Thank you NetGalley for this E-ARC

This was the first book I read by Lucy Foley. I had no idea what I could expect. I really enjoyed the multiple point of views. It made the story feel faster and more entertaining. It was easy to understand and I had a fun time getting to know all of the characters. Sadly the plot wasn't something I liked. I did however like the dark setting, it wasn't something I have read before.

For whatever reason, I received two copies of this book, so I am going to be reading the other one and providing feedback on it.

This is the type of party you will be scared to miss! Lucy Foley turns up the heat, and the suspense, with this closed room mystery, taking place in a secluded manor when some well hidden secrets threaten to destroy everything the guests hold dear. A spectacular read!

Well Lucy has done it again! The way she pulls you into a mystery is sublime. The storyline keeps you guessing until the end and I loved that little sucker punch twist - I wasn’t expecting that at all. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Lucy is a go to author for me - I don’t even need to read the blurb to want to read.

‘I do hate it when people let me down’
This is the refrain of one of the main characters in The Midnight Feast, luckily Lucy Foley once again does not let me down. This book is a hauntingly atmospheric dark thriller which incorporates horror and folklore elements. The writing is well paced and intelligent, the reader is often left to infer what is happening rather than being spoon-fed. Set at a newly opened, highly exclusive wellness retreat, this story is told through multiple POVs many of which are unlikeable or morally grey. Nuanced and believable depictions of the ‘class divide’ add yet another layer to the plot, people are not always who we think they are. I really enjoyed the addition of the journal entries and felt this added to the intrigue. The creepiness of the setting and the pagan folklore really kept me wanting to pick this book up and with references to Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’, a solstice celebration reminiscent of ‘Midsommar’ and more than a hint of ‘Wickerman’ vibes this story is not just your standard thriller. As Long buried secrets from the past begin to emerge, there are twists and turns aplenty, some of which are signposted, some of which come as a real surprise and all of which are satisfying and (mostly) plausible. At times this story is dark and cynical but it also has a sense of nostalgia and at times is actually quite heartwarming.
I do think the ending may be quite divisive, in some ways it seems a little too neatly tied up although this didn't affect my enjoyment one bit

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this intriguing book in exchange for an honest review

A good read with a slow start. A 'select few' have been invited to the opening weekend of a swanky new wellness resort/spa, The highlight is to be a midnight feast. Unbeknown to the guests, the owner has a hidden agenda linked to her childhood in the village. Then here are The Birds (shades of Hitchcock), a group of locals who dress as ravens and have secret meetings. There are so many points of view that it takes a while to remember who is who and what their past is. The reason for the inclusion of the teenage journal chapters only becomes clear late in the book. Gradually we realise why everyone's been brought here, as the story works up to a dramatic climax.

There are some excellent twists and the latter half of the book flies by so I'm sure that it will be a big hit with fans of this genre but I prefer something a little less formulaic. It's written in what has become Lucy Foley's typical format, so much so that it's almost a carbon copy of The Guest List with the names and grievances changed; plus multiple timelines and multiple POVs make it very hard to get invested in the story.

When a lavish new wellness resort is launched in rural Britain, the wealthy punters who congregate for the opening weekend's events have no idea what they are letting themselves in for...

Lured by promises of obscene luxury, and curated events that include a midnight feast harking back to bucolic childhood pleasures, they are mesmerized by the charismatic owner of the resort and her talented architect husband who has done the restoration work.

But behind all the glamour and glitz, there is a dark history to this location, and a number of the players in the original events decades ago are onsite for this new reincarnation of the place - whether or not they are aware of each other's presence!

Throw into that mix a group of resentful locals, a dark pagan history involving The Birds, rich people misbehaving, long-delayed revenge and creative reinvention, and it all adds up to a juicy new novel from Lucy Foley that delivers on its promises.

4.5 stars
I've enjoyed every Lucy Foley book that I've read so far and this is easily one of my favourites.
This had me gripped from the very beginning and I liked the dual timelines, as well as the multiple perspectives that Lucy Foley is known for at this point.
I liked that they were distinct enough, with each one hinting at what could be to come.
The short, snappy chapters were great too.
I maybe could have done with less of the teenage journal chapters, even though I understood why they were necessary.
However, the setting was an intriguing one and I did feel fully immersed at The Manor, both in the past and the present.
I'm not entirely sure what I thought of 'The Birds'. While this seemed creepy and almost cult-like, it didn't quite work for me. It did add a sense of foreboding and had you wondering just how involved they were but the folklore behind it is never really explained.
Plus, characters like Nathan never felt fully fleshed out. He almost felt like a pantomime villain.
I will say, I didn't expect the final few twists but I always like the way that Lucy Foley reveals just how interconnected the lives of the characters have been along by the end.
This would make a great summer beach read and is one that you can easily devour over a day or so.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the weakest Lucy Foley for me. This novel has all her typical trademarks, however, it's missing the creepy atmosphere and strong sense of setting her other books had. This one felt a little boring and flat, the pacing was all over the place and nothing really happened until the last 85%.

I didn't like the diary entries either, they made a story with already many POVs even more confusing and it didn't add as much to the story as it could have. I also don't think we needed all these POVs, I'm aware that's just her thing but I can't get behind it. The writing also felt weaker, as well as the resolution at the end. There was just never really any suspense during the whole read, which wasn't an issue in her other works.

Rating: 2.8/5

I have relished my previous experiences of reading Lucy Foley's work and was very much looking forward to this latest offering. Overall, I still enjoyed the experience, but "The Midnight Feast" is not up to this author's usual standard.

There are some trademark Lucy Foley elements: as usual, rather than presenting a straightforward whodunnit, the writer creates more of a "whodunnwhat" or a "whydunnit" with considerable time being spent creating questions as to who may have done "something" and why certain individuals may have had motive to do various "somethings" depending upon events and developments. As usual, the narrative is presented from the viewpoints of a number of key protagonists and each one is given a clear, distinct voice by the author.

However, against these favourable aspects, there are facets that I do not typically associate with Lucy Foley and that do not work as effectively. Drawing on influences of other writers that you respect or admire is nothing new, but it seems to be particular prevalent in this book. The conflict between a holiday resort and the local population is nothing new and, in fact, it formed the central conflict in "Our Holiday" by Louise Candlish very recently. There are very clear (and acknowledged) references to Daphne du Maurier's, "The Birds", but the whole folklore thread and the sense that something supernatural may be at play was reminiscent of the work of C.J. Tudor or Stephen King. No doubt the intention of the author was to create a sense of mystical foreboding, but it all seemed a little forced and was far from convincing. In a similar vein, each of the main protagonists readily admits to the reader that they are not what they appear to be on the surface. Such secret histories are nothing new or uncommon in this genre, but the somewhat melodramatic and simplistic manner in which it is executed in "The Midnight Feast" is not what I associate with Lucy Foley. Nor is the characterisation up to the standard that I have come to expect from this writer. It lacks depth and credibility, with certain players coming across more like pantomime villains.

As I said at the outset, in spite of its unexpected shortcomings, I still enjoyed the experience of reading this novel. The pace is good and it is entertaining - it just lacks the usual level of quality that I expect from this writer. Nonetheless, I have little doubt that I will be returning for her next mystery too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

Big fan of Lucy Foley’s work but having been slightly disappointed with The Paris Apartment I was a little apprehensive going into this one as her books can be quite similar in formula. Thankfully I really enjoyed it and would say I think this is my 2nd favourite after The Guest List.

We have a great setting, very Midsommar vibes and some creepy folklore mixed in as well. As with a few of her books there are quite a few characters to keep track of and there were also a few aliases in this one as well which might put some people off.

Overall 3.5 rounded up - kept me entertained and enjoyed the setting

Thanks to netgalley for providing an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review

With many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

I do love a Lucy Foley book, she’s always bang on the money with the ‘locked room’ type story. Set in a luxury manor resort with Lucy’s trademark multi POV we get an array of intriguing characters as the author spins her web of mystery. A touch of the supernaturals with the Birds gives the story an eerie feel as does the descriptive narrative. The inclusion of the diary entries entwined with the present day is brilliantly done and adds to the intrigue. Wonderfully written with some good twists along the way. Another winner from this talented author

Wow! Talk about a fiendish, sharp, wicked read - a real feast of motives and surprises with compelling characters everywhere you looked!
I cannot praise this book enough, it was everything, so well written with a plot which was woven so skillfully to take the reader to an explosive end.
A wild ride which started in youth leading to the present day and crimes to be answered for with the veneer of respectability torn away to reveal a vindictive character at the center of things.
An the end few lines in the pub! I cant.....
Brilliant!!!

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 6th June. I loved the premise and the setting of this book. Whilst reading the book it was evident and portrayed mystery lurks around every corner which made it even more gripping!

This book shifts between past and present which I liked and Eddie as a character I thought he was sincere. I’d give this book 5 stars! 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This was definitely Foley’s best book yet! A hooky plot and cast of characters, I loved the flashbacks to their childhood 15 years ago through the diary.

Spoiler for ending: maybe would have nice to have had a reunion with those left from childhood at the end of the book?

But overall really really enjoyed and think Foley does what she does best: write really great addictive books.

The Midnight Feast was my third Foley novel and sadly it will be my last. When I first read the blurb for this book, I was very excited and was even more so when I got approved for this ARC, unfortunately it fell flat for me and several times I wanted to DNF.
The book is told from three different POVs; with the inclusion of one depicting the discovery of a body whose identity remains unknown right until the very end.

Through these POVs, we get a sense of who our characters are, and the story unfolds in a pretty long and drawn-out manner. The pacing in this book felt unnecessarily slow and the action and suspense prolonged to the point where nothing major happens until the 60% mark; and even then, it's mediocre at best.
To make matters worse, the book then proceeds to throw in another timeline- the teenage years of one of our MCs. Though I understand the authors reasons for including this, as it gives us a sense of backstory that becomes relevant to the plot in the end. It filled the book with teenage drama that wasn't needed, and they were several scenes that I could've done without as they added nothing to the plot.

The predictability also made this a very subpar read for me as well. I was able to decipher every plot twist and secret before the ending. The ending was okay if not a little over the top and unbelievable in some ways.
Three stars because it's pretty easy to keep track of the characters and overall, a pretty simple read that can be binged in a day.
I've heard others say that when you read one Foley book you've read all, I can see what they meant now. This book was very reminiscent of one of her previous novels and I didn't care for that one either.
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Thank you to Netgalley, Harpercollins UK and Lucy Foley for my eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

“ if you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise” …. and the opener is a surprise and a half whichsure grabs my attention. You ready for the feast?

It’s June 2025, nearly the Solstice and the opening night of Tome Manor, maybe the new jewel of the Dorset coast with no expense spared to attract guests. However, it’s surrounded by ancient woodlands and many locals are far from happy at the intrusion of wealthy guests which little bothers the Manors owner, Francesca Meadows. Take a deep breath though, because there’s no mistaking the fact that there’s something disturbing swirling in the warm air, whispers about local folklore that should raise a concern or two. The warning bells are clanging but how will it all play out? Several guests are uncomfortable and want to move out of their woodland. “hutches” disturbed by the atmosphere. Their instincts are good as the day after the Solstice fisherman notice a fire and go onto discover a body floating in the sea. This is just the start. Who is behind what’s playing out? Why is Francesca rattled by the appearance of Bella, a guest? Perhaps, most importantly of all, why does Francesca have to keep the birds happy???

The story is told via several points of view and a summer journal which makes it a bit slow to get going but allows us to comprehend those undercurrent and more. Francesca’s point of view is illuminating, who is the real Francesca? This becomes clearer to see and it isn’t pretty. Best watch your back Frankie, oh sorry, Francesca. What’s Bella’s game?? That starts to become more transparent, but it’s also clear to see that there are several characters who are wearing masks and hoping to disguise their pasts. All are well portrayed although not necessarily likeable with the exception of Eddie, the Barman amongst other things.

I really like the premise of the novel which goes way beyond the us versus them, locals versus wealthy incomers it might suggest. There are a little hints, as light as a feather that things are going to get. …..nasty? Talking of feathers, there are some very good inclusions such as Daphne Du Maurier’s/Hitchcocks The Birds which is a nice touch.

There are some very good descriptions, the vivid scene setting is especially noteworthy and it certainly screams atmosphere. The storytelling is colourful and very visual. The superstition angle which the hotel “interferes” with gives a palpable sense of foreboding, with prickles on the back of the neck. The plot really ramps up and towards the end there are some excellent revelations that you don’t foresee and one really good twist, well played.

Overall, whilst I don’t feel that this is Lucy Foley’s best novel, I still devour her midnight feast with some relish. There are some standout sinister moments and plenty of delicious (or otherwise) wickedness from the past and in the present day.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Something Wicked…
Midsummer arrives on the Dorset coast. A gathering at a luxurious spa retreat, formerly a Manor House, surrounded by ancient woodlands - the opening weekend, glamorous, serene and elegant and peopled by the elite - but secrets are stirring in the undergrowth as something wicked this way comes. A deliciously atmospheric mystery laced with a gothic edge and with a sultry, slow burn plot peopled with a keenly observed and well crafted cast of characters and a narrative of many threads and voices, past and present, which merge perfectly. Compelling, intriguing and wholly engaging.

I requested this book because I have read a couple of Lucy Foley's novels and enjoyed them, however this one just didn't quite live up to her usual standard. The timeline jumped about too much making it confusing to read and figure out what is happening when, and there were just too many character POVs to keep track of, both making this novel a bit of a disjointed read. However, there were still some good twists and turns.