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The Ghostwriter: A Novel
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Mystery & Thriller (2025)In June 1975 the Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies—because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies—because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.
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First published June 3, 2025
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About the author
Julie Clark
9 books5,457 followersJulie Clark is the New York Times bestselling author of The Ones We Choose and The Last Flight, which was also a #1 international bestseller and has been translated into more than twenty languages. She lives in Los Angeles with her family and a golden doodle with poor impulse control.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,234 reviews
November 10, 2025
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.
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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.
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May 23, 2025
Fantastic. Julie Clark has never disappointed me. I was completely engrossed in this story the entire time and my theories NEVER stopped changing which I absolutely love.
It was a bit of a slower burn, but it totally works here-it only made me more invested in the characters and more eager to get to the reveal/conclusion. Ugh this was so good.
It was a bit of a slower burn, but it totally works here-it only made me more invested in the characters and more eager to get to the reveal/conclusion. Ugh this was so good.
June 8, 2025
SO SO GOOD!!! The best thriller I’ve read in months! This one has alllllll the best elements of a “who done it” story, but it’s less about who actually did it & more about the story getting to that point. LOVED it! The audio was great too :)
June 7, 2025
⭐️ 2.5 stars. It’s not you, Julie. It’s me. (Actually no, it’s kind of both of us.)
I was so excited for this one. But I did not like it. I am in the minority here, it's gotten great reviews. Leading me to believe this is a ✨me✨ problem.
🔪 Synopsis:
Olivia is a ghostwriter. Her estranged dad, Vincent Taylor, is a washed up horror novelist who may or may not have murdered his siblings when he was a teenager. No biggie.
Now he’s dying of Lewy body dementia, broke, full of regrets, and decides his parting gift to the world should be a deeply incoherent cryptic memoir… written by the daughter he emotionally neglected for decades.
Olivia returns home for the first time in years and discovers that ... surprise!...her dad is still a total dick but now he also has hallucinations and throws things. Between scenes of him being mysterious and incoherent, we get lengthy flashbacks about how much he sucked as a parent. And while valid… girl. We got it the first 12 times.
Meanwhile, instead of just saying “hey, here’s who killed Poppy,” Vincent chooses the ✨ scavenger hunt of trauma ✨ route, making Olivia dig through diaries, home videos, and emotional wreckage to figure it out.
🙄 Why I didn’t like it:
Every character was insufferable except Poppy, who is dead.
It was so. damn. slow.
Olivia’s trauma monologues were repetitive af. Like yes, your dad was trash. You know who else's dad was trash? The entire class of 1985.
Vincent could’ve just SAID what happened, he was lucid half the time. But nah. Let’s turn everything into riddles instead.
Honestly? The book would’ve been better if Vincent had just died and left Olivia with a box of secrets to unravel.
Also? Old Vincent. Young Vincent. Middle-aged Vincent. They all suck.
✍️ What I did like:
Julie Clark can write. Her prose is smooth, and the structure makes sense.
The idea was solid. The execution just didn’t hit for me.
💀 Final Thoughts:
This wasn’t a bad book. It just wasn’t the book I was hoping for. It leans heavy into family dysfunction and internal pain not the twisty thriller the blurb implied. And that mismatch set me up for disappointment.
If you’re looking for a dark, introspective, literary excavation of guilt and legacy this might work for you. But if you wanted murder, chaos, and messy reveals?
This ain’t it.
I was so excited for this one. But I did not like it. I am in the minority here, it's gotten great reviews. Leading me to believe this is a ✨me✨ problem.
🔪 Synopsis:
Olivia is a ghostwriter. Her estranged dad, Vincent Taylor, is a washed up horror novelist who may or may not have murdered his siblings when he was a teenager. No biggie.
Now he’s dying of Lewy body dementia, broke, full of regrets, and decides his parting gift to the world should be a deeply incoherent cryptic memoir… written by the daughter he emotionally neglected for decades.
Olivia returns home for the first time in years and discovers that ... surprise!...her dad is still a total dick but now he also has hallucinations and throws things. Between scenes of him being mysterious and incoherent, we get lengthy flashbacks about how much he sucked as a parent. And while valid… girl. We got it the first 12 times.
Meanwhile, instead of just saying “hey, here’s who killed Poppy,” Vincent chooses the ✨ scavenger hunt of trauma ✨ route, making Olivia dig through diaries, home videos, and emotional wreckage to figure it out.
🙄 Why I didn’t like it:
Every character was insufferable except Poppy, who is dead.
It was so. damn. slow.
Olivia’s trauma monologues were repetitive af. Like yes, your dad was trash. You know who else's dad was trash? The entire class of 1985.
Vincent could’ve just SAID what happened, he was lucid half the time. But nah. Let’s turn everything into riddles instead.
Honestly? The book would’ve been better if Vincent had just died and left Olivia with a box of secrets to unravel.
Also? Old Vincent. Young Vincent. Middle-aged Vincent. They all suck.
✍️ What I did like:
Julie Clark can write. Her prose is smooth, and the structure makes sense.
The idea was solid. The execution just didn’t hit for me.
💀 Final Thoughts:
This wasn’t a bad book. It just wasn’t the book I was hoping for. It leans heavy into family dysfunction and internal pain not the twisty thriller the blurb implied. And that mismatch set me up for disappointment.
If you’re looking for a dark, introspective, literary excavation of guilt and legacy this might work for you. But if you wanted murder, chaos, and messy reveals?
This ain’t it.
November 5, 2025
5/5 ★
Believe the hype! BOOK OF THE YEAR for me (so far). That last chapter broke my heart. 💔
In The Ghostwriter, the Taylor family is shattered in 1975 when teenage siblings Poppy and Danny are found dead, and their brother Vincent becomes the focus of dark suspicions. Decades later, his daughter Olivia Dumont, who has spent her life hiding their connection, is hired to ghostwrite his final book, unaware that it is not another one of his popular horror novels but a memoir. He is finally ready to reveal what really happened in 1975. 📹
Wow. With how high the ratings are for this one, I expected a fast paced, unputdownable mystery/thriller that a wide range of people would love. I was not expecting it to be so emotional and powerful at the same time.
I’ll admit, the beginning was a little shaky for me. You hear a lot about the characters without really being in their heads, and I wasn’t sure why I should care or how I was supposed to connect. But I trusted the great things I’d heard and kept going, and I’m so glad I did. By the end, Julie Clark pulled everything together in a way that was moving, satisfying, and completely heartbreaking.
It gave me a lot of the same feelings I had while reading The God of the Woods last year. It leans more literary mystery than I expected, and that worked so well for me. Poppy specifically is one of my favorite characters of the year.
Having someone close to me dealing with a similar illness as Vincent, those scenes were especially emotional and hard to read at times. This ended up being one of only two books this year that actually made me cry.
After finding The Last Flight just okay and loving her short story The Heart of a Mother, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this one, but this was amazing.
If you have this marked as “Want to Read,” take this as your sign to bump it to the top of your list!
Believe the hype! BOOK OF THE YEAR for me (so far). That last chapter broke my heart. 💔
In The Ghostwriter, the Taylor family is shattered in 1975 when teenage siblings Poppy and Danny are found dead, and their brother Vincent becomes the focus of dark suspicions. Decades later, his daughter Olivia Dumont, who has spent her life hiding their connection, is hired to ghostwrite his final book, unaware that it is not another one of his popular horror novels but a memoir. He is finally ready to reveal what really happened in 1975. 📹
Wow. With how high the ratings are for this one, I expected a fast paced, unputdownable mystery/thriller that a wide range of people would love. I was not expecting it to be so emotional and powerful at the same time.
I’ll admit, the beginning was a little shaky for me. You hear a lot about the characters without really being in their heads, and I wasn’t sure why I should care or how I was supposed to connect. But I trusted the great things I’d heard and kept going, and I’m so glad I did. By the end, Julie Clark pulled everything together in a way that was moving, satisfying, and completely heartbreaking.
It gave me a lot of the same feelings I had while reading The God of the Woods last year. It leans more literary mystery than I expected, and that worked so well for me. Poppy specifically is one of my favorite characters of the year.
Having someone close to me dealing with a similar illness as Vincent, those scenes were especially emotional and hard to read at times. This ended up being one of only two books this year that actually made me cry.
After finding The Last Flight just okay and loving her short story The Heart of a Mother, I really wasn’t sure what to expect from this one, but this was amazing.
If you have this marked as “Want to Read,” take this as your sign to bump it to the top of your list!
July 15, 2025
This was so fun, kept me on my toes. If you liked Jeneva Rose’s Home is Where the Bodies Are, you’ll love this one too!
June 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, is the only child of the famous horror author Vincent Taylor, a man known not only for his novels, but also for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings when he was just seventeen.
She once had a promising career but a faux pas has her in financial ruin and unable to secure a job until her father asks for her to ghostwrite his last book. Neither has ever revealed that they are related so their respective agents are quite surprised by his choice.
FACT OR FICTION?
After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor wants to publish a TELL ALL about what really happened on the night that his younger sister Poppy and his older brother, Danny died. But is he telling the truth?
Olivia arrives to find the handwritten scribblings of a dying man which make little sense.
MEMORY OR MADNESS?
Fortunately, Poppy loved to document everything, through both film and a diary, which will help Olivia revisit the past through a second POV, as she works to learn the truth about what actually happened.
This book was more of a slow 🔥 burn, than the sizzling fast paced thrillers that we are used to from this author but I was still captivated by the FIRST HALF of the book.
The story stalled a bit for me in the SECOND HALF when we spend more time in the PAST with the dysfunctional teenaged siblings and their secrets, which never seems to hold MY interest for long even when it’s a story penned by a favorite author!
I felt like the secrets could’ve been spilled sooner.
Julie Clark is an auto-buy author for me, so I moved this book straight to the top of the TBR list when I had the opportunity to read an early ARC- and I will continue to do so with future titles!
And, a shout out to the Artist who designed the Fabulous Cover Art!
This book is NOW AVAILABLE!
I enjoyed reading this one at the same time as several GR friends and loved swapping theories!
Thank You to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, is the only child of the famous horror author Vincent Taylor, a man known not only for his novels, but also for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings when he was just seventeen.
She once had a promising career but a faux pas has her in financial ruin and unable to secure a job until her father asks for her to ghostwrite his last book. Neither has ever revealed that they are related so their respective agents are quite surprised by his choice.
FACT OR FICTION?
After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor wants to publish a TELL ALL about what really happened on the night that his younger sister Poppy and his older brother, Danny died. But is he telling the truth?
Olivia arrives to find the handwritten scribblings of a dying man which make little sense.
MEMORY OR MADNESS?
Fortunately, Poppy loved to document everything, through both film and a diary, which will help Olivia revisit the past through a second POV, as she works to learn the truth about what actually happened.
This book was more of a slow 🔥 burn, than the sizzling fast paced thrillers that we are used to from this author but I was still captivated by the FIRST HALF of the book.
The story stalled a bit for me in the SECOND HALF when we spend more time in the PAST with the dysfunctional teenaged siblings and their secrets, which never seems to hold MY interest for long even when it’s a story penned by a favorite author!
I felt like the secrets could’ve been spilled sooner.
Julie Clark is an auto-buy author for me, so I moved this book straight to the top of the TBR list when I had the opportunity to read an early ARC- and I will continue to do so with future titles!
And, a shout out to the Artist who designed the Fabulous Cover Art!
This book is NOW AVAILABLE!
I enjoyed reading this one at the same time as several GR friends and loved swapping theories!
Thank You to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
December 12, 2024
I know what your dad did."
I set down my sandwich. "He wrote a book."
The boy, whose name I no longer remember, had shaken his head, eyes sparkling with glee to be the one to tell me. To shatter my childhood right there in the school cafeteria. "Your dad killed his brother and sister. Murdered them in their own home."
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels, but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings.
On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realising that she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family. Because after fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk. But is he ready to tell the truth?
I always get excited when I open up a Julie Clark book. I am a big fan of this author.
This is a tragic drama and Olivia suffers from this tragedy. It's a twisty thriller along with a mystery The twists are very dark.
This starts out as a slow burn but close to the end I was gobsmacked. I was engaged and intrigued throughout the whole story.
The characters are very well developed. I thought I had it all figured out and Bam! I was so wrong. I thought this was such an amazing read. I love the atmosphere I thought it was an unpredictable read. It kept me get guessing to the end. It was very suspenseful and addicting with lots of secrets. I am a big fan of this author. This book Rocked for me and it is Fire!🔥🔥🔥🔥
I want to thank Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I set down my sandwich. "He wrote a book."
The boy, whose name I no longer remember, had shaken his head, eyes sparkling with glee to be the one to tell me. To shatter my childhood right there in the school cafeteria. "Your dad killed his brother and sister. Murdered them in their own home."
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels, but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings.
On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realising that she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family. Because after fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk. But is he ready to tell the truth?
I always get excited when I open up a Julie Clark book. I am a big fan of this author.
This is a tragic drama and Olivia suffers from this tragedy. It's a twisty thriller along with a mystery The twists are very dark.
This starts out as a slow burn but close to the end I was gobsmacked. I was engaged and intrigued throughout the whole story.
The characters are very well developed. I thought I had it all figured out and Bam! I was so wrong. I thought this was such an amazing read. I love the atmosphere I thought it was an unpredictable read. It kept me get guessing to the end. It was very suspenseful and addicting with lots of secrets. I am a big fan of this author. This book Rocked for me and it is Fire!🔥🔥🔥🔥
I want to thank Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 12, 2025
In a Nutshell: A contemporary suspense-drama about a dysfunctional family and its secrets. (So what’s new, right?) Interesting characters and plot, but somehow, this doesn’t deliver on the ‘wow’ factor. I wasn’t bored, but I also wasn’t too invested. Recommended, but not a must-read.
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Plot Preview:
I have read only one other book by Julia Clark: ‘The Lies I Tell’. Though not a favourite, it was good enough for me to want to try another novel by her. Just like ‘The Lies I Tell’, this is not a fast-paced mystery-thriller. Most of it feels more like a domestic suspense. The storyline was interesting enough, but the execution was a bit too repetitive and slow.
Bookish Yays:
🎥 Poppy – such a fabulous character! She does feel older than her age, but given that her arc is set in the 1970s when kids were probably more mature, I will give her age-appropriateness the benefit of the doubt.
🎥 Tom – has a relatively minor role, but I liked him for being a positive male character, a rarity in this genre. I love how he stood up for his principles. Wish we had had more of him in the story. Then again, I am glad we didn’t because a greater focus on him would have turned the book into a romantic suspense.
🎥 The portrayal of the 1970s in the setting of Ojai, California – feels utterly realistic.
🎥 All the reveals about ghostwriting – wow! I knew the process wouldn’t be easy, but this story actually details the tricky intricacies involved in stringing someone else’s thoughts into a cohesive book.
🎥 The unreliable narrator trope pops up thanks to Vincent’s diagnosis. However, the medical condition makes the lack of reliability a convincing one, and it is even used fairly well to add to the tension.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🎞 This book is a great example of the author’s plotting skills, but despite the regular surprises it throws our way, it also feels fairly straightforward. I was never bored at any point, but I also never felt compelled to read ‘one more chapter.’ Luckily, I was prepared for a domestic drama because it never delivers as a ‘thriller’.
🎞 Olivia mostly acts her age, and is often a sensible character. This is why a couple of her decisions and actions feel contrived. Like how she doesn’t visit her mother until the plot is ready for her to finally do it and create the next big reveal.
🎞 Most of the characters except Poppy have their greys. So they are nicely complex and suitable for this genre. However, the character development is somewhat surface-level and hazy; we don’t know why certain characters behave that way.
🎞 The dual timeline with clear time indicators for the back-and-forth jumps. The idea and most of the implementation of the flashbacks was excellent. One of the scenes was especially poignant. However, some of the reveals come to us readers much before Olivia learns the truth, if ever she does. It is trickier to know more than the lead character in a mystery as we then have to wait patiently for her to catch up.
🎞 The first half is understandably slow due to the build-up, but the second half goes even slower as there are too many reveals from the historical timeline to fill in the explanations. These feel somewhat repetitive as well. I wish the reveals had been more staggered throughout the plot.
🎞 With a limited number of characters, it is not too tricky to figure out the villain of the story so there’s not much suspense in the ‘who’. However, the ‘how’ and ‘why’ aren’t so easy to guess. There are certain surprising twists even within this predictability.
Bookish Nays:
📽 So much of secret-keeping and misleading! No one says anything directly! This has become a hallmark of this genre and regular suspense drama readers might have more patience with all the prevarication. But as I am not a big fan of this genre, my patience was tested to its limits.
📽 Too much of convenience in the “investigation”. Whatever has not been found for almost half a century is suddenly discovered by Olivia on her very first attempt. I wish there had been a more realistic portrayal of her challenges. Cold cases can hardly be resolved so smoothly!
📽 The rationale for the distancing of Olivia mother – not at all convincing. Considering how she was a key character, this feels like an important gap.
Overall, while I am not blown away with the book, I am also not disappointed. It entertained me enough while it lasted, and except for the extensive secret-keeping, nothing else bugged me much.
Recommended to fans of domestic dramas and complex characters.
3.5 stars, rounding down for the overdose of the hush-hush attitude.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing the DRC of “The Ghostwriter” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
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Plot Preview:
Forty-four-year-old Olivia Dumont had a successful career as a ghostwriter until one day, she put her foot in her mouth and sabotaged her future. So when her agent calls her for a ghostwriting assignment for the famous horror author Vincent Taylor, Olivia knows she has no choice but to accept the job.
Everyone knows that Vincent is infamous for being the prime suspect in the murder of his two siblings Danny and Poppy fifty years ago. But what no one, including Olivia’s agent, knows is that Vincent is Olivia’s estranged father. Now that he has summoned Olivia to ghostwrite his final book, is he finally ready to reveal the truth about the past?
The story comes to us in Olivia’s first-person POV from the contemporary timeline, and from two other character’s first-person perspectives from the 1970s timeline.
I have read only one other book by Julia Clark: ‘The Lies I Tell’. Though not a favourite, it was good enough for me to want to try another novel by her. Just like ‘The Lies I Tell’, this is not a fast-paced mystery-thriller. Most of it feels more like a domestic suspense. The storyline was interesting enough, but the execution was a bit too repetitive and slow.
Bookish Yays:
🎥 Poppy – such a fabulous character! She does feel older than her age, but given that her arc is set in the 1970s when kids were probably more mature, I will give her age-appropriateness the benefit of the doubt.
🎥 Tom – has a relatively minor role, but I liked him for being a positive male character, a rarity in this genre. I love how he stood up for his principles. Wish we had had more of him in the story. Then again, I am glad we didn’t because a greater focus on him would have turned the book into a romantic suspense.
🎥 The portrayal of the 1970s in the setting of Ojai, California – feels utterly realistic.
🎥 All the reveals about ghostwriting – wow! I knew the process wouldn’t be easy, but this story actually details the tricky intricacies involved in stringing someone else’s thoughts into a cohesive book.
🎥 The unreliable narrator trope pops up thanks to Vincent’s diagnosis. However, the medical condition makes the lack of reliability a convincing one, and it is even used fairly well to add to the tension.
Bookish Mixed Bags:
🎞 This book is a great example of the author’s plotting skills, but despite the regular surprises it throws our way, it also feels fairly straightforward. I was never bored at any point, but I also never felt compelled to read ‘one more chapter.’ Luckily, I was prepared for a domestic drama because it never delivers as a ‘thriller’.
🎞 Olivia mostly acts her age, and is often a sensible character. This is why a couple of her decisions and actions feel contrived. Like how she doesn’t visit her mother until the plot is ready for her to finally do it and create the next big reveal.
🎞 Most of the characters except Poppy have their greys. So they are nicely complex and suitable for this genre. However, the character development is somewhat surface-level and hazy; we don’t know why certain characters behave that way.
🎞 The dual timeline with clear time indicators for the back-and-forth jumps. The idea and most of the implementation of the flashbacks was excellent. One of the scenes was especially poignant. However, some of the reveals come to us readers much before Olivia learns the truth, if ever she does. It is trickier to know more than the lead character in a mystery as we then have to wait patiently for her to catch up.
🎞 The first half is understandably slow due to the build-up, but the second half goes even slower as there are too many reveals from the historical timeline to fill in the explanations. These feel somewhat repetitive as well. I wish the reveals had been more staggered throughout the plot.
🎞 With a limited number of characters, it is not too tricky to figure out the villain of the story so there’s not much suspense in the ‘who’. However, the ‘how’ and ‘why’ aren’t so easy to guess. There are certain surprising twists even within this predictability.
Bookish Nays:
📽 So much of secret-keeping and misleading! No one says anything directly! This has become a hallmark of this genre and regular suspense drama readers might have more patience with all the prevarication. But as I am not a big fan of this genre, my patience was tested to its limits.
📽 Too much of convenience in the “investigation”. Whatever has not been found for almost half a century is suddenly discovered by Olivia on her very first attempt. I wish there had been a more realistic portrayal of her challenges. Cold cases can hardly be resolved so smoothly!
📽 The rationale for the distancing of Olivia mother – not at all convincing. Considering how she was a key character, this feels like an important gap.
Overall, while I am not blown away with the book, I am also not disappointed. It entertained me enough while it lasted, and except for the extensive secret-keeping, nothing else bugged me much.
Recommended to fans of domestic dramas and complex characters.
3.5 stars, rounding down for the overdose of the hush-hush attitude.
My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for providing the DRC of “The Ghostwriter” via NetGalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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July 21, 2025
1.5 stars.
I felt like I spent a century trudging through this book. When I say the pace was glacial, I'm not exaggerating; it felt like time stood still. Full disclosure: I skimmed through about 100 pages in the middle, and to my astonishment, I still didn’t miss anything crucial to the story.
This book was unbearably boring and littered with clichés, featuring plot twists so predictable they might as well have come with neon signs announcing them. It checked off every possible stereotype a thriller could have. The characters were largely unlikable and underdeveloped, particularly the protagonist. She was portrayed as so oblivious that it took her over 300 pages to figure out who the murderer was—and only with considerable external help.
When I say she was clueless, I truly mean it. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a more inept main character in a thriller. She was the archetype who would undoubtedly be the first to meet a grim fate in a horror movie. Not only was she frustratingly unlikable, but she also wallowed in her own self-pity, constantly recycling her daddy and mommy issues in a way that felt tiresome rather than poignant. I found her internal monologues—filled with self-recrimination and despair—exceedingly annoying.
The ending left much to be desired, failing to redeem the tedious story I had to endure. Instead of showing us more of the past and providing context that could have deepened the narrative, the book fixated on the present, where the main character continued to spiral into self-pity and ignorance.
I can tolerate unlikable characters if the plot is engaging, but sadly, this one fell short on both counts. In conclusion, it was a monotonous slog filled with frustrating tropes, and that’s all there is to it.
I felt like I spent a century trudging through this book. When I say the pace was glacial, I'm not exaggerating; it felt like time stood still. Full disclosure: I skimmed through about 100 pages in the middle, and to my astonishment, I still didn’t miss anything crucial to the story.
This book was unbearably boring and littered with clichés, featuring plot twists so predictable they might as well have come with neon signs announcing them. It checked off every possible stereotype a thriller could have. The characters were largely unlikable and underdeveloped, particularly the protagonist. She was portrayed as so oblivious that it took her over 300 pages to figure out who the murderer was—and only with considerable external help.
When I say she was clueless, I truly mean it. I don’t think I’ve ever encountered a more inept main character in a thriller. She was the archetype who would undoubtedly be the first to meet a grim fate in a horror movie. Not only was she frustratingly unlikable, but she also wallowed in her own self-pity, constantly recycling her daddy and mommy issues in a way that felt tiresome rather than poignant. I found her internal monologues—filled with self-recrimination and despair—exceedingly annoying.
The ending left much to be desired, failing to redeem the tedious story I had to endure. Instead of showing us more of the past and providing context that could have deepened the narrative, the book fixated on the present, where the main character continued to spiral into self-pity and ignorance.
I can tolerate unlikable characters if the plot is engaging, but sadly, this one fell short on both counts. In conclusion, it was a monotonous slog filled with frustrating tropes, and that’s all there is to it.
June 3, 2025
Celebrated ghostwriter Olivia returns home after a decades long absence to help write her father’s memoir.
The catch? Her father, Vincent, is a famous author of horror. He & Olivia have been estranged for years and no one, not even her significant other, knows Olivia’s checkered history.
Her father’s siblings, Poppy and Danny, were brutally murdered when they were teens in the 1970s. The crime went unsolved but suspicions have swirled around her father as the suspected perpetrator. When Olivia was in kindergarten her mother abandoned the family.
VIncent is now ready to tell his side of the story. Olivia is in financial trouble and accepts the job, despite reservations.
The second catch? Her father has been diagnosed with Lewey body dementia and Olivia must sift through her father’s memories to determine what is true and what is not. The stories we tell ourselves are complicated and not always rooted in truth. Memory has a way of tricking us. I loved the exploration of this phenomenon.
Long buried secrets and evidence is uncovered which makes Olivia & her father question everything they thought to be true. Olivia’s own assumptions about her past may not be based in reality.
This is not a thrill-a-minute story. It’s a thoughtful mystery told in dual timelines, and left me questioning everything. My reading buddy Marialyce and I had some great discussions as the story unfolded.
It left me feeling a bit melancholy at the revelations and all the pain & misery that could have been avoided. The adage that “hurt people hurt people” is brought home with this story. I cared deeply for the characters, especially knowing how their story turned out. Getting to know Poppy as a teenager in the 70s was bittersweet. I normally dislike this age group in my reading, but not here.
Julie Clark has written a riveting, immersive, multi-layered mystery that would be excellent on film. It’s smart and intelligent and kept me on edge until the last page was turned. I hope it’s optioned for a movie.
I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
The catch? Her father, Vincent, is a famous author of horror. He & Olivia have been estranged for years and no one, not even her significant other, knows Olivia’s checkered history.
Her father’s siblings, Poppy and Danny, were brutally murdered when they were teens in the 1970s. The crime went unsolved but suspicions have swirled around her father as the suspected perpetrator. When Olivia was in kindergarten her mother abandoned the family.
VIncent is now ready to tell his side of the story. Olivia is in financial trouble and accepts the job, despite reservations.
The second catch? Her father has been diagnosed with Lewey body dementia and Olivia must sift through her father’s memories to determine what is true and what is not. The stories we tell ourselves are complicated and not always rooted in truth. Memory has a way of tricking us. I loved the exploration of this phenomenon.
Long buried secrets and evidence is uncovered which makes Olivia & her father question everything they thought to be true. Olivia’s own assumptions about her past may not be based in reality.
This is not a thrill-a-minute story. It’s a thoughtful mystery told in dual timelines, and left me questioning everything. My reading buddy Marialyce and I had some great discussions as the story unfolded.
It left me feeling a bit melancholy at the revelations and all the pain & misery that could have been avoided. The adage that “hurt people hurt people” is brought home with this story. I cared deeply for the characters, especially knowing how their story turned out. Getting to know Poppy as a teenager in the 70s was bittersweet. I normally dislike this age group in my reading, but not here.
Julie Clark has written a riveting, immersive, multi-layered mystery that would be excellent on film. It’s smart and intelligent and kept me on edge until the last page was turned. I hope it’s optioned for a movie.
I can’t wait to see what this author writes next!
* I received a digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own
December 14, 2025
4.5 stars—I can now officially say I’m two for two on books named “The Ghostwriter.” Although this book was not quite as good as A.R. Torre’s “Ghostwriter” it was still a very good book that I couldn’t put down. I have to thank my fellow Goodreads’ reviewers for their positive reviews of “The Ghostwriter” by Julie Clark because it was a book I would have never read without all of the praise it received on this website. It took the book a little while to get going, but at about 30 percent in, I really started getting into the mystery of who murdered the Aunt and Uncle of Olivia, the ghostwriter of her ailing father’s non-fiction account of their deaths. The book is told from multiple point of views in both flashback narratives and those from the present day. Although the explanation as to what happened to the two of them is not the most plausible version of events, I loved the twists and turns that made what happened to them virtually impossible to guess. Olivia was a very well written primary narrator who was easy to root for and very relatable. She had so many obstacles to overcome throughout her life it was impossible not to feel sorry for her and celebrate with her when she was able to get to the bottom of what happened to her dad’s brother and sister. I highly recommend this book as I was unable to put it down once I got invested in the characters, and I read 70 percent of it in less than two days. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next Julie Clark book because she really has a gift for building suspense to the point that I wasn’t able to think of anything but getting to the end of this book to find out the who, what and why of what happened to these very well written characters.
June 22, 2025
4.5⭐️ Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, daughter of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, has spent her career hiding from their connection. But when she is tasked with being the ghostwriter on his memoir and last book, she cannot turn it down. Using the book as her last chance to get to the bottom of what really happened the night her father’s teenage sister and brother were brutally murdered, Olivia must deal with old ghosts and new revelations as she revisits the past.
A gorgeous hardcover with sprayed edges that look as though they have been set on fire? Sign me up! In all honesty, though, Julie Clark novels never ever disappoint, and she quickly reached auto-buy status after I read The Lies I Tell. I have seen reviews for The Ghostwriter, slowly but surely, but the trailer that has been floating around Instagram this week ended up hyping me up even more - something that can end up being either a good thing or bad. In this case, it really helped set the stage for exactly what I got - a slow burn, chilling, psychologically thrilling book that was as emotionally deep as it was suspenseful. When all was said and done, I felt such profound sadness for all the characters involved, something that doesn’t often happen to me with thrillers.
I loved pretty much everything about this story. To start, I was endlessly fascinated with the cold case at the heart of the story and the lasting repercussions for our very engaging MC and her family. Her brokenness is apparent from the start, and as we unwind the case, her layers are slowly but surely peeled back, until her vulnerability and reasons for it were on full display. And it’s through this emotional connection with her that I found myself connecting more with her father and his turbulent past. We are treated to a series of perspectives, particularly in the past, and I always enjoyed hearing his “side of the story”.
Another really fun aspect was just how atmospheric and haunting the book felt. The house is in many ways a character in and of itself. Each time we encounter it, it tells us one more secret. And when the final reveal comes, during a revisit to the past, you can feel the pain of the house, as much as the characters in it. How could this family, once seemingly so happy, be all but destroyed in a single night? Well, I will leave it to you to read the book and uncover the answer for yourself.
Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️atmospheric settings
▪️books about books
▪️true crime
▪️cold cases
▪️houses as characters
▪️complex father/daughter relationships
▪️multiple POVs
🔥Check out my Bookstagram post here!
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted copies.
A gorgeous hardcover with sprayed edges that look as though they have been set on fire? Sign me up! In all honesty, though, Julie Clark novels never ever disappoint, and she quickly reached auto-buy status after I read The Lies I Tell. I have seen reviews for The Ghostwriter, slowly but surely, but the trailer that has been floating around Instagram this week ended up hyping me up even more - something that can end up being either a good thing or bad. In this case, it really helped set the stage for exactly what I got - a slow burn, chilling, psychologically thrilling book that was as emotionally deep as it was suspenseful. When all was said and done, I felt such profound sadness for all the characters involved, something that doesn’t often happen to me with thrillers.
I loved pretty much everything about this story. To start, I was endlessly fascinated with the cold case at the heart of the story and the lasting repercussions for our very engaging MC and her family. Her brokenness is apparent from the start, and as we unwind the case, her layers are slowly but surely peeled back, until her vulnerability and reasons for it were on full display. And it’s through this emotional connection with her that I found myself connecting more with her father and his turbulent past. We are treated to a series of perspectives, particularly in the past, and I always enjoyed hearing his “side of the story”.
Another really fun aspect was just how atmospheric and haunting the book felt. The house is in many ways a character in and of itself. Each time we encounter it, it tells us one more secret. And when the final reveal comes, during a revisit to the past, you can feel the pain of the house, as much as the characters in it. How could this family, once seemingly so happy, be all but destroyed in a single night? Well, I will leave it to you to read the book and uncover the answer for yourself.
Read if you like:
▪️domestic suspense
▪️atmospheric settings
▪️books about books
▪️true crime
▪️cold cases
▪️houses as characters
▪️complex father/daughter relationships
▪️multiple POVs
🔥Check out my Bookstagram post here!
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted copies.
July 17, 2025
Wasn’t quite what I’ve been anticipating for months. It was interesting enough with a plot that made it different which is good, but I felt it all moving very slowly along and felt no real tension building.
June 24, 2025
Powerful, dark, thought-provoking, and twisted, The Ghostwriter delivered a tale packed with both dysfunctional family drama and unbridled suspense. From the well-developed characters who came to life on the page to the claustrophobic feel that delivered in spades, it had me utterly transfixed from the very first chapter. After all, this well-plotted stunner was rife with long-buried secrets, layers of lies, and a family history that was darker than dark. I’m always nervous that the big, giant reveal will land with an anticlimactic plop, but be not afraid as that didn’t remotely happen here. You see, the secrets and lies in this book were both hard-hitting and gut-wrenching in the best possible way.
While the multilayered plot was immersive in the extreme, the characters were the special sauce to this definite slam dunk. Fully fleshed out in a way that only authors as talented as Julie Clark can pull off, the multiple POVs were distinct and realistic. I do have to say, though, that layered in amongst the impeccable characterization was a plot that firmly held my attention. With multiple ground-shifting twists, palpable tension I could feel down to my bones, and an unreliable narrator that had me second-guessing myself, I was in complete and utter awe. And while I probably should’ve expected just such a book given how much I love Ms. Clark’s novels, the poignancy was a welcome addition that I just didn’t see coming.
All said and done, thanks to dual timelines and multiple POVs, this slow burn mix of family drama and thriller had everything I wanted and more as I inhaled page after page. Offering up an onion-like mystery at the core of the plot, the emotionally charged atmosphere kept me on the edge of my seat as the evocative writing of time and place pulled me into the seventies with utter precision. But it was the final last-minute twist that dropped me to my knees. Clever, explosive, and perfectly timed, it had me shouting out “No f***ing way?!” So if you’re looking for a masterclass in suspense that will shock you but good, grab a copy today. After all, this haunting story will easily wiggle itself into your brain. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
June, 1975.
The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.
After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975.
Thank you to Julie Clark, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 3, 2025
Scroll down for my potentially plot-spoiling trigger list.
Content warning: dementia, drug and alcohol use, parental abandonment, knife violence, mention of: abortion, depression, molestation
While the multilayered plot was immersive in the extreme, the characters were the special sauce to this definite slam dunk. Fully fleshed out in a way that only authors as talented as Julie Clark can pull off, the multiple POVs were distinct and realistic. I do have to say, though, that layered in amongst the impeccable characterization was a plot that firmly held my attention. With multiple ground-shifting twists, palpable tension I could feel down to my bones, and an unreliable narrator that had me second-guessing myself, I was in complete and utter awe. And while I probably should’ve expected just such a book given how much I love Ms. Clark’s novels, the poignancy was a welcome addition that I just didn’t see coming.
All said and done, thanks to dual timelines and multiple POVs, this slow burn mix of family drama and thriller had everything I wanted and more as I inhaled page after page. Offering up an onion-like mystery at the core of the plot, the emotionally charged atmosphere kept me on the edge of my seat as the evocative writing of time and place pulled me into the seventies with utter precision. But it was the final last-minute twist that dropped me to my knees. Clever, explosive, and perfectly timed, it had me shouting out “No f***ing way?!” So if you’re looking for a masterclass in suspense that will shock you but good, grab a copy today. After all, this haunting story will easily wiggle itself into your brain. Rating of 5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
June, 1975.
The Taylor family shatters in a single night when two teenage siblings are found dead in their own home. The only surviving sibling, Vincent, never shakes the whispers and accusations that he was the one who killed them. Decades later, the legend only grows as his career as a horror writer skyrockets.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of Vincent Taylor. Now on the brink of financial ruin, she's offered a job to ghostwrite her father's last book. What she doesn't know, though, is that this project is another one of his lies. Because it's not another horror novel he wants her to write.
After fifty years of silence, Vincent Taylor is finally ready to talk about what really happened that night in 1975.
Thank you to Julie Clark, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: June 3, 2025
Scroll down for my potentially plot-spoiling trigger list.
Content warning: dementia, drug and alcohol use, parental abandonment, knife violence, mention of: abortion, depression, molestation
March 7, 2025
A ghostwriter who’s about to face her own ghosts from the past.
Olivia Dumont was a successful ghostwriter until she got in a bit of legal trouble. Now with her career in jeopardy, she can’t be too picky about which jobs she’ll accept.
When an offer comes in to ghostwrite for the popular Vincent Taylor, her instincts are screaming to say no and run in the other direction. But she’s desperate for the money.
Oh…did I mention Vincent Taylor is Olivia’s estranged father? A father rumored to have killed his siblings when he was a teen? Dun…dun…dun!
I was captivated by the storyline wanting answers as desperately as Olivia did! (Well almost.) I did change my mind frequently regarding how this was going to play out. I guessed pieces, but not the entire puzzle!
Another suspenseful and exciting read from one of my go to authors!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
Olivia Dumont was a successful ghostwriter until she got in a bit of legal trouble. Now with her career in jeopardy, she can’t be too picky about which jobs she’ll accept.
When an offer comes in to ghostwrite for the popular Vincent Taylor, her instincts are screaming to say no and run in the other direction. But she’s desperate for the money.
Oh…did I mention Vincent Taylor is Olivia’s estranged father? A father rumored to have killed his siblings when he was a teen? Dun…dun…dun!
I was captivated by the storyline wanting answers as desperately as Olivia did! (Well almost.) I did change my mind frequently regarding how this was going to play out. I guessed pieces, but not the entire puzzle!
Another suspenseful and exciting read from one of my go to authors!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark
January 2, 2025
So I’ve come to the conclusion that Julie Clark cannot write a bad book (please don’t prove me wrong after this book-Lol 🤣). This is my third read by the author, and I’ve enjoyed each and every one of them. I wouldn’t say this book is super suspenseful or twisty, but it sure held my interest enough that I did not want to put this book down once I started reading it.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, who is struggling financially receives an offer to ghostwrite her father’s last book. Olivia has been estranged from her father for 20 years, and hasn’t been back to her childhood home in nearly 30 years. Her father, Vincent Taylor is a famous horror author ✍️. Not only is Vincent a famous horror author, but he is also accused of killing his two siblings 50 years prior…
Upon reconnecting, Olivia learns that her father’s health and memory is declining. So can Olivia really believe everything that her father is telling her? Olivia decides to go off on her own personal treasure hunt to try and put the pieces of her aunt and uncle’s 50 year old murder mystery together, and to finish her father’s final book.
This book held my attention as we got multiple POV’s from Olivia, Vincent, and Poppy. This book also went back to 1975 when the murders took place, and I feel that it was done perfectly (but what do I know, I was only two years old back then 🤷🏻♀️). My only gripe is that this book seemed to go in circles a little bit, or maybe drag on. Regardless, I still highly recommend reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: June 3, 2025 (my birthday 🎉)
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, who is struggling financially receives an offer to ghostwrite her father’s last book. Olivia has been estranged from her father for 20 years, and hasn’t been back to her childhood home in nearly 30 years. Her father, Vincent Taylor is a famous horror author ✍️. Not only is Vincent a famous horror author, but he is also accused of killing his two siblings 50 years prior…
Upon reconnecting, Olivia learns that her father’s health and memory is declining. So can Olivia really believe everything that her father is telling her? Olivia decides to go off on her own personal treasure hunt to try and put the pieces of her aunt and uncle’s 50 year old murder mystery together, and to finish her father’s final book.
This book held my attention as we got multiple POV’s from Olivia, Vincent, and Poppy. This book also went back to 1975 when the murders took place, and I feel that it was done perfectly (but what do I know, I was only two years old back then 🤷🏻♀️). My only gripe is that this book seemed to go in circles a little bit, or maybe drag on. Regardless, I still highly recommend reading this.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own.
Publication date: June 3, 2025 (my birthday 🎉)
Genre~ Women’s Fiction, General Fiction (adult), Mystery & Thrillers
May 27, 2025
After The Last Flight and The Lies I Tell, I couldn't wait to read this one by the author. Beginning as a slow burn but lifting the veil to this wonderful mystery will keep you moving forward. It is well-plotted and tantalizing when some exquisite twists ramp up the story.
There are so many reasons why this will be a top mystery book this year.
Olivia has been a ghostwriter through the years with the last not being her best feature. Vincent Taylor, a horror author, is also Olivia's father, but his fatherly bond becomes more distant after her mother leaves them. Vincent wants to hire an author to write for him as a ghostwriter because he has the debilitating Lewy Body Dementia, so he summons Olivia to help without anyone knowing he is her father. Her father has a shady past because 50 years ago his siblings Danny and Poppy were found murdered and he was the prime suspect. His alibi: his girlfriend, which became his wife.
When Olivia agrees to write a memoir for her father, revealing what happened. Her interest in the case is personal, but she could not pass it up due to her financial crisis. Diving into the mystery, even with Poppy dead, her films and diary helped Olivia find the answers. Within the chaotic notes, comes some dark revelations. The dark revelations become emotional and heartfelt. Well-done, Julie! Keep it up!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
There are so many reasons why this will be a top mystery book this year.
Olivia has been a ghostwriter through the years with the last not being her best feature. Vincent Taylor, a horror author, is also Olivia's father, but his fatherly bond becomes more distant after her mother leaves them. Vincent wants to hire an author to write for him as a ghostwriter because he has the debilitating Lewy Body Dementia, so he summons Olivia to help without anyone knowing he is her father. Her father has a shady past because 50 years ago his siblings Danny and Poppy were found murdered and he was the prime suspect. His alibi: his girlfriend, which became his wife.
When Olivia agrees to write a memoir for her father, revealing what happened. Her interest in the case is personal, but she could not pass it up due to her financial crisis. Diving into the mystery, even with Poppy dead, her films and diary helped Olivia find the answers. Within the chaotic notes, comes some dark revelations. The dark revelations become emotional and heartfelt. Well-done, Julie! Keep it up!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this incredible ARC in exchange for my honest review.
June 20, 2025
New York Times bestselling author Julie Clark — The Last Flight (2020) and The Lies I Tell (2022) — is skilled in subterfuge, unreliable narrators, plot twists ’n turns, and creating complex female protagonists.
The Ghostwriter is her first murder mystery.
This methodically paced labyrinthine novel follows ghostwriter-to-the-stars Olivia Dumont who’s forced to face her own ghosts when she accepts her latest gig, working for her estranged father.
Dad happens to be bestselling horror author Vincent Taylor, whose life has been haunted by suspicions that he murdered his two teenage siblings. After 50 years of silence, he is finally ready to talk about what happened the night his sister and brother were murdered in 1975…and he hires Olivia to ghostwrite his memoir.
Why would an acclaimed author hire a ghostwriter? Sadly, Taylor has been diagnosed with Lewy body dementia. Symptoms include hallucinations, difficulty concentrating and reasoning, coupled with memory and movement loss.
Yep, enter our unreliable narrator.
It’s not long before Olivia (and readers) start to question what is real and what might be the product of Vincent’s deteriorating cognition.
Olivia begins piecing the story fragments together by speaking with old neighbors, classmates, and teachers; reading her deceased aunt’s diary entries; and watching long forgotten Super 8 film reels.
Clark’s descriptive writing and cultural references transport the reader back to Ojai, California in the 70s as she deftly shifts back and forth between Olivia’s interviews with Dad and actual flashbacks to his youth.
This slow burn character-driven mystery keeps you turning pages and guessing until the very end.
May 29, 2025
There are things we tend to hide about our family. Secrets that we don't want others to know. Maybe it's because we are embarrassed, maybe ashamed, maybe even afraid of others finding out. For Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, her family, especially her father, Vincent Taylor, not only wrote horror stories, but has lived a horror story being suspected for years of heinously murdering his sister, Poppy, and his brother, Danny.
Julia, because of her father's distance and her distaste of him, had separated her life from Vincent's so when she is called upon to be his ghostwriter for what will be his last book, a semi autobiographical story of what he was, what he lived through, and what could be the reason why suspicion is strong for him being the murderer, Julia is hesitant, but she is in dire straights financially, so must take the job.
Through probing, Vincent's shadowy recollections, Poppy's diary and her films. Julia pulls together a family in crisis, bewildered, and afraid to let their secrets come forward, secrets that will eventually lead to death, hardship, and the destruction of family in the past and that is to come.
This was a haunting fantastic story woven together so well that it was hard for me to put my kindle down. Definitely a strong recommendation for this book. It's flow was flawless and the direction it took me in made me realize that secrets can ruin the life we were intended to lead.
Jan and I loved this one. Julie Clark really made us feel the sadness and anguish the characters experienced. It's a book we will remember for a long time.
Julia, because of her father's distance and her distaste of him, had separated her life from Vincent's so when she is called upon to be his ghostwriter for what will be his last book, a semi autobiographical story of what he was, what he lived through, and what could be the reason why suspicion is strong for him being the murderer, Julia is hesitant, but she is in dire straights financially, so must take the job.
Through probing, Vincent's shadowy recollections, Poppy's diary and her films. Julia pulls together a family in crisis, bewildered, and afraid to let their secrets come forward, secrets that will eventually lead to death, hardship, and the destruction of family in the past and that is to come.
This was a haunting fantastic story woven together so well that it was hard for me to put my kindle down. Definitely a strong recommendation for this book. It's flow was flawless and the direction it took me in made me realize that secrets can ruin the life we were intended to lead.
Jan and I loved this one. Julie Clark really made us feel the sadness and anguish the characters experienced. It's a book we will remember for a long time.
June 27, 2025
Olivia Dumont is watching her whole life go up in flames. She’s the single child of a prolific horror novelist named Vincent Taylor, infamous for both his terrifying fictional tales and his alleged involvement in the brutal double homicide of his siblings, Poppy & Danny Taylor. Vincent was never able to escape public scrutiny and ignominy for his reputed sins, but her father’s career only benefited from this thrilling aura of mystique since it only fueled the public’s morbid curiosity. Unfortunately, it also created quite a horrifying situation for Olivia to grow up in; therefore, she has spent her entire adult life trying to become a ghost, her true identity hidden in plain sight from the public eye. Suitably, her chosen work as a ghostwriter has provided her with the privacy she has needed, but now she’s facing an impending financial collapse and could soon be sitting in the ashes of her own burgeoning writing career. Which brings us to Olivia’s current conundrum: ghostwrite her father’s last book and resurrect ghosts from the past or simply walk away, keeping her family’s dark history securely archived and forgotten. Either way, she will be striking a match to the pages of her own life’s story.
Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a slow-burning, intricate murder mystery that will engross the reader inside a firestorm of secrets, family drama, devastating betrayals, and heartbreaking truths. The plot was cleverly complex and attention consuming. It was skillfully written in a past and present narrative, shifting between 1970’s and current day Ojai, California and alternating between multiple key characters at the center of the mystery. This was executed in a way that let the reader get acquainted with the characters at play and added to the building suspense without confusing the reader or congesting the flow of the story. I was totally impressed with the twists, and I was suspicious of multiple characters over most of the story, also a notable accomplishment by the author. I also appreciated that this story is more than just a terrific tale of murder, mystery, and intrigue: the author incorporates a theme of fatherhood/parenthood and illuminates the fragile equilibrium that exists between a parent and child. It all comes down to choices. Mistakes can so easily result in traumatic experiences and burning resentments, often times creating a tragic situation where the child ends up mourning the loss of what could have been but never was. I think the resolution was compelling with its explanations, and I felt incandescently angry about some of the characters’ situations. However, since we are just a captive audience to their stories, we are powerless to interfere and will inevitably be forced to watch their fated demise. I couldn’t put this book down until the mystery was solved. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be picking up more books by Julie Clark! This book was just published on June 3rd, so get yourself a copy! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own.
Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a slow-burning, intricate murder mystery that will engross the reader inside a firestorm of secrets, family drama, devastating betrayals, and heartbreaking truths. The plot was cleverly complex and attention consuming. It was skillfully written in a past and present narrative, shifting between 1970’s and current day Ojai, California and alternating between multiple key characters at the center of the mystery. This was executed in a way that let the reader get acquainted with the characters at play and added to the building suspense without confusing the reader or congesting the flow of the story. I was totally impressed with the twists, and I was suspicious of multiple characters over most of the story, also a notable accomplishment by the author. I also appreciated that this story is more than just a terrific tale of murder, mystery, and intrigue: the author incorporates a theme of fatherhood/parenthood and illuminates the fragile equilibrium that exists between a parent and child. It all comes down to choices. Mistakes can so easily result in traumatic experiences and burning resentments, often times creating a tragic situation where the child ends up mourning the loss of what could have been but never was. I think the resolution was compelling with its explanations, and I felt incandescently angry about some of the characters’ situations. However, since we are just a captive audience to their stories, we are powerless to interfere and will inevitably be forced to watch their fated demise. I couldn’t put this book down until the mystery was solved. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be picking up more books by Julie Clark! This book was just published on June 3rd, so get yourself a copy! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC and the opportunity to share what I think! All opinions are my own.
August 18, 2025
Hot Diggity Dang, This One Delivered!
I bet you’re wondering what earns a Hot Diggity Dang rating from me, right? For thrillers, I have to need to know what happens next. The kind of book that makes me hide out just to squeeze in another chapter. A page-turner
That’s the mark.
Twists and reveals don’t have to shock me, but they do need to make sense. I love when I can trace the breadcrumbs back and go, “Ohhh, yep, that checks out.”
Give me characters who are shady, unreliable, or just a little off in the best way, people who leave me questioning their every move.
I’m all in for misdirection that works. Nothing being quite what it seems.
I want layers of suspense, not just what happened, but why. Give me secrets. Juicy ones. Show me how those secrets affect the characters and their situation.
Add in danger rooted in trauma, guilt, fear, the real stuff and I’m hooked.
Top it off with a fresh twist on tropes I already love, and you’ve got me.
The Ghostwriter It had everything I chase in a thriller.
Set in a time before secrets could go viral, this one comes with a bonus that hit especially hard for me, the mystery unfolds in the '70s, my growing-up years. I love a good back in the day story. Before the internet, before smartphones, when secrets could actually stay buried and evidence wasn’t a click away. I especially loved the use of old video cameras in the plot and the secrets they captured. It gave the whole story a nostalgic, grainy edge that modern thrillers just can't replicate.
And the cherry on top? It was a sister read with Norma. Nothing beats putting our heads together, swapping theories, and unraveling the twists as a team. We were pretty proud we figured out a few things before the big reveals.
Now, it doesn’t have to be a perfect book to earn a top spot. I’m an overthinker—I’ll always find something to pick at, even when I love the ride. And I’m not here for perfect characters either. I want them messy, complex, unpredictable. The kind you question their behaviour and leave me obsessing over their motives.
If you like your thrillers smart, twisty, layered with tension, full of characters you can’t quite trust and with a nostalgic edge that adds just the right amount of extra, don’t miss The Ghostwriter
I bet you’re wondering what earns a Hot Diggity Dang rating from me, right? For thrillers, I have to need to know what happens next. The kind of book that makes me hide out just to squeeze in another chapter. A page-turner
That’s the mark.
Twists and reveals don’t have to shock me, but they do need to make sense. I love when I can trace the breadcrumbs back and go, “Ohhh, yep, that checks out.”
Give me characters who are shady, unreliable, or just a little off in the best way, people who leave me questioning their every move.
I’m all in for misdirection that works. Nothing being quite what it seems.
I want layers of suspense, not just what happened, but why. Give me secrets. Juicy ones. Show me how those secrets affect the characters and their situation.
Add in danger rooted in trauma, guilt, fear, the real stuff and I’m hooked.
Top it off with a fresh twist on tropes I already love, and you’ve got me.
The Ghostwriter It had everything I chase in a thriller.
Set in a time before secrets could go viral, this one comes with a bonus that hit especially hard for me, the mystery unfolds in the '70s, my growing-up years. I love a good back in the day story. Before the internet, before smartphones, when secrets could actually stay buried and evidence wasn’t a click away. I especially loved the use of old video cameras in the plot and the secrets they captured. It gave the whole story a nostalgic, grainy edge that modern thrillers just can't replicate.
And the cherry on top? It was a sister read with Norma. Nothing beats putting our heads together, swapping theories, and unraveling the twists as a team. We were pretty proud we figured out a few things before the big reveals.
Now, it doesn’t have to be a perfect book to earn a top spot. I’m an overthinker—I’ll always find something to pick at, even when I love the ride. And I’m not here for perfect characters either. I want them messy, complex, unpredictable. The kind you question their behaviour and leave me obsessing over their motives.
If you like your thrillers smart, twisty, layered with tension, full of characters you can’t quite trust and with a nostalgic edge that adds just the right amount of extra, don’t miss The Ghostwriter
September 26, 2025
Slow-paced but well-written with unexpected twists, this suspense novel is about family secrets, dark memories and a decades old horrific double murder.
September 21, 2025
**4.5-stars rounded up**
The Ghostwriter is such a beautifully-tragic Thriller. I loved the way Clark constructed this story. The way the truth was revealed, the stellar character work, and the emotions she was able to elicit in me upon completion; wow.
I quickly became invested in this one and loved how it kept me guessing the entire way through. Even when I thought I had the answer, I was never 100%, and I got so much wrong.
The Ghostwriter is told in two timelines. Presently, our MC, Olivia Dumont, is returning to her hometown to help her estranged father write his memoir.
Olivia makes her living as a ghostwriter, and it seems she is perfect for the project. Her father is an iconic Horror writer, infamous for the family tragedy that took the lives of his two siblings when he was just a teen.
Olivia has always hidden the fact that THE Vincent Taylor is her Dad. It's complicated.
The past timeline is set in 1975, the year Vincent's siblings, Poppy and Danny, were brutally murdered in their home. As the case went cold, many suspected that Vincent had something to do with the crime.
Decades later, Vincent has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disorder that disrupts his behavior and memories. It's at this point, he decides he needs to tell his side of the story, before he no longer can.
We're told this story through this beautiful blend of these different points in time; through Vincent telling his version of events, and Olivia putting her Journalism education to the test, digging into the events of the past via outside sources.
This book has a lot of my favorite things in it, so that was working in its favor right off the bat. I love characters returning to their hometown after a long period away, looking into some sort of mystery of their past. Additionally, I love journalism as an occupation for main characters.
They frequently make the most fun investigators to follow.
I was so invested in both timelines and loved trying to figure out the truth of what happened to the Taylor siblings. It was completely gripping and entertaining.
I would absolutely recommend this to any Thriller Reader, particularly if you enjoy those of the darker, or more violent variety. Also, check it out if you enjoy dark family secrets and past-present timelines.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This was my first time reading from Julie Clark, and I cannot wait for more!
The Ghostwriter is such a beautifully-tragic Thriller. I loved the way Clark constructed this story. The way the truth was revealed, the stellar character work, and the emotions she was able to elicit in me upon completion; wow.
I quickly became invested in this one and loved how it kept me guessing the entire way through. Even when I thought I had the answer, I was never 100%, and I got so much wrong.
The Ghostwriter is told in two timelines. Presently, our MC, Olivia Dumont, is returning to her hometown to help her estranged father write his memoir.
Olivia makes her living as a ghostwriter, and it seems she is perfect for the project. Her father is an iconic Horror writer, infamous for the family tragedy that took the lives of his two siblings when he was just a teen.
Olivia has always hidden the fact that THE Vincent Taylor is her Dad. It's complicated.
The past timeline is set in 1975, the year Vincent's siblings, Poppy and Danny, were brutally murdered in their home. As the case went cold, many suspected that Vincent had something to do with the crime.
Decades later, Vincent has been diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive brain disorder that disrupts his behavior and memories. It's at this point, he decides he needs to tell his side of the story, before he no longer can.
We're told this story through this beautiful blend of these different points in time; through Vincent telling his version of events, and Olivia putting her Journalism education to the test, digging into the events of the past via outside sources.
This book has a lot of my favorite things in it, so that was working in its favor right off the bat. I love characters returning to their hometown after a long period away, looking into some sort of mystery of their past. Additionally, I love journalism as an occupation for main characters.
They frequently make the most fun investigators to follow.
I was so invested in both timelines and loved trying to figure out the truth of what happened to the Taylor siblings. It was completely gripping and entertaining.
I would absolutely recommend this to any Thriller Reader, particularly if you enjoy those of the darker, or more violent variety. Also, check it out if you enjoy dark family secrets and past-present timelines.
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
This was my first time reading from Julie Clark, and I cannot wait for more!
April 14, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Haunting and immersive, The Ghostwriter by Julia Clark unspools like an old film reel—grainy with grief, heavy with secrets, and quietly devastating. This slow-burn mystery drips with betrayal, buried truths, and the ache of memory. Through unreliable narrators, lost diary, and haunting footage, the past unravels until the final, heartbreaking reveal. It’s not the twisty thriller one might expect from Clark—but something deeper, quieter, more introspective. And it lingers.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has built a life in the shadows—crafting voices for others while carefully burying her own truth: she is the only daughter of Vincent Taylor, the infamous horror novelist whose legacy is stained by blood and suspicion. Once hailed as a literary legend, Vincent is now remembered as the prime suspect in the brutal murder of his own siblings.
Teetering on the edge of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to pen her father’s final book. But returning to his crumbling estate means confronting not only the man she’s spent years avoiding, but the ghosts that have haunted her family for decades. As fiction blurs with memory and buried truths rise from the dark, Olivia must face the story she was never meant to tell—one written in grief, guilt, and silence.
The depiction of Lewy body dementia struck a chord with me. Having lost my mother to dementia just last year, those moments felt tender, honest, and achingly real. It was fresh and painful, but also beautifully done. This story may be a departure for the author, but it’s a powerful one—emotional, raw, and profoundly human. A luminous four stars and I highly recommend it!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Haunting and immersive, The Ghostwriter by Julia Clark unspools like an old film reel—grainy with grief, heavy with secrets, and quietly devastating. This slow-burn mystery drips with betrayal, buried truths, and the ache of memory. Through unreliable narrators, lost diary, and haunting footage, the past unravels until the final, heartbreaking reveal. It’s not the twisty thriller one might expect from Clark—but something deeper, quieter, more introspective. And it lingers.
Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has built a life in the shadows—crafting voices for others while carefully burying her own truth: she is the only daughter of Vincent Taylor, the infamous horror novelist whose legacy is stained by blood and suspicion. Once hailed as a literary legend, Vincent is now remembered as the prime suspect in the brutal murder of his own siblings.
Teetering on the edge of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to pen her father’s final book. But returning to his crumbling estate means confronting not only the man she’s spent years avoiding, but the ghosts that have haunted her family for decades. As fiction blurs with memory and buried truths rise from the dark, Olivia must face the story she was never meant to tell—one written in grief, guilt, and silence.
The depiction of Lewy body dementia struck a chord with me. Having lost my mother to dementia just last year, those moments felt tender, honest, and achingly real. It was fresh and painful, but also beautifully done. This story may be a departure for the author, but it’s a powerful one—emotional, raw, and profoundly human. A luminous four stars and I highly recommend it!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 9, 2025
Julie Clark is so back!! feel like it’s been ages since we’ve gotten a new thriller from her (same author of THE LAST FLIGHT and THE LIES I TELL) and this was one of my most anticipated 2025 releases. can deff say this was an enjoyable read and certainly worth adding this thriller to your TBR!
read if you like: family drama, murder mysteries, small town mysteries, unreliable narrators, quick chapters, dual timelines
this book pulled me in right away and i was always eager to pick it back up. i was very invested in the small town mystery plot and thought the ghostwriting element was a fun play too. it took me awhile to make a good guess on what really happened that fateful day. i liked how unreliable the characters were (mainly the dad) and thought the use of diary entries and old film reels was creative and fun.
the pacing was off slightly for me (got a bit slow) and i wanted a more cliffhanger / shocking ending (it wrapped up a bit nicely for my thriller taste) but i was pleased with the twists(s)!! it deff took some turns i didnt see coming and was entertaining to the very end.
i like THE LIES I TELL a bit more than this, but shes such an auto buy author for me!
add this one to your summer TBR, it’s a fun binge!
read if you like: family drama, murder mysteries, small town mysteries, unreliable narrators, quick chapters, dual timelines
this book pulled me in right away and i was always eager to pick it back up. i was very invested in the small town mystery plot and thought the ghostwriting element was a fun play too. it took me awhile to make a good guess on what really happened that fateful day. i liked how unreliable the characters were (mainly the dad) and thought the use of diary entries and old film reels was creative and fun.
the pacing was off slightly for me (got a bit slow) and i wanted a more cliffhanger / shocking ending (it wrapped up a bit nicely for my thriller taste) but i was pleased with the twists(s)!! it deff took some turns i didnt see coming and was entertaining to the very end.
i like THE LIES I TELL a bit more than this, but shes such an auto buy author for me!
add this one to your summer TBR, it’s a fun binge!
July 26, 2025
A puzzling maze of secrets, shifting truths, and chilling revelations. Totally hooked and thrillingly unputdownable from start to finish.
I read this one with Brenda and we were fully immersed from the very beginning, throwing theories back and forth and hanging on every detail. She was all in and I was captivated too, even though I had a few small moments that didn’t quite land for me (which I can’t really share without spoiling anything). Still, this story was a treasure trove, puzzling, layered, and full of twists that kept us guessing. Around the 75 percent mark our theories really started coming together and everything began clicking into place, some of it more shocking than we expected.
What made this one hit even deeper was how nostalgic some of it felt. Growing up in the 70’s, there were a few plot points that Brenda and I were privy to, details that stirred up memories and gave us chills. Thinking back, we realized just how different things were back then… and how some moments still linger, unsettling and unforgettable.
Flawed characters, thought-provoking layers, and gripping family dynamics made this a chilling and engrossing read. This library borrow quickly turned into one I couldn’t stop reading.
If you enjoy your thrillers layered with secrets, steeped in nostalgia, and just the right kind of unsettling, The Ghostwriter is one to sink into. It grabs hold while you’re in it and doesn’t let go.
I read this one with Brenda and we were fully immersed from the very beginning, throwing theories back and forth and hanging on every detail. She was all in and I was captivated too, even though I had a few small moments that didn’t quite land for me (which I can’t really share without spoiling anything). Still, this story was a treasure trove, puzzling, layered, and full of twists that kept us guessing. Around the 75 percent mark our theories really started coming together and everything began clicking into place, some of it more shocking than we expected.
What made this one hit even deeper was how nostalgic some of it felt. Growing up in the 70’s, there were a few plot points that Brenda and I were privy to, details that stirred up memories and gave us chills. Thinking back, we realized just how different things were back then… and how some moments still linger, unsettling and unforgettable.
Flawed characters, thought-provoking layers, and gripping family dynamics made this a chilling and engrossing read. This library borrow quickly turned into one I couldn’t stop reading.
If you enjoy your thrillers layered with secrets, steeped in nostalgia, and just the right kind of unsettling, The Ghostwriter is one to sink into. It grabs hold while you’re in it and doesn’t let go.
May 30, 2025
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 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. I do recommend you checking it out!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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 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. I do recommend you checking it out!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
November 5, 2025
THE WORST PART IS, THERE’S NO VISIBLE WOUND TO EXPLAIN IT. IT’S LIKE BEING RIPPED APART FROM THE INSIDE OUT💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔💔🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲😢😢😢😭😭💔💔
November 7, 2025
I was "just" intrigued when I started reading this, but the more I read the more invested I became in the story and the characters. I could find a couple things to pick at, but that didn’t matter in the end at all. What mattered was how deeply I felt for the characters and how real they felt to me. One of few stories that made me tear up when I turned the last page. So sad.
There is more to the story than just the mystery element. There’s the family aspect, Olivia’s dysfunctional relationship with her father, and her personal and professional life. I feel the author did a great job blending all those elements together. I loved the character development, different POVs, the slow reveal of the past events and second-guessing everything I thought I knew.
There is more to the story than just the mystery element. There’s the family aspect, Olivia’s dysfunctional relationship with her father, and her personal and professional life. I feel the author did a great job blending all those elements together. I loved the character development, different POVs, the slow reveal of the past events and second-guessing everything I thought I knew.
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