In 1975, the Taylor family faces a nightmare when teenage siblings Poppy and Danny are found dead, leaving their brother Vincent to grapple with accusations of murder. Fast forward to the present, and Olivia Dumont, Vincent’s estranged daughter, takes on the daunting task of ghostwriting her father’s final book. But this project isn’t just about penning words; it forces Olivia to confront the haunting truth of that fateful night in 1975, as Vincent finally decides to lift the veil on the events that shattered their family.

As Olivia dives into the depths of her father’s memories, the question looms: can Vincent be trusted? You’ll feel as if you’re right there alongside Olivia, solving the chilling mystery surrounding Poppy and Danny’s deaths. Secrets lurk around every corner, and it quickly becomes clear that everyone has something to hide.

Clark masterfully paces the reveals, keeping the tension simmering throughout. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the plot twists send your theories spiraling in new directions. I loved how the dual timelines cleverly unfolded Poppy and Danny’s story, creating a gripping connection between past and present. It’s a rollercoaster ride that keeps you guessing until the very last page.

If you’re a fan of family dysfunction and secrets that unravel in unexpected ways, The Ghostwriter is a must-read. It’s easily one of my top thrillers of the year, and trust me, you won’t want to miss this one!

The Ghostwriter has a great premise — an estranged daughter coming home to write her father's last novel about a real-life murder he's at the center of. However, Julie Clark's writing style did not execute the story very well. This is a VERY slow burn book, but all those slow, excruciatingly detailed chapters culminate in a hurried ending that's ultimately not that satisfying because you don't get the whole picture. After The Lies I Tell I wanted much more from Clark rather than this 3.5-star read.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark. Pub Date: June 3, 2025. Rating: 3.5 stars. In this propulsive thriller, the reader is taken on a journey of family murder, mystery and mayhem. Two writers, a father and a daughter, are brought together to tell the father's story of his life because he is dying from a brain disease. What unfolds is a daughter coming to terms with her father's past and solving the family murder mystery. This book started off with a bang, but by the end it fizzled a little bit for me. Overall, a solid read! Thanks to #netgalley and #sourcebookslandmark for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a good thriller with some fun twists relating to the parents of the main character, including a switch in perspectives between the parents' generation and the central character (their daughter) and her present. What got in the way for me at times was the somewhat belabored style; the author really seemed to enjoy very lengthy descriptions of the tension and distrust between the father and daughter, and it got a bit repetitive across the span of the book.

Olivia is a ghostwriter who reluctantly agrees to be the ghostwriter of her estranged father’s memoir. Her father, a famous horror writer, was suspected of killing his siblings when they were teenagers but was not convicted. The family still lives with their aunt who stigma of their past.

This was a good solid mystery. The story is told in past and present storylines and you get just enough in each chapter to keep you going. The main character did bother me some with feeling sorry for herself so much. I wanted to tell her to get over herself and move on at times. However, it wasn’t bad enough to knock down my overall enjoyment of the book.

This book was good but took me a bit to truly get into it. I really liked how the timeline jumped between now and then. Seeing Olivia and Vincent as they are now and Poppy and Danny back before the murders really helped set the stage for the semi surprising ending. I figured out whodunit but was surprised by the why behind it. It was kind of sad to see how it all happened but felt it was told in a way that was perfectly paced and revealed in a way that wrapped things up perfectly.

I found this novel to be a wonderful analysis on family bonds, trauma, and gender stereotypes. The flashbacks and different POVs gave this story some added intrigue. This was a dark, tragic, and well-put together novel full of twists. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC!

This book kept me up till 3am at one point so you can bet it was one hell of a page-turner. I liked both Olivia, her dad and Poppy, but everyone else including Lydia was ugh.

The social commentary was fantastic and I loved it, particularly the scenes calling out sexism and double standards. However, the Danny arc was dismal and some things should not ever be excused at all, context be damned.

I'm a huge fan of Julie Clark whose last two thrillers blew me away, so my expectations for this were probably way too inflated, especially with all the glowing reviews and high rating. Sad to say the reveal and ending were a huge letdown for me. All that tension and mystery... for this? Zzz.

Though just as I was wondering where the emotional depth and punch I've come to associate with the author is... ah, there you are. That last chapter gave me all the freaking feels!

Julie Clark is absolutely under-rated as an author to me. I first discovered her when I devoured "The Last Flight", so I was very excited when I was approved by NetGalley to review "The Ghostwriter." This was a unique and suspenseful read that was very well-done. It begins when famed ghostwriter Olivia Dumont is approached to write a book by her father, Vincent Taylor. Taylor is an acclaimed horror novelist who has entertained fans over the years with his terrifying tales. Suffering from dementia now, he approaches Olivia to ask her about writing a story about a tragic incident from his past. When he was a teenager, both of Vincent's siblings were murdered in cold blood in the family home. While Vincent was never formally charged with the murders, the whispers around town were that he was guilty. Vincent has yet to speak out on the night that forever changed his family's life.....until now.

While Olivia is at first reluctant, she agrees to help out her father. As they spend time together hashing out the details of that summer, it becomes clear that the events of that night were both stunning and horrifying. As Olivia tries to delve into her father's damaged mind, she must sort out fact from fiction. There were many secrets being kept that summer. Powerful secrets that ultimately destroyed a family, leaving continued questions and heartache in its wake.

Suspenseful, riveting, and tragic, this novel had all of the elements needed for a powerful novel. Vacillating between the past and the present, the reader is given an inside look into how the secrets of the past ultimately have the ability to impact the future, possibly forever.

Not one of my favourites from next tally. Its well written jus not very compelling I did finish but just barely.

As a big fan of Julie Clark's last two novels, I was disappointed that this one did not hit the mark for me. I had a hard time engaging and feeling invested in the plot and characters. The slow plot moved slowly and the reveal did not shock or surprise me. Unfortunately a miss for me.

This book was good! I agree with others in that finding out the killer was only half the fun. This story had so much background and an interesting storyline besides the murders. The sibling dynamic; the father/daughter drama, friends, lovers, and mothers, oh my!

Of course, like any murder mystery, there were parts that felt like a stretch and the main character, Olivia, was insufferable at times (and also there were a lot of characters to keep track of), but it did not disappoint. And it wrapped up nicely.

This was SO GOOD! Truly kept me guessing until the very end, and the way it came together actually made sense.

Thank you to the publisher for the advacned copy!

The blurb for this book really had me hooked, a ghostwriter hired to tell her father's story. Did he murder his brother and sister? Or is he innocent? Olivia Dumont has been grappling with those questions all of her life and she's been running from her past for as long as she can remember. While she maybe a ghostwriter for other famous people, she's crafted her own cover story for her life, for her self-preservation. Faced with financial struggle and being close to blacklisted, Olivia takes an unexpected job offer, writing her father's memoir. Julie Clark weaves the past and present together from multi POVs to pull the reader and keep pages turning to figure out what really happened to Olivia's family.

The Ghostwriter captivates from page one with its tense blend of suspense and emotion. It follows a pair of very different women whose lives become dangerously intertwined when they team up to write a tell-all. The writing is sleek and fearless, pulling you through every twist and turn with genuine goosebump moments. More than just a thriller, it explores identity, truth, and the cost of secrets. If you want a smart, unputdownable story that keeps the tension alive until the very last word this one is a must‑read.

Overview
The Ghostwriter is a haunting, dual-timeline mystery that weaves together past and present in a slow-burn, character-driven thriller. Olivia Dumont, a once-successful ghostwriter now financially desperate, reluctantly returns to her estranged father, famed horror novelist Vincent Taylor, to help him write his memoir—only to find it centers on the brutal cold-case murders of his siblings from the 1970s.
As Olivia unearths family secrets via diaries, videotapes, and Vincent’s faltering memories (complicated by dementia), she confronts decades of suspicion, trauma, and lies. Told through contemporary narration and vintage fragments, the story is rich with emotional tension and moral jeopardy.

Strengths
Atmospheric & Suspenseful: Clark crafts a gripping narrative that is both emotionally layered and eerie—perfect for readers who savor twisted family secrets and psychological depth.
Dual Timelines & Unreliable Memory: The interweaving of Olivia’s present-day investigation with Poppy’s diary and home footage creates immersive tension, enhanced by the unreliable recollections of an aging narrator.
Character Depth: Olivia’s journey—marked by estrangement, financial ruin, and ethical stakes—grounds the suspense. Her evolution feels both earned and deeply human.

Reader Appeal
Ideal for fans of psychological mysteries and family dramas—those drawn to atmospheric settings, complex female leads, and secrets unearthed with care. This novel aligns well with beach reads that leave a lingering, introspective sting.

Conclusion
Julie Clark delivers a compelling exploration of memory, legacy, and the shadows that bind families. The Ghostwriter isn’t just a whodunit—it’s a poignant journey into how the past shapes identity. For discerning readers of contemporary suspense who value emotional resonance over jump scares, this novel is a quietly powerful standout.

At first, I was worried I wouldn’t get through it but then I was really into it. I thought the layout of the story was clever and kept me intrigued. My personal preference is a little more romance but I still enjoyed it. I give it 3.5 stars, rounded down.

Spoiler:
I wish we had more insight to the relationship with her Mom after the revelation. I hate not knowing where they ended up.

The Ghostwriter is a captivating and suspenseful novel about uncovering the past and second chances. At the heart of this story is an emotionally-charged and complex father-daughter relationship. Told in dual timelines and by multiple POVs, this book is a bit of a slow burn to start, but its enthralling plot will urge you forward and keep you guessing. Because the protagonist and her father are fully developed characters, it is easy to become invested in the plot and its outcome. Overall, The Ghostwriter is a suspenseful, captivating mysteryand among the best I have read in the genre so far this year.

Julie Clark is an auto-buy/read author for me and The Ghostwriter did not disappoint.

The story is immediately immersive as we meet ghostwriter Olivia Dumont who is commissioned to write a tell-all novel/memoir for infamous killer, Vincent Taylor who coincidentally is also her estreanged father. Olivia initially wants to turn this offer down but her need for money and her curiosity to understand the truth gets the better of her.

Wow, this book was so good. I was gripped from the first page and read it in one day. I love everything Julie Clark writes but this might be her best yet. Highly recommend this!!