Tome manor is a wellness retreat set in a stunning clifftop location, the ‘new jewel of the Dorset Coastline’. It’s the opening weekend and the exclusive clifftop cabins are fully booked, and no expense has been spared on ‘The Midnight feast’ solstice celebration taking place. But something lurks in the forest surrounding the manor, and animosities linger amongst some of the guests. There will be surprises aplenty, in this darkly enjoyable thriller from the bestselling author, Lucy Foley.

Lucy Foley

There’s no doubting Lucy Foley has a winning formula for her style of mystery fiction - multiple character viewpoints, all building up to some big reveals. It worked in the books I’ve read previously - ‘The guest list’ and ‘The Paris Apartment’. It’s successful, so why would she change it?

There’s a great collection of characters in this one. There’s Franceca, the singular visionary behind the manor, working with architect and partner Owen into transforming her ancestral home into a world class wellness retreat. Eddie is a dishwasher, glad of the opportunity but aware of the feelings of his family and local community towards Tome Manor. And there’s the mysterious Bella, staying in one of the cabins by herself.

Locals

But not every guest appears to be who they say they are, and some of the locals aren’t pleased about these new visitors. And is there any truth to the local legends about the shadowy bird figures said to appear in the nearby woods?

As well as the alternating viewpoints, we have diary entries that slowly reveal the dark secrets of the past. You also have the post incident police investigation taking place, which builds up tension as the two timelines slowly converge. It’s am enjoyable read, but it’s also a dark thriller, with some shocking revelations.

Fun

One of the things I enjoy with Lucy Foleys books is that there’s a sense of fun about them. In ‘The Midnight Feast’ she continually takes aim at the whole ‘New age’ industry, especially through the incredibly annoying Francesca. There’s crystal pouches, while linen, and even a foragers tasting menu amongst the delights to be enjoyed. Guests post pictures on the ‘gram while enjoying the infinity pool.

There’s something of ‘The wicker man’ meets ‘The birds’ about this, a spooky folklore that you aren’t sure still exists. It’s a great setting, with suspicious locals and hints of paganism. Definitely atmospheric and shady.

I wanted a fun, zippy read and that’s what I got with this book, as I have with every other Lucy Foley title. Some of the reveals were a bit more plausible than others, and a couple of them were well signposted, but there were plenty I didn’t see coming.

Another enjoyable and hugely entertaining twisty thriller from an author who is in complete control of her particular brand of storytelling. If you liked her previous books, you’ll love this too.

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416 pages

Published 6th of June 2024

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the Arc