The Spook's Apprentice - Joseph Delaney

'The Spook's trained many, but precious few completed their time,' Mam said, 'and those that did aren't a patch on him. They're flawed or weak or cowardly. They walk a twisted path taking money for accomplishing little. So there's only you left now, son. You're the last chance. The last hope. Someone has to do it. Someone has to stand against the dark. And you're the only one who can.'

Thomas Ward is the seventh son of a seventh son and has been apprenticed to the local Spook - a revered being whose calling is to rid the world of evil spirits. The job is hard, the Spook is distant and many apprentices have failed before Thomas. Somehow he must learn how to exorcise ghosts, contain witches and bind boggarts. But when he is tricked into freeing Mother Malkin, the most evil witch in the county, the horror begins . . . The first book in an exciting, terrifying new series about a young boy training to be an exorcist.

Interesting.....
Joseph Delaney lives in Lancashire with his wife, and has three children and four grandchildren. His home is in the middle of Boggart territory and his village has a boggart called The Hall Knocker, which was laid to rest under the step of a house near the church. Believe it or not, the haunted house in The Spook's Apprentice is based on fact! As a child, Joseph lived in a similar house in Preston where he had a recurrent nightmare. In the dream he'd be sitting on a carpet in the front room whilst his mother was knitting. Then, everything would become cold and a shadow-thing would come up from the coal cellar, pick him up and carry him back towards the dark. What's even more spooky.....his brother had the same nightmare! The house has now been pulled down so he can never go back. (David Wyatt)