4.25

Good luck trying to put this book down in the last 100 pages! I loved the slow unraveling of the Taylor family mystery. The story bounces back and forth between 1975 and present day. I had my mind made up several times on who committed the murders….but the story continued to change directions. Great read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for a honest review.

There are secrets, and then there are SECRETS. Family secrets are a biggie in this gripping, hard to put down, and captivating book. I was fully invested in The Ghostwriter and wanted to know what happened all those years ago. I was intrigued and glued to the pages! I wanted to know if those rumors were true or if they would finally be put to rest.

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter whose career is circling the drain. She reluctantly agrees to be the ghostwriter for her father's last book. Her father is none other than the legendary horror author, Vincent Taylor, who has frightened many also being the main suspect in his siblings, Danny and Poppy, murder.s It has been a long time since Olivia has spoken to her father and upon returning home, she finds her father struggling cognitively. As a child, her father would often leave her clues and puzzles so that she could solve mysteries to receive treasures or gifts at the end. This time will be a little different as the clues he gives may be affected by his Lewy body dementia. Olivia must use his recollections which may or may not be reliable, his dead sister, Poppy's journal and films to piece together the truth.

This book sucked me in and never let go. It was a little slow going initially but I didn't mind it (which is a big deal for me as I struggle with slow burns) as I was so invested in the murder mystery aspect of the book. The Ghostwriter is as much about the murder mystery as it is about memory, recollections, secrets, relationships, tragedy, and drama. This one had some nice twists and turns, and the ending was a bit of a shocker which I always enjoy.

I found this book to be wonderfully written, well thought out, thought provoking, and intriguing. This would make a great book for book clubs as there is a lot to discuss with this thought provoking and riveting book. I enjoyed the dynamics of Olivia and her father's relationship. I also enjoyed the way in which Julie Clark utilized the past (1975) to tell the story. This book has a nostalgic feel paired with a great plot. The characters are flawed and there was a lot of interesting family drama/dysfunction in both timelines.

Gripping, hard to put down, and wonderfully written!

𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ★ ★ ★ ★
𝗥𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: June 03, 2025
𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪:

I ate this book up when I got it back in February and I have thought about this book ever since. It was THAT GOOD. We have multiple POV (my favorite of course) shifting timelines and a fast paced read. If you love a fast paced read with action, twisty turns with amazing well written characters, storyline and a perfect ending to a wild story then this book is for you. I would recommend this book AND this author to anybody and everybody.

Large thank you to our Author, NetGalley as well as SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark

I generally enjoyed this read, which was less a thriller and more a story about a family’s relationships filled with secrets and lies and involving a double murder that rocked the family.

Told in multiple POVs and dual timelines, the author wrote an interesting story about sibling dynamics, family relationships, and the hold that secrets can have decades into the future. The 1970s setting came across very authentically. The mystery aspect unfolded at a somewhat slow-burn pace but there were twists and turns and little reveals leading up to a well-fleshed out ending.

I liked this one but I didn’t relate to or love any of the characters and wasn’t as invested in what happened to them as I wished I had been. Overall, a well-crafted domestic suspense read.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Loved! This was so good, I don't have a single criticism. Julie Clark's writing is so engaging and fast paced, I was hooked from the beginning and it kept me guessing throughout. This book just felt smartly written, if that makes sense. I loved the different POVs we got to experience and how the book jumped back and forth in time, between what actually happened, diary entries and video recordings. Everything was pieced together so well and it seemed as though we, the readers, had the most information of everyone, which is so out of the norm. I loved that aspect! The reveal was amazing and the entire book was a pleasure to read. No notes, just read this!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest thriller by Julie Clark. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont hasn't told anyone the truth about her past - that she is the only child of horror author Vincent Taylor, who was also the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings when they were all teenagers. Desperate for money, Olivia agrees to ghostwriter her father's last book, but she'll have to deal with her past in order to do so.

Julie Clark knocked it out of the park yet again. This was a fast-paced, multi-layered mystery that also explored the concept of memory. Olivia's father tells his version of the events that occurred in 1975, but he is suffering from a form of dementia, so it's difficult for Olivia to discern the truth. She's also under contract not to talk to other people to get their versions of the truth. The story goes back in the past so that the reader hears about the events from multiple points of view as well. This is a book filled with family secrets, both past and present, and a mystery waiting to be solved. I couldn't put it down.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and Julie Clark for this ARC.

What would you do if you were a canceled ghostwriter offered the job of a lifetime: to write a horror novel for your estranged father, who also might be a k*ller? 😳👀 The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark asks that question and delivers a twisty, unputdownable story you won’t soon forget.

✍️ What did you love the most?
I was hooked from page one. 🎉 The premise is so unique and perfectly executed. Clark masterfully weaves diary entries from the 1970s, the perspectives of the deceased siblings, and the modern-day protagonist piecing together a long-buried truth. 🧩

The structure is chef’s kiss 🤌 Just when you think you have it figured out, another reveal shatters your theories. It’s a deliciously twisty mystery thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. 🫣

✍️ What to expect:
📚 Ghostwriter FMC with a scandalous past
⏳ Dual timelines: past and present
🔍 Cold case mystery that’s personal
👀 Unreliable narrators and secrets galore

✍️ How was the pace?
Fast and steady. The pacing was perfect, with no filler and just enough suspense to keep you reading way past your bedtime. 🔥

✍️ Do you recommend this book?
Yes! If you’re into thrillers with dual timelines, unreliable narrators, and a story that keeps you guessing, The Ghostwriter needs to be at the top of your summer reading list. 🤩

✍️ Perfect for fans of:
📚 Lisa Jewell
📚 Alice Feeney
📚 Riley Sager

✍️ Mood: 🕰️ Twisty | 👀 Suspenseful | 🖤 Darkly layered

✍️ Read if you like:
📖 Dual timeline thrillers with dark family secrets
📚 Cold case mysteries with unreliable narrators
🖤 Psychological thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat

Loved this book. The delving into past and present relationships along with the question of trust within a family was nailed by this author. The overriding thread of this story was to me, ‘how much of oneself do you give to the people you love’. There were secrets revealed and how they are dealt with when believing a different narrative was explored in depth. A very thought provoking and satisfying read.

4.5 stars. I really enjoy Clark's novels, and this was no exception. The multiple POV and timelines kept the twists coming until the end. Add in a character with failing memory, and you really have to keep pay attention to figure it out. Besides being a great mystery, this book also explores themes of familial trauma and what is truth.

Olivia is a great character. She's spent her whole life dealing with the rumors that her father murdered his siblings, Poppy and Danny, back in 1975. She wants the truth, but is also reluctant to deal with her aloof father, from whom she has purposefully distanced herself. The flashbacks with Poppy's POV are fantastic. Slowly Olivia realizes all is not as it seems.

"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."

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed herein are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. I marvel at how writers keep all the twists straight in books like these, it’s quite a feat! I loved the ghost writer angle and an inside peak into what it takes to actually write a book for somebody else. I loved the details of the backstory of the family involved in the mysterious murders, including scavenger hunts, interactions between the brothers, the younger sisters quest for equal rights for women. It was all great. The present day was also very well done and the tense relationship between the father and daughter played out nicely, especially showing the father‘s illness, taking its toll - that part really resonated with me. Overall, really well done and probably one of the better psychological mysteries of the year.

The I was GLUED to this book. I couldn’t put this book down. I think Olivia’s family disfunction was the motivator here lol. Olivia is a ghost writer, and she is going through some issues financially. She was offered a job and when they told her who it is?? Vincent Taylor???? HER DAD!!!! I was like, OHHH this is going to be so good. You see, Olivia’s dad was not the best dad, and she was abandoned by her mom, had only one friend, and to top it off, the people in the town think that he killed his siblings in 1975. So not only is she there to help Vince with his book, but he also actually wants her to help write his memoir, to help clear his name on what REALLY happened in 1975. Y’ALL THE RIDE I JUST WENT ON!!!!! It felt like I was on a legit rollercoaster, just got off and still I’m trying to get my footing, if you know you know. Not only are family secrets being revealed, but Olivia is also NOT playing around, she has been wanting to know what really happened in her family, and that would mean even unboxing her own stuff. I have no more words; I have given a little taste this book has to be read.

Julie Clark writes thrillers and she did not disappoint with The Ghostwriter. Olivia Dumont has been hired to ghostwrite a memoir about her estranged father. Olivia is put through all kinds of emotions as her childhood and relationship with her parents was not exactly the best. However, Olivia is in hopes that by writing this she will be able to come to terms with her past but especially her father's. It's a difficult job but you will find yourself rooting for Olivia as she deals with everything she uncovers.

This one absolutely grabbed me. Julie Clark builds a slow-burning, emotional suspense that digs into guilt, legacy, and truth. Olivia Dumont’s career as a ghostwriter takes a dark turn when she’s asked to write a book by her estranged—and notorious—father, who is dying in prison. There’s this compelling tension between her need for answers and her deep-seated trauma, and it’s handled so well. It’s a character-driven thriller, and Clark knows exactly when to drop the emotional gut punches.

✨ Highly recommend if you like layered family drama with a side of psychological suspense.

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

This book pulled me in from the beginning, and it never let up. It was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what happened. I thought it was really well written, and I could picture myself in Ojai, California in 1975.

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter. Her father, also a prolific writer, is writing a memoir about what happened to his brother and sister in 1975, but he needs her help. She will follow clues to find out what actually happened that night.

I liked how this switched from present day to the past through journal entries and film. I also liked how it ended. I will be honest and say ghostwriting is a hard concept for me to wrap my head around, and how public she is about her ghostwriting. I thought that was supposed to be a secret.

Overall, a really fast paced thriller that kept me reading to find out the answers, while giving me interesting characters to root for.

Another great book from the author. It’s a slow burn with an engrossing story and interesting characters. Had me guessing until the end.

Thriller perfection!

Olivia Dumont is on the brink of financial disaster when she is asked to ghostwrite the novel of her life. No one knows that her father is the famous horror writer, Vincent Taylor, whom she has been estranged from for many years. Out of financial desperation and curiosity she goes home to Ojai to help her father with his next novel. What she didn’t realize is that he’s writing his memoir and that is a problem for her. Olivia’s childhood was painful because of all of the horrible rumors surrounding her dad and, at first, she doesn’t think she has the mental ability to revisit that dark time. But she is quickly lured into exposing her father’s secrets and seeking truth but it won’t be simple. The ghosts from her family’s past may be much darker than Olivia could ever have imagined.

This was a bit of a slow burn and I loved the multiple points of view and dual timeline that slowly revealed the truth that Olivia was trying to uncover. I was captivated by this story from the first page to the last.

Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 3, 2025

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.