Gerald Freeman, a little boy from Australia, finds a secret diary hidden in his mother's drawer; the diary belonged to an early ancestor of his, a lady named Viola Hatherley who lived in the 1890's and wrote Gothic stories. Gerald's mother happens to notice him as he lays his hands on the book, and beats him up as she never did before - she goes frantic with fear and worry. Gerald's mother, Phyllis, who has grown up in England, looks haggard and thin anyway, as if she was always afraid of something or someone.
Gerald finds a penfriend in England, Alice Jessel, a girl at his age. They write letters to one another throughout the years.
Years later the grown-up Gerald goes to England and meets Alice. He finds that Viola's peculiar stories has to do something with his present life...
The idea itself is not a very unique one - a secret diary of a long deceased person and a ghost story which concerns present -, but The Ghost Writer is a special book: Great characters, fine composition, and an ending that shocks the reader always do the trick. Highly recommended for psychological thriller fans who enjoy a well-wriiten, interesting read.
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