THE GHOST WRITER concerns a young family, the Sterlings, moving to a small town in Iowa after the father, Jack, takes a position as an English professor at the University of Iowa. They purchase an old farmhouse outside of town that has sat empty for several decades, and mysterious occurrences happen soon after they move in. The mother, Kari, whose family lives in a nearby town, seems to know more about the house than they are letting on, and she also begins to suspect that they are hiding other secrets. Jack discovers a strange trunk full of books left behind in the attic that may have belonged to the previous owner, and he soon begins to suspect that there may be a connection to the recent disappearance of two women from the area. Jack also meets a famous horror author, Martin, who lives nearby in a large mansion and has been a recluse since the death of his wife three years ago. Martin asks Jack to be the ghostwriter for his next novel, but there may be a more nefarious motive behind the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that puts the family and the entire town in danger.