First published by Macmillan in 1972 Voices In The Dark is the autobiography of leslie flint, a medium who, if most mediums have a direct line to the spirit world, he had a web-page. Describing his early difficult years as a child and uniformed and uneducated psychic, Leslie recalls his first link with the spirit world in which he saw his aunt’s “dead” husband. Describing the man to his Gran Leslie received a good clout for his efforts. Not long after he described a “dead” neighbour… and again was clouted! Not exactly the sort of behaviour to make you pursue a life in mediumship, but nevertheless, and despite his poverish surroundings, Leslie Flint was destined to leave his mark upon the spiritualist movement. Astonishing evidence of survival after comes from the man who lists his previous occupations as grave digger, grate cleaner, casual labourer at a pub, cinema and men’s outfitters, dancer and bomb disposal officer- And who also originally held the view that “death was a pretty final event”.

Voices in the dark is an amazingly addictive read, full of superbly written snatches from Flint’s life. Doreen Montgomery pens this script with such style that no matter how sceptical you may be about the subject of life after death, you will still be captivated by Flint’s extraordinary life. A charming incident occurred when Leslie was invited to America for the first time. Having never been out of the country before Leslie sought advice from his friend Father Sharp on how best to fill in a passport, and how to get to the U.S.A on a small budget. “The Queen Mary was still beautiful but years of war time trooping had left her shabby and down at heel, a tired and aging lady badly in need of a face lift.” Flint tells us. “We were three in a small cabin and I did not need to be a psychic to sense the hatred between the two other men. One was a German the other was Polish Jew, and neither spoke the language of the other nor English. None-communication in that cabin was total except for the implacable loathing that filled it like a live and malevolent thing.

During the five days of the voyage I wondered what personal tragedy each man might have left behind him in the post-war chaos of his country, which could have bred such malignance. “One morning after we had been at sea for a couple of days a steward knocked and entered the cabin before I had had the time to escape from the oppressive miasma surrounding my room mates into the fresh air on deck. ‘The captain presents his compliments to you. Mr Flint,’ began the steward politely, ‘he wonders if you would be good enough to take Holy Communion Service on Sunday at eleven?’ The notion that such an august personage as the captain should know I even existed was dumb founding enough let alone his curious request, and I suppose I stood stupid and open-mouthed, trying to work it out. ‘You are down on the passenger list as a minister of religion,’ said the Steward with a patient sigh, ‘will you take the service?’ ‘Of course not!’ I blurted out. ‘I’m not that kind of minister at all!’ The Steward heaved a bigger even more patient sigh and left, clearly wondering what kind nut I was. I wondered why I had listened to Father Sharp when he had instructed me how to fill in my application for my first passport.”


Doreen Montgomery has written a classic. Not many autobiographical read are this honest or well written. As Aubrey Rose tells us in her foreword to the book: “Leslie Flint displayed a rare dedication to his calling as a significant avenue linking two worlds. With this new edition of his story, we salute him as one of the most outstanding mediums and dedicated servants of the twentieth century.” Highly recommended.  

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