I’ve never seen the movie The Goonies all the way through, but reading The Treasure Hunters Club kept making my mind flash back to the bits and pieces of the movie I have seen. And yet this is much more than just what the movie has to offer. While it was often difficult to follow three generations of characters and which character was related to which of the five boys who initially found the treasure, this is set in the present day with a tantalizing, prolonged journal entry that’s more of a confession from one of the boys woven in. It was fun trying to piece together everything that happened in the past and relate it to the present, but it was a little predictable and the main characters just didn’t have as much to do with each other as I had hoped.

In the 1920s, a group of five boys went exploring and discovered the infamous Obelisk Treasure, a treasure chest hidden by some men of pirate Captain Dagger and then lost to time. They decide to hide it and then reclaim it when they all turn 18 and can then keep it for themselves, but, when that time comes, the treasure is gone and the friends splinter. A couple of generations later, three people, two descended from two of the boys, are pulled together to Maple Bay in Nova Scotia in order to discover the secrets those boys kept and to find the treasure. Peter is a Bellwood, the great-grandson of the wealthy boy who pulled the five original boys together, and his estranged grandmother is desperate to meet him and unload the family secrets on him. Dandy is the great-granddaughter of another one of the boys, a teen girl who comes off as a modern day Nancy Drew who was close to her late grandfather and is tasked with finding the truth and the treasure. Cass is a stuck novelist whose only book flopped, so, when opportunity knocks and takes her to Maple Bay to house sit, she finds what could be the story of a lifetime. But things get dangerous when the children of the original boys start dying under mysterious circumstances, and someone might be after Peter, Dandy, and Cass, too.

This was fun to read, something of a treasure hunt crossed with a murder mystery. It’s set in the present day, but the confession of one of the boys is threaded through and paints a picture of the past. That part reminded me of the bits and pieces of The Goonies, and maybe one day I’ll actually be willing to sit through it. It was fun and adventurous, and I really enjoyed reading about the friendship between the five boys. Most of the story, though, didn’t always hold my interest. I found a little too much of it predictable, though I did like the twist at the end. Unfortunately, it made a good portion of the narrative a little confusing, and I find myself feeling very dissatisfied with how misleading it was. Still, I enjoyed the adventure, because most of this felt like a bunch of disparate pieces pulled together and whirled into a story of treasure.

There are a lot of characters, and it was often difficult to keep them separate, as well as remembering which character went with which time period. There’s the original five boys, there’s their children, then there are some grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and then the great-grandchildren had other people in their lives to deal with and, finally, there’s Cass with her own story and people populating her own microcosm. It was a lot, and I frequently forgot who was related to which boy, as well as which boy died or disappeared. Only the Bellwoods were easy to keep track of, and Dandy only made sense with her grandfather Grandy because of their names, but I could never remember their family name. There’s also not much to their characterizations to really keep them separate. Mirabel Bellwood was easy as she’s elderly, but quite a force of nature. Dandy is the youngest and reminded me of Nancy Drew. Cass was a struggling novelist, and it felt like that’s all that defined her. I only remember her friend Falia because I’ve never heard that name before. Bree, the bookstore owner, was delightful, and I loved how bright and friendly she was, but she’s a very minor character. Peter was bland, but, by the end, I kind of understood why.

Maple Bay was marginally more interesting than the characters, but I found it difficult to picture it outside of beach and forest with a bunch of houses scattered around. I did like that this is set in Nova Scotia, but I don’t know anything about Nova Scotia and I didn’t get a Canadian feel from this book. I did love how beachy it felt and that some of the characters did go out onto the water, but I struggled to place Maple Bay and the Bellwood family home, Bellwoods, in relation to each other. There are other homes dotted around, and they just kind of dropped onto different places in my mind. I kept picturing a thin arm of land curling around with a small village, an imposing house, and lots of trees. Then again, I didn’t get the sense that the geography of the place was really a big focus; it was just a convenient backdrop and not much needed to be known about it. Instead, the interesting part was just how much was owned by the Bellwoods and what they chose to do with the land through the years. That history was fascinating, and it definitely held my attention.

The story was probably supposed to be the star here, but I grew frustrated when I reached the halfway point and the main characters felt as separate from each other as they had at the very beginning. They barely know each other, hardly ever interact with each other, and certainly don’t spend much time working with each other to find or solve anything. I was hoping they would form a second treasuring hunting club and would work together to find the treasure, but the treasure ended up being more secondary to the murder mystery. There were some subplots that were so easy to see through it was almost agonizing to read through them. The romance was uninspired and I really couldn’t understand why it needed to be included. Cass’s story was interesting, but she felt more like a record keeper than a real, involved character. The murder mystery part managed to hold my attention, and I liked the twist, but I was disappointed it didn’t add any depth.

The Treasure Hunters Club was a fantastic story about opportunity, though. I liked how it was there at every turn and given to each character. The fun part was seeing what each character did with it, and how it affected their lives. By the end it did make me feel like it was hitting me on the head with a very obvious bat, but I liked that message. I had a lot of fun reading about the five boys, and just wish the present day characters were just as engaging. It felt like the five boys started the story and the rest of it was built around it to make it more interesting, and I’m not sure if it succeeded

Still, The Treasure Hunters Club proved to be a quick read. I found it well-written enough to hold my attention. Sometimes, though, I found myself wanting to read just to get to the inevitable reveals so I could feel I was right. So much of it was easy to see through, and there are enough interestingly weird things that happen early on that I felt my curiosity was piqued. Unfortunately, most of the characters were lackluster and all of them lacked depth, though Dandy felt the most interesting and thus most developed. I was also not a big fan of the way the story ended as it kind of made me feel like I wasted my time. But I loved the adventure, and I had fun wondering who was going to turn up dead next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The long-told story of pirate treasure in Maple Bay holds the base of our story. People have searched for years and years but there are some who know the truth and when three people look in the present day, people start dying and truths are revealed.

Peter finds out on his 40th birthday that he has a very wealthy grandmother who has been looking for him. His mother moved them away from Bellwood, the family estate, when he was young. His aunt and uncle took him in when his parents died in an accident. His grandmother sent them money all along for his education. He never knew. He never got any of it. His roommate convinces him to go to see his grandmother, she is very old and probably doesn't have much time. Plus, she is rich.

Cass is at a standstill with her new novel she is writing and just when she thinks she will have to move home with her mother, she gets an offer to housesit in Maple Bay for a friend of her late father's. She jumps at the chance and as she meets the town's characters, she finds her new storyline.

Dandy has just lost her dearly loved Grandy and he leaves her a satchel with a mystery for her. The treasure!

These three begin their search for the treasure and the truth. People start dying (killed) and they get deeper into what's going on.

It is a bit slow for most of the book but the climax is fantastic and took me somewhere I hadn't expected at all! That was a twist!

Thanks to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for a copy for review.

I think this had a great plot and some fantastic characters. I could easily see this becoming a series because the mystery was well written and engaging.

Concept was intriguing but execution left much to be desired. Sooo many characters to keep track of. And some "chapters" (which are not numbered) did not indicate whose POV it was and so I'd go into the chapter wondering who was "speaking". If have to guess based off story clues and that was annoying. Also, strongly disliked the ending!

This was an intriguing read with a clever plot revolving around the search for the Obelisk Treasure. The wonderful storytelling connected the past and present together beautifully. There were so many plot twists and turns as secrets from the past and present are revealed throughout the story. I never knew what was going to happen next! I loved that each character had quirks that made them both unique and relatable. I was surprised when the present killer was revealed. I didn’t see that coming! Dandy also surprised me at the end by the choice she made. Why didn’t she involve Peter? Was she trying to protect herself or trying to protect Peter’s dream project and other treasure hunters?

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

There was a lot of character work happening - 5 families are represented, with multiple generations and timelines, so once in a while I had to sit back and figure out the "whos" - especially if it had been a couple days between readings. 

However, I loved the adventure, mystery, and treasure-hunting aspect of it - perfect for a girl who loved The Goonies as a kid and has been present while her husband was caught up in episodes of Outer Banks. I loved that Treasure Hunters Club was a Canadian-setting. It was an easy, enjoyable read with a bit of a twist that I didn't see coming until right before it happened... and overall, I was entertained. I was pleasantly satisfied with this one!

My thanks to the author and publisher for the ARC- opinions are entirely my own.

This book was a delight to read! I actually thought it would be more focused on the pirate and the treasure, but this was more about the murder mystery. Oh, the treasure is a big component, but it isn’t what the novel is ultimately about.

Each chapter is a different characters POV, which allowed the reader to see a well-rounded situation. However, this also allowed for the author to add an interesting plot twist. One that I did not see coming.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.

I read a YA book (Keep This to Yourself) by this author forever ago, and I really enjoyed it and kept them on my radar. So when I heard about this I was really excited! I liked this--this was a fun, well-plotted book about a pirate's treasure, secrets and murder. The pacing was great, the characters were fleshed out and the plot was intricate but not overly bogged down. This was a fun thriller, and I'm looking forward to more from Tom Ryan.

This is my first book by this author, and I was completely absorbed in the story, staying up well past my bedtime just to read more. *The Treasure Hunters Club* is a cozy mystery set in Nova Scotia that weaves three characters' lives together. There’s Peter, a single gay guy nearing forty; Dandy, a 17-year-old dealing with the loss of her granddad; and Cass, a thirty-something YA author trying to get her book published. Peter shares his story in the first person, while Dandy and Cass are narrated in the third person.

The story may not break new ground or explore deep angst, and it lacks complex psychological layers to unpack. However, it's incredibly easy to get drawn into, moving along at a brisk pace and exuding warmth and approachability. The characters come across as genuine and endearing. I thought I had it figured out about the plot twist, but it completely blindsided me!

A big thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for providing this incredible ARC! I loved every moment of it!

Thank you, NetGalley and Grove Atlantic | Atlantic Monthly Press for this book for review. This was a fun thriller about pirate treasure, family secrets, and murder. This book bounces back and forth between time periods and although this isn't really a search for the pirate treasure, it is a thriller as who doesn't want the treasure and who isn't willing to KILL for treasure? Definitely a fun thriller and I will look out for this author in the future.

With a long lost treasure, family secrets and murder, The Treasure Hunters Club was a story that I could not put down. Peter Barnett is about to turn forty. He is in a job that he hates and shares an apartment with a strange roommate. When he receives a letter from his estranged grandmother asking him to come to Maple Bay to get to know each other, he has nothing to lose. Cass Jones’ first book was well received but now her book contract is cancelled, she has broken up with her boyfriend and she is losing her apartment. When a friend of her family asks her to house sit for a year in Maple Bay it offers a new beginning. Dandy Feltzer is a teenager who grew up in Maple Bay. She would spend her time on the beach with Grandy, her grandfather, combing for small treasures in the sand. When Grandy passes away his cottage is left to Dandy’s aunt, who has plans for it. Before her aunt takes it over Dandy finds a sack with Grandy’s treasure hunting tools and a map. There are stories of a lost pirate treasure and this may be a clue to its’ location. When Cass learns the story of the treasure it ignites her desire to write again. Shortly after Peter’s arrival his grandmother dies, leaving behind her father’s journal. It details how as a boy he and his friends found the treasure and hid it again, to be dug up and shared when they became adults. His journal is filled with family secrets and details of the fates of the boys but not the ultimate fate of the treasure. Now someone wants the treasure and is willing to kill in order to find it. Tom Ryan paints a picture of a quaint town where everyone knows each other. While his characters are well developed, Dandy is a stand out. Like Nancy Drew, she ultimately puts all of the clues together and unites these characters. From start to finish and through all of the twists that Ryan throws at you, this was a delight to read. I would like to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing this book.

I don't know if I've ever been so blindsided by a plot twist! Like holy heck man and then some!

The Treasure Hunters Club follows 3 POVs from very different characters at very different points in their lives. Peter Barnett, an almost 40 year old with nothing to show for his life. He hates his dead-end job and lives with a guy he barely interacts with in an apartment because the rent is cheap. Dandy Feltzen is seventeen and grieving the loss of her grandfather while trying to make sense of his final wishes. Cass Jones has all but given up on her writing career and is avoiding writing her next book as she doesn't want to end her career before she can find success.

Set in Maple Bay, Nova Scotia- a town famous for lost pirate treasure- these three cross paths as they search for what is causing a sudden influx of deaths in the town. And why are so many locals still obsessed with the lost treasure myth? Could it be within their reach after all this time?

I LOVED how this book was written- so easy to read and get lost in. Switching between the characters' POVs was flawless and they were each well developed and relatable. The history of this town and the characters goes back several generations, and it was the perfect foundation for the novel! I'm very impressed with all Tom Ryan put into his book and can't wait to read another by him! I will definitely be recommending this book for anyone wanting a mystery/thriller!!

Thank you, Grove Atlantic and NetGalley, for this ARC!

Following three separate characters who come to a small town called Maple Bay, unaware of how their lives will intertwine with one another as dark family secrets come to light…

I absolutely devour this fast-paced, easy-to-read story with its short chapters, making it difficult to put down my Kindle.
Treasure hunting and murder mystery are a fantastic combo to make a great book, I was captivated with the mystery of the hidden treasure and later, the murder investigation.

The last 20% of the book is where things get really intense!
That one huge twist was something I didn’t see coming at all, the clues were there but I completely missed them!

Overall, such a fun and thrilling mystery with a satisfying ending!
The author cleverly wrote the twist and placed the clues in a way that wasn’t obvious, making for an unexpected surprise!
I will definitely be looking for more books by this author in the future!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Death, gun violence, confinement, alcohol, grief, brief mention of pregnancy, addiction, cancer

This was a cute idea, but I don’t think the execution matched the concept.

On a basic level this is pretty standard cozy mystery stuff, though I thought the treasure hunt aspect of it had potential. The problem is that the treasure hunt really isn’t one, as you know exactly what happened to the treasure very early in the story, and the rest is just a very long explanation of the fallout.

It’s also a bit irritating that the villain really comes out of left field, making the big reveal and the twist that goes with it kind of a letdown. And while I thought some of the friendship themes here were sweet and enjoyable, it gets a bit schmaltzy in the end for my taste.

This book was certainly a page-turner and I kept wanting to skip ahead and find the answer! This is a well-crafted mystery with excellent riddles and clues along the way. I liked most of the characters, and I was very invested in their progress. Dandy in particular was warm and relatable, and it was fun to follow her story.

I really liked the flashbacks via diary, but I struggled with the author switching tenses, from first person to third person, and I don't love present-tense writing, so I found those elements a bit jarring. The author did a great job, however, building suspense and creating two interesting storylines, the past and present intersecting at the very end.

The Treasure Hunters Club is set in Maple Bay, Nova Scotia and is the location of a legendary lost pirate treasure, the Obelisk, where locals and foreigners have been searching for this treasure for almost a century. The story follows three main characters Peter Barnett, who just got invited to go to Maple Bay by his estranged grandmother, Mirabel Bellwood. Dandy Feltzen, who just lost her grandfather, who she was very close with and he leaves her a clue for her to try and decipher and find the treasure. Lastly, we have Cass Jones, a writer who has not been struck with inspiration after her YA book did not fair so well and was leaving the city, Manhattan, and moving back home until her late father's friend calls her with a proposition for a new adventure.

I really liked this book, like who doesn't like a search for a lost pirate treasure? Let me just say I did not see the plot twist coming and it was very well executed. I love a good murder mystery, this book was a mix of murder mystery and treasure hunting. The side characters did help move the story along and brought more life to the town and showed the reader that this was a small town, where everyone is either involved or wants to be involved in the story. My overall favourite character was Dandy, her curious nature and smarts made me love reading each chapter she was involved in.

Thank you NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars

This book was described as a modern day treasure hunt story, while there was a treasure it was more a murder mystery/ thriller. The writing was interesting and had some pretty good pacing, there were a couple lulls. There were a lot of character perspectives we followed, so it took a lot to keep everything straight. There was one character that was like a filler character, she did not have an impact in the plot, she was just there. I did like the mystery and the twist; those were great and did not see them coming. I really wanted more treasure hunting and following the clues, that was what was really missing in this book. Overall, this book was fine and entertaining in several aspects, but it was really missing some elements for me.
I received an advanced ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Edelweiss, and Grove/Atlantic Monthly Press for getting me early access to the digital ARC of this new book!

I had soo much fun with this novel! The characters and story instantly pulled me in and I didn’t want to stop! There were red herrings and clues to distract, and I will not lie. I for sure gasped out loud a few times because the twists and turns completely threw me off!

Dandy, Peter and Cass were such fun characters to hang out with through this tale. Seeing their growth and depth just made it all the more real while also splicing in some amazing characters from the past.

I had such a great time with this novel and now I want a movie or Netflix series or something!! It was awesome!! Thanks again and I highly recommend!!

#thetreasurehuntersclub #netgalley

A big thank you to Grove Atlantic and Netgalley for giving me early access to this book to review.

I want to start out by saying that I am probably biased in my love for this novel. I can't help but love something that is set in my home province and filled with characters who I feel like I've met before.

The Treasure Hunters Club follows three different POV; Dandy, a teen who recently lost her grandfather and has gotten a invitation from him to join a local historical group; Peter, the long lost grandson of one of Maple Bay's wealthier residents; and Cass, a stranger who is staying in town for a year to dog sit. All three of these characters get drawn into the hunt for the long lost pirate treasure. Through their search the uncover the deep secrets of the town and its residents.

I loved this book on so many levels. The writing was phenomenal and engaging. The characters were all so lively and unique from each other. They all seemed to have their own motivations. I really loved the twists and turns in the novel. There was one point where I said outload "well, I didn't see that coming". I know that feelings not for everyone, but the reveal was done so well.

I would highly recommend this book. It the perfect summer/early fall read. Just mysterious enough.

I really enjoyed this book! It has a great cast of characters, and the atmosphere of a seaside town settling in for the fall is spot on. It’s a quick read, but the pace is just right. There’s a chance to get to know the characters and consider all the little clues along the way. It feels kind of “Stand by Me”, kind of “The Goonies”, maybe with a little Nancy Drew/The Hardy Boys thrown in. I also think the big twist was really well done.