If you could judge a book by it's cover, I would've given this 5 stars. That being said...

The blurb saying this story of a small town treasure hunt is reminiscent of The Goonies immediately sold me. The lore of pirates' booty lost in battle has been around Maple Bay for generations, and there's no shortage of people who are set on finally finding the X that marks the spot....or has someone already? Those closest to the legend have started dropping like flies, and three unlikely sleuths find themselves on the case.

Told through multiple POVs and jumps back in time, I will say there were quite a few times I had trouble remembering whose perspective I was in. Can I just say, was Cass' character necessary?? "But the ending -" you say, I mean, I guess. I started skimming chapters with her POV, I genuinely couldn't get myself to care about her. There's crossover between Dandy, Peter, and Cass, but not quite the "team-up" I expected, especially given the title.

The book didn't quite live up to the hype I'd created for it in my head, but I'm thankful to NetGalley and AMP for sending me a free copy in exchange for my review!

Unfortunately, I didn't feel like the writing was enough to hold up this premise. There were a lot of threads that didn't seem to mesh well, and I didn't feel connected to any of the characters. It's a personal issue, but one that did affect my enjoyment of this one. I also though the ending was a little bit anti-climactic, without much creativity when it came to solving the mystery. An interesting premise, but one that fell short for me.

In The Treasure Hunters Club, we follows the perspectives of Peter, the long lost grandson of a wealthy matron, Cass, a struggling writer, and local teenage granddaughter, Dandy, as their stories intersect. They revolve around a pirate treasure off the coast of a small Nova Scotian town and the decades old search it inspires.

I was very excited to read this book. It was pitched to me as an "adult Goonies," so I'll admit, I was a little disappointed. It's not the book's fault, of course, but that was the attitude I had coming into the reading. While it is very much about the decades long search for a pirate treasure, it's less focused on the wonder and adventure of a treasure hunt and more on the poison of festering secrets and the corruption of greed. I also had trouble connecting to or investing in any of the characters except for Dandy. In truth, I think this might have been more successful for me as a YA novel focused solely on Dandy's perspective. There were enough moving parts to eliminate the other POVs while still keeping the plot intact and allowing for more singular storytelling and greater connection. The twist ending was both shocking and smart but I almost put the book down several times before getting there.

This one had an interesting premise that was enjoyable but didn't quite live up to it's potential.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the advanced readers copy. The Treasure Hunters Club released October 15, 2024.

I really enjoyed this book! Well written, with numerous twists, I couldn’t put it down. I truly look forward to another book from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an ARC of this novel!

The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan is like a blend of Nancy Drew and The Goonies, with a lot of dead bodies. Peter's grandmother, Mirabel, reaches out to him in an attempt to meet the only other living descendant that she's never met. Cass, an author waiting for her next book to find her, is offered the opportunity if a lifetime - to housesit for an entire year, all expenses paid. Dandy, grieving her grandfather's recent passing, is following his left behind clues to the long lost treasure that was found and lost again by The Treasure Hunters Club several generations past. Their stories weave a brilliant web of mystery, with small hints and clues -as well as bodies- dropped around every corner. This multigenerational story is told through different perspectives. After a bit of a slow start, the narrative switches between those who are still living and a notebook of one long dead man who started it all.

As a huge fan of both Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone and The Goonies, this title was an instant request for me! Peter, Dandy, Cass, and the Treasure Hunters Club make for one of the most entertaining and eccentric cast of characters I've ever encountered in a mystery. Full of pirate lore, family secrets, unforgivable grudges, secret societies, and one elusive treasure, this mystery has something for every reader. Ryan's witty and atmospheric writing take this story to a whole other level. So glad this one lived up to the hype!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!
I’ve seen this book described as The Goonies for grownups, and although that’s a fantastic compliment, this book is actually so much more, with a last act twist that actually made me gasp out loud! Fantastic read!!

I had not read any of Tom Ryan’s earlier novels, but with The Treasure Hunters Club being marketed as Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone (one of my top reads in 2023) meets The Goonies (a much-loved movie from my childhood) I could not pass up the chance to read it.

In terms of the nostalgic feel I was hoping for, Ryan has delivered in spades; weaving so many well-worn crime mystery tropes plus a healthy serving of pop culture references into this story. The similarities to Nancy Drew (the TV series) are hard to miss in many respects, with gutsy teenager Dandy, for me the most well-developed and compelling character in this novel.

I typically love multi-character alternating narrative perspectives and epistolary elements. For the most part, Ryan employs these constructs quite ably in The Treasure Hunters Club. They certainly kept me turning the digital pages. However, the character voices were not as distinct as I would have liked, and they are not clearly signposted. At the beginning of some chapters it took me quite a few paragraphs before I was sure whose viewpoint I was reading.

This puzzling mystery is then further complicated by the relatively long interlinked character list, particularly when you include the many references to actions by more than one generation long dead.

That said, Ryan’s small town setting for The Treasure Hunters Club, Maple Bay, is evocatively depicted. Within that microcosm he has conjured up ample intrigue and suspense, an ambitiously sticky web of deceit, and some great red herrings. Perhaps I am over thinking it, but I noted self-deprecating authorial humour woven through the metafiction elements too.

So sure, there were clear weaknesses in execution. But overall, I enjoyed this novel. The Treasure Hunters Club is an entertaining historical mystery thriller that reboots the nostalgic spirit of a classic 1980’s family adventure movie while brutally demonstrating the ageless and pervasive consequences of greed. 3.75 Stars

Such a different story that had my attention from beginning to end. And can we talk about that twist that I didn't see coming from a million miles away? SO GOOD!
I will highly recommend this book!

This book feels like a complicated one to review. Because the premise itself was incredible. A group of treasure hunting boys finds treasure, and one of them betrays them. But it's their descendants that have to solve the mystery of what really happened. I adored Dandy and Cass and could hardly put the book down as we read journal snippets and interviewed suspects to find out the truth. And as the body count grew, I became more engrossed in the story. Ryan has incredible prose that enabled me to feel like I was right there in the story, right there in Maple Bay. And then the ending happened, and without giving spoilers, I felt like I'd been betrayed as a reader. The ending left me angry because I felt like I'd invested all this time into a story that was all a lie. A lie for an ending "twist" that felt like cheating. So while I'd give most of the book 5 stars, that ending twist knocked three stars off for me because I was so upset.

We get to follow a whole bunch of characters, from different generations even, as they search for burried treasure.

This was a great book. I loved the quirky setting/plot and it had a great twist!

Just ok for me. Had hopes in the beginning as the story seemed fun but it petered out at the end and just didn’t stick the landing. Felt unfulfilling and frustrating. Maybe part of this is from just introducing too many characters at once with flashbacks and present day. None of them were especially memorable so nothing stuck around.

2.5 A lot of the reads I’ve had the highest hopes for have let me down, and unfortunately, this was one of them. This is yet another case of an amazing synopsis that doesn’t live up to the delivery or content of the book. I was so ready to dive into an adventurous, charismatic tale full of treasure hunts, suspense, and thrills, but this book gave me little to none of those things.

The major characters didn’t grab my attention, and ironically, the most intriguing and well-developed characters were the ones who were already dead. I went into this expecting an exhilarating, fast-paced adventure, but nothing about the story ever felt truly adventurous or fulfilling. Instead, it leaned heavily toward being a cozy read, which is the exact opposite of what I was looking for.

If you're after something light and cozy, this might work for you. But if, like me, you're looking for something with edge and excitement, this book doesn’t deliver.

Generations ago, a sailing ship lost a treasure off the coast of Nova Scotia. Decades ago, a group of friends found the treasure. Then, it disappeared. Since then, there has been a society of their offspring dedicated to finding the treasure. But they are all in their eighties and nineties. Or dead.
This book jumps between characters as well as between the past and present. We also move from first person narration, to third person omniscient, to a different third person omniscient, to some epistolary. And there are layers of the mystery. In other words, there's a lot going on. There's even a touch of fantasy at the end. For someone who doesn't mind a sort of sprawling book that runs all over, this is going to be a great book.

Three stars
This book came out October 15, 2024
ARC kindly provided by Grove Atlantic and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

An adventure that spans years and multiple family generations. You think you know where this is going until the plot twist catches up with you and leaves your mouth open. Really enjoyed my time with this one.

If you're a fan of "The Goonies" and have a soft spot for YA novels filled with treasure and mystery, "The Treasure Hunters Club" by Tom Ryan might be your next big adventure! This book has all the hallmarks of a classic quest—secrets, hidden clues, and enough plot twists to keep you guessing (or at least second-guessing) at every turn.

The story is told through the eyes of three very different characters, each bringing their own vibe and perspective to the mix. I'll admit, the rotating first-person narratives can feel a bit dizzying at times—it's like switching gears a little too fast—but once I got used to the rhythm, I found myself enjoying the unique lens each character added to the adventure. And let's talk about the vibe: it's very current, with pop culture references sprinkled throughout, grounding the story firmly in the here and now, making it feel familiar even while the characters are hunting down age-old secrets.

One of the best aspects of "The Treasure Hunters Club" is its ability to zigzag through the plot. Just when you think you've got it all figured out—bam!—something changes, and you're thrown for a loop. Don't get me wrong; sometimes, the turns are a little predictable, but the story's constant momentum keeps you from staying in one spot too long. It does take a minute to get going, though. I wasn't fully hooked until about a quarter of the way through, but once it hits its stride, it's hard not to get swept up in the thrill of the chase.

But, fair warning, while the plot is a blast, there are moments when I felt like I was drifting a bit, almost like waiting for the next big twist to kick in. During those stretches, I'll admit I peeked ahead to see how much was left—but then, just as quickly, I'd hit a part where I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

Overall, "The Treasure Hunters Club" is a fun read, especially for anyone craving a bit of action and mystery with a modern-day twist. It's not my all-time favorite, but I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a lively, treasure-filled adventure. This was my first time reading Tom Ryan's work, and after this, I'm curious to see what else he has in store—so I'll be on the lookout for more of his tales.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Maple Bay is known for it's legends of pirates leaving treasure on the island, but some locals know more than they let on. Three strangers are pulled into the mystery, and as bodies begin to pile up they are not only searching for the treasure, but solving murders too! The characters in this book are truly lovable and it is fun to read from multiple POVs. I would classify this on the cozier side of mystery.

The quiet seaside town of Maple Bay, Nova Scotia is anything but. With a history of pirate treasure and locals harbouring dark secrets there is more to Maple Bay than meets the eye. High school student, Dandy, nearly 40 year old Peter, and Cass the washed up writer are on a crash course into each other and the underbelly of Maple Bay.

Written from the perspectives of these three characters you will feel like you are seeing the mystery unfold before your eyes. The twists will keep you guessing and if you’re anything like me shocked at the very end. With murder, mystery, and a treasure hunt what more could you want?

Thank you NetGalley, Grove Atlantic & Atlantic Monthly Press for a copy to review.

The Treasure Hunters Club is the ninth novel by award-winning Canadian author, Tom Ryan. Still grieving the recent loss of her Grandy, Reg, Dandy Feltzen turns up to the meeting of the Maple Bay Historical Society following his last wish: that she take his place there, and finally solve the mystery. She has a nautical chart to sweeten the deal: turns out the Society is all about finding the legendary Obelisk Treasure buried by notoriously blood-thirsty eighteenth-Century pirate Captain Barnabas Dagger.

The Society’s ageing membership, the five offspring of the original Treasure Hunters Club, has been radically reduced with the death of Reg, whose enthusiasm was their real impetus, and the walk out of Bill Jinx and Dr Frank Oakley. Rose French is fast losing the energy to participate, and only the scion of the Bellwood family, Mirabel Bellwood Johnson still has the passion needed, freshly stimulated by the discovery of her late father, Henry’s diary.

Mirabel has finally managed to connect with her grandson and only heir after her estranged daughter eschewed all contact since his birth, forty years earlier. Now, Peter Bellwood Barnett has come to Maple Bay after a lacklustre career in Vancouver. Unfortunately, before she has a chance to tell him why his presence in Maple Bay was so essential, he finds Mirabel at the bottom of the Bellwoods ornately carved staircase.

Just as Cass is despairing the state of her life, the failure of her writing career, and the need to quit New York, an opportunity lands in her lap: a year of house-sitting (and dog-minding) in the little town of Maple Bay, Nova Scotia. Might this be the place where her second novel is born?

Two of the locals she meets, Mirabel Bellwood and Bill Jinx are spectacularly unfriendly, but the bookstore owner, the bakery owner and the librarian make up for them. And although she’s not in the market for romance since her break-up, the hot jogger she almost runs over is a welcome distraction to her writer’s block. When she learns of the Obelisk Treasure and how it attracts people to the town, she feels the beginnings of a book taking shape.

Peter, Cass and Dandy each find themselves entranced with the story of the treasure buried, found and then lost again, each learning something relevant from their particular sources, but some are more willing to share what they know than others.

When yet another member of the Society dies, Dandy is convinced that the death, and that of Mirabel, is suspicious and, after overhearing something very disturbing, even has a theory about motive. But is she putting herself in danger by sharing what she knows?

Ryan gives the reader a twisty tale of greed and betrayal, guilt and remorse, secrets and blackmail. Four separate narratives tell the story, one in the form of a journal, and another that is probably none too reliable. There’s a body count of seven before the somewhat contrived resolution.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Grove Atlantic.

Fun sounding premise with mystery vibes; however, it read more like a family tree than an actual story. The plot became bogged down with the characters. I think many will like this but it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book.