Set in a small coastal town in Morocco, The Surf House is a destination thriller from the absolute queen of writing them, Lucy Clarke. The research and work that Lucy does to transport her readers to the location she writes about is impeccable. You will be there, the tastes, the smells, the heat, the isolation of the clifftops, the oppression of the local bustling city, everything is just perfectly written and makes this thriller incredibly immersive.

I guessed one of the underlying secrets from fairly early on, and I’m not sure if that was intentional on Lucy Clarke’s part. I actually LOVED that I had worked something out because the additional reveals, the red herrings, the twists and turns, were even more shocking - I thought it had it all worked out! Not so! The unravelling was catastrophic and blind-sided me completely.

The components of five star thriller rely heavily on good setting, brilliant twists and great characterisation. I particularly enjoyed the contrast of the characters in this novel, probably Lucy’s most varied cast - they worked well together, some likeable and some not so much, and really rounded off a brilliant story.

Tense, claustrophobic and completely compelling.

Lucy Clarke does a wonderful job of making the reader see wonders of Morocco and the little town of Mallah where Bea ends up after running out of her modeling job and meeting Marnie after the incident in the alley. The Surf House may be a prime destination for surfers, but it also holds many secrets that certainly ramps up the thrill as Bea tries to pay off a blackmailer cop and find the missing Savannah for her brother, plus try to figure out what she wants to do with her life. That provides great tension and made the book hard to put down! Nice twist at the end that I kinda but didn't see coming and had a great shock factor.

This was a great thriller that was fun to read and though I am not a surfer (more of a dabbler in boogie boarding) it was easy to picture it. I think it would be fun to visit Mallah or a place like that (cause I do not want to stay at the Surf House!).

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book! I will definitely keep this author on my list to see what other books I can read that she has written.

I found this book to be engaging throughout, there was a mixture of characters, some more likeable than others which caused tension. As the story unfolds it flows at quite a fast pace with a few twists thrown in.

I especially liked the destination of the Surf house in Mallah and the descriptions were very vivid for me, from the sandy dunes, the bustling town and then surfing in those amazing waves.

Overall, an enjoyable read. Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I love Lucy Clarke thrillers, so I was very excited for this ARC, and it didn’t disappont! It’s actually my favourite by her now.

One thing I love about her books is that the story always is set in a holiday destination. This time, Morocco!

Bea is at a modeling shooting there and gets into a trouble in a backstreet. A woman who works at a surf house in a bearby town rescues Bea and takes her to the surf house. There, Bea meets other staff and enjoys the beach life. But soon she figures out something is not right…

I won’t reveal too much to avoid spoilers, but I enjoyed the twists. The first half was a bit slow but the pace picks up in the second half. I couldn’t stop reading the final third! So go in blind and enjoy the ride!

But the main reason this is my favourite by the author so far is that I never felt attached to the main character of Clark’s thriller the way I did to Bea. She is lonely. Her feeling emptiness and loneliness broke my heart at different points in the book and I felt strong empathy for her.

I highly recommend this atmospheric thriller when it comes out in March. It’s a good one to take on your holiday ot get out of your reading slump!

4.5 🌟

Blackmail, secrets and a lies in another sun dappled mystery.

I am a big fan of Lucy Clarke but I found this much more predictable than her other novels. The characters of Bea and Marnie were, as ever, well written but there wasn’t enough here to immerse me in the book.

I would recommend starting here with Lucy Clarke and this way round would mean you would get the full benefit of her skill.

I love Lucy Clarke's books. They are always reliably brilliant reads, and The Surf House is up there with her best. Right from the beginning of this book I was drawn in and couldn't put it down. It follows a disillusioned model on a photoshoot in Marrakesh who ends up moving to a remote surfing community after a woman promises to help her following the loss of her passport and money in a violent robbery. She soon settles into the small but mostly welcoming community, but it isn't as idyllic as it appears once she learns that it was the last place a young woman much like herself was seen alive. I really enjoyed the setting of the book. The characters were all complex and well rounded. It had good pacing, and there were enough clues for the reader to piece together the mystery without it being a completely unrealistic shock ending (my pet hate.) I feel a bit sad actually that I read it so fast! Highly recommended.

Another suspense-in-the-sun story from an expert in the genre. This time Lucy Clarke takes us to a surf house in Morocco and does a great job of creating this setting.
As usual there's a group of characters with secrets they must hide. However, in contrast to her previous novels, these characters don't share history but become involved with each other on location.
I did guess some of what was going on, but there was plenty more to discover.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.
Upon publication, I will post my review on my blog and on GoodReads.

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. I always enjoy a Lucy Clarke novel and The Surf House was no exception. I found it to be a very enjoyable mystery that had me hooked instantly. I really liked the descriptive nature of the locations and scenery and I could almost picture myself there. The twists at the end were fabulous and very surprising. Overall a very good mystery that I will definitely recommend.

I loved this one from Lucy, it was full of twists and it left you feeling like you couldn't believe anyone in this story. Very exciting and unputdowable. Some of the characters were not particularly nice but that just added to the tension in the story. I found Bea a little too trusting which frustrated me a little. But on the whole a great read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

4.5 stars - This was a stunning psychological thriller from Lucy Clarke which I absolutely inhaled!

Set in a small coastal town in Morocco, with snippets in the bustling city of Marrakesh, the descriptions of the setting were so vivid and well-written - from the tastes and smells, to the humid heat and the oppressive and claustrophobic build up in the story.

Bea is a successful model in her mid-20s, travelling the world but feeling empty inside. On a shoot in Marrakesh, she decides she’s had enough and stalks off into the busy streets. Soon she is lost and has a harrowing encounter that leaves her without her bag and passport, rescued by a woman called Marnie, who brings her back to the sanctuary of her coastal holiday home, The Surf House.

But now Bea is being blackmailed over what happened in Marrakesh - and a newcomer to The Surf House is trying to find his sister who disappeared a year ago and who was last seen at The Surf House…

Such an addictive, tense, claustrophobic read! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters were compelling - not all likeable, but well developed and intriguing. The overall feel reminded me of Our House by Louise Candlish, which had that similar slow burn of dread and question marks over who to trust, the claustrophobic holiday home setting where things are both idyllic and a nightmare at the same time.

I loved this book! I’ve read all Lucy Clarke’s other books and would say this is definitely the best one. It’s beautifully written and very atmospheric. I’d definitely it.

This was an okay read but for me something just did not gel. Bea is a good character and I enjoyed getting to know her and reading about the traumatic events that lead her to The Surf House. The other characters are not particularly likeable and they were hard to connect to but they served their role in the plot well.
There are times the plot becomes ridiculous and I could not believe what I was reading. Overall this was an okay read.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

I was SO excited to get an advance copy of this book, I love the way Lucy Clarke writes and The Surf House definitely hit the mark.
The descriptive way the setting was written was beautifully immersive and set the scene perfectly.
With lots of twists and unexpected turns along the way that you'd want and expect from a Lucy Clarke novel, this kept me guessing right to the end. I devoured this in a day!
Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the eARC.

I loved this book. It gripped me over Christmas and I couldn’t put it down. I loved the surfing, and the scenery in Morocco.

I Love Lucy!
Once again she smashes it with The Surf House.
From the opening lines grabbing you, the characters who jump right off the page, the tension bubbles constantly amongst the glittering Moroccan sunshine and sea.
Her writing style is so easy to absorb yourself in - this is a book to take on holiday and end up getting sunburned by the pool with because you just have to read one more chapter….
I don’t generally write synopses as everyone else it, does but give my opinion on the book experience itself. The Surf House does not disappoint with plenty of questions and twists, and would make a wonderful TV drama series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a great story with so many twists and turns that you can't see what is coming! You may think you do, but do you really?!

The Surf House takes readers on a captivating journey to the sun-soaked cliffs of Morocco, where a group of travellers seeks solace in the sun and waves at a coastal retreat. While it initially presents itself as a serene escape from the pressures of everyday life, the novel quickly reveals its darker undertones, as a mysterious disappearance threatens to unravel the calm.

Bea arrives at The Surf House after a harrowing experience in Marrakesh, looking for a place to recover and reflect. The house, perched high above the sea, offers the perfect refuge—but there’s something not quite right. When Bea starts to dig into the past, she uncovers a chilling mystery involving a woman named Savannah who vanished a year earlier, leaving behind no trace. Despite walking the same beaches, meeting the same guests, and staying in the same place, Savannah's fate remains shrouded in secrecy.

The writing in The Surf House is lush and immersive, transporting the reader to the bustling markets of Marrakesh and the picturesque coastline of Morocco. The vivid descriptions of the locations, the atmosphere of the surf house, and the characters' emotional landscapes make for a compelling, multi-sensory experience. It’s a story that combines a sense of adventure with a heavy dose of suspense, perfect for readers looking to lose themselves in a summer mystery.

The book introduces a rich cast of characters, each with their motivations and secrets. The diversity of personalities—from likeable to questionable—adds layers of complexity to the story. Bea, the protagonist, brings a strong emotional core to the book, and her search for the truth about Savannah’s disappearance keeps the reader hooked. The narrative is mostly told from Bea’s perspective, allowing readers to slowly piece together the puzzle of what happened a year before.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it difficult to put down. Corruption, missing travellers, and deceitful secrets all come to the forefront as Bea uncovers the hidden truths within The Surf House. The author is a master at misdirection, leading the reader in one direction only to completely upend expectations. The ending is as shocking as it is satisfying, offering a conclusion that leaves a lasting impact.

For fans of gripping, atmospheric thrillers with complex characters and plenty of suspense, The Surf House is a must-read. It’s the perfect summer escape—one that will keep you turning pages and second-guessing everything you thought you knew.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

What I love about Lucy Clarke books is that we get to travel the world through the pages. This time we are in Morocco, with Bea and the guests at the Surf House. I really felt that I was there in the markets of Marrakech and on the coast with the surfers. Such beautiful writing had me right there with the characters, a lovely escape.

This was a cast of so many different characters, from all walks of life. I loved that there was a mix here, some more likeable than others. This is a book that was hard to put down, there is always something happening. From corruption to missing travellers, there is always tension and mystery. Mainly told from Bea’s perspective, we learn what has happened at the Surf House a year earlier when Savannah was there, and now with Bea asking questions.

You might think you have it all worked out, but if you have read this author before, you will know that she loves to misdirect you. The ending was shocking and very addictive to read. The perfect summer read, I could not get enough.

Thank you so so much to Harper Collins UK on NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on February 27th, this is a must read for thriller lovers.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
Another cracker from the wonderful Lucy Clarke. The descriptive narrative is on point and you get a real sense of the surfing life and the passion behind it. Bea is a likeable character and most of the story is told from her POV. There is a lot going on in the book which just adds to the mystery and intrigue and the author really ramps up the pace in the latter half. Although you know nothing is as it seems I personally didn’t guess the outcome at all. A rollercoaster of a story

Bea is a disillusioned hungry model who throws in the towel during a photo shoot in Marrakesh. With nowhere to go or to turn too, she wanders the streets deciding what to do next. She takes a wrong turn and ends up in an alleyway closely followed by 2 men. An altercation occurs and she's rescued by Marnie, but not before injuring one of the men. Needing an escape she travels down the coast with Marnie to help at the Surf House.
Marnie and her partner Ped built the Surf House bed and breakfast, to appeal to surfers. But soon after her arrival Seth arrives looking for his sister Savannah, who was last seen at the Surf house a year previous. Bea agrees to help him but is not aware of the danger she's in.
Lucy Clarke is fast becoming an auto read for me. This novel was particularly descriptive especially when reading about surfing, the scents and sounds of Morocco are on every page. This novel was tense and a sense of mistrust and unease throughout. I loved it