Masterfully plotted completely draws the reader in. Captivating narrative voice. Complicated characters & relationships.
Have liked all of the author’s works but this may be her best yet.
One of those rare books you can't wait to keep reading but never want to end!

With thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this e-ARC.

When a ghostwriter is given the job of writing her estranged father’s memoir, this very compelling book happens. Vince Taylor, a renowned writer has been surrounded by rumors of the murder of his siblings. As he moves toward serious illness and death, he wants to clear the record, but the problem is that he doesn’t know the truth! Olivia, who has tremendous financial issues, agrees to be his ghostwriter.

She takes on the tasks of writing and attempting to uncover the truth about the killing of her aunt and uncle, as teenagers. So, as with all of Clark’s novels, I was totally involved in this one. I was rooting for both Olivia and her father. I found this a very engaging book.

Thank you Netgalley for this opportunity.

I've been in a bit of a book slump, but The Ghostwriter yanked me right out of it. I loved the characters, the setting, and the different relationships. There were a lot of well-worn tropes this plot could have easily used, but the author very deftly swerved away from them.

Normally, I struggle with multiple POVs and time jumps, but this is an example of where it works really, really well. The flashback chapters were just enough to further the mystery without taking over as the primary plot line. Additionally, they did a great job of adding intrigue and intentional confusion, obscuring the reveals until the end.

Oh my goodness- how can I actually describe this book in the right words! It was totally absorbing and I could not put it down. It was atmospheric and haunting and kept me guessing right to the end. I listened to a soundtrack of music from 1975 to give me a real feel for the life of the main family and it just added to the experience. There was such a build up of suspense, with so many twists and turns written so beautifully it just flowed. I would highly recommend getting hold of this book as soon as it is released and will be seeking out more of Julie Clark’s work as soon as possible!

This weekend, I binged @julieclarkauthor upcoming release, #TheGhostwriter. I’ve been a fan of Julie’s books since her debut and I have to say, I think this is her best yet. Shifting timelines and multiple POVs, with family drama, The Ghostwriter had me rapt from page 1. This doesn’t release until June, but I highly suggest you put it on your radar now, this is one you won’t want to miss! An easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ !

Julie Clark’s Ghostwriter is a gripping, emotionally intense story that dives deep into the chaos caused by dysfunctional families, betrayal, and the risky games that come with hidden secrets. It’s as much about survival as it is about finding a sense of self, with Clark expertly unraveling how pain and confusion shape the lives of her characters in complex and unexpected ways. The story keeps you on your toes, constantly guessing as secrets unravel and motives come into question. From start to finish, it holds your attention with its twists, surprises, and emotional depth, making it impossible to put down.

Wow, this is the first book I have read by Julie Clark and it blew me away. This book is full of family drama, alternating between time frames and narratives. Everyone I thought I know what was happening, I was thrown another curve ball. Looking forward to reading more by this amazing author!

Fast-paced writing with a good plot! Weaving back and forth in time and perspectives, we learn about Olivia’s father’s past and the secrets that still affect them today.

Secrets within secrets, lies upon lies, woven through the years with false truths shading lives. Gripping and addictive as the secrets of past and present slowly unravel to reveal the final truth. A winner of a mystery.

When I saw a new book from Julie Clark pop up, I ceased reading anything and everything immediately to dive into this one! I’ve loved her last two former books and if you haven’t read The Lies I Tell and The Last Flight, you should!

Vincent Taylor is a famous author who is known for his best selling novels. At an old age he is dying. He wants to write one last book about a terrible crime that occurred in his household. His brother and sister were stabbed to death and the public has always assumed he was the culprit. The case was never solved.

However, Vincent needs a ghostwriter. He hires his daughter, Olivia, who was once a famous ghostwriter for the the job.

When Olivia arrives and starts working with her father, she realizes there are secrets he has harbored for years. Did Vince kill his siblings? If not, who did?

Told from the past of his murdered sister’s diary and from the present of Olivia. A slow burn with a shocking ending. I will say that this is completely different from her last works. I thought it was a great story, just a little too slow for my liking.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m such a big fan of Julia Clark’s books. So when I saw this one I jumped at the chance to read it. Well, I’m so glad I did. This is such an amazing, complex book. Everything is written beautifully. We really get to know the main characters so well. The twists and turns are amazing. You really don’t see them coming and you think you know what’s going on, but really you don’t. I loved the narration, the duel timelines and the strong female/feminist characters. Such a good book! I can’t wait for her next one!

There is a coldness to the start of this book. Olivia has had a lot bad stuff happen to her over the years, and she is a closed off narrator, not immediately compelling or captivating — and that is part of what makes this book so compelling and captivating. Clark manages to show us all the reasons Olivia acts the way she does and gets us on her side as she deals with the difficulties of her family history and her current present situations. The dual narrative, past and present, is especially appropriate given Olivia’s father’s mixing of timelines. Altogether another great twisty mystery from Clark

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!!