Voice in the Flames

By Author / Illustrator

Mike Edwards

Genre

Adventure

Age range(s)

Publisher

Walker Books

ISBN

9781529524000

Format

Paperback / softback

Published

04-06-2026

Synopsis

"I am the works. I've been there an age. I wus there when they burnt strong. I made it so."

Jack wishes life could be how it used to be when his dad was around, working at the old steelworks. Now Dad is gone and the works are closed, towering silent and forbidding over the rundown estate.

Then Jack stumbles upon Sal: a spindly old man with candles in his hair ... who asks Jack to set him alight. Sal claims to be a spirit of the old works, who needs Jack's help to bring it back to its former glory. Jack is drawn to the man's promises and the hope it holds for his whole family. But at what price?

Praise for Riverskin, Mike Edwards' earlier novel: "Shaped by Teesside dialect and filled with punchy, poetic coinages, this atmospheric debut brings local legend into the everyday." Guardian. "Bold, daring and memorable." Phil Earle. "The atmosphere lingers long after the last page." The Times Children's Book of the Week. "The Little Mermaid meets Skellig but with discarded shopping trolleys and techno." The Times.

Download Extract

Reviews

Donna

Voice in the Flames by Mike Edwards is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller that blends mystery, history and the supernatural into a compelling story of friendship, loss and hope.

Jack is still struggling to come to terms with the death of his father and the closure of Easton's steelworks, once the beating heart of the town and the place where his dad worked. When he discovers a mysterious man named Sal living within the abandoned furnace site, Jack's attempt to help him sets in motion a chain of events that unleashes a powerful force beyond anyone's control. Faced with an escalating threat, Jack must find a way to save both his town and Sal before it is too late.

Readers who enjoyed Skellig by David Almond will find much to love in this atmospheric and thought-provoking novel. Edwards expertly weaves together mystery and reality, intertwining the past, present and future in a story that keeps readers turning the pages, eager to discover what happens next. The connections between Jack, his father, the steelworks and the origins of Easton flow throughout the narrative like molten metal, creating a vivid sense of place and history.

Told through a first-person narrative, the story is deeply engaging as readers experience events through Jack's eyes. Edwards captures the thoughts, fears, dreams and sadness of a young boy with authenticity and sensitivity, making Jack an instantly relatable protagonist.

As the danger grows, the tension steadily builds, creating moments of genuine fear and suspense. Sal is a particularly memorable character; Edwards' portrayal of him is rich in imagery, constantly evoking the fire that smoulders within him.

At its heart, Voice in the Flames is a story about friendship, connection, resilience and hope. I would highly recommend this book to readers aged 9–13 who enjoy mystery, adventure and supernatural stories, particularly fans of David Almond and Ross Montgomery.

272 pages / Reviewed by Donna Burkert, teacher