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.

Lucy Clarke is one of those authors I’ll always pick up without question and The Surf House was another gripping, atmospheric read. Her ability to transport you to stunning locations is second to none - this time, she completely immerses you in the heat, danger and allure of Morocco’s surf scene.

The tension builds brilliantly, pulling you deeper into the mystery with every chapter. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, another twist was thrown in to keep me guessing. The setting, the suspense and the undercurrent of unease made this a real page turner.

I also have to give a special mention to Salty the dog - an unexpected highlight! If you’re after an escapist thriller with sun, secrets, and suspense in equal measure, this is one to add to your list.

I know I can always rely on Lucy Clarke for a thriller that will grab my attention, and The Surf House is no exception!

I could almost feel the dry heat of Morocco, as I was drawn in to the story straight away.

The characters are a combination of people trying to put down roots in a remote location, and others just passing through, but they all seem to be hiding secrets of varying degrees. The main character, Bea, is no exception, and that's before she gets involved in tracking down another young woman who went missing from the area the year before.

Lots of possible explanations, dodgy dealings and suspicious characters make for a very entertaining read!

Thanks to the author, HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

3.5 stars but closer to 4 than 3.

This is my first book by the author and I loved the premise.
Set against the breathtaking beauty of Morocco, this is a suspenseful, sun-soaked although a bit predictable thriller that pulls you in from the very first page. Bea the protagonist, walks away from a job in Marrakesh, Morocco, and finds herself in immediate danger being attacked, robbed and almost killed. She lucky to have the services of a guardian angel Marnie who comes to her rescue. Marnie happens to be a co-owner of a cozy surf house where travelers come and go, chasing waves and adventure. Things turn darker an American backpacker, arrives searching for his sister, Savannah, who disappeared after staying at the surf house a year ago. Bea gets drawn deeper into the tangled relationships and buried secrets of those around her, she realizes she may have stumbled onto something far more dangerous than she ever imagined.

Lucy Clarke’s writing is very imaginative and descriptive, she paints some perfect pictures of the area and I could almost feel every moment in vivid detail. The characters felt real, with layers of intrigue that kept me hooked my only complaint was about the predictability although it did not hamper my enjoying the story.
For readers who love atmospheric thrillers with topsy-turvy twists, this one’s is a perfect read.
Enjoyable.

Lucy Clarke gets better with every book of hers I read. The Surf House follows Bea, who walks out on a modelling job in Morocco, only to be attacked and robbed on the streets of Marrakesh. She is saved by Marnie, who puts Bea up in her surf house, a place for travellers to come together, make friends, and enjoy the surf. But when American Seth arrives looking for information about his sister who hasn’t been seen since she stayed at the surf house a year ago, Bea gets drawn into a tangled web of messy relationships, jealous friendships, and fraught family dynamics that lead her to finding out more than she ever should have known.
First off, the location of Morocco in this book was incredibly well detailed and brought to life. I could imagine I was there, in Bea’s room or on the cliff overlooking the water. It was beautifully described and was almost a character in its own.
The plot had me going backwards and forwards, changing my mind about what I thought was happening and who I trusted, but the story was excellently paced and plotted and I was kept on my toes throughout. Each of the main group of characters was 3D and complex, adding layers of intrigue to the story along with a need to understand them and a feeling I knew them.
This is an excellent book and I can’t wait to dive more into Lucy Clarke’s back catalogue of novels

As a big fan of Lucy Clarke i knew i'd enjoy The Surf House.

A suspense thriller set in the cliffs of Sunny Morocco a surf house resides there where many travellers come and go. Bea is a model but has came to the conclusion modelling isn't for her she walks. After a dangerous encounter in the streets of Marrakesh, she takes refuge in the surf house thanks to the help of Marnie, the co-owner. Many characters of all different backgrounds and secrets reside in the surf house and it isn't long until twists and turns start coming to the surface.

I really liked getting to know all the characters, it kept me engaged and i was always questioning what dark secrets there was and how it was going to come out. Full of mystery and intrigue, you will definitely enjoy and imagine the setting, written as if you're there. A read that is going to be really fun for a beach holiday. I was gripped from the very start and enjoyed this gripping read.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction for the copy of this arc in exchange of my full honest review.

When Bea has enough of her life as a model and decides to make her way across Marrakesh, she has a terrifying encounter where her rucksack is stolen and she finds herself being rescued by Marnie, who invites her to her surf house to stay and later on work. Having learned to surf, Bea then becomes involved in solving the mystery of a previous guest who disappeared the previous year.
I enjoyed this book, trying to work out who was honest and who had another side to them. A recommended read.

Read if you like:
-Destination thrillers
-Tense, gripping

This was a pleasant surprise as I don’t think I’ve read many of Lucy Clark’s book before.

The Surf House is tense, atmospheric and absorbing destination thriller with great deal of character development!

The scene in chapter 2 was so terrifying and shocking that as a woman I really felt those emotions! The author did a fantastic job of drawing you in!

The plot is well paced, I mean I read this in one day. It is mainly told from the perspective of Bea, with some glimpses into the past from Savannah’s POV who was a guest at the Surf house the previous year. Who unfortunately is now missing!

There was a good amount of unexpected twists that I did not see coming. Unfortunately, I did guess one of the twists from the early chapter and it turned out to be true. However, I didn’t mind too much!

I love that Lucy scouts out her destinations. You can really see and feel this with how descriptive the author is. You can almost picture it and feel like you are there!

Overall, an enjoyable read that is perfect for the beach lovers this summer. This will have you turning the pages and questioning everything down to betrayal and who you can trust!

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this eCopy to review

I recently read "The Surf House" by Lucy Clarke, and it was quite an intriguing experience.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Morocco's cliffs, the novel follows Bea, who arrives at The Surf House seeking refuge after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh. The Surf House, a sanctuary for travellers chasing sunshine and waves, hides a dark mystery. Bea soon finds herself entangled in the secrets of the house, especially when she learns about a young woman who went missing a year ago.

The story is filled with suspense and tension, as Bea navigates the complexities of her new environment and uncovers the truth behind the disappearance. Clarke's writing beautifully captures the atmosphere of the remote coastal town, making you feel the isolation and the allure of the place.

Overall, "The Surf House" is a compelling mystery with a dark twist.

I am a huge Lucy Clarke fan and this one did not disappoint. An atmospheric thriller - Set against the sun heaven backdrop of Morocco’s coastline, this fast paced story had been in desperate search of answers.

The Surf House is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that blends sun-soaked escapism with an undercurrent of suspense. Set against the stunning backdrop of Morocco’s coastline, the novel expertly builds tension as past and present mysteries intertwine. The remote surf retreat feels both like a sanctuary and a trap, creating an eerie sense of unease that lingers throughout.

With richly drawn characters and a plot that keeps you guessing, this is a story of secrets, survival, and the danger of trusting the wrong people. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with an exotic, immersive setting, it’s a page-turner that will keep you hooked until the final, chilling reveal.

Another great thrilling read by lucy Clarke. All her books are set in incredible settings with interesting characters. I have read all her books and have never been disappointed.

I’ve read a couple of Lucy Clarke’s books now so as soon as I seen her latest book I knew I needed to read it.
I equally both love and hate thrillers as my heart pounds and I feel sick reading them. That’s the whole point of a decent thriller though isn’t it. And I somehow keep going back to them 🤣
The twist and turns in this book were incredible and some of them I definatly didn’t see coming at all. Lucy has a way of making the characters really likeable so when they suddenly aren’t it does take you by utter surprise and vice versa with the characters I disliked.
Beautiful setting though and absolutely thrilling storyline a must read this summer - just make sure you aren’t alone!
🌟🌟🌟🌟

Release Date - 27th February 2025

Bea is a model on assignment in Marrakech. She realizes that modeling is not for her and walks off. She finds herself in an alley on a dangerous situation. She is rescued bravely by Marnie, co-owner of Surf House, and they retreat there. Surf House is full of secrets and characters which are slowly brought to life.

I’ve always been amazed of surfers. I love watching these athletes cut thru the waves on their boards. It just is beautiful to watch, but I would never try it. Too scary for me. The scenery described is breathtaking, and I totally get how this thrill becomes a passion, a way of life.

The storyline had me turning the pages. I enjoyed the characters and how they interacted and the tension between them was always high. I kept going back and forth on who did what, put some of the pieces together but definitely not all. At one point I did yell NO! Bea was on the young, naive side, blindly following what people told her to do, not questioning anything. I did enjoy seeing her coming into her own and finding her voice. The ending was not quite what I expected, and felt a little rushed. Overall, I didn’t get the same goosebumps I usually get by this author’s books but it was still a rollercoaster of a ride. It definitely took me to a beautiful place I’d never dream of visiting. This cover is just gorgeous and fits this storyline perfectly.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Harper Fiction for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

Lucy Clarke is the Queen of destination thrillers and I have enjoyed several expeditions with her winning combination of scenery and mystery.

Bea is a beautiful young model on an assignment in Morocco. One hot day her hatred of her career overwhelms her and she leaves her job. In the streets of Marrakesh she is trapped by two men and only saved by the chance arrival of a young woman, Marnie, who is herself attacked. Both women manage to flea the scene, but one man is left for dead. Marnie takes Bea to a holiday place on the coast which caters for surfing travellers, The Surf House. For the first time in her life Bea is happy, trying her hand at surfing, but this is shortlived. A policeman has discovered their connection to the death in Marakesh and he won’t keep quiet unless they pay him a substantial amount of money. Meanwhile at The Surf House, Bea is drawn into the search for a missing woman..

I have never surfed and I have never been to Morrocco but Lucy Clarke had me doing both vicariously with her fabulous descriptions! She really knows how to conjure up places, food and atmostpheres and I loved the way she described the sea, the particular waves and the action of riding the water. I found myself looking at holidays to Morrocco!

I was sucked into this story right from the start. You just know that Marnie and Bea aren’t going to get away with the death of their assailant and that it will come back to haunt them. This felt tense from that moment in the alley - it reminded me a little of Romancing the Stone with a crooked police officer stalking the main characters! I loved the dual narratives as the story switches between Bea’s story and that of the missing girl. The author is adept at making everyone look suspicious, whilst drawing you into a narrative which proves to be completely false. Plenty of twists and turns and an ending which I never saw coming!

With many thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins for my digital copy of this book.

One of the best things about Lucy’s books is the incredible settings she chooses, and this one was no exception. It provided the perfect backdrop for a thrilling and engaging story. I loved getting to know the characters as the plot unfolded, and the ending was fantastic! This will make a great summer read.

Thanks to @netgalley and everyone over at @harpercollinsuk for my ADC. Sorry for my late review!

Lucy Clarke delivers another engaging and fast-paced thriller that combines elements of mystery and suspense in a captivating seaside setting.

The story revolves around Bea, a young model who, after a disturbing assault in a dark alley in Marrakech, finds refuge with Marnie at her charming inn for surfers, aptly named The Surf House.
As Marnie tries to help Bea navigate her trauma, the plot thickens with the unsettling disappearance of Samanta, a young woman who stayed at the inn a year prior. Samanta's brother arrives in search of her, adding another layer of intrigue. Throughout the novel, the atmosphere is thick with tension as Bea grapples with her own fears and the uncertainty of whom to trust.

Clarke crafts a vivid narrative filled with twists and turns, although some elements may feel predictable to seasoned thriller readers. (that would be me😜).

Nevertheless, the story’s pacing and rich character development make it a thoroughly enjoyable read. And the exotic setting and locked-room-mystery feel was a superb touch to this gripping thriller.

Lucy Clarke takes readers to Morocco in The Surf House, delivering an atmospheric destination thriller that relies more on vivid descriptions and interpersonal dynamics than classic thriller elements. You can practically feel the heat of the Moroccan sun, the sound of the waves, and the underlying tension between the characters.

The story unfolds slowly yet grippingly as the idyllic Surf House begins to reveal its darker secrets. True to her style, Clarke places complex relationships at the forefront, making the book particularly engaging.

A perfect summer read that evokes a sense of vacation while playing with subtle threats lurking in the background. Those who enjoy atmospheric thrillers with rich settings and deep character connections will definitely find this one captivating.

I love Lucy Clarke books. They are always real page turner's.
This one is set in a surf resort in Morocco. What seems like an idyllic getaway is not as it seems.
I saw the twists coming but not too far ahead.

This was a fascinating story with nothing as it seems. A interesting collection of characters with unknown histories. The conclusion was something else!! Great read!!