Reviewer: @writeherereadnow (Instagram)
I am so ready for spooky season, and this was the perfect read to set the mood. The Midnight Feast was an easy five-star rating for me, for pure, page flipping enjoyment alone. I inhaled this book in two days!
It’s Midsommar meets Midsomer Murders, with its flawless blend of creepy folklore, spooky yet chic (and hilariously posh) setting, and then there’s the obligatory mystery, murder and mayhem.
I loved the writing, the multiple perspectives, the diary entries from the past and the fascinating local traditions.
The Manor is the place to be on its opening weekend. No expense has been spared to make sure the luxury resort’s guests have the time of their lives, all culminating in the epic Midnight Feast. That’s if The Birds don’t get them first. Best not to go into the forest, just in case.
The Midnight Feast nailed something other mystery novels have missed for me. It took me a while to place the fact that it’s the balance of heart and humour too often missing from mysteries. So often, every character is just extremely unlikeable so that you suspect everyone of being capable of terrible things. There’s plenty of balance here!
It’s the ideal read for fans of The Club, The Writing Retreat and The Sanatorium, but this one tops the list of books with eerie, isolated settings for me.
Lucy Foley’s The Guest List was the first book I reviewed on my Bookstagram. I noted that it was “clever, creepy and captivating, with darkness seeping in at every turn”. I can absolutely say the same for her latest book, but it’s even better. I spoke of the folklore and finery, and this has that in abundance too.
I also said that it surprised me in a way not a lot of thrillers do. Well this was the first time a thriller ending made me fully laugh out loud in the final moment, in a brilliant way.
Foley is so very good at forming connections between characters, laying cookie crumbs the whole way but always surprising you with the way the cookie crumbles.
I strongly recommend reading this by the seaside, with the sounds of gulls and waves for company.
Thanks so much @jonathanballpublishers for the gifted copy!
Reviewer: @bassie_bookworm (Instagram)
Rating: 5/5
Have you ever felt like you’re watching a series while reading a book? This was my exact thought when I was reading this book. The 1 episode a week feeling? The suspense? This book gave exactly that. If you want
Our midnight feast starts starts on the opening day of The Manor, hosted by Francisca Meadows who is one of the main characters of this story. The scene opens with Bella , another crucial character in our story, as she sits and introduces the tale.
See, Bella and Francisca go waaaay back. In Francisca’s mind, she thought she got rid of Bella a long time ago after a night that would go to change everyone’s lives. Francisca is a woman of wealth, having “inherited” the land which now The Manor stands, she is about to have the biggest opening in the history of hotels and hospitality. Little did she know that the past has been following and watching her every move.
About 15 years ago, the two (Bella & Francisca) spent the entire summer together, enjoying each other’s company like normal teenagers do. Bella is from the other side of the town(poor, “low life”), while Fran’s family is rich and all things luxury. Bella thought she made a friend but Frans was looking for her next victim.
Bella went to record all the events of the summerbreak in her journal, which would go on to play a major role in our tale of feast.
A story of friendship, love,jealousy, murder and healing. The Midnight Feast will have you wanting more at the dinner table. The plot twists? AMAZING
This was my first time reading a thriller book, and I am here to let you know that it did not disappoint. This book took me out of a sluggish book slump and brought me back to my reading self.
It was a great introduction to my thriller adventures and I give the a straight up 5/5⭐️s.
Thank you for the review copy @jonathanballpublishers ❤️
Reviewer: @roelia_reads (Instagram)
“There’s been a right of way through here for centuries – before that house even existed. You’re the ones trespassing. Local people have always walked among these trees … using their wood, their flora and fauna. There’s a unique convergence of ley lines here. Keeping people away from the land”
5 Reasons to read this book:
🖤 Atmospheric Setting: Immerse yourself in the luxurious British countryside manor, complete with lush lawns, an infinity pool, and an ancient forest. The vivid descriptions transport you to this captivating world.
🖤 Intriguing Dialogue: The characters’ conversations crackle with tension, revealing hidden motives and past grudges. Old friends reconnect, enemies exchange barbs, and strangers eye each other suspiciously.
🖤 Mystery and Suspense: Foley weaves folklore, eerie rituals, and spine-tingling moments into the narrative. As secrets unravel, the summer solstice takes on mystical significance, adding to the suspense.
🖤 Character Revelations: Through multiple POVs, the author gradually unveils each character’s true self. Expect surprising twists and jaw-dropping revelations that keep you engaged.
🖤 Flawed Characters: Whiny, entitled rich guests clash, creating a toxic atmosphere. Their flaws—greed, jealousy, entitlement—fuel the drama. You’ll love to hate them as the tension mounts.
The Midnight Feast combines folklore, suspense, and flawed characters. It’s a feast of secrets, lies, and spine-tingling moments.
Published by HarperCollins Publishers and Jonathan Ball Publishers (in South Africa). Thank you to Exclusive Books for this gifted copy.
Reviewer: @shelves_by_sim (Instagram)
I have been in the mood for a random thriller lately and what better way to scratch that itch than with this pretty gorgeous (because I’m totally obsessed with the plain bright orange cover) book I got from @jonathanballpublishers. Now, I don’t read adult thrillers at all – and even though young adult thrillers are my sh*t, these genres are pretty different – so this is all very new to me.
I’d like to mention that I really enjoyed the way this book was written. I don’t usually enjoy too many POVs but it worked for this story! I loved Bella and Eddie, I was sceptical if Detective Walker’s character and I kind of felt sorry for Owen – he seemed like he just had a really bad identity crisis which lead to some terrible life choices on his part – but I could not stand Francesca, AT ALL. Everything about her was so fake and even though she’s the villain of this story, there was nothing brilliant about her. I think I would have expected some mastermind with some really dark secret (which the story, at first, alluded to) – but no, when all is said and done, she really is just a spoiled rich girl who throws cruel temper tantrums and does whatever she wants to get her way.
As for the plot, I enjoyed it. I definitely didn’t see many of the twists coming and I couldn’t really figure out anything other than what the author wanted me to – which is good. But I don’t know, the story started out like it was going to be this creepy thriller but it just ended up feeling like some blandish mystery to me. That being said, I absolutely loved the setting, I love the bones of this story and I loved the ending on this book, in particular, the very last line! It tied everything together so well and really, it made me laugh! It’s like the “birds” were introduced into this story to give it an eerie feel and yet, they ended up as comedic relief.
Thank you, @jonathanballpublishers, for this review copy 🧡
The Midnight Feast is available at:
