My first book by this author. I really enjoyed it. I would love to check out her other thrillers. This had everything I love in a thriller. Multiple POVs and unreliable characters. It was somewhat of a slow burn, but I don't mind that.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

My first time reading Julie Clark, I was eager to read this after seeing all the praise for her previous thrillers.

Olivia Dumont is The Ghostwriter, commissioned to write her father’s last book. Her father had a career as a horror writer, and lives under the shadow of being suspected as a double murderer.

It’s slower paced as Olivia digs into diaries and searches for clues from the past, it goes deep into the main characters’ father daughter relationship. Not really my kind of book and possibly really good if you like this style of novel.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark

This is a very suspenseful story and quite the page turner. Excellent use of flashbacks and different point of views to tell a tragic back story. Including the diary and the old home movies definitely added an additional layer of mystery

The characters are well developed and the main character navigates family trauma in the midst of personal upheaval. This is a well written, layered and believable character

I gave it 4 stars only because I figured out the killer pretty early on in the book.

I loved Julie Clark's previous books, so I was thrilled to get an advanced copy of The Ghostwriter. While I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as her previous two, it was still very good. The premise is excellent, and I was completely invested in the mystery of who killed Danny and Poppy. I kept changing my theory as new information was revealed, but I never did get it right. The ending was heartbreaking and there were some great twists I never saw coming. I liked the complicated father-daughter relationship that was portrayed, and I also appreciated the growth some of the characters showed. I did think it was a little slow in the middle and I didn't understand some of the decisions that Olivia made, but other than that I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what Julie Clark comes up with next!

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

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!

Having read all of Julie Clark’s works, I’m ready to start a fan club for her. She’s undoubtedly one of my auto-buy authors. As long as she continues creating these puzzle-like, smart, and thought-provoking stories that get under your skin, I’ll happily devour everything she writes and releases.

This book masterfully blends family drama, a unique mystery, and a shocking tragedy. While some twists may seem predictable, you’ll keep second-guessing yourself until the very end. The truth is revealed through shifting perspectives, and nothing is entirely reliable—especially the narrators.

The story begins in June 1975, when the Taylor family is shattered by a devastating tragedy: two of the three siblings, 18-year-old Danny and 14-year-old Poppy, are found brutally murdered in their home. The sole survivor is 17-year-old Vincent, the middle sibling, who discovers their bodies. Danny was the golden child, admired by all, and Poppy was a spirited, friendly young activist. Vincent, in contrast, was the family outsider—a loner. Even Danny and Poppy’s closest friends suspected Vincent of being involved, but he had an airtight alibi: he was with his girlfriend, Lydia, and their next-door neighbor, a school teacher, at the time of the murders.

Despite these alibis, suspicion followed Vincent for years. Though he built a career as a successful thriller author, his life was marked by turmoil. He married Lydia and had a daughter, Olivia, but his success didn’t bring him peace. His wife left him, and his neglect as a father led Olivia to cut ties with him.

In the present, Olivia has changed her last name to Dumont and works as a ghostwriter, penning memoirs for accomplished women. Although she’s skilled at her job, a scandal involving a notorious client has destroyed her reputation and finances. She’s blacklisted in the industry, forcing her to sell her Topanga home.

When Olivia’s agent informs her that Vincent wants her to finish his final book, she’s shocked. She has hidden the fact that Vincent is her father for years, even telling her boyfriend that her parents are dead. Now, her father is battling Lewy body dementia and wants to reveal the truth about the events of June 1975 before his memory fades completely. Olivia reluctantly accepts the offer—partly out of financial need and partly out of curiosity about her family’s long-held secrets.

As Olivia combs through Vincent’s chaotic notes, doubts begin to creep in. Could her father have been involved in the tragedy all along? Determined to uncover the truth, Olivia embarks on a journey that could uncover darker revelations than she ever imagined. For once, she decides not to run away but to face the past head-on, even at the risk of shattering everything she knows.

Overall: The intricate portrayal of the father-daughter relationship and the mystery’s progression, unraveling like a treasure hunt, was utterly captivating. This book is a masterclass in suspense and emotional depth. Without a doubt, it’s one of the best books of 2025, and I highly recommend adding it to your reading list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for providing me with a digital review copy of this outstanding mystery in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Yes, this is a mystery about unsolved murders. But it is more of a story about family, and secrets, and unsaid things. How we perceive situations versus what really happened. Things unsaid, and glossed over, that can lead to decades of misunderstandings, mistrust, and estrangements.
Julie Clark has woven a wonderful story about familial bonds, and rifts, and how nothing is ever as it seems.

I was so excited to read Julie Clark’s newest thriller because all her books are nothing short of amazing. Her latest book lives up to the hype! In her book, The Ghostwriter, the main character Olivia is a successful ghostwriter for celebrity memoirs and is hired by her father to ghostwrite his memoir. Olivia’s father is a famous novelist but also famous for be suspected of murdering his own brother and sister in 1975. Woven together with flashbacks to the summer of 1975 and present day, the story is well plotted, has great character development, and is full of suspense. I highly recommend this book!

I was sooo excited to get this early copy from netgalley because I’m obsessed with Julie Clark and this book was no different. If you like multiple POVs & unreliable narrators you will love this!! Such an addictive and gripping story :) thank you netgalley!!

Julie Clark is my favorite author. I’ve read both The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell twice. When I saw her upcoming novel, The Ghostwriter, on NetGalley I immediately downloaded it and began reading. My desire was to read it straight through without stopping, but life’s pesky interruptions got in the way. Over the next two days I found myself going over details of what the main character was discovering as she wrote her father’s memoir. I’m happy to say The Ghostwriter is another intriguing novel from talented Julie Clark and I’m recommending it to all my friends.

This was a strong thriller and enjoyed the overall story being told in this world. It had that element that I was looking for from the genre and description. The overall feel worked with everything that I was wanting from this and was engaged with the story being told. Julie Clark has a strong writing style and can’t wait to read more.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I have been in reading slump for a couple of months, unfortunately. This book pulled me out of the slump with the first page! This was incredibly well done. The storyline was fabulous! Told in multiple POVs and timelines made this a fast paced read. I finished it in one sitting and just couldn't put it down. The characters were well done and relatable. Great read get your copy now!! Highly recommend

A really great and atmospheric read. I loved all of the twists and turns. I do feel as though the ending was a bit rushed though. The author spent so much time building up to the ending, and I feel as though it deserved more time.

THE GHOSTWRITER was another hit by Julie Clark, whose books I have always devoured and enjoyed. This one was no exception, with a riveting plotline fraught with mystery, lies, unreliable stories, and a touching conclusion that wrapped up enough loose ends while also leaving some open to interpretation. The flashbacks were well done and weaved into the story perfectly, putting into perspective what actually happened versus what was told to have happened. This added another layer of depth to the story and enhanced the narrative toward its inevitable conclusion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read and review THE GHOSTWRITER.