Evil melts like wax at the hands of the Candle Man. Theo Wickland lives a life of isolation - he has only ever known three people: his butler, the maid and his guardian. He has always been told this is for his own good because he is dangerous to other people. Indeed, he wears gloves at all times and has daily, intensely painful treatment in the 'Mercy Tube'. But one birthday, during his annual trip to the graveyard, Theo finds a small package addressed to him. A secret message inside it, and a visit from two burglars that proves fatal to one of them, are the catalysts for Theo to discover his deadly powers and strange inheritance. He is the descendent of the Candle Man, a Victorian crime fighter with a dark side. One touch from him and criminals melt to death. Two societies are hunting for him: one that will protect and help him and one that wants to harness his power for evil. Can Theo escape his guardian's clutches, and stop his destructive plan? And will he learn how to deal with the sometimes terrifying and confusing real world?