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THE HOOK: Surfing to Survive a Shattered Family, Drugs, Gangs and the FBI
THE HOOK: After three years away, Dana, a globe-trotting journalist, reluctantly returns to her foggy coastal hometown, Half Moon Bay. She’s been running away all of her adult life, from the mental illness and chaos that defined her childhood. Now her junkie brother, a former surf star, is tangled up with a brutal meth dealer and he’s in the hospital.
Dana and Shane bonded over surfing as teenagers, frequenting local breaks, including THE HOOK, to escape their violent and damaged family. Dana’s father and brother walked away from Shane years ago, unwilling to deal with his volatility and drug use. But she just won’t give up on him.
As Dana turns to her friends and the tight-knit surfing community for help she confronts her brother’s illegal activities and nearly homeless existence. But that’s just the beginning … a drug kingpin is chasing Shane and then Dana, the FBI are involved, a gang war is building, and a new family crisis is brewing. Meanwhile Dana’s gut-wrenching and frightening journey forces her to face her ruinous childhood, her inability to sustain relationships and her struggle to move on with her life.
Dana and Shane bonded over surfing as teenagers, frequenting local breaks, including THE HOOK, to escape their violent and damaged family. Dana’s father and brother walked away from Shane years ago, unwilling to deal with his volatility and drug use. But she just won’t give up on him.
As Dana turns to her friends and the tight-knit surfing community for help she confronts her brother’s illegal activities and nearly homeless existence. But that’s just the beginning … a drug kingpin is chasing Shane and then Dana, the FBI are involved, a gang war is building, and a new family crisis is brewing. Meanwhile Dana’s gut-wrenching and frightening journey forces her to face her ruinous childhood, her inability to sustain relationships and her struggle to move on with her life.
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Published March 8, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 27, 2017
If you love water sports then you will love this novel. However you don't need to love any water sports to get into in this brilliant story. Everything is in this novel to love fiction, action and a thriller. Surfer Shane is in trouble again at his friends Craig's house, he's been on a serious binge of drugs, pot, coke and Meth. Craig was Shane's first surfing buddy. They started riding the wave together at thirteen. There is an annual wave sailing contest where the currents are treacherous. wonderful scenes and dialogue make you feel that you are really there riding the waves. Dana confronts her brother about his illegal activities. A gang is chasing Shane and the FBI are involved. Will Shane be a person of interest to the FBI? The author knows a lot about surfing, she owns a wardrobe of wetsuits.
February 18, 2019
“The Hook” is a mesmerizing read. Smart, athletic, but vulnerable female lead. Heart-wrenching tangled family issues, including a brother’s scary path down the dark corridors of addiction and crime. Unexpected and delightful love story. And an insider’s view of surfing, written with enough precision and passion that even a non-surfer can enjoy the ride. A beach read, but in a totally different and exciting sense.
Doler can write, too: “L.A. winds are weak; perhaps they’ve developed emphysema from the smog.” When she returns home, the main character observes: “My hometown is a familiar old shoe; it hasn’t yet begun to rub and blister me.” Whenever she’s exhausted from the turmoil of the main story, Dylan heads for the surf, where sometimes the water is “the silver pink of a prom dress.”
Doler can write, too: “L.A. winds are weak; perhaps they’ve developed emphysema from the smog.” When she returns home, the main character observes: “My hometown is a familiar old shoe; it hasn’t yet begun to rub and blister me.” Whenever she’s exhausted from the turmoil of the main story, Dylan heads for the surf, where sometimes the water is “the silver pink of a prom dress.”
March 14, 2017
This is a terrific debut novel about the "strong sister" who returns home to rescue a brother who has fallen into a spiral of addiction and despair. The narrator's attempts to get answers lead her down the rabbit hole of the past, even as she's uncovering the near and present dangers of the present. What I especially loved about this book was the author's ability to characterize the California coastal community of Half Moon Bay and the working class people and surfers who live there. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has a loved one lost to addiction. I found that I really cared about these people. Dana, the narrator, was strong and compassionate and vulnerable, and I was really rooting for her to win.
May 6, 2019
Dana McCarren (35, globe-trotting journalist, UC San Diego) had returned home for a brief visit.
Shane was the subject matter with her dad.
Drugs/alcohol, trouble with the law, & in/out rehab.
Surfing was once both of their lives.
Dana’s next stop is to visit Dylan (husband/father, brother, lawyer), & Maria (wife/mother, ICU Nurse).
Shane is in the hospital with a broken arm & more medical problems.
What did Todd (surfer) reveal to Dana & Craig (draftsman, SF, CA, surfer)?
Daly City. Club Forest Glen. Shane has been admitted for rehab again.
FBI SA Stokes came to speak with the family about Shane.
Half Moon Bay. Dana went to see FBI SA Stokes.
San Francisco, CA. Dana met her new boss Drew Upton (World Business Report editor), news editor, Jason (WBR news editor), Tom (40, Chinese, WBR tech chief), & Nancy (WBR HR mgr.).
Dana will be the Sr. economics editor.
QuickShop (Seabird/Highway #1). 3 officers have killed Anton Krause (Ling’s enforcer, surfer, The Hook) & detained Dana who is safe for now.
She was taken to the Community Hospital ER/ICU.
Larry (bodyguard) makes sure she stays safe.
C.J. (Rayan’s gay partner), Rayan (48, married gay, vegan, music nerd) welcome Dana & Wayne (Dana’s lover) home.
Will Shane ever come clean?
Will Noi “Ling” Krungbakorn (Thailand, drug dealer) ever be taken down?
What about Dana?
Warning: This book contains adult content, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written family drama book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great family drama movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Sea Spray Publishing; EBookDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
Shane was the subject matter with her dad.
Drugs/alcohol, trouble with the law, & in/out rehab.
Surfing was once both of their lives.
Dana’s next stop is to visit Dylan (husband/father, brother, lawyer), & Maria (wife/mother, ICU Nurse).
Shane is in the hospital with a broken arm & more medical problems.
What did Todd (surfer) reveal to Dana & Craig (draftsman, SF, CA, surfer)?
Daly City. Club Forest Glen. Shane has been admitted for rehab again.
FBI SA Stokes came to speak with the family about Shane.
Half Moon Bay. Dana went to see FBI SA Stokes.
San Francisco, CA. Dana met her new boss Drew Upton (World Business Report editor), news editor, Jason (WBR news editor), Tom (40, Chinese, WBR tech chief), & Nancy (WBR HR mgr.).
Dana will be the Sr. economics editor.
QuickShop (Seabird/Highway #1). 3 officers have killed Anton Krause (Ling’s enforcer, surfer, The Hook) & detained Dana who is safe for now.
She was taken to the Community Hospital ER/ICU.
Larry (bodyguard) makes sure she stays safe.
C.J. (Rayan’s gay partner), Rayan (48, married gay, vegan, music nerd) welcome Dana & Wayne (Dana’s lover) home.
Will Shane ever come clean?
Will Noi “Ling” Krungbakorn (Thailand, drug dealer) ever be taken down?
What about Dana?
Warning: This book contains adult content, which is only suitable for mature readers. It may be offensive or have potential adverse psychological effects on the reader.
I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.
A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written family drama book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a large set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great family drama movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.
Thank you for the free author; Sea Spray Publishing; EBookDaily; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons (Washburn; MSW)
March 7, 2017
Reading a book from a new author is sort of like a box of chocolates, to quote Forrest Gump. You never know what you're going to get. Sometimes the story is great, but the writing is poor. Other times the writing is great, but the story is lame. But every once in a while, you get a pleasant surprise...
The Hook is one of these pleasant surprises. The writing is wonderful and the story is intriguing. The plot twists and turns and always left me wondering how it is all going to end. The main characters are well developed and was easy for me to identify with them, especially Dana. My favorites where the surfing scenes, though. I'm not a surfer myself, but I love the surf culture and the ocean. Doler did a great job describing what it is like to surf, the sights and sounds of the ocean and the waves. If you're into fast paced thrillers, coastal settings, and surfing, I highly recommend giving The Hook a try.
The Hook is one of these pleasant surprises. The writing is wonderful and the story is intriguing. The plot twists and turns and always left me wondering how it is all going to end. The main characters are well developed and was easy for me to identify with them, especially Dana. My favorites where the surfing scenes, though. I'm not a surfer myself, but I love the surf culture and the ocean. Doler did a great job describing what it is like to surf, the sights and sounds of the ocean and the waves. If you're into fast paced thrillers, coastal settings, and surfing, I highly recommend giving The Hook a try.
June 14, 2017
A Real Life Adventure
Dana has a life, dysfunctional as it is, she lives to be free of problems. One problem she can never escape is her older brother Shane and the destruction he leaves in his wake.
The Hook is a story of real life. It deals with the cost of family and the will it takes to deal with them at times. The story is well written and has an almost biographical feel to it.
I don't get into the surfing scene and that was probably the hardest part of the book for me to get through, but saying that, the author painted what I assume to be a real representation of that life, almost like she lives it, she might I don't know.
If you enjoy stories with depth and family that feels real, this is a definite must read.
Dana has a life, dysfunctional as it is, she lives to be free of problems. One problem she can never escape is her older brother Shane and the destruction he leaves in his wake.
The Hook is a story of real life. It deals with the cost of family and the will it takes to deal with them at times. The story is well written and has an almost biographical feel to it.
I don't get into the surfing scene and that was probably the hardest part of the book for me to get through, but saying that, the author painted what I assume to be a real representation of that life, almost like she lives it, she might I don't know.
If you enjoy stories with depth and family that feels real, this is a definite must read.
March 21, 2017
I am new to Kathleen Doler's writing. Mystery. Thriller. Suspense. Love and Loss. I was so honored to read her 1st book, I truly can not wait to see what else she will write in the future. So gripping at times. I was asked to read this book for an honest review. Well done. Congrats & Good Luck in your future Kathleen!!
July 28, 2020
Local story by a local author. She attended our book club to discuss it! fascinating author and story!
March 15, 2017
I just finished reading The Hook by Kathleen Doler. I tend to judge books by how much I look forward to free time to continue reading. I will say, I couldn't wait to get back to reading The Hook every chance I had. Doler pretty much nailed the crime fiction genre. It was just suspenseful enough and whenever I thought I knew which direction she was going, I quickly realized I was wrong. Anyone can identify with the dynamics and drama of family. We all have something, some more than others. You feel the love, the hate, the frustrations, the desperation and the frustration surrounding.
Also to note are the beautiful surf/diving/wind surfing montages. I am a 100% land dweller with a fascination and simultaneous fear of the ocean. I admit the scenes got my adrenaline going. It is evident Doler is an expert in the sport and culture. If you are looking for a new author to try, I would recommend checking out The Hook by Kathleen Doler. Download The Hook now.
Also to note are the beautiful surf/diving/wind surfing montages. I am a 100% land dweller with a fascination and simultaneous fear of the ocean. I admit the scenes got my adrenaline going. It is evident Doler is an expert in the sport and culture. If you are looking for a new author to try, I would recommend checking out The Hook by Kathleen Doler. Download The Hook now.
March 15, 2017
I just finished reading The Hook by Kathleen Doler. I tend to judge books by how much I look forward to free time to continue reading. I will say, I couldn't wait to get back to reading The Hook every chance I had. Doler pretty much nailed the crime fiction genre. It was just suspenseful enough and whenever I thought I knew which direction she was going, I quickly realized I was wrong. Anyone can identify with the dynamics and drama of family. We all have something, some more than others. You feel the love, the hate, the frustrations, the desperation and the frustration surrounding.
Also to note are the beautiful surf/diving/wind surfing montages. I am 100% a land dweller with a fascination and simultaneous fear of the ocean. I admit the scenes got my adrenaline going. It is evident Doler is an expert in the sport and culture. If you are looking for a new author to try, I would recommend checking out The Hook by Kathleen Doler. Download The Hook now.
Also to note are the beautiful surf/diving/wind surfing montages. I am 100% a land dweller with a fascination and simultaneous fear of the ocean. I admit the scenes got my adrenaline going. It is evident Doler is an expert in the sport and culture. If you are looking for a new author to try, I would recommend checking out The Hook by Kathleen Doler. Download The Hook now.
April 6, 2018
My move…has me looking forward, but am I strong enough to look back too?
This crime fiction thriller is the most compelling and well-written book I have read in the past few years and I have read hundreds of books in that span. Written in the present tense and told in the first-person by Dana, her story will grab you and mesmerize you while you are reading it and then give you plenty to think about once you have finished.
Dana is a California girl, thirty-five years old, a respected journalist and a world traveler. We meet Dana as she drives to her hometown Half-Moon Bay. Dana is on another Shane mission. She and her brother Shane share a passion for surfing and a painful past. Dana reflects that when her brother surfs he dances across the water. Life works for him in the ocean. But sometimes to Dana he seems more like a wild Tarzan as he battles the inner demons of drug addiction. Can Dana rescue him from a serious situation involving major drug king-pins?
As Dana settles into Half Moon Bay she rebonds with her troubled family and with loving friends who have supported her and her brother in the past. The author engages us with the exciting elements of the present as Dana seeks to save Shane, mixed with flashbacks to her earlier life and scenes from her professional life and personal life that take us from Baja to Switzerland. Dana’s story is well-plotted and captivating and fresh and creative phrases give this book a lyrical and literary feel as well. I do some of my best mental masticating while running.
I enjoyed reading this book and I also enjoyed thinking about it.
The book blurb states that Dana has been running away her whole life from her chaotic childhood. But I’m not sure Dana was running, rather she was following the advice to “put your own oxygen mask on first.” To me, Dana was dealing with her own life first so she could then come to the assistance of others in her family.
The book gives us many details and scenes about surfing. I don’t know much about surfing- but learning about it fascinated me. I also found it interesting that some people are courageous enough to battle surf and sharks, which would terrify me, but aren’t able to handle the twists and turns of their own lives.
The book ends with Dana settling in to a new life with a solid man, Wayne. As Dana hangs family photos, she thinks, two of the pictures are still askew. I leave them be. The book ends on a positive note, but not a final note. We don’t know the future of Dana, her new partner, her brother, and her family but we do know that Dana is at peace at this point. Highly recommend.
This crime fiction thriller is the most compelling and well-written book I have read in the past few years and I have read hundreds of books in that span. Written in the present tense and told in the first-person by Dana, her story will grab you and mesmerize you while you are reading it and then give you plenty to think about once you have finished.
Dana is a California girl, thirty-five years old, a respected journalist and a world traveler. We meet Dana as she drives to her hometown Half-Moon Bay. Dana is on another Shane mission. She and her brother Shane share a passion for surfing and a painful past. Dana reflects that when her brother surfs he dances across the water. Life works for him in the ocean. But sometimes to Dana he seems more like a wild Tarzan as he battles the inner demons of drug addiction. Can Dana rescue him from a serious situation involving major drug king-pins?
As Dana settles into Half Moon Bay she rebonds with her troubled family and with loving friends who have supported her and her brother in the past. The author engages us with the exciting elements of the present as Dana seeks to save Shane, mixed with flashbacks to her earlier life and scenes from her professional life and personal life that take us from Baja to Switzerland. Dana’s story is well-plotted and captivating and fresh and creative phrases give this book a lyrical and literary feel as well. I do some of my best mental masticating while running.
I enjoyed reading this book and I also enjoyed thinking about it.
The book blurb states that Dana has been running away her whole life from her chaotic childhood. But I’m not sure Dana was running, rather she was following the advice to “put your own oxygen mask on first.” To me, Dana was dealing with her own life first so she could then come to the assistance of others in her family.
The book gives us many details and scenes about surfing. I don’t know much about surfing- but learning about it fascinated me. I also found it interesting that some people are courageous enough to battle surf and sharks, which would terrify me, but aren’t able to handle the twists and turns of their own lives.
The book ends with Dana settling in to a new life with a solid man, Wayne. As Dana hangs family photos, she thinks, two of the pictures are still askew. I leave them be. The book ends on a positive note, but not a final note. We don’t know the future of Dana, her new partner, her brother, and her family but we do know that Dana is at peace at this point. Highly recommend.
April 18, 2017
This book certainly lives up to its title; I was hooked from the first page! It begins with a graphic description of being caught under the water as a wave breaks and the lead character, Dana, is not the only one holding her breath.
The descriptions of surfing and being in the water can only have been written by someone with first-hand experience - I could feel the spray from the breaking waves on my face and the tension and exhilaration of being in the ocean as I flicked to a new page on my Kindle.
But this isn’t all the story is about. The surfing angle adds an extra dimension to what is, in essence, a thriller. A rather good thriller with proper villains and characters who you really do believe in and feel for when they are trying to cope with everything life is throwing at them. It is gripping, absorbing and full of tension which is just what I expect from a good thriller.
This story doesn’t feel like fiction, it is just as if a friend is retelling all the events that have happened in her life – the troubled family, difficult relationships, the drugs, the gangs, the extreme sports and love of the ocean. This was a great debut novel and I hope we can read more about Dana in future books by this talented author.
I would recommend The Hook to anyone who wants a thriller with an added dimension, something a little out of the ordinary. It is also wonderful for anyone who feels the draw of the ocean or someone who wants the experience but doesn’t necessarily want to get their feet wet!
The descriptions of surfing and being in the water can only have been written by someone with first-hand experience - I could feel the spray from the breaking waves on my face and the tension and exhilaration of being in the ocean as I flicked to a new page on my Kindle.
But this isn’t all the story is about. The surfing angle adds an extra dimension to what is, in essence, a thriller. A rather good thriller with proper villains and characters who you really do believe in and feel for when they are trying to cope with everything life is throwing at them. It is gripping, absorbing and full of tension which is just what I expect from a good thriller.
This story doesn’t feel like fiction, it is just as if a friend is retelling all the events that have happened in her life – the troubled family, difficult relationships, the drugs, the gangs, the extreme sports and love of the ocean. This was a great debut novel and I hope we can read more about Dana in future books by this talented author.
I would recommend The Hook to anyone who wants a thriller with an added dimension, something a little out of the ordinary. It is also wonderful for anyone who feels the draw of the ocean or someone who wants the experience but doesn’t necessarily want to get their feet wet!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews