John Hallock is described as a tall, thin man with a receding hairline. He wears glasses and is often seen smoking a cigarette.

• Intelligent- John is a successful writer who is able to come up with creative ideas for his stories.


• Skeptical- He is initially hesitant to believe that he can communicate with ghosts, even when he is presented with evidence.


• Courageous- John is willing to confront the ghosts and solve the mystery of their unfinished business.


• Sarcastic- He often uses humor and sarcasm to cope with stressful situations.

John is married to his wife, Margaret, who is supportive of his writing career. He also has a professional relationship with his editor, Mr. Jenkins, who is eager for John to finish his latest story.


John's main motivation is to succeed as a writer and produce the best possible stories. He is willing to take risks and go out of his comfort zone in order to achieve this goal.


Throughout the story, John evolves from a skeptical writer to a believer in the supernatural. He initially dismisses the idea that he can communicate with ghosts, but as he becomes more involved in the mystery, he opens himself up to the possibility. By the end of the story, John is confident in his abilities and uses them to help the ghosts find peace.

Overall, John Hallock is a complex character who is driven by his passion for writing and his desire to succeed. He is intelligent, skeptical, courageous, and sarcastic, and his development throughout the story is an important part of the plot.

Mr. Hallock is a middle class bookkeeper who works for a lumber company. He has a wife named Lavinia who is dominating and a shopaholic. She likes to buy unnecessary stuff which is the reason of her husbands stress. Apart from the regular job which helps him to meet his daily needs including his wife's purchasing expenses, Mr. Hallock is also a writing enthusiast who likes to write ghost stories. There is a magazine owned by Mr. Jenkins who regularly pinches Mr. Hallock for some exciting scary plots. John cannot say a no as this was the only magazine that used to print his work and supported his meager income.