Xavier Bradshaw: Ghostwriter
Two decades after a string of brutal, unsolved murders haunted Livingston, Alberta, the nightmare has returned. A city councilor is discovered crucified in a local church, and a young woman’s body is left abandoned by the river. Investigative reporter Xavier Bradshaw and his new partner, Jessi, plunge into these macabre echoes of the past—only to find the evidence pointing squarely at Xavier himself.
With the local police eager to close the case and lock him away, Xavier races to uncover the truth. His prime suspect? His own mentor, a renowned horror author whose obsession with the killings borders on the sinister. Time is running out, and if Xavier doesn't unmask the true killer soon, his final byline might be his own obituary.
- Xavier - News reporter, retired police officer
- Stephanie - Xavier’s wife
- Dave - Homicide detective, Xavier’s friend
- Carlo Marscapello - Councilman
- Samantha - Carlo’s wife
- Liam Stewart - Priest at St. Luke’s
- Bobby - Murderer
- James - Editor at the Livingston Register News
- Victoria - James’ wife, deceased
- Jessi - New hire at Livingston Register News
- Scott - Jessi’s son, 17
- Joe - Man with dissociative identity disorder
- Harvard Joe - Joe’s alter
- Amanda - RCMP officer, Xavier’s friend
- (Robert) Donald Kozlov - Chief of police
- John - Police officer, Kozlov’s son
- Donna - Katie’s grandmother
- Robert Smithson - Author, Jessi’s birth father
- Carlo is found dead in the church.
- He was badly beaten and nailed to the altar.
- His cause of death is hemlock poisoning.
- James hires Jessi to be a news reporter alongside Xavier.
- Another body is found - a woman named Katie who was beaten and shot in the heart.
- Xavier has been trying to write a book and asks Robert to mentor him.
- Robert agrees to work with Xavier.
- Xavier finds a note in his home office that says, ‘It’s not over. Stop him.’
- Donna tells Xavier and Jessi that the police didn’t take her seriously when she reported Katie missing a whole two days before she was found murdered.
- Someone writes ‘He’s back’ and ‘Monkey see + do’ on Xavier’s vehicle in a mixture of paint and pig’s blood.
- Stephanie has been in a home for two years due to early onset Alzheimer’s.
- Xavier finds a piece of paper on his car that says, ‘Save her,’ and Jessi gets one saying, ‘Family 1st.’
- Xavier finds a note in Jessi’s mailbox that says, ‘No one is safe.’
- Xavier realizes that each of the notes points to one of Robert’s books.
- Xavier and Jessi realize that Robert’s books are modeled after real murders.
- Jessi reads some of her mother’s old diaries and finds out that Robert used to mutilate small animals when he was young and he was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
- He also used to talk about ‘the other Bobby.’
- One of Robert’s books was modeled after the murder of a woman named Margaret, who was killed a few weeks after giving birth.
- Robert was the father of Margaret’s baby, and Jessi is that baby.
- Twenty years ago: James was ghostwriting books for Robert when a politician, a young woman and Victoria were murdered.
- James suspected Robert has something to do with the murders, but he had no proof.
- Present: James admits he is the one who left the notes to help Xavier connect the murders to Robert.
- Xavier finds Robert dead in his own basement.
- Robert died from a gunshot wound to the face and left behind a suicide note confessing to the crimes.
- When Jessi is cleaning out Robert’s house, she finds journals he kept.
- The journals reveal that Bobby committed the murders and blackmailed Robert into writing books about them, otherwise he would frame Robert for the murders.
- Xavier finds one of Robert’s yearbooks, sees that Kozlov’s first name is Robert, and concludes that he must be Bobby.
- Xavier and Jessi go to James’s house, where Kozlov and John are about to kill James and Scott.
- James gets ahold of Kozlov’s gun and kills him.
- Kozlov’s motive for murder stems from being severely beaten by Ed as a child while his mother did nothing to stop it. He killed those who wronged him and those who reminded him of people who wronged him.
- James is charged with Kozlov’s death but dies of pancreatic cancer before standing trial.
W.M. Lessman brings a refreshing dynamic to the investigative protagonist with his character Xavier Bradshaw. As an ex-cop turned reporter, Xavier operates with the sharp mind of a detective but without the red tape of law enforcement. He isn't much of a rogue wildcard yet, but staying grounded makes him a solid anchor for the story, and I am curious to see if his personality develops in that direction as the series continues. The supporting cast adds a lot of value too, particularly Stephanie and Bobby, who are great side characters and really help Xavier and Jessi bond with each other.
The story has a slower pace, but it never drags or gets boring. Momentum stays alive thanks to the short chapters, and the author’s wonderful writing. There is a sizable cast to keep track of, but the background provided for each major player is distinct and thorough enough that I never felt lost or confused about who was who.
This leans much more into traditional suspense and mystery territory rather than a high-octane thriller. It builds to a genuinely good twist. The ending, however, wrapped up quickly, leaving the fates of some characters rather vague.
If you like character-driven mysteries, ex-cop protagonists, and methodical pacing, then you will enjoy this book.
- Carlo - Dead - Poisoned with hemlock by Kozlov
- Katie - Dead - Shot by Kozlov
- Joe - Dead - Killed by Kozlov
- Victoria - Dead - Beaten and throat slit by Kozlov
- Ed - Dead - Killed by Kozlov
- Robert - Dead - Shot in the face by Kozlov
- Donald - Dead - Shot by James in self-defense
- James - Dead - Pancreatic cancer
- Stephanie - Alive - Healing after her ordeal
- Torture
- Murder
- Physical violence
- Mental illness
- Suicide
ISBN: 9781738898473
Publication Date: September 15, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
