While a good quick read, the story was a little predictable. I did however really enjoy Louise Mumford's writing style. This is the first book I've read of hers and would definitely read more.

An unusual start had me wondering where we were going – and the mystery continued. Libby and Dawn = as unlike each other as beset friends often are – win tickets to a hot festival. Mumford accurately describes the “festival experience” except in this case things do go wrong, there are strange happenings, and you are led from one thing to another. I’m not sure I was sufficiently “grabbed” by the book – good ideas and complex storyline, but could have been tied in closer. Always good to have a few surprises towards the end of a book and Mumford does not disappoint! One or two threads are predictable but covered well nonetheless. Love the atmosphere of the festival! Not up with The Hotel, but a good follower!

I've read Louise Mumford before and enjoyed her writing but I'm afraid I found this hard work. It was not as suspenseful a book as I'd expected and at time I had to question the likelihood of some things taking place. I found it disappointing unfortunately.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Digital for the ARC of this book!

This is my second book by Louise Mumford and I'll keep coming back for more. This will make you question whether you want to go to a music festival. The main character Libby really draws you in and makes you concerned about what's going to happen to her. I enjoyed the build up to the climax but feel like the plot twist was kind of predictable. The ending after the reveal also felt a little rushed. I would have liked to see more interaction between characters at the festival at the end and more of Libby processing everything. She had a lot of trauma through this book and I would have enjoyed seeing just a little more of her after the big events and adjusting. Still a fun read that kept me interested.

Libby's life has been pretty grim. Her mother was short on love & long on criticism. However she cared for her throughout her mother's final illness. Her friend bubbly outgoing Dawn drags her on a night out to a nightclub & there Libby wins tickets to Solstice- a Glastonbury style festival allied with the celebration of the longest day. It's not really Libby's scene but Dawn is definitely up for it! And so it begins... The story also goes back in time for Ma to take up the narrative of how it all started.

I enjoyed the atmosphere of the festival & the reactions of the quiet sheltered Libby. I did struggle a bit with how much her character changed so quickly but then I suppose it was necessary to move the story on. All in all it was an enjoyable read even though you needed to suspend belief quite a bit! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

'The Festival' was a quick, fun and twisty read. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the family who ran the festival and felt the characters were developed well. Whilst the story was a little far fetched, it was a fast-paced, fun read.

Set mostly during a music festival in a small Welsh town, this novel is part thriller, part family mystery. I figured the twist out pretty quickly, but it was overall an enjoyable, if slightly forgettable, read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I really liked Louise Mumford's The Hotel, so I may have gone into this book with too-high expectations. Overall, it's an okay book, but I found the pace a bit too slow for me. I liked Ma Blake's sections more than Libby's story.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc!

Very gripping. If you’ve ever wondered what Glastonbury may be like then read this book! Libby wins tickets to a summer festival and takes her best friend Dawn. They are enjoying themselves but come across some strange people and weird events. Dawn goes missing and Libby finds out secrets that will change her life. Definitely worth reading..

Have read this author before and enjoyed her work but this wasn’t one of her finest.
Some fun twists and turns but the characters didn’t really hold me and the story was just a bit messy for my liking. Not for me,

A rather dark mystery / thriller with bits of humour.
Libby and best friend Dawn manage to get tickets to the summer festival that everyone wants to be at. Some odd characters and strange happenings serve to make this book an intriguing read. It has a theme of family loyalty and strong elements of superstition and folklore which are put to good use. The Blakes are a family with a very dark history and feature as the landowners and creators of the successful midsummer festival called Solstice.
Libby is devastated when Dawn goes missing at the festival and frantically tries to find her, but finds out much more than she bargained for! There are a few red herrings along the way, of course, but pretty much everything is resolved by the end.
Well worth a read.

This book was dark and the festival itself though starting off well definitely took it darker.
Libby & Dawn get tickets to attend then things spiral and the truth starts to seep out.
Very good and won’t be last of this author I read.

The Festival by Louise Mumford. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it had a bit of everything. The friendship between two best friends, folklore, and a crazy family to add to the mix. Very original. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC

This was a twisty thriller that went off in another direction everytime I thought things were coming together! It certainly left the reader trying to keep up with all the misfortunes and revelations that befell the main character Lizzie. I did feel that it was a bit too much at some points and struggled to maintain my interest with the penultimate chapters as things went from bad to worse. I'm glad that I persevered though as the ending was quite satisfying. Definitely worth a holiday read, pop it in your bech bag with the sunscreen,

Who wouldn't want to win a trip to the Solstice Festival held in the Welsh countryside?
Libby and her friend Dawn were lucky enough to win tickets to this famous annual event, and are looking forward to seeing all the amazing bands playing, enjoying the hot summer sun, and soaking up the atmosphere.
However, things are not quite how they seem, and the Fesival soon turns into a nightmare trip.

Dawn goes missing, but when Libby tries to report her friends disappearance, the security guards just fob her off, saying that she will just be in the crowd somewhere, having a great time. However, Libby is not so sure.
She discovers the dark origins of the festival, and fears for her friend's safety. She also wonders about the disappearance of Tess, a local young woman, who also went missing at the festival, way back, when it very first started. Could the events be linked?
This is a story of secrets, of family, friendship & fear, with a mix of witchcraft & pagan folklore thrown in for good measure, and a book not to be missed.
Another great read from Louise Mumford, and one that I was invited to review after reviewing previous books by the same author.

A super summer read, especially if you love a music festival. It's an original twist on the missing friend story as it intertwines a family saga, an isolated carer, a love interest, long buried secrets and local pagan folklore.

None of the characters are especially deeply written, but I guess that might have cramped the pace of The Festival and the foot is kept on the gas pretty relentlessly from beginning to end to make it a page-turner. It's also made up for by the atmospheric sense of place, both at the Solstice festival and in the wilder land surrounding it.

All in all, a great one to pop in the hand luggage!

I was invited to read this as I had enjoyed and reviewed a previous novel by Louise Mumford and pleased to say I enjoyed this as well.

A little slow to start but still interesting and whilst, for once, I actually saw the twist coming I thought it was a well written and well paced story.

A very credible description of the joys of being at a festival (together with the downsides).

Well worth reading.

A great read with good characters.
The pacing and scene descriptions of the festival were good
I enjoyed the second half of the book as this was when more
was happening.
Really enjoyable

An exciting thriller read with twists that keep you guessing till the end! Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC

An enjoyable read with likeable and relatable main characters. The scenes are effectively described and the book is well paced and carries the reader along. The atmosphere of the festival and the emotions and feelings of Libby are clearly communicated and help to build the story.
The first half of the book is the stronger half despite more happening in the latter part of the book. There is just more detail and it feels more considered.