Review By Gabrielle

With twists and turns numerous and plenty, The Treasure Hunters Club is a fun read.

Favourite Quote:

Dear old Dandy,

It might seem strange to get a letter when you weren’t expecting one, especially considering the letter writer has bit the biscuit, but I was always a master of surprise and spectacle, as you well know, so here I am with a surprise missive from (queue the Vincent Price voiceover) BEYOND. THE. GRAVE.

Goodreads Synopsis: 

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 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.

I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. Like many children of the 80s, I loved The Goonies movie and I heard this book had similar vibes. And it sort of does. Or at least, parts of it do. The book is told from alternating points of view and the chapters told from Dandy’s perspective definitely had a Goonies feel to them.

Out of all the characters, Dandy was my clear favourite. Mourning the loss of her grandfather, with whom she had a very special relationship, she discovers one last little present he left her. His trusty satchel full of practical tools that he took everywhere with him, and inside, a map and a letter. This sets Dandy on a path to find the fabled buried treasure of Maple Bay. She’s a regular Nancy Drew about it, and I loved her dedication. Tom has largely written YA to date, so it comes as no surprise that Dandy is the standout character.

Meanwhile, the adults in the story are a bit more of a mess; both of them at a crossroads in their life. Cass has written a book with great promise, but with underwhelming sales, the sequel is cancelled by her publisher. She’s about to move home to Milwaukee when she gets an offer to housesit in Nova Scotia for a year. When she arrives in Maple Bay, inspiration hits as she learns about the treasure. She’ll learn all she can and write about it. For his part Peter, now in his forties is not thriving. Working a dead end job on the West Coast and living with a roommate, his life leaves lots of room for improvement. When a letter arrives from his long lost grandmother, he decides to leave everything behind and move across the country.

I absolutely loved the setting of Maple Bay, Nova Scotia. Tom does a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the place and all the gorgeous scenery of this coastal town. I had such a clear image in my head as I read. I love when books are set in Canada, being Canadian myself. Nova Scotia is a special place and Tom did a tremendous job of convincing readers of it.

The plot moves along at a solid pace. Fast enough to keep me interested and turning the pages, but slow enough to still qualify as a cozy mystery. At several points I thought I had the mystery figured out but then something shocking would happen and I’d be back to the drawing board with my theories. There are so many red herrings in this story; I loved every minute of it.

A super fun read, The Treasure Hunters Club will keep you guessing, right until the very end.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.