June 2025

I remember meeting Julie Clark before THE LAST FLIGHT came out in 2020, and I have been a committed reader of her books since then. In her third thriller, THE GHOSTWRITER, she has written another propulsive story.

Olivia has grown up being told that her father, Vincent, killed his brother, Danny, and his sister, Poppy, when he was a teenager. He was never charged or convicted, but the idea of him as a murderer has tracked him his whole life. He married his high school girlfriend and went on to become a bestselling horror writer. Olivia has been estranged from him for decades, ever since he sent her to boarding school in Europe.

Olivia has become a ghostwriter. But she made a career mistake, and it has been put in debt as she was sued. We are not talking a small debt here, but rather $1 million, which will take her a long time to pay back.

Throughout his career, Vincent has written decades of bestsellers. But, alas, he also has Lewy body dementia, and his mind is not what it used to be. Now, instead of a horror novel, he wants to pen his memoir and finally tell the story of what happened all those years ago. And he wants Olivia to write it. When her agent calls with this potential assignment, she is all ears until she hears the subject. Vincent has written a draft, and he feels it just needs to be polished a bit. But when Olivia looks at his notes, she sees that there are ramblings and it’s not close to being completed. He also has instructed her that she cannot enlist others to clarify his life story.

Vincent’s notes read nothing like the version of events she has been fed. Instead of seeing a young boy courting evil, she learns about his relationships with his sister and brother. Among his childhood possessions of Poppy’s, she finds something that will help uncover the real story.

But just when you think you have all the pieces figured out, Julie sends you in a new direction. It’s a ride that does not let you off until the end.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Julie about the book, so be sure to watch the video or listen to the podcast.