I have mixed feelings about The Midnight Feast. It dragged a bit in the beginning, actually up until around halfway. It did pick up at the end, the characters came together and pieces fell into place.

I cannot for the life of me understand why Sparrow kept going back to the manor. Real sucker for punishment stuff. Especially after that business with the dreadful Hugo. Every member of that family, from Frankie to Grandfa should have quietly been put out of their misery, what absolutely god-awful people. (Although I do tire of the whole 'the rich tormenting the poor' trope).

I loved the way Foley describes the Woods. Alive and writhing, they are another character in the book, malevolent and vengeful, as I would be if I had existed for centuries and this crowd came along. I loved the town, especially the name, Tome, pronounced Tomb. How cool is that? And you'd better pronounce it correctly or else.

I hated the business with the bull. Why oh why do authors do that? That really could have been left out, it added nothing and in my opinion detracted from what could have been a better read. Subtlety, Ms Foley, goes a long way towards creating atmosphere. Blood and gore do not. That's just gross. And no one in their right mind would sacrifice their own bull and remove his head because he was arthritic. I ask you.

All in all it wasn't the worst thing I've read, and the potential... Mind-blowing potential that sadly wasn't reached. The manor, the gardens, the woods, the elder trees... So much atmosphere could have been built into this, the being-watched creepy. Spine-chilling, subtle creepy. The stage was there but sadly the hedonistic Bachannalian behaviour really threw a damper over everything. Glad to see Daphne du Maurier's The Birds given a mention, i think I shall read it again, a sort of palate cleanser, if you will.

3 and a half stars, with a whole star knocked off because of poor Ivor.

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

I’m a big fan of Lucy Foley so this one was a must read, and I Demolished it in 3 days!
The last 30% was just whiplash twists after twists. It felt like putting the last pieces of a jigsaw together and realising what the picture is.

Whilst it took some getting into, it was very much worth it. I really enjoyed the switch between past and present and the switch between children and adults.

It’s an eerie read. At times I wasn’t sure where the story was going to go but overall I really enjoyed it.

Safe to say I’ve never been a fan of birds and they just creep me out a little bit more!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me access to a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

This is very much a run of the mill thriller but it just didn’t have the edge that I’ve come to expect of the author, Lucy Foley. I’m disappointing that I can’t rate this so well but, for me, the plot is weak and I couldn’t relate to any of the characters. Unfortunately I abandoned the book at 60% as I felt that I could give an honest review by then. Maybe it will appeal to die hard fans.

My thanks to the author, to the publisher and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review The Midnight Feast.

I enjoyed this book however I did find the characters leading each chapter confusing at times.

The characters were great and well written, made me love and hate certain ones.

All in all, a good mystery book which will keep you wondering and thinking page after page.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I’ve read all of Lucy’s books and was excited to read the next one. It didn’t disappoint. Told through multiple viewpoints, this murder mystery will keep you guessing to the end

Thank you to @Netgalley.co.uk and @HarperCollinsPublishers for a copy in return for an honest review

Lucy Foley always chooses fantastic settings for her stories, and yet again, has found the perfect setting in "The Midnight Feast"
What I really enjoy most about this writer is the way she presents her story. As an aspiring writer, I once was advised by a "critic" that "you have to write from the hero/heroines POV, not from the POV of different characters."
Not So, and I'm delighted to see that someone who is such a talented writer thinks like me! (Or that should be, I think as they do.)
As Foley demonstrates beautifully in her work, everyone has a voice. By dedicating each chapter to a character and separating the point of view, the story holds more depth, and for me, it becomes more natural.
Each chapter brings more information from the way each person thinks, feels, and sees the tale unfold. There are so many hidden truths to be uncovered, and each one brings an unexpected angle to the story. It is so intense and exciting that it grips the reader from the beginning.
Excellent storytelling, brilliant plot, wonderful characters, and a fantastic read.

Lucy Foley has become an autobuy author for me. I raced through this book with its dual timeline, multiple POVs, intriguing characters, and unexpected twists!

I really wanted to love this book as I've enjoyed this author in the past. However, the first half of the book seemed to drag and I almost gave up a couple of times. There were just many points of view and the timelines got a bit too confusing. There was a wide range of characters which I quite liked but I always think including diaries, especially a teenager's diary is a bit off-putting for the reader but that could just be me!

Overall, I'm glad I persevered as the last quarter was quite exciting as it all came together.

I absolutely loved this book from the first chapter. It is the perfect murder mystery, my favourite Lucy Foley book so far! Set over the summer solstice, it was the perfect time to read this one and I devoured it in a few sittings.

Set at The Manor, a high-end get away for the city high flyers to pretend they're at one with nature on the south coast, you really feel like some of the characters are getting their just desserts. Told through multiple POV and timelines (my favourite type of thriller!) there's many twists and turns you won't see coming.

Highly recommend this as the thriller of the summer! Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

A story told between different perspectives and across 2 different timelines. A story of family and friendship. How can one summer night as a teenager 15 years ago make a difference? Everything finally comes full circle, the truth finally is out at the Midsummer Midnight Feast. A slow burner, with some twists to keep you thinking, and a good mix of characters -some to love and some to loathe. As things begin to unravel the pace does pick up.

You should definitely not live in your present if you haven't dealt with your past.

Another amazing read from Lucy Foley. I loved all the twists at the end. Thanks, @Netgalley for n amazing arc.

I really enjoyed this page-turner and read it in as close to one sitting as my day permitted.

The first few pages were a bit of a slog, but after that point I raced through it. The dual timeline and multiple points of view were clear and engaging, and the plot was fun and clever - and significantly better than those in Foley's other thrillers, so I'm really glad I gave her another chance despite finding those somewhat mediocre. Whilst some of the characters and events were quite far-fetched, this was artfully handled and stayed just on the right side of the limits of suspension of disbelief.

Even the ending - a difficult aspect of thrillers to get right, and often disappointing - was well crafted and satisfying.

I tried to like this book and was very excited to receive an ARC 😓 but, oh boy, where do I even start?! I had more issues with this book than a gossip column has with celebrities.

First off, I had no clue what was happening or why. I felt like I'd walked into the middle of a mystery dinner party where everyone else knew the script but me.

The timelines flip-flopped more than a fish out of water. We jumped back and forth so much I needed a map, a compass, and maybe a time machine to keep track of it all. There were too many POVs and timelines and despite all that, the story wasn't really moving forward.

This is supposed to be a thriller, right? I should be on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, losing sleep. Instead, I was yawning and considering a nap. In fact, I started using this book to actually fall asleep every night and that was the only pleasure I got from it.

Then there are the characters. Imagine a bunch of stuck-up rich folks, prancing around in their atmospheric vibes, surrounded by feathers, trees, and birds. So. Many. Birds. If I wanted this much bird action, I'd visit an aviary.

Ugh!

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me an e-ARC of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Well done Lucy Foley you’ve done it again another brilliant book, this had me hooked from the beginning till the end. Full of intriguing characters, mystery and some unexpected twists a perfect summer read.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley in return for my honest review.

I've read and enjoyed a few of Lucy Foley's books before and so I had high expectations for this novel.
It is the opening weekend of The Manor and the summer solstice, an exclusive and very expensive hotel owned by Francesca and designed by her doting husband Owen. The plot mixes past with the present as it gradually reveals the horror of events that happened a summer 20+ years ago as the characters are revealed to be connected in a clever and intricate way.
The plot switches between snippets and diary entries from 20 years ago, the opening weekend and the day after the summer solstice when a body is found and at first, it was a little confusing trying to keep up but as the story unfolds it all begins to make perfect sense as secrets and events come to light.
At first, I struggled to get into the story but the intrigue of the plot kept me going and around the 60% mark, the pace really picked up and I had to know the ending! There are multiple POVs in the book from Francesca and Owen to Bella, Eddie and the detective DI Walker and I loved the way it all comes together at the end by tying up loose ends and revealing jaw dropping twists.

A new thriller by Lucy Foley is always something to celebrate, and this one more than lived up to expectations, combining her signature, multi-POV style with darkish elements of folklore, which added an unexpectedly eerie layer to the narrative.

Emulating her 2020 murder mystery The Guest List, The Midnight Feast opens with a celebratory gathering and an unidentified corpse. The who, the how and the why is what forms the core of the labyrinthine plot that follows.

Also like The Guest List, the setting is key.

Welcome to The Manor, an ultra-exclusive country retreat, nestled amid woodland on a rocky cliff overlooking the sea. It’s opening weekend, timed to coincide with the summer solstice, and the scene is set for a magical evening of celebration. But, an imposter is circling among the guests, mysterious forces are hovering in the woods, and the owner, Francesca Woodland, is not the only one hiding dark secrets.

With three timelines, four narrators, and an overwhelming sense of foreboding, this was an intense, compulsive read, propelled by Foley’s trademark short, snappy chapters that urge you to keep turning the pages.

The characters are an interesting mix. Not all are likeable. A few are downright loathsome. But, they all share a connection to a shocking event that happened fifteen years ago.

As the past unfolds and creeps up to meet the present, it becomes clear that this is a story about dark deeds, betrayal and revenge; about privilege and entitlement and how neither offers protection from culpability and justice.

As always with Foley, the plot is pleasingly full of sneaky twists and surprises, the majority of them beautifully disguised, and with one final jaw-dropper held back until the very last page.

Essential reading for all fans of the murder mystery genre.

Once again, Lucy Foley has created a treat for the reader. This treat is set entirely in a luxury manor house which has recently been converted into a top-of-the-range hotel and 'wellness experience' for discerning (i.e. rich!) guests by society heiress Francesca Meadows, along with her architect husband Owen. As the guests arrive for the Midsummer opening, secrets and old acquaintances emerge with devastating consequences.

First person and third person narratives are mixed with diary entries from 15 years ago, when something bad happened which affected the lives of those at the manor and nearby village. The book also contains strong elements of revenge, with Pagan rites and some old beliefs still prevalent in this isolated rural community.

There are also elements of humour - the affected behaviour of some of the guests with their crystals and desire to avoid sulphites was funny. The last line of the book was something of a corker too. Overall, this is a well-plotted book with carefully crafted characters. Some coincidences were a bit of a stretch but nothing too unrealistic. It will certainly keep the reader entertained for a while.

I’ve read and enjoyed Lucy Foley’s other books, so I was pleased to be able to read this one early. However, I didn’t enjoy it. I found there were too many different POVs to follow. I also wasn’t as invested as I had hoped and found myself not reaching for it. I would read more by this author as, as I said, I have enjoyed her previous books. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers.

In the ancient forest holds the myth of a secret society that enforces its own justice system, to those who go unpunished.

It’s the opening weekend of The Manor, Francesca Meadow’s pet project luxury retreat. Eddie has taken up his first job in the hope of becoming a bartender, which he is hiding from his parents who disapprove of the development. When he meets Bella, a guest at The Manor, she seems to already know him. Bella is hiding a secret and doesn’t seem like the usual guests… Michelle, Francesca’s right hand woman, is trying to ensure the weekend goes off without a hitch, and seems oddly calm when faced with several disruptions and disaster. Meanwhile the teenagers on the beach threaten to wreak havoc on the guests. As the weekend starts to unravel, everyone starts to act increasingly suspicious.

As the solstice takes place, four bodies will be discovered…

Multiple POVS and dual timelines (before and after the solstice).

Foley did what she does best; creating several complex characters whose lives intertwine gradually, while maintaining the readers’ interest in all sub plots and characters. Reliable as ever, there’s rarely a dull moment in The Midnight Feast and the tension is created from the beginning scene in The Woods…

I read this in one sitting on the return flight from Tokyo!

Reminds me of: Nine Perfect Strangers and The Hunting Party.

I was sent a copy of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley to read and review by NetGalley. I really enjoyed this novel. It had a great cast of characters, many of whom told their part of the story first person, which was an interesting take on events past and present. The timeline goes back and forth with Bella being the main protagonist, with her diary from her teenage years being the link to the past. There are a lot of twists and turns and a good deal of folklore/mysticism to really get your teeth into. I for one found this novel easy to read and really engrossing, so definitely the full 5 stars from me!