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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.
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Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover Art: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Freddie returns to Lanyon Park expecting to deal with responsibility, family, and the usual pressures that come with it—not to find himself dealing with things he can’t quite explain. The story doesn’t take long to suggest that something isn’t right, and from there it builds steadily into something much more unsettling.
What really stood out to me is how much the story is anchored in the family. The Lanyons feel lively and familiar in a way that makes everything else land more effectively. There’s a mix of teasing, quiet support, and the kind of unspoken understanding where half the conversation doesn’t need saying out loud. Hugo brings a bit of chaos, Daphne has that steady, perceptive presence, and Charles feels more reserved but never distant. It all feels very natural, and that sense of normal life continuing makes the stranger elements feel sharper by comparison.
Freddie sits right in the middle of that, trying to hold everything together. He’s not someone who pushes forward straight away—he holds things in, thinks them through, and often waits longer than he probably should before acting. That makes the way things start to spiral around him far more interesting, because you’re watching someone who would much rather keep life manageable being forced to confront things he can’t quite explain.
Marcus shifts that balance the moment he arrives. He’s more direct, more willing to engage with what’s happening, and less inclined to dismiss the uncomfortable. The contrast between them works well, especially as their relationship develops alongside everything else going on. There’s a sense that neither of them expected things to become quite so complicated, and yet neither is particularly willing to step away either. There’s also the intriguing suggestion that Marcus may not be entirely alone in his own way—moments where something seems to intervene on his behalf, with doors very firmly shut on people who are not welcome, which adds another layer to his character without ever being overexplained.
The haunting builds in a way that feels gradual and believable. It starts with small things that could almost be brushed aside, but that becomes harder and harder to do as time goes on. What makes it more interesting is that it doesn’t feel like a single, simple presence. There’s something quieter early on, almost routine in the way it interferes, and then there are moments where the atmosphere shifts completely and becomes far more unsettling. That change in tone keeps the tension steady without ever feeling overdone.
As more of the past begins to come into focus, the story takes on a different weight. It becomes less about strange events and more about understanding why they’re happening at all. There’s also a really nice parallel between what’s being uncovered and Freddie’s own situation, which gives everything an extra layer without feeling forced.
By the end, I found myself genuinely invested in both the outcome and the people at the center of it, including the ghosts. There are some very well-placed dramatic moments, but it’s the emotional thread underneath that gives them weight. The way everything resolves brings a real sense of quiet closure, not just for the past that’s been uncovered, but for the characters still living with it.
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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A huge thank you for your wonderful review of A Plethora of Phantoms! ⭐
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Thank you for taking the time to read and review my book. I'm delighted that you enjoyed A Plethora of Phantoms!
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