I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down.
Set in the Dorset Coast on the opening weekend of an exclusive hotel, The Manor. On the Sunday morning the local police are called. There’s been a fire and a body has been discovered.
It’s dark, twisty, full of drama, secrets, lies and murder with a feast of suspects and motives. It keeps you guessing right to the end.
It’s told through multiple POV’s and dual timeline. The story flows very well with descriptive writing. The scenes with the birds are very creepy. I loved the intrigue and the woodland and seaside setting.
The characters are well written and believable. I enjoyed learning how the characters were connected and their backgrounds.
Overall, a brilliant atmospheric entertaining read. Definitely recommend. If you like murder mystery thriller you’ll love #TheMidnightFeast.
I can’t wait to read @lucyfoleyauthor next book.
With thanks to #NetGallery #HarperCollinsUK @#HarperFiction for an arc of #TheMidnightFeast in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 6 June 2024.

This book is like a chocolate bar, I had to read it in sections because I was desperate not to finish it too quickly, what a rollercoaster of a read, I thought I knew where the plot was going, but then Lucy delivered another twist. This will make an amazing beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book with no obligation to review.

You know you are in good hands with Lucy Foley - nothing to set the heather on fire, nothing particular to ponder, simply a good solid thriller. This one has some slight supernatural elements and I would have liked to have learned more about the Birds.

The characters are well drawn and believable, especially the rich, entitled ones. There a couple of good reveals which I didn't see coming and it all ties up satisfactorily at the end.

Well written, well plotted and good to read but not, I suspect, very memorable in what is, after all, a very full genre.

3.5 up to 4.

For fans of locals vs millionaires, multiple POV, dual timelines and genuinely creepy moments this book is definitely your cup of tea.

Francesca Meadows has opened a wellness retreat/hotel and opening on the summer solstice means she can have the opening party of her dreams. But what if her past were to be at the party too? Francesca has built this hotel in her Grandfather’s old house in Tome a small coastal town. Everyone knows everyone and they don’t like new things.

I loved the setting and hearing how the locals felt about the development, this added so much to the myth and history of the area.

I did find this book very creepy in parts and this certainly gave the atmosphere it needed to keep me reading late in to the night.

Foley is very skilled at multiple POV and while there were a few people to keep track of it felt seamless to me.

I would find it hard to believe this book wouldn’t go down well with any reader.

I received this book as an ARC from netgalley in return for an honest review, which this is.

🍝THE MIDNIGHT FEAST🍝

⭐⭐⭐⭐

@lucyfoleyauthor 's new book did not disappoint!

Swipe for synopsis👉🏼

💭
In true Foley style, there are multiple POVs, unreliable narrators, and different timelines. There are lots of characters in this book who have secrets and act very suspicious. I wouldn't say this is as fast paced as other books by this author but it definitely picks up. From about half way through, I was hooked and sooo intrigued as to how it was all going to end!

The woodland and seaside setting of the new hotel was perfect. Somewhere that should have been relaxing but had an unsettling vibe.

I really enjoyed discovering how all the characters were connected and their backgrounds shaped them.

Midnight Feast kept me guessing right to the end and it's a book I definitely recommend adding to your tbr if you're a thriller fan! 🔪 It's out on the 6th of June and would be a fab summer read!

Thank you @netgalley for letting me read this eARC✨

A decadent Gatsby like house party meets The Wicker Man! Lots of interesting twists in this tale told from the contrasting viewpoints of the main participants as we discover that the events of an idyllic Summer 15 years ago have repercussions in the present day. Are The Birds an imaginary product of local folklore or a real threat to the ghastly Francesca whose visions for her hotel retreat run roughshod over their traditions? I enjoyed this mystery enormously as it built up towards the eponymous solstice feast. The ending tied things together neatly and offered the hope of redemption to some of the more deserving characters.

I always look forward to a new book by Lucy Foley as have really enjoyed her last three books.

The Midnight Feast is an exciting twisty tale, based on opening day of the very exclusive Tome Manor on the south coast of England.
The book flits back and forth between the past and the present. There are various points of view from different characters of when they grew up in the village as children and now much later as the Manor opens as a luxury wellness retreat for the very well off. The book flows very well with great descriptive writing putting you right in the thick of the location and able to imagine it well with lots of twists and turns and of course there's also "the birds" that give it a very creepy and haunting atmosphere. Is everything as it seems?

The pace was a little slower than her other books but still a really great and fun summer read. The book really came alive half way through.
My lower rating is for the slower pace and I found one of the of the main characters a bit overbearing.

A big thanks to HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperCollins for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Raced through this in a few hours, I couldn’t put it down. Loved the horror elements and the neat ending, and the weaving of realisation scattered through the book.

I absolutely loved The Midnight Feast, it’s a spectacular read! Going back and forth between the then and now seemlessly, & with such wonderful characters it’s a joy. The writing is superb, the storyline wonderfully intriguing, a real page-turner and highly recommended.

A gret compulsive read, a thriller with many twists and turns, which kept me gussing all the way through as to what was going to happen next and who was responsible for what did happen. In places it covered local feelings and politics in a very realistic way.The ending was almost totally unexpectd and such a joy to end in such a way.
This is Lucy at her best

This was my first time reading a Lucy Foley novel and I have become a fan!

4.5 stars!

The story starts ominously when a body is discovered. Right off the bat, we know that something happened and slowly, we unravel all the secrets. All the guests gather at "The Manor", a luxurious estate in the middle of the English woods in rural Dorset. They are hosted by their beautiful and elegant hostess, Francesca Meadows, along with her husband Owen Dacre, the architect behind this extravagance.

The story follows three timelines and multiple characters. I was thoroughly engaged throughout. In the beginning, trying to make sense of who's evil was difficult. None of the characters were nice humans (other than Eddie). It was written in a way to make the innocent ones seem like the villain. Then slowly, as we read their povs, we start to realize who the real villain is.

Throughout, it successfully maintained the ominous tone. There was this foreboding sense that something is about to happen (which we already know does happen). Having the main timeline take place in a matter of two days added to the urgency. It was a jam packed book with a lot of twists and turns, designed to make you think you outsmarted the book, only to have the rug pulled out from under you.

I love the fact that a lot of local lore was weaved in. The town was known to believe in 'The Birds' who avenged any grievous wrongdoings. It had a paranormal feel to it. It added to the horror of the woods.

It also highlighted the debate between locals losing their beloved woods to profit mongers who aim to destroy the natural beauty to line their pockets. It illustrates the anger and resentment of locals when they are restricted to enter their own woods because the rich take over to build luxurious cottage core estates. But when their livelihoods are stolen from them, they are forced to work in these same estates to earn a living.

Francesca really focused on the aesthetics. Plus, she was one of the crystal girlies who cleansed herself using the power of black crystals. During her spa session or rather, when she was in the Orangery (because spa doesn't sound sophisticated enough for the rich), I felt sure that this book is deep in the trenches of witchcraft and voodoo. Thankfully, I was wrong. Whatever I may complain about Francesca's attitude, she had a strong business acumen. She focused on every small detail and knew how to present a perfect picture. She carefully cultivated the image of the Manor and it played the role of a setting perfectly. I was transported to the scene reading it.

I didn't enjoy the fifteen years ago timeline as much. Though it was necessary to set the background for the characters, I found their actions quite boring and repetitive. All the kids did was sunbath, look down their nose, take a walk in the woods and repeat. Only towards the last diary entries did my heart start thumping.

Two characters believe they are redeemed in the end. The author also makes it seem like what they did was okay but it's not. They may not have been responsible before but they became responsible when they stayed silent. They might never be completely free from the blame despite the final events.

Overall, quite a lot of twists and turns. Whenever I thought I predicted something, another twist was thrown that ended up blowing my mind and proving me wrong. I had a great time reading this. Highly recommend.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Lucy Foley for the DRC. Highly appreciated!

Lucy Foley delivers yet another twisty thriller full of drama and intrigue. Some twists I saw coming and others I didn't, but every second of this book was spent on the edge of my seat! Definitely one I'd recommend to anybody who loves a murder mystery.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Title: The Midnight Feast
Author: Lucy Foley
Publication Date: Jun 06 2024
Rating: 4/5 stars

Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction, Netgalley and Lucy Foley for an advance copy of The Midnight Feast in exchange for an honest review.

A Lucy Foley's trademark story telling with a classic whodunit: you know what happened but do not know who it happened to, how, why, or when. The story is told from several POVs, and the author gives each one a distinct voice. The way the plot turned out did not disappoint!

The story is set around The Manor, an opulent estate tucked away in Woodland Hutches that is intended to offer its esteemed guests a tranquil refuge. At the Manor, the owner Francesca Woodland is preparing a spectacular summer solstice feast. Despite her outward appearance of being a confident and devoted owner, Francesca harbors secrets and a dark past.

Overall, I had a great time reading this book, despite some unexpected issues. I could mostly follow the general plot, but there were just too many characters, many of them unimportant. Let me also add that there was a lot of timeline jumping in this book, which could make it challenging for readers to catch up. However, the incredible reveal when everything came together more than made up for it! If you like twisty thrillers with a hint of the supernatural or folklore, I'd suggest reading this book!

If you like twisty thrillers with a hint of the supernatural or folklore, I'd suggest reading this book!

Rating: 4.5

An intriguing storyline, with multiple POVs and a well tied together ending.

While the multiple POVs took a little time to get used to, once the diary excerpts were included, everything began to tie in very nicely together. With two different timelines as well, a lot of thought was put into how things were written to prevent confusion and keep interest.

I adored Eddie, his innocence compared to the rest of the character POVs showing through. The twists with the character relationships were surprising, Lucy Foley keeping some of the reveals from us until a specific moment that's just right.

This was my first Lucy Foley book, and I think I'll go and read her other works now.

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Modern murder mystery thrillers
- Memories and history stories
- Multiple POV narratives
- Being unable to guess the ending
- Dark twists and turns

With thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I've loved all of Lucy Foley's previous book and this thriller didn't disappoint either! A fast pace, page turner of a thriller mixed with some folklore too

A manor on the Hill of a town is becoming the latest 'in" place for rich people to come, stay, and glamp. The locals however do not like this and neither do the Birds in the woods

I seemed to completely devour this book in the spirit of a midsummer midnight feast! Set on the coast of Dorset, a very modern murder mystery! Intriguing thrilling….. a fab read for this summer!!!
Set on two timelines during an August heatwave in 2010 and the modern day midsummer weekend in 2025. Written from the different characters viewpoints to tell their stories, memories and history and reveal to the mysteries of what really happened. Francesca is a queen of positivity who has built a beautiful boutique hotel within her grandparents old home on the cliffs by the sea, where the neighbouring woodland hold the local legends of the birds that right any wrongs or injustices for the local community of Tome.
Great writing, great tale, took me a couple of chapters to get into but really enjoyed this, a very up to date tale with all the buzzwords we have today! Loved the references to the Chiltern Firehouse and Soho house, a real observation of the London culture escaping to Dorset!
For anyone that enjoyed Saltburn, you would love this.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the early read! Will be recommending!!

I loved Eddie and would quite have liked the whole thing to be written from his perspective?! Lucy Foley is good at multiple POV narratives, but on this occasion, I found there were a few too many characters to keep track of, especially as we were jumping from past to present and there were a few diary entries thrown in as well.

The first half of the book is a great story interweaving a long-ago childhood summer, with the present. We see Bella and Frankie's friendship develop and we follow them around Tome Manor. There are lots of threads built up in the first half, and that's what makes it such a great story - you have no way of guessing what the outcomes are going to be.

If you think you've worked out a twist,maybe you have.....but have you worked out the other 5, or are they waiting in the shadows, to grab you?!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Set between present day and 15 years ago. Francesca now owns a hotel retreat. It’s opening weekend and she is anxious that all goes well. Bella is a guest the only guest there alone. Eddie is the dishwasher, a local farm boy. Owen is an architect, and Francesca’s husband. In the past rich girl Frankie and sparrow, holidaying at the caravan park hang out. Events from the past and the future are intertwined but what will be the final outcome.

This was clever. Events from the past were told via Sparrow’s diary entries. The connection between Bella and Francesca slowly revealed as we learnt about what had happened previously. Twist and turns and mysterious birds. A fabulous read. Just after finishing, I’m still processing some of the events. The characters were strongly written. The present events were told from the point of view of those 4 characters mentioned above. Bella and Francesca were easy to match to their younger selves. The mystery of just who Eddie and Owen were was something I didn’t see coming. Highly recommend.