3.75 stars rounded up to 4.

I thought this book had a great plot but some of the twists were predictable. I still enjoyed reading the book and thought it was very engaging. The story is told in multiple point of views which I really liked. I was able to really get to know the characters and get an inside peak at them. One thing I really did not like about the book was how unbelievable some of the events were. I get that it's fiction but it took it a bit too far (a mom hanging out with teenagers to name one?) The ending was satisfying and everything was tied up nicely and all lingering questions were answered. Overall, this isn't Lucy Foley's strongest work but still good nonetheless.

In The Midnight Feast, a luxury hotel is having its opening weekend but the locals do not approve of the hotel. The guests, all rich and famous, are in for a surprise weekend to say the least! We get an inside peak at the festivities but also we get to go back in the past to get to know the characters a little better. What we find out is pretty shocking!

Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up. Lucy Foley's latest "The Midnight Feast" is a mixed bag for me. I didn't enjoy it as much as her "Guest List" but it was better for me than "Paris Apt.". This one is another "locked-room" type mystery, set in a Pagan-themed, new countryside hotel on the summer solstice and of course murder happens,. There are a LOT of characters here to keep track of, lots of POV's and timeline shifts. Many secrets also which come out, of course. It took me paying close attention at times to keep it all straight. The mystery of course, was fairly well-done though some things were a bit obvious. Overall, I did enjoy this one and will read the author's next. My thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the complimentary DRC - opinions my own.

Foley's fast-paced MIDNIGHT FEAST is filled with dark comedy, colorful characters, and vengeance!

Actually, there are so many characters in this multi-narrative novel it's hard to connect to any of them. Many of their inner dialogues and actions are comical and since their descriptions snd goals are so stereotypical, especially the older small town ones, the book seems like a parody of a mystery.

MIDNIGHT FEAST continues Foley's and Tana French's commonly used theme of small town versus rich landlord tug of war, making it similar to HUNTING PARTY but not as poignant.

Still, it's an enjoyable read with a satisfying if crazy ending.

Thank you William Morrow and Netgalley for the digital review copy of this anticipated thriller by a legendary author.

This is a great mystery/thriller. It's told from multiple POVs along with journal entries to detail past events. The multiple POV are done really well. Each person's piece of the story is really compelling and helps to build the overall arc of the events. It wasn't what I was expecting from the story overall. There were even a few moments where I gasped out loud. Once I started it I could not put it down. I love Lucy Foley mysteries and this one is definitely a hit!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

THE MIDNIGHT FEAST ⭐️⭐️💫/5. A new, luxury hotel is having their opening weekend. The most posh, elite guests are all there! With the land having its own secrets, and many suspicious characters, of course there’s a murder, or several to solve. Enjoy the feast!
This book was rough for me to read. With multiple POV, and really 3 timelines to follow it just felt a bit of a mess? I couldn’t tell if I felt I was turning the pages to see how everything unfolded, or just to get it over with. Parts of the book were satisfying, but mostly I just felt underwhelmed and reading a mess of sorts. I loved several of Foley’s earlier novels, but this gave me the feeling of The Paris Apartment, a bit flat. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars
Really enjoyed this one. I think it’s one of her better books, although I think The Hunting Party is still my favorite. Overall, I think it’s just a better version of The Guest List. It’s the same vibe—isolated house in the British countryside filled with rich people with a sketchy past. I think The Midnight Feast was somehow a little more contained. There were less characters (specifically POVs) so it was a little easier to follow the story. However, my favorite part was definitely the magical realism elements that were imbedded into the plot. I think it was really interesting to add this aspect of “is there actually this mystical/spiritual force at work or is it all just people not understanding what they’re seeing?”. I think adding this pagan magical realism characteristic to the countryside really adds so much more to the story. You get a better understanding of what the characters are feeling, it makes you feel more embedded in the story as a reader, and it really sticks out from Foley’s other work that is so grounded in reality and human motivations.
My two main criticisms is that I wish we stayed in each POV a little longer—I think the longest chapter was like 10 pages at most—and that SPOILER it seemed like every other character had a second identity. Both of these things made the story a little hard to keep up with at times, but once the story was moving it was really moving. Everyone seemed to have a secret and the journal entries kept adding more mystery to the present timeline. I couldn’t put it down and even though I was able to guess a few things that were revealed, I was still shocked by some plot twists. And I think that’s what a good mystery does—give you enough information to feel smart when you can solve some of the mystery, but not give too much away. Overall, it was a very fun and satisfying read.

This book didn't excite me as much as The Guest List did, but it was still pretty good. It takes place during the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort for the upper class that's built next to a creepy forest. A body turns up, and a fire breaks out at the resort. Is it the work of a resort guest/employee or the mysterious Birds that have been seen in the forest?

It is told from the POVs of DI Walker- a cold case detective, Eddie- a hardworking kitchen helper who is caught between the haves and the have nots, Bella- a woman who wants to confront the secrets of her past, Owen- Francesca's husband and architect, and Francesca- the owner of The Manor. I really enjoyed the differing POVs and the journal entries from the past. It is a nice balance.

This book was a slow burn, but it paid off in the end. One thing that I wish was different is all the characters' "secrets" are revealed within 20 pages of each other. If they were spread out throughout the story it would have been better.

Read if you like:
🔥 Slow Burns
💰 Rich vs Poor
🎭 Secrets Revealed

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this eARC to review. All opinions are my own. This book will be available on June 18, 2024!

The Midnight Feast was an incredible piece of writing. Early on you're given glimpses of where the story will end up, but not the to whom or reasons why until much later in the book. The narrative deftly switches back and forth between several characters, fifteen years ago, and the day before, the day of and the day after the main events of the tale. With short chapters, the book always gives you just another small piece of the puzzle at a time, but always progresses in an enticing and exhilarating manner. And just when you think you've got it all figured out, one more twist comes along you never say coming and leaves you gobsmacked. This was Foley's best thriller yet.

Welcome (if you can afford to be here) to the grand opening of The Manor, an elite & sumptuous Eden hidden in depths of a forest steeped in folklore & legend. This pricey Bohemian experience has been rigorously curated to be as chic as possible with signature fragrances & selected crystals, but there’s just a hint of pagan eeriness in the air from the unhappy locals with their tall tales of ancient rituals adding a slight frisson of danger to the festive atmosphere…

I loved this book!!! The short chapters written from multiple POVs kept me turning pages, & gradually piecing together the past while seeing events unfold in the present heightened the many twists (seriously, just when I thought there couldn’t possibly be any more surprises: there were!). The modern-day luxury juxtaposed with the vague (but maybe somewhat true?) folklore was brilliantly plotted & I already can’t wait to read what Lucy Foley’s working on next.

Thank you very much to NetGalley & William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

It makes me really sad that I didn't like this book because I've liked so many other books by this author.

There were a few things that really put me off. One of them was the whole situation with the birds. Honestly seemed like an unnecessarily and weird addition to the novel.

Also, logically, nothing about this book made sense. How would no one recognize each other from years later? And was was a mother hanging out with teenagers?

Lastly, there were way too many characters and far too many names for said characters. It was confusing to follow.

This book was easy to get there in a 24 hour period of time which is the only reason I rated it two stars.

This was a great story! I couldn't put this down, especially once the diary entries were introduced. This is on par with The Guest List for me, and I loved that one!

Thank you to William Morrow & Netgalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I’m sorry but if I rounded, it’d be 5 stars. This was an entertaining, almost fable-like read. Woodsy, mysterious, creepy……But the last 10%, know your jaw will drop & eyes will pop wide open with realization & recognition!!!👏🏼👏🏼

3.5 stars! This murder mystery takes place during the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxury resort built on top of old secrets in an ancient wood. I really enjoyed the setting of this book and felt like Lucy transported me there with her vivid writing. She somehow created backstories for five people and brought everything full circle in under 400 pages. However, it was a pretty slow read due to the amount of information and POVs she had to fit in. In the first half, I had a hard time keeping track of everything and staying invested, but it all came together really well in the end, which elevated my rating.

Overall, I think people who enjoy Lucy Foley's writing will like this book! It gave me very similar vibes to The Guest List, just in a different setting. Who doesn't enjoy a little rich people drama, dark secrets, and folklore?

I look forward to seeing what people think when it releases. Thank you to William Morrow & NetGalley for the ARC. The Midnight Feast releases on June 18!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After being in a reading slump for months, this was a refreshing change of pace. Although the book started off really slow, I enjoyed reading about the lore and I really liked the diary entry chapters. I like stories that do diary entries rather than flashback scenes as it tends to flow better. I’ve had a 50/50 success rate with liking Lucy Foley books but this one blew it out of the water. Once it got to the midway point I was hooked and every time I thought I guessed what happened, there was another twist. I think if you like to be kept on your toes then this is the book for you!

Absolutely loved it!!! Page turn from beginning to end. Anything by Lucy Foley is never a disappointment!! Definitely a must read book.

Lucy Foley wrote another great book. There were several characters to follow which sometimes made the story difficult to follow but once you had them down it, it was interesting. I read it over an airplane ride!

The Manor is everything you can imagine and more. Built on local land there's a bit of tension between the older, established residents and the new business but things should work themselves out in the end.

Swapping between the present and the past, the Manor and the townsfolk, as the story emerges you'll question everyone. Why is this happening? Who will this benefit? The climax will leave your mouth wide open and the ending is so unexpected. You have no idea what you're in for with The Midnight Feast.

Lucy Foley's The Midnight Feast serves up a tantalizing blend of mystery, intrigue, and a hint of menace, set against the backdrop of an opulent resort with a dark history. From the moment you step into The Manor, Foley's prose weaves a web of secrets that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

The story unfolds over the opening weekend of The Manor, a luxurious retreat nestled in the heart of an ancient wood, concealing secrets as old as time itself. As the Founder, the Husband, the Mystery Guest, and the Kitchen Help converge, each with their own hidden agenda and murky past, tensions simmer and suspicions rise. Foley expertly crafts a cast of characters, each with layers waiting to be peeled back, ensuring that no one is quite what they seem.

At the heart of the narrative lies the eponymous Midnight Feast, a lavish culinary event that promises indulgence and decadence. Yet, beneath the surface of gastronomic delight lurks danger, as old rivalries resurface and hidden motives come to light. Foley's meticulous attention to detail brings the feast to life, tantalizing the senses even as it becomes a battleground for the characters' conflicting desires.

What sets The Midnight Feast apart is Foley's skillful navigation of suspense, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every twist and turn. As secrets are gradually unearthed and alliances shift, the stakes soar ever higher, culminating in a finale that is as satisfying as it is surprising.

In The Midnight Feast, Lucy Foley serves up a literary banquet that is as deliciously dark as it is irresistible. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and spine-tingling plot, this is a book that will linger in your mind long after the final course is served. Whether you're a fan of mystery, suspense, or simply appreciate a well-crafted tale, The Midnight Feast is sure to leave you hungry for more.

I have never read Lucy Foley before, but the covers and descriptions always seemed intriguing. When I received an ARC of The Midnight Feast, I wasn’t sure how I would like it, as it didn’t seem like my usual read. I ended up really enjoying the book. Several characters narrate the story, and the story flips between two significant times in the characters’ lives. While it could have been confusing, it wasn’t, as long as I paid attention to who the narrator was, and when the story was taking place. The story connected the dots between the characters, with several surprises and twists along the way. The only thing I found annoying was the characters kept going into the woods. It was like a scary movie, when you want to scream at the actor to not open the front door when they hear a noise. Overall, I would recommend this book to those who enjoy suspense, with a happy ending by way of karma.

Thank you NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’m not sure what I thought of this one… it was fast-paced and kept my interest, especially with the short chapters, which I normally love. I think the premise was better than the execution though. I love the elements that make up this story - an old manor, creepy folklore vibes, eccentric characters, and more. I think the characters jumbled together a little bit though and I cared less about the story as it went on. It makes me sad to say that though because there was so much potential. Hopefully others will enjoy it more!