![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/icons/nav_back_xs.png)
Member Reviews
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
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
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar908141-micro.png?1734556555)
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.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar512408-micro.png?1734556555)
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.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar687010-micro.png?1734556555)
This book has multiple timelines and switches the POV, so you have to really pay attention on the audiobook to know who is talking and where you are in time. But I was able to stay on top of it and I thought it was very well done.
In the earlier timeline, there’s a Mean Girls/Saltburn vibe with the cool/rich girl taking on a new poor/uncool girl and the existing friends/relatives making a big deal about how she’s just the latest in a string of people that she latches on to. The Mean Girl is especially mean and her friends/family are possibly even worse?
In the current timeline, the Mean Girl is opening a new luxury resort on the family property and it’s opening weekend, so everything has to be perfect. But local myths/legends start to threaten the perfection, and all of the guests aren’t who they appear to be. And then a body is discovered…
Great ensemble cast on the audiobook.
Lucy Foley is a must listen for me.
Special thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
US Publication Date 6/18/24
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar763663-micro.png?1734556555)
A well narrated audiobook with excellent delivery but unfortunately the story didn't grab me as much as this authors previous books have.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1162274-micro.png?1734556555)
The narration of this audio was brilliantly done. The story is told from multiple points of view and each character has their own narrator. This made it easy to follow but also quickly established the individual characters, it felt like listening to a play. For me the structure of the novel lends itself well to audio and I think it’s one of those books that is elevated when performed.
The story has all the elements of a great psychological thriller: a closed cast, unlikeable characters, secret pasts, plots for revenge and plenty of twists and reveals. Added to this is a mystic, folklore element which creates an eerie atmosphere and builds another layer to the story.
I was quickly hooked and was so eager to find out ‘whodunnit’ that I increased the speed on the audio so I could get to the final reveal sooner! I wasn’t disappointed with the ending and although no threads are left untied, it doesn’t feel too neat. The book ends on a note of foreboding and makes you think about the lasting effects of the ‘events’, I appreciated this darker end note.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar601678-micro.png?1734556555)
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!
The narrator did a stellar job as well!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar708735-micro.png?1734556555)
I usually enjoy Lucy Foley's works, but I have to admit I was a bit disappointed by this one.
While the author once again expertly creates a closed-door atmosphere, I often found myself lost among the characters and the timeline, which wasn't a problem for me in her other works. The frequent flashbacks made it challenging to follow the plot and, listening to the audiobook might have made these time shifts even less clear. Additionally,
I had a hard time getting into the story and didn't feel a strong connection to the characters, so I wasn't as invested in the outcome as I had hoped to be. Despite these issues, it's a quick read, and the audiobook format is well-executed.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar640457-micro.png?1734556555)
I really enjoyed The Guest List. Claustrophobic, atmospheric and edge of the seat, I have been looking for a similar experience in other titles by this author.
I have to be honest and say my experience of this book was very mixed. I thought that the audiobook narration was great. The individual voices were effective in capturing the characters and really helped me pick up changes in narrative very quickly as I rapidly connected the voice to Francesca’s voice was particularly well captured.
My main problem was that the author did such a good job of creating unlikeable characters that I really did not care what happened to any of them..I seriously disliked the vain and deluded Francesca. This meant that i really didn’t have an investment in unravelling the plot..
I also really struggled to believe in the credibility of some of the plot revelations and character reveals.
I know that this book is hugely popular on social media, sadly it just did not work for me.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins Audio for my copy of this audiobook.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1383896-micro.png?1734556555)
Wow! What a captivating story from Lucy Foley! I could not read anything else until this was finished. It was like listening to a spooky story around a campfire. The story was told by 5 narrators, each providing their own piece of the puzzle. Per usual Foley style, the story is split between a past, present, and future timeline. The narrators of this story are incredible, especially the narrator for Eddie. With this being an audiobook, in the beginning it was hard to keep track of characters and timelines, but keep going because the journey is worth it!!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
I really enjoy Lucy Foley's books and I love them as audiobooks which work perfectly with the different voices involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the story, the unfolding of the different connections and relationships, trying to work out who each character really was and how their past impacted on the present. It's occasionally far fetched but so much fun I don't mind. The pace quickens as things move to the climax and I was completely engages from start to finish. What I really liked was the use of the different narrators for the characters. It worked so well, each voice really giving you a feel for the individual characters. Absolutely loved it!
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
This Lucy Foley audio book was exciting! It felt like a mystery happening in a fancy mansion, with a bunch of weird characters. The story jumps around between what different people saw, which kept things interesting. It was a little spooky too, kind of like that movie with the birds. I liked how the book included bits of a diary to add to the mystery. It was a fun listen with some surprises at the end. Definitely recommend this book!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1188495-micro.png?1734556555)
Another feather in Lucy Foley’s cap!
Very happy I got a chance to read this, I’m not much of a thriller girlie, but in LF we trust.
Very much in the style of previous novels, this is a multiple person perspective, two timelines, lots of twists and turns, only learning enough each chapter to keep you wanting to know what will happen next.
The characters were distinct enough that you knew who was who throughout.
Which was further aided by the excellent narration.
A compelling plot, with a creepy undercurrent feel running through it, always leaving you feeling a little off kilter.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher 4/5 ⭐️
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-placeholder-micro.png)
There are strange goings on in the woods deep in rural Dorset in this entertaining, well paced thriller, that works extremely well as an audiobook. The story is set around the opening of a new high-end hotel and 'wellness retreat', despite opposition of local people. Readers know from early on thanks to a split timeline narrative that events will end with at least one dead body and the hotel having burned down. There are five narrators: Bella, hotel guest with a hidden agenda; Francesca, the owner; Owen, her husband; Eddie, a pot washer and one of the few locals employed at the hotel; and DI Walker, a policeman trying to unravel events after their dramatic conclusion. There are also flashback style sections filling in the backstory in the form of a teenage Bella's diary entries from fifteen years ago.
Although the story jumps around in time and between narrators, this is always clearly marked with chapter headers including the time and narrator. Further, the audiobook using different narrators for the different point of view characters, which is a really nice touch. I never found it confusing, or difficult follow, even in audio form (as more of a visual person, I prefer not to listen to books that are overly complex).
The story is compelling and Foley creates characters that are easy to love or hate. Eddie is very loveable, Francesca is utterly loathsome. Owen is a bit wet and irritating, and Bella is gradually more and more sympathetic. The plot is compelling and I didn't work out how it would turn out. Foley is pretty good at leading you up the garden path and I fell for several of her red herrings, something that I don't often do with books these days. I looked forwards to listening to the next part and always ended up listening to more than I meant to.
The narration is excellent - all the narrators read extremely well, with emotion and great pacing, but without going over the top. The narrators of Eddie and Francesca's sections were particularly good and definitely contributed to how I felt about the characters. Even the sound of Francesca's voice soon made me want to scream - but in a good way, because that's how you are supposed to feel.
If you like a psychological thriller, this should go to the top of your must-read/listen list. And it's such a well produced audiobook, I'd recommend it over the paper form.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar567374-micro.png?1734556555)
'The Midnight Feast', undoubtedly a very original and unique story, is superbly dark in a way that fans of 'The Wickerman' will resonate with /thoroughly enjoy (those elements largely a being tight knit communities .... and scary bird masks!!
The plot is told via a past and present timeline, initially it was the past timeline that I found more gripping - a teenage girl on a family holiday, staying at a caravan park, and feeling like a bit of an outsider, when she meets Frankie, upper class and a bit of a 'bad girl' experimenting in all things elicit. Frankie nicknames her new plaything 'Sparrow' (on account of her skinny legs). Frankie has older twin brothers, one of whom is a thoroughly despicable character who makes unwanted sexual advances towards Sparrow. This timeline is captured in a diary from the perspective of Sparrow, and we soon learn that this timeline ends in a life changing event that ends badly for all involved.
The present timeline sees Francesca opening a high end luxury spa hotel. Several of her staff are involved in the storyline, and we quickly learn that lowly kitchen porter (Eddie), is a significant character, a lone female guest who seems intent on seducing Eddie also plays a pivotal role.
The narration of Eddie particularly stood out for me, and had me hanging on his every word - massive kudos to this voice actor, they really brought the novel to life for me. I also really liked that several voice actors were involved, all of whom are clearly talented and worked to make this audiobook a success.
For much of the novel, I was erring towards a 3/4 star rating, but the last hour or so...woah! This author really reveals her genius!! So many clever elements come together so beautifully and this has absolutely elevated my review to 5* - as for the final sentence...Just Brilliant!
My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this novel in exchange for an advance review copy.
![](https://netgalley-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/65fed9235e/images/profile-micro.png)
Francesca Meadows is readying herself and also hustling her team of helpers in anticipation of a celebration feast to mark the opening of her luxury hotel. She’d inherited the Manor from her grandparents and has subsequently invested a good deal of time (and money) transforming this familial coastal estate into a retreat for those with deep pockets. The guests are now in place, amongst them the mysterious Bella, someone who seems to have something of a history with this place, and with Francesca.
We’ll learn how events play out through the eyes of Francesca and Bella, but also through Francesca’s husband, Owen, and a local kitchen helper called Eddie. To some extent it’s hard to like any of the major protagonists, with the possible exception of Eddie: their behaviours are almost always self-serving and very often inappropriate. But the story is told with its tongue often firmly in its cheek, so I’m inclined to forgive it this characteristic. It’s at once wryly amusing, somewhat shocking and intriguingly mysterious.
Some of the locals are not happy that Francesca has sealed off access to areas they’ve always treated as communal, including a stretch of beach. They’re not going to take this lying down, so some disruption to the evening’s proceedings is possible. As we near what promises to be the highlight of the weekend, we also learn more of the history of this place, and some of these people, through a series of diary entries, written by a teenage girl who spent some time here whilst on holiday quite a few years back.
Foley draws these threads together skillfully and eventually leads us to a truly dramatic finish. This is a psychological thriller that pits a selfish desire for social status against history and a desire to right historical wrongs – to achieve redemption. It’s very well done. I listened to an audio version, brilliantly narrated by a team of actors.
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar575485-micro.png?1734556555)
Another good thriller by a bankable author.
This wasn't my favourite and had many points of view and some in different timelines so could get confusing but stick with it.
Great characterisation with Francesca being a character you'll love to hate and the audio narration was fantastic..
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar748485-micro.png?1734556555)
I really enjoyed this novel and it was definitely a unique story. I found it difficult to get into it initially but I'm glad I continued because there were many twists and turns in the plot that I only half-saw coming. The characters are all well-developed and interesting, and the different narrators truly did a tremendous job in portraying their personalities - especially the narrator for Eddie, who perfectly captured the character's fear and panic at multiple stages throughout the story. I loved the majority of the characters, even those who I hated just as much which is always a sign of wonderful writing! The only aspect I didn't like was the predictability of who some characters actually were and how they were related to each other, as well as the ending. Although it was mostly satisfying and I'm glad that the novel ended the way it did, I feel terrible for Eddie and how he now has to live his life, but overall, this is definitely a book I would recommend!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar613563-micro.png?1734556555)
The Midnight Feast - I listened to this on audible and was treated to a mystery set on the Dorset coast. The Manor is nestled amongst ancient forests and old folklore and the guests are due to arrive! Francesca is ready to fling open her doors of The Manor to her guests where she has created a gorgeous wellness retreat Then things start to happen - prepare yourself for spine tingling moments, plot twists, revenge, a crime from the past emerges and it all ends in murder at The Midnight Feast. Narrated by Roly Botha, Laurence Dobiesz, Tuppence Middleton, Joe Eyre and Sarah Slimani - what a great performance and even more - what a creepy, tension building summer read. Thank you to Harper Collins for my copy of this fabulous book which is out now!
![](https://netgalley-profiles.s3.amazonaws.com/avatar1228531-micro.png?1734556555)
This is my first Lucy Foley book and it just didn't work for me. It was very confusing and not in a "I want to figure out wtf is happening" kind of way, but in a "this makes NO SENSE to me" way.
I'm not a thriller expert. I casually pick them up and I don't have strong feelings about what they should or shouldn't be. The only thing I expect is to be thrilled. Even if I have to suspend disbelief or just go along for the ride, I want to feel the tension ebb and flow throughout the story, to lean forward in my seat, to want to connect the dots. None of that happened for me with this one.
I liked some elements of it, like the incorporation of folklore into the story, which was interesting and unexpected, the dual timeline, and the short chapters, but not much else. Maybe this just wasn't the Lucy Foley book for me and another of her books will work better, but this was a flop.