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!

Lucy Clarke delivers another gripping destination thriller with The Surf House, set in a remote coastal town in Morocco. The story follows Bea, who, after a terrifying incident in Marrakesh, is taken in by Marnie and brought to the Surf House—an off-the-grid paradise for free-spirited travelers. At first, Bea is mesmerised by the beauty, freedom, and carefree energy of the place, but when she learns that a girl, Savannah, went missing from there the year before, cracks start to appear. Beneath the idyllic surface, something much darker is lurking.

Clarke masterfully builds suspense, using the isolated settings and dual timelines to keep readers on edge. As Bea digs deeper, the web of secrets tightens—who can she really trust? And just how far does the deception go?

The descriptions of the setting and the surf scenes are beautifully vivid, making you feel the pull of the ocean and the heat of the Moroccan sun. The pacing is tight, with twists that keep the tension high. While some reveals are a little predictable, Clarke’s ability to create atmosphere and an immersive sense of place makes this an addictive read.

4.5/5 – A tense, escapist thriller that will keep you hooked.

Wow this book was unbelievable. I absolutely loved it from start to finish.

I’ve previously read other Lucy Clarke books and my favourite thing about them are that it feels like you’re actually there.

She hooks you in from the get go and albeit a slow burn in this instance, the descriptions made me feel like I was fully in Morocco.

I really enjoyed the characters in the story, was invested in the story and intrigued with where it was going.

And of course just when you think you know… plot twist!!! Which was just brilliant too.

I already know this will be one of my top books this year.

It publishes on the 27th February 2025 so get preordering you will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review.

Arc review: The Surf House by Lucy Clarke. I’m so thankful to have had an early access to this book, I absolutely loved it! The Surf House is where Bea takes refuge after an awful incident happens in Morocco. She’s stranded alone, she’s scared, and very grateful to be offered a spare room at The Surf House if she helps out around the place.The environment at The Surf House is relaxed and welcoming. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Lucy Clarke book without a bit of mystery! She gets involved unravelling why the last guest who stayed in her room a year ago seems to have disappeared.
I think this is my favourite book by Lucy to date, I found it hard to put down. The pacing was spot on, and I enjoyed reading about Bea’s journey from burnt out professional model to laid back surfer chick. The mystery unfolded and I definitely felt the suspense building.
Thankyou to author Lucy Clarke, NetGalley and publishers Grove Atlantic for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. I absolutely loved it!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Is this book on your TBR? It should be!!
#thesurfhouse #lucyclarke #netgalley #groveatlantic

Another great destination thriller by Lucy Clarke ❤️

Set in Morocco, our main character Bea finds herself at the Surf House in a small coastal village. It seems idyllic but there is a mystery around the place. What happened to Savannah, a young girl who stayed there last year who went missing?

This book was so gripping that I could not put it down! It was mysterious, it was scary and it was set in such a great location. I’ve loved all the books I have read so far by this author and can’t wait for what she writes next.

We’re introduced to Bea; an exhausted and dejected model having just walked from a set in Morocco. Trying to find safety in the sprawling streets, Bea makes a wrong turn and finds herself in a dangerous situation. Rescued by Marnie, she is whisked away to the sanctuary of “The Surf House” in Mallah until she finds her feet. The Surf House overlooks a stunning coastline, perfect for those looking to ride the waves. Bea cannot believe her luck, that is until Seth arrives, investigating the disappearance of his sister, Savannah, who went missing from this idyllic haven, and now Bea is submerged in the mystery.

Lucy Clarke is the queen of destination thrillers and has delivered another beautifully written story. I feel like I have literally been transported to Morocco, living life with other happy surfers and taking in the picturesque settings and intrinsic unease page after page. Not only can Lucy flawlessly set the scene, but she can also write a good old twist that will leave you gasping for breath.

The Surf House, told from dual POVs over two timelines features a cast of so many characters that are the heart and soul of this story, with their admirably built backstories you are questioning every red herring. The ending was perfectly executed and unravelled unexpected twists that left me shellshocked, wrapping everything up with a natural ease rather than it being forced.

As a fan of Lucy Clarke’s previous novels, I was excited to dive into The Surf House. While the story was interesting and had moments of intrigue, it didn’t grip me as much as her earlier works. There was something missing that kept it from being as immersive or suspenseful as I’d hoped. Still, it was an enjoyable read, just not a standout for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early release copy in exchange for an honest review.

What attracted me to this novel was the setting: Morocco. I’m no fan of surfing but Lucy Clarke has pulled together a readable mystery, with some good descriptions of the fictitious surfing village setting. A high impact start to the story but then a long lull before picking up again and gaining intensity. The story focuses on a small cast of characters, from the friendly local policeman to the settlers and surfers and the American in search of his sister. A nice little twist concludes the novel. An easygoing read, rather limited by the overriding surfing theme, new love and loss.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

All Lucy Clarke books are great, but this is my favorite. It is filled with suspense, filled with twists and turns. I loved it!

I absolutely flew through The Hike back in 2023, so it was a no-brainer to request an ARC of The Surf House as soon as I saw it on NetGalley! Lucy Clarke consistently delivers with her multidimensional characters, and this book was no different!

I loved how each of the central characters in The Surf House had not-so-hidden) turbulent pasts that slowly bubbled to the surface until the end of the book, when everything finally broke through the surface. For example, there were multiple times that I'd read a passage from one character's POV and have a niggling feeling that I read something similar before from someone else's POV -- Clarke sprinkled the perfect amount of breadcrumbs throughout the book to fully weave the main characters and their stories together. Adding in an exotic (and sometimes frightening) setting for good measure, The Surf House is the perfect thriller to kick of summer reading for 2025!

It took a while for me to get into this book. It starts out with a bang but then slowed down into more of an atmospheric slow burn with a few surprises along the way. I feel like it really started to pick up towards the end with twist after twist after twist.

We first find Bea, an exhausted and unhappy model in Morocco walk off her latest job. She makes a few wrong turns and ends up in a dangerous situation. Lucky for her there is a nearby ally who helps her and gives her a place to stay. What happens next involves dual timelines, a missing woman, lots of shady people, and a few dead bodies.

The ending really turned it around for me. There was some great twists in here and made this an enjoyable book. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Surf House begins with Bea, the main character, walking off of her modeling job in Morocco. Unfortunately for her, she get lost in the city and ends up getting attacked by two men. She is saved when a woman named Marnie intervenes and helps her get away, but not before Bea has to stab one of the men, killing him. Marnie helps her get past a police checkpoint and offers her a room at The Surf House. Bea agrees to work at The Surf House and ends up settling in to her new life. However, once she learns about Savannah, Bea begins to suspect all is not as it seems. Savannah was a guest at the Surf House a year ago- and then she disappeared without a trace. When Bea starts asking questions about Savannah's disappearance she uncovers a twisted web of lies and betrayal. Lucy Clarke does a great job of leading the reader in several different directions before finally making the big reveal. She also makes her settings come alive, which helps get the reader invested in the story. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A familiar type of story, but still well-written and mysterious enough to hold my interest. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

If I ever want to feel like I am on vacation, I can always count on a Lucy Clarke book. Her settings and descriptions alone are worth the read. We actually had our first cruise booked for today. I received this ARC and was saving it with the intention for it to be my "cruise read". Well two days ago, I was diagnosed with Covid and now cannot sail. In my extreme disappointment, I went ahead and started this book. Thank you, Lucy Clarke for what may be your best book yet! Once again, the atmosphere totally takes you away, this time to Morocco. We have Bea, a model who doesn't want to be a model anymore. She leaves in the middle of a Moroccan shoot, runs into trouble and is rescued by Marnie. Marnie owns The Surf House located in an isolated area on the Moroccan coast. There is an eclectic group of travelers also staying in the area and Bea discovers that a guest went missing over a year ago. What follows is a twisty story where you do not know who is a good guy or bad guy and who do you trust? I loved the surfing descriptions and could almost feel the waves. I am so grateful for this book to take me away for a few days! And we will be rebooking our cruise. I am sad that Lucy won't be able to go with me this time. Maybe next year! Hint, hint to Lucy Clarke!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Lucy Clarke and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Instagram and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of May 20, 2025.