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A Plethora of Phantoms
(Spirited Encounters Book 2)
By Penny Hampson
(Spirited Encounters Book 2)
By Penny Hampson
Publication Date: 3rd February 2026
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.
Book Review
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Freddie comes back to Lanyon Park knowing what’s expected of him, but not entirely sure how he fits into it anymore. There’s a quiet sense, even early on, that things aren’t quite settled, though it’s not immediately clear why.
The first signs of something being wrong are subtle, but also oddly specific. Freddie starts noticing that things are being moved and tidied away, often in ways that don’t quite make sense. At first, it’s easy to brush off or explain—something misplaced, something forgotten—but it happens often enough to become difficult to ignore. There’s something slightly unsettling about it, not because it’s overtly frightening, but because it feels so deliberate. It’s that shift from “strange” to “uncomfortable” that the book handles particularly well.
Freddie himself is a really grounded character to follow through all of this. He doesn’t jump to conclusions, and he doesn’t immediately assume the worst. Instead, he questions what he’s experiencing, tries to rationalise it, and holds back from reacting too quickly. That makes everything feel more believable, because you’re seeing it unfold through someone who isn’t entirely convinced himself.
Marcus brings a different energy into the story when he appears. He’s more direct, more willing to engage with what’s happening, even when it doesn’t fully make sense. That contrast between them works well, especially as things begin to escalate. Where Freddie hesitates, Marcus tends to step forward, and that difference helps move things along without forcing it.
Their relationship develops naturally out of everything that’s going on. It isn’t separate from the story—it grows through it. Shared time, conversations, and the gradual realisation that neither of them is dealing with this alone all play a part. It never feels rushed or overly dramatic, which makes it more convincing.
The haunting itself becomes more layered as the story progresses. What starts as something almost manageable begins to shift, with moments that feel far more direct and difficult to dismiss. There’s a clear sense that not everything at work is the same, and that change in tone keeps things interesting without losing the slow build.
The dressing case adds another layer to the mystery. It’s not just an object that appears and is explained—it leads somewhere. It connects different parts of the story and draws attention to things that might otherwise have been missed. Through it, the narrative starts to move beyond the house, opening out into something a bit more complex. At a certain point, it also becomes clear that what is being uncovered is not without consequence, and that the risks are no longer limited to what can be explained by the house alone.
As more is uncovered, the focus shifts naturally. It becomes less about what is happening and more about why it hasn’t been resolved. The past doesn’t feel distant—it lingers in a way that continues to affect the present, not through intention, but through what has been left unfinished.
Lanyon Park itself plays a big part in all of this. It never feels like just a backdrop. There’s a sense of history in it, of things layered into the space, and even as the story expands beyond it, everything still seems to come back to the house in some way.
By the end, there’s a real sense of things being put to rest. The truth behind the haunting is uncovered, and it brings a quiet kind of resolution that feels earned rather than forced. It doesn’t overstate it, but you’re left with the sense that something has finally been understood, and that both the past and the present are a little more settled because of it.
Praise
“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.
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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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