Bryce Proctorr has a multimillion-dollar contract for his next novel, a trophy wife raking him over the coals of a protracted divorce, a bad case of writer’s block, and an impending deadline. Wayne Prentice is a fading author in a world that no longer values his work. He’s gone through two pseudonyms, watched his book sales shrivel, and is contemplating leaving the writing life. Proctorr has a proposition: If Prentice will hand over his unsold manuscript to publish under Proctorr’s name, the two will split the book advance fifty-fifty. There’s just one small rider to the deal…
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"THE HOOK is a delightfully nasty little piece of candy: a satire on the publishing industry wrapped around a Hitchcockian infernal bargain between a famous author who's "blocked" and a prolific author who can't get published. The story moves quickly, with wonderful details to sketch out the NYC and CT locales as well as the behind-the-scenes views of the writer's workday and the publisher's offices. More to the point, THE HOOK also has one of the most brutal murder scenes I have ever read, as well as a clever and twisted ending that is perfectly timed to punch you in the gut just as you are halfway through the last sentence of the book. I really liked this one, and Westlake makes it all look so effortless." — Mark (4 out of 5 stars)
"THE HOOK is a delightfully nasty little piece of candy: a satire on the publishing industry wrapped around a Hitchcockian infernal bargain between a famous author who's "blocked" and a prolific author who can't get published. The story moves quickly, with wonderful details to sketch out the NYC and CT locales as well as the behind-the-scenes views of the writer's workday and the publisher's offices. More to the point, THE HOOK also has one of the most brutal murder scenes I have ever read, as well as a clever and twisted ending that is perfectly timed to punch you in the gut just as you are halfway through the last sentence of the book. I really liked this one, and Westlake makes it all look so effortless."
“The Hook begins with an agreement signed in blood and smoothly, unobtrusively, gracefully, relentlessly moves toward absolute devastation. This is Donald E. Westlake at the top of his form, writing with the power and confidence of a master and keeping the reader dazzled and agape all the way to the last sentence.”
“A harrowing story, told with a crisp incisiveness, and its riveting central characters are extraordinary: Bryce Proctorr and Wayne Prentice are fascinating, compelling tangles of neuroses and ambitions, both wonderfully drawn.”
“The Hook mixes reality with fiction, its characters growing increasingly hazy about where they draw the line as the story races to its chilling conclusion. The mental health of one author deteriorates in almost exact proportion to the other’s strengthened sense of self. And there’s actually a pretty good crime story hidden in their complexities of analysis. Quite a good hook, in other words, that Westlake has come up with.”
“A lively, darkly brilliant account of moral failure and encroaching madness…The Hook is a surprising, suspenseful, psychologically acute novel that happens to be marketed as a thriller but is, in reality, a great deal more.”
“William Dufris’ dramatic narration adds to the suspense of this intriguing plot. He imbues each interchange with emotion, expressing tears of panic and roars of rage with a vigor the heightens the listener’s experience. A departure from Westlake’s familiar territory, The Hook sets regular people in extremis, and Dufris’ narration makes it palpably realistic.”
“Westlake salts the stew with lots of fascinating publishing shoptalk, and his portrayal of the psychological unraveling of a writer is made all the more chilling by the quiet realism of its presentation. A fine thriller.”
" Great first 2/3, slow final 1/3 and a great ending. "
" a great book, full westlakes black humor, but be warned the title gives away the end. luckily i read it in hard back (not my kindle) 'cause i threw it against the wall when i reached the end. "
" I love Donald Westlake's books and this may be my favorite. Nobody does what you think they're going to do! "
" This was MIT first book by Westlake, and a quick, enjoys read! Ended a bit abruptly, but I think we all knew what was coming - "
" Cool writing, but story strains credulity! "
" Eh, this book was ok. The interesting part was over quite early in the book, then it went on and on and basically ends the way I expected. Easy read, good to read before bed as it doesn't take a lot of concentration. "
" What I liked about this was it was a different genre (sort of ) than the Dortmunder Westlakes. REminded me of Strangers on a Train, sort of. Westlake is so often associated with his comic crime capers, that it's easy to forget how versatile a writer he is-wow! "
" This is a fast-moving book. The story is about writers and the writing biz and how things can get out of control. Looking for a hook? You'll find it here. "
" Not as great as "The Axe" but definitely has it's moments. "
" It was good, but I thought it would be better. "
" Westlake strikes again. he channels Patricia Highsmith...and that's a complement. perfect ending. "
Donald E. Westlake (1933–2008) wrote dozens of novels under his own name and numerous pseudonyms, including Richard Stark and Alan Marshall. Many of his books have been adapted for film, most notably The Hunter, which became the 1967 noir Point Blank and the 1999 smash hit Payback.
William Dufris attended the University of Southern Maine in Portland-Gorham before pursuing a career in voice work in London and then the United States. He has won more than twenty AudioFile Earphones Awards, was voted one of the Best Voices at the End of the Century by AudioFile magazine, and won the prestigious Audie Award in 2012 for best nonfiction narration. He lives with his family in Maine.
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