When the succesful British ghostwriter, 'The Ghost' (Ewan McGregor) agrees to help write the memoirs of the former British prime minister, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan), it all seems to good to be true. The Ghost flies to Lang's Amerikan home to complete the work of a former ghostwriter, who died in an accident. Lang's reputation is at stake due to the accusation implying his involvement in the illegal capitulation of suspected terrorists to the CIA during his time in office.