The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I could not put this book down! As each present day chapter and each throwback chapter unraveled a new detail of the story, I needed to know more. There was one point in the story where everything seemed wrapped up with a bow, but my first thought was, “wait that actually doesn’t make sense?” And then the next sentence came, which revealed it all.

The only character I didn’t like was Tom, why couldn’t he just be a liiiiittle more supportive of Olivia?! I get that trust is a big deal breaker, but did she *really* need to be treated like that?!

Thank you Tandem Literary for this arc! Pre-order your copy or grab your copy in stores on June 3, 2025.

Thank you Netgalley & Sourcebook Landmark for the arc, but unfortunately I had to DNF THE GHOSTWRITER around 20% due to the talk of animal killing. That is something that I just cannot look past when reading. I’m bummed because I was very intrigued up until that point 🤷🏼‍♀️

The writing style was so good!! It was amazing narration, kept me wanting more and more. I really enjoyed the plot, but I loved the style! Truly incredibly well written. If you like mysteries and true crime, this is a good book for you!

What an unputdownable thriller from Julie Clark! Any extra second I had throughout the day, I was picking up this book! A ghostwriting daughter who scores a contract with her estranged father. Who, might I add, people think he killed his siblings when they were teenagers. This ghostwriter returns to her father's hometown to hopefully uncover some dark secrets about their familys dark and secretive past. My theories changed so many times throughout the entirety of this thriller and that definitely kept me on my toes. A father who loves riddles and a daughter who has tried to keep her lineage a secret....what could go wrong?

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This was not what I expected! If you’ve read Disclaimer—this is not like that. It’s better and done in a way that makes sense for the characters and the story.

This book is about family secrets and the lengths that people go to protect their loved ones.

This is not necessarily a thriller, but more of a mystery. Nothing feels forced or overdone.

Well done!

Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter is a five-star thriller that masterfully weaves together dueling timelines—present day and 1975—into a gripping, twist-filled mystery. As a ghostwriter takes on a new project, she uncovers secrets buried for decades, forcing her to confront dangerous truths about her own family history. The past and present collide in shocking ways, keeping the suspense razor-sharp and the pages turning. With compelling characters, rich atmosphere, and stunning twists, this is a must-read for fans of dual-timeline, and multiple POV thrillers that pack an emotional punch.
I wasn't sure what I was walking into, as Julie Clark is a new author for me, but I was blown away and could not walk away from this story. You're going to want this book in your hands as soon as it comes out on June 3rd, 2025.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to download an arc in exchange for my honest review.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark , A good read that had an interesting premise. The story had a slow pacing, unlikable characters and a disappointing ending. Not a favorite book by this author.

Thank you to the author, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

The Ghostwriter is a gripping thriller that delivers exactly what I hoped for. Julie Clark’s strong writing style shines, pulling me into a riveting plot filled with mystery, lies, and unreliable narratives. The flashbacks were seamlessly woven in, adding depth by contrasting reality with perception. The conclusion tied up enough loose ends while leaving room for interpretation, making it even more compelling. I’ve always devoured Clark’s books, and this was no exception. I eagerly await her next work.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the review opportunity.

Just when I truly thought nothing could top The Last Flight she gives us this one. This brilliantly twisty mystery, intertwined with a deeply sentimental and dysfunctional family drama, is the kind of book that lingers in your mind long after you finish it. With its thought-provoking themes, resonating yet tragic events, and unique perspectives, it’s a perfect choice for book clubs, thanks to its flawless execution, layered characterization, and a heartfelt, meaningful ending that I wholeheartedly enjoyed! This was a haunting fantastic story woven together so well that it was hard for me to put my kindle down. Definitely a strong recommendation for this book. It's flow was flawless and the direction it took me in made me realize that secrets can ruin the life we were intended to lead .If your in a reading slump this is one that definitely can pull you out of it!

This is a solid 3.5 stars for me. My expectations were high because I really loved the author's previous books, but something about this one didn't work for me.

It's hard to pinpoint what exactly because the premise is really strong and the execution is fine. I think it may have come down to the protagonist herself. Olivia felt very. much like a blank slate to me. The chapters from the POV of her father and Poppy from the 70's allowed you to get to know them in a deeper way than anything from the present day.

So overall, while I enjoyed the book, I did find it a bit underwhelming.

This is a really solid thriller! I appreciate the research the author did on trauma and it felt very authentic for Olivia’s character. It was a quick read and I was turning the pages quickly to find out what happened. I think some was predictable and the outcome made sense.

✨I was immediately taken in by this cleverly told mystery. The narrative unfolds across dual timelines with multiple points of view. There’s a horrific tragedy at its core, and the story’s clues are slowly revealed treasure hunt style. The suspense-filled storytelling is top notch, but the emotional depth written into these pages really takes this book to the next level.

✨The author masterfully explores the question of just how reliable our memories and the stories we tell ourselves about our past truly are. Closely held secrets and unreliable narrators really elevate this theme throughout the book.

✨Some of my favorite mystery tropes are hidden diaries and recordings and secret passageways. I was so excited to find two of the three in this book with a hidden diary and uncovered old Super 8 reels. The way the author combines family drama, old school mystery and thrilling suspense really made this such an exciting read.

✨I loved this one and highly recommend it.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Unsolved murder stories
✨Ojai and California settings
✨1970s nostalgia
✨Dysfunctional family dynamics
✨Treasure hunts
✨Multiple points of view
✨Dual timelines
✨Father/daughter relationship narratives

My thanks to @bookmarked and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark, Olivia Dumont a.k.a. Olivia Taylor is about to lose the home she loves in Topanga Canyon when she finally gets the call she’s been waiting for. There’s someone in need of a ghost riter and they’re asking for her. The only problem is the man who’s asking for her is famous horror author Vincent Taylor, her father who she hasn’t spoke to in years. Abandoned by her mother and raised by her emotionally absent father Olivia cut ties while still in high school and felt no reason to look backh although the job saves her home and other financial issues in her life it also causes her a lot of personal strife. her father was suspected of killing his siblings in the 70s and although never charged Olivia grew up with the shadow of it and going back to Ojai will raise more questions and although she doesn’t want to do it financially she sees it as a must. Little does Olivia know going back to the one place she doesn’t want to go will change her life and she will find the answer to the one question that was hardest to ask, is her father a killer? let me start by saying this is a well crafted story with a great plot, well appointed red herrings and an awesome conclusion. My only issue with this book is I did not like Miss Olivia DuPont. She wanted to blame all her failings on her parents and how she was raised and how someone is raised is definitely a mitigating circumstance but in no way is it the reason. If you lie you choose to lie.). She lied to Tom and blamed that on how she was raised in her parents as if she had no responsibility for doing it. I am a big proponent of self responsibility and cannot take someone who makes excuses which she did throughout the book. I was a drug addict for many years and never blamed my parents for it. Having said that I absolutely recommend this book. Many times in trying to boost the want for a book, they’ll put things that aren’t true like it’s a freedom McFadden type book blah blah blah and with this one they said it was like a Lisa Jewl, book and that is something I totally agree with. This is an awesome read it’s well put together and despite the main character being irritating and seeming to be not so bright I still absolutely enjoyed this crafty mystery.#MyHonestReview, #NetGalley, #SourceBooks, #TheBlindReviewer, #JulieClark, #TheGhostWriter,

Really good. Held my attention and kept me guessing what was going on. Enjoyed the characters and the plot. Flew through this book in 2 Days. Definitely recommend for a good quick mystery! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

I was very impressed with The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark because I thought I had figured out the setup and mystery. A struggling ghostwriter who must write the memoir of a supposed murderer who is also her dying, dementia affected father is a fascinating concept and I am happy to say Clark delivers on every plot point and the overall mystery. Clark’s strengths are definitely her characters who all feel fleshed out and real as well as her suspense and buildup being great throughout the entire story. Overall I loved The Ghostwriter and hope to read more of Julie Clark’s future works!

Olivia is a ghostwriter for celebrity memories and biographies. Her father is Vincent Taylor, an accomplished author, but he’s also the main suspect in his siblings' murder which happened many years ago. He’s now near the end of his life and asks Olivia to ghostwrite his story of what happened the night of the murders.

This is the first book I’ve read from Julie Clark and what a pleasant surprise. This was a fun thriller full of mystery and atmosphere. It was an interesting premise to write a thriller about. The writing flowed well and you can tell Julie Clark is experienced. It was hard to put down once it got going. It did take a couple of chapters to grab me, but it ultimately did and I enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book to fans of thrillers and murder mysteries.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.

Another awesome Julie Clark book! She has become one of my favorite thriller authors. I loved her last couple of books, The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell, so I was excited to get an e-arc of her newest, The Ghostwriter. It is soo good!
Super quick synopsis: Olivia is a ghostwriter for celebrity memoirs. Her estranged father is a famous horror author, and also a suspected murderer. When he gets sick and wants to write a tell-all about his life and secrets, he asks Olivia to come back to Ojai, Cali to write it for him. She goes on a journey to find out who killed his sister and brother back in the 70's, and what role her father played in their deaths. 
I loved the creative way this story was written. It is told from Olivia's perspective while she is writing and researching the book, but then flashes back to her father and aunt's perspectives when they were teenagers. It kept me hooked and is a rare book that I stayed up late to finish.

4.5 stars

I’ve enjoyed all of Julie Clark’s books, but this might be my favorite. It’s nostalgic, atmospheric, suspenseful- everything I love in a mystery/thriller. The story follows Olivia, a ghostwriter, and her estranged father, a popular author, who may or may not have murdered his brother and sister in 1975. I felt like the dual timelines and multiple perspectives really worked well here, and the descriptions of 1975 were great (I wasn’t alive then, but I could really feel the energy of that time through the writing). This was a bit of slow burn for me, which is not a bad thing- the stories all weave together and I found myself staying up late at night to race through the last 100 pages or so. Overall, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel!

Another 5-star thriller from Julie Clark! The Ghostwriter takes you for a ride through 1975 as present-day Olivia uncovers clues that will help her solve the mystery of who killed her teenage aunt and uncle, Danny and Poppy. I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

Wow -- this one surprised me. It grabbed me within the first 10 pages and didn't let go. Honestly, that hasn't happened in a while. The different POVs and different time frames added depth to the story, and while I had an idea of where it might end up, I truly enjoyed the ride. The author's use and inclusion of the Super 8 tapes worked really well.

Good cover, too. Would I read more from the author? Absolutely. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.