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Petit Morts #13
Spirits and Second Chances
Wes Jackson doesn’t believe in ghosts. His Fremantle ghost walk is for entertainment purposes only—right down to the psychic medium (aka his mother) who’s always shocked to find “presences” on his tours…four times a week.If ghosts were real, the Fremantle Round House would be teeming with them. Australian convicts built the forbidding walls, and after the prison outgrew it, mental patients were locked away within its stark cells. But preternatural activity? None. Any trepidation Wes usually displays while leading his tour through the tunnel beneath the Round House is pure theatrics—until the longtime partner he split with turns up, and ghost of their relationship rears its head.Can Chance help them resurrect the spirit of their lost love? (Novelette-length story - 13,740 words)
50 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2011
3 people are currently reading
77 people want to read
About the author
Sean Kennedy
44 books1,013 followersSean Kennedy lives in the second-most isolated city in the world, thinks there are thylacines still out in the wild, and eagerly awaits the return of Twin Peaks in 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 27, 2012
2.5 stars.
This was my least favorite so far. I think it started great, because setting up a faux-paranormal in a paranormal setting was a wonderful idea. I liked Wes because he had the courage of inventing his job as a ghost tour guide and even a way of making it interesting through his mother as a phony sensitive. This had an incredible potential and I was envisioning this mad mingling of surrealism, but when the ex-never-forgotten-lover Farid showed up, it became too focused on this relationship and their surroundings became a still-life background and I lost interest unfortunately.
This was my least favorite so far. I think it started great, because setting up a faux-paranormal in a paranormal setting was a wonderful idea. I liked Wes because he had the courage of inventing his job as a ghost tour guide and even a way of making it interesting through his mother as a phony sensitive. This had an incredible potential and I was envisioning this mad mingling of surrealism, but when the ex-never-forgotten-lover Farid showed up, it became too focused on this relationship and their surroundings became a still-life background and I lost interest unfortunately.
November 10, 2011
Review at Brief Encounters Reviews.
4.25 stars
Wes’s life has finally come together in many ways. He’s happier after quitting his stressful 9 to 5 job and starting a Haunted Tour company leading tourists around the old buildings of his city night after night, while his mother Maeve pretends to see ghostly apparitions to give the tourists a little more entertainment. He has come to realize, however, that what he thought was a new beginning, a post-Farid life, is really just a facade of happiness over a mundane existence that is achingly bereft of his ex-boyfriend Farid. On what seems to be a regular night’s tour the ghosts of the Fremantle Round House, Wes’ closeted ex-boyfriend Farid, and Chance’s gentle prodding all intersect, while Wes tries to fight his way out of the melee. Is there ever any way to resurrect a relationship that ran an alternate course from the one everyone desired? Should you feel the need to re-write your own history, or is it easier to move on? Like many of their other differences, Wes and Farid have different ideas about their relationship as well, when they reunite in the midst of Chance’s supernatural orchestrations.
The relationship in this story is front and center and from Wes’ POV as he tries to continue his life after breaking up with Fariz. He still has doubts, though, that are constantly at war with his anger at Fariz. It seems then, that he’s also confused why he should be angry when he’s the one that broke up with Fariz and kicked him out of their apartment in the first place, though it was the result of an ultimatum for Fariz to come out to his family. Not only is he confused, but his life is stagnant. I liked both Wes and Fariz a great deal, though their relationship has a lot of problems — mostly a distinct lack of partnership. It is both of their faults in a way, and they each seemed to have their reasons to let the relationship dissolve instead of battling together for it. This story is really about second chances, and what problems are worth putting up with to take it.
The great thing about this series is that each author has their own interpretation that comes out in their stories. I always look forward to reading Sean Kennedy’s Petit Morts stories because the writing` always have a sense of casting off the mundane and slipping on the sublime absurd. While often fun to read, Sean Kennedy’s Chance seems to encourage the characters to embrace the present and cast off the past, the prose usually with a tone that is somewhat ridiculous, which makes them all the more fun to read. This story is no different, through the use of “Dutch Courage”, which ultimately makes the characters a bit sappy and melodramatic (or maybe that was just Wes’ amazing mother Maeve).The twist ending is fun and sweet, though no longer a surprise from Chance after his behavior is the past few stories.
I have to admit that no matter how much I love getting more information on Chance, my favorite stories have been where he’s been subjugated to the marginal role of matchmaker, which is mostly the case in Spirits and Second Chances as the present confusion of Wes and Farid’s relationship battles with their past happiness. All in all, a solid addition to the series that I really enjoyed reading.
4.25 stars
Wes’s life has finally come together in many ways. He’s happier after quitting his stressful 9 to 5 job and starting a Haunted Tour company leading tourists around the old buildings of his city night after night, while his mother Maeve pretends to see ghostly apparitions to give the tourists a little more entertainment. He has come to realize, however, that what he thought was a new beginning, a post-Farid life, is really just a facade of happiness over a mundane existence that is achingly bereft of his ex-boyfriend Farid. On what seems to be a regular night’s tour the ghosts of the Fremantle Round House, Wes’ closeted ex-boyfriend Farid, and Chance’s gentle prodding all intersect, while Wes tries to fight his way out of the melee. Is there ever any way to resurrect a relationship that ran an alternate course from the one everyone desired? Should you feel the need to re-write your own history, or is it easier to move on? Like many of their other differences, Wes and Farid have different ideas about their relationship as well, when they reunite in the midst of Chance’s supernatural orchestrations.
The relationship in this story is front and center and from Wes’ POV as he tries to continue his life after breaking up with Fariz. He still has doubts, though, that are constantly at war with his anger at Fariz. It seems then, that he’s also confused why he should be angry when he’s the one that broke up with Fariz and kicked him out of their apartment in the first place, though it was the result of an ultimatum for Fariz to come out to his family. Not only is he confused, but his life is stagnant. I liked both Wes and Fariz a great deal, though their relationship has a lot of problems — mostly a distinct lack of partnership. It is both of their faults in a way, and they each seemed to have their reasons to let the relationship dissolve instead of battling together for it. This story is really about second chances, and what problems are worth putting up with to take it.
The great thing about this series is that each author has their own interpretation that comes out in their stories. I always look forward to reading Sean Kennedy’s Petit Morts stories because the writing` always have a sense of casting off the mundane and slipping on the sublime absurd. While often fun to read, Sean Kennedy’s Chance seems to encourage the characters to embrace the present and cast off the past, the prose usually with a tone that is somewhat ridiculous, which makes them all the more fun to read. This story is no different, through the use of “Dutch Courage”, which ultimately makes the characters a bit sappy and melodramatic (or maybe that was just Wes’ amazing mother Maeve).The twist ending is fun and sweet, though no longer a surprise from Chance after his behavior is the past few stories.
I have to admit that no matter how much I love getting more information on Chance, my favorite stories have been where he’s been subjugated to the marginal role of matchmaker, which is mostly the case in Spirits and Second Chances as the present confusion of Wes and Farid’s relationship battles with their past happiness. All in all, a solid addition to the series that I really enjoyed reading.
April 5, 2013
This was a fun short read, alternately funny and a bit creepy/weird.
This was my first read from the Petit Morts books so my first introduction to Chance, I look forward to reading more of his stories!
I liked Wes and got a huge kick out of his mother. I also always enjoy reading Sean Kennedy's books because, in addition to wonderful stories, he always includes interesting things about Australia, a place I've always wanted to visit and will some day!
The HEA was made more poignant because of the original story line, I always enjoy stories with second chances and this one offers two in one!
This was my first read from the Petit Morts books so my first introduction to Chance, I look forward to reading more of his stories!
I liked Wes and got a huge kick out of his mother. I also always enjoy reading Sean Kennedy's books because, in addition to wonderful stories, he always includes interesting things about Australia, a place I've always wanted to visit and will some day!
The HEA was made more poignant because of the original story line, I always enjoy stories with second chances and this one offers two in one!
May 24, 2020
3.5 stars
A story about a ghost tour, just in time for Halloween. :) Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much the ghosts factor into this versus Chance's choice of liquor. Still, it was nice to see two guys get a reset button on their relationship. Not sure that the reset was needed, necessarily; it is possible to let the past be the past, after all. But maybe Chance was able to see that they wouldn't necessarily be able to do that. So, reset.
A nice little tale. Bonus points for no sex scenes! :) Well, there was a weird sexy dream near the start, but it was a dream, so I'm not counting it.
A story about a ghost tour, just in time for Halloween. :) Unfortunately, I'm not sure how much the ghosts factor into this versus Chance's choice of liquor. Still, it was nice to see two guys get a reset button on their relationship. Not sure that the reset was needed, necessarily; it is possible to let the past be the past, after all. But maybe Chance was able to see that they wouldn't necessarily be able to do that. So, reset.
A nice little tale. Bonus points for no sex scenes! :) Well, there was a weird sexy dream near the start, but it was a dream, so I'm not counting it.
September 15, 2019
Oh, I loved this one! It gives a whole new meaning to second chance :P
We see the story from Wes' POV and are aware from the beginning of his feelings; about how alone he feels, how angry is he still at his ex Fariz; about how all this new life is simply a façade of happiness.
I truly enjoyed the fact that he had made the decision before the magic happened. He had decided to give another chance to his relationship with Fariz, and Chance's literal 'push' was only the way to make it perfect for them.
Loved it.
We see the story from Wes' POV and are aware from the beginning of his feelings; about how alone he feels, how angry is he still at his ex Fariz; about how all this new life is simply a façade of happiness.
I truly enjoyed the fact that he had made the decision before the magic happened. He had decided to give another chance to his relationship with Fariz, and Chance's literal 'push' was only the way to make it perfect for them.
Loved it.
October 4, 2017
This is one of those occasions when time travel is a complete lazy cop out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2012
#13 in the Petit Morts series, and the second story by series contributor Sean Kennedy. This one tells of Wes, who retired from social work to run a ghost tour in his town, and finds himself taking on more history than expected when his ex joins the tour one evening.
I liked this story a lot, although it started a little slow for me. (And for a while, I wondered if Wes’s mother might outshine everyone else.) But as things got moving, it was easy for me to tag along on Wes’s walk back through time, revisiting the array of regrets that he and his ex have about splitting up, and what revelations they gained since then.
As an aside, one of the things that I like about Kennedy’s writing is his humor—he’s very funny. The humor in this one isn’t as overt as his earlier PM novella One Less Stiff at a Funeral. (Which became sweetly screwball once the funeral speeches started.) This one reads more sly, and sometimes the humor hits you at the last word of a sentence. (And I would find myself laughing with a loud “Ha!”)
Another good PM story. After this, it’s #14--“Just Desserts”.
I liked this story a lot, although it started a little slow for me. (And for a while, I wondered if Wes’s mother might outshine everyone else.) But as things got moving, it was easy for me to tag along on Wes’s walk back through time, revisiting the array of regrets that he and his ex have about splitting up, and what revelations they gained since then.
As an aside, one of the things that I like about Kennedy’s writing is his humor—he’s very funny. The humor in this one isn’t as overt as his earlier PM novella One Less Stiff at a Funeral. (Which became sweetly screwball once the funeral speeches started.) This one reads more sly, and sometimes the humor hits you at the last word of a sentence. (And I would find myself laughing with a loud “Ha!”)
Another good PM story. After this, it’s #14--“Just Desserts”.
October 29, 2011
This story started out well, I liked the ghost tour idea, I liked the crazy mother. But then it veered into Sap Land. Well... not total sap exactly, more like a feel good, Disney-ish kind of way. With some Twilight Zone mixed into it, though very, very little of it.
Which is too bad, because to me, that's what this series is all about. The Petit Morts stories are weird and fun and mysterious and make you go WTF?!?. It's not about perfect endings or neat little bows tying up all the ends. It's not about 2 seconds of angst and then singing Kumbaya together. It's different!
So I'm sad that in this very last batch of this great series, authors like London and Kennedy totally change up the style. I hope the next Kennedy story stays true to the series' feel.
(2,5 stars)
Which is too bad, because to me, that's what this series is all about. The Petit Morts stories are weird and fun and mysterious and make you go WTF?!?. It's not about perfect endings or neat little bows tying up all the ends. It's not about 2 seconds of angst and then singing Kumbaya together. It's different!
So I'm sad that in this very last batch of this great series, authors like London and Kennedy totally change up the style. I hope the next Kennedy story stays true to the series' feel.
(2,5 stars)
April 16, 2012
3.5 - 4 stars
Australia seems like a great place for Chance! I liked the story, especially the idea of a ghost tour. Wes and Farid were both decent men that made some mistakes in the past and Chance gave them their reunion. He also gave them back what they've lost due to those mistakes, which didn't work that well for me. I thought that clean slate was not completely right for the series. Although I usually dislike people like Maeve in real life, she worked well within the story. Overall, enjoyable even with some reservations. ^^
Australia seems like a great place for Chance! I liked the story, especially the idea of a ghost tour. Wes and Farid were both decent men that made some mistakes in the past and Chance gave them their reunion. He also gave them back what they've lost due to those mistakes, which didn't work that well for me. I thought that clean slate was not completely right for the series. Although I usually dislike people like Maeve in real life, she worked well within the story. Overall, enjoyable even with some reservations. ^^
October 21, 2011
In this story, Chance helps two ex-es to have their second chances. I truly enjoy Wes's voice and his job. Not everyday I read a story about a ghost tour leader :). Since I also enjoy stories about ex-es, it's fun to read Wes's reaction when his ex, Farid, comes into the tour. The ending is a bit Twilight Zone-ish, which is wonderful.
December 11, 2016
I might have liked this one if it wasn't for the final twist.
February 23, 2013
This is mostly an average story. Sure the storyline wasn't as grand or especially good, but as the title states "Second Chances" are all some characters need to change their lives. The main couple in this story are one of those.
October 21, 2011
Very good short paranormal m/m romance about a guy who leads ghost tours in Western Australia. He's happy with his life, but it just seems as if there's something missing...
October 25, 2011
I do love it when Chance makes it to Australia :)
February 24, 2012
3.5 stars
February 19, 2013
I am always a sucker for time travel.
June 30, 2012
3.5 stars.
Chance seemed nicer here than he was in Happily Neverafter or London Eye.
Chance seemed nicer here than he was in Happily Neverafter or London Eye.
September 30, 2017
This started so nicely. Then it transformed into something bittersweet. And after that it got all weird. Which is normal in this series but...I don't know, I guess it's a good thing to have a happy ending, but that one crept me out, not in a good way, and I can't put my finger on the reason.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews