BATH — Lynda Styles has always loved a good, scary story. Born and raised in Salem, Mass., she never had to search far for dark influences to spark her imagination. Using what she knows and loves about her home town, Styles has crafted her debut novel, “On Gallows Hill,” set in contemporary Salem.

According to a news release, “On Gallows Hill” is the story of 17-year-old Katelyn King, who never speaks at school, and everyone has finally stopped talking to her. They call her The Mute, but what they don’t realize is Katelyn can see ghosts and is a psychic-medium.

Struggling with being abandoned by her over-religious mother, Katelyn fears her father will learn her secret and leave her, too. Then, Katelyn is visited by the ghosts of Salem’s dark past, and she realizes she has no choice but to get over her fears and learn how to help them find peace.

When Katelyn is paired on a history project with two popular girls she wonders how long she can hide what she sees without looking completely crazy. It doesn’t take long before she sees that her secret can’t be kept forever.

“On Gallows Hill” is available on Amazon Kindle and on Kobo. It should be available on Barnes & Noble Nook and all e-readers by today and in print by spring, Styles said in a news release.

Styles lives in Bath with her husband and two young children and has worked as a teacher for several years, writing whenever there was time.

For more information, visit www.lyndastyles.com.