I read books and I know things: Review of A Plethora of Phantoms (Spirited Encounters Book 2) y Penny Hampson

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.

A Five Star Read

I don’t even know how to explain this properly, but this book really got to me.

At first it doesn’t seem like much is happening. Freddie goes back to Lanyon Park and everything feels… normal, I guess? But also not. Like you’d be fine staying there, but you wouldn’t sleep well either. It’s that kind of vibe.

Then little things start happening. Stuff being moved, tidied up. Which sounds harmless but honestly made me more uncomfortable than anything dramatic would have. It just feels so intentional.

Freddie kind of tries to brush it off for as long as he can, which felt very real. Like you would do the same instead of jumping straight to “this place is haunted.”

Then Marcus turns up (yes, the very attractive antique dealer) and things shift a bit. He feels way more tuned into whatever’s going on, like he picks up on things Freddie either misses or doesn’t want to see. And from there, everything—both the mystery and their relationship—starts to move.

Their relationship was one of my favourite parts, actually. It doesn’t feel forced or over the top, it just kind of… happens. Quietly, but in a way that still feels important.

Also I cannot stop thinking about the dressing case. It seems like such a small thing at first and then suddenly it’s not.

And honestly, when it all comes together… yeah. That hurt. I won’t spoil anything, but I was crying by the end. I finished it and just kind of sat there for a bit like… okay, wow.

*Romance when least expected
*A ghost who wants to rest in peace

My thoughts summed up in one posh sentence

A restrained, atmospheric ghost story that builds gently and resolves with a sense of quiet finality.

This book is available on

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Penny Hampson

Penny Hampson writes mysteries, and because she has a passion for history, you’ll find her stories also reflect that. A Gentleman’s Promise, a traditional Regency romance, was Penny’s debut novel and the first of her Gentlemen Series. There are now four novels in the series, with the latest, An Adventurer’s Contract, released in November 2024. Penny also enjoys writing contemporary mysteries 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, is the first in the Spirited Encounters Series. Look out for A Plethora of Phantoms coming soon.

Penny lives with her family in Oxfordshire, and when she is not writing, she enjoys reading, walking, swimming, and the odd gin and tonic (not all at the same time).

If you’ve enjoyed any of Penny’s books please leave a review on Amazon, Bookbub, or Goodreads, and let other readers know!

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