Strange events are heavy on Barker Christian's mind this summer at Northshire Inn along Lake Erie. Although the inn feels sleepy, romantic, and hidden, innkeeper Barker knows all its annoying in and outs, and supernatural and grating secrets. Barker's very much aware of the drug use that occurs in room 202, and there are disturbing ghosts in room 112 that haunt the paying guests. Nor can he forget about Radcliff Roberts, the famous horror writer in room 210, who is up to something naughty during the evening hours. Two other strange events occur: Matty Lavender, lead singer of The Thorns, is missing; and a watercolor artist appears on the opposite side of the pond that some guests can see and others can't. Barker stays grounded by his interest in Cal Pipp, the inn's maintenance man. Cal is breathtaking, easy on the eyes, and someone Barker's heart desires. Only problem is Cal doesn't know Barker likes him. Until summer heats up, ghosts materialize, and a different side of Cal appears ...

The Men of Northshire Inn

Perhaps Code Caden had purposely led me to the cabin in the nearby woods. Had the afterlife reached out to me and guided me astray? Was there a significant reason why he had appeared at the edge of the pond and painted, drawing my attention? Did he always have it in his afterlife plans to steer me towards the cabin and…


The naked body of Matty Lavender lay sprawled over the battered floor of the upstairs. Found. Discovered. Revealed to me. No longer missing.


I bolted back to the inn and immediately called Takis. Rushed, sounding out of breath, I told him, “Body…in the cabin…in the woods. Matty Lavender is there. I just saw him and…”


Takis calmed me. “Slow down. Check yourself. Tell me what you know. Tell me how and when you found Lavender.”


I told him everything I knew, keeping calm.


Chapter 29