Julie Clark’s latest, The Ghostwriter, delivers on all fronts: tension, unsolved mysteries, family drama, unexpected twists, and deeply complex characters. I read it in two days because I needed to know the ending. It was THAT good.
5/5 stars ★★★★★
Buy it here: https://amzn.to/43Fl3h1
Publication Date: June 3, 2025
About The Ghostwriter:
Here is the trailer that was sent to me by the publishing company. It does a great job of setting up the storyline, without giving too much away.
The story unfolds through alternating timelines in 1975 and 2025, told from the perspectives of Olivia, Vincent, and Poppy. This multi-POV structure not only immerses the reader in the culture of each era but also skillfully pieces together the complex mystery.
Central to the mystery are two teenage siblings found dead in 1975, with their middle brother, Vincent, appearing guilty. Decades later, his estranged daughter, Olivia, agrees to ghostwrite Vincent’s memoir because she needs the money. She is also hoping to uncover the truth about that tragic day while keeping her family’s dark past a secret. Will she succeed?
What I Liked About The Ghostwriter:
I loved this book, especially the second half. Clark did a great job of creating complex characters and interesting storylines. As a reader, I kept second-guessing myself of who killed the two siblings. The different subplots added to the suspense, and I enjoyed the different points of view.
The author in the book, Vincent, has Lewy Body Dementia, which is similar to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It is a form of dementia where a person has hallucinations, and memory and movement loss. It was interesting to do a little research about it on my own, and I loved learning something new. It also made me question Vince’s side of the story.
The storyline is a slow burn as Clark throws little tidbits of information to the reader, and makes you second guess your previous thinking. I love when authors do this in a book. My favorite point of view was that of Poppy, Vince’s sister. You knew you were going to learn important information each time her chapter popped up.
Once you reach the second half of the book, I suggest you carve out some hours to just sit and read. You are going to want to find out what happens at the end.
Would you be able to be a ghostwriter for your estranged father? What if it meant you could help solve the mystery of who killed two of these teenagers – your aunt and uncle?
Extras:
Here is another book by Julie Clark that I recommend:
- The Last Flight – https://amzn.to/3FIO97g – “Two women. Two flights. One last chance to disappear.“
You can buy The Ghostwriter at: https://amzn.to/43Fl3h1
*If you want to read more of my book reviews, you can find them at: https://judiholst.com/book-reviews/
*If you missed my post about my Top Books of 2024, you can find it at: https://judiholst.com/top-20-books-that-i-loved-in-2024/
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Julie Clark for my free copy of this book. This is my honest review.
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