The Surf House by Lucy Clarke

                                                           

Ebook:  392 pages                                                                                                

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

Publisher: February 27th 2025, Harper Collins 

Source: NetGalley

First Sentence: In the sweltering, diesel-filmed heat, we drove down the clanking ramp of the car ferry, tyres hitting Moroccan concrete.

Review Quote: 'Escapist, thrilling, unforgettable’ GILLIAN McALLISTER

My Opinion:   

Lucy Clarke was inspired to write 'The Surf House' after falling in love with surfing in her thirties. Combining her passion with a wild surf filled destination in Morocco she had the setting for her ninth destination thriller.

'The Surf House' has a large cast of characters, many of them not particularly pleasant, which becomes more and more obvious throughout the novel. The main protagonist is Bea from whose perspective the story is mainly revealed. Bea finds herself in a difficult situation in Marrakech and a stranger Marnie steps in to help her. Marnie then offers her a place to stay whilst she recovers from the shock she has experienced. She soon discovers that whilst staying at the same place last year a young girl, Savannah had disappeared without trace. Being of a similar age and staying in the same room Bea takes it upon herself to investigate her disappearance. What a web of intrigue and corruption she finds herself mixed up in.

The wonderful descriptions of Morocco transport the reader to this magical sounding place as the tense storyline becomes evermore dramatic. A perfect choice for thriller fans and maybe surfers, certainly a great holiday read.

With thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

WISH YOU WERE HERE? THINK AGAIN…

High on the wave-pounded cliffs, far from the bustling souks of Marrakech, sits The Surf House.

A hidden gem on Morocco’s shores, the house is a sanctuary for the surfers, travellers and dreamers who wash in.

But the idyll is built on something rotten.

And when Bea arrives, relieved to find refuge after a dangerous encounter in a Marrakech alleyway, she soon gets caught in the swell of a deep, dark mystery.

Because another young woman went missing one year ago – and the last place she was sighted was The Surf House.

Previous Reviews: One of the Girls.   Last Seen   The Hike

Author Profile

          

Lucy Clarke, novelist, traveller and fresh air enthusiast is the author of eight destination thrillers. They include Waterstones Thriller of the Month, The Castaways, Richard and Judy Book Club pick, One of the Girls, and most recently, The Hike. Lucy's novels have sold over a million copies and are published in more than 25 territories worldwide.

Lucy's thriller, No Escape (also published as The Blue) has been released as a major international show for Paramount+. Set in the Philippines, the seven-part series is directed by Hans Herbot (The Serpent) and stars Abigail Lawrie and Rhianne Barreto as best friends Lana and Kitty.

The Castaways has also been adapted for screen and was The Guardian Pick of the Week. BAFTA award-winner Sheridan Smith stars as Lori, and Celine Buckens plays her sister, Erin. The five-part thriller is available to stream on Paramount+.

When Lucy isn't away on research trips (the real reason she loves being an author!), she can be found writing from a beach hut on the south coast of England. She lives with her husband and their two children.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.

Goodreads Author Page   Facebook - Lucy Clarke    Instagram - Lucy Clarke Author

Official Author Website    Amazon Author Page

Eight Years of Lies by Lisa Hall

 

                                                   

Ebook:   301 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller,

Publisher: Joffe Books, 19th February 2025

Source:  NetGalley

First Sentences:  Prologue: It was just a normal day. Another boring, mundane day in our boring, mundane lives.

Review Quote: ‘A tense, pacy rollercoaster of a read, full of suspense, twists and dark intrigue. I was furiously turning the pages until the heart-stopping conclusion.’ A. A. CHAUDHURI, bestselling author

My Opinion: 

This is the second book I have read by Lisa Hall, having been previously been introduced to her writing by a Book Club Choice. I was apprehensive about doing so as I found the previous novel repetitive, unfortunately so was this one at times, but it did not spoil my enjoyment.

Claire has been happily married or so she thought to Tom for eight years. Then suddenly he just disappears without trace leaving her alone with their daughter wondering why. Her search for him is told by her but interspersed with chapters from an unknown person, which certainly adds to the intrigue. Claire soon discovers she does not know her husband all, as shocking discoveries unfold throughout the novel.

A very quick read for me, a contemporary psychological thriller full of lies and surprising twists. Far fetched maybe at times but then I read for escapism so went with the flow.

With thanks to NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author for the opportunity to read and review. 

Précis Courtesy of Amazon: 

Was my marriage always built on lies? How could everything unravel so quickly?

My life wasn’t perfect — school runs, late meetings, family dinners — But we were happy.

Then a single Facebook post destroys it all: ‘PLEASE CAN ANYONE HELP ME? HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MAN? I am Lydia French. This is my husband and child — they have been missing for several months and I am desperate to find them.’

I look at the photo of a man and a little girl, smiling in the sun, and freeze. They’re not Lydia French’s husband and child. They’re mine.

I get a call from the school. Tom hasn’t picked up our daughter. He’s not answering his phone. His boss says he didn’t show up for work.

Nothing makes sense. Panic claws my chest as I piece together the fragments of my shattered reality.

The man I’ve lived with for the past eight years, the man I’ve made a home, a family, a life with, isn’t who I thought he was at all. The man I married has been lying to me . . . about everything.

Previous Review:  The Perfect Couple

Author Profile:         

Courtesy of Author Website

Lisa loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl – either that or a librarian - and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it). Lisa lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband. She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine.  (Taken from Author Website)

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Official Author Website   Instagram - Lisa Hall Author   Facebook Profile  

Twitter - Lisa Hall Author

Amazon Author Page

Happily Ever After by Jane Lovering

                                                      

Ebook:  269 pages

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Fiction, Humorous Fiction, 

Publisher:  Boldwood Books 17th February 2025

Source:  NetGalley

First Sentences: 'Are you sure this is right? Only this is Lady Dawe's place and she is bonkers'

Review Quote: ‘A unique, well-written story that is uplifting, emotional, and humorous—well worth reading.’ Reader Review. 

My Opinion:  

I have read several of this author's books in the past, but it was a long time ago 2011/2012. Somehow I have missed out on her more recent publications until now. 

'Happily Ever After' has a dreamy heroine, Andromeda who believes that real life is like the books she read during her unconventional upbringing. While cataloguing the vast neglected library in an old and crumbling mansion, she soon learns that real life is somewhat less predictable.

The setting and the characters are all well developed with the story having twists and turns to hold the readers interest. Clever touch is each chapter having a literary reference as a title heading. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with a touch of romance and humour this is a very readable example of the genre. 

With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Jane Lovering for the opportunity to read and review. 

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

Andi Glover loves nothing more than a good book.

Any book in fact because when you’re raised by unconventional parents who think school’s for squares, alongside a deeply conventional sister who escapes home as soon as she can, fiction is eminently preferable to reality.

The only problem is that fiction isn’t the best way to learn about the real world. When Andi starts her new live-in job at Templewood Hall for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her enigmatic son Hugo, it’s tempting to think she’s fallen into the pages of one of her favourite gothic novels.

But the plot twists at Templewood Hall are stranger than fiction and it’s not long before Andi questions if she’s living in a romance novel or a whodunnit. Bumps in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and secrets that have been kept for generations - the mysteries mount up. Then there's the inscrutable gardener who seems to appear when needed - is Andi right to hope for a happily-ever-after end to her story?

Author Profile:         

                                           

                                            Photo and Profile Courtesy of Amazon

WINNER - CONTEMPORARY ROMANTIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2023 with A COTTAGE FULL OF SECRETS (Boldwood Books) ROMANTIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2012 with PLEASE DON'T STOP THE MUSIC (Choc Lit publishing), RoNA ROSE (NOVELLA OF THE YEAR) 2018 with CHRISTMAS AT THE LITTLE VILLAGE SCHOOL AND FANTASY ROMANTIC NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2019 with LIVING IN THE PAST

Jane was, presumably, born, although everyone concerned denies all knowledge. However there is evidence that her early years were spent in Devon (she can still talk like a pirate under the right conditions) and of her subsequent removal to Yorkshire under a sack and sedation.

She now lives in North Yorkshire, where she writes women's fiction novels with funny bits and labours under the tragic misapprehension that men are queueing up for her. She owns possibly the world's worst dog, a Patterdale Terrier who answers to - well, who knows, since she rarely comes back; she is also the owner of five practically grown-up children, and she has to spend considerable amounts of time in a darkened room as a result (of the dog, not the kids).

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Jane Lovering - Facebook Profile.   Twitter Profile   Amazon Book Page

Three Days in June by Anne Tyler

                                                  

Ebook: 193 pages

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Literary Fiction

Publisher: Random House UK, 13th February 2025

Source:  NetGalley

First Sentences: People don't tap their watches anymore, have you noticed? Standard wristwatches, I'm talking about. Remember how people used to tap them?

Review Quote: 'I devoured it in one long lazy afternoon - I laughed and cried' VICTORIA HISLOP

My Opinion:  Anne Tyler is a prolific American author whose books I have been enjoying for over twenty years, this is her twenty fifth novel. Her literary style is appealing and her characters usually feel very relatable, this latest novel is no exception.

Once again she takes an everyday situation, this time a wedding day and the days surrounding it and weaves a gripping story. The three days are full of heartbreak and joys. Many emotions surface that cause the protagonists, the parents Gail and Max and their daughter Debbie to confront the past and to face what the future holds.

Read in less than a day, at less than 200 pages this was more of a novella and for that reason I probably would not have considered this if it had not been written by Anne Tyler. A great read if you are a fan of her writing or a reader looking for something heart warming and witty.

With thanks to NetGalley, Random House and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

An instant classic about love, marriage and second chances from the beloved, bestselling sage of the human heart, Anne Tyler

Gail Baines is having a bad day. To start with, she loses her job – or quits, depending who you ask. And then her ex-husband Max turns up at her door expecting to stay for their daughter’s wedding. He hasn’t even brought a suit. Instead, he brings with him memories, a calm maturity, a shared sense of humour – and a cat looking for a new home.

Over the course of the three busy days of the wedding, the past is stirred up for Gail, even as the future – in the shape of the happy couple Debbie and Kenneth – is already underway. But ‘happy’ takes many forms, and sometimes the younger generation has much to teach the older about secrets, acceptance and taking the rough with the smooth.

Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humour, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life, Three Days in June is a feast of a novel to savour in a single sitting.

Author Profile:         

                                                   

                                                     Courtesy of Goodreads

Her interesting profile can be read in full on Wikipedia

Anne Tyler (born October 25, 1941) is an American novelist, short story writer, and literary critic. She has published twenty-four novels, including Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant (1982), The Accidental Tourist(1985), and Breathing Lessons (1988). All three were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and Breathing Lessons won the prize in 1989. She has also won the Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize, the Ambassador Book Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 2012 she was awarded The Sunday Times Award for Literary Excellence. Tyler's twentieth novel, A Spool of Blue Thread, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2015, and Redhead By the Side of the Road was longlisted for the same award in 2020. She is recognised for her fully developed characters, her "brilliantly imagined and absolutely accurate detail" her "rigorous and artful style", and her "astute and open language."

Photographs, Trailer and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Goodreads Profile Page.    Anne Tyler - Facebook Page.   Wikipedia Profile.

Amazon Author Page

The Hike by Lucy Clarke

                                            

Hardback:  376 pages                                                                                                

Genre: Contemporary Fiction and Thriller

Publisher: Harper Collins 2023

Source: Tywyn Public Library

First Sentence: Prologue: Her body lies broken on the mountainside.

Review Quote: ‘Lucy Clarke brilliantly transports readers. The chilling environment and the tense, unpredictable plot both sent shivers down my spine’ ADELE PARKS

Main Characters: Liz Wallace, Joni Gold, Helena Hall and Maggie Padden

Setting: Blafjell Mountain Region in Norway

My Opinion:   Blafjell Mountain and Svelte Trail in Norway.

Lucy Clarke is an author whose writing has grown on me, the more I read of writing, the more I seem to enjoy her novels. She writes destination thrillers and this time the setting is Norway.

Four young women Liz, Joni, Helena and Maggie have holidayed together for many years and this time the choice is Norway. The trip is to the Blafjell region of mountains where they plan to hike a circular trail from the Hiking Lodge/Hotel that will take them a few days so they will camp in the wild. As well as a physical journey for the four of them it will also be a personal journey testing their relationships. An adventure in the wilderness surrounded by the natural beauty of the Norwegian countryside, that turns into a nightmare as things start to go horribly wrong. 

Loved this and raced through it as I was hooked from page one. Recommended to mystery fans looking for a gripping plot with atmospheric descriptions of the surroundings.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Wish you were here?
Think again . . .

Maggie, Liz, Helena & Joni. Old friends bound by history, adventures, old secrets.

And now, bound by murder.

They lace up their hiking boots for the adventure of a lifetime in the Norwegian wilderness: a place of towering mountains, glass-like lakes, log cabins and forests stolen from a fairytale.

It’s the perfect place to lose yourself – until a broken body is found at the bottom of a ravine.

Somewhere out there, someone knows exactly why a woman has died. And in this deep, dark wilderness, there’s a killer on the trail . . .

Previous Reviews: One of the Girls.   Last Seen

Author Profile

          

Lucy Clarke, novelist, traveller and fresh air enthusiast is the author of eight destination thrillers. They include Waterstones Thriller of the Month, The Castaways, Richard and Judy Book Club pick, One of the Girls, and most recently, The Hike. Lucy's novels have sold over a million copies and are published in more than 25 territories worldwide.

Lucy's thriller, No Escape (also published as The Blue) has been released as a major international show for Paramount+. Set in the Philippines, the seven-part series is directed by Hans Herbot (The Serpent) and stars Abigail Lawrie and Rhianne Barreto as best friends Lana and Kitty.

The Castaways has also been adapted for screen and was The Guardian Pick of the Week. BAFTA award-winner Sheridan Smith stars as Lori, and Celine Buckens plays her sister, Erin. The five-part thriller is available to stream on Paramount+.

When Lucy isn't away on research trips (the real reason she loves being an author!), she can be found writing from a beach hut on the south coast of England. She lives with her husband and their two children.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites.

Goodreads Author Page   Facebook - Lucy Clarke    Instagram - Lucy Clarke Author

Official Author Website    Amazon Author Page

From London with Love by Katie Fforde

                                             

Ebook:  407 pages Kindle Edition

Genre:  Romance, Contemporary Womens Fiction, 

Publisher:  Random House, 13th February  2025 

Source:  NetGalley 

First Sentences: 'Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?' said David. Felicite smiles and put her hand over David's. She looked on him as a sort of uncle, always there, always supportive but sometimes a little over-protective.

Review Quote: A force to be reckoned with for her uplifting tales of romance.' Daily Express

Setting : London, England

My Opinion: 

When I want to read some romantic fiction, Katie Fforde is an author I turn to first. As I have been reading and enjoying her novels since 1995, I think I can safely say her writing never fails to provide just what I need at the time. Romantic escapism. 

The novel is set in the final years of the swinging sixties and follows the lives of two young ladies, Felicity de Belville and Violet Stone, both living in the same house in London. They have only just met but soon become good friends and support each other in their romantic endeavours. There are plenty of tears as well as laughter as their romances progress with a great cast of supporting characters. 

I am adding this author's note to this review ' It is important to note that this book is set between 1968 and 1969 when there were no rules about mudlarking. Today you cannot do it without a licence, even if you go with an experienced mudlarker.

Recommended as a perfect read for when one is in the mood for a readable romance, with the inevitable happy ending. Relax and enjoy. 

With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review 'From London With Love' 

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

It’s 1968 and it’s cold when Felicity arrives in London to stay with her mother, improve her English, do a secretarial course - and meet a suitable man.

She is already missing her home in Provence and her father and his new wife and their extended family. But it’s only for a year she tells herself - and then she can go back to France and do what she really wants and become a painter.

And then she bumps into Oliver who is quite the most interesting young man she has ever met. He lives on a barge for one thing and has a selection of jobs including looking for hidden treasures along the shores of the river Thames.

In a word he’s a mudlarker - and before long Felicity is mudlarking too. She is also pursuing her dreams and painting scenery for Oliver’s actor friends. 

But is Oliver a Suitable Man of whom her mother will approve? Felicity knows she will not …

Previous Reviews:   Flora's Lot  Summer of Love  Recipe for Love  The Perfect Match  

A Rose Petal Summer   A Wedding in Provence

Author Profile:                

                                      

                                     Courtesy of Goodreads Profile

Catherine Rose Gordon-Cumming was born 27 September 1952 in England, UK and she lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire. She is the daughter of Shirley Barbara Laub and Michael Willoughby Gordon-Cumming. Her grandfather was Sir William Gordon-Cumming. Her sister is fellow writer Jane Gordon-Cumming. Katie married Desmond Fforde, cousin of the also writer Jasper Fforde. She has three children: Guy, Francis and Briony and didn't start writing until after the birth of her third child. She has previously worked both as a cleaning lady and in a health food cafe.

Published since 1995, her romance novels are set in modern-day England. She is the founder of the "Katie Fforde Bursary" for writers who have yet to secure a publishing contract. Katie was elected the twenty-fifteenth Chairman (2009-2011) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. She is delighted to have been chosen as Chair of the Romantic Novelists' Association and says, "Catherine Jones was a wonderful chair and she's a very tough act to follow. However, I've been a member of the RNA for more years than I can actually remember and will have its very best interests at the core of everything I do."

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Katie Fforde - Official Website   Facebook Profile    Instagram Profile   Twitter Profile

Amazon Author Profile  Goodreads Author Profile

The First Husband by Elisabeth Carpenter

                                               

Ebook:  300 pages Kindle Edition

Genre:  Contemporary Psychological Thriller, Mystery, Suspense,

Publisher:  Bookouture,  4th February  2025 

Source:  NetGalley 

First Sentences: Two days until the wedding I have visited Lakeside Cottage only twice since that night almost eight years ago. It looks quite different to how it was then.

Review Quote: ‘Wow!… gripping from the very start!… I found myself reading faster and faster, desperate to know what happened… A brilliant read!’ Goodreads Reviewer

My Opinion: 

I have never come across this author before, even though 'The First Husband' is her eighth psychological thriller.

The main protagonists are Leah and Matt who are about to get married. The novel tells the story of the few days leading up to this event, in the present day sections. We are also taken back to the time eight years ago when Leah's first husband disappeared. The suspense builds because just before the wedding takes place strange things start to happen.

A very quick and agreeable read but not particularly stimulating. As a fan of psychological thrillers I personally found it lacked depth, but is probably a good introduction to newcomers to the genre.

With thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

I thought my first husband was dead. But when I get a letter with his name on it just days before my wedding, it will tear my perfect new life apart… 

As we drive up to the gorgeous house by the lake with its red and yellow roses round the door, I breathe in the pure air and count my blessings. In two days’ time I’m getting married to Matt, my soulmate and the father of my beautiful boy. After all the pain of my past, my life now is perfect.

But later that night I hear a knocking outside. I find the back door swinging open and a card lying on the floor, addressed to me in familiar handwriting…

I can’t wait to see you. I’ve missed you so much. All my love, Callum.

Callum was my first husband. Eight years ago, when we were staying at this exact same place for my birthday, he disappeared.

All the people who were with me that terrible night are here for the wedding. My brother. His wife. My new partner Callum’s best friend. We all had reasons to hate Callum then. We all have reasons to lie now.

The police are sure Callum is dead. But as I look around at my loved ones, I wonder…

Does someone know what really happened that night?

Does someone know what I did?

And if Callum is back, is he the dangerous one… or is it one of us?

Author Profile:         

                                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                              Courtesy of Amazon Profile

In the author's own words:

I'm the author of seven psychological thrillers, including 99 Red Balloons. The Family on Smith Street and, more recently, The Girl on the News, were published by Bookouture. My new book The First Husband is out 4th February 2025.

I live in Lancashire in the north of England with my family. When I'm not writing, I love watching films, travelling, and painting. Thank you so much for your interest. I really hope you enjoy my books. If you have, please feel free to leave a review. It's always good to hear what you think.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Facebook Profile.     Author Official Website.  Instagram Profile.   Twitter Profile

Amazon Profile