(Spirited Encounters Book 2)
By Penny Hampson
Publisher: PP&M Publishing
Print Length: 259 Pages
Genre: Paranormal Ghost Romance / Gay Romance
Whose footsteps in the dark?
He is heir to the earldom of Batheaston and lives in an elegant, stately home, but handsome twenty-something Freddie Lanyon is not a happy man. Not only is he gay and dreading coming out to his family, but he’s also troubled by ghosts that nobody else can see.
When Freddie’s impulsive purchase of an antique dressing case triggers even more ghostly happenings with potentially catastrophic consequences, he has to take action.
Freddie contacts charismatic psychic Marcus Spender for help and feels an immediate attraction to this handsome antique dealer –– a feeling that is mutual. But the pair’s investigations unearth shocking, long-buried secrets, which prove a major challenge to their task of laying unhappy spirits to rest and to their blossoming relationship.
Being brave isn’t one of Freddie’s standout qualities, but he’ll need all the courage he can muster to rid himself of wayward phantoms and get his life on track.
A Plethora of Phantoms is an uplifting ghostly tale about love, friendship, and acceptance.
“Plethora of Phantoms” by Penny Hampson is a richly atmospheric novel that blends paranormal suspense with emotional introspection, grounding its supernatural intrigue in the intimate realities of family, identity and belonging. Set primarily within the ancestral home of Lanyon Park, the narrative extends beyond its haunted walls to capture Bath with clarity and affection, as well as Oxford and Cornwall. From the outset, Hampson demonstrates a confident understanding of how unease is best cultivated through suggestion rather than shock.
At the heart of the novel is Freddie, a thoughtfully realised protagonist whose intelligence and observational nature ground the story. His anxiety feels authentic, shaped as much by his return to the family estate as by the emotional burden of unspoken truths. His internal conflict surrounding his sexuality is handled with sensitivity and nuance, woven seamlessly into the unfolding mystery rather than presented as a separate strand.
The supporting cast is clearly drawn and serves the narrative well. Hugo’s competitive, mischievous nature makes him a plausible source of suspicion, blurring the line between prank and paranormal. Charles provides a pragmatic counterweight, his focus on finances and estate upkeep anchoring the story in reality, while Daphne’s warmth and perceptiveness offer emotional reassurance and quiet insight. Xander’s easy rapport with Freddie adds familial authenticity, and later, Marcus’s presence introduces tenderness and emotional refuge. The relationship between Freddie and Marcus is particularly well handled, offering moments of warmth that balance the encroaching darkness.
Lanyon Park is exquisitely realised and functions as a presence in its own right. The stately home is steeped in memory, its echoing corridors and ancestral portraits heavy with implication. The little details, such as moonlight coming in from the skylights, drifting dust motes and rooms that seem to observe rather than simply contain their occupants, contribute to a setting that feels lived-in by history. The suggestion that the house is not merely haunted but attentive is particularly effective.
The novel’s supernatural elements are layered with care and imagination. The domestic spirit who folds clothes and tidies belongings introduces a deeply unsettling intimacy. These acts of quiet order feel intrusive rather than comforting, suggesting a consciousness bound by routine and unresolved purpose. Could this spirit be connected with the antique gentleman’s dressing case Freddy just purchased? In deliberate contrast, the aggressive spirit haunting the gallery brings a sharper, more volatile threat, its presence defined by disruption and hostility. The gradual unveiling of the spirits’ histories is handled with restraint, allowing questions to linger before being satisfyingly resolved by the novel’s conclusion. This measured release of information strengthens both the emotional impact and the sense of cohesion between Lanyon Park’s past and its present. Together, these distinct hauntings form a spectrum of supernatural unease that sustains both suspense and thematic depth.
Beyond the estate, Bath is brought vividly to life through sharply observed detail. The city feels inhabited rather than merely described, its streets and rhythms grounding the narrative in everyday reality. Small, knowing touches — such as the nightmare of parking at Charlotte Street car park — lend authenticity and gentle humour, providing moments of recognition that anchor the supernatural elements firmly in the real world. These details serve as a reminder that the story’s tensions unfold not in abstraction, but within a living, breathing city.
“A Plethora of Phantoms” by Penny Hampson is an accomplished and emotionally resonant novel that marries supernatural suspense with a deeply human story of identity, memory and belonging. Its layered hauntings — from the unsettling neatness of folded clothes to the raw menace of the gallery spirit — create a gothic landscape that feels both original and grounded. With Bath vividly realised and Freddie’s inner life carefully explored, Hampson delivers a novel that lingers long after the final page, like a house that remembers every presence it has ever held.
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For readers who enjoy atmospheric ghost stories with heart, A Plethora of Phantoms is available now on Amazon and can also be read via #KindleUnlimited.
Penny Hampson writes mysteries and because she has a passion for history, her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series.
Penny also enjoys writing contemporary novels with a hint of the paranormal because where do ghosts come from but the past?
The Unquiet Spirit, a spooky mystery/romance set in Cornwall, the first of the Shades, Shadows, and Spectres Series, was a contender for the Joan Hessayon Award 2021.
Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).
Penny’s books are all available on Amazon: viewauthor.at/Pennysbooks
Thank you for this wonderful and highly detailed review of A Plethora of Phantoms, Mary Anne; I'm delighted that you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Penny.
ReplyDeleteI am so looking forward to reading this book!
ReplyDelete