I really enjoyed this one! It was a bit of a slow burn at first but then it really started picking up pace and I found myself needing to know how it all ends. There is multiple characters viewpoints as well as flashbacks to an earlier time, but I never really got confused at what was going on. The ending was so good!

Phew, this one took me a little while to process! Ultimately, I liked it. I’m not sure the bird story fully developed for me, but I enjoyed the crossing over of the past and present and everyone’s need for revenge. The beginning reminded me a bit of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘶𝘣 with Lucy Foley’s unmistakable dark twists folded in.

First of all thank you to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this book. Here is my honest review:

Some things I enjoyed:
- story is told from multiple perspectives
- story switches back and forth from past and present
- we see the story through the eyes of Francesca, Owen, Bella, and Eddie which I enjoyed

Some things I struggled with in the book
- overall pace of the book. I didn’t feel fully “in” with the characters until about midway thru.
-the ending felt a bit rushed to me

Overall a solid read for fans of this genre and the author.

To start off, I want to say I really enjoyed both "The Guest List" and "The Paris Apartment." Because of that I went into this book with high expectations. The first 60% or so was the typical buildup that I've grown to love in Lucy Foley books. However, it went downhill a little for me after that. I found from 60-85% to be pretty confusing with the switches between timelines. Like her other books everything really starts to hit the fan for the last 15%, but it just did not pack the same punch in comparison to her other books in my opinion. I think a big part of this is just that I did not connect to the characters as much in this book; there was just a little too much going on for me.

What I will say is that if you've enjoyed her previous books, I still think this is worth the read. If you've never read her books before, I would recommend reading one of the two I listed above first because I think it will give a good introduction to her writing style. Overall, I'm giving this book 2.5 stars and rounding up to 3!

A huge thank you to William Morrow for this ARC!!!

I've read a couple of Lucy Foley's books before, so I was excited to get my hands on her latest release. I'm a sucker for locked-room murder mysteries, and this one piqued my interest right away. Set at the seaside Manor in Dorset, the story unfolds through the perspectives of several key characters:

* Francesca Woodland: the founder and owner of the manor, a posh resort.
* Owen, her husband, is an architect.
* Bella - a guest at the hotel with an agenda.
* Eddie, a nineteen-year-old kitchen helper.

The book alternates between the present and the past, beginning before the events at the Manor and then shifting to its opening night, where Francesca is determined to ensure its success. However, things quickly go awry. The locals, unhappy with the Manor’s encroachment into the local woods and its attempts to privatize the public beach, are disrupting the guests' peace with their actions. Add the appearance of crows, black feathers stuck on doors and people, and a guest determined to wake sleepy dogs, and the stage is set. Thus, a chain of events is set in motion that can end only one way.

While 'The Midnight Feast' is an enjoyable and interesting read, I must admit that the pace felt rather slow, and the suspense didn't truly kick in until halfway through. Nonetheless, the main characters are well-fleshed out and interesting, although not all are likable. Each harbors secrets that gradually unravel as the narrative unfolds, compelling readers to eagerly turn the pages to uncover what is going on.

Narrated from multiple perspectives in the first person, the story seamlessly weaves between characters and timelines, including events from fifteen years prior recounted through diary entries. I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of folklore surrounding the woods and the Birds, as well as the subtle nod to Hitchcock's iconic film "The Birds," which I found delightful. Foley's writing flows smoothly, providing insightful glimpses into the characters' minds. I appreciated how their narratives intertwined and converged as the plot progressed.

Overall, "The Midnight Feast" is a solid read, albeit a tad slow-paced, earning it four out of five stars from me. While it may not keep you on the edge of your seat, the story remains compelling enough to maintain interest throughout. With its enchanting twists on ancient myths and atmospheric storytelling, I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery and a peek into the complexities of human nature.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I was unable to get through this book. I've read The Paris Apartment and The Guest List and they were awesome, but I couldn't get into this book. It wasn't catching me and by the time I got to chapter 7, I had to just stop. I wasn't remember what happened in the previous chapter I just read as I would if it caught my attention.

⭐️⭐️.5
The Manor is an upscale bohemian haven overlooking the water. It boasts organic fare, infinity pools, eclectic lodging of huts to treehouses and beyond, and wants the guests to feel like family. However, the locals resent the intrusion of this boujee resort to the land once claimed by the infamous Birds, a native folklore that may or may not be true. Then, opening weekend there is a massive fire, a dead body, and unanswered questions surrounding the midnight feast; and where it all went wrong.

First off I want to thank @williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for this ARC read! I did not expect to get it and was so happy to. I hate to report that I was not a particular fan of this one, but I wanted to give an honest review either way. I just found the multiple character POVS with multiple timelines and many supporting characters hard to keep up with or enjoy. Im all for the multiple POV format but when it intersects with so many other things I think you lose the ability to properly flesh out the characters you have, and they’re become more caricatures that I couldn’t really connect with. I skimmed over the diary entry sections of the book as the formatting wasn’t very appealing to me and I was more interested in the current goings-on at the Manor itself.

Foley does do a great job of painting imagery, notably tense scenes where you can really get in a character’s head which I liked. Perhaps I’m comparing this novel too much to The Guest List which I did really enjoy reading last year and expected the same flair. I just think the structure and content of this book wasn’t really my cup of tea, and that’s ok! I still appreciate the ability to read it and think that others more inclined toward hectic narration and dollops of some supernatural elements in a slower paced whodunnit would enjoy this.

3.5 stars. This was my first Lucy Foley book so I went in completely blind. The story took a bit of a slow start for me. It took me getting to about 60% of the way through the book, before it became “unputdownable”. The premise is good, but the back and forth jumping between characters got me all messed up and having to go back a few pages to refresh. Overall decent book, kinda predictable story line, but not a bad read. Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

The midnight feast is a thriller that takes place at Francesca’s newest pagan chic manor, a gorgeous earthy getaway for the filthy rich complete with organic foods and wellness activities. The beauty of the manor isn’t enough to disguise that something sinister has happened there in the past and one of the guests, Bella, is there to uncover it and hold the people responsible accountable for their sins. Bella isn’t working alone. Unbeknownst to Bella, her adversary manor owner, Francesca, has made enemies of more than just Bella. Francesca has angered “the birds” the tome’s “legendary” group of figures that handle issues of the town by dragging the issues to the woods and finishing them off in their own chilling way.
This chilling thriller gripped me from beginning to end. I will eat up the evil rich person trope every single time. The manor was such a creative and terrifying setting for such a whirlwind of a mystery. The author vividly depicts every scene in a way that made the book come to life. I loved the resolution.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing thriller.🐦‍⬛

Lucy Foley delivered another fantastic thriller with The Midnight Feast! This one was atmospheric and spooky in all the best ways and I loved it from start to finish

Thanks for the arc but this was not made for me. Good idea but it didn't hit what I expected.i wish there was more to the story

First I would like to thank Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I really enjoyed this story and overall will give it 3 1/2 stars. It's a good read but was really slow to get to the point where you felt like you couldn't put it down.

I really enjoyed reading this story. Between the multiple POVs, the diary entries and the lore surrounding The Birds, I thought that it was really well done.
I loved the addition of the diary entries and how they really showed some of what the manor was before it was a hotel. The Birds definitely gave me the creeps and I really enjoyed that piece of the story.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to preview The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley in exchange for my honest review. I requested this one because I know a Lucy Foley thriller will never disappoint. The Midnight Feast was another solid offering from Foley. Nothing revolutionary or new here, but that's not what I want from mysteries like this one. What I want is a good story with interesting characters, a good revenge plot, a couple twists, and a satisfying ending. I got all of this from The Midnight Feast. I'd recommend this one to any fans of Foley's previous work and anyone looking for a solid, if slightly predictable, murder mystery.

4 stars!⭐

Thank you to William Marrow, and NetGalley for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun, fast-paced, drama filled, twisty and turny thriller novel. I am SO happy I had the chance to read this!

The newest up-and-coming vacation spot is a luxurious manor located in the Woodland Hutches. Every detail IS perfect. Everything in the manor is made from the finest of materials. Only the best for Francesca Woodland. However, some of the townspeople are VERY unhappy with this new spot disturbing their peace and worst of all their forest. Is this a place of dreams? Or of nightmares?

We follow multiple POVS in this story. We have the founder, the husband, the mystery guest, and the kitchen help. Each character plays a significant role in the plot and the chapters are short and sweet. This kept me wanting to keep on reading so I could unravel more secrets.

Francesca, what an interesting and troubled woman. Owen, what a hurt and sad soul. Bella, what a determined person. Eddie, what a committed employee. DI Walker, we couldn’t solve the mystery without him.

I would hate to give anything away but there is SO much beneath the surface happening in this book than what you initially believe. It was messy, and I was LIVING for the drama.

The diary entries really helped to paint a picture of what life used to look like back at the manor all those years ago, and frames how we got to where the characters are at in present time. This felt like a cozy mystery, and I was LIVING for it.

I can't wait to read more from this author! ❤️

2.5 ⭐️
Lucy Foley is a solid thriller writer that I’ve enjoyed previously and while her books aren’t necessarily groundbreaking in the genre they are often a good time.

However, Midnight Feast didn’t quite do it for me. It was initially giving White Lotus vibes but it lost me quickly. The plot felt boring while also being a bit convoluted and it was a lot longer than necessary.

I’m used to Foley having a myriad of characters and POVS and while I know one POV was necessary to a twist later, 98% of the time that POV felt so unnecessary and took me out of the plot. The writing felt a little basic and even the plot couldn’t hold me. It wasn’t a giant let down but I’ve been reading a lot of amazing thrillers lately and this doesn’t quite hold up to the others, including Foleys previous works.

Thank you to William Morrow for the ARC via NetGalley of the Midnight Feast! It was an unexpected treat.

Lucy Foley’s back again with a new twisty thriller, the Midnight Feast, after stunning with prior entry–the gripping The Paris Apartment (my personal favorite of her novels). The Midnight Feast follows the opening weekend of the Manor, a high-end destination spot and luxury resort where everyone seems to have an agenda, and long-abandoned history creeps up unexpectedly. Founder Francesca Meadows is determined that everything should go on without a hitch, though the stability of the grand debut is threatened by locals unhappy with the Manor’s opening, and something sinister that seems to come from the woods.

Jumping around between POVs of staff, guests, and detective uncovering a gruesome murder, the story unfolds with foreboding excellence and discomforting quiet. An uncovered diary promises to fill in some of the missing pieces, as the past becomes prologue in conjunction with the splashy and glamorous festivities. Like always, Foley is a pro at creating an atmosphere that is both delicious and haunting, set in a world populated with wealthy, glamorous and guilty. Yet, the myriad of narrators and diary entries were at times a formidable task to remember and keep straight. I found myself having to re-read some passages and couldn’t help but feel that the story would lend itself more to a visual presentation than written, not only because of the tactile nature of the surroundings, but to keep the particulars in order. I got a little lost.

Overall, it’s always a pleasure to step into the world of Lucy Foley, and I was very grateful to be granted the opportunity to read the Midnight Feast. The local myths and legends and the eerie imagery of the Birds was unsettling and highly effective. While I wandered here and there, the ending was engrossing and brought everything together as always. Highly recommend for anyone who wants to bite into something as juicy (and a little bit rotten) as this curated getaway. Just stay out of the woods.

Another hit book!! I LOVED the mystery and secrets revealed!! Gives a new meaning to “those old birds…” in the BEST way possible!

My summary: A posh hotel opens in Dorset on the edge of the woods that locals consider to be sacred. The owner, Francesca, has poured herself into the Manor to make it a an exclusive and inviting resort for the wealthy, with an emphasis on spiritual wellness. Celebrating the opening weekend during the summer solstice, it is sure to be unforgettable and put the Manor on the map. But Francesca’s ethereal world starts to crack as bits of the deeply buried past begin to emerge during opening weekend. From the owner to the guests to the employees to the locals—no one is telling the truth and everyone has something to hide. And the locals, far off the beaten path in their small town of Tome, have always found that justice seems to be meted out when deserved.
My thoughts: Attentive reading is richly rewarded in this deviously dark thriller. If you like doing puzzles, this book is very satisfying. Lucy Foley masterfully weaves this story together until you feel like you’ve been transported directly into the middle of it. I was quickly pulled into the thrall of this twisty story set in an otherworldly feeling town. The story unfolds with jumps in time between the past, the weekend before the solstice, and the weekend after the solstice. I had no idea where the story was leading at any point, and many of the twists are completely unexpected. It was really satisfying as the pieces clicked into place and the mystery unfolded as you read. I can’t tell you many how many “Aha!” moments along the way made me want to go back and reread from the beginning after more pieces clicked together. There are a lot of characters and it feels like there’s a lot going on, with truly impressive depth to the layers of the story. Everyone seems to have motive, which is always my favorite in a mystery. Lucy Foley is absolutely a mad genius. This book rekindled my love of suspense and mystery books. This is—by far—my favorite Lucy Foley book yet.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the sneak peak on this book.
I am a fan of Lucy Foley BUT I have come to the realization that no book she writes will be better than The Guest List (in my opinion). This book was a VERY VERY slow burn. Almost to the point that I was about to give up. BUT, the ending 50 pages... OMG! Perfection. The book was really confusing and switching between time/POV's added to the frustration. This is definitely one that you have to stick with in order to get the wonderful twist gift at the end.
This could have been shorter without so much of the needless bird weirdness. It wasn't even germane to the plot. The characters were forgettable but if someone mentions this book, I will probably remember I liked the ending.