The spy novel, Double Eagles by Bill Getz, opens with a hook — a brief skirmish in the skies with the words “death stalked the skies”. Really the point is to introduce the German pilot who is shot down who will be critical to counterintelligence. It’s an original way to start a thriller. We have to remember that the first chapter isn’t the place to introduce back story or to set up the details of the major characters. It’s just the place to grab the reader’s attention.