You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ghostwriter by Julie Clark was an unexpected treat—not your traditional murder mystery, and all the better for it.
Olivia Dumont is a struggling ghostwriter, blacklisted and buried in debt after a scandal involving a former client. She’s barely holding things together when she gets offered the last job she’d ever want: ghostwriting the memoir of her estranged father, Vincent Taylor. Once a famous horror novelist, Vincent is now battling a degenerative illness—and the ghosts of a childhood marked by tragedy. As Olivia begins to write his story, the past unravels in layers. Decades ago, Vincent’s brother and sister, Danny and Poppy, died under mysterious circumstances. He was the prime suspect—but never charged.
What follows is a haunting blend of memoir and mystery. We get chapters told through Vincent’s and Poppy’s perspective, slowly piecing together what really happened. The brilliance of the book lies in its dual timeline: we often know more than Olivia as we read, but watching her catch up—seeing her react, break, grow—is where the emotional resonance hits hardest. It’s a story of buried truth, generational trauma, and the painful work of reconnection.
Olivia is a compelling narrator—flawed, sharp, and emotionally raw. Her voice anchors the novel through the shifting perspectives and timelines. And while I did manage to predict the final twist, it never felt predictable. The book held me in that rare space where I was both guessing and second-guessing the whole way through.
That said, I did find myself wanting more in places. While young Vincent is fleshed out with painful clarity, his adult self remains a bit hazy. The emotional payoff between him and Olivia is there—but it arrives late. Their dynamic, which could’ve been the emotional spine of the novel, only fully blooms near the end. I also felt that some side characters—Olivia’s rival, her boyfriend Tom, even poor Danny—lacked the same depth. They served their roles, but I would’ve loved to see more dimension, especially from Danny, whose tragic arc begged for expansion.
But here’s the thing: when a book leaves you wanting more, it’s usually doing something right. The pacing may be slow, but it’s deliberate. Every revelation lands. Every scene matters. Ghostwriter isn’t flashy—it’s methodical, thoughtful, and ultimately powerful.
I’m giving this one 5 out of 5 stars. Not because it’s flawless, but because it earns its place through gorgeous writing, layered storytelling, and unforgettable emotional weight. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Thanks for reading,
even if Nobody did.
Olivia Dumont is a struggling ghostwriter, blacklisted and buried in debt after a scandal involving a former client. She’s barely holding things together when she gets offered the last job she’d ever want: ghostwriting the memoir of her estranged father, Vincent Taylor. Once a famous horror novelist, Vincent is now battling a degenerative illness—and the ghosts of a childhood marked by tragedy. As Olivia begins to write his story, the past unravels in layers. Decades ago, Vincent’s brother and sister, Danny and Poppy, died under mysterious circumstances. He was the prime suspect—but never charged.
What follows is a haunting blend of memoir and mystery. We get chapters told through Vincent’s and Poppy’s perspective, slowly piecing together what really happened. The brilliance of the book lies in its dual timeline: we often know more than Olivia as we read, but watching her catch up—seeing her react, break, grow—is where the emotional resonance hits hardest. It’s a story of buried truth, generational trauma, and the painful work of reconnection.
Olivia is a compelling narrator—flawed, sharp, and emotionally raw. Her voice anchors the novel through the shifting perspectives and timelines. And while I did manage to predict the final twist, it never felt predictable. The book held me in that rare space where I was both guessing and second-guessing the whole way through.
That said, I did find myself wanting more in places. While young Vincent is fleshed out with painful clarity, his adult self remains a bit hazy. The emotional payoff between him and Olivia is there—but it arrives late. Their dynamic, which could’ve been the emotional spine of the novel, only fully blooms near the end. I also felt that some side characters—Olivia’s rival, her boyfriend Tom, even poor Danny—lacked the same depth. They served their roles, but I would’ve loved to see more dimension, especially from Danny, whose tragic arc begged for expansion.
But here’s the thing: when a book leaves you wanting more, it’s usually doing something right. The pacing may be slow, but it’s deliberate. Every revelation lands. Every scene matters. Ghostwriter isn’t flashy—it’s methodical, thoughtful, and ultimately powerful.
I’m giving this one 5 out of 5 stars. Not because it’s flawless, but because it earns its place through gorgeous writing, layered storytelling, and unforgettable emotional weight. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Thanks for reading,
even if Nobody did.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.25. This book was a really good time and I understand all of the hype surrounding it, it’s well-deserved. It’s such a unique take on the drama surrounding a family tragedy, that leaves you constantly second-guessing whether the truths being revealed are actually true at all. The entire way through the book, you know you’re getting closer to finally figuring out what actually happened. Each and every detail of the story along the way is vital and holds so much meaning, that you can’t help but to remain engrossed as the twists and turns continue on. The suspense was drawn out through each and every page, giving a different meaning to the term “slow burn,” because not one moment of the story was dull in the slightest. My first Julie Clark novel, and I loved it!
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced