Lucy Clark’s newest destination thriller is a whirlwind. I was completely immersed in the atmosphere and the characters. This would be the perfect beach read. Solid 4 out of 5 stars!

The Surf House delivered the most atmospheric destination thriller, I really felt like I was in Morroco experiencing the beachy vibes with the characters. I enjoyed the growth of the FMC throughout and the development of the general characters as the story went on. I thought it was decently paced and gripping enough to keep my attention. I did find the over all plot a little predictable and not always believable, however overall and enjoyable beachy thriller! perfect holiday read. thankyou to HarperCollins for the ARC

Bea encountered danger, a missing young woman and a handsome surfer upon her arrival at The Surf House. The tranquil setting was her refuge from the world of modeling that she abruptly left behind. She was tired of the dieting, posing, and fake people to last her a lifetime. She never could have imagined she would have put herself in harm’s way by just wishing for a little freedom. Bea quickly fell in with the surfer crowd and felt freer than she had ever been while catching wave after wave, in the sparkling ocean. Her mind kept going back to the night of her arrival, as she worried about the repercussions of her actions, and if her life would ever be the same again.

There was a feeling of constant tension at The Surf House which only intensified upon the arrival of a new guest. Seth was looking for his sister, Savannah, whose last known whereabouts was The Surf House, and a nearby town. Bea felt connected to Savannah in some way and agreed to help Seth search for clues. Unbeknownst to Bea, her actions were being monitored by her so-called 'new friends.’ Not all of them were glad she was staying with them and as she got closer to the truth behind Savannah’s disappearance, she wished she had never agreed to stay there. She was scared, tired, and unsure who she could even trust. I was frightened for her and worried about what would happen when the shocking truth was revealed! Nothing was what it seemed to be at The Surf House and this was one vacation Bea wished she had cancelled!

I Love Lucy Clarke and I really loved her new book, The Surf House. Set in the beautiful country of Morocco, this was a first for me in a good destination thriller. Highly recommended, loads of untrustworthy and creepy characters

Very atmospheric.

Bea is working as a model, and on a shoot in Marrkech, Morocco she has had enough and walks away from the shoot, and decides she is finished with modeling. Wandering around through the markets, she is cornered by some men who want to rob her. Bystander Marnie jumps in to help, but in the process Bea stabs one of the men in the neck. Marnie invites Bea back to the guest house she and her partner run called The Surf House. There, she meets a variety of other guests and long term residents, one of whom is a man who claims his sister Savannah disappeared there a year ago. Bea volunteers to help him try to find out what happened to Savannah, but no one wants to part with secrets.

I immediately felt immersed in the surf culture of Morocco. The setting was incredibly well described and I could picture every part of the experience. I really liked the characters, and their motivations and secrets unfolded steadily as the novel progressed. I was definitely surprised by some of the twists, and yet a couple of others I called early on. Overall it was a successful suspense thriller because it did throw some curve balls I wasn't expecting.

It's not a perfect book, I thought Bea was way too trusting and way too naïve about life for being a world traveling model. The fact that she went just wandering through the market, not paying attention to her surroundings, seemed incredibly unrealistic. However the book needed that setup, so I had to set it aside. I did like the bits about learning how to live in her non-model body, learning how to feed herself properly, etc. which helped to give the story more depth and interest.

If you want a well written, surprising, atmospheric thriller, this is a fantastic choice.

Sadly, this is just not good. I’m being generous here by rating it 1 star.

Character development is lacking and the mystery and all events leading up to the reveal are tiresome and trite. It’s really too bad, because it starts with such a strong kickoff, but falls extremely flat rather quickly. The only thing about this book that can remotely be memorable is the beauty of Morocco and Mallah.

Was this supposed to be a mystery/thriller, or a romance? It’s confusing that it’s marketed as the former, but incorporates the latter in such a way that the author, herself, appears to lose control of her thesis. Moreover, the ending was far too rushed, but wrapped up in a pretty bow for those of you who need a happy ending.

Thank you to Atlantic Monthly Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. It is available on June 10th, 2025.

Interesting story and I liked the flashbacks to Savannah’s timeline to learn more about her, the ending was clever but had too many twists. Otherwise was a quick enjoyable read.

3.5 stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – The Surf House by Lucy Clarke

Set high on the sun-drenched cliffs of coastal Morocco, The Surf House is a slow-burn thriller that blends atmosphere, suspense, and emotional tension in a story about escape, identity, and secrets that refuse to stay buried.

Bea arrives at The Surf House seeking refuge after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh. But she soon becomes entangled in a mystery: one year earlier, another young woman vanished from the very same beach. As Bea digs deeper, the supposedly idyllic haven of travellers, surfers, and sun-chasers begins to feel more like a trap than a sanctuary.

This is my fifth Lucy Clarke novel, and it's one of the strongest I’ve read from her. Like The Castaways, which I also really enjoyed, The Surf House leans into grittier themes and features a well-developed protagonist. The Moroccan setting is a standout — beautifully described, immersive, and vivid, though I do wish the local culture had played a more prominent role. At times, it felt like the story could’ve been set in any surf village.

The pacing starts strong before settling into a more atmospheric rhythm, with the final third delivering a satisfying payoff. While I figured out much of the plot around the 60% mark, Clarke still managed to surprise me with a few twists. The open-ended conclusion worked well — something I don’t always love, but it felt right here.

Bea’s naivety occasionally frustrated me, as it’s used to move the plot forward, and some character names and details (like “Ped” the Aussie?) left me scratching my head. Savannah, in particular, felt flat and predictably self-absorbed. Still, the overall cast was effectively suspicious — I doubted nearly everyone at some point, and that’s half the fun.

The Surf House isn’t the twistiest thriller on the shelf, but it’s compelling, well-paced, and drenched in sun-soaked tension. A solid beach read with darker undercurrents, and one I’d happily recommend to fans of atmospheric suspense.

Thank you to Lucy Clarke, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

3.5

I'm a bit torn about this thriller, hence the hedging so far as a rating is concerned.

The Surf House begins with Bea, a model, on a photoshoot in Morocco, finally deciding (mid-shoot) that she's had enough of being told what to do. But the next morning she wakes up not knowing exactly what she does want and as she wanders around Marrakesh she finds herself lost in the medina, being followed by two young men.

Thankfully she is rescued by Marnie, a woman who takes Bea in and gives her a job at The Surf House, the hostel she runs with her partner, Ped. At first Bea feels like this is where she should be but she soon learns that Savannah Hart, another young woman, had gone missing the year before. And as Bea learns more about the inhabitants of The Surf House, the more she wonders what has happened to Savannah and whether she is also in danger.

This is my first Lucy Clarke so I've nothing to compare it with. The Surf House clips along at a good rate, there's a bit too much love in the sand dunes for my liking (let's face it, that stuff gets everywhere) but if you can ignore the nascent romance it's a decent thriller that twists and turns without driving your brain cells potty trying to work out what is going on.

I guess because the thriller genre is not a true whodunnit then they're easier to work out but I was still a bit disappointed to get to the end without one last twist, since I'd worked out the plot around the halfway mark.

However, it is still worth a read. It would make a great summer beach read (again, mind the sand). It certainly kept my interest the majority of the time so I would recommend it as a light summer book.

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins for the advance review copy.

A bit of a slow burn. Definitely a Summer read. It took me a bit to get into the book. The beginning of the book was not an intro of what was to come

The atmospheric setting of Morocco is so well-written, you almost feel like you’re there. It was so vivid. The story itself was well-plotted, I enjoyed the mystery. There were times it felt repetitive and I did feel like it needed something (probably something to make me audibly gasp.) I also had a love/hate with Bea, she just seemed too naive.

While it didn’t blow my mind, it was still a solid beach thriller for Summer.

An atmospheric and compulsive destination mystery-thriller. I was immediately transported to the breathtaking Moroccan landscape. It was sexy and visceral. The Surf House had the perfect blend of intricately layered characters and a menacing plot that had me utterly absorbed.

The Surf House was about was a disillusioned model, Bea, who left her photo shoot after she had had enough. This was proof of one of her first mistakes when things in her life begin to spiral downwards. She quickly sought refuge high on the cliffs of Morocco, far from the city lights stood The Surf House-a sanctuary for travelers who wanted to chase sunshine and waves. A woman her age once walked the same beaches and vanished a year earlier and somewhere inside The Surf House lied the truth.

Although a slow burn mystery-thriller, I found the pacing appropriate for the Moroccan scene. Clarke illustrated the beautiful sun-drenched Moroccan backdrop ideally. And likewise, what should have been a warm and comforting refuge, The Surf House gradually took on eerie distortions as the story moved forward. The way Clarke described the tropical scenery and the unreliable characters within the scenes were fascinating.

Altogether I loved Lucy Clarke’s darkly seductive and compulsive tale. I recommend The Surf House to those that desire compelling atmospheric destination mystery-thrillers.

Thank you to Net Galley and Grove Atlantic for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another great read of 2025!

The definition of a slow burn, this book does start out on the slow side, but the early descriptions of Mallah, the ocean, the sand. The Surf House are so detailed and amazing, I actually felt like I was there in Morocco, experiencing the beauty of it along with Bea. The book pick up about 33% in and does not stop after that! I finished the last 66% in one day, I could not put it down. Just when I thought I had thing figured out, nope, guess again. The ending was very satisfying and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. And what a beautiful cover! I will definitely be recommending this book!

Destination thrillers are one of my favorite genres, especially for summer reading. Lucy Clarke's THE SURF HOUSE, publishing in the US in June 2025, is the story of Bea, a young model on her own in Morocco who abruptly quits her job, then finds herself without any money, a passport or a place to stay. Then she meets Marnie, a local who owns a surf hostel and Bea spends weeks working for her in exchange for room and board until she can figure things out. But there is a darkness underneath the beauty of Mallah on the sea and Bea quickly finds herself embroiled in a murder mystery, blackmail, and more. Read this one in one day over MDW.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Grove Atlantic for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this well enough.

"Welcome to The Surf House

Where everyone’s escaping something . . .

High on the cliffs of Morocco, far from the city lights and the souks, stands The Surf House: a sanctuary for travelers chasing sunshine and waves. But the idyll hides a dark mystery. And when Bea washes in, seeking refuge after a dangerous encounter in Marrakesh, she soon gets caught in the current. "

It took a lesiurely pace for most of the book. Intrigued throughout. Lots of twists in the third act.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

Loved it!! I was hooked from the start. I knew something was going to happen to Bea while she was aimlessly walking through the medina. She checked out of her hotel without any plans on where to go or stay. She was lucky Marnie happened to be there. Seth shows up at The Surf House looking for his sister Savannah. She hasn't been seen or heard from in a year. Her last known location happened to be The Surf House. What happened to Savannah. I knew someone in Mallah had to be responsible for whatever happened to Savannah. Everyone seemed suspicious and many weren't too happy with Seth showing up and asking questions. So many secrets. It seemed like everyone Bea met in Mallah was hiding something and I couldn't wait until all the secrets were revealed. There were so many twists and turns. I really wanted Bea to just leave and take Salty with her. I was thinking that whatever happened to Savannah, Bea would be the next victim. I enjoyed the flashbacks about Savannah. Marnie and Ped had so many issues. Most of the main characters were not who I thought they were and it was quite the surprise. Loved the ending when the truth finally came out. I was definitely shocked about who was involved and who wasn't. I really want to know what Bea decides to do next.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a great mystery/thriller that kept me guessing until the end. Loved the characters, writing style and story. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Grove Atlantic through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Surf House - Lucy Clarke
Pub Date - 6/10/25
Rating - 3.5 rounded to 4
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley, Lucy Clarke, and Grove Atlantic for this gifted advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. Another great destination thriller by Lucy Clarke, this time set in Morocco. This book is one of those you can pick up and finish in 1-2 days and I would have done the same if not for my adult responsibilities. The story is centered around Bea, a model, who is in the middle of her shoot, when she realizes she doesn't want to model anymore. After a dangerous encounter outside her hotel, Bea is rescued by Marnie and brought to the Surf House, a small bed and breakfast in a small city catered to surfers. Bea learns of another young woman who was at this very location a year ago who vanished and couldn't be found. Bea slowly unravels the secrets deeply hidden in a place she thought was her sanctuary.

I really liked this book! I thought the killer was predictable, but the spin at the end was well done. The pacing, setting, and plot kept me interested, and while i wasn't shocked, I would definitely recommend this book to others!

Thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic Monthly Press for the ARC! I'm a fan of Lucy Clarke, and this book did not disappoint! I found the setting especially well-rendered, the dusty, dry landscape, the rolling waves of the sea. Lots of twists and turns along the way I did not expect!

The Surf House is a destination thriller that packs a punch! I loved the Moroccan setting. The writer is always so great at writing complex characters. The story moved quickly, and there was so much tension that I just wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen. This story had twists that shocked me. An absolute must read!

Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Surf House
By Lucy Clarke

The Surf House is home to Ped and Marnie, expats and surfers who have set up
shop, building an Idyllic seaside hostel for surfers. When model Bea abandons a
fashion shoot in Marrakesh, tiring of life as a model and craving a more fulfilling
experience, she meets Marnie. The two women connect under dramatic
circumstances, during a dangerous encounter and Bea takes up Marnie’s offer of a
room at The Surf House, where she can get back on her feet. As usual everything is
not quite as ideal as it seems, soon after arriving Bea discovers that a young
American woman Savannah disappeared while staying there a year ago. Bea does
all she can to find out what happened and where she went and gets caught up in
corruption and intrigue.
Set in Morocco, This story really brings you into the markets of Marrakech and on
the coast with the surfers. The atmospheric writing makes you feel as if you’ve just
returned from an adventure abroad.
A destination thriller filled with danger, mystery, blackmail, secrets, corruption and
missing travelers. there is a lot going on. The plot pacing is slow with multiple short
chapters, but there are lots of twists and turns so It gives you time to sort through
the evidence with a growing sense of unease. Just when you think you’ve got it all
worked out - you haven't!!
The story is mainly told from Bea’s perspective. With multiple flashbacks from
Savannah’s perspective. There was a large cast of so many different characters,
from all walks of life, some more likable than others. The characters are well-
crafted, each bringing their own intrigue and complexity, making it hard to know
who to trust.
If you like slow paced mystery/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.