An enticing premise about hidden treasure and murder is sure to get anyone excited about reading The Treasure Hunters Club. But overall, the mystery becomes tedious. Going between multiple POVs, (with the odd choice of one being told in first person and the others in third person) it becomes repetitive having to re-read information told between characters. Along with freely given stretches of journal entries to fill in the past makes the audience impatient for a climax to happen. Then, a weak plot twist and weak final resolution makes for a lackluster ending. For the book’s description to invoke The Goonies is a long stretch, and one to displease readers.

This book stepped up hard after the first 1/3 of the book, the setup was pretty slow but it all made sense in the last 50 or so pages when the dominoes came tumbling down and it had such a satisfying conclusion.

Peter, who has little to show for his almost forty years of life, Cass, a struggling author and Dandy, who is dealing with the death of her grandfather, all land in Maple Bay where they become entwined in the mystery of lost treasure.

The book started off quite slowly and dragged in parts. It was a lot more cozy mystery than thriller, which would have made it more interesting for me. However, I did not anticipate the plot twist so that was a good surprise.

If you like goonies, the curse of oak Island and a really good mystery then you'll love this. I devoured this book so quickly. It's quipy and fast paced. There were so many twists and turns and honestly it was just so good you have to read for yourself. I don't give a lot of 5 stars but this earned it

The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan. I think this book may be enjoyable if directed to a young adult or teen market. The characters were all different and a little interesting. Mirabel was very enjoyable but alas… I sometimes had trouble following the time line of the generations. I admit to not finishing but jumping to the end because I lost interest. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

3.5 stars!
This was a cozy mystery that I really enjoyed - I loved the small, coastal town setting and the premise of lost treasure was a lot of fun.

It has three different perspectives which I loved and overall it was well paced. Each character was interesting and well written .

There were some twists and one in particular that was really good!

I feel like it was definitely a good book but I could tell this author writes a lot of YA - it felt like it should be targeted towards a slightly younger audience.

I enjoyed this treasure hunt for the most part. Lots of characters, lots of POV– but the layers between the past and present were layered in an interesting way. The formatting for the ARC was atrocious, so fair warning there. This is one of those books that I liked well enough (and one twist in particular made me gasp out-loud) but I’m not sure the story had enough defining features to make it stand out from another mysteries I’ve read. This wouldn’t stop me from trying another Tom Ryan novel but this book was just all right, in my estimation.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. The premise of the book really intrigued me and while I enjoyed the story, it felt disjointed. The narration jumps around between multiple characters and journal entries from the past, so if you don't like a nonlinear story, this will not appeal to you. I enjoy books that go back and forth in time or between 2 characters, but this was a little too much for me. My favorite character was Dandy, a teen girl who played a major role. I did not see the plot twist coming, but in hindsight, I should have. Overall, I would give it 3.5 stars out of 5--good premise and enjoyable story with some fun characters but confusing at times and not an ending that I particularly liked.

This was such a fun adventure. The book blurb says this is "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone meets The Goonies" and in a lot of ways it held up to that promise. The pacing was a tad bit slow for my personal taste, but I did think the characters were pretty well fleshed out given that it was also a mystery and sometimes mysteries are all about action, and not about character development. "Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone" had a great balance of mystery and character development. I sort of thought this was going to be a cozy mystery, and that isn't exactly true, there is more violence than I would have expected, but nothing horror level.

Buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received this ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

This is a fun read. An adventure story of buried treasures and family secrets. I loved the characters, I thought they were relatable, particularly Dandy (Danielle). Great location, it reminded me of the old Gothic stories - a big mansion near the sea with sprawling vegetation and old buildings. And setting it in a small village lend itself to the old Mysteries. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys these types of stories.

This book is going to be one of the top Thriller Mystery I ever read in 2024 and I cannot stress more for everyone to pick a copy and read it ASAP!

Treasure hunts and stories of hunts over the years and much more!

Weaved like the expert storyteller he is, Mr Ryan has outdone himself in this book as it is full of action and suspense, timelines crossing from the past to present, well-defined characters and then he plays treasure hunt with his audience without the reader even realising it until far too deep into the book!

I felt my jaw drop to the floor when I reached the ultimate twist and remember applauding loudly making people around me turn to look at what has gotten into me.

So buckle up guys, you have a teen detective, a rich old lady reuniting with her grandson, and an author looking for a break in the most picturesque, yet historical little seaside Canadian town where stories of Buried treasure fills the place.

My sincere gratitude to the publisher for offering me an early copy. All opinions mine. Highly recommended.

I came into this book not knowing what to expect, but thinking from the description it was going to be a cozy; to a certain extent it was. There was a fair amount of death and violence but not anything that was overly graphic. I think the biggest issue I had was with the pace of the story. It took a very long time for anything to get started and then everything happened at once. Overall, I found it to be a little uneven, but not bad.

This was a fun story with a few surprisingly dark twists. I enjoyed the characterizations and the back-and-forth nature of the story. It did feel a little drawn out for my personal taste - I occasionally felt lost in detail, when what I really wanted was to see the action keep clicking along. Still, on the whole I quite enjoyed watching the secrets and lies unfold and I was caught off-guard by the revelations more than once.

An Idyllic Place..
Maple Bay, a perfectly idyllic haven set on the coast, is not simply well known for its beauty but rather its legend. Lost pirate treasure that has been sought for generations - but what else do the locals know about what exactly might be buried away in this pretty idyll? When Peter Barnett receives a mysterious letter calling him home to an estranged past, it sets in motion a series of bizarre events and meetings - as well as a mystery of grand proportions. With a deftly drawn cast of characters, a perfectly well imagined and atmospheric backdrop and a puzzle at its very heart, this is an enjoyable and compelling mystery come adventure littered with twists and turns and memorable excursions.

Thanks Grove Atlantic/Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley for this E -ARC of the Treasure Hunter's club by Tom Ryan.

This book's blurb had me editorial review had me hooked at My family killed someone meets the Goonies-

I loved that the book is set in Nova Scotia, a part of the world that intrigues and going there is on my travel bucket list.

It is at its heart a cozy murder mystery, with multi POV's- the lives of three strangers which intersect and a secret that's been buried for a long time that's about to come to light.

I really liked this book even if it felt at times the the switching between different POV's felt a bit glitchy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the setting and the plot. Would highly recommend....

A treasure hunt/murder mystery in small town Atlantic Canada! With Goonies and YA vibes, things never got too dark, despite murder and other crimes (no spoilers). I did find the switch between three POVs a bit much, and while there were twists I didn't find anything too surprising; but it was a really enjoyable ‘warm’ read, and a fun mystery adventure. (Plus as a Canadian, I love a Canadian setting!)

This book kept me riveted to the page. It was a roller coaster ride. Just when I knew who was the culprit, BAM you're wrong 😮. It was a very well written book. I thought it was a 4.5 out of 5, but Goodreads doesn't do half, so a rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

For hundreds of years people have been coming to Maple Bay, Novia Scotia to search for the long-lost obelisk pirate treasure. The arrival of two newcomers sets off a train of events that take things to a new deadly level in discovering what happened to the treasure.

There is a lot to unpack in this novel as Ryan has an extensive cast of characters who are all important to the overall story and you switch between four distinct points of view.

You have the present day of Peter, Cassie and Dandy and each have a point of view. There is the middle time which is the treasure hunter club with Mirabel, Bill etc. and they important to development of the story. The last point of view is told through journal entries of Henry Bellwood who tells of the five boys who started the whole saga. Now, the thing is, stick with it, as all the buildup as all these characters are required to for a conclusion that makes sense.

We start with Dandy, a local to Maple Bay who has been brought into the treasure hunting fray by Grandy, her grandfather. He has spent years telling her all the ins and outs and leaving her with clues to get into a whole heap of trouble. At some point in the story Dandy goes from treasure hunter to girl detective as she tries to solve a series of crimes.

Peter is eking out an existence when he receives a letter from his estranged Grandmother Mirabel seeking a reconciliation, encouraged by his flat mate Ricky, he accepts. As Peter ingrains himself into the local community Peter discovers that his family heritage is full of secrets that he needs to unravel.

Cassie is a writer who has had some initial success as a writer but finds her writing life in disarray. She is out of ideas and doubting that she really is that talented. When an opportunity comes along to house sit for a year in Maple Bay, Cassie cannot resist. Soon she discovers the legend of the Obelisk treasure and finds her writing mojo.

Harry Bellwood leaves behind a journal that explains how the treasure comes to be found and lost again. Through Henry's words he links the past and present and provides context around the ongoing dynamics of the families in Maple Bay.

Ryan, once he gets the story running, really gives you a fast-paced thriller, with plenty of twists and turns. The possibility of who is behind a series of crimes will have you guessing. There is danger for the characters and plenty of misdirection. However, the real culprit, well there is enough in the story for you to question their behaviour and motivation.

When this book hits the shelves, you will enjoy a mystery that will have you guessing.

Set in a small coastal town, "The Treasure Hunters Club" unfolds a cozy mystery. This story weaves together the lives of three strangers brought together by a quest. Diving into this tale is like embarking on a cozy, yet thrilling adventure that keeps your pages turning with its warmth, lively pace, and characters who feel instantly familiar. It all begins with a treasure hunt but quickly spirals into an enthralling murder mystery that grabs your attention and refuses to let go.
Imagine the surprise of finding out about a grandmother you never knew, extending an invitation to her grand estate in Maple Bay, a place known to hide a pirate's treasure. Cass, a hopeful writer looking for her next big story, finds herself in Maple Bay, seeking inspiration while housesitting. Dandy, a teenager with a gift for sniffing out mysteries and healing from her own personal loss, finds herself tangled in a story that grows twistier as secrets unravel and the mystery deepens. The story surprises with a twist so clever, you never see it coming…but you should, because it just makes sense.
So grateful to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this advance reading copy. It introduced me to an author I had never heard of and a story that was not only engaging but also a journey from start to finish.

The Goonies and a Treasure Hunt in one novel? Sounds right up my alley!
And The Treasure Hunters Club certainly ticks many of the right boxes.
We have three main characters:
Peter, who is contacting his long-lost grandmother
Cass, a newcomer to town, who is housesitting for a year
And finally, teenager Dandy, grieving fir her grandfather and intent on honouring his memory.
The three characters seem to have little in common, yet all find themselves connected through the past to the former Treasure Hunters Club in Maple Bay. And, somewhat reluctantly, in the case of Peter, agree to delve into the old mystery and try to find the missing treasure.
The story is told from the perspective of our three protoganists, and also via a series of diary entries. However, this means that we are frequently moving from the first to third perspective, and from one character to another, which becomes confusing between chapters as the reader is just settling back into the story from the viewpoint of one person.
As in all good mysteries, there are a few twists in the final quarter of the novel and I was pleased that these took me by surprise.
An unusual and fun read, perfect for the summer.