In "A Phantom in the Flames" by Willis Downe, readers are transported to a haunting world devastated by a deadly pandemic. Travelling from war torn East Africa to the hills of central and southern New York, the story revolves around Baldwin, recounting two tumultuous periods in his life. As the plague forces the new world war to grind to a halt, Baldwin must navigate through a desert filled with bodies during the third wave of the outbreak, trying to get home with his humanity intact. Many years later he lives a solitary life in a hollowed-out world, still reeling from the one two punch of war and the seemingly never-ending plague. This existence is interrupted by vile forces that push the old soldier back into action. Downe's writing skillfully combines vivid descriptions with character interactions, painting a harrowing picture of a post-apocalyptic world where survival is both physical and emotional. Filled with suspense and determination, the story takes readers on a thrilling journey through a ravaged landscape.