The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is an emotional, character-driven mystery that lingers long after you turn the last page. Clark’s storytelling shines, bringing deeply human characters to life in a haunting and twisty tale. This book isn’t just about the mystery. It weaves in a powerful, dysfunctional family drama that adds even more depth. While some twists might feel predictable at first, I constantly second-guessed myself right up until the final reveal. Told through shifting perspectives, the truth remains elusive, and with narrators you can’t fully trust, nothing is ever as it seems.

The story kicks off in June 1975 with a devastating tragedy that shatters the Taylor family. 18-year-old Danny and 14-year-old Poppy are brutally murdered in their home. The only survivor is 17-year-old Vincent, the middle sibling. Danny was the golden boy, admired by everyone, while Poppy was a lively, passionate young activist. Vincent, on the other hand, was the family’s outsider - a quiet, brooding loner. Even those closest to Danny and Poppy couldn’t help but suspect him, but Vincent had an ironclad alibi. He was with his girlfriend, Lydia, and their neighbor, a schoolteacher, at the time of the murders.

In the present day, Olivia, now going by Olivia Dumont, makes a living as a ghostwriter, crafting memoirs for high-profile women. She’s great at what she does, but a scandal involving a notorious colleague has wrecked both her reputation and her finances. Blacklisted in the industry, she can't afford to say no when she’s offered a chance to write her famous father’s memoir. What follows is an emotional journey as Olivia is forced to face long-buried secrets, reconnect with the people she left behind, and confront how memories, especially the ones we cling to, can shift and distort over time.

As Olivia digs through her father's messy, disorganized notes, a chilling thought starts to take hold—what if her father was involved in the tragedy all along? The more she uncovers, the more the doubt creeps in. Determined to get to the truth, she sets out on a path that might lead to even darker revelations than she’s ready for. But this time, instead of running, Olivia chooses to face the past head-on, even if it means unraveling everything she thought she knew.

The Ghostwriter is a sharp, brilliantly layered mystery that completely pulled me in. The storytelling is gripping from start to finish, and without a doubt, this is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I can’t wait to see what Clark comes up with next!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Julie Clark for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Julie Clark has done it again! "The Ghostwriter" was gripping. I was absolutely riveted by this story, which, to borrow a phrase from it, was both tragic and extraordinary. I couldn't put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a good read. Not my favorite but still a very interesting and suspenseful book. There were many questions I had as i read it and I would think i know what was going to happen but then I was wrong. It was fun to go back to see Vincent's past and what happened on that night in 1975 with his family and this one had a great ending to tie it all together.

One of my favorite mysteries I’ve read lately! I appreciated the unique, indirect approach to exploring these unsolved murders, the choice to bring Olivia and Vincent together and tell the story through writing a memoir really provided a lot of depth and emotion. This book had a lot of twists and turns and really allowed me to come to my own conclusions about what I think happened instead of adopting the main character’s view. Alternating chapters between present day and 1975 kept the story interesting and really immersed you in the time when the murders happened. The author did an excellent job of capturing teenage lives in 1975 – which I think gives this book a little bit of YA crossover appeal too.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this digital ARC!

I really enjoyed this!! Clark’s storytelling and ability to weave past and present is just so good. I’m really glad we got Poppy’s real POV, I think that really added to the layers of the book. The way Vince & Olivia’s dynamic really came full circle in the end & his connection to Poppy was *chefs kiss*. Overall this was a fantastic read!

This book had lots of drama, suspense and twists.the author does a great job with going from the past to future. You never sure if anyone is a reliable narrator or what really is happening. This was my first book by this author and I will definitely read more.

This was an amazing excellent book, the first book I have read from Julie Clark. I really enjoyed the multiple POVs. My favorite character in the entire book was Poppy, she was so full of life throughout the story. The entire journey of the story was so entertaining to read and intriguing to try to figure out what truly happened to Danny and Poppy especially since from the beginning it's clear that Vincent is not a reliable narrator due to illness. Olivia's digging and investigating through out the book was well done. I also enjoyed her friendship with Jack. This was such a great and enjoyable story, I finished it in one day.

Great book couldn't put it down. Thank you for letting me read this in advance. Five stars for sure.
I couldn't help feeling bad for her dad. Poor man.

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