I have no idea why I keep reading & requesting books by Lucy Foley. They just don't work for me. There was just so much happening; but also nothing happening. Characters were all 2sided with little detail, to keep us engaged in the story. The whole plot was over the span of 24 hours, which wasn't nearly enough time to get me invested. Fans of summer beach reads; formulaic 'thrillers'; domestics; relationship drama will like this. I really don't like any of those tropes, so this is on me.

I don’t really like first person present tense, especially with more than one POV, so it took me a while to settle in to the writing style of this one. Once I did though, I found myself speeding through the story.

There are three timelines - two of which are either side of the same weekend and one from 15 years previously. The older timeline is told through journal entries, which I thought worked well.

There were a few twists that I was able to guess throughout the story, some twists that were slightly different than I was expecting, and some which were a complete surprise - which feels like a pretty good balance for a mystery novel.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and thought it came together really well at the end. None of the POV characters were very likeable, in my opinion, but they all had enough secrets to keep me interested in them.

THE MIDNIGHT FEAST

I was NOT disappointed with this deliciously atmospheric novel.

With its sultry slow burn, you won’t work out the journey in which this malevolent story is taking you.

Okay I wasn’t gripped to this one from the start, with its ultimately a slow start, but stick with it.

Told, as expected with a novel by Foley from multiple points of views to really keep you on your toes.

Foleys’ descriptive pros throughout the book are absolutely superb making you really feel part of the story and capturing each individual emotion of both the scenery and the characters.

Available in the UK from the 6th June I highly recommend this book.

Thank you #NetGalley and #HarperCollinsUK for my eArc copy of the eagerly anticipated novel #TheMidnightFeast by #LucyFoley.

#tantalising #atmospheric #mystery #thriller

The Midnight Feast is a dual timeline novel set in June 2025 and also 2010. The location is ‘The Manor’, a newly refurbished luxury hotel on the cliffs in Dorset. There are woodland cabins and the grand opening is on the summer solstice. What could possibly go wrong!

Francesca (Frankie) Meadows has inherited the large family home and approached architect, Owen Dacre, to turn her grand plans into reality. Owen and Frankie hit it off and are now man and wife. Francesca is very controlling and has put a lot of effort into hiring the right staff. However, as the opening events progress we learn that some of the carefully chosen staff and some of the guests have had links with the property in the past and all is not as idyllic as Francesca would like the world to believe. And then there’s a death during the opening …

There is a lot of implied spookiness and tension in the book around the subject of birds which felt somewhat contrived at times. There were also a lot of characters which I found slightly overwhelming at times as some had changed their names between 2010 and 2025 and also had nicknames. A good and gripping read though and it was all well pulled together in the end.

With thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. Another good thriller, this one takes place on the summer solstice at a posh hotel and woodland cabin resort, where old faces reappear to settle scores. The story is told from several viewpoints and includes flashes from 15 years ago when a tragedy was covered up and uncovers the secrets and actions right up to the present.
I enjoyed it as much as her other books.

I have read most of Lucy Foley's books and this like the others I have read was very enjoyable.

The story is set in "The Manor" and the surrounding grounds/woods, a large family home owned by the grandparents of Francesca Meadows who has, on their deaths converted the house into a luxury hotel and wellness centre. The locals are not enamoured with the hotel. However, a number of them work at the hotel.

It tells the story over 2 periods of time. Currently the opening weekend which takes place during the summer solstice and events from fifteen years previously. Folklore has it that there are spooky birds in the woods that are responsible for all manner of ills past and present.

Bella, a woman from Francesca's past arrives at the opening weekend intent on revenge for things that happened to her and locals in Francesca's past.

The author tells their stories with ease from the principal characters points of view.

A death takes place on the opening weekend and DI Walker and a colleague investigate to determine if death is accidental or murder. Is Bella responsible for everything that is happening that weekend or is at all possible that the birds are responsible.

I enjoyed this book although it was quite complex. However, it did resolve itself surprisingly well at the end. There is not much I can add without spoilers and I recommend this and other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley UK and publishers HarperCollins UK for this ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

This started off a little slow for me, but I really liked the range of POV as it broadened the story and insights. The characters all seemed to get what they deserve, shame there was no closure for one of the characters as to why things went so wrong previously. A slow burn thriller that keeps you guessing.

Another page turner from Lucy Foley!
A new beautiful countryside retreat on top of cliffs by the sea. The guests arrive for the opening weekend at midsummer.
Darkness, a feast, a body, a 15 year old secret.
I love the way each chapter is written by one of the characters, all of whom the reader gets to know so well.
Impulsive, tantalising, dark.......a wicked fairy tale.

I really enjoyed reading this book, the story is well written and plenty of twists thrown in which we know the author is a master at! I loved the short quick chapters , this is told in multiple pov's and multiple timelines also and will keep you unsure and guessing through out! I did however at times find it a bit slow in parts but still a good summer read and fans of the author will love this one but the Guest List is still one of my favourites by the author!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this e-arc.

Lucy Foley delivers another chilling masterpiece with The Midnight Feast. Set against the dramatic backdrop of a luxurious new hotel opening on the Dorset coast, the idyllic atmosphere curdles quickly as secrets and dark pasts rise to the surface.

Foley excels at crafting complex characters. Each person, from the seemingly charming to the outwardly suspicious, holds a hidden truth, the reveals of which help keep the tension tight.

As a Dorset native, I was particularly captivated by the setting and a certain real life hotel that I know well sprang to mind as I read (I’ll eat an entire truffle hunting farmyard animal if Lucy Foley hasn’t visited)….

The hotel itself becomes a character, adding an unsettling pagan undercurrent. Whether she's drawn inspiration from a real-life hotel or not, Foley paints a picture so vivid you can practically smell the salty air.

Overall, The Midnight Library is a must-read for fans of twisty thrillers. With its captivating characters, atmospheric setting, and relentless suspense, this novel will keep you guessing until the very last page.

Another brilliant book by Lucy Foley! As always I absolutely loved how she uses multiple POV to tell the story, I also enjoyed how this one flips between before / during / after the event too. It was super twisty and definitely kept me guessing, and I really enjoyed the fairy tale aspect of the book also!

I think me and Foley need to go on a break.

Her writing is great, I just don't love the stories - I'd heard some magical things about this book and I absolutely love a good thriller, but sadly I think this book is really lacking, and I just didn't enjoy it. I didn't like any character BAR EDDIE and even he felt a little underdeveloped. I liked the premise and thought it was clever, but I didn't like the characters, I didn't like Frankie and well... I just didn't care. So that's the last Foley book for me I think!

Fantastic book, with some really interesting and clever twists throughout. I usually struggle with books told from multiple points of view but this one was the exception- I thoroughly enjoyed the story from all different characters. Usually in this writing style I find you don’t care about the characters as much, but I found myself loving and hating across the board! I would definitely recommend this book and am going to read others by Lucy Foley.

Lucy Foley is an acomplished writer and her books are always a treat. I knew I was going to enjoy this one. I was wrong. I didn't enjoy it, I LOVED it!!! Secrets, lies, and a twist of folklore, it worked so well!!! Great elements of suspense and a dark, twisted writing style pulled me along. A perfect summer read and one I can see working well on the big screen!

Another fabulous Lucy Foley book! Known for her multiple POVs, I found this the most engaging one yet. A past timeline with the ongoing of opening weekend with plenty of narratives to build suspense with a current timeline with a narrative of the outcome. Blended together in perfect harmony to create a gripping and twisted story.

A highly engaging novel with some truly creepy plot points left me speechless.

The Midnight Feast is a standalone thriller by author Lucy Foley. The story is told across multiple POV characters and through journal entries. There is dual timelines which draw out the suspense as we are get to see both the events leading up to the solstice as well as those after playing out at the same time. The author drip feeds the reader clues about what transpired but you will have to wait until the explosive ending to see how all the pieces tie together. There were plenty of red herrings and an interesting twist at the end that even though I read a ton of these kind of thrillers, even I didn't see coming. There is a large cast of characters to suspect and even though some aren't particularly likeable people, the author delivers unique voices, backstories and motivations that make you feel invested. The story is somewhat slow-paced as is to be expected from these style of mysteries. I enjoyed the chilling wood setting. There were some horror-style elements thrown in that I felt could have been fleshed out a bit more which would have added to the atmosphere and fear. I'd recommend this one to fans of this genre and authors like Ruth Ware, Lisa Jewell and Alice Feeney.

The Midnight Feast was Unsettling, Creepy, and it Sure Kept Me Guessing!

June 2025 – It’s the opening weekend of The Manor, an exclusive, cliffside, health and wellness resort hotel, nestled away in the tiny village of Tome, Dorset, with the beach on one side and the woods on the other. The retreat promises three days of luxury, spirituality, and pampering, culminating in a Midnight Feast on the Day of the Solstice.

But just before dawn The Day After the Solstice fishermen make two grisly discoveries, floating in the water is a body, and high up on the cliff The Manor is burning!

Just what went on at The Midnight Feast?

After finishing The Midnight Feast I can honestly say that Lucy Foley is the master of misdirection – the plot had more twists than the trees featured in this novel – the mystery was multi-layered, clever, and exciting, and the shocks and secrets just kept on coming. I can’t stop thinking about that last 25%!

The characters were a mix of one’s I cared about, other’s I wasn’t sure about, and a few that were evil to the core. All were compelling, three-dimensional and intriguing. I even teared up a couple of times and was surprised how emotionally invested I was in some of these character’s situations and trauma. The setting of Tome took on a life of its own – steeped in class conflict and divide, exacting justice, and customs and folklore. Now, I wouldn’t go as far as to say that I’m terrified of birds – although I’m not keen on their squawking, flapping wings, and beady eyes – but the bird legends featured in this novel, coupled with the fact that people kept finding ominous feathers, really freaked me out.

There were several timelines to keep track of. The present story arc, which took place over the three-day retreat weekend – Opening Night, The Day Before the Solstice, The Day of the Solstice – via four POV’s. Then there were flashbacks to the summer of 2010 in the form of italicised journal entries, as well as flash forwards to The Day After the Solstice beginning with the discovery of the fire and an unidentified body. There was also a spooky, foreboding prologue titled, The Woods. The summer journal was the standout for me, that is until the last 25% when every moment was my favourite.

Now I can’t decide which Lucy Foley book is my favourite, this one, or The Guest List. I think I love them both equally.

P.S. As a teenage I also devoured Bella by Jilly Cooper, as well as the other books in the series, Harriet, Octavia, etc.

I’d like to thank Netgalley UK, Harper Collins UK, and Lucy Foley for the e-ARC.

Take note of the release date, 6th June 2024, as The Midnight Feast is a must-read thriller.

I’ve loved all of Lucy Foley’s books and this was no exception.

It is set at a large family home turned wellness retreat owned by Francesca Meadows and takes place on opening weekend. Members of the local village are less than pleased about this disruption to their quiet lives.

There are A LOT of characters in this book and they all play an important part in the story. I didn’t find it difficult to follow despite the story jumping between the different characters POVs. It also switches between past and present and slowly uncovers the whole story. I thought I had the twist figured out part way through but I absolutely did not.

I enjoyed the folklore elements that were weaved into the story. I loved the addition of the summer journals too, they really helped bring the story together.

I’d recommend this to anyone that enjoys a good thriller!

Having read previous books by Lucy Foley, I hoped for an intriguing read and wasn’t disappointed. This is a chilling, mysterious thriller which keeps you gripped throughout.

The setting is The Manor, a luxurious wellness resort, surrounded by encroaching, menacing woodlands. Each chapter is written from various viewpoints and time scales, giving an in depth, rounded account of characters and story.

The main character is Francesca, who owns the complex; on the surface she is a friendly, welcoming host, but has a hidden dark side. There are secrets to explore concerning several characters. Bella, who is booked into the lodge nearest the woods; Michelle, the hostess, and Owen, Francesca’s lover. Hovering sinister birds bring a gothic element to the story.

As the characters are introduced the story becomes more complex. Chapters flip between present day and past building up tension, especially when a body is discovered on the opening day of the resort. I found it difficult to empathise with any of the characters, they all had hidden secrets which makes an intriguing read. The book is gripping and compelling, with enough twists and turns to keep you turning the page.

Thank you netgally for the Arc. At first I felt the book started out slow but it sure picked up quickly. So many twists and surprises. I don’t want to give anything away but wow I didn’t guess any of the twists. Great book! I highly recommend!