Full disclosure - I received this book from Net Galley. As well, I consider Tom Ryan a good friend. However, I did not tell him I received a review copy of 'The Treasure Hunters Club'. My fear was I wouldn't enjoy this book (I have no idea why I had this fear) and then I simply wouldn't have written a review and carried on with this deep secret of disliking something of Tom's and never saying a word.
I'm happy I don't have to do this.

This is exactly the book I was looking for at that moment. Which is bizarre as I began it going 'I don't want to read another mystery right now, but I want to read what Tom wrote....' I've just finished the most recent Lehane and the soon-to-be-published Richard Price (Lazarus Man, which is, as well, great) and felt like reading something more straightforward without any level of 'mystery' at its core.

Instead, I got into this and could not put it down. I loved Cass, Dandy, and Peter. I loved the way they came together, suspicious of one another (as you'd be) but all open to the experience and ready for a change. This was, in so many ways, the thrust of the novel. A second chance, no matter how old you are.

Maple Bay is the perfect location. I can feel Cape Breton's salty air on every page. The action was just right, in amount and pacing. But what really stood out for me was the sense that these people exist. A good mystery certainly needs to be fantastic at times. Going beyond what might actually happen. And there are those elements here. But the characters were so well crafted that by the end of the book I felt like I was reading about the adventures of some old friends.

Tom Ryan is an exceptional writer of YA novels. And it was with great anticipation (and as noted before, trepidation) that I opened this book. Good writing is good writing, and all of the great things Tom does in his YA have transferred to this adult novel. I think we can say that Tom Ryan is a great writer, and leave it at that.

The only downside I can see is that this does not release until October and has been for me, even this early in the season, the perfect Summer read.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. In many ways I found it a bit clunky and terribly repetitive. On the other hand -- I stayed up until 3 am racing to the finish to read the conclusion. I did love the gradual unraveling of the story - but felt like some pieces got to be very repetitive without actually moving the story forward. Was it an enjoyable read - Yes! Was it slow in some spots? Yes!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for the ARC

A riveting and thrilling mystery novel. It was fast-paced and twisty and an enjoyable read. It was fun to follow the our two main characters, especially because of the age gap.

A Tom Ryan twist worthy of KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF!
I devoured this book and was sad for it to end (but oh so satisfying). Cannot recommend it more highly. Mystery fans get on this one

Prior to requesting this book from NetGalley I wasn't familiar with the author, but the fact that he's written several young adult novels makes sense, as other than some occasional salty language, the story does play out more like a Hardy Boys adventure than an adult book. It was mostly a well-paced, riveting read, though it goes back-and-forth between first person perspective for some characters and third person for others which is a bit clunky at times, and there are readings from a decades-old journal that really could have skipped the fluff and stuck to the more pertinent parts. There are two pretty shocking twists that occur around the same time in the latter portions of the novel, one of which doesn't go the way it seems it's going to go and the other is straight out of nowhere, and I'm still on the fence as to how clever and/or silly it is. And one of the the main threads of the whole story, though it helps keep you guessing as to who is who and where are things going, honestly could have been completely left out of the book, as it's utterly unnecessary to the plot. I mostly enjoyed the book, but those two elements that just made the story longer really bugged me by the end. 3.5/5*

I really enjoyed this book, it has an incredibly fun and unique storyline with lots of twists. This was packed with action and suspense and I didn't want to put this down.

I really enjoyed this book. The main characters had such unique pathways as to how they were important to Maple Bay (and each other) and there were a few twists that I did not see coming. There were a lot of characters (mentioned, not actually present/alive) and I could have benefitted from a family tree or chart of who belonged to who at one point, but no other complaints. It had a strong adventure element as well as a mystery/thriller flare. There was even a dash of romance that I really saw going a different way. But everyone loves a hunt for some pirate treasure!

An action-packed and heartwarming treasure hunt with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the end

I loved this murder mystery, particularly due to the setting at the beach. It was entertaining and thrilling. Loved the twists.

I couldn't help but be captivated by this novel. There is something very beautiful and romantic about the authors descriptions, especially of the landscape of Maple Bay. It reminded me a bit of Three Pines. I can immediately imagine myself there, enjoying the reclusiveness, the nature.

The story follows three distinct characters – Peter, Cass, and Dandy – each with their own unique paths and relatable experiences. Dandy, with her childlike curiosity and love for her grandparents, reminds me of my younger self. Cass represents the struggles of finding one's place in the world, particularly in the workplace, a challenge many of us can relate to. And Peter's journey through loss and uncertainty resonates deeply, as we all grapple with the uncertainties of life.

The mystery aspect of the book was incredibly well-done too. Peter's sudden change of fate, with the promise of a new start and a potential inheritance, is a dream come true. I won't spoil anything, but the whole lost treasure angle tapped into that inner child in me who loves a good adventure and solving puzzles. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, the author threw in a twist that completely blindsided me.

Ultimately, the book drives home an important message about not letting greed and the pursuit of material wealth blind us to what truly matters – the people we love. Friendships, loyalty, trust – those are the real treasures in life. I appreciated that.
Now, I will say I wish there was a bit more interaction between the three younger characters. A lot of the story focused on backstories and the older generation. Don't get me wrong, it was all necessary to the plot, but I did like them together. The author's excellent character development and pacing more than made up for it. I found myself completely invested, and by the 70% mark, I was dying to know how it all wrapped up.

Overall, this was a gripping, emotional read that I devoured in one go. It merged mystery and nostalgia in a way that felt deeply personal and relatable. If you're looking for a book that will keep you turning pages while also tugging at your heart, add this one to your list!

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. This review reflects my own, unbiased opinion.

A fun and fast-paced read that kept you interested from the introduction of the first main character. The shifting perspectives of the different characters and how they eventually intertwine was well done. Surprising twists that will keep you guessing until the very end.

This was kind of a cozy read with a mix of thriller and murder mystery elements.

We follow along with our three characters, of which Dandy was my favourite. However, what I didn't like is that sometimes the POV's switch and I would be going "wait, who is this now?" Think the switches could have been done a bit better. And my personal pet peeve is ending so many chapters on a cliffhanger.

The part that I liked the most is learning about the history and what happened, and it's strange that it's the second time that happened to me with a murder mystery ARC.

For the mysteries and the twists part, particularly at the end - they did manage to surprise me, I even loudly exclaimed NO. All in all, I think some stuff in the book could have been better and some things I didn't like are my personal pet peeves when reading. Pick this up if you want a mix of a cozy town with a murder mystery.

I had a really fun time with “The Treasure Hunters Club” by Tom Ryan. It was a nice light read that cleansed my pallet. I enjoyed reading about the characters, and uncovering small town drama.

I love how the town was depicted by Ryan. I had a lot of fun experiencing all of the different people and places that made up this small town in Nova Scotia. It had all of the characters you could hope for: a loveable grandfather, a rich and closed off grandmother, a scrappy young detective, and a busy body.

If you aren’t a fan of very modern references placed in a book these are definitely present. Mentions of 4chan, the steve buscemi “how do you do fellow kids” meme, and Emily in Paris are just a few. However, the book wasn’t so full of them that it was hard to read.

The ending section of the book was the highlight. Before this, I had felt that the book was somewhat lacking in the twists and turns that I desired. However, the twist brought the story together. It made a lot of aspects of the book make sense.

I will post my reviews on social media within 2 weeks of the release date.

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

Thank you to #NetGalley for letting me read this ARC.

I LOVED this read! It was the same kind of reading experience as reading "The Famous Five" by Enid Blyton was when I was a kid - pure joy!

Following three main characters, with very different perspectives and agendas, as they try to navigate the mystery of the lost treasure and what looks like several covered up murders in the very small Nova Scotian town they all happen to be in at the same time. The book had everything I could ever want in a vacation read, and more!

Perhaps the characters could have been a bit more rounded out, and perhaps a couple of the twists were a liiitle bit far-fetched. But I don't really mind it as I was so very enthralled anyways.

The Treasure Hunters Club was a cute little read. It has all the parts of a cozy mystery and the character’s personalities were good to see throughout the book. The setting was very cool!

A legend, a long lost treasure and a small town community that is shaped by its mystery. I liked the idea and how the hunt for the treasure affected so many lives differently, depending on their social status, age, or character. While reading the book's first third, I always thought I would have preferred a different angle to the story. The book centers around a group of people who are about to discover the adventures of their great-grandparents. I would have loved to follow them as they were kids in the 1920s. But I wasn't at all invested in the actions of the contemporary group. The cozy mystery here seemed to be just too cozy. There seemed to be no edges to the characters. Everybody seemed to find their soulmate, friend, or love interest at first sight. And the mystery was in danger to drown in all the coziness. Until suddenly, the cozy is over - the game is on.
To summarise my feelings: The story drags on for too long until something exciting happens, and the reveal is too wordy, but it still has a lot of exciting elements and some unexpected twists.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Treasure Hunters Club releases October 15, 2024

Family legacies, a secret society, hidden treasure, and multiple murders make up this story, except there was virtually no treasure hunting at all???
This could have been so good but the way everything wrapped up was extremely lackluster.
There a lots of characters to focus on, yet most of the delivery is through large sections of diary entries or letters from several decades ago, and I felt like there wasn’t enough room to completely flesh out existing characters.
The Nova Scotia setting is what initially drew me to this, and it ended up being the most memorable part.

The Treasure Hunters Club is perfect for fans of The Goonies who are now in their 30s and 40s. The story takes place in a picturesque Nova Scotia small town that's lore is centered around a missing pirate treasure that's buried somewhere nearby.

The story follows a few different characters as their lives converge around this treasure, as well as their ancestors who were also messily involved. This book's mysteries are twisting and elaborate. Coupled with the fun town, it's a perfect read for a sunny, summer day on the beach longing for adventure.

I found aspects of the ending a bit unsatisfying. Without giving away spoilers, there were a couple reveals that, as a mystery reader, I felt cheated out of the ability of solving. Overall though, I will recommend this book to others and enjoyed the read.

Dandy Feltzen has grown up with the story of the lost pirate treasure, Peter Barnett is a long lost relative coming home, and Cass Jones has washed up in Maple Bay, Nova Scotia by the luck of a housesitting job. All three should brace for a collision of treasure, secrets, old murders and new. Will they reveal all the secrets in time to save themselves?
Great characters and a great mystery with a wild twist, and a little bit of romance thrown in. I would definitely visit Maple Bay and it’s book store, of course.
Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic for this DRC.
#TheTreasureHuntersClub #NetGalley

A crew of outsiders find themselves in Maple Bay, Nova Scotia for different reasons. They didn’t come for treasure, but the town’s legend of shpwrecked gold is bigger than they are and each person gets pulled into the fray. The tale that follows is full of generational mystery, murder, lost and hidden clues, and the frightening reality of human nature.

I don’t even know what this book is - but I loved it! It was a thriller and a mystery, a well-played layout of clues and a mishmash of letters, journals, and secrets passed between people. I feel like until the climax and big reveal of the book happened, I was definitely kept in the dark and was so surprised I couldn’t believe it. I loved the Nova Scotia setting, the way the new generation of treasure hunters came together, and the lineage of family stories/trauma throughout the book informing the present day. The entire tale was a bit cinematic and I think it would be a gripping and moody movie. I loved this book and will recommend it as a summer read to everyone!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.