The Spook's Mistake

Image credits: Goodreads

 One thing that I really enjoy about reading and, in particular, reading different types of books and genres is recognising signature patterns that emerge within the narrative structure. For example, in series, particularly children’s series, is usually around book 4 and then 5 where the overreaching arc of the story comes into play, fleshing out the world, providing trials for the characters, and generally making the story bigger, longer, and more exciting (hopefully). Such has been the case with the book 5 of The Wardstone Chronicles, which I read this week.

With the war, the ever-present threat of the dark, and now the Devil Himself ravaging the County, no one is safe; least of all Tom Ward, a spook’s apprentice, who happens to be of particular interest to the Old Nick. With the Devil’s threat to kill him or turn him looming over his head, Tom’s apprenticeship takes a turn when his master sends him to the north to train with another spook for a time, in the hope that a change in teacher will help to toughen him up fast. But Bill Arkwright proves to be as big a trial as that threatens Tom. Could the Spook have made a mistake?

Just like Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire, the ‘Big Bad’ has entered the narrative world and is here to stay, at lest for a while. The Spook’s Mistake is that book that’s set after the unthinkable has happened and now everyone is living in a world changed and threatened. For the heroes, this opens up a whole plethora of avenues in which they’ll have many smaller adventures and learn valuable lessons before the ultimate battle at the end. Never fight the ‘Big Bad’ head on, come up with a side quest that will somehow work to your advantage in the end: that’s the key rule that drives the books in a series that harbours one major villain, and you don’t get more villainous than the Devil Himself!

Image credit: Goodreads

The Spook’s Mistake not only allows the fictional world to get bigger with Tom travelling north and getting to see and learn new geographies as well as new breeds of witches and creatures of the dark, it’s the book where some of the character roles are reversed, enriching their own narrative journeys. 

This is also the book where some gasp-inducing truths are revealed and real, juicy plot twists come to light. Filled with action, adventure, and plenty of exciting horror, it’s another compelling chapter in an epic adventure series!

Author: Joseph Delaney, 2008

Published: Bodley Head, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, Great Britain. 

Chronicle: The Spook’s Mistake is the 5th book in Delaney’s The Wardstone Chronicles series.