“For starters, everyone here is lying…

Midsummer, the Dorset coast

In the shadow of an ancient wood, guests gather for the opening weekend of The Manor hotel – and a sumptuous summer feast.

But as the candles are lit, tensions spark. Old animosities reignite.

This isn’t a celebration, but a deadly reunion.

And time someone got their just deserts…”

Hello and welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to share my review of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley. The Midnight Feast was published by HarperCollins on 6th June 2024 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow next month. I chose to read a free eARC of The Midnight Feast but that has in no way influenced my review.

Before I go any further there’s something I need to tell you. Last year I ended up taking an unplanned six month hiatus from the blog following surgery. Unplanned because all of a sudden my blogging mojo hit the floor. I was reading lots of brilliant books, I just wasn’t reviewing anything. And then, after a while, my reading mojo took a hit too. So this book, The Midnight Feast, I actually read in May 2024. I do remember the book well and I did take notes but this review, and many others you’ll see over the next few months, will be A LOT shorter than my usual, going-on-for-days (🤭) reviews! A short review is better than no review at all, am I right?!

I am a HUGE fan of Lucy Foley’s thrillers. They’re always engaging, captivating and ultimately surprising. This latest addition to the author’s body of work is no different. It’s opening night of The Manor, an exclusive ‘pagan-chic’ hotel on the Dorset Coast where wellness is everything. Owner, Francesca Meadows, has pulled out all the stops for her guests with a decadent solstice feast. But Francesca’s dreams of a perfect night, a perfect start to her dream enterprise, are shattered as a fire tears through the hotel. The next morning, a body is found nearby. Because there really is no escape from the past…

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I love how Lucy Foley tells a story. The Midnight Feast is a highly intriguing mystery with a cast of multi-layered characters who masterfully push the story along. I found Francesca quite despicable. Is there nothing she won’t do to progress herself and her brand? The way she treats the local people of Midsummer is ghastly but oh my gosh, I wanted more! There’s a large folklore aspect to the novel which was interesting. I did enjoy the creepy, edge of the woods vibe the entire book has. The story is told using multiple points of view, plus two timelines fifteen years apart. I was able to follow ‘what’ was happening and ‘when’ with ease. All in all, The Midnight Feast is an engaging mystery with a difference. There are secrets and lies galore amongst the pages of this book and I was hooked trying to work it all out from the get-go. Eerie, creeping, full of suspense with a dark atmospheric feel to proceedings. The threat of the woods, the menace of the crows and the delicious gothic overtone worked really well. I can’t wait to see what Foley has in store for us next! Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Midnight Feast. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley was published in the UK by HarperCollins on 6th June 2024 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats with the paperback to follow (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop | damppebbles amazon.co.uk shop | damppebbles amazon.com shop |

Lucy Foley is a No.1 Sunday Times, Irish Times and New York Times bestselling author, whose contemporary murder mystery thrillers have sold over five million copies worldwide. She is a Waterstones Thriller of the Month author, a three-time nominee at the British Book Awards, and The Guest List was a Reese’s Book Club pick. As a lifelong Agatha Christie fan, Lucy has also contributed to Marple, a collection of short stories featuring the legendary detective.