Trials of a Lonely Specter

By Dianne Hartsock

A reluctant ghost at best, Quinn doesn’t like the haunts to which Liam takes him, always fearful of encountering a true medium in the paranormal groups investigating the houses, bent on seeing a ghost.

When Liam sets him up for such a meeting, Quinn breaks from him, not fully understanding the apparition’s cruelty. He’d thought they were friends. But despite his anger, when he believes Liam will go to the manor house without him, a house known to be haunted by a fearsome ghost, Quinn joins him, hoping to keep him from danger.

But it is Quinn himself who is in danger, not only from Betterford’s ghost and the mediums stalking him, but also from a secret Liam’s been keeping, making Quinn wonder if he’ll survive the longest haunt of his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC
• Release date: Nov 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9781685505721

Dianne Hartsock

Dianne is the author of paranormal, suspense, m/m romance, fantasy, thriller. Also a floral designer.

Book preview

Trials of a Lonely Specter

By Dianne Hartsock

Published by JMS Books LLC

Visit jms-books.com for more information.

Copyright 2023 Dianne Hartsock

ISBN 9781685505721

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Cover Design: Written Ink Designs | written-ink.com

Image(s) used under a Standard Royalty-Free License.

All rights reserved.

WARNING: This book is not transferable. It is for your own personal use. If it is sold, shared, or given away, it is an infringement of the copyright of this work and violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

No portion of this book may be transmitted or reproduced in any form, or by any means, without permission in writing from the publisher, with the exception of brief excerpts used for the purposes of review.

This book is for ADULT AUDIENCES ONLY. It may contain sexually explicit scenes and graphic language which might be considered offensive by some readers. Please store your files where they cannot be accessed by minors.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are solely the product of the author’s imagination and/or are used fictitiously, though reference may be made to actual historical events or existing locations. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America.

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Trials of a Lonely Specter

By Dianne Hartsock

Chapter 1

Quinn frowned at the crumbling gate house of the abandoned manor, not sure why Liam had brought him there. Then again, he shouldn’t be surprised by anything his whimsical friend did.

Let’s go in.

Quinn hushed the voice in his head. I’m thinking.

He jumped slightly when Liam materialized at his side. He tried to hold on to his annoyance but couldn’t stay mad for long when Liam grinned in that attractive way. The specter threw an arm across his shoulders, waving a languid hand at the decrepit building. Can’t you make up your mind inside? It’s getting dark.

Quinn glanced behind them at the lonely driveway, shivered when he saw the shadows creeping from under the trees. Shrubs overran the flowerbeds and weeds grew between the closely fitted flagstones of the walkway. He couldn’t understand why Liam always had to pick the scariest places to haunt.

It’ll be darker inside, he hinted to the apparition.

No.

Liam slid his arm from his shoulders and sauntered up to the wooden door sagging on its hinges. He wiggled his fingers and a bluish light filled the house, spilling out from between the slats of the broken shutters.

Show-off, Quinn muttered as he joined him at the front entrance. The door felt solid under his hands. He gave it a nudge, testing its stability.

Watching him, Liam put his chin on his shoulder. Give it a push.

Why don’t you?

He regretted the words instantly when Liam’s eyes flashed.

I’m sorry. Don’t be mad, he said hurriedly, but Liam had glanced aside, hiding his expression. Quinn felt like a brute, knowing his friend’s manifestation had