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Joe Hooks #1
Lost Hours
On Father’s Day 1982, a twelve year old was blamed for the multiple stabbing death of his father. The boy had no memory of doing it. He was convicted of murder and sentenced to two years at a mental hospital. Twenty-three years later, now a private detective and a father, his son is the same age he was when he was accused of murder. This prompts Joseph Hooks to discover what really happened that day two decades ago. Did he kill his own father or did something else happen? As he searches for the truth, he must deal with an uncooperative Detroit police force, rekindle strained relationships with his siblings, protect his loved ones from the threats of a mystery stranger and live with the knowledge his estranged wife is sleeping with another man. Finding out the truth might prove deadly. Genre: Murder Mystery Thriller
302 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
544 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 22, 2009
Lost Hours was a fantastic book! I finished it in three days, and stayed up way later than I should have each night because I just couldn't put it down!
This novel is about a twelve year old boy who is accused of killing his father, for he is found standing over his body with a butcher knife. However, he doesn't remember doing anything! Twenty years later, he reopens the case to find out what really happened. But someone doesn't want him to find out!
Gaston writes with so much detail, you totally feel like you are watching a movie instead of reading a book. I could vivldly picture each character, scene, and facial expression, which I believe really adds to the novel itself. In fact, it really made me feel like I was inside the plot-- I was scared when the characters were scared, I felt rage when they did, and sometimes I wanted to just cry along with them!
The plot was intense and suspenseful, yet sentimental and heartfelt. There were plenty of twists in it-- I kept changing my mind as to who was to blame for the murder! In the end, you are left with quite an unexpected denouement that leaves you sad because you finished the book so quickly.
Wonderful job, Mr. Gaston-- I can't wait to read your other novels!
This novel is about a twelve year old boy who is accused of killing his father, for he is found standing over his body with a butcher knife. However, he doesn't remember doing anything! Twenty years later, he reopens the case to find out what really happened. But someone doesn't want him to find out!
Gaston writes with so much detail, you totally feel like you are watching a movie instead of reading a book. I could vivldly picture each character, scene, and facial expression, which I believe really adds to the novel itself. In fact, it really made me feel like I was inside the plot-- I was scared when the characters were scared, I felt rage when they did, and sometimes I wanted to just cry along with them!
The plot was intense and suspenseful, yet sentimental and heartfelt. There were plenty of twists in it-- I kept changing my mind as to who was to blame for the murder! In the end, you are left with quite an unexpected denouement that leaves you sad because you finished the book so quickly.
Wonderful job, Mr. Gaston-- I can't wait to read your other novels!
December 6, 2010
Lost Hours by D.K. Gaston is about a private detective name Joseph Hooks. Joseph is on a case that has haunted him for years. The murder of his father, that happened 23 years ago, of which 12 year old Joseph Hooks was accused of the crime. Hooks has no memory of killing his father. All he remembers is standing over his father's body with the knife in his hand. Joseph can not forget the murder. Joseph is determine to find his father's killer.
Reading this book you can feel the emotions as Joseph tries to solve his father's murder. You will be turning the pages quickly as the secrets unfolds. The characters were great.. You can feel the emotions of every character in this story. I loved the book cover fits the story perfectly.
This novel covers a lot of topics including murder, police corruption and sexual abuse. Lost Hours is a murder mystery that will leave you guessing until the end.
This book will be a great book club discussion. I recommend this book to all readers. I am usually not a murder mystery reader, but this the 3rd book of
author D. K. Gaston that I have truly enjoyed. Thank you Mr. Gaston for widening my reading.
Reading this book you can feel the emotions as Joseph tries to solve his father's murder. You will be turning the pages quickly as the secrets unfolds. The characters were great.. You can feel the emotions of every character in this story. I loved the book cover fits the story perfectly.
This novel covers a lot of topics including murder, police corruption and sexual abuse. Lost Hours is a murder mystery that will leave you guessing until the end.
This book will be a great book club discussion. I recommend this book to all readers. I am usually not a murder mystery reader, but this the 3rd book of
author D. K. Gaston that I have truly enjoyed. Thank you Mr. Gaston for widening my reading.
October 8, 2009
Not Your Average Joe
Lost Hours
DK Gaston
Joe Hooks, PI, has a life that really sucks right now. His wife, who was raped by one of Joe’s former clients, has left Joe, and is now dating her therapist.
The therapist Joe referred her to.
His son is in trouble at school, and people keep dropping like flies whenever Joe shows up asking questions. You see…Joe’s last name isn’t really Hooks; it’s Valentine. And twenty-three years ago Joe was accused of stabbing his physically abusive father to death. Although the crime was later ruled a justifiable homicide, Joe is now In Search Of…the titular twelve lost hours of his life when his father was murdered.
What should have been a straight forward investigation turns into a chaotic venture in which Joe seems to get the crap beat out of him almost as often as someone ends up dead. His family refuses to talk to him, his father’s ex-business partner renounces Joe rather publicly and his wife is madder than she should be. Plus: nobody’s story is really adding up. Let It Rest, is the message Joe gets everywhere he goes, but somehow Joe cannot. The ghost of his dead father urges Joe on, bidding him to Remember…Only Joe can’t seem to do that either. Why can’t he remember what happened and did he really, truly, actually murder his own father???
Lost Hours is a fast paced crime drama with a paranormal twist that never feels fake or forced. I honestly felt for Joe and everything he was going through. The writing flowed smoothly. Told in the first person, it had that quasi-intellectual flavor that stumbled in some spots, yet seemed like someone with Joe Valentine’s background might actually have. As a lover of televised crime dramas, I could easily picture many of the scenes played out in the text, and feel this would make an excellent movie. I was quickly caught up in Joe's drama, and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. And aside from a questionable comma placement or four, the text was remarkably error free until about three quarters of the way in, when a spate of typos made it seem as if perhaps those few pages had been overlooked by the editor. No matter; it couldn’t spoil the overall joy of not having to cringe through a less-than-stellar editing job in order to extract the story. Gaston’s writing shines here, and with the promise of another Joe Valentine tale taunting us from the ending, I can’t wait to see what Gaston cooks up next.
Lost Hours
DK Gaston
Joe Hooks, PI, has a life that really sucks right now. His wife, who was raped by one of Joe’s former clients, has left Joe, and is now dating her therapist.
The therapist Joe referred her to.
His son is in trouble at school, and people keep dropping like flies whenever Joe shows up asking questions. You see…Joe’s last name isn’t really Hooks; it’s Valentine. And twenty-three years ago Joe was accused of stabbing his physically abusive father to death. Although the crime was later ruled a justifiable homicide, Joe is now In Search Of…the titular twelve lost hours of his life when his father was murdered.
What should have been a straight forward investigation turns into a chaotic venture in which Joe seems to get the crap beat out of him almost as often as someone ends up dead. His family refuses to talk to him, his father’s ex-business partner renounces Joe rather publicly and his wife is madder than she should be. Plus: nobody’s story is really adding up. Let It Rest, is the message Joe gets everywhere he goes, but somehow Joe cannot. The ghost of his dead father urges Joe on, bidding him to Remember…Only Joe can’t seem to do that either. Why can’t he remember what happened and did he really, truly, actually murder his own father???
Lost Hours is a fast paced crime drama with a paranormal twist that never feels fake or forced. I honestly felt for Joe and everything he was going through. The writing flowed smoothly. Told in the first person, it had that quasi-intellectual flavor that stumbled in some spots, yet seemed like someone with Joe Valentine’s background might actually have. As a lover of televised crime dramas, I could easily picture many of the scenes played out in the text, and feel this would make an excellent movie. I was quickly caught up in Joe's drama, and couldn't wait to see what would happen next. And aside from a questionable comma placement or four, the text was remarkably error free until about three quarters of the way in, when a spate of typos made it seem as if perhaps those few pages had been overlooked by the editor. No matter; it couldn’t spoil the overall joy of not having to cringe through a less-than-stellar editing job in order to extract the story. Gaston’s writing shines here, and with the promise of another Joe Valentine tale taunting us from the ending, I can’t wait to see what Gaston cooks up next.
October 28, 2009
Lost Hours was a definite page turner. D.K. Gaston had a wonderful writing style that has been missing from some of the more recent mystery novels. If anything, I wish the book had been longer - giving the reader more information about the characters and the Valentine family. I had so many questions I wanted answered about each of them.
I won't say that the ending was a total surprise but it did complete the book. My only question for D.K. - will we see more of Joe (and Kool-Aid)?
Thanks for sharing your work with us!
I won't say that the ending was a total surprise but it did complete the book. My only question for D.K. - will we see more of Joe (and Kool-Aid)?
Thanks for sharing your work with us!
March 28, 2012
Private Detective Joe Hooks is on a case with a difference - trying to solve a murder he himself supposedly committed 23 years earlier! Whilst the clues point to him and everyone (even family and friends) thinks he is guilty, he has no recollection of the crime!
Joe must find out what actually happened on that faithful day even as powerful elements in the city are trying close him down and his investigation may put his life and that of his family at risk!
Another fantastic thriller from D. K. Gaston with plenty of action and suspense as well as a great plot!
Joe must find out what actually happened on that faithful day even as powerful elements in the city are trying close him down and his investigation may put his life and that of his family at risk!
Another fantastic thriller from D. K. Gaston with plenty of action and suspense as well as a great plot!
January 17, 2011
Hook is in search for answers that he isnt sure he can find. Being a private investigator he has solved many cases but not the one that matters most. Gaston does a great job, writing a humanistic character that people have no choice but to fall in love with. He has a great blend of suspense, mystery, and humor. This is a great author.
April 13, 2015
Lost Hours was my first read by Mr. Gaston. It certainly won't be my last. There was never had a dull moment from beginning to end. Det. Joe Valentine became real to me. I was able to root for him, even when he crossed the line. One of those ends justify the means type things.
Although I usually don't read or watch books that have any hint of visits from the other side, even the visits from his dad did not turn me. While we don't get to really know the other characters in depth, I didn't find this to b e a problem. There was enough information given to know why they made some decisions and behaved in certain ways.
I was gifted this book in the form of a pdf by Mr. Gaston as a winner in a contest. He asked for nothing in return, not even a review. This brings me to why I only gave four stars. There were several errors that were a bit distracting, and they were all the same: words being typed with no spaces. Example: wordsbeingtypedwithnospaces. It is highly possible that the paperback version does not have this problem, as I understand that formatting for an ebook is different. It was just enough to be bothersome, but didn't take away from the storyline. I'm off to find my next DK Gaston read.
Although I usually don't read or watch books that have any hint of visits from the other side, even the visits from his dad did not turn me. While we don't get to really know the other characters in depth, I didn't find this to b e a problem. There was enough information given to know why they made some decisions and behaved in certain ways.
I was gifted this book in the form of a pdf by Mr. Gaston as a winner in a contest. He asked for nothing in return, not even a review. This brings me to why I only gave four stars. There were several errors that were a bit distracting, and they were all the same: words being typed with no spaces. Example: wordsbeingtypedwithnospaces. It is highly possible that the paperback version does not have this problem, as I understand that formatting for an ebook is different. It was just enough to be bothersome, but didn't take away from the storyline. I'm off to find my next DK Gaston read.
May 26, 2010
Joseph Hooks keeps remembering the time when he committed murder. Now, he wants to put some twenty three year old questions to rest for good. His mind has blanked out those twelve hours leading up to the murder of his father. Subconsciously, who is he really protecting?
Joe has buried himself in his job as a private detective, causing a rift in his family. His wife wants a divorce and he’s disconnected from his son. Will discovering what happened during the lost hours of his life be the key that brings his family back together?
DK Gaston has created a story with believable characters that have credible traits. These are the type of characters that keep the reader interested and anxious for more. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Excellent job, DK!
Joe has buried himself in his job as a private detective, causing a rift in his family. His wife wants a divorce and he’s disconnected from his son. Will discovering what happened during the lost hours of his life be the key that brings his family back together?
DK Gaston has created a story with believable characters that have credible traits. These are the type of characters that keep the reader interested and anxious for more. I really enjoyed reading this book.
Excellent job, DK!
October 7, 2013
This is the second book I have read from Mr. Gaston and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The twist and turns of trying to guess who did it will leave you wanting more. The story flowed and you can easily relate to the characters. My favorite is his best friend Kool-Aid. Every books needs that supporting character and Kool-Aid is that person. If you are seeking a different kind of read, then differently check this book out.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews