23 August 2024
The Midnight Feast By Lucy Foley Review & Book Club Questions
Reviewed by: Melissa Ng
Quick Facts
Book Publication Date: 18 June 2024
How I Read It: Borrowed from my local library
Where You Can Find The Midnight Feast: Amazon Australia* | Kobo US* | Kobo Canada*
Content & Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, mild coarse language
The Midnight Feast Review
Lucy Foley is the master of multi-POV, multi-timeline mystery thrillers. If you’ve seen that meme about Pepe Silvia from It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, that’s what I imagine it’s like for Lucy Foley to map out her next book.
Set in the English coast of Dorset, The Midnight Feast focuses on the opening of a new wellness retreat called the Manor. I’ve never been to Soho House, but that’s what I picture when I think of the Manor. Somewhere ultra exclusive where you need at least a million followers on Instagram to qualify for an invite.
There are a few characters to keep track of:
- Francesca: The owner of the Manor, think an English version of Gwyneth Paltrow
- Owen: Francesca’s husband and the Manor’s architect
- Bella: A guest whose past is connected to the Manor
- Eddie: A local teen who works at the Manor as a kitchen hand
- DI Walker: A Detective Inspector investigating an event that occurred during the opening celebration
Then there are the multiple timelines:
- The past: As told in journal entries
- Before the solstice
- The solstice
- After the solstice
Some people aren’t fans of books where there’s a cast of characters or where the story flips back and forth in timelines, but I personally love it. The chapters are short and read quick, so I flew through the book. I’ve always been a fan of this style, but I know it’s not for everyone.
The story has a classic suspenseful and creepy vibe, like an old Hitchcock film.
Who died? What happened the night of the solstice? Why did Bella come back to the Manor? What is Francesca hiding? Who/What are the Birds?
There are so many questions to be answered and everyone seems to have a secret.
If you liked Big Little Lies* or White Lotus, you’ll likely enjoy The Midnight Feast. It’s a mix of creepy folklore, danger, and rich people problems. What’s not to like?
Now, I did find some of the current pop culture references a bit off putting. For example, the references to TikTok, Khloe Kardashian, and Yeezy don’t make this a timeless read.
If you’ve never read any of Lucy Foley’s previous work, you’ll likely have a blast reading this. That’s how I felt when I read The Guest List*.
However, this isn’t my first rodeo.
I know that many, if not most, of the characters are linked in some way. So, for me, that made the twists and ending predictable, and it wasn’t as shocking and jaw dropping as I had hoped.
Was I satisfied? Yes.
Was I wowed? Not quite.
Nevertheless, I think it’s still a solid mystery and a fun read. If you’re in a reading slump or want to read a good thriller in Autumn or Fall, I would recommend The Midnight Feast.
The Midnight Feast Book Club Questions
- Did you enjoy the multi-POV and multi-timeline style?
- Did you guess all the connections between the characters? Were there any that surprised you?
- Why do you think so many characters lied about their history and identity?
- Francesca’s family is quite wealthy. Do you think that influenced or shaped her and her brothers’ behaviour?
- Did you think the Birds were real or a part of the folklore of the area?
- The story is set in Dorset. Do you think the town added to the atmosphere of the mystery? Would it have changed if it was set elsewhere?
- Why do you think Francesca turned her family estate into a luxury wellness retreat?
- If you were a resident of the town, would you be annoyed at the opening of a luxury wellness retreat in the area?
- Were there any plot twists or reveals that were particularly shocking?
- Have you read any other books by Lucy Foley? If so, how does The Midnight Feast rank in comparison?
- If the Midnight Feast were adapted into a movie or TV series, who would you want to play each character?
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