After starting The Midnight Feast at a reasonable pace, I read most of it in one day because I just had to follow the threads to the end. This is my third Lucy Foley read, and it easily cleared the already-high bar set by the first two (The Hunting Party and The Guest List). I always enjoy the way Foley moves back and forth in time, showing the days leading up to the climactic event interspersed with glimpses of the aftermath.

Francesca is a bit of a caricature of "wellness" types, which I enjoyed immensely in combination with the foreshadowing. Bella's chapters really capture the awkward, uncomfortable position of being stuck between different worlds that don't mix well. There were so many well-placed details that seemed innocuous or even unimportant in the story, only to make up essential parts of the final picture. A great read, I'll be recommending this far and wide.

As a fan of THE GUEST LIST and THE PARIS APARTMENT, I was excited to read Lucy Foley's latest novel, THE MIDNIGHT FEAST. However, I was disappointed overall. Similar to Foley's other books, this novel features multiple points of view, with one character, in particular, proving to be extremely irritating. While I understand that the irritability of this character was intentional, I found it challenging to endure her chapters. Additionally, the incorporation of folklore elements (The Birds! Ahhh!) seemed more silly than either scary or intriguing. The first 1/2 or even 2/3 of the book was a bit of a slog to get through. That being said, the last 1/3 of the book picks up and I was pleasantly surprised by the twists and turns at the story's climax. I just wish Foley had baked this story a little longer in her author oven.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Lucy Foley’s next novel in exchange for an honest review.

I loved it! 5/5!

This is my third Lucy Foley book and it did not disappoint. The perfect read for these last couple rainy days.

It usually takes me a bit to get the multiple POVs down but not with Lucy’s books. One of my favorite parts is the final page. Excellent!

Will highly recommend her books to patrons when our Library gets it in.

I didn’t enjoy this book. I don’t think I it’s written badly, there were just moments that felt unnecessary and there wasn’t much keeping my attention.

When I got approved for this book I was so excited....but unfortunately this was not the book for me. It was slow to move and hard to find my groove. The book tells several perspectives in an easy to follow way. I did enjoy the last several chapters as the paced picked up and some twists were revealed.

Unfortunately, I don’t think this book was for me. I didn’t connect with the story or the characters. I liked the idea of folklore in books but felt it was underdeveloped. I’d love to try another book by this author.

The Midnight Feast, where do I even begin? This book captivated me from start to finish. Its intricate narrative unfolded gradually, inviting me to piece together its mysteries across different timelines—past, present, and recent past.

Usually, I struggle with multiple points of view in a story, often finding myself lost in the complexity. Yet, this novel executed it flawlessly. Each character's role remained clear, contributing seamlessly to the overarching storyline. The inclusion of occult elements added an intriguing layer to the narrative, intertwining with the plot seamlessly. Additionally, the portrayal of a village capable of defending itself added depth to the setting.

The Midnight Feast left me spellbound, earning its place on my list of favorites for 2024. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to read an advance copy of this remarkable novel.

Land has a funny, unsettling way of watching us live out our silly lives, just waiting patiently to envelop us all and devour our bones. This menacing force is frightfully present in the ancient forest and immaculately kept grounds of a seaside expanse called The Manor. It’s an exciting reveal weekend for Francesca and her new remote wellness destination, a premier resort for the elite few who can afford it. The ordinary inhabitants of Tome, the quaint village that borders the posh estate, are less than impressed by the bothersome intrusion.

This novel is a classic collision tale between the haves and have-nots spiked with dark secrets, spooky mythology, and death. I highly recommend it for fans of folklore and mystery/suspense.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Midnight Feast for my unbiased evaluation.  4 stars

So to be honest I almost gave up on this one a few times. It was a pretty slow start for me but in the end I really am a fan of Lucy's writing so I stuck with it. In the end I am glad I did -more for completition and curiosity sake but it pick up toward the end.

Time doesn’t always heal wounds. Sometimes they are left to fester and ultimately infect everything around them.

A posh resort opens in a rural village, leaving the locals bitterly opposing the opulent show of wealth and blatant disregard for their way of life. The posturing yoga sessions on the lawn, energy crystal studded mask is covering up deep secrets. As the cast of characters come together, each with their own hidden past and agenda, will they discover the secrets that have been hiding behind “midnight feasts” for so long?

I was completely engrossed in reading “The Midnight Feast.” As I was reading, I kept realizing I was getting hunched over as was pulled further into the lives of the characters and sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next!

10/10 recommend for mystery/thriller lovers out there!

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this Advanced Reader Copy!

Lucy Foley has done it again! I loved this book. Foley writes characters that are easy to picture and creates a world in which you can see them existing. The idea of a wellness/holistic retreat as a place for a mystery/thriller was interesting. Some mystery authors lose their edge as they continue publishing, but this is one of my favorite novels from Lucy Foley. I loved it. I will be recommending it to all my friends and book clubs.

Read for:
- Your summer murder mystery
- Creepy, atmospheric suspense with a folklore twist
- Characters you love to loathe
- White Lotus meets The Wicker Man

Summary
Guests have flocked to The Manor’s grand opening, a luxurious new resort nestled on the Dorset coast. Owner Francesca has spared no expense to achieve a peaceful escape for privileged attendees, culminating in a grand summer solstice feast, a seemingly entertaining nod to local folklore. But the illusion begins to shatter when past lives threaten to surface, and suspicion grows that local old wives’ tales may hold some truth. When the elaborate feast goes up in flames and ends in murder, is it a result of class conflicts, old secrets, or something even more haunting and inexplicable?

Thoughts
Midnight Feast is deliciously creepy, twisty, and my favorite of Lucy Foley’s books so far. The loaming, oppressive woods combined with local folklore centered around some Hitchcock-type birds creates a genuinely unsettling read-with-the-lights-on story. There are characters that are easy to loathe, and others to root for, but you never really know the whole story as multiple perspectives and timelines expertly build and collide into a thrilling crescendo.

Big thank you to Lucy Foley, William Marrow, and NetGalley for this digital advanced reader’s copy!

Am I growing tired of thrillers or did this just not grab me? I'm not sure. I might not have strong feelings about the book, but I sure had strong feelings about Francesca - what a horrible person! This will be a hit despite my hesitation.

The Manor, a new, Instagram-worthy, luxury resort, has been opened in a quiet coastal town. Owner, Francesca Meadows, has curated the opening weekend with custom cocktails, immaculate grounds, and a Midsummer-themed feast. Outside The Manor, tensions have been rising; the locals are unhappy with the influx of out-of-towners and the forest surrounding the property is humming with unrest. Local folklore claims the forest is home to the Night Birds, an equalizing force called to action when law enforcement is out of their depth.

I could barely put this one down. The Midnight Feast is a tense, atmospheric thriller that reads like an A24 film. There were 5 POVs, but I didn't find them confusing as the voices felt very distinct. I wish there would have been a bit more about the Night Birds as I really enjoyed that element of the mystery. The twists caught me off guard; I had to go back to reread passages to see if I could catch those small hints.

I'll start by saying that I do think most people will enjoy this novel. I think my opinion is definitely in the minority. While this book wasn't my favorite, I didn't hate it. I just didn't connect with the characters. This book is told from the point of view of multiple people, and I didn't feel particularly close to any of them. In fact, it took me awhile to get the male characters straight; I kept mixing them up and confusing who was who. I found myself setting the book down and having a hard time coming back to it. The plot wasn't interesting to me, and I wasn't blown away by any twists or by the ending. But, as I said earlier, I know people love Lucy Foley and I think her fans will thoroughly enjoy this novel. It just wasn't for me.
*I'd like to give a big thank you to the author and to netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.*

Thanks@williammorrowbooks and @netgalley for this advanced review copy of The Midnight Feast, hitting shelves June 18!

I'll be honest- I didn't love The Paris Apartment, Foley's last book, so I wasn't sure how l'd feel about this one.

Sometimes quick POV changes in a thriller lead to lack of character connection for me and I wind up frustrated.

Not the case with The Midnight Feast. Super fast paced but it kept me connected to the characters and (per usual with Foley) I did not guess the twist.

It felt very atmospheric to read this book, set in the spooky woods, in a cabin resort high in the mountains of Andorra.

Highly recommend for a quick thriller, grab your copy next month!

this is a multi-POV with a back and forth in different timelines. despite that, it was really easy to follow along. there are journal entries which i also found to be a great addition to the mystery and revelations. it brings together the chaos of where past and present clash together with explosions unveiling unexpected secrets.

one of the things i liked about this was that Lucy Foley knows how to dangle just enough information to keep you going, but not enough that it spoils too much to soon. the downfall of this, though, was that it also had moments where it dragged and fell flat for me. at some point, certain things became repetitive and i felt like i was running in a perpetual circle chasing for even just a nibble from that metaphorical carrot and stick. it's like there were moments where there was a lot going on, but also not enough simultaneously. if that makes sense.

as for the characters... everyone clearly has secrets and acts pretty shady. as things slowly reveal, you start to understand their role in the storyline. you either spent the chapter questioning their intentions or just disliking them. Eddie was probably the most likable, subtract his constant mentioning and/or whining about Delilah/Lila. the detective's, & eventually Owen's, stories were the most impactful tho. their storylines really rounded out the chaos of everything else happening. unfortunately, i was kind of left wondering more about The Birds in the end. sort of unanswered questions. it's briefly mentioned that they keep things "balanced in nature", but like... it felt a bit too fleeting.

i would have to give this a 3 STARS. it's not bad at all, it just felt like it took too long to "get there". there were some edge-of-your-seat moments, but not enough to keep me truly immersed. it's definitely a good read for anyone going camping, just for the spooky forrest vibes. i have no doubts others would enjoy this more than me, so i'd definitely recommend this anyway.

thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. i received this as an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

4/5

A quick day read thriller that had a few more twists than I expected; but was just a bit too far contrived to be a 5 star read

Usually reading a book from multiple POVs and especially ones that go back and forth time wise, are confusing to me, but this particular book was one that it worked on. It actually kept me wanting to read more. The inclusion of journal entries from the main character allowed me to really understand the story and kept me fascinated and wanting more.

The addition of “The Birds” gave the story a creepy factor, yet important part of the story. I personally am terrified of birds so this would have definitely got my heart pumping.

Towards the end, I had a lot of questions, but the epilogue was able to answer all of them. Overall it was a great read with several twists and turns that kept me from putting it down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Lucy Foley for the ARC!

🪶📔🌊🍄‍🟫🐦‍⬛

<i>The Midnight Feast</i> is another whodunit-type novel from phenomenal story weaver Lucy Foley. It’s told from multiple different angles, much like her other books, which I typically don’t like but honestly she makes it work! Foley is so good about threading the needle through seemingly random characters and plot points, looping everything together into a thoughtful story with a few surprise elements that I never see coming.

I liked the setting, the way each character had a different voice (you don’t always see this with books told from multiple POVs), the pace (interested from the beginning, then my interest grew and grew to me furiously tapping for a new page by the end), the twists, and the way she connected everyone and everything.

The folklore was a slight miss for me. I feel like there was some description lacking, because every time that element was mentioned I had a really hard time “seeing” anything in my mind. I would have appreciated a little bit explaining what those elements looked like.

4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Big thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!