The Midnight Feast
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3.8 • 680 Ratings
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- $19.99
Publisher Description
An instant New York Times bestseller!
""Sharp, stylish and stunning...Foley's best yet."" — Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of All the Colors of the Dark
""It is an absolute bonkers delight (and I haven’t even mentioned the local bird cult yet …)."" — NPR, Best Books of the Year
Secrets. Lies. Murder. Let the festivities begin…
It’s the opening night of The Manor, the newest and hottest luxury resort, and no expense, small or large, has been spared. The infinity pool sparkles; the “Manor Mule” cocktail (grapefruit, ginger, vodka, and a dash of CBD oil) is being poured with a heavy hand. Everyone is wearing linen.
But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. Just outside the Manor’s immaculately kept grounds, an ancient forest bristles with secrets. And it’s not too long before the local police are called. Turns out the past has crashed the party, with deadly results.
THE GIRLBOSS · THE HUSBAND · THE KITCHEN HELP · THE MYSTERY GUEST
Everyone’s got a secret. Everyone’s got an agenda. But not everyone will survive…The Midnight Feast
""Foley’s usual techniques of unraveling the central mystery through multiple timelines and narrators are paralleled by the spiraling events of the weekend, which careen from juice shots and yoga on the lawn to a chaotic climax at a hallucinogen-fueled bacchanal where hidden identities and multiple murders are brought to light. It is an absolute bonkers delight"" — NPR
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A country estate’s mysterious past entangles both rich and poor in this elaborate thriller. When Francesca Meadows renovated her family’s Dorset coastal estate into a luxury hotel, she didn’t expect her suspicious neighbors (or her own hidden past) to cast a shadow on the posh new venture. But just after Francesca’s guests arrive for a lavish grand opening party, a body is found at the base of a nearby cliff, awakening the dark lore and darker secrets that have lain dormant in the area for too long. Thriller queen Lucy Foley deftly balances multiple POVs—each with their own pitch-perfect narrator—as she weaves together the manor’s tragic history and Francesca’s tangled relationships with her architect husband, her girlhood friend Bella, and her employees. Pitting breathtaking privilege against age-old superstition, with plenty of human misdeeds on all sides, The Midnight Feast serves up twist after twist through the shocker of an ending.
Customer Reviews
Loved it
As a reader of fantasy genre sometimes I need a break and Lucy Foley's books never disappoint. I first read this with my friends and it really drew me in. The narration was great. The characters were well written including the protagonist who I loved hating. There was a bit of a slow down in the middle of the book which I felt was a bit distracting, hence the 4 stars but overall I love it and promoted me to read other book of hers.
3⭐️
What Worked: Atmosphere and Logic - -
The book’s strongest elements are its Atmosphere (7/10) and Logic (7/10). The setting—a luxurious retreat built on an old, secret-filled estate beside an ancient, foreboding forest—is brilliantly realized. Foley crafts a claustrophobic and eerie mood that genuinely transports the reader and hints at a darker folk-horror sensibility. Furthermore, despite the complex interweaving of past and present narratives, the internal logic holds up well. The characters' actions and the overall structure, while perhaps frustrating in their execution, are consistent within the story's own world.
What Fell Short: Characters and Plot - -
Unfortunately, the book struggles with its Characters (4/10) and Plot (4/10). The characters lack significant depth and development, making it difficult to feel invested in their personal dramas. Many of the multi-POV perspectives feel like thinly sketched types rather than complex, believable individuals. This is particularly noticeable in the Plot's structure. While the core mystery is intriguing, the pacing feels uneven, and the storyline lacks a coherent flow. The conflicts and twists, rather than being effective shocks, often feel predictable or forced, detracting from the overall momentum.
The Middle Ground: Writing and Intrigue - -
The Writing (5/10) is merely adequate. While the prose is competent and free of major errors, it doesn't possess the engaging flow or distinctive style needed to elevate the material. The Intrigue (6/10) manages to keep the pages turning, mostly due to the strength of the atmospheric elements and the desire to see the central mystery resolved. However, it rarely rises to the level of un-put-downable suspense that a top-tier thriller demands.
Final Thoughts - -
Ultimately, The Midnight Feast is a frustratingly average read (Enjoyment 5/10). While the vivid setting and chilling atmosphere are exceptional, the weaknesses in character development and the uneven plot structure prevent it from being a truly satisfying or memorable thriller. It's a gorgeous-looking feast that leaves you hungry for better substance.
Slow at first well worth the wait.
The book starts on really slow took me a while to get through it. It’s all about the buildup in the reveals at the end that makes it all worth it.