The Screenwriter

by Amanda Reynolds

The perfect ghost writer is silent, unassuming…

… and knows which secrets are worth keeping

I’d hoped my screen-writing career would have taken off by now, anything to stop me from dealing with yet another jumped-up celebrity who thinks their story is worth telling.

But when my agent tells me which celeb wants me to write their memoir. Well, I can’t deny my interest is piqued.

Blythe Hopper, former Hollywood star. An Oscar winner, no less.

But more famous recently for shooting her husband. One shot between the eyes.

It’s the best story! But I must admit, I have a different reason to want to visit her beautiful Hampstead mansion.

You see, her husband emailed me. Says he has answers to questions I’ve asked my entire life. The only trouble is, the email was sent two days after he was already dead.

A ghost. Just like me.

So if Blythe wants to tell all, I’m going to make sure I’m the one she talks to.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2024

About the author

Librarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name. This profile contains books from multiple authors of this name.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a unique read, centered on a wannabe screenwriter named Marnie who makes a living ghostwriting books for celebrities. When she is asked to write a story for Blythe, an aging actress who appears to have murdered her own husband one cold blood, she is nervous about it but needs the money and the “in” to bigger things. The story is told entirely from Marnie’s POV.

The premise of this story is unique, and the author did a good job laying out the creepy setting and the off dynamics between characters. I didn’t fully relate to Marnie, as she said and did things that I didn’t think a reasonable person would, but I still enjoyed reading of her antics in her voice. There was a point in the middle of the book where I thought the story got repetitive, with constant restating of things that had already been discovered and questions she still had during internal narratives as well as conversations with Blythe, but the pace picked up after that. I thought the ending was well done and there was a couple surprising twists.

Overall, this was a unique read that, while not fully engaging the entire time, held my interest and was memorable.

[LJ (ljwritesandreviews) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've not read an Amanda Reynolds book before, but the storyline intrigued me, so I thought I'd give it a go.

Marnie's Hollywood screenwriting dreams are in tatters, so she's forced to take a job ghostwriting a memoir, something she swore she'd never do again. This is not just any memoir, it's the elusive Blythe Hopper. She and Dominic were once the toast of Hollywood, him a talented screenwriter, her an Oscar-winning actress. However, some years earlier, they disappeared from the spotlight. Fame has found Blythe again, but negatively. She killed her husband, Dom, but is refusing to say why. Now Marnie is trapped in a house with her, trying to uncover the truth of that night.

The Screenwriter is a tense and unsettling psychological thriller.

I loved the concept of the book. A writer trapped in a house with people she can't trust and the fact you never quite knew what Blythe was going to say or do kept the tension on a knife edge.

However, there were a few aspects to the story that made it a little less enjoyable for me.

First was Marnie. To me, she came across as that typical psychological thriller woman, as in she's a hot mess. She knows it but still goes on making the same mistakes and is her own worst enemy.

Then around the middle I got a bit frustrated just waiting and waiting for something dramatic to happen which I could tell was coming.

Overall, a decent thriller, even if it dipped a bit in the middle. I would definitely read more by this author in the future.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Screenwriter' by Amanda Reynolds.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Amanda Reynolds, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Book and Tonic and The Bold Book Club.

Publication date 16th January 2024.

This is the first book I have read by this author but it most definitely won't be my last!!

This novel consists of a prologue and 34 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! I DID NOT EXPECT THAT!!! MIND BLOWN MUCH!!! AN ABSOLUTELY EXPLOSIVE ENDING TO AN ADDICTIVE PAGE TURNER!!

Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.

I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Amanda!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that big time !!! What a twist and what an ending!!! One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, shocks, murder, secrets, twists, suspense, tension, and page after page of addictive storytelling. There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. I'm not going to go too much into the storyline as I don't want to give anything away and everything you need to know is in the incredible synopsis. To find out more yourself then you will just have to grab your copy today to find out won't you?! Amanda has created an unpredictable and unputdownable, gritty, suspense and tension filled explosive page turner that will have you addicted from the first page to the last!! Her fantastic evocative writing skills brings the storyline and characters to life in front of your eyes and will keep you glued to the pages!

Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!!


I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. Amanda has managed to create several realistic, flawed, unlikeable and questionable characters that she brings to life with her creative and evocative writing skills and puts them into what should be an everyday storyline but makes the reader question everything and everyone they are seeing, reading and meeting throughout!! As with the storyline I won't go into any details about the characters as I don't want to run the risk of giving anything away and spoiling this incredible storyline for future readers. I will say that I did not have a clue who to trust and I never did work out who was hiding what and would never ever have worked out THAT EXPLOSIVE twist. If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters, even when they are unlikeable, that worked well with this storyline and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly along with Amanda's fantastic writing skills making each of them jump out of the pages coming to life in front of your eyes.

This is exactly why I would like to welcome you to my top author Club Amanda!! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂

Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the first chapter of Amanda's 'The Assistant' that promises to be just as addictive as this page turner!

Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!

361 pages.

This book is just 99p to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited and £9.99 in paperback (at time of review) via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

Feel free to add me on Goodreads or follow me on my website or Facebook for more reviews

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[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written in 1st person POV, I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit slow at times, but the twists at the end, I didn't see coming at all !! I was so shocked ! I would have sought revenge at the end though haha.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for access to this arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Amanda Reynolds’ writing, so I couldn’t wait to read her latest novel, The Screenwriter. We meet Marnie, who has been hired to ghost-write the memoir of Blythe Hopper, a celebrity A-lister, who once had Hollywood at her feet. Blythe is also a celebrity with a few dark secrets, which makes her story so appealing to publishers and the public. But writing Blythe’s memoir isn’t the only reason why Marnie has taken this job. She too has her own questions and these lead her down some dark paths in her quest for the truth.

Marnie is a character with a really interesting backstory. As she begins to get to know Blythe, we begin to see the type of person Blythe really is, and Blythe does come across as self-indulgent and psychotic. Amanda Reynolds delved into Blythe’s personality really well, and this really adds to the tension between her and Marnie. It really does seem, at the start, that Blythe hates the idea of Marnie being in her life at this moment, and it feels as though she might stop and say no to this project at any moment. Blythe also looks down on Marnie, and doesn’t show any trace of warmth towards her at all. This really does make their working relationship intense, and I was never sure just how much danger Marnie was in. We get the sense that Blythe may have been involved in some horrific events in her life, but there is still a sense of uncertainty. This made me wonder if Marnie would continue to stick out with the project.

Marnie is particularly interested in what happened to Blythe’s previous husband, a famous Hollywood Director, who was shot dead only a short while ago. He may also have known something about Marnie, and she is desperate to find out what it was he may have known. There is such a tense atmosphere surrounding this, which Amanda Reynolds builds so well.

I was totally hooked from the first chapter and I wanted to see just what Marnie would uncover about Blythe and about herself as well. The secrets that Marnie discovers are even darker than she at first, could’ve ever believed possible. There is such a tense finale as these secrets are finally revealed. Amanda Reynolds really had my eyes glue to the page, as I had no idea how things were going to end for Marnie.

The Screenwriter is an addictive psychological thriller that I really enjoyed.

[Books_the_Magical_Fruit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was great! I was so invested in Marnie’s experiences, and I loved the twists and turns that the story took. I’m always interested in an underdog tale.
The premise is that a down-on-her-luck screenwriter is somehow selected to ghostwrite a memoir for a celebrity who is, shall we say, embroiled in a scandal of epic proportions. Marnie has her own issues, not least of which is that she is a raging alcoholic. She is instructed to live on the grounds of the estate until she gets the material she needs to write the book. The novel has a small amount of characters, but the ones that are featured are so entertaining that it doesn’t matter. Stuff gets crazy in that mansion! I’m excited to read more of Ms. Reynolds’ work.

My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I also post on Instagram as books_the_magical_fruit.

#netgalley #boldwoodbooks #amandareynolds #mystery #thriller #murder #screenwriter #ghostwriting #memoir #mustread

[Fiona R · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, the protagonist annoyed me so much. But entertaining story nonetheless.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book but for some reason I didn’t. It took me ages to get into it and I couldn’t warm to any of the characters. It’s cleverly written and I was compelled to finish it and there were some good twists so I would rate it 3 stars. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

[Caroline Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt very slow and hard to keep reading. The last 100 pages is when it finally got good.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amanda Reynolds, The Screenwriter, Boldwood Books, January 2024

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

This title attracted me and, although unattracted to Reynold’s Close to Me in its televised form, suggests that potentially I have found a new source of entertaining psychological thrillers. The Screenwriter has the added attraction of including social commentary together with the staples of this genre, mystery, devious characters and some intriguing plotting. In this novel, scrutiny of the Hollywood world as the MeToo movement has become part of its public discourse, is woven into the plotting and characterisation.

A prologue introduces Blythe Hopper who, upon looking out of her tower in her home in Hampstead, sees a spire of smoke arising from her garden. Headache forgotten along with the insults she has had to endure from a young journalist and mixed reminisces about her marriage, she hastens downstairs, runs through the kitchen where signs of a fight are apparent, is unable to locate keys to the locked back door, finds instead a gun and …

A month later Marnie Wilde arrives to be Blythe’s ghost writer. She is desperate for the work, for personal as well as financial reasons. Both explain her preparedness to suffer the disagreeable behaviour of Blythe and her business manager, Ludo Villander, the unsavoury accommodation to which she is banished from the well-appointed house, the poor-quality food prepared in a dirty kitchen and numerous rules to which she must adhere. However, lest one feels too sorry for Marnie she is also a less than sympathetic character, with her slovenly appearance, propensity to self-sabotage, and her endless consumption of alcohol.

Marnie has recently suffered a setback to her screen writing career and has to return to ghost writing. She is concerned about the situation in which she finds herself, questions the motives of Blythe and Ludo, claims to want to remain abreast of the various shoals that she is encountering in her new role, but only spasmodically works towards this end. She is intrigued by Dom Hopper’s script which he and Blythe were working on as a vehicle for Blythe whose long-ago Oscar has not achieved for her the fame she craves. Dom’s death at Blythe’s hand, destruction of the script for the proposed film and his email to Marnie in which he claims to be pursuing Marnie’s mother’s mysterious disappearance all work to create a multitude of strands to the novel. Marnie’s and Blythe’s characters and the story of their pasts emerge through discussions about the proposed memoir, and the possibility of Marnie completing Blythe’s interpretation of the screen play.

The merging of characters and stories is a clever device, and helps move the novel past the drinking, inedible food, and general seediness that makes up much of the story. Although there is some predictability, Reynolds has established characters that work, competent storylines and has addressed the role and impact of sexual predators in Hollywood. I would read another of Amanda Reynold’s novels.

[Ilana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even if you don´t necessarily read the blurbs about a book, if you trust to continue reading after the opening lines, most probably you will not be wrong. Especially when it has to do with a thriller. This was the promise of The Screenwriter by Amanda Reynolds, an author I´ve featured before on my blog before.

As in the case of The Assistant, most of the action takes place among the posh and rich. Blythe and Dom Hopper, a former Hollywood actress and successful screenwriter looking to re-launch his career. They may dream about getting back to run the show, but Blythe will take control of her destiny and shoot her husband.

Blythe will not stop here though as she wants her side of the story to be told and thus, is asking Marnie, also a ´once been´ to share her story to the world, while waiting for the judicial proceedings. Marnie may need to answer the request for a very simple reason: she may have some secrets co-shared with this family. Who is Blythe, anyway and why two days after Dom died, Marnie was received an email supposedly from the late screenwriter, promising her information about her estranged mother who abandoned her when she was just four?

Screenwriters getting caught into murderous entreprises is really an unique idea. Plus, the book has a high dosis of secrets of the darkest type that doesn´t let you put it down. Although the characters development is complex enough to keep the readers engaged, the story itself compliments the cast of characters. The plot is spectacular and plays very well the cat-and-mouse gamble of secrets, with moments of suspense stretched in between regular story episodes, which are the sparkles that one - me, for instance - needs for awakening his or her interest into the story.

Marnie, who is the one telling the story is bold, although a complete mess more than once. Blythe´s ambivalence as a former Oscar recipient may prompt us to put into question almost everything she is sharing and doing, which in the overall structure of the story creates a lot of ambiguity, a great ingredient for a crime story. The general tone of the story is empathic, particularly in relation with the ways in which women are treated in the entertainment world, in Hollywood and abroad. The book has women characters

I really enjoyed reading The Screenwriter and would definitely keep reading Reynolds, as her stories are always more than a crime puzzle to solve.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour but the opinions are, as usual, my own

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed for Chick Lit Central (www.chicklitcentral.com)

Marnie, a down on her luck ghostwriter-turned-failed screenwriter, is given the opportunity to ghostwrite for a scandalous actress (Blythe) who is best known in recent years for killing her husband. At first, it appears that Marnie’s motivation in even taking the job is due to her need for survival. Her boyfriend has left her, and when the pilot she’d written goes belly up, she needs some form of income to pay her already delinquent rent. I loved how the stakes were continually raised for Marnie in that regard. But what we quickly discover is that she’s received an email from Blythe’s deceased husband, letting her know that he has information pertaining to family secrets that she’s wanted answers to for most of her life.

From the moment she steps inside of the gates and grounds of what is known as “The Towers,” there are immediate ominous undertones. Ludo, Blythe’s assistant, refuses to allow Marnie to explore the grounds, or to do much of anything, other than to stay as a prisoner within the high-guarded walls. Blythe deflects during their much-needed conversations about the memoir Marnie is to ghostwrite for Blythe, and while Marnie does her best to investigate under such stringent guidelines, clues and hints towards Blythe’s past and possible leads to Marnie’s past begin to coincide. Most of the reading experience for me was shrouded in mystery and intrigue. I never knew what would be lurking around each dark, dank corner. Suddenly, the body count of deaths (Blythe’s husband included) has gone up to six potential victims by Blythe’s hand. Or, was it someone else entirely? I was just as curious and fearful of the outcome as Marnie was!

I had my suspicions as to the ultimate truths–not only where Blythe and her sordid past are concerned, but the answers to Marnie’s number one question. But as I read along, I’d get sidetracked down another dark corridor, much like Marnie when she navigates her way inside of The Towers. In the end, I wasn’t terribly surprised when Marnie is given what she came there for, but I was thrown off guard by a lot of it. She gets a lot more than she bargained for.

The premise behind The Screenwriter kept me hooked from start to finish! It was such a clever storyline, something I could see turned into a mystery made-for-TV movie. It was a great psychological thriller, a definite five-star experience!

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blythe and Dom Hopper have been married for 30 years and live in a large home called The Towers in London. Blythe is an actress and Dom is a screenwriter. Their marriage was in trouble as Dom’s last writing was rejected. They fought a lot and she ended up killing him. Now, Blythe wants to hire a ghostwriter to write her memoirs before her trial for murder.

Harry represents Marnie Wilde, a screenwriter, whose upcoming series has just been cancelled. Now, he is offering her the job of ghostwriting for Blythe. While she feels it’s beneath her, Marnie accepts the job and heads to move in with Blythe for a short while as they undertake this task. The problem is that Marnie can’t seem to stop drinking and is now flat broke.

Marnie finds the house to be large but she is told to stay in a small annex on the grounds where Dom used to write. It’s primitive and dirty but she accepts it. The large house itself is dusty and the kitchen is dirty. Marnie’s male assistant cooks for her but to keep her figure, she never eats, just existing on cigarettes and lots of alcohol. Enough with any spoilers. But one last hint: This story can be compared to the #MeToo events in Hollywood.

This book is distressing and cringe-worthy. It’s scary but kept me reading without a break. The secrets that are revealed are mind-boggling, but the ending is oh so good. Enjoy!!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars rounded up to 2 stars because I really liked "The Husband's Lie" written by this author.

I don't know why this didn't resonate with me because i loved the author's writing style in the other book I read. It could be the main character, Marnie, who was supposed to be hip and flip and probably funny in a sardonic way. But she rubbed me wrong for some reason. She got an email from the husband of the former actress, Blythe, whose memoir she will start ghostwriting. But Blythe supposedly shot and killed the husband a month earlier. And his name is Dominic. And he sent an email to Marnie that was sent 2 days after his death but said he has information about her mother who has been missing since Marnie was 4. And because of this email, she calls him "Dom" as if she knows him. ?! Huh?

Things like that didn't seem to connect and at times I thought I was missing something only to read on and then find out what the author was hinting at or trying to say. It was this tick-kick-kat-tick-tak-took kind of haphazard writing style that was frustrating for me. And drew me out of the story. To the point that I did an awful lot of skimming. When I got to the end. Wow! Good ending. But I struggled with the rest of it.

Sorry, this is not a very good review. It's probably as scattered as much as I found the story :-)

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

A former Hollywood star, now a recluse, who is believed to have murdered her husband. A young writer, who is longing to get out of her own shadow as a ghost writer of celebrity memoirs. Decades apart in age, what is the hidden connection between the them?

One-time movie star Blythe Hopper had long been pushing her screenwriter husband to prepare the screenplay which was to be their comeback. When he finally refused, a furious Blythe was unwilling to accept that decision.

Her husband was right to worry about the lie that they were living in the form of their supposedly enduring and happy marriage. But why did Marnie - who has been approached to write yet another celebrity memoir, this time Blythe's - receive a mysterious email from him around the time of his death?

This is a dramatic and suspenseful story, though the writing style was not entirely to my taste. The book is worth a read for those who want a story about the hidden side of larger-than-life characters, and the lengths they will go to keep those secrets to themselves. It gets 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marnie thought she’d left behind her days of writing ‘celebrity’ tell-all memoirs, but when her big break as a screenwriter turns to dust she’s forced to take another ghost writing job. This time, it's writing for the infamous Blythe Hopper, a reclusive former Hollywood star who shot her husband between the eyes. Marnie has her own reasons and secrets for meeting Blythe. But Marnie soon learns Blythe is not a woman to be messed with.

This book started off slow at first but if you hang on to it, be prepared to be blown off by its explosive twist at the end! If you love short chapters with quick read, this is one of the books. Written in the first POV, it is easy to follow and be engrossed in the plot.

Both Marnie's and Blythe's characters are sometimes unlikeable but they're actually essential for building the storyline.

This is a riveting psychological thriller that ticks all the elements. It's my first book by Reynolds and definitely won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley @netgalley, Amanda Reynolds, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, Book and Tonic and The Bold Book Club for this ARC.

[Jody Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up

I loved it: Hollywood excitement and dark mystery in an enthralling plot. The tale of Blythe Hopper, an Oscar winner who subsequently became a suspected murderer, is interlaced with the story of the main character and his path.

Matters get more complicated when the protagonist receives a mail from the deceased husband of Blythe that promises answers to the old unanswered questions. This email, sent after the sender’s death, adds an extra layer of surrealism that prompts the reader to delve deeper into the narrative.

Additionally, the atmospheric tension is set within a beautiful mansion in Hampstead. More importantly, the story’s plot moves fast enough to sustain tension and mystery at every point throughout.

In general, this is an exciting read that combines elements of mystery with celebrity culture. The Screenwriter by Amanda Reynolds is a must-read in 2024!

Thank you to Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Screenwriter by Amanda Reynolds was an excellent book and had me gripped from the beginning till the very end.
Marnie Wilde is hired to be a ghost writer, and to write the memoir of Blythe Hopper, who is a celebrity A-lister, and who once had Hollywood at her feet. But, Blythe also a celebrity with a several dark secrets, which makes her story so appealing to publishers and the public, everyone wants to know more about her.
But, writing Blythe’s memoir isn’t the only reason why Marnie has taken this job. She also has several questions of her own and these have to be answered, but, when she finds these answers they will lead her down some dark paths in her quest for the truth, will she be strong enough to take the truth?

Wow this book is brilliant and will have you guessing till the end.

Another excellent book by Amanda and I highly recommend this book

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars!!
Review:
Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources for hosting this book's tour last month and for the FREE EBook to promote and review for Amanda.

This was my first time reading a Thriller by Amanda so i wasnt sure what to expect but i have to say i liked it for the most part i just felt like Blythe dragged her story on a little too much and was distracting from what the storyline was about.

The Characters were fun and interesting to read about. Marine was definately my favorite i just didnt see the fascination with Blythe the way she did cause i felt Blythe was a very snooty stuck up celebrity.

The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like i was actually in the book while reading, especially when the scenery was described.

Overall an OK Thriller but would of been better without Blythe's story being dragged on so much. I will read more Books by Amanda i just hope the others arent like this one was.

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quirky, dark thriller. Marnie starts her new ghostwriting job which involves moving in with a celebrity. The more Marnie gets to know her, the more suspicious she gets about her involvement in deaths of those around her. Will Marnie make it out alive?
'The Screenwriter' is a very intense book which for the most part I enjoyed. However I think this was too long and a result the pace started to drop and my interest waned a bit. The characters are interesting to get to know, I do not think any were particularly likeable but it did not seem to matter for this book. There is a lot to this which I enjoyed but it did get a bit confusing in places.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a contemporary psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator and a small cast of mostly unlikeable characters. Marnie is a ghostwriter with aspirations and the skills to be a screenwriter. Her chance to make it big appears to have come and gone, and now she has to take a ghostwriting job to pay the bills for an actress whose life has taken a tragic turn. This is an atmospheric thriller set in a toxic ethos. There is an underlying sense of danger. The suspenseful plot reveals its secrets as the story unfolds, and the pacing is good. I did guess most of the twists, which made this a satisfying read. I like the story's sense of menace and its contemporary relevance.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never start reading new book before bed, especially if it's by Amanda Reynolds, because it will cost you your sleep!

A few chapters in and I'd already found myself invested into the plot and forging a relationship with the main characters, of whom I couldn't trust whatsoever - they were both hiding dark secrets and ulterior motives.

The plot is clever and was a little slow in starting, but pace soon picks up and it's full steam ahead. There's plenty of twists, turns and OMG moments, and the ending was....did you really think I was going to tell you?

It's entertaining, riveting and definitely one I'd be happy to recommend.

[Rachel Pratt · Rating 2 out of 5]

What a disappointment , this book struggled from the start , it’s mainly set around 3/4 characters in one location and oh it needs more !!!!
And why are these main female characters so chaotic, you know it’s going to end badly at the very start !! You want to shout
Sort yourself out , you’re on a path of doom !!
So the author tried to make Marnie strong and a member of the sisterhood at the end but it was too little too late for me .
The real disappointment is that I read this on the back of another book by the same author that was a triumph and was looking forward to this read so much !!

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book from start to finish. The word that comes to mind is "unsettling," and I loved every minute of it.

Actress-turned-outcast Blythe Hopper is ready to reveal her secrets in a tell-all memoir, taking us on a journey through the glitz and darkness of Hollywood.

Marnie, the aspiring screenwriter hired to write Blythe's memoir, becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind her husband's shooting. But there's more at play than just a scandalous story, as the lives of these two women are intertwined in shocking ways.

The Screenwriter is an engrossing novel that had me hooked until the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley, and Boldwood books for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marnie is a ghostwriter trying, a little unsuccessfully, to break into the screenwriting business. In the meantime, her agent tells her she would be perfect for ghostwriting the memoir of a famous celebrity. Blythe Hopper is an Oscar winning former movie star who has been all over the news recently for killing her screenwriter husband. This is the same husband who sent Marnie an email two days after his death. This was an entertaining and suspenseful cat and mouse mystery. I thank Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Snowfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I may give this another chance but I DNF'd at 20% due to the insane amount of run-on sentences. It's also very repetitive about her "groundbreaking screenplay" that sounds terrible, and her gee where is my mommy? fixation. Yawn. Also her name is Marnie Wilde. (no it isn't, no one's is) My copy has another generic title, not this one.
So...I read the last 20% when the book gets good, reviews say...I found it predictable. Blah. And now the heroine doesn't drink alcohol or eat! So we know she's a Winner!

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good psychological thriller set in hit weather. The heat plays into the plot which is not something you have in all books. Told in 1st person POV by Marnie we are the story through her eyes so there is more mystery about the other characters. You don’t know who to trust as Marnie uncovers more and more secrets. I enjoyed the book and all the secrets.

[Jessica D Earles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow start but picked up toward the end. Not a real big page turner, or thriller but it was a decent book.

Also, the title I received from Amazon on my Kindle is called The Wife's Secret, not The Screen Writer. I'm assuming the name got changed somewhere along the way before publication. The cover art is the same though.

[Eirlys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read

A real psychological thriller that is an amazing story. It is very puzzling at the start, and seems to get even more so, as the story evolves. The characters are deceptive in some cases, but are all well crafted. I enjoyed the twist ending the book.