Debunked

Haunted? #2

by Pandora Pine

Ghost hunter Marlowe Bond is shocked when Peyton West, the man who spent the last two years doggedly debunking his paranormal investigations, calls for help after allegedly being attacked in his home by a spirit. After a night in the house, Marlowe’s not sure anything more than a well-staged hoax is the culprit.

Along for the ride is Marlowe’s boyfriend, artist Trip Cahill. Trip is expecting your standard low-grade paranormal activity, but gets more than he bargained for when Peyton explains that he’s being haunted by the ghost of Jordan Finch, a businessman who was killed fifteen years ago by his wife’s teenaged hitman.

Is the spirit of Jordan Finch plotting the ultimate revenge for his murder, or is this “haunting” another in a long line of fantasies for Marlowe to debunk?

Debunked is book two in the new Haunted? series and features a quirky ghost hunter, his witchy boyfriend, and a disinterested cat named after a Stevie Nicks song. Fact or fiction, haunting or hoax, join Trip and Marlowe as they work together to uncover the truth, no matter what it might be.

Book one in the series, Haunted, is available through the Your Book Boyfriend's Boyfriend promotion.

Genres: Paranormal, M M Romance, Ghosts, Mystery, Romance, Fiction, Fantasy

140 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 3, 2022

About the author

Sick of the slogging rat-race of her 9-5 job, Pandora Pine put pen to paper (literally!) to make her ambition of becoming a romance novelist a reality. She cut her teeth in the dog-eat-dog world of fanfiction, still dreaming of the day when she would be a published author. She lives in Massachusetts with her blabbermouth muse who’ s a fan of middle of the night plot twists.

In her spare time, Pandora fancies herself an amateur nature photographer. She enjoys mucking around in swamps, hiking through the woods and crawling around on her hands and knees in her backyard seeking out the perfect shot. Pandora is a fan of roadside seafood shacks and always thinks Mexican food is a good idea at the time.

Some of Pandora’s favorite things are chocolate, writing longhand with purple pens and handsome men falling in love with each other.

Don't miss Pandora’s seductive new novel coming soon to an e-reader near you.

Reviews

[Florence . · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC but this book was so much fun. I was really vibing along when I read this one and I had such a good time reading it. This book was just such a good time to read. I just wish that there was a little more romantic moments in this one because thats all this book was missing for me.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

MC is just not likable

I am a fan of this author’s work and enjoyed all her other series but this one just isn’t working for me. The main reason is that one of the MCs seems to have little to no redeeming qualities and I question why the other MC even wants to be with him as he reinforces those bad qualities.

Marlowe constantly behaves in a petulant and boorish manner and He really seems to have very little actual skill as his supposed job. I can’t for the life of me understand why people would keep contacting him about their supposed hauntings. Other than Temperance he doesn’t seem to have ever accomplished anything. And when he gets to know people who can actually help him (Ten, Ronan, Jude, Cope, etc) he doesn’t want their help, even when a situation like the one here is potentially dangerous.

And I really can’t understand why Trip is interested in him. He continually reminds Marlowe that he’s acting like an a*hole. He insults him. And then he turns around and ruminates on his wonderful boyfriend. What’s so wonderful?!

And maybe that’s the problem. There’s been little character development in this series. We don’t know Trip and Marlowe the way we’ve gotten to know other characters.

Marlowe keeps coming off as more and more of a jerk. I know there’s always been comments, even from the author, about Ronan being a dick and Jude being a dick but I never saw them that way. But Marlowe is certainly coming off as a dick and I doubt I’ll read another book in this series.

The mystery here was sort of intriguing but the resolution was a bit pat and the ending seemed like a pretty big 180 for the characters. I’ll stick with the original Salem based universe.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to get wrapped up in this 2nd book as I haven't read Book #1 "Haunted?". A good suggestion would be to read the first to give any individual a better understanding and flow of Marlowe and Trip's relationship. Characters from "Haunted?" make appearances here and lend credence to this book. Payton is the bug in Matthew's side from the first page but develops into the victim that neither he nor Marlowe want to admit that a mutual assistance is needed to send the ghostly nemesis into "the light" or maybe "the dark". This threatening ghost is, in fact, whether when human or now in illusionary form, was a disgusting personage if ever there was one. He was a manipulative character to the Nth degree as far as his callous treatment of his wife Gwen. This treatment was what drove Gwen to ending up being sentenced to life in prison. A fresh take in a haunting setting, engaging plot, right amount of drama, humor, M/M romance, and incredibly well-fleshed out and likeable characters (even the ones Marlowe thinks might be jerks or opportunists out to ruin his livelihood). This is my honest ARC review.

[S.K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s my bad that I didn’t read all the way to the bottom of the blurb to find out that book #1 was in YBBB promotion, as when I began reading I realised that I really needed to read that one – I was thrown into the story straight away and felt lost until I realised that book 1 was a must.

After reading book 1, I felt like I stood a better chance of having a grasp on the characters and would be able to fall into the story better. I have enjoyed reading about ghost catchers, etc. in other book series, so was really hopeful – I’ve also read previous Pandora Pine and enjoyed it.

This book didn’t do it for me. I didn’t gel with either Trip or Marlowe, and thought Peyton was irritating. The storyline was interesting and well written, but I found that I couldn’t get past my feelings about the main characters enough to enjoy it. There were crossovers with previous books, but I found myself getting a bit confused with who was who, and who did what. I did finish the book but I didn’t really get any satisfaction from it. This is one of those series that I can’t see myself going back to unfortunately, but obviously YMMV.

I received an ARC from GRR.

[Maddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, but I am not impressed. I read the prequel and it was left on a cliff-hanger, which turns out is explained in another series completely. A bit annoying, but oh well. I figured it would be mentioned here, but not in every chapter. There is a recap of Temperance case in almost every chapter. Too much recap! I thought this was a new case, but it all circles back inevitably to their house and the original haunting. And all I can say to that is


If all the unnecessary mentions and recaps of Temperance's case were taken out, this book would be half its length, which should tell you a lot about the quality of its content. The new case would be pretty interesting if it wasn't so full of recaps from the other case and oh so frequent mentions of Tennison and Ronan. It is either a new series, a spin-off that gives a mention or two of Tennison and Ronan or it is another book in Tennison and Ronan series, but trying to make it into both is making a complete mess of it. Not impressed. At all.

**I was provided an ARC of this book from the GRR for an honest review**

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest addition was awesome. We come to see that Peyton West has been dogging Marlowe for several years. Ever since he saw Marlowe at a conference & Marlowe basically made fun of him & blew him off, he has made it his mission to overturn Marlowe's findings when he investigates hauntings. Marlowe has been thinking for some time now that he should bury the hatchet with Peyton, so imagine his surprise when he gets a call from Peyton. Peyton is calling for Marlowe to help him as he thinks his house is haunted. Marlowe grudgingly agrees to investigate Peyton's house and Trip decides he wants to go with Marlowe to see how an investigation is conducted & maybe help out. Trip takes to it like a duck to water. I loved how he balanced Marlowe out. They remind me a lot of Ten & Ronan. The hothead and the calming factor. We have a good mystery that initially I felt the same way Marlowe & Trip felt about it, but then things started to become clear. I can't wait to see our boys investigating more cases in the future.

I rec'd an ARC from the author & this is my honest review.

[Manon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haunted is a spin-off to two series the author has already running with a small cross-over between.
I honestly don't know what to think of it, I start feeling a bit jaded about the magical community of Salem.

Trip and Marlow meet. when. Trip's house is. haunted. Marlow is a cynical ghost hunter, trying always to debunk any ghostly activities.
This book brings up his arch enemy Peyton, someone who experienced ghost and now tries to find ghostly activities in all cases Marlow debunks.

The books starts slowly with Trip and Marlow investigating Peyton's house. First the Marlow tries everything to make sure Peyton is lying but it is quite confusing why he suddenly. changes his tune.

The book picks up when they try to lure the ghost out and action begins. But I still don't.know if Marlow is now a beliver, makes peace with Peyton or carries on with his debunking approach.

Not sure if I carry on with this series.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlowe is asked by his arch nemesis and fellow ghost hunter Peyton for assistance with an unruly ghost haunting his home. All is not what it seems and before too long Marlowe and Trip are knee deep in an investigation that requires a quick visit to West Side Magick for a few pointers.

I really enjoyed visiting with these two wonderful characters as they work through the twists in this investigation. It’s been a few months since they got together and their relationship is evolving as they grow together. There’s also the added aspect of Trip directly assisting Marlowe with this and possibly future cases. The epilogue is a nice little teaser for what is in store for them.

I found this to be a quick, easy and enjoyable read with plenty going on to hold my interest. I look forward to more in the Haunted series.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, you’ll benefit from reading Haunted first. It was part of the YBBB giveaway. Marlowe is called in to help Peyton, his arch nemesis, to deal with an evil ghost. Trip, his boyfriend decides to go along for the ride. Peyton has created animosity between himself and Marlowe ever since Marlowe debunked him and others at an event. Peyton has become a stalker of sorts to Marlowe. I loved the banter and the snark. The story centers more of the evil history of the ghost and his wife vs the romance of Trip and Marlowe. The story kept me engaged, I literally could not put it down. Overall, fantastic! The story was really well written, the pacing flowed smoothly, highly recommend. I am voluntarily leaving a review form an advanced copy that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.

[Angela Seubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner in my book!

OMG! I always get so happy when Pandora releases another book because she is such a fantastic storyteller that I always feel like I'm right there immersed in the wonderful worlds she creates and the fantastic characters that you grow to love and want more from. Her books never disappoint me and as with this series I can't wait for more from Marlowe and Trip!

In this adventure of debunking Marlowe and Trip help out someone who has made a career of off proving Marlowe wrong with every place he debunks, but now he needs Marlowe's help and could there be more to his reasons for trying to bring Marlowe down? As always there is some awesome mystery and ghosts causing havoc, which makes this an amazing read!

As always I would definitely recommend reading this book and if you haven't yet read this series....what are you waiting for!!

[Raven and Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlowe and Tripp have a new haunting to solve, well specifically Marlowe. He has been contacted by his nemesis and sometimes stalker Peyton over a haunting in his own home. I do enjoy these characters but it doesn’t surprise me since I am a huge fan of Tenn and Ronan’s Salem, MA. Despite the events that have brought these two men together, Marlowe is still mostly skeptical of all things ghost and paranormal related. He quickly has to decide how much he is willing to believe in though. Tripp is much more open and willing to believe. These two make a great couple because they balance each other out very well. This was a good quick read. It was also good to see some familiar faces later in the book. I look forward to more ghost hunts with Marlowe and Tripp.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's good to have Marlowe and Trip back on another ghost hunt. This time helping Marlowe's arch nemesis, Peyton, who says he's being haunted by a man who was killed sixteen years ago. Unfortunately, Marlowe and Trip aren't quite sure until we're a good way through the book whether or not Peyton is making it up.
It's a good plot with a couple of twists, a dark history between the husband and his wife and plenty of questions being asked along the way. I enjoyed the cameo we also get from Tennyson, Jude and Cope. This book doesn't really focus on Marlowe and Trip's relationship, more so on the haunting, but it's good to see how far they've come and that they're still going strong.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this second full book of the series, we are introduced to more of Marlowe's past. We meet someone (Peyton) who is a sort of rival of Marlowe’s as he and Trip try to help Peyton with a haunting.
I feel like this series is getting better with each book of the series. I think it’s because Marlowe is kind of a jerk and unlikeable early on, but with each subsequent book, we learn more about him and why he’s that way. His and Trip’s relationship develops deeper with each book as well.
As usual, the haunting in this book is intriguing because it brings with it a mystery that must be solved before the haunting can be settled. I really love getting to see Tennyson and the gang in these books, too.
I definitely recommend this book (and the series).

[Edga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another Ghost Story From Pandora Pine

I've read the majority of Pandora Pine's supernatural stories and I've quite enjoyed them. This one, not as much. I didn't really feel a spark between Trip and Marlowe, there just wasn't a bond there. The story was ok, but a little on the short side, it felt rushed and lacking in depth. As a result, the characters didn't really get a chance to evolve. The story could have been much better, if the characters had been better thought out. Now it may be that as the series progresses, the characters will improve and be more fleshed out. Hopefully, with each additional story, Ms Pine will add layers of depth to characters that started out a bit as caricatures and makes them more complex and likeable...

[Anabela.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so, so good! I adored Marlowe and Trip in Haunted and seeing them again was a delight. Here, in Debunked, they've worked out many of the kinks in their relationship and I flat out love them together. They're just really good guys, fun to be around, and each of their interactions gave me emotions and smiles.

The investigation/ghostly factors were really well done and kept the story moving. It's hard to manage mystery, spookiness and  romance and not let one overshadow the other, but it was just right here. The mix of aspects was amazing for me, I was equally fascinated no matter what was happening. I had a lot of fun reading this book and I can't wait for more books in this series.

[Amy Dahmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the dynamic of paranormal and the dynamic between Marlowe and Trip. The book had it all, the ghost of Jordan Finch who may have been out for revenge and his story. It has the history of his wife and then Marlowe's nemesis Peyton that he had to help out. The book wasn't necessarily steamy but the plot more than made up for not as much romance. This book even went as far as to have me find and try a new recipe just based on foods mentioned in it. Overall the book was a great read throughout and left me hungry to learn more about these two and their world. I'm hoping for Peyton to get a story soon. All in all the plot line delivered throughout and leaves the reader hungry for more. Very highly recommend this one.

[Dale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a good read. Evil ghosts and puzzles to solve make for a good time.

Trip and Marlowe are a couple of characters. They obviously love each other. Marlowe is a ghost hunter, Trip is an artist, it seems together they make a pretty good team. Peyton seemingly Marlowe's nemesis has a problem, it comes to Marlowe for help. Now life's going to get interesting. Trip and Marlo have a puzzle to solve and an adventure to make life just that more interesting. There's a little bit of angst, a little bit of love and naughty bits, and a whole lot of scary fun. I can't wait for the next book this should be good. Pandora Pine definitely knows how to weave a good story and keep the readers interest and curiosity going.

[Nancy Lockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good follow up to Haunted. It is best if you have already read the first book which is part of the YBBB giveaway. Marlowe and Trip are once dealing with a vengeful ghost. They are called by Marlowe's arch nemesis Peyton to help him get rid of the ghost of Jordan Finch who was murdered by some teenagers hired by his wife who is now in prison. Finch has plans to get his revenge on his wife and will do anything it takes to accomplish his goal. Some old friends are called in to give advice on the best way to send Finch "into the light". It's another wild and spooky story. I look forwards to the next adventure.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlow debunks ghost stories and offends Peyton who follows him around and proves Marlow wrong if he can. Then Peyton calls Marlow and his boyfriend, Trip and asks them to help with his own haunted house. Both Peyton and Marlow are not very likable people and Marlow is a ball of negativity quick to jump to conclusions that nothing is there. Trip is the most empathetic person and the book does briefly involve Tennyson from another series who I adore. This is a quickly paced story that wraps up in a satisfying conclusion. I did love the ending email as a tie in to another book. I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my voluntary opinion

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
A Fun Read!

As the follow up to Marlowe and Trip’s first book, this one is a fun read. I enjoyed seeing Trip force Marlowe to look at how he treated, and reacted to, Peyton as they worked through the haunting. Let’s face it, Marlowe isn’t the nicest guy, but just like in their first book, he’s willing to work on his reactions to make sure everyone is safe in the end.
It was also really fun to see the twist with Trip and his new ‘interest’ and I am looking forward to seeing more of this storyline. I always enjoy reading about couples that help each other grow and become better people and Trip and Marlowe definitely fit that bill.

[Anise · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your nemesis asks for help and you are still skeptical. Marlowe Bond has another case to solve.
Peyton West is attacked by a ghost. Marlowe is called and his boyfriend Trip decides to accompany him on this quest. This book has a interesting storyline and we also get to see Tennyson and Ronan again. I love this book. It was enjoyable to watch Trip and Marlowe grow in their relationship. I hope Peyton West is another character added to this series, he would be an equalizer to Marlowe's doubtful attitude still about ghosts. Read the end cause Ms. Pine is teasing again.

I received an ARC for my honest review.

[Dixiecowgirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghosts and mystery and a wonderful plot!! The story begins with Marlowe's biggest critic, Peyton, calling them for help. One wonders for a while, is it real or a well thought out hoax. The story-line was solid and the mystery kept me reading from cover to cover. I loved how the characters all grow and understand each other better as the story progresses. I so enjoyed seeing Trip help Marlowe to become a more insightful person and mend his interactions with Peyton.

This is book two of the Haunted series and is best read after reading the introduction book.

I was gifted this book from Gay Romance Reviews and i freely give my honest opinion and review.

[Cheryl Kaiser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pandora has created another successful spinoff series. This new series, for me, has breathed fresh air into her paranormal series'. I always love her world building and character development. Marlowe and Trip are a fantastic new couple, with a serious amount of imperfections. I'm excited to see how she works through their issues. This book brings enemies together to solve the mystery of a house haunting. I also appreciate how this couple doesn't completely rely on the "Scooby gang" to solve the mystery. I highly recommend this new series and can't wait for the next book in this my new series.

[Maitana C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was no what I was expecting at all!
At the beginning I thought maybe Peyton and Marlowe would end up together, and I was sad to think Trip would get pushed aside.
Then I was thinking I missed something in the description and it would end up being MMM.
As the book went on, I will say I was slightly disappointed that there was no developing love story, and it was an already established couple.
That being said, I loved the plot line, it was interesting and mysterious and I’m wondering if we will see more in this series following these characters.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marlowe and Trip are an interesting couple. I’m not sure really what Trip sees in Marlowe because he’s always calling him names and getting angry, frustrated or upset with him. I think they would honestly be better as just friends…however, I did enjoy the mystery and ghost hunting. Jordan couldn’t rest because he needed to control his wife even from the grave and they needed to stop him from harming a friend. I loved Trip’s ability to see things from a different perspective than Marlowe because M was always negative. Overall, I did enjoy this story.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild book that draws you in quickly and makes you wait as the plot thickens. Peyton is always trying to one up Marlowe but when he becomes haunted, he turns to Marlowe for help. Roped into the adventure is Trip, Marlowe’s boyfriend and a surprising partner that can see past old rivalries between the two to figure out what needs to be done. This story captivates and makes you look over your shoulder to see if there are any ghosts around. I really enjoyed the book and want to see how the series continues. Very good read and a ghostly look into the paranormal!

[Marruby Callaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Taking their act on the road

While relatively short, this is a solid follow up for Marlow and Trip, adding a (possibly) new recurring character for their circle, Peyton. It’s great seeing new aspects of their personalities while developing their relationship and facing a new possible haunting. I like how Trip is making progress against Marlow’s tendency towards automatic skepticism and being a jerk. The cameos by Tenn, Cope, and Jude are welcome. The twist involving Trip is interesting and I’m excited to see where that leads later on.

[Demetra Roussakis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 of this series and features Marlowe and Trip. The book starts with Marlowe on stage due to his success of debunking paranormal myths. When Peyton stands up and starts to tell his story, Marlowe basically called his a liar. Peyton told him that he will prove it true. Fast forward 2 years and Payton calls Marlowe as he was pushed down the stairs by a ghost. What follows is how they Get together to solve the mystery and how Trip learns something new about himself. Loved it.

I received a copy of this book for my review.

[Marsha L Respess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure about this story because both Marlowe and Peyton were assholes and I didn't think I could continue. But having Trip helped and when it was proven that Peyton was haunted by Jordan Finch and why he was doing it the story really took off. He was a horrifying ghost with a revenge planned against his wife that was diabolical and kind of like the movie the Invisible Man with Elizabeth Moss. The best part was when Trip spoke the spell that Cope gave him and it worked and now we can learn if Trip can be trained as a witch as he helps Marlowe with their investigations.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the paranormal investigative team of Marlowe and Trip. This book nicely balanced the suspense and mystery of exactly what if anything was real about Peyton's haunting with the development of Marlowe's and Trip's professional and romantic partnership. It is definitely an advantage to have read the first book in this series so you have the background on the main and supporting players and especially the relationship between Peyton and Marlowe. Very much hoping we get more with these characters.