Aubrey Hamilton Reviews: The Hook by Tim O’Mara

The Hook (Severn House, 2020) is the fifth book in the Raymond Donne series by Tim O’Mara. Donne is a former policeman in the Williamsburg, New York, area, who took up teaching after an injury. He teaches special education students at a school in the same neighborhood where he used to walk a beat. The story opens with the discovery of a body on the roof of the school. The victim is Maurice Joseph, a recovering drug addict doing community service at the school, showing the students how to grow plants hydroponically. His real job was with a small technology security firm start-up, owned by a friend of Donne’s.

What’s particularly eerie about this death is that the murder was committed by bow and arrow. The fatal shot had to have been delivered from one of the surrounding tall buildings, but determining which one is going to be a challenge. The autopsy report conveys the stunning information that Joseph was full of fentanyl. His wife and his friends are shattered a second time, as they believed he had fully kicked the drug habit.

Called to the scene is Detective James Royce, with whom Donne has a history. Royce has several caustic comments to make, comparing Jessica Fletcher and Cabot Cove to Donne. With Donne’s journalist girlfriend Allison, who uses a drone to take photos of the crime scene after being denied access, the three make a compelling set of characters. Allison’s thirst for her next big story and Donne’s need to protect privacy and information sources force the two to continuously seek a balance acceptable to them both.

The victim’s business partner finds out that he had accepted security work unknown to the partner, contravening their agreement. He asks Donne to sit in on the meetings with this unknown customer who says he is looking for his missing stepson but the ex-cop in Donne doesn’t think what the man is saying adds up. Donne feels compelled to become involved to help the partner and to justify his faith in Joseph.

Donne’s investigation takes him back to the rehab center where Joseph spent two years. His inquiries cross Allison’s latest story lead in a surprising way that creates a secondary story thread. It all wraps up nicely with a few loose threads that will no doubt lead to the next book. Tight plot, nicely sequenced action, engrossing read. Recommended.

·         Hardcover: 240 pages

·         Publisher: Severn House Publishers; First World Publication edition (March 3, 2020)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 0727889184

·         ISBN-13: 978-0727889188

Aubrey Hamilton ©2020

Aubrey Hamilton is a former librarian who works on Federal It projects by day and reads mysteries at night.