audience, Lucy Foley doesn't disappoint. The twists and the turns were easy to follow. Definitely one to add to the bookshelf

Lucy Foley needs no introduction, her writing never misses. I devoured this (pardon the pun). I was worried it might feel samey having read an earlier work of Foley’s fairly recently but didn’t find this at all. For me the twists worked really well and I found the setting extremely enjoyable to be placed in (I find this to be almost an additional character!) a new favourite.!

To be honest this wasn't my cup of tea. The beginning was good and exciting but after 30% of the novel I felt it dragged a lot, also too much usage of the word BIRDS . I almost fell in slump but decided to finish the story. Didn't feel any connection to the characters. I thank net galley for eARC copy

oh lucy foley. nobody more reliable for a decent pop mystery. she’s got her career for a reason. i personally had fun but can imagine some people being frustrated with this one specifically. 3.5 but rounded down

The book delivers the moody atmosphere and tangled relationships Lucy Foley is known for, but it doesn’t quite reach the tension or payoff of her previous works. The setting is richly drawn and the multiple perspectives keep the story moving, but some twists feel predictable, and a few characters lack depth. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of slow-burn mysteries, though not her strongest. A decent, if not unforgettable, entry in her catalog

DogMa
4.0 out of 5 stars Edge of the seat thriller
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 June 2025
Format: Kindle Edition
This haunting dark thriller is set in ancient woodland in Devon. The opening weekend of the controversial exclusive Manor Hotel sparks tensions when decades old animosities arise and eventually culminate in mayhem and death…fast-paced, lots of twists and turns make this one of Lucy Foley’ s signature unputdownable reads!

My favourite by this writer yet! Another blinder by Lucy Foley. I love that you can always pick up her latest and be assured of a brilliant read. This one is told from lots of view points so you can’t put it down. Hence me reading it one sitting. Characters are brilliant. From the lovely to the despicable type you love to hate.

Lucy Foley is fast becoming one of my favourite authors; the go-to for a dependable, entertaining read, perfect for escaping to while travelling. In The Midnight Feast, she masterfully switches between characters, locations and time without ever once losing her reader. You can dip straight back into the book without having to remind yourself what everyone was up to or flicking back a few pages to establish the timeline.

As with her previous novels, there are contemporary themes woven into the story alongside the tense thriller plotting. There are no crazy red herrings, just enough doubts about the characters' pasts, deceits and possible motives for killing to keep the reader wondering just who is behind the mischief.

The Midnight Feast builds cleverly to a final crescendo of mayhem and death, while still being easy to read and never over-simplistic. All in all, a cracking read.

"The Midnight Feast" is a strong execution of the genre it belongs to.

Very atmospheric, heavy with the summer heat portrayed on the pages, with a well written mistery. I appreciate how Lucy Foley is able to write several character with first-person narrative and actually give each of them their own voice that matches their background and who they are in the story. It's definitely an admirable skill. Couple of red herrings and satisfying resolution.

The only thing that I became quite tired of is the overused trope of shady millionaires who would exercise their wealth and power that comes from it to protect themselves and not take ownership of their own actions written vis a vis good-natured and well-meaning characters who needed to go by with a lot less. But maybe it's a part of our social climate that paved its way to literally fiction as well.

🐦‍⬛Book Review 🐦‍⬛

“If you go down to the woods today, you’re in for a big surprise “
“If you go down to the woods today, you better go in disguise …”

This story centres around the opulent and beautiful ‘Manor’, a luxurious and exclusive retreat for the wealthy and insta worthy which was once a summer abode of a very wealthy and influential family. The latest owner of the Manor, Francesca, is the granddaughter of the owners back in the day, and a keen business woman with a head for the exclusive and divine.

Underneath the purity of Francesca’s public persona lurks someone who may not be as wholesome as she seems. However, she is happily married to Owen, a top notch architect who designed the beautiful retreat and nothing is too much for their guests who have paid exorbitant fees to attend the opening weekend; the Midsummer weekend which will be full of the celebrations of nature and the beautiful Devon surroundings.

But there is a sparrow in their wake, a dropped stitch in the blanket of serenity. A woman with an axe to grind and a debt to be paid. But how and why are the questions to ask and as this is a place where the locals consider retribution as something to be handled quietly and deserving punishments to be delivered appropriately, just how much danger is Francesca, Owen and Sparrrow in?

Told through a dual timeline between now and fifteen years ago, the reader is very quickly pulled into one hell of a ride. The story is told through the eyes of the four main characters and together, these weave an intricate and bloomin jaw dropping picture. Nothing is as it seems. No one is who they seem. Nothing is clear.

I absolutely loved this book! The turns kept me guessing constantly and I really didn’t see what the final outcomes were going to be. I read The Guest List a few months ago and now this 🤯 I have now put all of Lucy Foley’s books on my Goodreads tbr! 🤣🤣 I bloody loved it. What a fantastic thriller 🥂🐦‍⬛🥰


I’d like to thank Harper Collins, NetGalley and the author for the arc and the fantastic opportunity, in exchange for my honest feedback 😊

Book released on 6th June 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I loved this!! Always been a massive Lucy foley fan and this was as good as I expected! The setting was gorgeous (love a destination thriller!) and the characters were so well written, amazing book!

Another great page turner from Lucy Foley! Some good twists and I liked the character development. The dual timelines worked well to keep the mystery going until the very end.