I had no idea where this would go, so many characters were suspicious. Bea felt so real and flawed and I couldn't help but feel compassion for her and proud of her for finding herself.

The destination felt magical and had me longing for such a carefree lifestyle where your biggest worry is the size of your wave.

Lucy Clarke knows how to write a page turner with a what is going on plot. I fell victim to this all nighter. The plot was original and the setting was so interesting. The characters had depth and I kept wanting to read until I got to the end.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the digital arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A destination thriller filled with danger, mystery, blackmail, and secrets. Bea, an unhappy model, is attacked in an alleyway and taken to the Surf House. She quickly forms a friendship with the owner Marnie. Then a new visitor arrives. Seth is looking for his sister Savannah who has been missing for the last year. Her last known location before she went off the grid was the Surf House. Seth asks Bea to help him gather information on Savannah, but no one wants to talk about Savannah’s time there.

I thought I had it all figured out. But that last twist got me.

Bea walks away from her life as a model and into a surfing community in Morocco that is hiding a mystery about a missing girl. I loved the surfing vibe and the characters. Good twists had me suspecting everyone! Great summer escapist read.

I enjoyed the first two chapters, particularly as Bea provided insight into her career as a model and how her mind was affected by the demands placed upon her. However, after the first couple chapters, Bea's background doesn't matter much to the story itself. A compelling context for the story--an accidental murder, a theft, and a potential found family, with a missing person case in the background. Every character at The Surf House is connected in ways that aren't shown until the last quarter of the book, and this is somewhat of a slow build, but I would recommend this to fans of missing person stories set abroad.

This book had me hooked from the first salty breath of that Cornish coastline. I don’t know what kind of spell Lucy Clarke casts, but I blinked and suddenly I was 300 pages deep, emotionally invested, and not ready to leave.

There’s something magnetic about stories where people return to places they thought they’d left behind—especially when those places hold secrets buried like driftwood in the sand. Jess, Maya, and Kat are each so layered, so real, and the way their lives weave together through this house by the sea? Pure, immersive magic.

And the setting—don’t even get me started. The Surf House felt like a character in its own right. Wind-swept, weathered, wild. I could almost taste the salt in the air and feel the sting of memories creeping in with the tide.

It’s emotional, atmospheric, just twisty enough, and beautifully written without ever feeling overdone. If you love stories about friendship, secrets, and the kind of healing that sneaks up on you when you least expect it—this one’s for you.

Highly recommend packing this in your beach bag (or cozying up with it at home while pretending you’re on a cliffside getaway). Either way, you’ll be swept away. 💙

What a joy it is to read a book that you don’t want to put down. That’s exactly what I found with The Surf House, a slow-burn light thriller, set in the beautiful (and fictional) surfing village of Mallah, nestled high on the coast of Morocco. It follows Bea, a 20-something who has just left a modelling career behind in an effort to try and figure her life out. Her first day out on her own doesn’t go so well when she’s attacked in Marrakesh — but thankfully Marnie appears just in time to help, a woman around her own age.

Marnie and Bea share a traumatic experience which will have ripples across their relationship — but Bea is keen to try and put it behind her. After all, she has Marnie to help her now — Marnie who drives Bea to The Surf House, the surfing hostel she owns in Mallah. She tells Bea she can stay as long as she’d like, and the pair quickly form a close bond. Bea is family, as Marnie keeps telling her.

But not all is quite what it seems at the Surf House. Bea can’t shake an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. There’s something off about Ped, Marnie’s partner who she just can’t trust. And there’s the looming presence of Momo, the police officer who is extorting her and Marnie. When Seth shows up, an American traveller who is looking for his sister Savannah, a previous visitor to The Surf House who has since disappeared without a trace, Bea can’t help but get involved.

This isn’t a fast-paced thriller by any means; until the last fifty or so pages, The Surf House meanders along, but it kept me engaged with its gorgeous descriptions of the surf, Bea’s burgeoning relationship with her neighbour Aiden, and the occasional secondary POV that gives us a glimpse into Savannah’s life one year before. I quickly grew to care for many of the characters, most of all Bea — and of course Salty, the resident stray dog. We also get some rare glimpses into Bea’s past, which are emotional, raw and very well written without ever feeling contrived.

Those last 50-or-so pages of The Surf House though: wow. What a finale! What began as a slow burn ended in a tense crescendo that I had to keep reading into the wee hours to finish up. The twists were wonderfully done and some of them came as a genuine surprise. If you’re a thriller fan who prefers a slow burn than a fast-paced gore-fest, I highly recommend this.

#BOOKREVIEW 13 : The Surf House by Lucy Clarke ✨
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SYNOPSIS :

Bea, once a famous model suddenly finds herself in danger in an alleyway in Morocco. Comes in Marnie who helps her and brings her to The Surf House, a place of hope and fun for surfers but The Surf House is not what it seems. It has its own dark secrets and uncovering it comes with a hefty price.
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Genre : Thriller
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MY REVIEW :

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

It took me few pages to get hooked but once I did, there is no stopping me. I love everything about this book so much so that I will be buying a physical copy 😍

The plot is a perfect mix of mystery, romance, mental health issues, complex characters and a beautiful location with an eerie setting.

Her writing is so vivid that I felt like I was in Morocco the whole time enjoying the beach, the surfing, morning breakfasts at The Surf House and generally just in every page 😍

I was captivated and completely absorbed in the location that Morocco is definitely going up in my wishlist to travel 💕

The Surf House has short chapters, fast paced, full of twists and turns and told through dual timeline that makes it easier to understand the story. I did guess a part of the mystery earlier on but then 💥 there were more shocking twists and turns.

There were many characters and this was one of the thrillers that I genuinely felt sorry for all of them as I understood what was going on with them. Their emotional turmoils were realistic and trust me when I say Depression is a serious issue.

I love Bea as the MC and enjoyed reading on her character development as she was so real. From being a model to her decision that brought her to the alley to her struggles and to the hint of romance that added more depth to the story.

It's suspenseful and the layers of twists were so good. The open ending here made so much sense but once I was done with the last page, I was craving for more pages. Despite reading it almost 2 weeks ago, I still couldn't stop thinking about the book 🙌
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All in all if you love a gripping destination thriller that is shocking, twisty, sun soaked and engaging with many characters set in a beautiful location but full of secrets then this book might be for you 💕
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MY RATING :
Books that you MUST buy ✅
Books that you NEED to buy
Books that you HAVE to read
Books that you can BORROW
Books that you can SAVE your money
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Posted in my Bookstagram @ireadmurder 🙌

Thank you Netgalley, Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for the eArc of The Surf house.

Having read some of Lucy Clarke's Books in the past, I was really looking forward to reading this Arc. Set in Morocco, our MC, Bea ends up seeking refuse after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh seeks refuge in this idyllic house on the cliff. People come and people go but Bea starts to uncover and piece together a mystery of a women who went missing. Is Bea in danger?

I really enjoy Lucy's writing style, both plot line and character building flows every well within her books. Where the book was set, in the beautiful country of Morocco was described beautifully. I. could literally feel the warm sun shining on my face and the salty air. Our MC, Bea, felt real and flawed, which is what I like about characters, they need to feel whole. Our other characters in this book are also well built.

The plot itself is slow paced at the beginning with one scene that is fast paced to draw you in. It also follows a nice built with some great twists which lead to the finale.

Sarah Slimani narrated this book which I also had the pleasure to listen to and loved her voice.

4 stars

**more of a 2.5

I've really enjoyed Lucy Clarke's previous books and this one has the same good writing and compelling characters, I just can't pinpoint what exactly wasn't working for me. The story itself is very slow-burn, which I personally enjoy, but I guess where it missed the mark for me is I felt all the relationships that were happening were annoying and unnecessary. A lot of the drama surrounded detail about that and it just became a chore for me to read. Will obviously read Lucy Clarke again, this one was just a miss for me.

I love Lucy Clarke and this book proves so once again. I love a destination thriller and the premise of the book, synopsis and title quickly caught my attention.

The setting and visualisation is brilliantly done. The book sets up the location and uses it really well. The characters are interesting and set up well. I like the air of mystery and thrill in the atmosphere that brings out the scare for the leads. An interesting thriller that I would definitely recommend.

Thank you Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.

I love Lucy Clarke and this book was no exception! Fantastic and complex characters, a fast paced plotline, fantastic setting, and an ending I did not see coming! Really loved everything about this book!

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!