I always look forward to Lucy Clarke's destination thrillers. The way she manages to transport us to different countries while incorporating a thriller element is always so clever.

The Surf House is in Marrakech, Morocco and was the last place a missing woman was seen a year ago. This is what Bea discovers when she ends up recovering there after a run in with an attacker and the missing woman's brother comes to town trying to find out more information. The more Bea finds out, the more she knows things aren't as they seem.

In typical Lucy Clarke fashion, this book will have you reeling at all the twists. It was another fantastic journey that is up there with one of her best written works.

The Surf House by Lucy Clarke is an enchanting and emotional novel that beautifully blends family dynamics, love, and personal discovery with the soothing backdrop of the ocean. Clarke’s writing is lyrical and vivid, drawing readers into the stunning coastal setting, where the waves are almost characters in themselves.

The story follows the journey of two sisters, their bond, and the secrets they uncover as they spend time in a house by the sea. Clarke perfectly captures the complexity of relationships, especially between siblings, and she does so with empathy and depth. The emotional depth of the characters makes it easy to connect with them, and their personal growth throughout the book is both moving and inspiring.

The pacing of the story is just right, with a slow, steady build that allows for reflection on the themes of love, loss, and self-discovery. The atmosphere of the surf house, with its quiet, restorative power, adds an extra layer of beauty to the narrative.

The Surf House is a wonderfully evocative novel that will resonate with readers who enjoy heartfelt stories about family, love, and the transformative power of place. Lucy Clarke has created a memorable and immersive reading experience that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.

I will start off with saying Lucy Clarke is a fantastic writer and her books remind me of White Lotus in book form, she really knows how to set a scene and make you feel like you are right there.
Unfortunately this did not work as well for me as her previous novels. While the setting was fantastic I didn’t feel like I got a good sense of any of the characters personalities.
We have Bea the central character and she is in Morocco for a modeling shoot, she has an emotional breakdown during the shoot and just takes off running the streets in Morocco. She ends up in a dark alleyway and realizes 2 men are following her. They rob her and one of the men wants more than just her bag. The man starts assaulting her when Marnie comes in out of nowhere with a knife. One of the men ends up dead and Bea and Marnie are running for their lives.
Marnie just happens to be in the right place at the right time. Marnie and her boyfriend aped have a hostel on the beach that caters to surfers and she invites Bea to stay with them until Bea can get her passport and belongings back.
The story starts off with Bea and Marnie being blackmailed by a local police officer, there is also a woman that went missing the year before and her brother shows up looking for her. There’s a lot going on but not a lot to care about as I didn’t connect to any of these characters. This one didn’t work for me but I will still pick up anything she writes.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.

This is my first read by Lucy Clarke and I’m now busily downloading her other works! I thought the premise of this story was fantastic and I enjoyed the characters. I thought it was a wonderfully written thriller, and the vivid descriptions made me feel like I was actually in Morocco while reading it! Highly recommend this one!

I received a free eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I’ve liked a few of Lucy Clarke’s previous thrillers - she’s not *quite* on the level of Megan Abbott, but I enjoy that her stories are female-driven. And who doesn’t love an exploration of dysfunctional friendships?

*completely unrelated, but important - there is a dog in this story. Nothing bad happens to him!* (this kind of thing stresses me out, so I feel like it’s important to let people know right out of the gate)

Our protagonist is Bea. She’s modelling in Marrakech when she suddenly decides she’s had enough. She abruptly quits her job, checks out of her hotel and just kind of starts walking. It’s one of many woefully short-sighted decisions she makes throughout the story. She wanders too far from the main aisles of the souk and ends up trapped in a dark alley with a couple of creepy dudes. But just when she thinks she’s about to be assaulted, a woman comes running up and saves her…almost. One of the guys has her by the throat and Bea, acting on instinct, stabs him. The two women flee the scene and Bea basically has nothing (the other guy having made off with her bag and passport). The woman, Marnie, invites Bea to come stay at The Surf House, the B&B she owns with her boyfriend in Mallah. Having nowhere else to go and no way to get home and maybe being wanted by Moroccan police…Bea says yes.

There’s a scary moment on the way home where they’re stopped by the police (and still carrying the bloody knife) and Marnie claims to have made a deal with Momo, the local cop. In exchange for a few thousand dollars, he’ll “forget” he saw anything suspicious and return the knife so they can dispose of it. Again, Bea is in pretty much an impossible position - she’s in a foreign country, she has no money and no passport, so what else can she do but agree?

Bea starts working and helping out at the Surf House and although the specter of the crime and the impending bribe are still hanging over her head, she also falls in love with surfing and the general vibe of the place. Which…who wouldn’t? Just hanging out in the sun all day, doing a little light cooking and cleaning, but basically spending the whole day on the beach? Sounds like a dream job.

Complicating things is the arrival of a guy named Seth. Seth is looking for his sister, Savannah, who stayed at the Surf House about a year ago. They weren’t on the best of terms, but she basically fell off the grid after supposedly leaving Mallah to take a roadtrip with some Australian girls. He’s convinced something happened to her, and Bea gets drawn into the mystery (and kind of starts over-identifying with Savannah). Along the way, as is typical with these kinds of mysteries, we get “one year ago” chapters from Savannah’s perspective.

I mostly found this compelling - there’s the tension of whether or not Bea will be able to pay off Momo’s bribe requests, and what might happen to her if she doesn’t. And of course the mystery of what actually happened to Savannah - this being Morocco, there’s quite the motley crew of expats floating around, all of whom have reasons for wanting to stay off the grid themselves. It’s a bit reminiscent of The Resort (only in Morocco rather than Thailand). I feel like Bea could be kind of a polarizing character. She’s a little annoying, but I think she’s mostly just lost - she’s always been a people pleaser, so she’s just trying to figure out her place in the world. There’s a bit of a romance angle that fell flat for me - without giving too much away, it felt more like a plot device than an actual romance. But overall it’s an entertaining mystery in a beautiful setting. Morocco is one of those places I love to read about but probably would never actually visit!

I loved Lucy Clarke's "The Hike" so I was keen to read The Surf House.

The Surf House is another great thriller with some great characters and an entertaining plot that kept me wanting to read it quickly.

Bea walks out on a modelling job in Marrakesh and gets caught up in an incident but luckily for her, Marnie is there and takes her to The Surf House, but is she really safe there?? There are heaps of twists and turns and lots to figure out but it will still keep you guessing until the end. The descriptive writing about the Moroccan setting was amazing and made the book all the more enjoyable to read.

Bea is a very likeable character and definitely doesn't deserve what happens to her but to a degree it's a little bit her fault as she's a bit too naive at times. The book has some other great, complex characters which helps keep the book so face paced.

This book is definitely another great one from Lucy Clarke! Well worth a read - you won't want to put it down once you start!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! I do love a good fast paced thriller and this one delivered!

The Surf House by Lucy Clarke
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5

Yessss I bloody love @lucyclarke_author

This is the fourth fantastic thriller I've read by this author. She picks the most enticing settings for her stories, and this beauty was no exception!! This time, we are whisked away to the wonderful Morocco!

After a prolouge which leaves us pondering over a quandry, we are flung straight into the heat and delicious bustle of glorious Marrakech (one of my fave evs destinations, had to share my pics from my hols there last year!)

Our protagonist, Bea, a model who just fled the set of her latest photoshoot in Marrakech, is caught up in a threatening situation in the Souks, Marnie a local Brit, comes to her rescue, in what turns into a lethal skirmish! Marnie and Bea flee to Marnies home, The Surf House, on the stunning Moroccan coast. The Surf House, initially a safe haven for Bea, turns out to have its own set of secrets just waiting to be unearthed.

The story was love at first read for me! I was hooked immediately, and I enjoyed the gentle pace of the storyline, which allows you to drink in the Moroccan atmosphere but then builds to a satisfying crescendo of unexpected twists and turns.

Read it in a day and couldn't put it down! What more can you ask for from a book!

I just finished The Surf House, and while I enjoyed aspects of it, I didn’t find it as gripping as I had hoped. The writing was smooth and easy to get into, and I liked the summery, atmospheric setting. However, the story itself felt a little too slow-paced for my taste.

While the book had some twists, they were quite subtle, and certain moments that seemed to build tension ultimately didn’t have much impact. I wouldn’t call it predictable, but I also never felt that sense of urgency or high stakes that I usually look for in a thriller. That being said, I can see this being a great choice for readers who enjoy slower-paced mysteries with a strong sense of place rather than fast-paced, high-intensity thrillers.

Overall, The Surf House was an enjoyable read, but it didn’t completely hook me the way I wanted it to. If you’re in the mood for a mystery with summer vacation vibes and an easygoing flow, this could be worth picking up!

Ms. Clarke is master at atmospheric suspense novels. This was a fun one but I feel it was too slow for my taste. I couldn't get through it very well; it became a slog. I think ONE OF THE GIRLS was my favorite read by her. Thank you for the advanced read - sorry I wasn't the better audience for it this time around.

I have enjoyed Lucy's books and will always pick up what she writes.

In The Surf House, Bea, a model fed up with her job, is the main character; she abruptly leaves the set and decides to live her life on her own terms.

Long story short, she accidentally wanders into a terrible situation and commits a crime in the heat of the moment. In trying to help a woman (Marnie) whose life was being threatened, Bea did something unthinkable.

Marnie promises Bea safety as they head to the cliff-side surfing retreat owned by Marnie and her husband. There, Bea works at the guest house, taking surf lessons, and living under the radar until she figures out what she can do to get her life back together. She is being blackmailed by local police and needs a large sum of money to pay off the police and get her passport back.

Enter Seth, a man searching for his sister who vanished after staying at the surf house. He asks Bea to help him and offers to pay her. She needs the money and she agrees.

The story flashes back to Seth's sister, Savannah, we slowly learn what happened to her. As Bea tries to help and put the pieces together, she has an uneasy feeling and wonders if history will repeat itself. Will something happen to her? Can she trust Marnie and her husband?

I thought the first half of the book was a little slow, but the second half intrigued me, and I couldn't put down the final few chapters. I loved the atmosphere of Morrocco and the surf area. The author did a good job painting the picture of this town and the creepy vibes of the surf house.

All in all, I'd recommend this slow-burn suspense!

Lucy Clark has written another fast-paced and enjoyable book! 

Bea, on a modelling contract in Morocco, has a small meltdown (literally and figuratively). She leaves her modelling assignment in Marrakesh and wanders the city, suddenly finding herself in a dangerous situation from which Marnie bravely saves her. Her bag and passport are missing, leaving her stranded, and this is how she arrives at the Surf House, a picturesque location where surfers gather to enjoy the sun, sea, and surf. However, not everything is as it appears.

This thrilling destination novel offers blackmail, mystery, a missing girl, and a body or two. Presented in a dual timeline, this book will keep you entertained from start to finish. While I anticipated some of the plot twists, it was nonetheless a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

What I loved most about this book was feeling like I was right there walking along the streets of Marrakech, inside the beautiful markets and enjoy the surf at the house on the coast. I loved the sense of suspense and that feeling of always being one step away from something happening. I thought I had the ending worked out but in true Lucy Clarke style I was completely wrong!
Highly recommend this to anyone looking for some armchair travel and a suspenseful thriller!

Bea is a model, working on a photoshoot in Marrakesh. She is tired, hot, and fed up of the life she is leading, and walks away from the photoshoot, deciding she isn't modelling any more. Wandering around the town, lost in her thoughts, she finds herself in an alleyway, and a frightening situation. There is an incident, and Bea is helped by a stranger called Marnie, who offers her a room at the Surf House, a guest house which she runs with her husband. It is in a remote location, perched on a cliff top, the beach beneath, and, as its name suggests, guests staying there who enjoy surfing.
Soon after arriving at the Surf House, Bea discovers that a girl called Savannah went missing from there about a year ago. Bea is intrigued by Savannahs disappearance, and wants to find out more, but her curiosity leads her down a dangerous path of blackmail, conspiracy, and possibly worse.
This was a plot that twisted and turned, a thriller that I really enjoyed. 5 stars.

This is the perfect thriller. It had everything going on. The scenic beach front hostel in Morocco as the setting was amazing.

I felt like I could not put this one down I needed to keep reading to see what was going to happen. Also the last 60 percent has several twists and turns. Once I thought I had it figured out it kept changing up on me.

I could not get enough of this book. I am going to buy all of this authors books now. Such a perfect 5 star for me.

If you like fast paced thrillers, multiple mysteries wrapped up in one story all in the back drop of a gorgeous destination and travel setting then this is absolutely for you.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC of the Surf House by Lucy Clarke. I read everything this author writes. Lucy Clarke takes you around the world with her stories. This one takes place in Morocco by the beautiful surf and sand. This story has it all, love, death, murder, a missing person, and blackmail. Bea is done with modeling, she is tired of pretending to be someone she isn’t. As she leaves her last shoot in Morocco, she is mugged on the street. Marine, a stranger, comes to her rescue and saves her. She takes her to her home, called The Surf House, which is a hostel that has guests from all over, looking to surf and enjoy the beautiful environment. All is not as it seems at The Surf House. Bea meets Seth, who is looking for his missing sister, Savannah. She joins in to the search for her. She isn’t sure who she can trust, with what she is finding out. This is a twisty tale and lol will be revealed. Please keep writing books and telling your stories. I look forward to your next one.

Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

In love with the sights, vibes, waves and colours of Morocco!

Take a bow, Lucy Clarke - the queen of destination thrillers!

Thanks Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the ARC!

Synopsis -

Bea’s just survived a nightmare in the dark, narrow alleyway of Marrakesh. Seeking solace and a peaceful place to regroup, she arrives at The Surf House, in the quaint, idyllic fishing/surfing village of Mallah. While she runs from her tedious past, Bea might just be getting entangled with a dark, convoluted web that’s built on lies, subterfuge and secrets, that might be hiding ugly things under its beautiful, calming facade.

Review -

Of course, it’s the setting that takes the centre stage in this well-plotted thriller. Bea’s journey begins in the chaotic yet elegant and energetic city of Marrakesh with its souks selling colourful wares, hawkers yelling and the heat enveloping us like a blanket. Later, it’s in the remote hamlet of Mallah, a surfing haven, where the beautiful meets ugly and eventually everything unravels.

Clarke’s personal experience with surfing adds to the magic. Her writing is immersive, atmospheric, evoking both the adrenaline jolting and the serene, mind settling characteristics of this adventurous sport.

The surfing lexicon is woven in just the right amounts to help us really feel the breaking of the waves, the misty, salty spray of the white water - as though we ourselves are the surfers experiencing the sheer head rush and excitement that surfing promises.

The storyline is crafted around The Surf House, bringing together the threads of its inception and a missing woman who stayed here a ago. The light, easy going, calming vibes of the narrative gradually begins to turn sinister, packing tension and building up intensity, as Bea’s findings and troubles cast an ominous shadow on everyone involved- her questions and discoveries deepening our suspicion and doubts.

The ending was a string of revelations that turn up totally out of the blue, as we gasp in shock, unable to believe how it all just unfolded. However, it was a relief to see Bea finding a way back to herself, truly connecting with who she is and and she wants to become.

Don’t miss this twisty, exotic destination thriller.

This was a great, atmospheric Moroccan thriller! The characters were interesting to read about, I really felt like I was on the coast of Morocco, and the ending nailed it at being the right mix of shocking and understandable.

This book had me completely hooked from the very first page. It’s a perfect mix of suspense, emotional turmoil, and deep mystery. The plot centers around a missing person, a group of people dealing with heavy emotional issues like depression, and a van that drives off into the unknown. The setting of the surf house by the beach adds a haunting, almost eerie vibe to the whole thing. But what really stands out is the underlying tension—the search for answers, the need for freedom, and the desperate desire for something more. The characters are complex, and every time you think you know where it’s going, something unexpected happens.

There were definitely parts of the mystery I saw coming, but that didn’t take away from the experience. Discussing it with my buddyreaders revealed just how much we missed or misinterpreted, which kept the story fresh. And while the ending doesn’t tie up everything neatly, it works really well. That open-ended feeling makes it feel real, like there’s more to come, and that’s something I usually don’t enjoy—but in this case, it was perfect. All in all, this is by far my favorite book from this author, and it’s one I’ll keep thinking about for a long time.

Lucy Clarke is a masterful writer - through her prose she instantly transports her readers to destinations around the world. I was fully immersed in the bustling market of Marrakesh and the bright stucco of the Surf House framed over the ocean in Mallah. I love how the setting plays such a large role in Clarke’s plots.

This story was a perfect blend of atmosphere and suspense. Everyone and everything at the Surf House seems so bright and cheery, but Savannah’s disappearance is a darkness bleeding into the light. Bea was a very lovable main character and it was easy to root for her and her determination to discover the truth. I thought the dual timeline and interludes from Savannah’s perspective were extremely well done, with fully fleshed out side characters to round out the story. Although on the longer side for a thriller, I was fully engaged with the plot from beginning to end, and couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.

If you love stories with immersive settings, multi-dimensional characters, and suspenseful plots, this story is absolutely for you. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was a highly anticipated read for me this year and I was so excited to receive an ARC thanks to @netgalley @lucyclarke_author and @groveatlantic

From the very first page I was immersed in the seaside Moroccan setting, the vivid ocean surf, the hot sun. I loved this book….the characters, the drama, romance, adventure and danger-the Surf House had it all.

Bea is defeated and tired of being a model. She walks off set from a shoot and quickly finds herself in a dangerous situation. Stranger Marnie comes to her rescue and whisks her off to "The Surf House," in Mallah where she is offered a room to stay until she figures out her next move. The Surf House overlooks the gorgeous coastline and cliffside hikes are nearby and accesible to those living here.

Bea starts to take up surfing, learning and enjoying her mornings in the water. Her body begins to become more toned and she’s no longer starving herself to model. She starts to develop a sunkissed glow and she befriends a couple people in the area. Soon Seth arrives in Marrah and he’s searching for answers about his sister Savannah who stayed at the Surf House about a year earlier. Bea gets tied up in uncovering this mystery and it seems like more questions are arising than answers.

This book was excellent, I can’t rave about it enough. I was so drawn to the characters and the setting. Lucy Clarke’s writing made me feel like I was right there in Morocco with them and I loved her descriptions of the ocean waves and surfing them. I was so looking forward to reading this and it absolutely delivered! Can’t wait to get my copy which I preordered!