Thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for an ARC of The Treasure Hunters Club in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3/5
⭐⭐⭐

I recently came across this book and was really looking forward to delving into a story about a club centered around treasure and pirates in Canada. However, it turned out that the story focused more on current events rather than exploring the club and its purpose. It felt more like a cozy mystery than a book about a secret society. If you're someone who enjoys uncovering clues to discover more about a hidden treasure and its members, this book might be just what you're looking for. I hope that this story finds its audience.

I really wanted to like this book because the premise is amazing! However, this book suffers from very poor execution of the concept.

The narrative centers on three people: Peter, who is nearly 40 and has nothing to show for his life and no money, who gets a letter from the grandmother he didn't know existed to invite him to Maple Bay, Nova Scotia, to the family home. Dandy, a seventeen year old young woman whose grandfather has just died, and he left her a cryptic set of clues to the famous Obelisk Treasure. And Cass, a struggling author who gets an opportunity to house sit in Maple Bay. As each of them start to investigate they want to figure out where the treasure might be hidden.

The writing in this book is very juvenile. It's disjointed and the flow is disrupted with abrupt changes of point-of-view between the three main characters, with no warning as to when this is going to happen. It sometimes will happen in mid-narrative so that Peter's first person narrative in one paragraph switches to Cass's third person narrative in the next paragraph.

Dandy does not speak or act like any teenager I've ever met. I thought she acted about twelve and yet her dialogue is stilted and seemed more like an adult at times. There's also one of my least favorite narrative styles, which is info dumps disguised as journal entries. It takes the reader out of the action and makes it telling rather than showing. And there were way too many characters from the past, the present, and some of them overlapping with nicknames. It was nearly impossible to keep them all straight and how they were connected.

There is one twist that comes from absolutely left field and seemed so bizarre, and it happens and then it's over super quickly. With all of the buildup and long exposition, to have what little action occurs take place in only a few pages seemed anti-climactic. Plus: (view spoiler)

I also could not figure out why it needed to be mentioned over and over (and over) again that Peter was gay. They could be driving along and then all of a sudden, it's mentioned. For no reason. It was seriously eye-rolling. And what was with the need to add romance for Cass? It wasn't like we didn't have enough going on.

Unfortunately, for all of the potential of this treasure hunting plot, this book just does not deliver in an enjoyable way. It took me a very long time to get through it because nothing about it drew me back.

The Treasure Hunters Club hit all the marks for me. Liken anything to The Goonies and I'll give it a shot.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy.

The pacing in this felt off. For something billed as being similar to The Goonies, I expected more adventure, more excitement, more... well, treasure hunting. But there's barely any of that, instead the story moves between cozy mystery, domestic drama, young adult coming-of-age, and historical fiction. The transitions between POV characters are clunky, particularly once the twist is revealed (I'm still not entirely sure that even made sense, from a writing/style standpoint), and the actual plot never really takes off until the book is almost over.

This is a perfectly fine, sometimes even blandly pleasant, distraction for the cool autumn months, but it didn't live up to the expectations set by its blurbs (I mean, come on.... Riley Sager, AJ Finn, and Alex Finlay?!) and its synopsis.

I really enjoyed this book! Who doesn’t like the thought of looking for buried treasure?! This book was full of surprises. It had a few twists that caught me off guard.
It was a good mystery!

This is definitely *my type* of book. As someone who is solidly GenX and grew up watching movies like <i>The Goonies</i> and <i>Indiana Jones</i> and reading Nancy Drew and Amelia Peabody books, I am a sucker for a murder mystery with pirates and treasure.

I love stories of towns with lore, and, as a librarian, would love to be able to be the town archivist and holder of secrets.

The cast of characters - three people who are on the hunt for rumored treasure, but have never met - is provide multiple POVs and each has a unique voice.

The stakes are relatively low, but the book was entertaining from start to finish, and I genuinely enjoyed the read.

You guys, this is, like, such a fab read! It’s, like, a total cozy mystery that just wraps you up in all the feels. The characters are super relatable, and I was totally rooting for them the whole time! Peter, Dandy, and Cass are, like, an unlikely trio, but their stories totally blend together in this, like, epic way that kept me on my toes!

I can't even with the twists! I thought I had it all figured out, but then—boom! Mind blown! This book is perfect for a chill evening read when you're just, like, wanting something light and fun. Seriously, you’ve got to check it out! It’s, like, a cozy mystery that’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside! ✨

A huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.

So this book took me a lot longer to read than normal. To be honest, I just wasn’t in the mood to read it. I’d pick it up randomly and read a few chapters at a time. But even with big gaps between reading, I never forgot what was happening as the story is so different to anything else I’ve read.

I really enjoyed the premise of this book, and thought it was rather unique. Not only is it about treasure hunting now, but it’s following how the treasure was originally found years ago by the characters ancestors. I loved how there were so many points of view, it allows you to see so much more of what’s going on and how each character is feeling about it all.

There is a bit of a twist at the end and I have to admit that I didn’t see it coming at all (not that I ever can in these kinds of books). It was so interesting and I literally couldn’t put the book down at that point, I just had to know what was going to happen next.

I’d like to give this book another read sometime in the future, as I think I’d appreciate more of what was happening (and possibly see more of the clues) now I know how it all wraps up. It’s definitely an interesting one and I think those who enjoy a good mystery and treasure hunt would love this too!

For readers who:
✨️ loved The Goonies as a child
✨️ never get tired of a good treasure hunt
✨️ appreciate mystery, suspense, and adventure

Synopsis: In a small town in Nova Scotia, there's a legend of an old pirate treasure, the Obelisk. For generations, there's been people hunting for it. Peter (the grandson of the wealthiest treasure hunter), Cass (a housesitter for a local family) and Dandy (the 17 year old granddaughter of a treasure hunter) all find themselves connected as they look for the treasure and try to solve the mysteries surrounding it. But will they solve the mystery before the bodies start to pile up?

My Thoughts: the book started with a verrrry grown-up Goonies feel. It felt a little bit light and fluffy - even the first person to be offed didn't seem that sinister. There were likeable characters, characters that were supposed to be likeable but didnt come across that way, little clues, etc. But I was not expecting the dark turn it took 2/3 of the way through- it really tuned into a thriller at that point!
If you like The Goonies and you like psychological thrillers, The Treasure Hunters Club by @tomryanauthor is a really interesting mash-up of the two. I enjoyed the wild ride, and I'll recommend it to you too!

On sale October 8 - just a couple of weeks from now. Add it to your list! (Thanks to @Netgalley and @groveatlantic for the ARC)

The Treasure Hunters Club was the perfect early fall read. The perfect blend of domestic saga with mysterious twists and turns, Tom Ryan has read a book that's easy to gift to just about any reader. I had so many Goonies flashbacks while reading, which of course is an added bonus.

Fast paced, great character building. The Treasure Hunters Club is going to be a favorite of many this year.

The Treasure Hunters Club was a delight. I love unpredictability, and this book had it in spades. The different timelines, the twisty plot, the evil you don't see coming - everything was fantastic. Tom Ryan has written a book suitable for mystery lovers, as well as those looking for messy family sagas.

Loved it! I started this book with no expectations but was quickly swept away with the whole treasure adventure. There are a lot of characters to sort out but the intrigue just keeps growing. The titled, short chapters are told from various unidentified POVs; each delving further into the storyline. All seems straightforward until a major twist is introduced and ‘all hell breaks loose’! This was a fast, 2day read for me that was very different from anything that I’ve read in a long time. I highly recommend it!
Thank You to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and Tom Ryan for the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy this ARC

I just finished reading "Treasure Hunters" by Tom Ryan, and I was hooked from the beginning. The story follows a group of kids who stumble upon a hidden treasure map, and their adventure to uncover the treasure is packed with twists, excitement, and some great friendships.

One of the things I loved most is how relatable the characters are. They’re all quirky in their own ways, and I found myself rooting for them the whole time. Plus, the humor is on point! It’s light-hearted but still has some meaningful moments that really hit home.

I couldn’t agree more with the reviews I saw on Amazon and Goodreads. This book is a perfect blend of adventure and humor—I seriously couldn’t put it down! The characters felt like friends by the end, and the treasure hunt kept me on the edge of my seat.

Overall, if you’re looking for an adventurous read that’s fun and full of heart, "Treasure Hunters" is definitely worth picking up. I can’t wait to read another book by Tom Ryan.

Thank you for the complimentary review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Treasure Hunters Club.

A combination of The Goonies and Oak Island, this is about three very different people with ties to a hidden treasure, pulled together to discover the truth and dark secrets of the seaside town of Maple Bay.

I love The Goonies so I was stoked to read this, but the narrative was cozier than I expected, the writing YA-ish to me.

The premise was good but the story was bogged down with three different POVs, Peter, Cass and Dandy.

I didn't like any of the characters, except Dandy and Grandy, and the latter is deceased.

Peter is a dullard, about as exciting as a sack of flour, and the author decides to give Cass a romantic storyline.

There doesn't need to be romance in every book!

Dandy is described as weird and strange. Why? Because she's inquisitive and asking questions and interviewing people?

This is the fault of the author, stereotyping a young woman, who is strong and independent and doesn't care what others think of her, searching for answers to a mystery that has confounded their town for decades.

The story employs the all-too common literary device by providing exposition in the form of telling the readers what happened in the past with diary entries.

As a result, there's a lack of urgency and suspense, even in the present day as Dandy tries to discover where the treasure is hidden.

I'm not a fan of the twist at the end, though I kind of saw it coming. If it had been written in a better way, I might have appreciated the twist more. Maybe not, since Peter was so boring.

Also, I found some of the writing repetitive and Peter says 'far-fetched' a half dozen times.

Murder, treasure and decades long secrets turn the seaside town of Maple Bay, Nova Scotia upside down with twists you won’t see coming. It follows three perspectives - Cass, a writer looking for inspiration, Dandy, a teenager fuelled by her grandfathers memory, and Ricky, a man reconnecting with his past. I enjoy multi-pov stories but they can be tricky when you prefer some over others. Personally, I didn’t love Cass’s sections and felt it took me out of the rest of the story. On the other hand I really enjoyed Grandy and Dandy’s characters and felt she had the most depth and realism to her character.

This one took me some time to get into. I found it too long winded in the setup and the story dragged but the final 1/3 was my favourite. Some other highlights were the setting, which felt very immersive, and the inclusion of Henry’s diary entries. There is also really good twist that I didn’t see coming at all.

Overall this was a fun one but I think it took a bit too long to get to the good stuff.

I liked the authors style of writing, the setting of the novel, and the characters involved. The dual time line was done well, especially when giving us the history of the 5 boys when they were young. I found the roommate angle implausible, and felt it took away from the best parts of,the book.

Cozy-ish Mystery in which three strangers find themselves working together to uncover a seaside Canadian town's two centuries old mystery and unearth shocking truths.

4/5 stars: This is Ryan's Cozy-ish Mystery stand-alone that takes in Nova Scotia, Canada and follows three strangers – a 40 year-old man meeting his estranged grandmother, a grieving 17 year-old girl and a mid-twenties writer dejected by her first book's reception – who find themselves working together to find a seaside Canadian town's two centuries old lost treasure and unearth a deadly mystery and shocking truths that may or may not still be buried there. With plenty of twists and turns, Ryan has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. I really appreciate how Ryan's plot unfolds and the clever resolution. Written in multiple POVs, Ryan's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. Peter, Dandy and Cass are all uniquely voiced and I really loved getting to know them and learn their stories. Additionally, I love the journal entries and all the characters in the different “timelines”. Ryan touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check out the CWs. I'm a sucker for an interesting tale, a search for treasure with plenty of clues and heroes out to right the wrongs of dubious doings past and present and Ryan delivers all that and more.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Monthly Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

"Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone meets The Goonies in The Treasure Hunters Club - a rollicking murder mystery set in a seaside town filled with pirate lore, family secrets, unforgivable grudges, secret societies, and of course, a treasure lost to time.

Welcome to Maple Bay, Nova Scotia.

For nearly a century, people have ventured to the idyllic seaside town of Maple Bay in search of a legendary lost pirate treasure, but locals know there's more than just gold buried in the sand. As the paths of three strangers converge in Maple Bay, the truth is about to be blown wide open. But not before the bodies start to pile up.

Peter Barnett is rapidly approaching 40 with little to show for it when a mysterious letter invites him to Maple Bay and the mansion his estranged family has called home for generations.

Seventeen-year-old Dandy Feltzen is isolated and adrift following the death of her beloved grandfather, until his final request and a tantalizing clue sets her on a mission to solve the mystery he spent his entire life chasing.

Cass Jones has given up on her dream of being a successful author when an unexpected opportunity lands in her lap: a housesitting gig in remote Maple Bay, where she stumbles on the perfect subject matter for her breakout book - and the handsome sailor who might be just the person to help her research it.

Peter, Dandy and Cass have never met, but they're on a collision course with each other and the mystery that has defined Maple Bay for two centuries, and none of them are prepared for the shocking truths that may or may not still be buried there."

Please say the town is really dark despite it's cutesy name.

For me, setting is what hooks me into a story. And Ryan delivered on that front. I was very interested and propelled through this book. That said, toward the second half, there were too many he said, she said, and people just saying this happened, that happened. I felt lost often and felt there wasn't much happening in the NOW. There were murdered bodies, and that barely made an impact on the small town of Maple Bay. Then the last quarter, was like in a Scooby Doo episode where the villain explains every step of how what he did, he (almost) got away with. When I saw that this author wrote YA, it seemed to make a bit more sense, but overall, I was left very dissatisfied with this. I would read a book by him again, but wasn't thrilled with how this turned out. Thank you for the opportunity to read it!

I was drawn to this book by the title and the cover - and the story drew me in even more. What a fun concept and a lovely setting for this book.
If you’re after a fun thriller esque/Agatha Christie read, then this is the one for you.
I did get a little confused with the different characters to begin with as this story is told from a few different point of views but once that was all established then it flowed nicely.
Thanks for the advance copy!