A slow burn, who-dun-it thriller, but more so why?
Why would someone kill two teenage siblings?
So many suspects and fifty years later, the killer is still unidentified.

Vincent Taylor, once a celebrated horror novelist, has spent decades living under the shadow of suspicion for the brutal 1970s murders of his teenage siblings. Though the police cleared him, the public never did. His estranged daughter Olivia, who has carefully built a new life under a different identity as a successful ghostwriter, has long tried to escape the haunting legacy of her family’s past. But when Vincent reaches out with a surprising request, for Olivia to write his memoir and help him finally tell the truth, she is pulled back into the mystery that shattered her family. As Olivia digs deeper, long-buried secrets surface, forcing her to confront not only what really happened that night, but also the lasting impact on her family and the person she has become.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a smart, suspenseful read that hooks you from the very first sentence. It is a story filled with secrets, shifting identities, and the emotional weight of past trauma. The dual timeline structure is executed well, gradually revealing just enough to keep you turning pages late into the night.

The characters are richly developed and intricately connected. Though Vincent is far from the perfect father, I found his character compelling... mysterious, flawed, and uniquely endearing with his habit of communicating through scavenger hunts, which added a fun layer to the story. The book also offers a nostalgic journey back to the 1970s, a time marked by debates over women’s rights, the normalcy of hitchhiking, and the novelty of video cameras.

Slow burns have a tendency to drag down the storyline, but this book kept my attention and kept me guessing until the very end. I love a book with dysfunctional family dynamics and this one did not disappoint. You don't know what is true, if memories remain accurate over time and who you can fully trust.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel!

In this story there are many secrets and lies to unravel, made all the more difficult by the fact that Vince Taylor has Lewy Body Dementia and his memory isn't reliable. The story is told from the povs of various characters in a series of flashbacks as well as Olivia's current-day investigation. I really liked the story and the characters and the ending, although not a total surprise to me, was satisfying. This is the first book by Julie Clark that I've read although I have a couple of others on my to-read list which I hope to get to sooner rather than later.

TW: There are some triggers that readers should be aware of including rape, abortion, pedophilia. harm to an animal (cat), although none are terribly graphic.

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, via Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this novel. All opinions expressed are my own. This review will be published on Goodreads and on amazon.ca on June 9, 2025
Publication Date: June 3, 2025

Olivia is a ghostwriter who spent her career hiding the fact that she's the child of horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being suspected of the murder of his siblings. When her career is spiraling, she reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book.

This mystery is told with multiple points of views and a dual timeline, helping you piece together what happened to Vince's siblings 50 years earlier and questioning the truth. There's a lot going on in the story that took me a little to get into -- lots of personal drama mixed with dysfunctional family dynamics — but ultimately it's like a puzzle, sifting through fact or fiction, I enjoyed the ride. I especially loved the chapters from Poppy's view. It wasn't as fast-paced as Clark's previous novels, but I enjoyed it overall as it kept me guessing until the end.

The perfect slow burn family drama/thriller for your next beach vacation. It was both a light read and had enough of a suspenseful, twisty plot that kept me coming back and eagerly flipping the pages.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an advance digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

The Ghostwriter is both a thriller and a family sage. Olivia is a ghostwriter by profession, who has also been hiding her past from her partner and her employer. She hasn't spoken to her parents in many years. Her dad is a famous thriller writer with a mysterious past, as his two teenage siblings were murdered and he has long been a suspect. The way Olivia finds out about what happened is a bit of a puzzle, as she can't trust her dad, either his memory or his honesty and she finds many other clues along the way. It's not totally satisfying in the end, but it's a good story and fun to read.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thank you to @bookmarked and @netgalley for my #gifted copy of this book!

What a ride this was! I absolutely loved this book. I will say that it starts a little slow and definitely is more of a slow burn (no pun intended), but the payoff is so good.

When I got back into reading two years ago, The Last Flight by Julie Clark was one of the very first books I picked up and I really enjoyed it. I do think this one is even better though 🤩 The FMC, Olivia, is a ghostwriter who ends up (reluctantly) agreeing to ghostwrite her estranged father’s final book.

Olivia’s father, though, has SO many secrets, and his health is declining, so the truth isn’t exactly clear. This story has multiple POVs and the dual timeline really helps to pull all of the details of the mystery together. It’s super well organized and the twisty reveals are paced nicely so you get several surprises at various times. I was definitely shocked and really found myself having no clue what the ACTUAL truth in this story was. Julie Clark does a fantastic job keeping you second guessing everything the whole book long.

The parent-child relationships in this book are so well developed and feel real. I love the warring emotions Olivia wrestles with as she reflects on her past and grapples with her present—with both her dad and her absentee mom.

This one really picked up around the halfway mark and it became so hard to put down—I desperately needed to know what was going to happen. So if you’re looking for those vibes, this should hit the mark for you! Definitely not one to miss for thriller lovers everywhere.

This is the third time I’ve had the privilege of being an early reader and reviewer for a Julie Clark novel, and once again, I’m so glad I said yes. The Ghostwriter is everything I’ve come to expect from her: smart, tightly written, emotionally layered, and compulsively readable.

Clark consistently gives us intelligent, capable female leads, and Olivia is no exception. I loved how grounded and relatable she felt—even while grappling with the weight of her mistakes and a notorious family legacy. Hiding the fact that she’s the daughter of Vincent Taylor—the horror writer at the center of a decades-old double murder—has shaped Olivia’s entire life. Now, she’s been asked to ghostwrite his final book... only to find out he’s finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975 when Vincent’s brother and sister were murdered in their family home.

The complicated father-daughter dynamic at the heart of this story gives it some emotional depth and brings a very human element to a plot rooted in long-held secrets and decades-old trauma.

The twist near the end is satisfying as I truly couldn’t work out exactly who was responsible for the murders. The nod to one of Clark’s previous books was a clever bonus and put a big smile on my face.

Easy, engaging, and entertaining, I read it in less than 24 hours. If I had one quibble, I wish the ending was just a bit more dramatic with Olivia possibly placed in a tense and/or dangerous situation.

Olivia Dumont is a successful Ghostwriter who has specialised in writing memoirs of accomplished women. She has also successfully hidden the fact that she is the daughter of popular horror author Vincent Taylor, who was a major suspect in the unsolved brutal murders of his brother Danny and sister Poppy when they were all teenagers in 1975.

After a very public stoush with another author who successfully sued her, Olivia now has huge legal bills to pay with no new writing contracts on the horizon. So, when she is invited to ghostwrite a memoir for the author Vincent Taylor, after he is diagnosed with a type of dementia, she reluctantly agrees, without revealing her relationship to him. She also hopes going back to the town where she grew up will give her the chance to finally know more about her father and why her mother left both of them when Olivia was young.

This is an excellent slow burning suspense, as Olivia tries to piece together the pieces of Vincent’s life and the death of his siblings. With Vincent’s memory failing, he’s the ultimate unreliable narrator and it’s difficult for Olivia to sort out the truth, but she knows how to research and find what she needs so slowly all the pieces of the puzzle do start to fall into place. The plot is cleverly put together with sufficient suspense, twists and revelations to keep the reader totally engaged. The family dynamics are complicated, in both the previous and current generation with deep secrets being withheld from one another, with tragic results. Both atmospheric and haunting, this is an immersive and emotional tale.

This book was exactly what I hope for in a mystery thriller. I read it in one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed the writing. I did see some of the bigger twists coming but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I received this as an eARC and will immediately be purchasing the physical copy!

The you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC of The Ghostwriter in exchange for an honest review.

Let’s get straight to the point here…I loved this book so much. I was so frustrated that at times, life got in the way of me being able to just sit and devour this mystery, but when I could dedicate a large chunk of time to working my way through The Ghostwriter, I absolutely loved it. Couple key call outs that really hit home for me:

First of all, I’m a complete sucker for an unreliable narrator. Anything that introduces inconsistencies and confusion..sign me up! We had that with Vincent’s character in spades! I also loved the multi person perspective throughout the summer of 1975. As we sat with Olivia’s character in present day, it was the historical characters of her father and aunt that helped insert clues into an otherwise inconsistent storyline and kept the reader from being able to truly nail down a theory until the very end. Which brings me to the third thing I loved, which is the very well placed and fast paced plot twists the reader experiences, especially within the last 20 pages of the book. Where this can sometimes feel like whiplash for the reader, Julie Clark does this so effortlessly that it just makes your head spin in the best way possible. I had three main working theories the entire time, but it was impossible to bring them together! In the end, it turns out pieces of all 3 of my theories were correct, which I certainly did not see coming!

This book was truly a joy to read and I certainly see why BOTM featured The Ghostwriter as a book selection for their June books. Out June 3rd, run and grab a copy of The Ghostwriter and buckle up! You’re in for a wild ride!

A big thank you to Sourcebooks for the eARC! Julie Clark's writing is excellent! I've been not so patiently waiting for a new release from her since The Lies I Tell. This did not disappoint! Instantly compelling and will have you hanging on every word. I loved this! From start to finish I was captivated and had to know what truly happened. This was SO well done, rich characters, an enthralling mystery. I went in knowing little other than the title and genre and that much for such a satisfying read. One of my favorite thrillers so far this year, I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.

How do you ghostwrite someone’s story when they can’t remember the events of their own past? Olivia Dumont was hired to help horror writer Vincent Taylor complete his current book. With a court judgment against her for a feud with a fellow writer and a hit to her reputation she needs the money. However, this is the last assignment that she wants to take. What her publisher and agent do not know is that Taylor is her estranged father. This is not another one of his horror novels. It is his personal story of events fifty years earlier that led to the murder of his sister Poppy and his brother Danny. When she arrives, she discovers that he is suffering from Lewy Body dementia. He gives her a number of notebooks filled with disjointed bits of information. She is not allowed to interview anyone connected to the events or reveal what she is working on, which puts a strain on her relationship with her boyfriend Tom, who insists on honesty.

It has been years since Olivia saw her father. Her mother left them when she was a child. After years of neglect while he concentrated on his career, he sent her to school in France and she never returned home. During the few hours each morning when Taylor’s mind is clear, he describes his troublesome relationship with Danny, his early relationship with Olivia’s mother and Poppy’s obsession with filming everyone with her new camera. When Olivia finds Poppy’s diary and some of her old films, they contradict Taylor’s memories. Even though he had an alibi, everyone still considered him the prime suspect. Was her father a murderer? Julie Clarke’s story is filled with lies and misdirections. It is told in a dual timeline, where Clarke gives Poppy and a young Vincent a voice in 1975 that explains some of the events leading up to the murder. With an ending that comes as a complete surprise, if Clarke is not on your must read list she soon will be. I would like to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book.

A twisty, fast-paced read with an intriguing premise. I really liked the main character and how her story unfolded—she was flawed, layered, and easy to root for. The exploration of secrets, identity, and the power of storytelling added emotional depth that kept me engaged throughout.

Some plot points did feel a bit far-fetched, and a few twists relied on coincidences that stretched believability. I also wished a few of the side characters had been more developed to add weight to certain relationships and moments.

Still, it’s a solid psychological thriller with strong writing and plenty of suspense. If you enjoy character-driven mysteries with emotional stakes and unexpected turns, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first read by Julie Clark!!

This was a quick and fun thrilling read!! I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out all the twists and turns that Clark gives her readers!!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the eery haunting and creepy vibes the feel gives. This was very much a slow burn but it worked here!

I was on the edge and couldn't wait to figure it out!!

Overall, slow burn thriller that was enjoyable!!

3.5/5 stars

Thanks to the author and publisher for my copy

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of The Ghostwriter!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🎥 film anything and everything
🔀 enjoy dual timelines
📖 have ever written anything by a ghostwriter
🔪 love to read true crime

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

June, 1975.

The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.

After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a great read! I was really taken in by the narrator and her father’s story. I wanted to know everything about the murders that took place 50 years ago, and the information couldn’t come fast enough. The pacing was a bit slow for my liking, but the twists made it all worth it. I was a bit irritated in the end that the full truth never came to light, but it made sense as to why it didn’t/couldn’t. I’d love to see the narrator in another story so we can see how her relationship with Tom pans out and maybe see if she ends up solving any more crimes!

I am a huge fan of Julie Clark’s novels. She is an auto buy author for me. I was so excited to get a copy of this one. The Ghostwriter is an absolutely fantastic thriller/mystery. It will keep you turning pages right up to the shocking ending!

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter. She is currently in a bad place professionally due to speaking her mind. She needs a job to pay off her debts and get back on her feet. An opportunity comes along that could help her - but she is reluctant to take it. Her father, Vincent Taylor, wants her to ghostwrite his memoir. But her father has long been the villain in his own story - his older brother and younger sister were murdered when they were teenagers. Many think he did it. This is Olivia’s chance to possibly tell the real story.

As always, I will give no spoilers - go into this one blind. I loved the way this story is set up. It is told through multiple POVs. I especially loved Olivia. She is tough, tenacious, and demands answers. This story leaves no stone unturned. The chapters move fast - you will fly through this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this one early. It is out now, and it is terrific! If you are new to Julie Clark’s books, this is a great place to start. I highly recommend this one, and all of her books!

Rating: 4.5 ⭐️
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
How I Read It: 📱

Synopsis
It’s June, 1975, and two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. Everybody thinks the only surviving sibling, Vincent, was the one who killed them. It’s decades later and Vincent has since been married and divorced, has an estranged daughter, and is a successful horror writer.

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her life hiding from the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. She’s dealing with a scandal and is in financial trouble when she gets asked to ghostwrite a book that could give her her career back. It’s her father’s book. He wants to tell his story, what really happened that night in 1975, and he wants Olivia to write it.

My Thoughts
Let’s go on a treasure hunt! Wow this book had me guessing and guessing the whole time! It’s one big puzzle, so pay attention when you read! Everything started coming together nicely at the end, and just when I thought I had it figured out, Clark threw a twist in there to throw me off! I loved the father/daughter dynamic and seeing their accounts of the past as they grew closer after being estranged for so long. Poppy was probably my favorite character, I loved reading her chapters. There was so much family drama in this book; three siblings that were having a hard time getting along, making solving the family mystery very difficult for both the reader and Olivia. The writing was brilliant, puzzle piece after puzzle piece, as we read the story from multiple POV’s from 1975 and current day, with journals and film from the 70’s to help you, the reader, and Olivia put all the puzzle pieces together to finally figure out the truth about what happened that night. The end will shock you!

Themes
🌪️ Twists
🤫 Family Secrets
Multiple POVs

Ratings
Characters: 4.5 ⭐️
Pace: 4.5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 4.5 ⭐️

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

Julie Clark never disappoints. The story starts with Olivia Dumont, a successful ghostwriter, until she gets into a bit of legal trouble. She then faces money problems and is forced to take a job ghostwriting for the very popular, Vincent Taylor. She really doesn't want to take the job, especially since her is her estranged father. However, she can't be picky about jobs and she needs the money. So she ends up back in her hometown of Ojai, California and gets involved trying to piece together her dad's latest memoir about the events that led up to the death of his brother and sister.

The story was a bit more of a slow burn, but as it progresses the twists start happening. My theories never stopped changing, until the very end. That makes for a very engrossing story.

I really enjoyed this Julie Clark story. It held my attention from the beginning and was a very addictive read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebook Landmarks for an ARC of Ghostwriter by Julie Clark.

The Ghostwriter is one of the most cleverly constructed psychological thrillers out there. The plot is character and dialogue driven-the trick is to look for subtle nuances in tone and inflection-admittedly harder to do with the written word-but you'll be rewarded for your effort. Alternating between the 1970's and the present, The Ghostwriter starts with ten year old Olivia Taylor learning her father Vince is the main suspect in the murders of his siblings siblings Danny & Poppy. Before this startling news Olivia only saw her father as a successful novelist who had little time for his daughter. Having been abandoned by her mother, Olivia was mostly cared for by her father's assistant. Now an adult, Olivia is a "ghostwriter"-the unseen and uncredited person some authors use. Although they have not seen each other in decades, Vince enlists Olivia to ghostwrite his memoir where he promises to reveal what actually happened to his siblings. The Ghostwriter is slow at times-but the dual time frames help speed up these lags. The ending may seem like it came out of left field, but if you've been paying attention you'll figure out at least part of the puzzle. Tense and engaging, The Ghostwriter is not just psychological...it's thrilling.

It's family secrets on steroids in The Ghostwriter. Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter that has lost her credibility and is shunned by her community. An offer comes in to write her father's story. Her father is a notable thriller author who has been under suspicion for killing his two siblings years ago. Since Olivia is broke, she decides to accept the offer, which leads her on a journey to uncover secrets and dissect her own relationship with her father.

This book grabbed me from the start and had me turning pages quickly. I like a book that I can sink into and The Ghostwriter hit the mark. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you think you might know what really happened, things change. I like that about it. Kept me guessing until the end. It is more of a slow pace as pieces are revealed to the reader. There are multiple points of view and trips to the past as well. Overall, in spite of a slower pace, I liked this book and would recommend it to other mystery thriller readers.