Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of The Ghostwriter in exchange for my honest review! I absolutely loved The Lies I Tell and was tickled pink to get early access to Julie Clark's new novel.

Olivia Dumont is a ghost. Not in the literal sense, but professionally. She ghostwrites for other authors and honestly prefers hiding in the shadows. Author Vincent Taylor isn't only famous for his horror novels; he was the prime suspect in the slaying of his two siblings 50 years prior. He also happens to be Olivia's father. When Olivia's hired to ghostwrite Vincent's last novel the lines start to blur and she finds herself a bit too exposed for comfort. After all, "information is a power, yes, but it's also a burden because once you know something, you can't pretend you don't".

As mentioned before I'm a huge fan of Julie Clark's previous works! The Lies I Tell is still one I recommend to people, as well as The Last Flight. The Ghostwriter wasn't quite on the same level for me as those two, but I definitely enjoyed it. Ms. Clark writes a hell of a thriller and has officially cemented herself in the auto-buy author category.

4⭐️

Publishing: June 3, 2025

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a slow-paced but compellingly readable mystery about family secrets, what they do to us, and what it means to unearth them all.

After a public scandal, even more public lawsuit, and the downfall of her career as a ghostwriter, Olivia Dumont is hired by her estranged father to ghostwrite his memoir — the story of his childhood and the infamous murders of his siblings, for which he has always been a suspect. Reluctantly, Olivia agrees to the job, but she soon finds that it’s much more than she bargained for.

The Ghostwriter was a decent mystery, although I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a thriller. Even with hundreds of thousands of dollars on the line — not to mention the main character’s career and reputation — the stakes never felt particularly high. I found Olivia and the other characters to be flat and unsympathetic; I didn’t dislike them, I simply didn’t feel anything about them at all.

I was invested in the mystery, even if it felt fairly predictable. I enjoyed the different points of view as well, especially Poppy’s. It was an easy read — what my mother might call a “Monday book.”

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This was so good! My first Julie Clark book. Very talented author, the dual timelines were great. The only critique I have is that I think the ending was a little meh…could’ve been stronger!

This thriller and family drama kept me flipping the pages to find out what was going on. Olivia is a disgraced ghostwriter because she dared to call out a horrible male ghostwriter on social media. Her estranged father, a famous horror writer contracts her to ghostwrite his next book. Through this project family secrets that have been long buried are revealed. This was an excellent thriller that I consumed in one day.

This is the fastest I have read a book in awhile! The Ghostwriter kept me reading to find out who killed the two siblings and why. This is the fourth book I have read by Julie Clark. I consistently rate her books high, and The Ghostwriter is no exception.

This book was perfect in the way it would switch between timelines and different character’s points of view. This presentation kept what I thought about the murders constantly evolving. This book definitely started like a normal mystery/thriller. However, the plot and characters felt thorough and developed. I liked the character’s had more depth than I was expecting and touched on various parts of their lives. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Julie Clark, and NetGalley for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

3.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for and advanced reader copy of The Ghostwriter in exchange for my honest review.

Julie Clark's books are always 5 star reads for me but I didn't love The Ghostwriter like I loved her other books.

The theme of this book is just not my favorite trope and I think that's why I didn't care for it as much.

It has been a long time since a book has really got in my head and this one did just that!
I was all over the place as I read this book the author did a great job of keeping me on the edge of my seat. I had to put the book down for a few days to be able to read to the end.
Thank you NetGalley, Julie Clark and Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of the book The Ghostwriter. This is my personal review.

Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter is a gripping, emotionally layered thriller that skillfully blurs the lines between truth, fiction, and personal redemption. Known for her talent for crafting complex female protagonists, Clark delivers another standout lead—this time a ghostwriter entangled in the shadows of someone else’s fame and secrets.

The novel is paced with precision, balancing moments of quiet introspection with escalating tension. Clark weaves dual timelines and perspectives into a seamless narrative, keeping readers engaged without overwhelming them. The psychological depth of the characters enhances the stakes, making the mystery feel both intimate and urgent.

Themes of identity, guilt, and the power of storytelling run throughout, giving the book emotional heft beyond its twists. While it’s clearly a thriller, it also explores how people rewrite their own histories—sometimes to survive, sometimes to escape.

Fans of Clark’s previous novels (The Last Flight, The Lies I Tell) will find a familiar tone of suspense and social commentary, but The Ghostwriter feels more introspective and has a strong literary undercurrent.

This brilliant, emotionally resonant novel will satisfy readers looking for more than thrills. It’s a haunting look at the cost of secrets—and the redemptive power of telling the truth.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was such an interesting concept. I was hooked pretty quickly and thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and trying to figure out what happened.

This book alternates between the past and present and different points of view. The protagonist, Olivia Dumont, is a cancelled ghostwriter. She changed her name because her father, a famous novelist, is thought to have killed his brother and sister when they were all children. He was never charged, but the stigma has always followed him. But, now he wants his daughter, Olivia, who hasn't spoken to him since high school to ghostwrite his memoir. This is the chance she has been waiting for and needs because no one else wants to work with her. Through reconnecting and researching when she hits dead ends with her dad, she thinks she may be close to uncovering the truth about what really happened all those years ago.

Not only is this a great mystery, it's great writing! I loved this and look forward to more books by this author.

a slow burn, cold case solving, family drama of a thriller!! I do love a great slower paced thriller if it can keep my interest, and judging by the fact that I binged this one in a day, I’d say it was a win!!

professional ghostwriter olivia returns home to write her father’s memoir, both due to the fact that she has no choice and money but also because a part of her truly wants to see if her father murdered her aunt and uncle when they were young 😳😳 and I loved the detail orientated plot!!

while I will admit that olivia took a long time to figure out the truth, I was so satisfied with her sleuthing on the side after interviewing her father. comparing the events of decades ago kept me guessing on who was telling the truth and who had something to hide!

the twist at the end wasn’t anything new or exciting, but I enjoyed the slow revelation regardless! it was satisfying to see how the pieces finally all clicked together at the end!

olivia’s characterization, though, needed some help. her relationship with people seemed very superficial & the only time I felt anything close to emotions with her was the trauma and closure with her father. the stories about their childhood and how trauma can warp someone’s view on situations was very well written!

thank you to sourcebooks landmarked for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! this one’s out this week!

rating: 4 stars
wine pairing: napa valley cabernet merlot blend

I’m in the minority on this one. I know a lot of people are loving it but it just didn’t work for me. I thought the story was slow and I just couldn’t get into the storyline or character.

Julie Clarke’s The Ghostwriter is nothing short of a literary triumph. Told through dual timelines, seamlessly weaving the present and the past, Clarke masterfully orchestrates a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The multiple narrators lend unique perspectives, each voice distinct and adding layers to the intricate plot.

The murder mystery at the heart of the story is compelling, filled with unexpected twists that had me second-guessing at every turn. Clarke’s ability to maintain suspense while delving deep into the complexities of family bonds is truly remarkable. The emotional depth she brings to the characters makes their struggles and triumphs resonate profoundly with the reader.

What sets The Ghostwriter apart is not just its gripping plot but the emotional connection it fosters. The exploration of relationships, secrets, and the lengths one will go to protect loved ones adds a poignant touch to the suspenseful narrative.

A riveting read that combines mystery, emotional depth, and superb storytelling, The Ghostwriter is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas. I couldn’t put it down!

I enjoyed The Ghostwriter, as I do all Julie Clark reads. This was a deep dive into an old mystery but there was also so much family & personal drama & conflict. Each character was developed so well, I could picture them all, the setting & homes, too. If you enjoy suspense or even just a well written family tale, definitely pick The Ghostwriter up. I never dreamed how everything would be wrapped up so well, there were so many different obstacles to achieve a perfectly tied up ending but I was so pleased with it!

Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter is a haunting blend of psychological thriller, slow-burn mystery, and powerful family drama that dives deep into memory, identity, and the scars of the past.

Olivia Dumont has made a career ghostwriting books for the rich and famous, thriving in anonymity. But when she’s approached to ghostwrite the final book for her estranged father — horror novelist Vincent Taylor — she finds herself pulled into a family history she’s tried hard to forget. Vincent was once the prime suspect in the 1975 murders of his teenage siblings, a crime that was never solved and that continues to define their fractured family.

Now aging and in cognitive decline, Vincent is a confusing mix of guilt, fragility, and forgotten truths. As Olivia struggles to piece together the events of that fateful summer, she’s forced to reckon with the emotional weight of returning home and facing the man she both fears and longs to understand. What unfolds is a tense, layered mystery — one where truth is obscured not just by time, but by memory, shame, and silence.

Clark paints the 1970s with vivid detail, capturing the small-town American backdrop with authenticity — the social dynamics, the claustrophobic familiarity, the unspoken rules of a place where everyone knows something but no one says it out loud. The novel also touches powerfully on the cultural moment, particularly the women’s rights movement.

The character work here is phenomenal. Olivia, Vincent, Poppy, Danny — and the people around them are all deeply human — flawed, wounded, and real. I felt like I knew them. I could see the world they lived in, feel the weight of their choices and regrets. This is also the first book that’s ever made me shed tears — not just from sadness, but from the aching sense of everything left unsaid between people who once loved each other deeply.

The Ghostwriter isn’t just a thriller — it’s a deeply moving portrait of a family haunted by silence, searching for truth in the fog of memory. An absolutely unforgettable read.

Thank you to Julie Clark, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for the ARC.

This is a gripping thriller with deep family secrets. It definitely becomes more intense as Olivia uncovers chilling truths that force her to confront her past.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was such a phenomenal book! I really enjoyed the mystery, the plot, the alternating timelines, and the characters. This book centers around a ghostwriter, Olivia, who takes a job writing the memoir for her estranged father. By taking on the job Olivia hopes to get answers to her aunt and uncles unsolved murder. Clark takes the reader on a rollercoaster of a ride with long buried secrets and lies that are slowly brought to the surface. I was on the edge of my seat and unable to put this book down as I flipped through the chapters in anticipation as there was plenty of suspense and tension weaved throughout. Clark does a fantastic job at unraveling the mysteries behind the murders while exposing the families deep dark secrets that have stayed hidden for so long. I LOVED this book and will recommend it to everyone!🙌🏻


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦Dysfunctional family dynamics
✦A book about a cold case murder
✦Alternating timelines
✦A book about family secrets that are slowly exposed
✦Plenty of suspense and tension throughout

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.5/5

Julie Clarke has written, yet, another memorable mystery. Vincent Taylor, a best selling writer, who has dementia, hires Olivia Dumont, a disgraced ghostwriter, to help him write his memoir. His publisher insists he hire a different ghostwriter, but he is adamant in his choice of Olivia. No one knows Olivia is actually his estranged daughter, whom he has not seen or spoken to, in thirty years. As Olivia investigates her father’s alleged part in the unsolved murders of his brother and sister, the reader is taken on a merry chase of half truths and unreliable narrators. I couldn’t put down this book, even though I knew I was being manipulated by the author. Bravo!

This was such a fun read and great for those familiar with Ojai, California. I really loved lead character Olivia's competence – it's nice to see people good at their jobs! – as she painstakingly parses out the truth from fiction, having been hired to ghostwrite her famous father's memoir as he descends into dementia and reveals suspicious details about the decades-ago dual homicide of his siblings. Julie Clark has a great sense of realistic pacing, the shifting POVs from past and present add such depth and detail to lasting family dynamics and traumas, all with an atmospheric foreboding over whether Olivia will discover evidence that will either exonerate or incriminate her own father. This one's great.

Olivia is a ghostwriter who has fallen on hard times when she is summoned back to her hometown to write her father’s memoir. He is finally ready to open up about the night his two siblings were murdered and he became the top suspect.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting the new Julie Clark and it was worth the wait! This book had so many twists and turns and I couldn’t put it down. It was the perfect way to kick off my summer. The dual timelines and multiple POVs kept me engaged and guessing until the very end.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing a free ARC for review via NetGalley.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a book that keeps you wanting to read more and more! It is about Olivia who was a successful ghostwriter but something recent happened which affected her career. She is desperate for any work she can get her hands on and that is when she is offered the opportunity to ghostwrite a book for her estranged father and famous author, Vincent Taylor.
The thing is that when her father was a teenager he was accused of brutally ending the lives of his brother and sister. This is a shadow that has been hanging over the family throughout the years. Now Olivia must return and face her father while trying to figure out the truth of what really happened. She needs to find out if the rumors about her father are really true or if there is more to the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It is told in past and present POV with the present being from Olivia and the past is recounted by Poppy, who was Vincent’s sister, and from Vincent’s POV. The way the present and past is presented works great because it ties in what Olivia learns about the past with the versions of Poppy and Vincent and really weaves the story together.
The book does have a dark atmospheric tone to it and these are the types of books I love! I highly recommend this book to any mystery/thriller book lovers!
Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark. All opinions are my own.