I was the lucky one to snag this one at our @calgareadsbookclub annual Christmas book exchange AND THEN a group of our book club readers had the opportunity to do a special @tandemcollectiveglobal read of it. I already had the book but I joined the chat. I sure am glad that they helped me prioritize this one.

Because overall it was really fun. It’s a different kind of myself/thriller than I’ve read, at least in a while. It had a cozy mystery feel, kindof like Antique Hunter’s guide to murder (which I still have to review. Oopsies) and elements that were reminiscent of Goonies… which always makes me happy. Don’t make me feel like a 👵🏻 by telling me you don’t know Goonies. Mmmmkay?

But I digress.

Back to our story.

There was a lot to love. I binged it.

The characters, the overall plot (I love a good treasure hunt), some family drama and long lost family, friendships with history, and a Canadian setting made for a good story overall.

At about the two third mark something happened (I don’t know how to tell this without spoilers 🙈) and it felt really sudden and out of place. And then it was over and everyone moved on too easily.

And there was a character that was probably meant to be a giant misdirection but then that was resolved too easily and it just felt weird to me.

AND THEN the ending wrapped up with something that just deserved a bit more fleshing out to make it believable.

So I just think that the editor needed to give it one more look to smooth it over, flesh it out and blend those things out a bit more.

Because it had so much good.

The review might not seem like it but I really did enjoy it. Truly. I’m still recommending it as a fun, cozy bit of entertainment and am glad I got to read it with friends. Go team!

“𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠. 𝐒𝐨𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞.”

I was so happy to receive an early copy of this book. Knowing it is a mystery set in Nova Scotia, and written by a Nova Scotian author, I couldn’t wait to dive in.

Tom Ryan’s writing is a total delight - from well-developed characters to capturing the millennial feeling of ‘being stuck’ to a clever plot that moves along at a brisk pace. His writing style has a flow that sucks you into the story easily. I absolutely loved the town of Maple Bay, which perfectly encapsulated the coastal towns that line Nova Scotia’s shoreline with its seaside views, historical buildings, Oak Island-like hidden treasure, and a cast of eclectic, fully fleshed townspeople. Each person felt like someone you’d meet in a small town in Nova Scotia, who also participate in just enough strange activity to be equally suspicious. Being told from Cass, Peter, and Dandy’s points of view (Dandy’s was my favourite), alongside some journal entries of Henry Bellwoods, kept things super interesting, especially as each character learns different elements of the Bellwoods mystery. Once the bodies start piling up, the action came fast and furious (with one twist that I only guessed two sentences before its surprising reveal!), There was one death in particular that I was truly saddened by, even though there were subtle clues that it was coming; I credit it to Ryan’s high caliber writing and characterization of what could have been.

The Treasure Hunters Club is a story of adventure, new possibilities, family, grudges, and opportunity. A mix of Nancy Drew vibes, with a Goonies-like treasure hunt, and a whole lot of fun, Tom Ryan creates a perfect fall season mystery! Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC!

This was such a fun treasure hunt of a story. With lots of twists and turns and generations old secrets, there's something new in every page.

This was a fun mystery to read, how everyone came together and the twists. It was all very interesting. The writing kept me in gaged. Thank you for the read.

Set in a small coastal town in Nova Scotia, author Tom Ryan brings together:
-a seventeen-year-old girl, Dandy, who is mourning the death of her beloved grandfather,
-Peter Bellwood Barnett, a single man who has just travelled across the country and arrived in town to connect with his estranged grandmother, and
-Cass, a thirty-ish author who is looking to write a new book after losing her publisher and home.

Ryan gives us each person's PoV as they become intrigued by the hunt for a long lost treasure.

Years earlier, four friends found a fabled pirate treasure, and reburied it, to be split amongst them later. Unfortunately, due to misunderstandings and greed, things went very wrong, with one dead, one in prison, one becoming a drunk, and the last one becoming a doctor.

Years later, Dandy's grandfather became part of a small group calling themselves the Maple Bay Historical Society; their aim is to find the lost treasure, and his last wish for her was to join the group and solve the mystery of the missing treasure.

The Society's aging members are initially reluctant and tired of their repeated failures over the years. Dandy's grandfather was the most enthusiastic and persistent of the members, who are now made up of
-Miriam Bellwood Johnson, the only remaining member of the wealthy Bellwood family, till she found Peter,
-Rose French, whose father was one of the group of boys, and who was convicted of murdering one of the others,
-Bill Jinx, a drunk who is so done with looking, and
-Dr. Frank Oakley.

Of the town newcomers, Peter is hoping to build a relationship with Miriam, Cass wants to find something to get her writing again.

Dandy wants to find the treasure as a way to remain connected to her grandfather, which is clear to Peter and Cass. All three end up meeting, and Cass decides to write about the Treasure Hunters' Club, the history of the original group of boys, and their efforts to find the treasure.

When Miriam dies suddenly, Dandy finds it suspicious. She begins poking around, putting herself in danger in the process.

This was a fun story, using different points of view and diary entries, to create a story about friends, betrayal, blackmail, and greed. The author's use of coincidences was a little contrived, but still resulted in a twisty tale that kept me reading as the bodies piled up, and the wonderful Dandy found her way to the solution.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Simon and Shuster Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher Simon and Schuster for the advanced copy of the Treasure Hunters Club.

At first when I start reading it, I could not get into it, but it was not the book, I was just in a weird place could not get into any books.

This book gave me Goonies vibes and I surely enjoyed it. I did not see the twist towards the end of the book. If you want to read about treasure set in Canada, look no further.

In a small village in Nova Scotia, talk of pirate treasure is common. Three young people from different backgrounds and parts of the country are thrown together to solve the mystery. There are several murders and many secrets as well as an old journal which reveals the truth. Fun read mostly because NS is my home.

I was on the fence about reading The Treasure Hunters Club, Tom Ryan’s latest novel. For no real reason. I just wasn’t sure if I’d want to read a book about treasure hunting. Turns out, I’m an idiot for thinking that. This book was so. Much. Freaking. Fun.

Here’s the book’s description:

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.

The novel started with the best kind of cozy mystery feel - think Richard Osman - but I had a sense there was something sinister lying underneath. So, you’d think I’d be prepared for the twist that hit late in the book. Oh, I was not. Not in the least. I’m pretty sure my jaw dropped and I exclaimed “holy shit!” as the twist was revealed. (Luckily, I was reading at home and not in a public place that frowns upon invested readers swearing in disbelief at the turn the book they’re reading has taken.)

The coziness was due, in part, to the small town setting. It was absolute perfection. I’ve never been to Nova Scotia but I really felt like I was there, plunked down in Maple Bay, getting to know it right alongside Peter and Cass. Even though it was clear some of the characters were hiding something, I loved getting to know them all. And I especially loved finding out what secrets the town had been keeping under wraps.

The novel is narrated in the first person by Peter and in third person by Cass and Dandy. You’d think it would get confusing but it was handled beautifully by Ryan. I also, somewhat surprisingly, liked the way he approached some of the chapters and how he kept the story moving. For example, Cass is going about her business in her chapter and then comes across something. Instead of continuing with her POV, Ryan switches to another character at a slightly later point in time. You don’t get Cass’s reaction until a chapter or so later. But somehow it worked. I think it extended the tension, especially later in the book when you’re really starting to realize something is seriously wrong. But what could it be?

The Treasure Hunters Club was an absolute treat of a book and I’m so glad Tom Ryan has gifted it to the world. I was so invested in the town, the characters, and the mystery. I could not have guessed the ending and the entire ride, from the first page to the last, was a joy - if you can call a book full of murder a joy!

*An egalley was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Sadly, this fell flat for me in so many ways. For one, the treasure hunt (which is what I came for), is largely off-the-page and resolved early in the book, leaving us with a story of murder and conspiracy. The characters were rather thin and boring, and the first-person POV for Peter and epistolary format throughout resulted in a lot of telling, not a lot of showing, which robbed the story of any tension or drama. Finally, for what was pitched as an adult cozy mystery, this felt very juvenile and not necessarily in a good way.

A swash-buckling mystery filled with treasure, betrayals, ghosts, murder, family secrets, kidnappings and so, SO much more. I really enjoyed this adult debut by Canadian author, Tom Ryan. It was fast-paced, layered and had some terrific twists I didn't see coming. Highly recommended if you want an entertaining mystery story that spans generations and affects five different Nova Scotia families in myriad of ways. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and physical ARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I adored this Nova Scotian Treasure hunt! The characters were fun, the mystery was mysterious and it kept be guessing to the end! This was such an enjoyable read and I binged it in just a few days! I can't wait to see what Tom Ryan has in store next! His first adult fiction was a real treat!

4 stars

I was initially drawn to this book because, I mean come on, a club of treasure hunters? I couldn't NOT read it! But the plot ended up actually being a lot denser than I expected, even though the writing style was pretty clear and easy to read. There were several plot points that I found myself easily anticipating but a few twists that caught me totally off-guard. The book jumps back and forth in time because such a large part of the story is couched in the past; sometimes it can be hard as a reader to remember the 'when and where' of it all when moving between times and/or narrators but I didn't find myself having any trouble getting back to the present storylines when they inevitably wrapped back around.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Tom Ryan, and Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me access to a free digital advanced readers copy of the book to read and review. All opinions are my own and are provided voluntarily.

A long lost treasure, engaging main characters and family secrets make for fun cozy mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC.

This kept me hooked right till the end. That climax was absolutely brilliant because I didn't see the twist coming and I'm generally very good at predicting plot. It's very rarely that I'm surprised by a plot twist but this book managed to do that so I'm in awe! Would definitely recommend!!

Maple Bay, Nova Scotia is an idyllic town with a mystery at the helm! People flock to the city hunting a lost treasure, but when three specific people head to Maple Bay, the treasure hunt changes completely. Peter Barnett is lost as he turns 40, and returns to Maple Bay to discover his own family origins; Dandy Feltzen is an uncertain teenager sent on this mission by her dying grandfather; and Cass Jones is searching for the perfect plot for her debut novel. The three are brought together in the search for treasure in Maple Bay, where this cozy mystery changes all of their lives.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!

The writing for this one was good, however the story was told from all three perspectives, which can be a challenge to hold the reader's attention. For myself, I find I often lean more to one POV over another, which is something that happened here. I found myself loving Dandy's POV, and rushing through Peter and Cass' stories to get back to Dandy. I found also that it wasn't always clear who was speaking, and so had to find other clues throughout the chapters. The ending of the book was so captivating, and an absolute fun and jaw dropping twist! This one is a must-read for any fan of cozy mysteries!

Such a fun book, but not without its dark and sad moments. Tales of pirates, a buried treasure and a seaside town has everything you would want in a book. The friend group in this story brought me back to my childhood. Loved this story and preordered the book because the eARC does not include the map!

The Treasure Hunters Club: A Mystery by Tom Ryan

This is the perfect treasure hunter cozy mystery I have been looking for, the atmosphere of Maple Bay and the crew Peter, Dandy and Cass are fantastic. With a murder mystery to solve and twists you do not see coming it was such a fun read. I hope this becomes a series, I’m here for this maritime cozy murder mystery vibe. I would highly recommend reading this book.

When I was young I loved maps. (And I still do). I would trace the lines on the map, marking the final destination. I kept also kept copious lists of places that my family's station wagon drove through. And yes, I dreamed about finding a map to a treasure chest. I'm still looking - and I've found a treasure in Tom Ryan's new book - The Treasure Hunters Club.

There is so much to love in this book. I loved the setting by the sea, and the town of Maple Bay. The legend of the pirate's booty draws in quite a few tourists. As well as a number of permanent residents.

Ryan tells this wonderful tale with three main characters - Peter, Cass and Dandy (she's my favorite!). Each of the three have their own voice. There's a wealth of supporting players from the present and the past.

Who's telling the truth? Who are lying? Is the legend of the pirate plunder true?

Ryan kept me on my toes the entire way to the final ah hah! There's a twist that is epic! Things did not turn out as I had thought they would. And I adore being wrong!

Get comfy in your favourite reading spot - you're not going want this one down. Bravo Tom Ryan!

This felt like a light, cozy type of mystery, but I found it to be overly complicated and keeping track of the characters was sometimes difficult and diluted each of their stories. The many POV's did not help. I also found the romance was not well written. That being said, it was still a decently fun read, with a nice twist. I also liked the Nova Scotia setting. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reading copy. 3.25/5

The Treasure Hunters Club promises a fun adventure centering around a lost pirate treasure and boy, does it deliver.

If you're like me and were obsessed with Oak Island, this is the perfect book for you. It definitely pulls inspiration from the real life legend and gives us a great story to go along with it.

Peter receives a mysterious letter from his estranged grandmother one day, inviting him to Nova Scotia to her lavish estate. Little does he know, he will become entangled in a story of pirate gold, deceit, and murder.

I was absolutely captivated by this story and was so along for the ride. It's a little bit Goonies/Stand By Me which was a lot of fun. Tom Ryan did a great job creating a rich history and cast of characters.