Well hello to you my reader chums! As many of you know, my favourite type of books are crime thrillers, especially murder mysteries or 'who-done-its'. One of my favourite crime thriller authors is Lucy Foley; I absolutely love her books, The Hunting Party, The Guest List and The Paris Apartment. Since reading all of those books, I've been eager for her to bring out a new novel - and couldn't wait to read The Midnight Feast.

Lucy Foley has an incredible writing style; I love how she builds up a story, develops the characters and structures her book - and how all the big pieces of the puzzle come together in the end. If you're looking for a new murder mystery book, here is my book review of The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley.

Synopsis

Set in the middle of the Dorset coastline in midsummer, it's the opening weekend of The Manor, a new countryside retreat, attracting only the richest guests. Although under the midsummer sunshine and a massive heatwave, old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. The evening just about begins when a body is found and the mystery of who was killed and who did it begins. The story starts with a secret fifteen years ago, one that has crashed into a party, ending in murder. 

Characters and relationships

One of my favourite things about Lucy Foley's books is how she crafts the characters so beautifully with great depth. This book is split into several main characters, Francesca, Bella, Eddie, Owen and DI Walker. 

Francesca is the rich and pretentious main character, opening this new countryside retreat on the site of what used to be her family home. I didn't like her at all as a character; she was mean, harsh to people around us and thought she was better than everyone else. I could gather that she's in this spiritual phase of her life, trying to promote that type of lifestyle, yet really, isn't that wonderful of a person and it's all a cascade. 

The character Bella, I didn't originally understand her purpose in the story as she sounded like an average woman, not similar to the rich and upper-class crowd at this countryside retreat. She's a mum with revenge in her path for something that has happened to her. The longer the book goes on, the more layers are unveiled as to why Bella returns and the past she brought back with her.

Eddie is sweet and a little bit of a lost character, growing up on his parent's farm next to the glorified Manor which is now being turned into the countryside retreat. He's only young and secretly working at the new retreat, keeping the secret from his parents, who are locals of the area. The locals have a big issue with the new estate and Eddie doesn't seem to mind too much as he wants to make money to start a new life, outside of his tiny village. Eddie had a cute and innocent persona like a young man, completely out of his depth. 

DI Walker, I thought initially was just the detective of the book, yet the more the book went on, his role became more prominent.

Overall thoughts

Overall, like any Lucy Foley book, this book didn't disappoint in any way. The fast-paced nature and short chapters added to the book's suspense and speed. I wasn't sure how this book would pan out but every page somehow got better and also darker and deeper. The layers of the story are GENIUS and I love how the book maps out beautifully from the past to the present, and how the two link so well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the character development in this novel and how it added to the overall plotline and its heavy secrets. I would 100% recommend this novel to everyone because of the perfectly crafted murder mystery, the intense level of revenge and hatred and the wonderfully paced book, which reveals information exactly at the right moment.

Ending

The ending was just as I wanted it to be, yet there were still plenty of surprises in it to enjoy! A great way to end a book that built up so much suspense.

I hope you enjoyed this book! What are you currently reading?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! I've fallen back in love with reading this year and have been prioritising reading as part of my routine, ensuring I get through my to-be-read pile. Backpacking really helped amplify that prioritisation as I read a lot when travelling to new destinations on buses, planes and trains.

I've had the pleasure of reading some incredible novels, some I've fallen in love with, some I've been rather curious about and a few I didn't like as much. Over the course of the year, I've collected a list of many books and here are my favourite books of 2023.

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley is one of my favourite crime, murder-mystery thriller authors and her books are GENIUS. One of the first books I read this year and one of the best is The Guest List. It's a book that honestly blew my mind with the amount of twists and turns and the intelligent crafting which went into making such a solid novel. The Guest List I've raved about again and again as it sparked my curiosity throughout the entire plot. When it ended, I was gutted as it was so brilliant.

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

Another brilliant novel by Lucy Foley is The Paris Apartment. Although I preferred the characters and overall storyline of The Guest List, The Paris Apartment was completely brilliant with the plot. Like The Guest List, it's a book with a clever plot with unexpected twists and turns, figuring out who the murderer was and what happened. I loved the setting of The Paris Apartment as it's all set in one building about one family and all of their secrets.

The No-Show by Beth O'Leary

Beth O'Leary is also one of my favourite authors as I've loved every one of her books. She has this beautiful way of crafting realistic and likeable characters with her romantic and fast-paced storylines. I particularly loved The No-Show because it focuses on three different women and their lives and how they're connected in one way. I loved getting to learn more about the characters and becoming invested in their lives.

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

Now a TV show on Apple TV, The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is a thriller I absolutely adored. Following the disappearance of a father, his daughter and wife are left completely clueless about his whereabouts, and the novel follows them as they try and figure out what happened. As the book unfolds, more layers and secrets are involved - and I love how genius it all is.

Found by Erin Kinsley

I came across Found by Erin Kinsley unexpectedly and it surprised me about how great it was. I love how it was a thriller but flipped as the tragedy was solved before the story was answered if that makes sense. A child goes missing and he's found, however, he is silent and won't say what has happened to him. However, the plot unveils what happened to him, with the aim of helping other children from potential danger. 

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

Paula Hawkins is an iconic author and I hadn't read her novels for a few years until I picked this one up recently, A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins. The plot follows three women as they're all connected to a brutal crime, the death of Daniel Sutherland. It's a novel packed with secrets, resentment, lies and dark history and how all of their lives link in some way, providing the answer to the murder.

 Well hello to you my reader chums! There's no better feeling than being utterly obsessed with a book, so much so, that you can't wait to find out what happens - and that's how I felt about The Hunting Party. I'm a huge thriller fan because I love the build-up, the suspense and the twists and turns you wouldn't expect. It leaves me on the edge of my seat wanting more.

If you're searching for an incredible thriller, here is my full review of The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley.

Plotline

The story follows a group of old friends as they stay in a remote hunting lodge, deep in the Scottish wilderness over the New Year period, to ring in 2019. The group know each other from their school and university days and this includes several couples and a singleton. During their stay, one of them is found dead, and it's not an accident. There's a murderer amongst the friends, but who is it?

Characters and relationships

One of my favourite ways books are written is when the perspective changes between different characters as I find it paces the novel quicker and builds more suspense, and really helps me understand more about the characters. The book did exactly that, telling the perspective of a few of the friends including Katie, Miranda, Emma, and the two people who worked at the lodge, Heather and Doug.

My favourite character had to be Katie. The more I learnt about her and how she lived in the shadow of Miranda, the more I resonated with and liked how normal and lovely she seemed. Miranda on the other hand, I wasn't a fan of. She came across as a big bully, someone who liked to control the situation and be the centre of attention, causing drama. Not exactly, someone, you'd like to have around and although I learnt she did it because of her own insecurities, it still made me angry for the other characters.

Emma is an interesting character and to be honest, I didn't really get her. She seemed a bit too perfect and too nice throughout the course of the book and had a disliking towards Katie which was strange. Katie and Miranda had an odd relationship, Miranda made out as if Katie was her project, their entire life since school and now Katie didn't want to be in Miranda's full attention - and I loved that for her.

The two lodge workers were completely different. My heart went out to Heather because the way she told her story, I could feel the heartbreak she went through, to arrive in such a place and work in the middle of nowhere. Doug, as a character had a lot more depth than met the eye.

The other friends were an interesting bunch and an odd group.

Overall thoughts

Overall, I haven't felt this excited about a book in a very long time. There was something about the character development, how the short chapters were mapped out and the many twists and turns changing my opinion constantly, which hooked me in. It's probably one of the best murder mystery books I've read. I loved the descriptions of the setting and how much detail the author went into. I love how there was so much focus on the character's history and how they all knew each other. And, I loved how the layers of their history came together to create drama and unveil completely unexpected surprises.

Honestly, I'm obsessed with the book. It had everything a good thriller needs: the right level of suspense, paced out fast enough to hook you in, but slow enough to give things away at the right time. The change of character's perspective really moved the novel in a way which I loved and added depth.

It's a book I'd happily recommend to everyone!

Ending

The ending was as genius as the rest of the book. As I said, throughout the book, there were so many twists and turns and many potential suspects and victims, I didn't know what the ending will be. However, when it came to it, it's as if the novel came together and everything spoken about previously, just made sense.

I hope you enjoyed this book review. What's next on your TBR pile?

Thank you for reading <3

 Well hello to you my reader chums! There's no doubt in 2024, reading was at the top of my priority list and I've had the pleasure of reading some incredible books, from gripping thrillers to great biographies and murder mysteries. 

If you're looking for some new reads, here are my favourite books of the year and the best recommendations. 

The Maid by Nita Prose 

I love murder mysteries and 'who-done-it' novels in all forms, either really thick layered plots or humorous, lighter reads. The Maid is the second, a light, funny read about a murder mystery plot. Molly the Maid works in the Regency Grand Hotel and isn't like the regular person, struggling with social skills and the intentions of others. The plot follows the death of a famous, wealthy guest, Mr Black found in the hotel and the unwind of who did it.

I loved this book in many ways because it was honest and innocent, told through Molly's eyes and how she sees the world. It showed the importance of friendship, work life, the connections you make, and who always has your back.

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Gillian Flynn is a brilliant author and I absolutely adore her novels; she has a skill for crafting insane thrillers. I've read two outstanding novels of her this year, Sharp Objects and Dark Places. Sharp Objects follows Camille returning to her hometown to cover a story about a missing girl, a place of her neurotic mother and half-sister she barely knows.

This is one of those books that I was hooked on from page one and didn't want to put down. The twists and narratives were constantly changing which added to the overall suspense.   

The Last Thing to Burn by Will Dean

Some books can break my heart and this was one of those books, that I actually read in two sittings. Set on an isolated farm, the novel follows a woman trapped by her abuser for seven years and her desperation to get away. The book describes her daily motions as 'Jane' and how she has to obey this abuser and the horrific things which happen if she doesn't. When she falls pregnant, she has an even bigger push to escape.

My heart was in my mouth the whole time I read this book as I felt all the pain and emotion for this poor woman. I wanted nothing more for her to escape and live a better life. It paints a picture of the horrible instances of trafficking people and what can happen to them. The language was quite simple, yet the pace and heartbreak of the book are what kept me engaged.

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

Lucy Foley is my favourite crime thriller author as I adore every single one of her books, including The Hunting Party, The Guest List and The Paris Apartment. I was incredibly excited when The Midnight Feast came out and read quickly, lapping at the story. This novel follows the opening night of The Manor, with no expense spared, however, the night goes from bad to worse with old friends and enemies circulating among the guests. Then a body is discovered and the mystery begins.

I adored this book in so many ways. One thing Foley does incredibly well is crafting unique characters and personalities and cleverly winding their paths together. I liked the build-up of the plot, the introduction of everyone's stories and how they came together in the end, revealing the mystery.

Period Power by Maisie Hill

One of my biggest passions is holistic health and learning more about how my body works and how I can prioritise a healthy way of living to care for my menstrual cycle. Period Power is a practical blueprint for aligning daily life with the menstrual cycle, giving women an explanation of what happens to our hormones every month and how we can use them to our advantage.

This book changed my life and was incredibly fascinating in many ways. It's the first time I've ever felt seen as a woman and understood more of how my body works. I learned a lot about hormones, diet and what to expect at each phase of my cycle. Every woman and person with a uterus NEEDS to read this book.

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent

This has got to be one of the darkest books I've ever read, yet I was completely addicted to it all the way through. This book follows Sally Diamond and her strange behaviour, and she can't understand why what she did was so strange. She always did what her father told her and when he died, she put him out with the rubbish, just like he told her.

This book is odd yet gripping.  It follows Sally's life post her father's death and unearths who she is, what happened to her and also a slight personal journey plot in how she changes after this event. It's incredibly dark, triggering and difficult to read but a mind-blowing novel.

How to Kill a Guy in Ten Ways by Eve Kellman

This has to be a novel I could happily read again as I loved it so much. It touches on some darker topics and what happens to women, however, it's a genus plot, crafted about a female serial killer who is getting revenge on all the men who have wronged women. The book follows Millie Masters who has a hotline called 'Message Men', where she picks up women or young teenagers who feel unsafe when they're out and about. It's a dark and cleverly written novel with a humorous touch, following the level of revenge someone will go to.

I loved reading this book and learning more about the main character and the good she was doing with her hotline, trying to protect all these women from scary situations. It's weird to say I enjoyed it so much as there was dark humour to how the serial killer plot line was crafted. I couldn't put it down and overall, would recommend it for something a little different.

Good Half Gone by Tarryn Fisher 

I'm a twin and with any books that have twins in the plotline, I love to give a read. I saw this book when book shopping in Canada and absolutely loved it. The novel follows Iris as she tells the tale of how she escaped the abduction of her twin sister as a teenager. With her twin Piper's abduction presumed a runaway, the cops say there's nothing else to investigate, yet Iris wants answers and spends her time figuring that out.

This gripped me well and the layers, twists and turns added to the curiosity, of discovering what happened to her sister. I loved how there was a switch in time to past and present, and the dedication Iris had to discover what happened. It's dark but has the heart of desperation to know the answers. I also loved how it shared the insight of being a twin and what that really means.

Marple - Twelve New Mysteries by Agatha Christie 

As you know, murder mysteries and crime thrillers are my thing and this book encapsulated them all. With 12 short stories from crime authors interpreting the Marple theme, I enjoyed reading the unique nature of each plot and how the author adapted a tale of Marple to their writing and imagination.

I hope you enjoyed this post. What's your favourite read this year?

Thank you for reading <3