Short Book Review: A Romance Writer's Murder Confession

The Ghost Writer, by Alessandra Torre (Thomas & Mercer)

I first met Alessandra Torre through InkersCon, which offers in-person and virtual conferences for writers, mostly but not exclusively self-published romance writers. I found the virtual events energizing and worthwhile, in no small part due to Alessandra’s passion and knowledge. She often references her own work, comprising romance, contemporary fiction, and suspense/thriller (as A. R. Torre), so I decided to check it out. I knew she could teach (and organize!), but was this an instance of “those who cannot do, teach”? The answer was a resounding “No!” The Ghost Writer came out in 2017 and falls under the loose category of “domestic thriller.” It’s a gripping page-turner fired by the obsession of the narrator, a romance novelist named Helena Ross. At the beginning, Helena lets us know that she is dying (from cancer for which she inexplicably refuses to undergo treatment), that she is an utter perfectionist who cannot tolerate frailty in either herself or others (like her agent or her rival to the title Queen of Romance), and that, in her words, her final book is not a novel but a confession. If that isn’t enough, she has only three months to live, and every day the cancer steals more energy and focus. The only thing to do is hire a ghost writer, and the most likely—the only viable candidate—is her rival. This description falls far short of Helena’s vivid, idiosyncratic voice, the steadily increasing dramatic tension, the whiplash turns and revelations, and the ultimately satisfying if tragic ending.

Torre doesn’t pull any punches; she plays fair with the reader every step of the way in both what she hides, what she reveals, and how she creates one delusional “down the rabbithole” path after another. The book is an exemplar of precisely timed, nuanced details, superb handling of dramatic tension, and compelling emotions.