Powerful ideas from top nonfiction
Try Blinkist to get the key ideas from 7,500+ bestselling nonfiction titles and podcasts. Listen or read in just 15 minutes.
Get started
Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
The Ghostwriter summary
Alessandra Torre
A. R. Torre
Brief summary
The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre is a captivating psychological thriller about a successful author, Helena Ross, who hires a ghostwriter to help her finish her final book. As secrets from the past unravel, the line between truth and fiction blurs in this gripping tale.
Topics
Table of Contents
The Ghostwriter
Summary of key ideas
The Beginning of a Dark Tale
In The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre, we are introduced to Helena Ross, a successful author who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. She decides to spend her last days at her family's lake house, where she plans to write her final novel. However, she is determined to keep her illness a secret from everyone, including her husband and daughter.
Helena's story takes a dark turn when she hires a ghostwriter, Marka Vantley, to help her complete her final book. Marka is a mysterious and enigmatic woman who quickly becomes a significant part of Helena's life. As they work together, Helena begins to unravel the secrets of her past, including the truth about her mother's death and her own troubled childhood.
The Unraveling of Helena's Past
As the story progresses, we learn that Helena's mother was murdered when she was a child, and her father was the prime suspect. However, due to a lack of evidence, he was never charged. Helena's father, a successful lawyer, was a controlling and abusive man who manipulated her into believing that he was innocent. This revelation shakes Helena to her core, and she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her past.
Meanwhile, Helena's relationship with Marka becomes increasingly complex. Marka is not just a ghostwriter; she is also a private investigator hired by Helena's husband to uncover the truth about her illness. As Marka delves deeper into Helena's life, she uncovers shocking secrets that threaten to destroy everything Helena holds dear.
The Shocking Truth
As the novel reaches its climax, the truth about Helena's illness is finally revealed. She doesn't have a terminal illness; instead, she has been slowly poisoning herself with a rare plant to frame her husband for her murder. Helena's plan was to complete her final novel, which would serve as a confession and a way to exact revenge on her husband for his infidelity and betrayal.
However, Marka, who has developed genuine feelings for Helena, tries to stop her from carrying out her plan. In a dramatic confrontation, Marka reveals that she is actually Helena's half-sister, the daughter of Helena's father and his mistress. This revelation shatters Helena's world, and she is left to grapple with the devastating truth about her family and her own actions.
The Final Act
In the final act of The Ghostwriter, Helena's husband arrives at the lake house, and a violent confrontation ensues. In a moment of desperation, Helena takes her own life, leaving behind a manuscript that details her twisted plan and the shocking truth about her past. Marka, devastated by the loss of her sister, decides to honor Helena's memory by publishing the manuscript, ensuring that the world knows the truth about Helena's life and death.
In conclusion, The Ghostwriter is a gripping psychological thriller that explores the dark and twisted secrets of a woman's past. It is a story of betrayal, manipulation, and ultimately, the destructive power of secrets. As the final pages of Helena's manuscript are turned, the truth is finally revealed, leaving us with a haunting and unforgettable tale.
How do we create content on this page?
More knowledge in less time
Read or listen
Get the key ideas from nonfiction bestsellers in minutes, not hours.
Find your next read
Get book lists curated by experts and personalized recommendations.
Shortcasts New
We’ve teamed up with podcast creators to bring you key insights from podcasts.
What is The Ghostwriter about?
The Ghostwriter by Alessandra Torre is a gripping psychological thriller that follows the story of a successful author who hires a ghostwriter to help her complete her latest book. As the ghostwriter delves into the author's past and uncovers dark secrets, the line between reality and fiction becomes blurred. This intense and twist-filled novel will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
The Ghostwriter Review
The Ghostwriter (2017) is a captivating psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Here's why this book is definitely worth reading:
- It offers a twisted and unpredictable plot that will leave you guessing until the very end.
- The complex characters and their intriguing relationships add depth and suspense to the story.
- With its engaging writing style and skillful suspense-building, it ensures that the reader is hooked from the first page.
Who should read The Ghostwriter?
- Readers who enjoy psychological thrillers
- People who appreciate complex and morally ambiguous characters
- Those who are intrigued by the blurred lines between reality and fiction
Categories with The Ghostwriter
Book summaries like The Ghostwriter
People ❤️ Blinkist
Sven O.
It's highly addictive to get core insights on personally relevant topics without repetition or triviality. Added to that the apps ability to suggest kindred interests opens up a foundation of knowledge.
Thi Viet Quynh N.
Great app. Good selection of book summaries you can read or listen to while commuting. Instead of scrolling through your social media news feed, this is a much better way to spend your spare time in my opinion.
Jonathan A.
Life changing. The concept of being able to grasp a book's main point in such a short time truly opens multiple opportunities to grow every area of your life at a faster rate.
Renee D.
Great app. Addicting. Perfect for wait times, morning coffee, evening before bed. Extremely well written, thorough, easy to use.
People also liked these summaries
4.7 Stars
Average ratings on iOS and Google Play
36 Million
Downloads on all platforms
10+ years
Experience igniting personal growth
The Ghostwriter FAQs
What is the main message of The Ghostwriter?
The main message of The Ghostwriter is a chilling exploration of secrets, guilt, and the power of words.
How long does it take to read The Ghostwriter?
The reading time for The Ghostwriter varies depending on the reader's speed, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is The Ghostwriter a good book? Is it worth reading?
The Ghostwriter is an engaging and suspenseful book that is definitely worth reading. It delves into the complexities of identity and keeps you hooked till the end.
Who is the author of The Ghostwriter?
The author of The Ghostwriter is Alessandra Torre, who also writes under the pen name A. R. Torre.
What to read after The Ghostwriter?
If you're wondering what to read next after The Ghostwriter, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki
- Mastery by Robert Greene
- Bounce by Matthew Syed
- The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle
- How Children Succeed by Paul Tough
- Talent is Overrated by Geoff Colvin
- Don’t Go Back to School by Kio Stark
- How to Become a Straight-A Student by Cal Newport
- I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
- The Education of a Value Investor by Guy Spier