4 Stars

The introduction to this book is very good – and informative.

This book is an in-depth study of the history of the treasure hunts on Oak Island, Nova Scotia. It begins with the discovery of the site by a boy. He enlisted his two friends and the three boys attempted to explore the shaft in 1795.

It traces the various individuals and groups who further attempted to excavate the site. All to no avail, however, as the excavation proved to be frustrating and seemingly hopeless. Some people even lost their lives over the whole situation.

This is a very well researched and written story. It goes into great deatail how the author went about his research and what conclusions he drew. The book is easy to read and understand for both the aficionado of such mysteries, as well as the serious reader. It explains in detail the steps Mr. Sullivan took to seek his facts.

I want to thank NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Atlantic monthly Press for forwarding to me a copy of this informative and most interesting book for me to read, enjoy and review.

I wanted to read this book because the legend of Oak Island is something that has fascinated me for years. I confess I am no fan of the TV series, which I find as exciting as watching paint dry. The real fascination lies in the history of this place, a little island off the coast of Nova Scotia that has lured people from all over the globe, from presidents, to movie stars to dreamers who believe they will be the one to find the treasure. And the treasure? It could be anything from a pirate’s looted gold and jewels to the plays of William Shakespeare (who were really written by Christopher Marlowe, and this will be proven when the treasure is recovered). People have lost everything searching for this elusive treasure, including their lives, and that’s the real story here. Sullivan, who first covered Oak Island for Rolling Stone, covers the human aspect of the money or water pit and does a damn good job of showcasing the human circus that has surrounded Oak Island for hundreds of years