The Ghostwriter: A Novel

OMG so good!

Everyone has family secrets they want to hide out of embarrassment, shame, or fear. For ghostwriter Olivia Dumont, her father, Vincent Taylor, is not just a horror writer but also a man suspected of killing his siblings, Poppy and Danny. Separated from him by choice, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite his final book due to financial need. The book, a semi-autobiographical account, delves into Vincent's past through his memories, Poppy's diary, and her films. As Olivia pieces together their family's dark history, she uncovers secrets that led to tragedy and turmoil. This gripping story is so well-crafted it was hard to put down, and I highly recommend it. The narrative flow was seamless, highlighting how secrets can destroy our lives.

I would like to extend my gratitude to Netgalley and Sourcebooks/ Landmark for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. Additionally, thank you Julie Clark for crafting such an excellent story.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (rounded up to 5) — Gripping, Layered, and Emotionally Rich

The Ghostwriter completely pulled me in. The writing is sharp, the pacing is spot-on (even if the beginning starts a little slow—just trust it), and the story is messy in the best way.

Julie Clark does an amazing job weaving the past and present together, dropping breadcrumbs that keep you guessing while slowly digging into deeper, emotional layers. It’s a mystery, yes—but it’s also a powerful story about grief, identity, family, and redemption. The characters are complex, flawed, and so emotionally rich that I couldn’t stop thinking about them.

If you’re into smart thrillers with unexpected turns and real emotional depth, this is a must-read. Just go in blind and enjoy the ride. Just know it’s a powerful, haunting story that stays with you. Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

📚 ARC REVIEW 🤯 GHOSTWRITER by Julie Clark 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Every family has secrets, but when your estranged, scandal-shadowed father asks you to ghostwrite his memoir and possibly his confession, you know you're about to dig up more than just skeletons in the closet. Julie Clark, who won me over instantly with "The Last Flight," returns with a slow-burning, elegantly twisted story of fractured bloodlines and buried truths just waiting to resurface. "The Ghostwriter" opens with a double murder in 1975 in Ojai, CA—Danny and Poppy Taylor are brutally killed, and their brother Vincent is left behind, both as the sole survivor and the prime suspect. Now a successful horror author battling Lewy Body Dementia, Vincent hires his estranged daughter to pen his story. She's not thrilled about it, but her bills are piling up. What unfolds is a dance between past and present that’s as gripping as a horror story. The dual timeline is flawless. Clark nails the vibe of estrangement and all the complicated emotions tied up in family baggage. The father-daughter relationship is raw and layered with betrayals and silence. Some plot twists might have you raising an eyebrow—it's not all loud and clear, but the emotion is there. The atmosphere is chilling, and the cover art is absolute perfection! If you're into dark family dramas, unreliable memories, and stories that don’t hand you all the answers, "The Ghostwriter" is calling your name. And trust me, you’ll want to listen. Thanks to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC provided via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The first few chapters were a bit boring and the FMC really got on my nerves but afterwards the book kept me hooked .. literally broke my heart!