This book had a dozen twist and turns that I never saw coming, and I’m one who likes to think I can see those coming! Just when you think you know what’s coming next, you don’t. I love Foley’s writing style and how often the book jumps from one perspective to the next. The only reason it got a couple of stars knocked off was because I felt like the plot dipped too much into fantasy in the middle of it and didn’t grab my attention back until the last 5% of the book. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read the ARC ahead of release!

I started reading the Netgalley ebook, but was very quickly confused by all the POVs. I switched to audio when the book came out hoping it would help, but the story felt jumbled, confusing and overall hard to follow. I had higher hopes!

I’m going to cut to the chase: “The Midnight Feast” was a struggle to get through. Admittedly, I was not a big fan of “The Paris Apartment” but went into reading this book with high hopes and low expectations and even this did not help me like this book more. The character count is prohibitive to have any one character mean much to the reader, and the way the story jumps around could be hard to follow. It took me 2 weeks to get through the first 45% of this book because the story was so slow and it lost my attention within a few pages. The actual plot was a bit more outlandish than my imagination tolerates, but I can see others thinking it was interesting. If that was the only thing I didn’t like about this book, I’d put it off as just not my cup of tea. Unfortunately it wasn’t.

The good news, and the reason I am giving this 2 stars, is that that after the first half, the story started going somewhere and there were a few twists that peaked my interest…not enough to like the book but at enough to have me keep going. I felt accomplished powering through this book, but from an author like Lucy Foley I do expect more.

**Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley and Lucy Foley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.**

A fun and twisty mystery! With just the perfect touch of gothic spookiness. An absolute must read mystery in the Fall. If you are a fan of Lucy Foley this book will not disappoint. It has her usual structure of flipping back and forth thru the timeline. Revealing just enough to keep you going, wanting for more pieces of the puzzle. With this structure and her use of shorter chapters, the book sucks you in and entices you to finish it all in a single sitting. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for such a wonderfully good time!

I enjoy Lucy Foley's writing style. She does a good job at teasing out details, differentiating between characters, and building a good story with great twists and turns. It's the day after the Summer Solstice and after the big Midnight Feast at a new wellness-type retreat run by Francesca Meadows. A body has been discovered at the base of the cliffs. Lucy Foley does a good job at writing multiple timelines. I enjoyed trying to piece together all the moving parts. This was a fun book to read and I can't wait for friends to read it so we can talk about it!

A fun, whimsical and twisty (and twisted) mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Foley's settings are always so vibrant, you can feel the oppressive heat and humidity in this book. Would be fun as a movie!

Opening weekend at a resort surrounded by the forest ends with a fire and a dead body. What happened?

This is a fairly solid thriller. The basic plot was interesting and I love a story where the past comes back to haunt someone and it's slowly revealed how different characters are connected to each other. This book definitely provides that. What it didn't allow me was to feel any really connection to the characters themselves. The "past" portions of the narrative are told through an old journal. These were BY FAR the most compelling sections. When we flash back to the present where they're either building up to the fire or investigating what's happened, I found myself way less interested. I can't quite figure out exactly what took me out of the story in those parts but I found myself looking forward to see how far until we got back to the chapters set in the past. It's a quick read and I think if you like Lucy Foley's other books outside of The Guest List, you might like this.

This is one of the better Lucy Foley books I have read! I really enjoyed how everybody was interconnected-it was twisty whilst being the perfect amount of “on the nose”. Great fast paced beach read thriller.

I really wanted to like this book but I could not get into it.

I came back to it multiple times and finally DNF at 45%. The timeline and characters were difficult to follow and never really drew me into the plot.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Lucy Foley can do no wrong!! I will read everything she publishes. I love large casts in books and so appreciate that she doesn’t shy away from that.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley 4/5 ✨

“They haven’t failed yet to find justice. They are one with nature. And nature always finds a way.”

Okay I need to finish the hunting party to figure out which of Lucy’s books are my favorites, but I really enjoyed this one! I loved that I know most of the British references now (lol), I loved that I absolutely loathed one of the main characters and her atrocious behavior made sense for how she was written, and I also loved the blend between local legends and what happens when they’re brushed aside because they’re inconvenient for the posh assholes who disrupt nature and are incredibly messed up towards the local community lmao. I enjoyed that I didn’t really see a lot of the twists coming.

The one thing I didn’t like was how one of the characters who wanted to find justice became a detective/cop #yuck and #acab

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC that I’m getting to almost a month later 😂
#lucyfoley #themidnightfeastbook #booksbooksbooks #netgalley

An edge of your seat suspense that will won’t want to put down. The setting and characters were excellently written. You feel like you were there.

Omg! This is one of my favorite thrillers I have read this year. All of the twist and turns. Lucy Foley is definitely one of my auto buy authors for a reason.

I tried!!!!!!!!!!!!! I gave up around 40% because I could not understand what the heck was going on. Maybe it's my mood, maybe it's the way I was in a huge slump prior to picking this up... but I could not get into it. I tried so hard I think I broke my brain. Was this a thriller? I don't even know. But I think I'm done with this author since the Paris Apartment was also a DNF. UGH! Bummer.

"The Midnight Feast" by Lucy Foley sets up an intriguing premise with its lavish setting and promise of dark secrets, but unfortunately, it falls short in execution for me.

The plot had potential, but the pacing was a significant issue. It felt slow, and I often found myself struggling to connect the dots between the characters and their relevance to the story. Revealing certain information earlier on might have helped maintain my interest and enhance the overall flow.

Character development was another area where the book didn’t quite hit the mark. The characters felt like typical thriller archetypes, lacking the depth and uniqueness needed to make them truly memorable.

On a positive note, the journal aspect of the story was a highlight for me. However, I think revealing the author of the journal from the start could have added an exciting layer of dramatic irony, enriching the suspense.

The setting of The Manor was wonderfully described and had so much potential. Despite this, I couldn't shake the feeling that the concept deserved a more captivating execution. The mystery and suspense elements were underwhelming, and I was left feeling disappointed by the end.

Overall, "The Midnight Feast" had an exciting concept and a fantastic setting, but it didn’t quite deliver the gripping thriller I was hoping for.

Well this book was absolutely wild. It definitely kept my attention throughout the entire book, the very short chapters also played a huge part in that. I wasn't so sure going into this book once I read the synopsis but once I was in, I couldn't put this book down. It was creepy, eerie, and had plenty of plot twists that I didn't see coming. I feel like Lucy Foley's writing style is getting better with every book she writes and this one so far has been my favorite of hers.


Many thanks to William Morrow for the review copy!

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley: A Captivating Dorset Mystery
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lucy Foley has done it again! "The Midnight Feast" is an absolutely enthralling read that combines the suspense of a mystery with the charm of a luxury resort adventure. Foley's storytelling prowess is evident on every page, making this novel an unputdownable delight.
The plot centers around an exclusive, secretive dinner party held at a secluded manor, where each course of the meal reveals more about the hidden lives and dark secrets of the guests. Foley masterfully builds tension with each chapter, weaving intricate character backstories into the present mystery. The way she describes the sumptuous dishes served at the feast is not only mouth-watering but also symbolic, adding layers of meaning to the narrative. Foley’s knack for developing rich, multi-dimensional characters is on full display here, and each guest at the dinner party adds their own flavor to the story.

What sets "The Midnight Feast" apart is Foley's attention to detail. The descriptions of the manor, the ambiance of the dinner party, and the intricacies of the culinary preparations create an immersive experience. Readers can almost taste the flavors and feel the suspense in the air. Foley's writing style is elegant yet accessible, making the book a pleasure to read.

Dorset Coast? Manor Mule??? Yes Please! (I may have to try making these for myself)

The twists and turns in the plot are perfectly timed and executed. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Foley surprises you with another revelation that keeps you guessing until the very end. The balance between the culinary elements and the mystery is seamless, making "The Midnight Feast" a unique and satisfying read.

In conclusion, "The Midnight Feast" by Lucy Foley is a masterpiece that will delight fans of both mystery and “gourmet” fiction. Foley has crafted a novel that is as intellectually stimulating as it is entertaining. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-written, engaging, and deliciously suspenseful read. It's a feast for the mind and the senses!

I am also looking forward to listening to the audiobook version of this title, as I have heard thrilling things!

Thank you, NetGalley and Lucy Foley for the ARC read.
***All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone***

Ominous setting. Engaging characters. Slow, meticulous burn, this is a twisty tale that follows four people at a ritzy retreat manor. It won’t take long for the reader to determine something is off.

Building to a crescendo, the nerves will fray.

Switching between the past and the present "The Midnight Feast" tells a story of the need for revenge and the reasons behind it. Each character in this book has a unique story and you never can tell what the next chapter will reveal. The setting for this book, an exclusive resort that was once a family home, provides the perfect landscape for this gripping mystery.

The characters:
Francesca, the owner of the resort, once a spoiled and mean brat has transformed into a health guru and has renovated her family home into a hotel. Owen, Francesca's husband and the architect for the resort, has a major secret that he doesn't want to come out. Bella, posing as a reporter, has an ulterior motive for being at the opening weekend of the resort. Eddie, the dishwasher, has an unknown connection to the mystery that starts to unfold before his eyes.

I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to Lucy Foley's next book!

I think the reviewer from the Guardian said it best when they described Foley’s latest as “Agatha Christie for the Instagram age.”

It’s a dark, twisty thriller set during opening weekend of this luxury wellness resort in the English countryside. Multiple POVs, genuinely surprising plot twists, and the mystery surrounding the forest and its keepers make for a tense and and unnerving thriller that will keep you guessing. Loved it!