I've been waiting so long for a new Julie Clark thriller and this one did not disappoint! Olivia has been sued for libel and is having a hard time getting any ghostwriter assignments because of it and on the verge of losing her house when an author requests her for a project. Only the author isn't just anyone - it is her estranged Dad! Her Mom left them when she was a kid and rumors surfaced about him as the primary suspect in the horrible murder of his brother and sister causing him to withdraw. Olivia had gone to boarding school and college and never come back until she is financially forced into taking this contract and confronting her Dad. He is dying and wants her to write his memoir that will focus on what happened to Poppy and Danny all those years ago however, his memory is touch and go and to find the answers she seeks, she'll have to dig deep. I loved this book and could hardly put it down with the secrets, plot twists, and soul searching! Highly recommend.

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy! #theghostwriter #netgalley

This is one of those books that leaves you staring at the wall thinking ‘what did I just read!?’ But in the best of ways. I definitely had ups and downs while reading but in the end I loved it. There were multiple timelines, multiple pov’s, secrets, unreliable narrators, and a small town setting that created such a dark ambiance. I’ll be left thinking about this book for a while!

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent years pretending she doesn’t know her father, the infamous horror writer and accused murderer Vincent Taylor. So when she’s asked to ghostwrite his final book, only financial desperation makes her agree. Will she at last find out why—or even if—her father killed his own brother and sister? As Olivia digs through her father’s memories and all the lies, she discovers that her own memories are perhaps the greatest liar of all.

Twisty, turning, and packed with suspense, Clark has penned a novel whose unreliable narrators and multiple POVs kept me guessing and piecing together clues all the way to the shocking end! Fabulous!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Julie Clark does it again! A ghostwriter must confront the secrets of her past. This was twisty and had you wondering what really happened until the end. There are multiple POV and multiple timelines to keep the reader engaged.

I appreciated the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review on the book.

This book kept me guessing, wondering who to trust, and trying to decide what was true until the very end.

The way Julie Clark weaves this story is twisted and tangled in a way that feels much like the “treasure hunts” Vincent’s character is so fond of. There are little breadcrumbs of truth and direction among the cryptic and disorganized information. The actual story of what happened in 1975 is a messy situation of secrets, torment, and tragedy on its own, and then to add in the fallout felt for decades by family not even born yet had me turning the pages to try and unravel it all.

I never want to get too detailed in these reviews and inadvertently give something away. I just really appreciated the way the flawed characters from both the past and the present were crafted along with the story that served as a reminder that there is often so much more to the big picture than what we think we know about someone.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This one will definitely be getting a permanent home on my shelf when it comes out.

A dazzling new thriller from Julia Clark. The Ghostwriter begins as the main character, Olivia Dumont’s career has hit rock bottom. On the brink of financial ruin, she has no other choice but to accept a job ghostwriting her estranged father’s last novel. She assumes the job will be in another horror novel but discovers it will be a recounting of what really happened fifty years ago when his brother and sister were murdered.

A blend of mystery and suspense, The Ghostwriter is an intricately woven narrative. The characters were described in relatable detail with flaws that made them realistic. The moody atmosphere and excellent pacing kept me engaged throughout the novel. The emotional journey of the characters adds depth to this thriller. A page turning, smart and gripping suspense novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader’s copy.

I really enjoyed this new thriller from Julie Clark. It kept me invested from start to finish!

Olivia Taylor is a ghostwriter who gets called to write her father's memoir, but she hasn't spoken to her father in 20 years. However, she owes a huge sum of money for a lawsuit and she is forced to accept the position. Her father is a famous horror author accused of murdering his brother and sister years ago, but was cleared of all suspicion. Olivia begins to dig into the past and discovers her father may not be who she thought he was.

This engaging thriller had it all...interesting characters, a compelling plot, and a great twist ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this advanced e-copy in exchange for this honest review.

I thought the premise of this book sounded so intriguing (a ghostwriter, who is the daughter of an infamous horror author who is also a suspect in a brutal family murder, agrees to ghostwrite his final book—a memoir recounting his past). But it ended up just being okay. There was nothing specifically wrong with it (other than the inclusion of some unnecessary to the plot feminist nonsense, but that’s not the reason for my low star rating). The reason it’s only getting two stars is that it just wasn’t exciting. I was invested enough to keep reading, but only barely, and while I kept waiting for it to grab me, it never did.

To be fair, I was in a bit of a reading slump while I was reading it, so that could be part of it. I can see this as being one that some people might enjoy, especially if you’re newer to the thriller genre. So give it a shot if it sounds interesting. 😊

I would personally call this more of a mystery than a thriller. I think that tends to lead to a slower pacing overall. The Ghostwriter combines elements of family drama, tragedy and trauma to create a compelling story that is more than just a "who dun it?".
I felt like the ultimate ending was predictable but how the story got there and the twists and turns that came along the way kind of negate the predictability. I loved Poppy. She was by far my favorite character and it was easy to identify with her and also feel enormous sadness for how her story ended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book started off slow for me and I had trouble getting into it but was eventually hooked. The slow burn mystery of what happened to Danny and Poppy kept my interest. I enjoyed the development of the father-daughter relationship alongside the murder mystery. The ending was satisfying and not what I expected.

I have loved this author's previous books, so I was looking forward to reading this book and it does not disappoint! I loved the complicated family relationships, the unreliable narrators, the family secrets and the murder mysteries! I couldn't put it down! I do wish there had been a bit more fleshed out with the main character's mother, but I did enjoy the satisfactory ending.

An unusual story with an interesting way of presenting it. I kept thinking I would give up as I didn't really like or care about the characters, but I had to find out what really happened. I am so glad I stuck with it to the end. Many surprises. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter whose career has hit rock bottom. So when she gets an offer to write a memoir for horror author Vincent Taylor, she takes it—mostly for the paycheck, but also for some long-overdue closure. What no one else knows? Vincent is her estranged father, and his siblings were murdered in their family home back in 1975. The case was never solved, but everyone pretty much blames him.

As Olivia starts digging into the past, she realizes her dad isn’t the most reliable narrator, and it’s up to her to piece together the truth. The story is told through a few different perspectives so it took a little bit to catch on to the flow. Highly recommend if you like your suspense filled with family secrets.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Ghostwriter by Julie Clarke hits shelves on June 3, 2025.

Well holy moly. Hands down best Julie Clark book and I have thoroughly enjoyed her previous thrillers.

This one is more suspense than thriller, but with the plot it was perfect. Olivia is a ghostwriter and after a public downfall, she is desperate for a job. When she received word that her father specifically requested her-- her father who was talked about as murdering his siblings in 1975-- she feels like she needs to do this. One for her own closure and two for money that she needs.

What we got was a story told from a few perspectives and done really well. All perspectives were well written and I did not feel aggitated when having to read any of them. Olivia is flawed, but likable and learning about her family's past went at the best pace. Poppy, Olivia's aunt, was the other perspective we got the most and her story up til the moment she died was so good.

And just the ending in general. Perfectly wrapped up.

It seems like ghostwriter fiction is all the rage for 2025. That, and cooking-- or some combination of both. I liked the set up of a successful writer hiring his estranged daughter to finish his memoir, and the execution was solid. Clark is a good writer and keeps a good pace. But in a sea of mysteries about disaffected writers, this one didn't particularly stand out to me, and I struggled with the multiple points of view. There didn't seem to be distinct voices between the characters, so the timelines blurred to me and I kept having to reorient myself. But overall, this is a decent read.

2.5 stars. I was interested in the family mystery but Olivia is exhausting. As is Clark with her nonstop political commentary. Poppy's POV was endlessly confusing. Facts would be revealed and then discredited in the next chapter. The obvious people Olivia should have interviewed weren't approached until near the end of the book. The plot is slow and repetitive but I did find the actual mystery of the murders to be interesting and I wanted to know the who and the why so I kept reading. Thank you NetGalley for an ARC

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is an exceptional psychological thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from the first page to the last. Clark’s storytelling prowess shines through in this intricately woven narrative, blending suspense, mystery, and deep emotional resonance. The story centers around two women with intertwined secrets—one a bestselling author hiding from her past, and the other a ghostwriter caught in a web of deception. As their worlds collide, the stakes escalate in ways I didn’t see coming. Clark expertly explores themes of identity, betrayal, and redemption, all while maintaining relentless tension and surprises that kept me guessing at every turn. The characters are vividly drawn, each with compelling motivations and flaws that make them utterly relatable and human. The pacing is impeccable, with each chapter revealing new layers and twists that deepen the intrigue. Clark’s sharp and elegant prose creates a dark, moody atmosphere that perfectly complements the story’s psychological depth. What truly sets The Ghostwriter apart is how Clark balances suspense with heartfelt moments, making you emotionally invest in the characters’ journeys. It’s a smart, engrossing novel that challenges perceptions and rewards careful reading. In summary, The Ghostwriter is a standout in the thriller genre—well-plotted, emotionally rich, and utterly gripping. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a well-crafted, page-turning suspense novel. Five stars without hesitation!

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark takes place in small town, Ojai California in the 1970s.

Who is the ghostwriter who is writing Vincent Taylor’s story? A story of murder, where fifty years later people still believe Vincent was the murderer. The murderer of his brother Danny and his sister Poppy. A murder that was never solved. Vincent wants to tell his story before he dies, but needs a ghostwriter. Why can’t Vincent write his own memoir? The answers will be unraveled as you read the story.

I enjoyed this book reading through it fast to see who murdered Danny and Poppy. I loved the beginning, felt it was slow in the middle and I loved the end giving Ghostwriter 4 stars. It is a great book if you need an escape and want something suspenseful. Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely read more books by Julia Clark.





Words written by her father someday soon you’ll be dead

Julie Clark never ever lets me down. I’ve now read three of her books, and they’ve all been major winners for me. Her forthcoming release, THE GHOSTWRITER just might be my very favorite from her so far. I found this one almost impossible to put down, and it had me tap, tap, tapping away on my kindle well into the night.

ABOUT THE BOOK:
“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.”

Yes, this is a thriller/mystery and is being marketed as such, but it’s really SO much more than that. Clark is such a gifted writer who always gives her readers a little extra with her thrillers. Her storylines are filled with depth, grit, and emotion. This was such a nice change as the majority of the thrillers that I’ve been reading recently have kinda let me down.

Not only is her latest a clever whodunnit filled with intrigue and suspense, it also explores dark family secrets, father/daughter relationships, and uncovers some hard truths. Be prepared for a ton of shocking twists, turns, and surprises along the way.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Dual timeline
- Multiple POVs
- Father/daughter relationships
- Small town setting
- Murder mysteries
- Family drama and secrets
- Mid-1970s timeline
- Sibling rivalry
- Writer lifestyle

THE GHOSTWRITER releases on June 3rd. Do yourself a favor and preorder it now! 4/5 solid stars!

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a complimentary copy of this novel! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. This novel was sooooo good!!! I literally finished in in 24 hours! It is a psychological thriller that alternates between the 1970’s and present day. Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter who has gotten herself into a bit of a find financially. So when she is chosen to ghostwrite a more unique memoir, she has no choice but to accept. The catch is...he is Olivia’s father Vincent, a well-known author; but also once thought to have killed his brother and sister years ago when they were teens. Olivia is now racing against the publisher’s clock to find out the truth what happened that horrific night. The killer was never brought to justice. But finding the truth is proving to be more difficult since Olivia’s father is sick and suffering from a form of dementia and Alzheimer’s. As the clock winds down to the deadline, Olivia uncovers clues as to what might have happened. The truth will shock you! I did not see that coming. I really enjoyed reading this novel because it kept me on the edge of my seat and I did not want to put it down! AVAILABLE June 3, 2025!