The Surf House Lucy Clarke

5 stars

I loved 'The Hike,' the last book by this author, so was very excited to have the opportunity to read this and I was not disappointed. What a story and what atmospheric writing, I have never been to Morocco but now feel that I have!

Bea is a 23 year old model who hates the restrictions her career puts her through and one day on a shoot in Marrakesh everything just gets on top of her and she runs away. Aimlessly wandering through the city she becomes hopelessly lost and is confronted by two men intent on attacking her. Suddenly out of nowhere another young woman appears with a knife and during the struggle between them all, Bea stabs one of the men and kills him. Her rescuer, Marnie offers her refuge in her wonderful retreat called The Surf House on the coast in a tiny village called Mallah.

Bea soon relaxes and starts to overcome her terrible guilt at killing someone albeit in self defence and is drawn into the beautiful area and learns to surf and actually begins to enjoy life meeting the young people who live in Mallah and those who come to holiday there. However this idyll is shattered when Seth Hart, an American arrives in search of his young sister Savannah. She had also come to Mallah as part of her desire to travel but had suddenly left to go to South Africa with two other girls. This is when the plot becomes more complicated as Bea starts to delve into the past and the complicated histories of the supposedly happy people residing in Mallah.

I loved this book, the writing is so atmospheric and the plot so clever, I kept thinking I knew what had happened but was completely wrong. I highly recommend this book, I read it on a train from Manchester to Bournemouth, never has the journey passed so quickly!

I
Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net Galley

Situated in the Moroccan cliffs, the sanctuary is ideal for travellers wanting to catch waves and not a lot else. So when Bea arrives, seeking refuge, she’s intrigued by the tale of another woman of her similar age who disappeared a year earlier.
Of course, it’s only natural that people have secrets, but some are more deadly than others…

Lucy Clarke writes so vividly that I felt like I was in Morocco. The descriptions of the waves and the surfers were beautiful. Even the food seemed inviting. The story, right away, pulls you in and gets more intriguing throughout the book. I’ve read a few books by Lucy Clarke and haven’t been disappointed yet.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was completely immersed in The Surf House from the very first page, transported to the sun-drenched beaches of Morocco, where the salty air, crashing waves, and hazy heat practically seeped through the pages. Lucy Clarke has such a vivid and evocative writing style that I felt as if I were right there alongside Bea and the others, experiencing the beauty of the setting and the underlying unease that simmers beneath the surface.
The novel wastes no time in drawing the reader into its mystery, and I loved how the suspense was expertly woven into the narrative. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives, which added layers of intrigue, making me constantly question what was really going on and who I could trust. The shifting viewpoints kept the tension high, and I found myself racing through chapters, eager to uncover the truth behind the disappearance at the heart of the book.
Though the middle section slows down slightly compared to the fast-paced opening, it never loses its grip. Instead, the tension lingers just beneath the surface, like an unspoken threat waiting to erupt. The relationships between the characters are complex and well-drawn, and I appreciated how Clarke explored themes of female friendship, freedom, and the darker side of paradise. The way past secrets and hidden resentments begin to unravel adds even more depth to the mystery.
The final act of the book is where it really shines. The twists and turns towards the end were gripping, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, Clarke managed to surprise me again. The climax was thrilling but also satisfying—everything tied together in a way that felt natural rather than forced.
I could have happily carried on reading about these characters beyond the final page, seeing how their lives unfolded after everything that had happened. That, to me, is the mark of a truly engaging book—when you’re reluctant to leave the world, the author has created. The Surf House is a tense, atmospheric, and gripping read, full of drama and intrigue, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.

The Surf House by Lucy Clarke ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I have been lucky enough to get the chance to read an advance copy of Lucy Clarkes new book The Surf House, and once again your thrown into a storyline full of twists, turns and many didn’t see that coming moments.

From the very beginning of the book your hooked on the characters Marine and Bea, as well as all of those that you meet throughout the rest of the story.
Set in Mallah, Morocco as well as the city Marrakesh you can’t help but be drawn into the scenery and surroundings. Marrakesh being a personal favourite having got engaged there myself.
I just found myself wishing I was there enjoying the surroundings and the beaches and surf that felt so real whilst reading.

So as not to give away any spoilers here’s the official book description…

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 travellers 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.
A woman her age – who stayed in the same area, walked the same beaches, met the same guests – disappeared one year earlier, vanishing without trace.
Somewhere inside The Surf House lies the truth – but there’ll be a price for uncovering it…

If you’re a fan of Lucy Clarke you certainly need to add this to your ones to read, and you can from 27th February 2025 you won’t be disappointed. Available now for preorder.
I would like to thank HarperCollins and Netgalley for the chance to read this in advance.

An exceptional book. Lucy makes Morocco a character in itself with so many different personalities varying from the bustling souks to the rugged coastline. The action starts straightaway, you’re immediately thrown into the thick of it and it never lets you go. I loved the setting of the Surf House and having expectations turned upside down and inside out. Kept me riveted all the way through. Loved it.

When Bea walks out of her modelling job all she knows is she wants to get away from it. She is then attacked while walking through Marrakesh, but Marnie comes along and saves her. She then whisks Bea away to Mallah and the beautiful Surf House she calls home. We follow Bea as she tries to put everything into perspective and decides what to do next, while under the watchful, caring eye of Marnie.

The author sets the scene brilliantly, you can envisage everything and everyone, the beach, the sea, the surf house. The story keeps you guessing right the way through but I did think the plot was maybe a little far fetched in places and just wasn’t quite as good as the previous title I read from this author.

Overall a good read, just not quite the pace of previous stories.
3.5 stars

Lucy Clarke never disappoints me, this is my second read by her. I love her writing style. The characters of Bea and Marnie were well written and indepth. I was suspecting a character from the start but the way it unfolded was something I didn't see coming. I thank netgalley and HarperCollins for eARC copy.

After giving up her modelling job in Marrakesh, Bea is attacked by guys trying to steal her money. She is rescued by Marnie who takes her to a property on the coast which is a haven for surfers. Whilst working there an American turns up looking for his sister. The last place she was seen was at the beach house a year previously. Lots of twists to the story and an enjoyable read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advance copy of this book.

Another twisty read from Lucy!

I’ve previously enjoyed Lucy’s thrilling books and this was no exception.

Bea, a model from England working on a job in Morocco, finds herself in a scary situation resulting in her being with no money, no passport and no where to stay. Luckily her saviour Marnie, has an answer - Bea can stay and work at her boarding place, the Surf House. So Bea’s next adventure begins…..and continues with a new man, a visiting American and a missing girl.

This book was packed with twists that kept me guessing all the way to the end. Would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

What a setting! From Marrakesh to Mallah, with the Surf House perched high on the cliffs, the descriptions were mesmerising and I really felt that I had been transported to an idyllic paradise.

Bea walks out on her modelling job in Marrakesh, as she is sick of being valued only for her looks and never seen for who she really is. As she flees, she is trapped in an alleyway, robbed and about to be assaulted, until another woman comes to her rescue, armed with a knife which Bea has no choice but to use to save them both.

The two women flee to Mallah and The Surf House, a tranquil getaway favoured by the surfing community. As Bea’s life intertwines with the staff, guests and neighbours of The Surf House, she finds herself involved in bribery, a missing woman and a whole web of deceit.

The story was good, but part of it just felt too far fetched and I found the pace quite slow. It wasn’t a book I picked up at every opportunity as I didn’t really like or care for any of the characters.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Lucy Clarke and Harper Collins for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I love this authors books and this her latest did not disappoint. This story is set in Morocco and Lucy Clarke brings the atmosphere straight to you through fabulous descriptions of the sights, sounds and aromas.
Bea is a model and on her latest assignment a photoshoot in a 5 star hotel but lately she has realised that this is not the life she wants.
The next chapter of Beas adventure leads her to a horrendous situation in the back streets of Marrakesh. Fortunately she is rescued and agrees to go to Mallah that appears to be the most idyllic, peaceful place she has encountered. Here Bea discovers a passion for surfing and is surrounded by happy people living a simple life.
There are many twists in this story and some great interesting characters and I was totally invested in this novel from start to finish.
The fact that this authors love of surfing and the water brought the book alive and shone throughout the story.

Excellent twisty storyline.
Keeps you guessing right to the end.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review

This book is a jaw-dropper! It had me booked from the very very beginning and kept you guessing throughout. This has everything you want from a good thriller, twists and turns, suspense and tension, and an ending that had so many different revelations I couldn't believe what I was reading! I had suspected some of it, but Clarke leads you down so many different routes you don't know which theory could be true! It is written perfectly, and the scene of a beautiful Morrocan seaside is set out so perfectly. Highly recommend this one, a perfect thriller mystery.

An absolutely stunning read. Completely engrossing from start to finish. Beautifully described scenery makes the readers feel like they are there with characters.

Book Review: The Surf House by Lucy Clarke

Wow, what a ride! I just finished The Surf House by Lucy Clarke, and I’m still reeling from the twists and turns. If you’re looking for a thriller that mixes a breathtaking setting with suspense and mystery, this is it.

Set against the backdrop of Morocco, The Surf House is exactly what you’d expect from a destination thriller. The house itself, perched high on the cliffs, is both beautiful and haunting, offering a sense of escape for those seeking refuge—though, as we quickly find out, it's far from a peaceful retreat.

The story centers around Bea, who washes up at the Surf House after an encounter in Marrakesh goes wrong. What she doesn’t realize at first is that a woman, much like herself, disappeared from the same house the year before. As Bea unravels the mystery, the tension mounts. You can feel the eerie atmosphere building as she digs deeper into the secrets hidden within the walls of this secluded sanctuary.

What I loved most about The Surf House is how Lucy Clarke builds tension. The plot is gripping from the very first page, with each new reveal pulling me deeper into the story. The setting is gorgeous but menacing, making it the perfect backdrop for a thriller that’s as much about atmosphere as it is about the mystery at its core. The suspense is so well done, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, the story would throw me for a loop.

The characters, especially Bea, are well-drawn and relatable, which is essential in a mystery like this. Bea's determination to uncover the truth makes her an engaging protagonist, and I found myself rooting for her the entire time. The other characters are intriguing, with their own hidden motives, which kept me constantly guessing about who could be trusted.

If you love a good twisty thriller with a dark undercurrent, this book will absolutely sweep you away. It’s got all the elements I love—an exotic setting, a gripping mystery, and just the right amount of suspense. I could not put it down, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves thrillers with a twist, especially those with a stunning, atmospheric backdrop.

Rating: 5/5
Lucy Clarke has done it again! The Surf House is an unputdownable thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of suspenseful, sun-soaked mysteries!

I really enjoyed this thriller, which has a fantastic twist at the end - it's well written and the plot develops incredibly, and the characters are well-rounded too. The descriptions of Morocco and the easy way surfing was written into the plot were both great, and overall it's just a brilliant, easy to read but well done psychological thriller!

A Vacation Gone Sideways

Bea, a former model with a mysterious past, finds herself in a captivating Moroccan coastal town. Fleeing a perilous encounter in Marrakesh, she seeks solace and belonging among the diverse group of people who call this place home. But paradise soon turns into a twisted mystery when Bea gets entangled in the search for a missing American girl who vanished a year ago.

Lucy Clarke masterfully paints a vivid backdrop of Morocco, immersing readers in its vibrant culture, delectable cuisine, and breathtaking landscapes. The diverse cast of characters adds depth and intrigue to the narrative, each with their own secrets and motivations. As Bea delves deeper into the investigation, she uncovers a web of lies and hidden agendas that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The explosive climax delivers a shocking twist that will leave you reeling.

If you're looking for a thrilling escape with a captivating setting and unforgettable characters, look no further. This book is a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Lucy Clarke for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I often enjoy a Lucy Clarke book. They’re a safe thriller read. Typically set in delightful settings, she really makes you envisage being there and this book was no different. I’m heading to Morocco in a weeks time and this made me want to consider searching for Mallah and the surf house. Maybe not the characters though. Or at least some of them..I’d happily give salty a scratch behind his ears.

It’s definitely an easy read, enjoyable if not slightly predictable. It took me a little to get into the story and some bits were just not believable but it was enjoyable all the same.

As gripping and juicy as I'd expect from a Lucy Clarke thriller. This one is set in Morocco and I really felt I was there turning the pages. Tense, twisty and addictive