Old Flames

A Contemporary Welsh Ghost Story

Modern day lovers are manipulated by the ghosts of the doomed previous inhabitants of an isolated Welsh cottage. As history repeats itself, they must fight to avoid meeting the same tragic fate.

Carole takes her dying father back to his home village in the mountains of mid Wales, for a last holiday. He remembers the open fields and Welsh community of his youth, but returns to a place now forested where the Welsh language is dying. The old man is haunted by the ghost of Ifan, a puritanical sea captain, a malignant force who plays a part in his death.

Following her father's death, Carole uses her inheritance to buy a remote traditional cottage outside the village, which was once Ifan's home. The cottage has a bad history; the previous owner, Mr. Phillips killed himself there.

Carole's boyfriend Peter is shocked by the state of the cottage. During their first night at the cottage, Carole and Peter are possessed by the ghosts of the former inhabitants – the violent Ifan and his wife Mari, the local white witch.

Peter returns to London and under Ifan's malignant influence and his life goes to hell.

Carole stays at the cottage and under Mari's influence seduces a local boy Geraint as Mari had seduced a young lad when Ifan was away at sea.

History repeats itself as Peter plots the death of his unfaithful partner as Ifan and Mr. Phillips have done in the past.

Carole realises that she is being haunted and sets about solving the mystery of the cottage. But will she be able to avert history repeating itself once more?

“If you can't shake off your ghosts, you're dead too”.

Artwork Credits:

Cover Art by Chris Crow

Map Art by Sophia Wulf

Old Flames 2: Lockdown

Trapped in a Valley of Ghosts

Old Flames 2: Lockdown continues the story of the haunted cottage of Pantyfedwen, in the forested valley of Cwm Celyn in the West Wales uplands.

The haunting of the summer of 2019 almost took Carole’s life, and that of her boyfriend Peter and young lover Geraint, all three being possessed by the ghosts of the cottage.

But Pantyfedwen has not given up all of its dead: The removal of the ghosts of Ifan, Mari and Owain only opens the door to a new generation of ghosts at the cottage to emerge.

Spring 2020 arrives and ushers in not only a new decade, but a new world: the Covid pandemic locks down the world. Carole has returned to Pantyfedwen but finds that she is herself seriously ill, having caught Covid in London.

Carole is not alone in coming to this haunted valley of Cwm Celyn. Geraint has returned early from university, and Dom, who owns a holiday home in the village has also run there. Geraint is as much in love with Carole as he was the previous summer. Dom is a man with marital problems, and his own history of violence.

Pantyfedwen is now haunted by John Phillips and his murdered wife, Rachel, and lover, Richard. The ghosts’ influence on Carole, Geraint and Dom increases as Calan Mai approaches, otherwise known as May Eve or Beltane, the night of the year when the barriers between the living and the dead are at their thinnest. The ghosts are set to relive their deaths at Pantyfedwen and take the living with them.

Old Flames 2: Lockdown will be published as an E-Book in May 2026, and will be exclusive to Amazon for three months. During this time, customers of Kindle Unlimited will be able to read the book for free.

A Welsh Ghost Landscape

The Historical Background to Old Flames

The inspiration for Old Flames comes from my hunting for locations for a historical TV drama series, set in West Wales.

I found a farmhouse near Carmarthen which was a perfect filming location, except that it was haunted. This was my first encounter with an angry ghost.

I also found locations in Talley, where

large tracts of land are forestry plantations. I discovered numerous farms under what is now a shroud of trees.

A community and ancient landscape buried beneath the trees forever.

According to UK government figures for 2025, 15% of the surface of Wales is forested in this way.

Welsh communities are also buried beneath reservoirs, for example in Tryweryn, from which the village of Capel Celyn in Old Flames takes its name.

Old Flames 2: Lockdown continues the story set in the hinterlands of West Wales.

5* Reviews for Old Flames

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

A fascinating setting which fits the ghost story well - there's a sense of sadness in those ancient areas of Wales now lost to the modern world. All in all, highly recommended if you like your horror spooky rather than soaked in blood and gore...

Hoopwards on Amazon

"Engrossing Read"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

Another great read from this author. Well paced and fascinating from beginning to end. The setting is atmospheric and the reader is drawn further in by the characters, which are well rounded. Definitely worth reading again and again to appreciate all the references and nuances.

Hevvy on Amazon

"A mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"A mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story"

Wow! I read this book in one sitting. It is very detailed. The author writes so well about the different characters that stretch from past to present in this mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story. Can't wait to read more of his books!

Joan, Dublin. Bookbaby

"Most Enjoyable"

"Highly Recommended"

"A mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story"

Thoroughly enjoyed

Joan Byrne on Amazon

"Highly Recommended"

Intriguing story which moves from London into a well drawn out evocative remote Welsh setting

Gary on Amazon

"Welsh Scary Story"

"Highly Recommended"

Amazing book with brilliant story of old meets new. I really enjoyed how the Welsh country was described in so much detail that I could really imagine the setting. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a bit of a scary story with folklore stories in Wales. Amazon Customer

How to Purchase Old Flames

Purchasing Old Flames in Paperback

Old Flames can be purchased as a paperback directly from our web-store.

The Books Council of Wales are distributing Old Flames as direct sales and supplying bookshops and outlets in Wales. Ask your local bookshop for a copy or order directly here:

Old Flames is available as an e-book from Ffolio here

Purchasing Old Flames as an E-book

Old Flames is available to purchase as an E-Book, in all e-book formats.

Search your regular e-book supplier by author and title.

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For all e-Book Formats including for iPad, Kindle, Nook etc go to our Book Baby Page: and scroll down for links to all Garland Stone titles.

Old Flames can be found here.

In Kindle Format From Amazon

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Learn More about this book

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Contemporary Horror Novels With An Ancient Heritage

Old Flames

A Contemporary Welsh Ghost Story

Old Flames 2: Lockdown

Trapped in a Valley of Ghosts

A Welsh Ghost Landscape

The Historical Background to Old Flames

5* Reviews for Old Flames

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"Engrossing Read"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"A mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story"

"Spooky Ghost Story Reminiscent of James Herbert"

"A mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story"

"Most Enjoyable"

"Highly Recommended"

"A mysterious, heart fluttering, chilling story"

"Highly Recommended"

"Highly Recommended"

"Highly Recommended"

"Welsh Scary Story"

"Highly Recommended"

"Highly Recommended"

How to Purchase Old Flames

Purchasing Old Flames in Paperback

Purchasing Old Flames as an E-book

All Formats From Bookbaby

In Kindle Format From Amazon

Learn More about this book

Purchasing and Reading Old Flames 2

Purchasing Old Flames 2: Lockdown as an E-Book

Learn More About this Book

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