The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark is a thriller about Vincent Taylor, a estranged father—who is a famous horror novelist and alleged teenage murderer and her daughter Olivia. Is this the truth??
Well let’s find out. but if you are into Mystery Thriller, and want a similar read you can checkout story at Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney.
“Olivia was hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, who is not only famous for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his sibling”
Book Review: The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark
Julie Clark’s The Ghostwriter is not a typical whodunit. Sure, there’s a years-old double murder, a mansion, and a few twists. But at its core? It’s a story about going home.
Olivia is broke, disgraced in the literary world, and desperate. So when her father, Vincent Taylor—the king of horror and quite possibly of hom*cide—summons her to help him “set the record straight,” she can’t say no.
Small problem: he has Lewy body dementia, and his memories are cryptic. ( and hard to understand too..)
Similar Read: The Tenant by Freida McFadden
Is Vincent finally telling the truth? Or spinning one last scary story? And why do the ghosts of Olivia’s childhood—dead hamsters in gift boxes, sudden exile to boarding school, a mother who vanished without a word—hurt more than the murder mystery she’s supposed to solve?
Clark flips timelines like pancakes, with chapters that dive into 1975 through the voices of Poppy, the sister (d*ed), and a young, tortured Vincent. You will form emotional attachments. You will suspect everyone. And you’ll definitely second-guess your own memory by the end of it.
Oh, and bring snacks. Once you start, you’re not putting this one down.
| Genre | Mystery Thriller |
| Number of Pages | 368 pages |
| My Rating | 4.0⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | June 3, 2025 |
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark Summary Spoilers
What do you do when your long-lost, semi-famous, possibly murderous father invites you to his haunted Ojai mansion to write his final book—and by the way, it’s about that time he was accused of brutally murdering his teenage siblings back in 1975?
If you’re Olivia Dumont, a not so well doing ghostwriter, you say yes… reluctantly… and then dive headfirst into a mystery drenched in trauma, secrets, and more family dysfunction than a Thanksgiving dinner with no wine.
“I used to think that running away from your life could save you, but now I know that running only makes you more of a prisoner.”
Similar Read: The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig
Vincent Taylor, now suffering from Lewy body dementia, wants to tell “the truth” about what happened the night Poppy and Danny died. Trouble is, his memories are a mess, no one can read his notes, and also he insists only Olivia can write it—even when they’ve told no one that they’re related.
As Olivia sifts through her father’s creepy old home videos, and Poppy’s long-forgotten diaries, the truth begins to emerge… and it’s uglier than expected. Poppy wasn’t just the sweet sister who has just suffered—she was pregnant. Danny, the “golden boy,” had a temper and a big, terrible secret: he was abusive. And Vincent? He knows who did.
The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark Ending:
Shockingly! It was Lydia—Olivia’s mother—who has stabbed both the kids after discovering the pain Poppy suffered. Then she took little Olivia and disappeared, leaving Vincent to bear the guilt and suspicion for decades.
In the present, Olivia uncovers it all completely—and finally, she confronts her mother. No more drama, just the painful self realization that the truth doesn’t always bring peace, just clarity. Vincent dies before the book ends. & now Olivia is trynna reclaiming her identity, decides to publish it herself. Under her name.
Closure? Kind of. Healing? Maybe. Justice? Depends who you ask. But finally, truth.
Quotes:
“Relationships aren’t transactional.”
Also Read: Clue Book Series | Mysteries & Detective Stories
Final Verdict?
Overall the Ghostwriter is haunting, heartfelt & explosive. It’s about how the stories we bury tend to claw their way back up. Want thrills? You’ll get them. But be prepared to cry a little, too.
Who should read it:
- If you are who dig multi-timeline stories with twisted sibling drama
- If you are lover of small-town settings with a creepy, atmospheric vibe, 80s nostalgia etc.
- If you are fans of stories where the line between truth and delusion blurs
- Readers who like a ghostwriter or writer protagonist and a bts of storytelling
Books like The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark:
- Nobody’s Fool by Harlan Coben
- Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell
- Strangers in Time by David Baldacci
About the Author:
Julia Clark is NY Times bestselling author known for her thriller novels like The Lies I Tell and The Last Flight. Her books has been translated into 20+ languages.
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