The Midnight Feast

How?

“The Midnight Feast” by Lucy Foley has astonishingly become the first of her works to grace my bookshelf, despite my voracious appetite for devouring nearly a hundred books annually. One might wonder if I’ve been living in seclusion to have only just discovered Foley’s storytelling prowess. Nevertheless, this revelation seemed a fitting prelude to my review, given the sheer enjoyment her novel provided.

Let’s delve into the narrative. “The Manor,” a stately historical residence, has been transformed into a chic wellness hotel by Francesca Meadows, the original owners’ granddaughter. Despite Francesca’s efforts to infuse modernity into the grandeur of the past, the local community harbors a deep-seated resentment towards the establishment. Eerie occurrences begin to unfold, echoing the chilling local legend known as “the Birds.” The townsfolk’s ominous caution, “Beware of the Birds,” hints at a belief in the supernatural. Yet, could such a myth be linked to actual acts of murder?

Foley weaves a captivating tale through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, ensuring a fresh and engaging experience with each chapter. The plot thickens and time bends as a figure from Francesca’s past emerges during the hotel’s inaugural weekend, hell-bent on unearthing Francesca’s darkest secrets. Meanwhile, DI Walker, a detective, finds himself entangled in what appears to be a case of arson and homicide. The question lingers: Is the enigmatic woman the catalyst for these tragedies, or do the answers lie within the fabled superstition?

I award this book a solid 4 stars. It was on the cusp of perfection, but a few foreseeable plot twists held it back. Nonetheless, Lucy Foley’s narrative craft has piqued my interest, and I’m keen to explore more of her work—perhaps another title or two will warrant that elusive fifth star. Foley has certainly earned a spot on my watchlist for future releases; “The Midnight Feast” was an absolute delight.

An intriguing storyline, with multiple POVs and a well tied together ending.

While the multiple POVs took a little time to get used to, once the diary excerpts were included, everything began to tie in very nicely together. With two different timelines as well, a lot of thought was put into how things were written to prevent confusion and keep interest.

I adored Eddie, his innocence compared to the rest of the character POVs showing through. The twists with the character relationships were surprising, Lucy Foley keeping some of the reveals from us until a specific moment that's just right.

This was my first Lucy Foley book, and I think I'll go and read her other works now.