The Hook by Kathleen Doler

The Synopsis

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...

My Review

What really struck me about this book was the brilliantly vivid descriptions. The opening scene was especially memorable and even though I've never been surfing, I felt like I was there with Dana underneath the waves and I was certainly holding my breath alongside her. These richly detailed descriptions continued throughout the book and really involved me in the storyline.
Although I don't have any particular interest in water sports, I still enjoyed this book. It's an action thriller with an extra surfing element that made it different, but no less enjoyable.
There was quite a bit of surfing 'lingo' which I had to look up and this slightly distracted me from the plot each time I had to stop reading and consult google. If you've got a keen interest in surfing though, this will definitely be a great book for you!
Overall it was a well-paced and page turning read. A great pick for adrenaline enthusiasts.

About the Author

Kathleen Doler grew up on California’s coast. She’s an author, journalist and adventure sports addict. She writes for national newspapers and magazines on everything from business and finance to helicopter skiing, sea kayaking and scuba diving. She also travels extensively, often while pursuing sports that have the potential to maim her. The Hook is her first novel.