The Ghostwriter
by Julie Clark
Pub Date: Jun 03 2025

The Ghostwriter is a twisty mystery, intertwined with a deeply sentimental and dysfunctional family drama with tragic events. Family drama, mystery and tragedy all in one story! The story is full of suspense, emotion and twists and turns. It started out a little slow but hang in as when it picks up you won't want to stop until you are finished!

Synopsis: Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realising she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family.

Many thanks to #Sourcebooks #Landmark #NetGalley #TheGhostwriter for providing me an E-ARC of this book.

This book was fantastic! Such an intricate, well thought out mystery. I loved how the author moved from past to present and included the voice of different characters in the story. I also liked how the readers knew the real story of what had happened and the main characters had most of the details, but not all. Great book! Highly recommend it to those who love a good mystery!

Thank you to the publisher, the author and NetGalley for this advanced copy.

Julie Clark is an auto buy author for me. I found her years ago with her first novel and never looked back.

The Ghostwriter is perfection. Messy family drama, small town, sibling rivalry… it has it all.

There were so many twists and turns. I thought I had it figured out then bam! Nope!

This would be a great read on a plane as you have no where else to go and can be read in one sitting.

Pick it up. You won’t be disappointed.

I read this at the same time as We Don't Talk About Carol and they were strangely similar. I liked it at first but felt like it was slow the more I got into it. I didn't find any of the characters very likable.

Excellent read. This book was so much more than I thought it was going to be. It unraveled a mystery, had all the family dynamics and a few surprises.

Olivia Dumont is the ghostwriter behind many critically acclaimed biographies, helping tell the stories that others don't have the writing chops to get out on paper. That is, until she seemingly blows up her professional life by calling out another (more famous, male) writer for the man he is... a misogynist author who preys on others. And though what she said was not incorrect, he sued her and won. *melts into the floor because of the patriarchy*

With massive debt and being pushed out of the profession, Olivia's on the brink of having to sell her home in order to pay him the money she owes from the lawsuit. That is until an offer comes through from the last person she'd expect, her estranged father.

Daniel Taylor is also an acclaimed fiction writer who's trying to write a memoir detailing the murders of his two siblings in the 70s. His hope it to tell the story and add in the pieces that he didn't tell the police. But dealing with an illness that takes his ability to read, he cannot write the book himself. Knowing the position Olivia is in her career, he makes her an offer she can't refuse. But as they get to writing, Olivia struggles to understand where the line between fact and fiction exists. And is her dad innocent, as he's claimed to be for the last 50 years or does he know more about what happened to his siblings than he ever said. Could he have done it himself?

As I do with every Julie Clark novel I've read, I enjoyed this thriller. There were a few times where I thought I had figured it out, but I was always wrong (whoops). If you're looking for a thriller that really makes you think while trying to put the pieces of the story together. This one might be for you!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Happy pub week to The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark! I’ve loved every book I’ve read by the author, and The Ghostwriter might be my new favorite. I’m so grateful to @bookmarked for e-arc of this one. If you’re a thriller lover and this one isn’t on your list, I recommend changing that!

In June 1975, the Taylor family is shattered when two of their teenage kids are found murdered in their home. Suspicion falls on their only surviving child, Vincent, but ultimately the murders go unsolved, and Vincent becomes a mystery author, perhaps as famous for his books as the real-life mystery surrounding his past. In the present, ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has been trying to outrun her father, Vincent’s legacy. She doesn’t think he killed his siblings, but she’s not hundred percent sure, and she has built a life where no one knows about her family history. But with her career in shambles and a mountain of debt, she can’t say no when she gets the call that Vincent Taylor has requested her to ghostwrite his new novel. When she gets there, she realizes this was another of her father’s lies. What he really wants is to finally tell—and write—the memoir of what really happened to his family. But as they work on the book, it becomes less clear whether Olivia can believe anything her father tells her.

I could not put this book down. It was such a beautifully plotted, dual-timeline story. While I kept turning pages (and listening, because of course I was listening to the wonderful full-cast audiobook) to find out what happened to the Taylor family, I was equally engrossed in the relationships Clark set up in the book. Olivia’s relationship with her father is fascinating and almost as riveting as the mystery, but so were all the sibling relationships in the past. I love the way Clark wove murder-victim Poppy Taylor’s old filmed footage into the story, and while I guessed at some of the twists along the way, a few completely surprised me. I would recommend this one whole-heartedly to all thriller or family drama fans.

Thank you Sourcebooks for my copy of Julie Clark's The Ghostwriter! I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. I did find that I was able to predict part of the ending fairly early in and it was frustrating how behind our narrator was, but I enjoyed the changing timelines and the multiple POVs and really had trouble putting the book down. I'm a big fan of Julie Clark and will continue to read anything she writes!

Julie Clark is always a must read for me!! This was a slow burn but I couldn’t put it down. I loved the unreliable narrator, the unlikable characters who grow on you as you discover truths, and the daughter discovering who her father really was. I loved how different this book was from other thrillers, and the way it kept me on my toes.

Olivia Dumont is a successful ghostwriter who recently ran into some legal issues and is now struggling to find work. When her agent approaches her about an author, Vincent Taylor, who wants Olivia to write his memoir, she is conflicted about accepting. The catch is, Taylor is actually her estranged father who is a successful author but who was also a suspect in his brother’s and sister’s deaths in the 1970’s. Now he wants to tell his story and he will only work with Olivia. Skeptical, but also desperate for work, she decides to take the job and returns home to Ojai, California. Vincent’s mind is going and as he tells his story, Olivia has a hard time determining what is fact and what is fiction. As she digs deeper and uncovers more clues, she is afraid of what she is finding. Did her father murder his siblings all those years ago? Or was he an innocent fall guy that allowed the real killer to elude the authorities. This was a great read that kept me engaged and guessing to the very end. I highly recommend this book!

Definitely a slow burn suspense. I loved the multiple layers, past and present POVs and perspectives of other characters. The plot certainly had me guessing as you have a stereotypical unreliable character (Lewy dementia) and notorious liar. Yet somehow he was also believable?

The pacing was up and down - there were moments I felt flew by and then large chunks where I was less excited to read but also understood that it was plot-building and there was a reason for it. This made the story feel longer than it was.

The storyline itself was unique and interesting - I usually really enjoy ghostwriting as a theme - the layer of secrecy with it being her fathers book was fun.

My favorite parts were the past POV diary entries, videos, and snippets from the 80s. It added dimension to what could have been a very boring plot.

There are discussions of alcoholism and mentions of forms of abuse.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a twisty, well-crafted thriller with dual timelines and multi-layered secrets that kept me hooked. It’s got lies, murder, publishing drama, and just enough emotional depth to make it more than your average page-turner. A solid pick for when you want your beach read with a little bite.

Olivia Dumont, a once successful ghostwriter, finds herself in desperate need of a job after a very public falling out with a fellow ghostwriter. When her agent calls her with an offer to write for Vincent Taylor, she feels like she has no choice but to accept. Vincent Taylor is famous for both his novels as well as for being the prime suspect in the brutal murders of his siblings in the 70s. Unbeknownst to her agent and the rest of the world outside of Ojai, California, Vincent is also Olivia's father. Olivia returns to Ojai thinking that she will be helping write her father's latest horror novel and is shocked to discover that her father has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia and has actually hired her to write his memoir, finally revealing the truth of what happened in 1975 and the role he might have played in his siblings' deaths. As she begins to capture her father's failing memories, she is forced to face the demons that have haunted her father and her family for decades.

Julie Clark has created a tale that will thrill readers and keep them guessing while simultaneously breaking their hearts as they discover the ripple effects that decades-old secrets can have on a family and a community. I could not put this book down! I love thrillers but typically find them to be fairly predictable. This one had me constantly coming up with new theories, and the truth was an interesting blend of them all. I was not expecting this book to have such an emotional effect on me, but I have a feeling that I will still be thinking about this one for a long time to come.

Make sure to check your TW before starting. While nothing is described in detail, there are several scenes that could be triggering for some people.

The premise of this book was so interesting to me and as a thriller reader I really want a book to entice me from the very beginning and that is exactly what I got from this book. The story is told through 3 different POVs. The ghostwriter in present time and the other 2 POVs are from characters from the past time when the event took place. I really do enjoy a thriller with dual timelines as it helps depict the story so well and allows you to truly be invested in how the story unfolds to present time. There were times when I felt the pacing did go a little slow and other times it picked right back up but overall I really enjoyed the story and the twists at the end got me engaged. I recommend this book to anyone that wants a good thriller book to binge.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks landmarks for the advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Olivia has created a mess for herself. She is on the verge of losing her home and owes so much money. When a job offer comes along that she doesn’t want to take, she doesn’t have a choice but to accept. Estranged from her father since she was a teenager, she agrees to write his memoir. She has no idea what secrets she will have to face. It’s more than she could have ever imagined.

I had very high hopes for this book and Clark didn’t let me down. It was suspenseful and tragic in all the right places!

I was captivated by this story. The flashbacks slowly revealed elements in a compelling way. It was multi layered and suspenseful and redemptive. I couldn’t put it down. Special thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

My head is still spinning after reading this! What a fantastic story and writer. I have never read anything by Julie Clark, but I will be fixing that immediately!

This was a twisty, slow burn, family drama/thriller with a dark and intense atmosphere. Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter. She has hidden her true identity her entire adult life. Her father is Vincent Taylor, who is a famous horror author. However, he is also infamous as the main suspect in the murder of his sister and brother 50 years ago. Olivia is having serious financial trouble, so when she is asked to be the ghostwriter of his memoir, she is hesitant to take the job because she hasn't seen her father in years. However, maybe she will get the answers to what really happened to her aunt and her uncle, and why her mom, Lydia, left she and her father.

This story draws you in from the beginning. There are multiple POV's: Olivia, Vincent and Poppy (her deceased aunt) told in alternating timelines. This multi- layering piece by piece presentation of the story is not confusing, as they are done very well in transitions that smoothly continue the story. Each voice is distinct and necessary to the narrative. Olivia is frantically trying to find the truth in the story, but Vincent has a disease that affects his memory. As Olivia digs deeper, there is a lot of information revealed, but what is real? I found myself rethinking what actually happened, and re-reading to see if I missed anything important. The clues are there, but they are subtle and this story is like a real puzzle.

There are many issues/trauma that each character faces and has to try to deal with that makes the core of the story. These are dark themes: sexual abuse, rape, abandonment, alcoholism. However, they are written is a suggestive way- giving information but not graphic.

I want to say so much more about this book! It makes you analyze and think about the situations and characters. What would you do? I do not want to spoil this for anyone, so I really can't say more!!!

I highly, highly recommend this to, well, everyone! Especially if you like dark family mystery/drama with a past/present theme, and an intelligent build up.

Thank you to NetGalley and SourceBooks Landmark for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

And the end? I never even expected that! However, after reading the book, I realized that was my wrong assumption/interpretation, because of course this is what happened! This was true to nature of the characters! Bravo, Ms. Clark!!!!

📚 ARC REVIEW 🤯 GHOSTWRITER by Julie Clark
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Every family has secrets, but when your estranged, scandal-shadowed father asks you to ghostwrite his memoir and possibly his confession, you know you're about to dig up more than just skeletons in the closet.

Julie Clark, who won me over instantly with "The Last Flight," returns with a slow-burning, elegantly twisted story of fractured bloodlines and buried truths just waiting to resurface. "The Ghostwriter" opens with a double murder in 1975 in Ojai, CA—Danny and Poppy Taylor are brutally killed, and their brother Vincent is left behind, both as the sole survivor and the prime suspect.

Now a successful horror author battling Lewy Body Dementia, Vincent hires his estranged daughter to pen his story. She's not thrilled about it, but her bills are piling up.

What unfolds is a dance between past and present that’s as gripping as a horror story. The dual timeline is flawless. Clark nails the vibe of estrangement and all the complicated emotions tied up in family baggage. The father-daughter relationship is raw and layered with betrayals and silence.

Some plot twists might have you raising an eyebrow—it's not all loud and clear, but the emotion is there. The atmosphere is chilling, and the cover art is absolute perfection!

If you're into dark family dramas, unreliable memories, and stories that don’t hand you all the answers, "The Ghostwriter" is calling your name. And trust me, you’ll want to listen.

Thanks to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This new thriller by Julie Clark follows Olivia, a ghostwriter who takes on a job that has her returning to her childhood home after years apart. She's been estranged from her father (and family) for decades, but this line she's drawn between her past and present life is quickly erased when she is tasked to help write her fathers last novel. In turn, she ends up finding out a whole lot more than she's ever known about a ~50-year long mystery!

The Ghostwriter is a slow burn, but it had me captivated from start to finish. There was never a moment where I felt bored with where the story was taking me. There are multiple POV's in this book, and I really loved every time we got a Poppy chapter; she was my favorite character! She's so upbeat, fun and creative, with a passion for film. Also, her segments reallyyy had me feeling nostalgic for the 70's (even though that's something I never got to actually experience).

Even with guessing some of the twists, I still enjoyed this read right to the end... and that final chapter was a very sweet way to wrap up such a dark story 🥺

🥑 California setting
🔥 Slow burn
👪 Complicated family relationships
✍️ FMC ghostwriter
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Multi POV
🥲 Pulls at those heartstrings

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark & Julie Clark for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Olivia Dumont is watching her whole life go up in flames. She’s the single child of a prolific horror novelist named Vincent Taylor, infamous for both his terrifying fictional tales and his alleged involvement in the brutal double homicide of his siblings, Poppy & Danny Taylor. Vincent was never able to escape public scrutiny and ignominy for his reputed sins, but her father’s career only benefited from this thrilling aura of mystique since it only fueled the public’s morbid curiosity. Unfortunately, it also created quite a horrifying situation for Olivia to grow up in; therefore, she has spent her entire adult life trying to become a ghost, her true identity hidden in plain sight from the public eye. Suitably, her chosen work as a ghostwriter has provided her with the privacy she has needed, but now she’s facing an impending financial collapse and could soon be sitting in the ashes of her own burgeoning writing career. Which brings us to Olivia’s current conundrum: ghostwrite her father’s last book and resurrect ghosts from the past or simply walk away, keeping her family’s dark history securely archived and forgotten. Either way, she will be striking a match to the pages of her own life’s story.

Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a slow-burning, intricate murder mystery that will engross the reader inside a firestorm of secrets, family drama, devastating betrayals, and heartbreaking truths. The plot was cleverly complex and attention consuming. It was skillfully written in a past and present narrative, shifting between 1970’s and current day Ojai, California and alternating between multiple key characters at the center of the mystery. This was executed in a way that let the reader get acquainted with the characters at play and added to the building suspense without confusing the reader or congesting the flow of the story. I was totally impressed with the twists, and I was suspicious of multiple characters over most of the story, also a notable accomplishment by the author. I also appreciated that this story is more than just a terrific tale of murder, mystery, and intrigue: the author incorporates a theme of fatherhood/parenthood and illuminates the fragile equilibrium that exists between a parent and child. It all comes down to choices. Mistakes can so easily result in traumatic experiences and burning resentments, often times creating a tragic situation where the child ends up mourning the loss of what could have been but never was. I think the resolution was compelling with its explanations, and I felt incandescently angry about some of the characters’ situations. However, since we are just a captive audience to their stories, we are powerless to interfere and will inevitably be forced to watch their fated demise. I couldn’t put this book down until the mystery was solved. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be picking up more books by Julie Clark! This book was just published on June 3rd, so get yourself a copy! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own. I will be posting this review on my Goodreads and Instagram accounts.