It is a hot Midsummer weekend on the Dorset coast and the well-heeled London glitterati have gathered for the opening weekend of The Manor. For owner Francesca everything must be perfect and on-brand but there are undercurrents of menace. Her family owned the house and tragedy has stalked them, based on a local legend of the Birds. Bella is here to make Francesca face up to her past but several employees are linked the village and want revenge.
I found the first half of this book really dragged for me, it seems a mash-up of murder mystery, cod-Gothic supernatural and chick-lit name-dropping. I must admit that once the dual time period started to kick-in, the story improved. I still felt it was a little messy with a lot of plot coincidences but I can see why these novels are hugelt popular and I'm glad I stuck with it.

A stately home on a cliff top which overlooks the sea on the Dorset coast, tennis courts, a pool, extensive spooky woods with much history and folklore around them, an entitled family who are regarded with a mixture of interest, suspicion and loathing by some of the local community. The family wield a disturbing amount power over the fate of locals’ livelihoods and can also restrict what have always been shared spaces.

There are dual time periods, though only fifteen years apart. The contemporary storyline (which is actually set a year ahead of the book’s publishing date, in 2025) is during the big opening weekend of a new business venture at the manor. All sorts of faces from the past reconvene at the manor, but to what end?

Going back to when it all began there are diary entries from 2010, and the tale of a fateful meeting of teenagers on the beach. But what happened then? And, years later how is the opening weekend going to play out?

A gripping read with good characterisation, a few little loose ends at the end which I like and an absolutely stonking final line. There is a lot of scathing commentary about the super rich and those who feel they are entitled to whatever they want, versus the wants and needs of the locals in a community.

An ideal holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy

Beautifully crafted, dark and haunting thriller, imbued with atmosphere, folklore and revenge. My new favourite read from this brilliant author.

Set in and around an imposing countryside manor on the Dorset coast, the story centres around the rich girl of the manor who likes to pull all the strings, the local families from the surrounding area, and a quiet girl visiting the area on holiday.

Fifteen years later, Francesca is opening a luxurious and exclusive holiday retreat and the story unfolds across dual timelines and multiple POVs as we gradually discover the extent of the sinister events and their repercussions all these years later.

It's midsummer on the Dorset coast and guests gather at The Manor. It's their opening weekend and splendid celebrations are promised. It's all headed up by Francesca Meadows. The Manor was her ancestral home and she's converted it into an impressive retreat for the wealthy and famous. Her husband, Owen, was the architect and work is still ongoing on parts of the site. The heat is oppressive and amongst the guests are enemies as well as friends. Old scores are going to be settled and it won't be long before a body is found.

If you're going to get the best out of this book (and it's definitely there to be got) then you'll need to be in the wide-awake club. The events that determined what would happen in 2025 occurred fifteen years ago when many of the characters were in their late teens. Frankie, as she was known then, befriended Alison, a visitor to the local caravan park. It was a convenient relationship for Frankie as she could control Alison - or ‘Sparrow' as she called her.

As always, Lucy Foley is clever. The narrative switches back and forth over the fifteen years as we're drip-fed information. Sometimes you need to establish the truth for yourself. Foley is trusting like that: she builds convincing characters and knows that we'll get the measure of them without explanations from her. As I gathered information together, I wondered if there were just too many coincidences: would people really find themselves gathered together accidentally all those years later? I needn't have worried: all is revealed in the very satisfying ending.

The publishers categorise this book as ‘contemporary horror'. I don't normally read horror: there's enough of it in the world at the moment without looking for more, but this book appealed to me. The horror was there - but it was never unpleasant or gratuitous. It was simply part of a good story.

I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy. As well as reading the book, I listened to an audio download, which I bought myself. The narration is by Roly Botha, Laurence Dobiesz, Joe Eyre, Tuppence Middleton and Sarah Slimani. Considering the time changes and characters that had to be accommodated, this was an excellent production. None of the names was familiar to me but I would certainly be more than happy to hear more from them.

For more from Foley, we can recommend The Hunting Party.

I really enjoyed this novel - it’s by Lucy Foley, after all - but I found I had to suspend my disbelief far more than in her previous novels, which just required one big leap of faith at the start.

Too many brothers and mothers and sons and people leaving then returning to the one small town in which the story was set.

But otherwise an interesting, unsettling tale, deeply imbued with rural folklore and a wild dash of The Wicker Man and Daphne du Maurier for good measure.

Even if it's not a perfect thriller I had fun and enjoyed it. The atmosphere of the exclusive retreat, the Solstice, the secrets and the investigation.
It kept me reading and it's a page turner.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

opening night of a new retreat and the coming solstice make for a dramatic story. When old friends reunite and others seek revenge, will anyone see the morning light?

I am a fan of Lucy Foley so was looking forward to this. It was a little slow to start with but once I got into it, I was hooked. The story jumps around from before the solstice, the day of and the day after. Plus we jump back in time as well. I liked how the story moved around as it left you wanting more each time it changed. The plot was steady building to a dramatic twist filled ending. I figured out some parts but others really took me by surprise. You're not sure who to like but I did warm to Eddie by the end of it. A brilliant twisted thriller.

Another great read from Lucy Foley.

This is based in Dorset at The Manor. A new exclusive resort opened by Francesca Meadows and the midnight feast launch soon appears as revenge and death.

There are different timelines and perspectives keeping the storyline alive.

Great read and recommended

The Midnight Feast is such great fun and a real return to form for Lucy Foley. Stuffed to the gills with awful characters with mysterious back stories, fabulous locations and lots of folklore in a scary wood - what more could you ask for?
Francesca has set up a gorgeous hotel and retreat in her old ancestral home. She wants the opening weekend to be the stuff of articles in all the best travel press and doesn’t care who she stamps all over to get it perfect. However, characters from her past are hiding in plain sight and it’s not going to go exactly how she wants it after all. There are an awful lot of scores to settle…
If you want to perfect page turner this summer look no further - I absolutely recommend The Midnight Feast!

Heiress Francesca Meadows is turning her inherited family Manor House into a new-age retreat for the rich and successful in rural Devon. However, figures from her past and the local mythical ‘Birds’ run the risk of ruining her dream. Her midnight feast launch event quickly descends into a chaotic tale of death and revenge.

I think how Lucy Foley slowly reveals plot details and connect dots in this book is really clever. I found the different narratives told through different timelines sometimes a bit confusing but I really enjoyed it as it came together. Francesca in particular makes a great unhinged villain, and I think the other characters are also written well. When I was about eighty-five percent through, I thought it was good but not great. However, so much happens in the last part that it puts everything in to perspective and really packs in the twists. I loved the addition of the birds as I think the mystery surrounding them worked well with the juxtaposition of modern, luxurious retreat setting. I would recommend for Lucy Foley and modern thriller fans.

I always enjoy a book by Lucy Foley and this one did not disappoint. Thank you NetGalley and Lucy Foley for the opportunity to read this in advance. I can always tell a good book, by how quickly I can recall the plot, a few months after I have read it and this one was a page turner. Superb descriptions of the characters, so that they practically sit by you as the story unfolds.
A good pace, without being rushed. A range of characters that evoke a smile, a tear and hint at memories of your own childhood and personalities that are all too often found on a family holiday.
Perfect read whether you are by a pool, camping in South Wales or curled up by a fire..
Another winner.

Absolutely loved this book, I was fully invested right from the start and I loved the past and present time line and how they were intertwined! That were so many twists and turns and was a great atmospheric feel to the story and it all came together very fluidly. A must read

DNF at 70%, I just had zero motivation to keep going. The narrators were good and this will definitely be someone else's cup of tea but unfortunately, it wasn't mine at all. I struggled to care about the characters and their respective stories and even went long periods of time without picking this book up because I was very much not interested in this story.

I have loved Lucy Foley's books in the past, namely The Guest List and The Hunting Party. I had some issues with The Paris Apartment, but that didn't put me off reading Foley's new novel.

The Midnight Feast focuses on the opening of an exclusive new resort, The Manor, situated on the Dorset coast. Privileged guests - mostly couples - have flocked to the luxury destination anticipating a bougie stay and a fabulous solstice feast, which has been imagined by the owner, Francesca. Pretty quickly we know all isn't what it seems: The site has a dark past and the locals are less than welcoming. When a body is discovered by fishermen at the base of the cliffs the morning after the solstice party, the local police must unravel the mystery of The Manor and the motivations of its guests.

I really enjoy a thriller with multiple perspectives and dual timelines. Like some of Foley's other novels, this one also includes diary entries to pull the story together, which I also really liked. The Midnight Feast is mainly narrated by Francesca, her husband (Owen), a lone female guest (Bella), a young Manor employee (Eddie) and DI Walker (the local policeman), and while none of them are particularly likeable, their voices were different enough to keep my interest. As with all of the author's books, the pace is well managed and the tension is palpable as the story builds to its conclusion.

There is no doubt Foley can write a gripping, well-plotted page-turner, but I would love to see her do something new. Do I really enjoy her books? Yes. But will the almost identical structure, set-up, setting etc. begin to tire eventually? It's likely.

If you loved Foley's earlier novels, and seek a suspenseful, tightly-plotted, locked-room thriller (think modern Agatha Christie), you'll enjoy this. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

The Midnight Feast is a duel time novel set on the Dorset Coast. Francesca Meadows is preparing for the opening of her luxury hotel, The Manor. Her grandparents left her the house and grounds in their will, and Francesca spent many childhood summers there. The story moves back to one of those summers when a terrible event occurred and we learn how some of those involved are still seeking revenge.
I am a fan of Lucy Foley and this book follows the same format as her previous psychological thrillers. It’s full of twists, tragedy and incredibly devious characters.

Outstanding new novel from Lucy Foley. This is a great book. The past catches up with the present in spectacular fashion. Set in Dorset where I spent my summers I absolutely loved this one.

From the very beginning this book reminded me of Sarah Pearse's Retreat. The setting, the atmosphere, the secrets - they all seemed so familiar. It took me half the book to get rid of this feeling and start enjoying the novel. The plot is unfolding at a good pace, the tension is there, even if there were no shocking revelations (to me at least). This is an entertaining read.

Read if you like;
-Locked room thrillers
-Dual Timelines
-Teenage friendship
-Luxury
-Folklore

After reading The Paris Apartment I knew I had to give this a read! I definitely need to go back and read her previous books!

The Midnight Feast is told in multiple POVs, initially I wasn’t sure what relevance someone of them held. However, as we progressed they all started to make sense.

The chapters are a good length which keeps you invested! With some chapters in diary entries - which I LOVE slowly the revelations are slowly drop fed through the story!

The pacing initially was a little slow for my liking with not a lot happening as I would have liked. However, the author certainly picked up the pace and shocked us!

The manor with its luxury setting, definitely have off paranormal vibes, which I want totally loving at first. However, as we processed those folklore tales really set the scene!

I loved the way one of the things that the story shows us is that no matter the amount of crystals and mediation that if you are a bad person inside nothing is going to dress it up!

Another highly entertaining read by Lucy Foley!
It's a story of murder, mayhem, secrets, revenge, and mysterious birds!

Francesca is wealthy and without a worry in the world. She is launching her new retreat and is married to a gorgeous man, but she has secrets in her past that are about to come back to haunt her. There are many people who want to harm Francesca, but who hates her the most?
What is happening in the woods? Is the folklore that the locals whisper about true?

It all began with a secret fifteen years ago. Now, the past has crashed the party. And it will end in murder at… The Midnight Feast.

I love the quote that this is Agatha Christie for the Instagram age!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

God I loved this look! Devoured it in a couple of days - total unputdownable page turner. Really satisfying twists along the way and characters that you love to love and love to hate in equal measure. Also feels quite relatable for young people who like a bit of high end luxury.

Found the Paris apartment a bit of a trudge and didn’t enjoy as much as the hunting party or the guest list but this was a definite return to form and can already imagine it as a 3 parter or a movie.

Will definitely be recommended to all my lovers of a modern mystery thriller.