The Treasure Hunter’s Club was made specifically for that subset of kids who grew up watching Disney films from the 1960s and dreamed of finding buried treasure. I know this because (a) I am this person and (b) the book literally told me this twice. It’s that second part that annoys me a bit. Your target audience knows who they are, my friend; you don’t need to tell us.

There’s a lot to like about this book: a murder mystery, family secrets, secret grudges, and, of course, the hunt for pirate treasure. And while the first half of this book was strong and very much sucked me in, I don’t think it’s a perfect book. First off, I think the three points of view should have been whittled down to two. Cass was almost completely unnecessary. She’s more plot device than character, and because of that I bonded with her less. I would have liked to have spent more time with Dandy. She was basically Nancy Drew, ready to crack this case wide open, and I loved it. The few purposes Cass served could have been assigned to Dandy. (My guess is that the author didn’t do this because he didn’t want this book to be categorized as young adult.) Secondly, I’m still not sure what I think about the twist. Yes, it threw me for a loop, but it kind of almost made me mad. Once I realized what I as happening I muttered, “Are you KIDDING me?!” I can’t decide if I feel like the author played unfairly or if I feel stupid for not figuring it out.

Anywho, if you imagined yourself finding buried pirate treasure in Technicolor, you might give this book a chance.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. The Treasure Hunter’s Club will be published October.

Welcome to Maple Bay in Nova Scotia, a quaint little seaside town that has long attracted tourists with its history of pirates and a legend of a hidden treasure. Three strangers get tangled with the town’s secrets that soon turn out deadly. Peter Barnette has lived a dull life on the West Coast for most of his 40 years, when out of the blue, he gets an invitation from his grandmother he never met to visit her at Bellwoods, the family mansion in Maple Bay. Having nothing to lose, he makes his way to the other side of the country to find out about his roots. Cass Johnson unexpectedly lands a yearlong house sitting job in Maple Bay for one of her father’s oldest friend. As an unsuccessful writer, and after a breakup with her boyfriend, her expensive life in New York seems to be at an end and she grabs the opportunity. And then there is Dandy, a 17-year old local girl whose beloved grandfather just passed away. He left her information about a mysterious historical society that sparks her curiosity. Unaware of each other’s efforts, their are about to solve the town’s greatest mystery and five families’ darkest secrets.
The story is told from three POV’s, one in the first person and two on the third person. I liked the writing style and couldn’t put the book down. I thought I had it figured out halfway through but in all honesty did not see the twist at the end coming. At times it was a little hard to keep up with all the characters and names as the story covered several families’ past and present for over a century. Overall, a suspenseful, entertaining mystery with a historical touch. Dandy was my favorite character, atta girl!
Thank you Netgalley, @Groveatlantic and Mr Tom Ryan for the opportunity to read this advance copy. I truly enjoyed it and the above is my honest review and my own opinion.

About halfway through this, I needed to look up if the author here was primarily a YA author before this, and was correct. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but this really reads like YA (which also isn't a bad thing, but this wouldn't have been something I'd have picked if I had known it was the case).

There's one or two too many shifting perspectives happening in this, without enough distinction to keep the reader from getting muddled up with who's speaking. The choice to make one of those perspectives first-person while the rest are third-person felt odd until a twist got revealed 80% of the way through this that helped that choice make sense, even if the main plotline of the book was now even more of a mess. There's also a YA author character that seems to mostly be an outlet for the author's own frustrations with being a YA author?

There's not a lot to latch onto with this book - it feels written to try and capture the same market that's reading cozy-thrillers like Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, but it lacks the warmth/real camaraderie that series has in spades.

Thank you to the author, Atlantic Monthly Press and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this one. Billed as a murder mystery, I found it quite YA in tenor, and a bit too reliant on plot devices such as "unexpected" twists, mysterious diary entries, inexplicable messages from deceased people and hair-raising coincidences. The story is told in three different POVs, which is very confusing at first, particularly as one is first person and the other two are third person. There is also a romance shoe-horned into the narrative, not really a good fit. I did love the setting, both the town and the house Bellwood, and the character of Dandy. Overall, a quick read but lacking in suspense for those looking for a real murder mystery.

Over 200 years ago, a pirate ship battle ended with a hidden treasure that would put Maple Bay, Nova Scotia on the map for treasure hunters everywhere. After generations of mystery, heartbreak, and secret societies, Cass, Dandy, and Peter come together to find out all the secrets that Maple Bay is hiding.

This adventure story proves that Goonies never say die- they just grow up and start reading adventure books.

The characters in this story are phenomenal, from main characters to side characters. Each character you meet has a quirky yet loveable side to them, even the grumpy grumps that seem to inhabit this little town.

There are multiple POVs and timelines in this book, which can seem a little confusing at first, but the reader can easily slip into the different timelines. The setting is so thoughtfully described that the reader can easily see the beach and and feel the breeze.

While this story has a thrilling mystery to discover, it's really driven by the characters and the growth each one of them goes through until the very end. You can't help but to grow fond of everyone and want nothing but happiness for each character.

What happened to the Obelisk treasure? Dandy, Cass, and Peter all find themselves wrapped up in the mystery and the hunt that has gone on for a century-ever since, as you'll learn early on-five boys discovered the pirate's booty. That's the last spoiler from me. This is a twisty one, moving back and forth over three time frames. I'll admit to having struggled a bit in spots to keep it all straight-the who's who-because the names repeat. Cass, a writer who is house sitting and trying to write her second book, decides to write about the treasure. Peter is the long lost grandson of Mirabel, whose family owned much of the town. Dandy is a teen whose beloved grandfather just died, leaving her clues. Oh- and murders! Keep with this one because there's a big surprise. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read that kept me guessing.

This was a pretty good book. It did start off, pretty slow, making it hard to get into, but about a third of the way into the book it was picking up again. I think it was a little bit juvenile for my liking, but other than that the book was pretty good. It had a nice flow to it.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Maple Bay, Nova Scotia, has been drawing treasure hunters for decades, looking for a lost pirate treasure. Peter has been summoned to the town to meet his estranged family. Cass lands a housesitting job, and teenaged Dandy is struggling to cope with the loss of her grandfather. The three of them come together to learn the secrets the town is hiding, but when the body count begins to rise, they realize they may be in over their heads.

This book’s blurb caught my eye, and I’m glad I took the time to read it. Admittedly, it was a bit slow at first, but I’ve never yet given up on an ARC, so I kept going. After all the characters and their backgrounds were established, the story began to pick up, making it harder to put down. There were a lot of twists and turns along the way, and I was unable to piece everything together until just before it was revealed in the book. The motive behind it all was sad, but it made perfect sense.

I did not get the impression that there will be more books featuring these three main characters, but if there are, I’ll be glad to read them.

Another mystery with an interesting premise that has questionable construction. Three people converge on a small New England town famous for the rumor of buried pirate treasure. Each person has a past and wants to re-invent themselves but become caught up in the promise of fabulous wealth. Peter is the heir of a mansion and sees this as his escape from a worthless life. Cass is a failed author who stumble into a wonderful house-sitting gig and Dandy is a 17-year-old townie who has a connection to The Treasure Hunters Club, a group determined to solve the treasure mystery. The club has been in existence since the early 1920s but now they are dying off, maybe because of murder? I found the back and forth time frames confusing to follow as the author seems to only provide first names of characters who are related as grandparent, offspring or simply cquaintances and it's difficult to determine who is on stage in each chapter. The final scenes really strain credibilty as the author tries too hard to deceive the reader.

Dnf at 60%

I was really looking forward to reading this but it just seemed a bit all over the place. I felt like we were being told the same thing about the older treasure hunters all the time and not actually getting anywhere.

Thank you to the publishers for the arc it just wasn't for me.

This is a fun and quick read. I have to admit the idea of a treasure hunt is one of the reasons I wanted to read this. Plus, I really enjoyed Keep This to Yourself, by the same author.

I didn't really have vibes of Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone. I think that part of the marketing is off. But I did feel the Goonies vibes in the book. It's in the sense of adventure and the characters, Dandy more than any other character. In this book, Dandy is in high school and she is smack bang in the middle of the treasure hunt and adventure. I have to say her story line is amazing, definitely the best in the book. There are two other main story lines, Peter and Cass. Peter's is very intriguing but Cass came across more juvenile that her age in the book. Her POV is still vital and engaging, but maybe needed a more mature narrative voice.

This book is all about the thrill of the hunt, and it reminds me of episodes of The Curse of Oak Island I've seen here and there. It also has some great surprises in store. Read this if you just want a fun adventure with some thrills along the way. It's a great escape for a few hours.

3.5 stars - this was a fun story that was the adult Goonies story of my dreams.

I enjoyed the treasure hunt that spanned generations. All of the characters were so interesting but there were a lot to keep track of and some didn’t do much to move the plot. I enjoyed the twists (which I did NOT guess!) so that was a lot of fun - I love not guessing all of the twists right up front.

Overall this was a fun treasure hunt and I’m glad I got to participate!

Dandy, Cass, and Peter find themselves gaining entry into a special club- one that for decades has focused on finding the treasure hidden in Maple Bay. They each have found their way to this coastal town in Nova Scotia differently- one lives there, one is invited there, and one lived there long ago and has found his way back. The Bellwood’s Mansion has been hiding secrets all along… the unraveling will keep you on your toes. @tomryanauthor I didn’t see half of these twists and turns coming!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

@netgalley and @groveatlantic thank you so much for this #advancedreaderscopy - pub date is 10/15/24

Mystery. Secrets. Families. Treasure. Enjoyable. Clever. 3/5.
Didn't love this book, but didn't hate it.

Well, this book has a sort of local legend that involves pirates and a treasure, a secret kept for years, and generations of families tied to this. Plus, some other dark mysteries. The thing, for me, was that one of the main characters wasn't appealing at all. And there were a lot of things that were either clichés or pretty obvious. But, on the other hand, some characters (even secondary) were quite interesting, as well as some things that happens, and the writing style, structure and climax were well done. So, thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for this ARC, and congratulations to the author.

This is an amazing book! It immediately pulled me in with its rich descriptions & the promise of buried treasure. The three main characters all come to the treasure hunt through different means & each of their stories would be compelling alone. When they come together, it’s gets even better. Dandy is my favorite! The added bonus of journal entries from the past was illuminating. I loved the town of Maple Bay, the homes, the beaches, all lush & enticing sounding. I don’t know if this is a stand alone novel or the beginning of a series. The author has created a wonderful template of characters & location, if this is just the start. This is easily one of my favourite books for the year. The ending was had such perfect, surprising twists!

The blurb immediately drew me in. I expected to love this wholeheartedly.

It fell a little flat for me, but it may just be a me thing. I DNF’d it early on because the writing felt very juvenile. And I was already confused with the characters and switches in POVs.

I think a lot of people will enjoy this book, so definitely give it a chance. However, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy!

The Treasure Hunters Club is a fun read with twists and turns. Set in a cosy coastal town, three characters (newcomers Peter and Cass, and teenager Dandy) seek un unravel the mystery of the Obelisk treasure. Though the story is told from three (or four?) POVs, there are a lot of characters over multiple generations to keep track.. The first half is paced a bit slow, but necessary for the world-building.

We first meet Dandy (Danielle) and Grandy (her grandfather) while they're out searching for treasure on the beach in Maple Bay. This is where we first hear about the Obelisk Treasure that is supposedly hidden somewhere in the sand and ocean surrounding Maple Bay.

The book then moves forward and Grandy has passed away. There is a strong level of grief that really comes through Dandy's character and her relationship with her grandfather is one of my favorite aspects of this story. We also then meet Peter and Cass, both of whom are struggling in their own ways and are called to Maple Bay for reasons that seem a little too good to be true, but both arrive in Maple Bay with high hopes.

One aspect I appreciated in this story is the theme of family and atonement. Whether a family by blood or by choice, we all have complex relationships that ebb and flow and this story includes several different types of relationships, the consequences of past actions, and how we try to correct our mistakes and move forward.

The one issue I had with this story was the number of characters. It started to feel overwhelming trying to keep track of everyone, who was related to whom, and how they fell into the story. Even minor characters seemed to pop up frequently, and it felt a bit distracting for me. As a caveat, many of the characters are related but unfortunately, they don't have similar names, so this is where it started to feel a bit chaotic.

The last 25% of this story is where the bulk of the thrills are, and if you enjoy a slow burn, you'll enjoy this one. This story has a complete ending, which is great with all of the character development that the author created. It's a lot to pack up but the author does a nice job at making sure no one is forgotten.

If you enjoy a slow-burn, centuries-old mystery, with a diverse cast of characters, you'll enjoy "The Treasure Hunters Club".

I'm not really sure what to make of this. I feel like the cover and blurb hurt it by making us expect something super adventurous and fun and exciting and it's just not that. It's cosy and enjoyable but it moves pretty slow. The characters weren't unlikable but I didn't feel particularly attached to any of them. If anything, what I loved most was when we heard the voices of the older generation. The promised 'secret society' isn't nearly as exciting or scandalous or dark as you'd expect. The 'pirate lore' is barely there. In fact, it seemed like there wasn't that much treasure hunting at all. I also wasn't a fan of the multiple POVs with some in first-person (which I tend to hate) and some in third-person.
This is hard to review though because I honestly quite liked it; it was not at all unpleasant to read. But it also was not at all what I went in for, and I perhaps wouldn't have gone for it had the whole presentation of the book not made it sound like something quite different. In my opinion, this should be marketed as more of a small-town, low-stakes cosy mystery than a rollicking adventure with plenty of excitement.