raleva31, otherwise known as Uber-Agent Rachel Vater, is looking at a bunch of query letters right now and saying what does and doesn't work for her. As some of you will recall, I tried this a few months ago with Miss Snark and didn't pass muster, so I worked hard on revising my hook before sending it in this time. Here's the result:

( Knife - The New Hook )

( Ms. Vater's Comments )

So it seems I'm finally doing something right, hook-wise. Yay!