The Treasure Hunter’s Club by Tom Ryan

Admittedly, I had very high expectations for this novel and typically when that happens, I am grandly disappointed. The concept of the story alone had me eager and intrigued by what would happen next. The setting of a rural community in Nova Scotia with the history of treasure hunting, along with pirates and, of course, that home town — everyone knows everyone business spiked my interest.

Dysfunctional families, forgotten or unknown relations and fond memories of some family members is not something I’m unfamiliar with. The reunion under such strange circumstances and with the promise of financial security certainly is. Ryan blended both in a great story about forgiveness, new beginnings, and the treasure beyond a crate full of gold. I love that it included secret passages and messages from beyond the grave, too.

The plot, the twists, the surprising shifts in just about every aspect of this hunt for treasure in Nova Scotia wrapped me in mystery, addictive intrigue and a desire to join a Treasure Hunter’s Club. As delightful as it was to open my package, it was more delightful to unpack the mystery of Cass the washed-up writer, Dandy, the odd teen who had a great relationship with her Grandy, and Peter, the estranged grandson of the woman in the mansion. The mansion, Bellwoods, a character in itself, was a prominent presence I felt I was wandering through.

My first book of Ryan’s, I had no idea what to expect other than a story about a treasure but the treasure itself was the well-paced, well crafted, brilliant twists and painful turns. With plenty of characters to keep straight, Ryan made it easy for his readers to connect, relate, and root for while also being multi-faceted, mixed with evil and a touch of greed.I did connect with Cass the most, as an author looking for her next big story and rooting for her along the way. When she’s down and out, retreating to her parent’s place, a strange phone call comes in that invites her to Maple Bay and a cast of characters that are inspiring, old and a touch insane. A small community of generational residents now welcoming a mixed group of strangers, the whole area is at risk of being discovered, revealed and their own treasures and dark pasts brought to light.

I do feel this could easily be marketed as a young adult novel and continue to be desirable to adult readers.

A brilliant novel that ensured I would read anything Tom Ryan decides to write.

Tom Ryan is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and producer. His YA mystery Keep This To Yourself was the winner of several awards, including the 2020 ITW Thriller Award for Best YA Thriller, and is currently being adapted for television. His follow-up YA mystery I Hope You’re Listening was the winner of the 2021 Lambda “Lammy” Award for Best LGBTQ Mystery. He was a 2017 Lambda Literary Fellow in Young Adult Fiction. Tom, his husband, and their dog live in Nova Scotia.

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (October 15, 2024)
Paperback 9″ x 6″ | 400 pages
ISBN: 9781668055205

Sarah Butland

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I am a struggling artist, a challenging and challenged mother who always thinks she is failing, an emerging freelance writer and reporter, an author with my name on several books crossing genres and always hoping to find more readers who enjoy them.

I am also a successful artist, a wonderful and thriving mother of one, a reacher towards both people and dreams despite all of the turned backs and obstacles in my way. I am a thriving freelance writer and reporter, an author loved by enough readers to make it worthwhile and a discombobulated conundrum who loves to hear new music, tell new tales and meet new authors. And I’m doing something I always dreamed of doing – reviewing books to support others as well as myself and my family.

Sarah Butland

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