2 stars.

On June 13, 1875 young siblings Danny and Poppy Taylor are murdered at their home in Ojai, California. Their brother, Vincent, is rumored to be the killer but there is never any clear evidence. However, the suspicions remain even as he becomes an adult then a best selling horror writer.

Vincent has a daughter, Olivia. Her mother leaves her and Vincent when she is young and he sends her overseas to boarding school at 14. They become estranged.

Olivia is now 44 and a ghostwriter. She has recently been cancelled for her part in a feud with another writer, has a large financial judgment against her and is desperate for a job and money. Her agent approaches her with the offer to ghostwriter Vincent’s new book (shocking, I know), but this one isn’t a horror novel, but, rather, what he claims is the true story of the murders in 1975.

The story is told by present day Olivia and 1975 Poppy (sweet, teenage Poppy, bravely headed off to ERA rallies. I loved her.). I found myself drifting a lot while reading this and not much interested in the mystery. And the complete, unquestioned absence of Olivia’s mother in her life just seems odd to me. I did not love it.

This was really good read! It kept me on my toes. I liked the different timelines and different POV's. A lot of times when both of those things are in a book, it isn't done well, but this was! Fast paced! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I just love Julie Clark's books so much! This one too. I loved the different timelines and POVs to effectively tell this story. Even though there aren't any major twists, I couldn't put it down.

4 stars-“Information is power. But it’s also a burden, because once you know something, you can’t pretend you don’t.” Before Olivia was born, her teenage father was thought to have murdered his older brother and younger sister. The rumors swirled, but he had an alibi. He married his high school sweetheart and moved on to become a horror writer akin to Stephen King. Olivia was sent away to boarding school and shut herself away from her dad, even changing her name so no one would know they were related. She has lost her lucrative career as a ghostwriter and finds herself in serious debt when her agent reaches out saying her father would like her to ghostwrite the story of what really happened to his slain siblings.

This book was a true puzzle, with present and past timelines as well as points of view from Poppy (the murdered sister), Olivia, and Vincent, Olivia’s father. Each character has their own spin on the story, but whose truth is the one to believe? I have read and loved all of Julie Clark’s novels and was honored to be an early reader of this book. Oh, and a quick mention that Vincent and Poppy’s dad smoked Tareyton cigarettes. My dad still smokes them and it is a running joke with my sister and I that he is the only reason the brand is still in business!

Thank for the ArC to the author and NetGalley. I am and will continue to be a huge fan of your writing.

When I saw a new Julie Clark release, I knew I had to read it! I enjoyed The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell and was hoping for a similar feel. This definitely felt different. It was more of a slow burn read, which I am fine with, but I got a little bored with all of the sibling/teenage drama after a while. It’s definitely still worth reading, just not quite as good as her other two. 3.5 ⭐️s rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for an ARC of this novel.

This might be my favorite fiction of the year.

From the beginning, this book will have you hooked and questioning everything. Each chapter drags you deeper into a mysterious double murder where the prime suspect is Vincent Taylor, the victim’s brother.

Olivia finds out her dad, Vincent (a best-selling author), has late-stage Lewy Body dementia and has requested her to ghostwrite his final book. After years of distancing herself from her dad, she doesn’t have much a choice but to accept the job after her career took a hard hit. When Olivia learns that his final book will be a memoir leading up to the days of his siblings’ murders, she quickly becomes invested.

Everything about The Ghostwriter is engaging. The narration jumps from past to present with different POVs and it was all very easy to follow. Each part really adds to the suspicion but wraps up perfectly (and shockingly) by the end. I remember actually gasping when the final twist happened.

If you are looking for a roller-coaster of a story with emotional depth, complex characters and an addictive plot, keep your eyes open for Julie’s newest book coming out in June.

Julie Clark is an auto-read author for me. This was much more of a slow burn, especially compared to her previous thrillers. While the first half is more thriller, the second half is more family drama. I was able to sus out some of the secrets, and the second half was a little slow. Still, it was an overall enjoyable read.

Wow, this book completely blew me away! From the first page, I was hooked on Olivia Dumont’s story and the tangled web of her family’s dark past. The premise alone—working with her estranged father, legendary (and infamous) horror author Vincent Taylor, to uncover long-buried secrets—was enough to pull me in and the execution was absolutely amazing!

The mix of multiple POVs and dual timelines was handled so well. I usually get nervous about stories that jump around too much, but this one was seamless. I felt like I was solving the mystery right alongside Olivia, uncovering every clue and trying to piece together what really happened. And those moments where I thought I knew where it was going? Nope—Julie Clark kept me second-guessing myself right up until the end.

Olivia’s character really resonated with me. She felt so real—flawed and torn but also determined and strong. Her relationship with her father was so layered and emotional, and I found myself rooting for her even when she made tough or questionable choices. And getting the perspectives of Vince and Poppy from the time leading up to the murders added so much depth and kept me glued to the page.

This story isn’t just a mystery—it’s a deep dive into family dynamics, secrets, and how the past can haunt us. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end.

Julie Clark has officially earned a spot as one of my favorite authors. If she keeps delivering stories this smart, gripping, and emotionally rich, I’ll be first in line to read everything she writes. Highly recommend this to anyone who loves mysteries with heart and depth!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Net Galley for early access to this awesome book. While it was a slow burn, it's a twisty tale of a very dysfunctional family that endured years of trauma. The end was jaw dropping for sure!

Olivia Dumont, is one of my favorite characters of 2024. She is tough, resilient, smart and successful. Her wit and drive make “The Ghostwriter,” the story it is.

I’m not going to bother with the synopsis, it’s pretty easy to figure out mostly by the title. However, I will say this book is much more than a suspense novel involving a Ghostwriter. It’s an atmospheric and heady tale of a relationship between father and daughter.

The story moves quickly, and the suspense is palpable throughout. A very well written and solid novel. I look forward to further novels by Julia Clark.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This woman sure can tell a tale!!I love Julie Clark and was SO excited to read this ARC! I loved this book! It is a bit different from her previous two. We have Olivia who has been asked by her father to ghostwrite his memoir. Well, turns out Dear Ol' Dad may have slaughtered his brother and sister some 50 years back. Oops. He may or may not set the record straight or confess. What follows is an atmospheric tale filled with family secrets, twists and turns and great characterization as Olivia tries to dig her way to the truth. I can't recommend this book, and her previous two, enough!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Julie Clark and Sourcebooks/Landmark for this much appreciated ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other retail and social media sites upon publication day of June 3rd.

Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter by trade. Growing up in Ojai, CA she first remembers hearing from a classmate that her father killed his two siblings. Her Mom having left when she was young, this was new news to Olivia. Her relationship with her father (Vincent Taylor), is tenuous at best, as Olivia went sent overseas to Boarding School as a young child. She was able to reinvent herself there and fully disconnect herself from her family history by having a short marriage to a man, whose last name she took.

Back in the US, living with her partner Tom, Olivia is in a tough situation. Having had a public spat with a rich ghostwriter, the lawsuit (and legal fees) are bringing her near bankruptcy. So much so that she has listed the home that she and Tom love. Not only did the public spat kill her finances in legal fees, it also stopped the flow of job offers. However, Olivia has received a job offer from her agent - ghostwrite the “tell all” novel for her father, who is terminally ill.

Olivia accepts the job because she has no other financial option. Will she tell the story exactly the way her father wishes her to or will she uncover the truth behind the past that will change the relationship with her family forever?

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
Publishing date - 06/03/25
Rating (4.5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark & NetGalley for the copy of The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark. This was such a fun read!!

Synopsis - We follow Olivia who is a ghostwriter for other authors. Her father, Vincent is a well known horror author who hires Olivia to ghostwrite his last novel, however it’s not a novel. It’s a memoir about his life and what happened the night his siblings were murdered.

Part thriller and suspense that jumps back and forth between time periods that had me hooked from the very beginning & kept me guessing to the very end. Highly recommend this one when it releases on June 3rd 2025.

The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling. From the very first page, I was completely captivated by the intricate plot and the richly drawn characters. Clark's ability to create a world of secrets, lies, and betrayal is simply breathtaking.

The novel's pacing is impeccable, with each chapter building on the tension and suspense. The twists and turns are both surprising and satisfying, keeping me guessing until the very end. Clark's writing is both elegant and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the story's setting.

I couldn't put this book down. It's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and a testament to Clark's incredible talent.

Olivia Dumont is a successful Ghostwriter. Her father wants her to tell his story, he has Lowey's body dementia. His story is about a past killing of his teenage siblings in the 70's. Most people would tell Olivia "Your dad killed his brother and sister. Murdered them in their own home."

Olivia is an only child and spent her entire professional life hiding the fact about her famous father, Vincent Taylor. He writes novels and was the prime suspect in the murder.

This is good family drama, thought- provoking, tragic events and a unique perspective. The character development is great and build up and ending is great! The father- daughter relationship is captivating.

Olivia visits her mother toward the end of the book, "I think of the mother I could have had if she'd been a different kind of person. A stronger person. One who had figured out how to get the help she needed without abandoning her daughter. Who'd be able to teach her daughter how to handle hard conservations instead of avoiding them."

Suspense, Emotional Depth and Clever! 3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 6/3/25

Up is down, left is right and green is blue in this taut thriller from the never disappointing Julie Clark. Full of family drama, unreliable narration, juicy secrets this atmospheric thriller was perfection.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy. It was my absolute pleasure to read it and review it and all opinions are my own.

Five bright, big stars for this cleverly written masterpiece!! I was truly riveted by this slow-burn mystery infused with dysfunctional family drama and hidden secrets. The author did a spectacular job dangling suspense throughout and feeding us unreliable stories mixed with past POVs of Poppy and Vincent, blurring the lines of reality. My mind was all over the place trying to figure out fact from fiction and what really happened on that summer night long ago. The characters were so well developed and their emotions just bled from the pages. I felt everything. Some parts were even painful for me to read. I think that this is Clark's best book yet. I loved every minute of this gripping story and devoured it within a day. Fans of Clark and the mystery genre are going to rave about this one! I consider it a must read and highly recommend!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for granting me digital access via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

What a great story packed with the kind of family drama and secrets that I love! Julie Clark gets it right again. I really liked how this story played out. You got glimpses of the real story, but it was a delicious tease to try and figure out what was going on. I really liked the format of the book, the time jumps and different characters.
Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy.

4.5 stars - A story filled with clues, secrets, and murder. It is engaging and keeps you wondering what really happened.

5 stars

This is an amazing book. Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter who is going through hard times. She made some mistakes in the recent past and now her reputation is harmed. Her father is Vincent Taylor, a very famous author who is also the number one suspect in the murders of his sister and brother.

No one knows that Olivia is Vincent’s daughter. She prefers to keep it that way. Having been out of work for a year, Olivia is excited to receive a call from her agent with an offer to ghostwrite a book. The problem is that it is none other than Vincent Taylor who is requesting her talents.

Torn between reliving her hurtful past and desperately needing the money, Olivia decides to accept the job.

Olivia and her father have a difficult relationship. While Olivia has some happy memories, others, like the abandonment by her mother, and her father to some degree, are still very painful.

What follows is a remarkable story as Olivia learns that her father is very ill, but wants her to learn about her past. His illness makes obtaining the knowledge very difficult. She waffles between “knowing” that her father murdered his siblings, and not wanting to believe it.

This is a very heartfelt novel. It is filled with memories - good and bad, betrayal, lies, misconceptions and dastardly deeds. It gripped me from the start. I felt for Olivia, but sometimes, I didn’t like her very much. Vincent frustrated me, but I liked him. I strongly recommend this book to any mystery lovers, family relationship fans or anyone who just loves a great read.

I want to thank NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark / Sourcebooks Landmark for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions expressed in this review are solely my own.