The Ghostwriter
By Julie Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: June 3, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

What if everything you thought you knew was a lie?

And the person who might have the answers is suffering from an illness that eats away the memories?

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a psychological thriller that will have you guessing from page 1.

There are no clear villains and not one clear path to the truth.

The beginning sets the scene and introduces the characters in such a tragic way… the middle of full of discoveries that leave you breathless… and the ending is SHOCKING.

Every time I wanted to set it down to digest what I thought was happening, something new would come to light and I wouldn’t be able to stop reading.

Add this to your summer TBR.
Thank me later.

I tried, really tried to get sucked into this novel, but I couldn't. I don't know whether it was the fact that I didn't connect with the main character, or the fact that I really didn't care to find out what happened in reference to her father being a murderer or not. If you want to know what it is like to be a ghostwriter, then maybe this book is for you. Sadly, I just quickly lost interest. I did like the hop between the timelines of 1975 and the present. This book just wasn't for me.

Ghostwriter by Julie Clark—I have read several books by this author and have enjoyed them. This one had a good premise-- Two children are murdered in a house and the third child is suspected of the murders.
Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter and is the daughter of the third child.
She is asked to help write the memoirs – there is history and family drama. But as the story unfolds – we get to learn what really happened ---
I did enjoy the story—the twist and turns – The end was interesting.

I had an absolute blast reading the book! So many twists and turns, and I couldn’t put it down until I found out what happened. I loved it.

Poppy and Danny were murdered in their teens and everyone in the community thinks their brother, Vincent, is the murderer. I spent most of the book trying to figure out who the culprit actually was. About three-fourths of the way through the book I thought I knew, but I didn’t know the complete truth. I better not say more because I don’t want to give spoilers. Suffice it to say, I couldn’t put the book down. I’ll definitely be looking forward to reading Julie Clark’s next book!

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

And another great thriller to keep an eye out for. The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark will have you wanting more.

ulie Clark’s latest novel, The Ghostwriter, attempts to weave a tale of family secrets and suspense but ultimately falls short in delivering a compelling narrative. The story centers on Olivia Dumont, a ghostwriter coerced into penning her estranged father’s memoir—a father notorious for the alleged murder of his siblings decades prior.

One of the primary issues with the novel is its predictability. The plot unfolds in a manner that leaves little room for surprise, making the so-called twists feel more like gentle turns.

Character development is another area where the book falters. Olivia, as the protagonist, comes across as one-dimensional, making it challenging for readers to form a genuine connection or invest in her journey. Her interactions with other characters feel superficial, lacking the depth needed to drive the emotional core of the story.

Furthermore, the narrative structure, with its alternating timelines between the present and the events of 1975, is executed in a disjointed manner. This approach disrupts the story’s flow for me.

In conclusion, while The Ghostwriter had the potential to be a gripping thriller, it is marred by its predictability, shallow character portrayals, and a fragmented narrative structure. Readers seeking a suspenseful and emotionally resonant story may find themselves disappointed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

Loved this one and was teetering on giving it 5 stars but will stick with 4.5. Imagine growing up with a Stephen King like horror writer for a father. Lots of pressure, right? Especially as a writer yourself. Now, imagine that the same father has always had the shadow of doubt about his innocence in the slaying of his two siblings when he was a teen lingering over his head.

Did he? Didn’t he? Is that why he’s so good at his craft?

And now you’re invited home. To a place you were forced out of by this same father who grew cold, neglectful, cut off from you as you aged - to write his memoir describing what really happened that fateful night. He’s chosen you because his memories are fading due to dementia and you’re the only one he can trust.

Are you a good girl who just does what your father says and rewrites the stream of consciousness drivel on the page, trying to decipher what’s real and not real almost 50 years later? Or are you your father’s daughter? Digging where you shouldn’t and finding bodies in your wake?

This was absolutely sensational and will easily be one of my favourite novels this year.

June 1975. The Taylor family are shattered by the loss of two teenage siblings, found dead in their home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the rumours that he was the one that killed them but he has been cleared, having an alibi.
50 years later, ghostwriter, Olivia Dumont, has spent her entire life hiding the fact she is the child of Vincent Taylor. But on the brink of financial ruin, she is offered a job to work with him, to finish his last novel.
I don't even know where to begin with this one, there was just so much I loved about it. A fifty year old murder, not seeing her father for many years and being back in her hometown of Ojai, all created the perfect atmosphere for this novel. The different POV's and timelines were woven seamlessly through this novel and the author made it easy reading, though I must admit I was racing to get through this as I needed to know what happened. I loved the mystery around the murders, the old notebooks and clues and the secrets that were unfolded throughout, though I never guessed where they were all leading.

This one has got it all- unreliable characters, a writer trying to rebuild her career, family drama, secrets galore, and decades-old unsolved murders. As Olivia tries to untangle her father’s jumbled memories, she’s plunged into the mystery of the fateful night her uncle and aunt were killed when then were teens. Author Julie Clark does a fantastic job peeling back the layers of this complex plot. The narrative features multiple POVs and Clark seamlessly combines the past and the present to give readers a story filled with plenty of twists and turns. The main characters are complex. Vincent was the brooding middle child. His older brother was popular and liked by everyone. His younger sister was spirited and artistic. Just about everyone suspected Vincent of murdering his siblings. Olivia reluctantly reunites with her father out of desperation. She had a rocky relationship with him growing up. Her father became consumed with his career, drowned his emotions in a bottle, and usually neglected her. When Olivia talks to her aunt’s and uncle’s friends from that time period she realizes their memories differ from the picture her father has painted. Is his dementia distorting his memories or is he hiding something?

This is a taut and gripping mystery that pulled me in from start to finish.

This book moves SLOW. Took about 35% before I actually felt invested in the story, and even then, it was a fairly unlikable (and untrustworthy) group of characters. Definitely not my favorite of this author and I found the ending to be a bit unsatisfying given the mystery conclusion. Felt there was a lot more that could’ve been explored.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Julie Clark is a must read author for me! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I love the way this author writes. Sucks you in right away and takes you on a ride. I loved the past and present timelines and all the twists and turns. Highly recommend!

Can ghostwriting bring you closure?

That’s the question facing Olivia Dumont, a professional ghostwriter.

Olivia is the daughter of Vincent Taylor, a renowned horror novelist who is equally infamous for his dark past. When Vincent was eighteen, he became the prime suspect in the deaths of his two siblings, Danny and Poppy—a mystery that has haunted their family for decades.

Olivia once enjoyed a successful career, but a costly mistake has left her reputation in tatters. With no new projects on the horizon, her finances are spiraling. If she doesn’t find work soon, she may be forced to sell her home to pay her legal fees and the damages owed to the man who sued her.

Then, a surprising job offer lands in her lap. At first, Olivia is thrilled—until she learns who her client is. Her father, Vincent, wants her help writing his memoir, and he’s asking for her specifically.

As they work together, the question looms: Is Vincent finally ready to reveal the truth about what really happened that night fifty years ago?

From the very beginning, this story had me hooked. The flashbacks to the 1970s were richly atmospheric, immersing me in the lives of Lydia, Danny, Poppy, and Vincent. The more I learned about them, the more desperate I became to uncover the truth of that fateful night.

I can’t wait for Julie Clark’s next book—I’m officially a fan!

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Sourcebooks Landmark via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is absolutely fantastic. I will be recommending it to everyone when it comes out this summer. The story is sensational, yet believable. Julie Clark has such a talent and it really shine through this story.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a slow-burn thriller packed with secrets and suspense, making it a perfect read for fans of the genre.

The story centers around Olivia Dumont, a ghostwriter, and her famous horror author father, Vincent Taylor. Years ago, Vincent was a prime suspect in the murder of his siblings, and now he's ready to reveal the truth. Olivia agrees to be his ghostwriter, and through alternating points of view from the past and present, along with entries from Vincent's sister's diary, the story gradually unfolds.

I was completely drawn into the well-developed plot and rich, immersive setting. Olivia's character is compelling, and her journey to uncover her family's dark secrets is fascinating. The suspense builds slowly, but it kept me guessing the entire time. I did not see the twist coming The action is well-paced, and the rich setting kept me turning the pages.


Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming thriller book. I've read some other thrillers by this author and they all have been great reads as well! I really liked the different perspectives and timelines used in this story to reveal clues and part of the past. The story was very intriguing and by then end I certainly didn't want to stop. I can't wait to read more by this author in the future

I loved Julie Clark's other books so was excited to read The Ghostwriter. It is atmospheric and suspenseful, filled with secrets and plenty of dysfunctional family drama. I liked the plot line of a father and daughter, and that it the story revolves around writing and ghost writing. Great reveals and the story keeps you on your toes! Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC. Pub Date: June 3, 2025.

#TheGhostwriter

I would categorize this as a slow burn mystery so don’t go into this expecting a fast paced thriller. I prefer my “thrillers”
to have a bit more substance and so this really worked for me. Besides the mystery aspect, there is also an emotional family drama unravelling throughout the book. Unlike some popcorn thrillers, the author writes these character with much more depth, which I always appreciate. That being said, I did feel the length in the middle and this did read very slowly for me. The final third picked up and it did come to a very satisfying conclusion (I was afraid we would never find out the true story but that was not the case). Overall this was an interesting, emotional, slow burn mystery with great characterization and enough of a plot to make the slow start worth it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter is a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Olivia Dumont, a ghostwriter in deep financial trouble, who’s tasked with writing the memoir of Vincent Taylor—a famous author and the only surviving child of the Taylor family, whose siblings were brutally murdered in 1975. As Olivia digs into Vincent’s past, she uncovers more than she bargained for, especially when she discovers that she’s not just writing his story, but facing her own dark family secrets. Olivia’s own past is a tangled web—she was born Olivia Taylor, Vincent’s estranged daughter, and has spent years hiding her identity. Her financial desperation leads her to accept the memoir job, though she’s wary of the emotional minefield it could open up.

What I loved most about The Ghostwriter was the dynamic between the characters. Olivia is a fascinating, morally complex character, but I couldn’t help but feel frustrated by her coldness and the questionable decisions she made in her quest for success. Vincent, on the other hand, quickly became my favorite—he’s enigmatic, vulnerable, and entirely believable as a narrator. I was constantly torn between trusting him and wondering if he was hiding something darker. The alternating points of view in the story helped build suspense and kept me questioning what was real, what was manipulation, and what was true regret. While the book doesn’t answer all the questions it raises, it leaves enough ambiguity to keep you thinking long after the last page. I also loved the cover design—it perfectly captures the essence of the novel. This is definitely a book that will stay with me, and I can’t wait to dive into more of Julie Clark’s work.

I am a fan of Jule Clark's previous novels THE LAST FLIGHT and THE LIES I TELL and this book did not disappoint. I like the author's style of weaving in backstory into the front plot action. It was an interesting premise, and I was hooked immediately. This book also had an atmospheric setting that matched the tone of the mystery/thriller. I look forward to more books by this author.