The rating for the movie was downgraded from 3.5 stars to 3. The chronological order of events in the movie was somewhat confusing. Moreover, the presence of numerous characters made it challenging to follow the storyline at certain points. However, the latter half of the movie significantly improved as I developed a stronger connection to the various characters and timelines.

Fifteen years later, Bella makes a clandestine return to the manor, concealing her true identity, with the intention of unraveling the hidden secrets from her past. The manor, which has now been transformed into an opulent hotel catering to the affluent, has caused discontent among the locals who feel their lives and land are being encroached upon. These elements from the past and present intertwine and impact each other. The movie concludes with some intriguing and unexpected plot twists.

Thank you to Net Galley and William Morrow Publishing for an advanced digital copy to read and review.

Thank you @williammorrowbooks for my #gifted copy!

In true Lucy Foley fashion, this locked room murder mystery contains secrets, likes, and murder. It’s the opening night of The Manor, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; crystal pouches for guests’ healing have been placed in the Seaside Cottages and Woodland Hutches; the “Manor Mule” cocktail is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at The Midnight Feast.

With a mix of characters that were easy to care about, some that were questionable, and others that just seemed to be evil, I devoured this book. I love how we learn a little more backstory for each character with each passing chapter. The setting of this book felt like its own character and the folklore of the birds added to the creepy setting. In addition to the multiple pots there were multiple time lines to keep track of as well, but they were clearly defined and easily recognizable as to what time frame you were in at the moment. I did see some of the twists coming and almost figured out who was murdered before the end, but these were not spoilers for me. The last 25% I couldn’t turn pages fast enough!

This was just okay. I love Lucy Foley and was really excited to get a copy of this but it was a bit of a flop. There were too many characters for me to keep straight and got lost trying to remember. I enjoyed the setting and the birds folklore.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow books for my ARC
3 out of 5 star

If you liked The Guest List or The Hunting Party, I think you'll like this better. With interwoven, multiple points of view and timelines, the framework of this book is honestly so clever and well engineered. In the world of modern thrillers, I really don't think anyone does it better than Lucy Foley.

This is a book that blends the past and present, where characters are brought together in adulthood for the grand opening of a luxury hotel built at the edge of hallowed woods where local superstitions thrive and loom ever-present, and all you know is that during the summer solstice, the highlight of the hotel's extravagant festivities when all events culminate, there's been a reckoning—a body found, a fire set.

And from there, it's a matter of working your way backwards, digging into the distant past, and finding out the purpose of every player assembled on the chess board with the unspoken promise that no one is who they seem to be.

I love books that ask just a little bit more from the reader, whether that's patience or your undivided attention. I also love when you're rewarded for both those things, and The Midnight Feast does that and more with so many surprise unveilings and connections I never could have seen coming. My absolute favorite part is how all the threads intersect and meet, leaving no loose ends unexamined or explained. There's no putting this one down once you've started!

Thank you so much to William Morrow and Lucy Foley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was somewhat of a flop for me, which is surprising since I have really enjoyed a lot of past work from Lucy Foley. I found myself getting lost in the long list of characters and trying to keep them straight instead of focusing on the actual plot for a good portion of the book. Between the characters changing their names and then they didn't recognize each other from their past? I found that somewhat hard to believe. Without spoiling anything, I wish this would have focused more on the "birds". This could have really enhanced the suspense and mystery of the story. I feel like the focus was split on too many mysteries and as the reader it seemed this book didn't have a true focus.

I liked this one, but didn't love it. I think there were too many characters to follow between the timelines and it took me a while to get into it. The last third was good and the pace really picked up. Interesting and would make a great show.

Summertime in Dorset during the opening night of the luxury resort, the wealthy relax and party. The owner of the manor is Francesca, who inherited it from her grandfa, and with her help of her husband, Owen, turned it into the it place to be for the London elite. Wonderful setting, and I felt like I was there at the English seaside during a summer solstice. One of the guests is Bella, who left her baby at home with her mom, to be here. She isn't the elite this manor is gears towards, she is here for personal reasons. There is something that happened here while he was vacationing here 15 years ago, and she wants closure.

As much as I enjoyed the premise and was excited to read it, it the story suffered from too many characters, POVs, and too frequent timeline jumps. It was fairly easy to follow but it took away from me getting invested into the story and characters. One of the POVs is Bella's journal that she left behind and we get the idea on what happened here while she was a teenager. The ending was satisfying, however the idea that no one recognized each other from 15 years ago, is a big stretch. That part felt like a cop-out.

Thank you NetGalley and William Marrow, the publisher, for an early access to this book.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for an ARC of The Midnight Feast in exchange for my honest opinions.
Lucy Foley crafts an atmospheric mystery that is the right blend of posh and creepy - in a way that you can't look away and need to know both what happened in the past and what's happening now in the present.
Francesca Meadows has just opened a luxurious retreat called The Manor, erected on the site of the house of her grandparents, where she used to spend her summers. The Manor is sold out for its opening weekend (and far into the future, too), although some construction of the last units remains ongoing. Francesca has a history with some of the staff and a guest in disguise, going back many years to her summers staying with her grandparents. Told via multiple POV in the present and journal entries from the past, The Midnight Feast is slow paced but still engaging. I was up early reading this on the back porch while staying with my friend last weekend, after taking a few days away from the book. The middle portion seemed to drag a bit, but I was very glad that I stuck with it and finished the book because I loved the ending. I recommend checking it out, and it's available everywhere now.

Lucy Foley's The Midnight Feast is a thrilling and atmospheric novel that masterfully blends opulence with suspense. Set against the luxurious backdrop of The Manor's opening night, where no detail is overlooked—from the sparkling infinity pool to the meticulously crafted cocktails—Foley paints a vivid picture of extravagance shadowed by impending doom. The story weaves through a tapestry of old friends and enemies, all converging under the midsummer sun, while the surrounding ancient forest brims with secrets. The tension escalates when a fire breaks out and a body is discovered, drawing local police into a tangled web of intrigue and hidden pasts. With richly drawn characters—the founder, the husband, the mystery guest, and the kitchen help—each carrying secrets from fifteen years ago, Foley crafts a gripping narrative that explores how the past can crash even the most lavish of parties, leading to deadly consequences. The Midnight Feast is a compelling read that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Unfortunately I DNF this book at 30%. I tried, I really tried! There were multiple POVs and multiple timelines, and I felt myself consistently getting lost. I gathered that the premise is a fancy boutique resort opening on precious land that runs deep with history in the local community. I have a feeling that the various characters were going to collide at some point, presumptuously to create very needed conflict, but I could not make myself trudge through any more to get there. I felt the same way about The Midnight Feast. as I have some recent Ruth Ware books--too many characters and not enough suspense. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback!

**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Lucy Foley for an ARC of this book!**

"If you go down to the woods today
You better go in disguise
If you go down to the woods today
Beware of a big surprise..."

Imagine an estate so grand, so ominous, and so unique that rather than having a ostentatious name, it holds enough gravitas to simply be called The Manor. This sprawling property overlooks the water, with lakeside cabins and seaside views to boot, and should bring an aura of peace...at least, that's the goal. Lanterns light the night skies, and although the eerie woods are close by, the promise of tranquility hangs in the air. Owner Francesca has been working tirelessly to prepare the Manor for its opening night affair...and the time is FINALLY here. With crystals in each room and white linen outfits for the guests to wear, she and husband Owen have carefully worked to curate a VERY specific 'experience' for their guests.

But when Bella arrives at the Manor, she has more on her mind than a simple escape to the Dorset coast. Though she keeps her intentions close to the vest, Bella has an INTIMATE knowledge of this area...and the terrifying folklore that accompanies it. Many years ago, 'the Birds' were first spotted...but nobody knows exactly WHO these costumed menaces are or what they want...at least, nobody who is prepared to share that information with all of the guests at the resort. Francesca "Frankie" remembers her many years of Midnight Feasts and mischief in this very area fondly...but does someone ELSE remember them too? Is Eddie the busboy truly just an innocent member of the staff...or will a chance romantic encounter with guest Bella drag him into the middle of a dark mythology that is slowly coming to life? And when a body turns up in the water the day after the solstice...is this confirmation that the Birds have returned to take yet ANOTHER victim for their own?

Lucy Foley has settled comfortably in the multi-POV, locked room mystery space for some time now, and in many ways...it's the perfect space for her to occupy. All of her books have this structure that feels familiar and it's normally pretty easy to get into the groove. Usually by the time we have rotated through each POV a couple of times, I feel a sense of familiarity with the tone, the 'direction' of the plot, and have a pretty good sense of who exactly her (usually sort of unlikable) characters are, not to mention feel the eerie chill of her atmospheric writing envelope me, taking me to the gothic mansion/apartment building/estate of the day.

In this one, however? Foley's ambition and drive to include nods to SO many horror greats, from Hitchcock's the Birds, to Midsommar, to the Blair Witch Project, to the Wicker Man left me dizzier than a kid who just spent two or three hours riding nonstop on a Tilt-O-Whirl...and in a way, almost as nauseated.

For starters, you're going to have to have some patience from page one: Foley's set up in this one includes timeline jumps, random quotes, mention of the Solstice and of Opening Night before you understand what ANY of these things mean. There's also a couple of lines before the Prologue that I just went back to for reference, having read the entire book....and nope, they weren't needed and certainly don't feel any more important to the plot now than they did on first read. Although our five POVs get established quickly (Francesca, Bella, Eddie, Owen, and DI Walker, plus an unnamed journal writer), I felt like it took me a good 50-60% of the book at LEAST to know them on any sort of deep level. (And sorry DI Walker, I think your character could have participated in far less of this one without much impact...you have the unfortunate honor of being the least memorable voice by far). While an investigation was necessary, Foley could have cut down these sections significantly or moved them all to the second half of the book without missing a beat.

Without a solid character to 'root for', this book also felt like it was instead just ACHING for the plot to move...but move, it did not. UNTIL about 80% of the way through the story. Yep, that's right. To get to the meat and potatoes of this one...I wasn't kidding when I said you'd need to be patient. I'll be honest, I had just about assumed this book was going to go the way of the Paris Apartment and that all of the meandering, bird talk, back and forth between Francesca and Owen and Eddie and Bella, panicking from the locals, etc. was leading absolutely NOWHERE...until these moments arrived and the pieces started to slide into place. There are a couple of twists toward the end of the book that take this out of humdrum territory and made it feel worthwhile BUT by the same token, I still feel like Foley somehow just missed the boat a bit.

Any book that attempts an homage to some of the greats runs the risk of paling in comparison when held up against the source material...and let's just say I think Hitchcock's birds were far more terrifying than those 'soaring above' the Manor. Though I'm not too familiar with Midsommar or the Wicker Man, both of these properties served as direct inspiration for this story according to Foley...but aside from the outfits and the 'vibe' of the Manor...I'm not sure how. There isn't an ACTUAL cult or anything of the sort going on here, no fully-fledged Paganism, or to be honest, anything other than an almost kitschy attempt at Creepy Serenity by way of crystals and the like used by Francesca to lure her guests into booking a stay. These quibbles aside though, the last 20% of this one WAS compelling and interesting enough to get me to bump up my rating...but only just. Once again, Foley's atmospheric writing is her saving grace: if you can allow yourself to become immersed in the world she presents, any bumpiness of the plot, jerkiness between timelines past and present, and irritating qualities of her characters fade just enough for the horror to TRULY take over...or at least to get under your skin!

And although a Midnight Feast sounds FABULOUS in theory...I think there's a reason why most of us settle for a Midnight Snack.

4 stars, rounded up from 3.5

I’m kind of sad this book is over. It was fun.
🖤The Birds meets Midsommar hosted by Goop
🖤Small village on English coast
🖤Village folklore
🖤Ghosts of the past
🖤Multiple narrators, short chapters, fast-paced thriller.
I still have questions about who was the father!!

The second book I have read by this author and just like the first one I absolutely loved it! Make sure you are not distracted while reading this book as you do not want to miss anything! Little pieces of information are always being thrown out, but most of the time you don’t even know it is important. Some of the connections I made right away by the hints and side comments, but there were some I completely missed until it was out in the open. I can see how some readers might be deterred by the buildup in the beginning of this authors’ book, but please just keep with it I promise it will pay off. The little mysteries kept me so engaged I could not wait to find out what was going on.

This novel follows the opening of an exclusive holistic resort for the wealthy on land in the country side linked to “The Birds” and pagan folklore. If you like multiple POVs, the injustices between socioeconomic classes, and dual timelines you will love this one. Not a single person is exactly who they say they are. Will true justice ever be served?

Lucy Foley is one of the authors who got me back into reading several years ago when I read The Guest List. This one one not as good as other novels by her, but still a great read. The multiple POVs were a little much and became confusing early on. I was constantly going back to the beginning but of the chapter to see who was speaking. The beginning was a slow burn, but the pace picks up in the last third and it was hard to put down. The end makes up for some of the confusion early on in my opinion.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When I saw on NetGalley that Lucy Foley was releasing a new book I jumped at the chance to read it!

In true Foley fashion The Midnight Feast is mysterious, fast paced and full of twists. I enjoyed the alternating POV and timelines, especially the use of the journal to tell the events of the past. The use of the journal made me keep reading and not wanting to put it down.

If you enjoyed The Guest List, you will enjoy this one! It’s kind of the same idea but instead of everyone meeting for a wedding, they are meeting to celebrate the grand opening of The Manor, a high end woodland resort, and it also happens to be Solstice. The locals are not happy about the opening of the new resort and start to work against it in every way they can think of.

I loved the pacing of this story and it kept me hooked with each new detail that was revealed. Thanks to @netgalley and @williammorrowbooks for my copy of this ARC which released on 6/18/24.

3.5 stars rounded up. *****Now Available ******

Rounding up due to the excellent creep/spooky atmosphere written well!! That is hard to do at times and this book does it well!!

The Manor—-well meant to be this exquisite luxury type resort that turns into a devastating scene of death and murder with some hallucinating cider mixed in.

LOTS of characters and did find it easy to follow for the most part. Hard to believe that some hadn’t seen each other in years and didn’t recognize each other much.

Eddie was my favorite, overall written as a good person with likeable qualities. Francesca is horrible throughout. Bella was likeable often, the journal added to the storyline for sure.

I didn’t see all the twists coming. Really enjoyed the creepy woods vibe and the folklore of the birds tale.

Would recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow books for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow books for providing me with an advance reader copy of The Midnight Feast in exchange for an honest review! The Midnight Feast follows multiple character’s stories as they come together at a posh resort lead by a seemingly spiritual woman. You start to find out early on that some may have ulterior motives for being in attendance on the opening weekend!

I really loved this book. The way that Lucy Foley describes a scene is so descriptive that I have no problem picturing it in my mind. It is just descriptive enough for you to have the mental image but not too much as to make it tedious.

The beginning of the book starts off peacefully enough, I wouldn’t say it’s slow, but there isn’t a lot of action right off the bat. I think it’s appropriate to set the scene and get to know the players. Lucy Foley can skillfully tell a story through multiple characters’ points of view and it is so well done that I can hear each character’s voice and sense their personality as I’m reading!

The way the story comes together in the end is masterful. I loved all the different twists and turns and reveals that this story leads you through! Very enjoyable!

I received this book as an ARC.
The Midnight Feast is a multi-POV thriller that spans two different time periods. Set in a coastal English town, the story follows a teenage girl, Bella, who befriends a wealthy girl, Francesca during a summer holiday. Francesca has the standard ‘mean girl’ energy, but Bella can’t help but want to spend time with her. This summer holiday results in lasting trauma for multiple people, however.
Years later, the people involved in this traumatic incident (as well as a few new faces) find themselves back in the coastal town for various reasons. All things center around the wellness hotel that Francesca opened on her grandparents’ property that she inherited. Some are finding themselves on a new journey, some want justice, others revenge.
Overall, I am a fan of this author’s work. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me compared to her other novels. I found it a bit tedious to get through at times, and a lot of descriptive imagery of the setting seemed to take over a good portion of the book versus actual plot. I did enjoy the ending, however. I would give it 3-3.5/5 stars.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Midnight Feast is Lucy Foley’s newest mystery. I enjoyed the multi point of view and timeline narration. This book gave enough to keep you guessing and eerily aware of what was to come while still managing to throw in a few curve balls. Some
of it was a little far fetched but I was interested enough to see how it would end.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced digital copy! Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I always have high expectations for Lucy Foley books because I loved a couple of her other books so much. Unfortunately this one did not live up to my expectations. It took me a while to get into it and even then I was never really hooked or invested in the characters and plot. I will still read anything Lucy writes and just because this didn’t work for me doesn’t mean it won’t work for someone else. If you love locked room mysteries then definitely give this one a try.