This is a very good read not least because it takes place in the unusual setting of .Morroco. Bea, the main character, comes from London but has been working as a model there until she walks off the set finding that it is not a life for her. She is on her own in Marrakesh when two men follow her up an alleyway with obvious intent to rob her or worse. She is rescued by Marnie, the other main character. Marnie takes her to the coast where she lives with he boyfriend. They have built a surfing business on the coast but are financially challenged. That leads to illegal efforts to raise money. There are other prominent characters who live and surf there and relationships become complicated. Then an American arrives looking for his sister whom he wants to take home. She has disappeared. The book describes the aspirations and sinister behaviour of some characters very convincingly. Then it all comes together in a dramatic climax. This is a very compelling read and i recommend it.

Thankyou NetGalley & harper Collins for this arc copy, I really enjoyed this book it felt like you was immediately immersed into morrocco as you follow Bea and the other characters living life in the surf house. From the start it starts with high impact of intense moments and throughout you follow Bea navigating through trying to find a missing person but also trying to maintain her care free life in the surf house. I would definitely recommend if you want a good thriller with some depth within the storyline

Lucy Clarke writes an absolute banger of a thriller with this one ,It gave me the shivers reading it .One of her best yet I think full of travel ,sun and surfing .Wonderful .

Another great thriller from Lucy Clarke, set in Morocco following Bea a model who walks away from that life keen for a fresh start.

Although I had my suspicions about a certain character from early on I didn't see that ending coming. It was a compelling read, hard to put down.

I have already read and loved several of the author's books, and was therefore very excited about this one. First of all: it was brilliant. As expected, a page-turner. You are drawn into the story from page 1, and it has a pull; I read through the almost 400 pages in one weekend :-)

The plot: We are in Morocco. Bea is a well-paid model and has a photo shoot in Marrakesh. Bea is frustrated, the job was never her passion, and the negative aspects are piling up: she quits the job more or less spontaneously. When she gets lost in the souks a few hours later, she has a threatening experience and is robbed. Fortunately, Marnie arrives at the last minute, and both women are able to escape the danger. Bea drives with Marnie to her hostel by the sea: "The Surf House", Marnie's dream, is also supposed to be a refuge for Bea. Sun, the ocean, surfing - what more could you possibly want? Life is beautiful. Or at least it could be, because somehow the Surf House hides its dark secrets...

Flashback to a year earlier: The Surf House opens its doors and Savannah, an American, rich heiress but a bit on a self-discovery-trip, also finds her refuge here. But unlike Bea, Savannah is more of a modern hippie and always stays where the parties are. And one day Savannah disappears without a trace.
A year later, her brother Seth comes looking for her and is supposed to meet Bea, who decides to help him searching Savannah...

That is the starting point; and we alternate between Bea and later Savannah, so that the story develops on two time levels. The other protagonists around the Surf House are always the same, which of course makes the story interesting. What happened there last year? Or rather, what is actually going on with Bea right now? And the more Bea unravels the threads of events, the more it becomes clear: no one here is who they seem to be on the surface. And you should never jump to conclusions too quickly.....
Beneath the superficial tourist surfer idyll, there are some pretty serious dramas taking place, and the more the story progresses, the more the level of tension increases.

Each of the narrative strands is written in the present tense, which I personally find a little difficult to get used to, but on the other hand, of course, it also has an immediacy, and increases the drama a little.

My reading impression and conclusion: It was captivating. And the author once again managed to lead me completely astray a few times. So, friends of intelligent plot twists: the story is extremely well done and I didn't know who the villain was until the very end :-) The connections are only clarified at the very end. Really well done.

I also found it believable. I can certainly imagine that these same characters are drawn to the surf spots of this world as dropouts, and that exactly the same emotional/psychological pitfalls lead people into exactly the same messed up situations that Bea and the rest of the cast find themselves in. And you need strength and maturity to find your way out of it. The question is who ultimately has this strength and insight and who doesn't.
So yes: please read it! I was gripped and I'm happy to recommend the novel.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy!

The descriptions of Marrakesh transport you to heat, the pungent aromas and the crush of the crowd and the counterpoint of the surfers paradise, secluded bay, fresh sea breezer plays really well to help divide the story into 2 different lifestyles, neither of which quite fits Bea.
some great story telling and characters but for me the twists were fairly obvious, not that this should distract from enjoying a good book!

A super gripping thriller that kept me hooked from the first chapter. I’ve read a few of Lucy Clarkes destination books and this one was by far my favourite - it’s pacy and has the right amount of twists and turns without being over the top. Could definitely see this being made into a drama series in the future.

Bea is in Morocco on a modelling job. On the way back to her accommodation she is mugged and another woman helps her to escape.
She takes Bea to the Surf House that she manages until Bea is ready to go home.
A mystery thriller that had me guessing as to what was going on.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Outstanding read! Five stars all around. This book keeps you guessing the whole way through. I stayed up until 2am because I couldn't put it down! I had to find out the ending!

A gripping and page turning thriller full of shocking twists and turns. It was brilliant and shocking, and the ending was great too.

Another riveting location thriller from Lucy Clarke!
I loved the surf setting of Morocco and the character development of the main female lead, Bea. Bea gets wrapped up in several mysteries surrounding the newly opened Surf House after she arrives there on the kindness of a stranger. The majority of the story is a relatively slow burn, and filled with suspense and lots of suspicion on various people Bea comes into contact with. I enjoyed the twists up to the ending, and the way the story unfolds and is tied up. Highly recommend for an easy, enthralling read when you’re craving an escape from reality!

I usually love books by this author, so I think maybe this book suffered because I had such high expectations for it. Firstly, I have to say that the setting was absolutely beautiful, I almost felt like I was in Morocco. I enjoyed the writing style too.

The story did struggle to hold my interest, I thought it was fairly obvious from the start where it was all going and it meandered a lot to get there. I felt very little connection to main character Bea, I never really got a handle on her personality, maybe the book would have benefited from first person narration.

Overall this was a decent enough read, but it didn't excite me.

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! When I started this book I read a few chapters and said eh I’ll come back! When I finally finished the book it was a fantastic read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! It had suspense, very intriguing, murder, mystery, and some wild twists and turns! The story was very interesting and kept me glued to my kindle! I highly recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I love Lucy Clarke novels and this book took me back to Summer. There is snow on the ground where I am so i really enjoyed the rich vivid setting of Morrocco.

Bea is escaping a drama and arrives at her hotel filled with hope.

Last year another young girl did the same, same hotel same people, same everything ...then she disappeared

Nea is a good character and I loved gerring to know her. The story is filled with drama, tense and I was hooked....

A brilliant read.. .

I’m taking you all back to summer with this book. I couldn’t resist picking it up. Set in Morocco, the country where I’ve spent most of my life. This book delivers an atmospheric, sun-drenched thriller with crashing waves, and an air of mystery that kept me turning pages late at night.

The story centers on Bea, who escapes a dangerous incident and finds sanctuary at The Surf House, but this paradise hides its own secrets. A year earlier, another young woman disappeared, and the last place she was seen was this very house. As Bea settles in, she’s pulled into the shadows of what should be an heavenly retreat, unraveling lies and long-buried truths. The tension is palpable, and the sense of unease grows with every chapter as the mystery deepens. The characters are well-crafted, each bringing their own intrigue and complexity, making it hard to know who to trust.

It’s a story of escape, secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect their own lies, all set against the irresistible pull of the ocean. While the idyllic seaside might lull you into a false sense of security, don’t be fooled, darkness simmers beneath the surface… Making this story as gripping as the waves crashing on the shore.

𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨 :
• psychological thriller
• locked room mystery
• stranger in a strange land
• found family with secrets
• friends drama
• missing woman

Thank you Lucy Clarke, HarperCollins and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy.

Fab author.
Wonderfully written storyline in an amazing location.
I was sucked in from the start in this gripping tale.
Bea turns detective and there were quite a few suspects.
My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.

I’ve loved all of Lucy Clarke’s ‘destination’ thrillers so was excited to read The Surf House.
The cover and the Moroccan setting are beautiful and atmospheric and I longed to be on a beach while I was reading it.
After Bea walks out of a modelling job in Morocco she is attacked in an alleyway in Marrakesh, a meeting with surfer Marnie changes the course of her life. Bea goes to stay with Marnie and her partner Ped at The Surf House, a hotel for surfers in a remote coastal part of Morocco. Bea soon discovers that a year previously Savannah, an American tourist went missing from The Surf House.
This was a gripping and compelling thriller, I loved the setting and was completely drawn into Bea and Savannah’s stories. I liked the characterisation and there were a few unexpected twists, A satisfying and enjoyable thriller. Recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

This book had me on the edge of my seat throughout it had many twists and turns they were non- stop and it was real page turner!

It was cleverly written and it had a wow factor in terms of the characters and the setting in Morocco which I loved, I just wish I was there whilst reading it!

Another fantastic book by Lucy Clarke this is a must read for 2025!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟stars

Bea is a model in Morroco who is mugged and almost killed before she can reach the airport. Marnie steps in to help her and they end up killing a guy. Marnie take Bea to her Surf House because he passport and money were stolen. On their way there, a cop takes the bloody knife from their fan and proceeds to blackmail them. Bea realizes a girl who was at the surf house last year disappeared. Now a man drowns, and something odd is going on with Marnie's boyfriend. Who can Bea trust? It was ok. Skimmed more than anything,

I was SO excited to get an ARC of this, as Lucy Clarke is my favourite author. I read it in two days. The Surf House is trademark Clarke, leaves you feeling as though you've been living in Morocco alongside the characters. Beautifully written, vulnerable protagonist, layered mystery with plenty of twists and turns. Loved it!