Tense, dark, well written from a multi point of view with three characters.

How well do we know our family members? Not very well if this story is any indication.

Painful secrets, how the 70's molded young women and the unexpected strength of character.

Highly recommend this book for people who liked to solve mysteries while keeping their moral compass pointing north.

This is my first book by author, Julie Clark, but hopefully not my last. This was a slow, twist-filled, story that caught my attention and held it until then. I couldn't wait to see what the conclusion was and it did not disappoint. Would definitely recommend to others.

The Ghostwriter is a slow paced, twisty thriller following three timelines. Olivia Dumont remembers the day her world changed. The day she found out her aunt and uncle had been killed, and that her father, though never charged, has always been the public’s #1 suspect. Now years later she must come to terms with the father she cut off many years ago while doing what the police could not all these years- finding out what really happened that night in 1975.

I liked the set up for the story with the little peeks into the past. The story was told from several points of view, which gave us interesting insights into the characters even when they were frustrating and it was difficult to decipher who was telling the truth. I empathized with Olivia and the position she was put in.

I don’t want to spoil anything, but my biggest frustrations with the story was the pacing, and lack of consequences in the present timeline since that was the focus of the story. It just felt more like a mystery with historical elements rather than a thriller. I also wished some of the characters had more time in the story- some characters are introduced early on and then just fade to the background by midway through, and other characters are mentioned heavily in the first half but don’t make an actual appearance until the very end.

Overall it was decent read, and I’d love to try something else from Julie Clark.

TW: Child Murder, Addiction, Terminal Illness, Death of an Animal, Abandonment, Rape, and Sexual Assault

*I received this arc for free in exchange for an honest review*

Review for “ The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

1. Plot Uniquenes : 4/5
2. Pacing and Coherence :4/5
3. Emotional and Interllexrual Engagekent : 4/5
4. Twists and turns : r/5
5. Protagonist Character Development : 4/5
6. support character development : 4/5
7. Setting and atmosphere : 5/5
8. Chapter Organization : 4/5
9. Conclusion and tied loose ends : 4/5
10. Overall rating of book : 4/5

Thank you Sourcebooks for the ARC! I have loved all of Clark’s previous works so I felt very lucky to receive this. What a unique premise - I loved the cross between rebuilding a tumultuous father/daughter relationship while also revisiting past murders. Kept me entertained and guessing, with a great and powerful ending full of surprises.

Riveting and heart-wrenching! The ghostwriter in this engrossing story is Olivia, who's been hired to assist in writing her estranged father's memoir. He's a very successful horror author who was suspected of murdering his sister and brother when they were teens. Though he was cleared by police, a lingering shadow of uncertainty made him infamous.

A dysfunctional relationship has kept Olivia away from her father for decades, but dire financial troubles, plus the chance at finally learning the truth about her aunt and uncle's unsolved case, convinces her to take the job.

I would highly recommend this thriller to fans of well-plotted mysteries, compelling characters, and 1970s nostalgia. The story is told from alternating time periods and POVs, one of which is Poppy's, Olivia's aunt. I loved her so much. I would consider this a tense slow-burn, but the pacing fit as buried secrets are steadily revealed. The extra layer of emotional depth makes THE GHOSTWRITER a standout thriller to me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Down on her luck and out of work Olivia has no choice but to accept the job of ghostwriter for her estranged famous father. Growing up Olivia was plagued by the rumors her dad murdered his siblings and 50 years later it remains unsolved. This book alternates between present day Olivia and the siblings in 1975. I enjoyed this story and couldn’t wait to find out what happened but this book was different than the authors previous books. This was more of an emotional slow burn, not the twisty thriller she previously wrote. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is simply incredible - sucks you in right from the jump and just pulls you along the entire way.

It's told in multiple POVs and 2 timelines but it all flows together so perfectly and expertly.

This book kept me in suspense until the very last moment… what a true masterpiece. The story was woven so perfectly together, I did not guess any of the twists which is the best! The character development is excellent and it’s so well written.

Easy 5 stars from me!!

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark was one thousand percent up my alley. If you think it sounds good, too, you’ll be right. I wished I had it on audio, so I could switch back and forth between reading and listening and never put it down. Clark was good about steadily doling out information, but it did get a little slow in the middle. That's when I would have popped in my earbuds and let it play while I ran some errands. Instead I thought about it! (Maybe I was frustrated because I was literally not making progress.)

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark.
I have anxiously been awaiting another book by this author and she did not disappoint. Just WOW. Could not put it down.
Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter who finds herself summoned to ghost write her estranged and recently diagnosed with Lewy Dementia father’s memoir. Not only is he a famous author but he is also the long ago suspect in the killings of his teenaged brother and sister. A mystery that has long since haunted him and then eventually even his daughter, Olivia. After a somewhat chaotic and less than ideal upbringing Olivia isolates herself from that past and her father only to be thrown right back into it when she cautiously agrees to help him with this book. Now she has to figure out what’s really true as her father sometimes weaves a story she questions. “Then you need to ask yourself why this is the story he wants to tell”
This story will keep you hooked till the very end.

Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter is an engrossing thriller that expertly blends suspense with deep emotional layers. The story follows a ghostwriter tasked with penning a memoir for a secretive and controversial subject. As she digs deeper, she uncovers hidden truths that blur the line between fiction and reality.

Clark’s writing is immersive, pulling the reader into the protagonist’s tense, morally complex journey. The novel thrives on psychological depth, exploring themes of truth, identity, and redemption. The pacing is solid, with enough twists to keep the intrigue high without feeling overdone.

However, some plot developments feel slightly predictable, and certain character choices may stretch believability. Despite this, the emotional weight and engaging prose make up for these minor flaws.

Overall, The Ghostwriter is a compelling read—perfect for fans of intelligent, character-driven thrillers. It’s not just about suspense; it’s about the scars we carry and the stories we tell to survive.

Having read all of Julie Clark’s work, and loved each one. This book is no exception. The story begins in June 1975, when the Taylor family is shattered by a devastating tragedy. Danny and Poppy, are found brutally murdered in their home. The sole survivor is 17-year-old Vincent, the middle child. Vincent is a person of interest,, but he had an airtight alibi. He married Lydia and had a daughter, Olivia Olivia cuts all ties with her dad ,and changed her last name. Olivia becomes a ghostwriter and finding a start of a book her father starts, she contacts him to finish it. Determined to uncover the truth, Olivia embarks on a journey that could uncover darker revelations than she ever imagined. This book is a masterclass in suspense and emotional depth. It blends family drama, a unique mystery, and a shocking tragedy.

Thanks to netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy

Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a novel about a ghostwriter Olivia Dumont who has been hired to write the last memoir of Vincent Taylor, a famous horror novelist. The twist- Vincent is Olivia’s estranged father. Vincent’s family history is like a horror story. His two siblings were murdered in their home as teens, and no one was ever tried for it. Rumors swirled that Vincent was the murderer but no evidence against him was ever found. Olivia hasn’t spoken to her father in many years, but she takes the writing job because she is desperate for work. She is brought back into her father’s world and sets about researching and writing his story- the story of what really happened the night of the murders. But is his story the truth or just another story?
Ghostwriter is definitely a slow burn thriller, chapters alternating with present and past, and multiple POV’s. I liked how believable a story it was, without any outlandish,far fetched storylines to have to suspend disbelief with.
I was engaged the whole time, and was second guessing the outcome as the clues were unearthed. I REALLY liked the “unfinished ending” where morality sometimes is a grey space. And I’m happy where Olivia lands at the end.
Thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my ARC.

A mystery that keeps you guessing.
I liked the character development and the way the unreliable narrator was portrayed in order to not be extremely frustrating for the reader. The multiple POV format in the context of the story was not my favorite. Overall an intriguing read and I will definitely be reading more from the author.
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.
3.5/5 stars

A slow start but an engaging mystery about family secrets. Nothing revolutionary but an enjoyable read

Julie Clark does it again!!! I love everything she’s written. This book kept me in suspense until the very last moment… what a true masterpiece. The story was woven so perfectly together, I did not guess any of the twists which is the best! The character development is excellent and it’s soooo well written.

3.75 stars Publishes June 3rd and follows a Ghostwriter named Olivia who is hired to write a book for a famous horror author named Vincent Taylor. The problem is, Vincent is Olivia’s estranged father and his newest book is a tell all about a crime he was suspected of many years ago - the murder of his own brother and sister.

This book gripped me immediately. I am a sucker for a cold case or dark past being brought back up and this one did a great job of piquing my interest.

This story is told in past and present timelines, past timeline being the lead up to the murders and present timeline is Olivia doing her own research into the case.

This book unravels a story of drama, betrayal, deception, devotion, and revenge.

I will say, I had my theory at about 30% and as I read my confidence in my theory grew. Then I got thrown for a loop and started questioning everything I believed just to ultimately find my original theory was mostly correct.

Overall, this book was hard to put down and I had a great time reading it.

Another great story by Julie Clark - this one has more twists than a licorice stick! A ghostwriter with financial problems reluctantly agrees to write her estranged father's autobiography. Despite the fact that he is a bestselling author, he is an unreliable source of his own life, between his unwillingness to tell the truth about who killed his two siblings when they were all teens, and his rapidly advancing dementia. The clues were dribbled out bit by bit about his dysfunctional family, with the best source being his dead sister's videos. I thought I had it figured it out several different times, but was still surprised at the ending. I stayed up late to finish this one!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC to read and review.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of 'The Ghostwriter" by Julie Clark- expected release date of 06/03/2025.

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book's premise was that of many others, down-on-her-luck daughter has to return to her childhood hometown and be reunited with an estranged parent...The rest though? Dark, emotionally charged, twisty, deep. The timeline switches between past and present and 3 main character's POV's perfectly. I was on the edge of my seat and guessing until the very end.

Clark's writing is always excellent, polished, completely coherent. I've loved every book of hers so far and look forward to more!

I gobbled this story up in a day, neglecting all responsibilities because I needed to prioritize this book. I was hooked from go and was desperate to know how it would unfold. Julie Clark expertly weaves a tragic story told through multiple POVs and different timelines seamlessly. There wasn’t one timeline or person that I felt lacking. I didn’t feel the need to rush through a certain POV because I favored someone else. Everyone was strong and everyone was a necessary part. Fine, I may have been partial to Poppy, but who wouldn’t be? I loved the strong female characters and the themes woven within seemed timely. I will have nightmares about that hamster though… If you’re looking for a fast paced book with thoughtful characters, strong dual timelines and POV with connections that will tug on your heartstrings AND an open murder investigation… look no further. I highly recommend this story and I met Julie once at a book event and she is funny and a delight, so thrilled to support her latest!