Library Journal
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Centuries ago, after engaging in a fierce sea battle, Captain Barnabas Dagger sent some of his crew ashore to bury their ill-gotten gains. Ever since then, the legendary Obelisk Treasure has drawn treasure hunters from around the globe to Maple Bay, Nova Scotia. Now Cass Jones, a one-hit wonder author hoping to revive her writing career; Peter Barnett, whose stuck-in-a-rut life is shaken up by the surprise news that he is the heir to Maple Bay's leading family; and Dandy Feltzen, whose late beloved grandfather left her a clue to the Obelisk Treasure, get caught up in a final, frantic race to discover the whereabouts of Captain Dagger's legendary booty. Ryan (I Hope You're Listening), known for his award-winning YA novels, serves up an ingeniously plotted adult mystery that cleverly combines a marvelously entertaining cast of characters, writing embellished with a wonderfully wry sense of wit, and a vividly realized setting that has all the cozy charm of Jessica Fletcher's Cabot Cove, with almost as many murders. VERDICT Readers who fondly remember Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game and newer fans of Gigi Pandian's "Secret Staircase Mysteries" will find Ryan's cleverly crafted adventure to be a real treasure—John Charles

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

The lives of three strangers become inextricably intertwined in a small Nova Scotia town filled with secrets, unexplained deaths, and old stories of hidden treasure. When Peter Barnett receives an invitation from his estranged grandmother Mirabel Bellwood Johnson to join her at her Maple Bay mansion, a veil lifts from Peter’s aimless and confused life. Meanwhile, back in Maple Bay, a teenager named Danielle "Dandy" Feltzen is mourning the death of a beloved grandfather who left her with a mysterious directive: She should take his place in a secret society dedicated to finding treasure that the pirate crew of a ship called theObeliskhad buried on the coast. Neither Peter nor Dandy realized that they, along with Cass, a failed writer turned Maple Bay housesitter who dreams of restarting her career with a new, breakout book, would be drawn into a centuries-old web of murder and intrigue. Shifting points of view and deft plotting keep readers guessing about the suspicious deaths—like that of Peter’s grandmother and those of her oldest acquaintances—that occur after Dandy joins her grandfather’s society. Slowly, through stories contained in Bellwood family journals and letters, Dandy’s private sleuthing and Cass’ research into the history of theObelisk treasure, truths begin to emerge not just about lost pirate gold, but about deadly intergenerational battles between fathers and sons and friends and families that haunted, corrupted, and completely destroyed lives. Ryan’s masterful interweaving of multiple storylines, surprising plot twists, and often eccentric characters makes for a novel that is as enjoyable as it is suspenseful. An edge-of-your seat, page-turning delight. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Publishers Weekly
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Ryan’s ambitious and atmospheric latest (after I Hope You’re Listening) centers on a seaside town’s century-old legend of buried jewels. On the cusp of turning 40, call center worker Peter Barnett receives a letter from his estranged grandmother, Mirabel Bellwood, inviting him to the family mansion in Maple Bay, Nova Scotia. Peter arrives only for Mirabel to die in a mysterious accident shortly after they begin discussing her plans for the estate’s future. In the wake of Mirabel’s death, Peter meets 17-year-old Dandy Feltzen, who tells him about the Obelisk treasure, a collection of pirate jewels sought by her late grandfather, Mirabel, and a group of Maple Bay men who call themselves the Treasure Hunters Club—the members of which are starting to drop dead. Meanwhile, struggling novelist Cass Jones is offered a house-sitting gig in Maple Bay and meets a group of treasure-seeking sailors whom she plans to make the subjects of her next book. Ryan doesn’t always toggle between his three protagonists seamlessly, but he makes up for some herky-jerky pacing with an immersive setting and a truly surprising final twist. This Goonies-esque caper delivers the goods. Agent: Samantha Haywood, Transatlantic. (Oct.)

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Peter Bellwood Barnett is nearing 40, working a dead-end job, and living in a cramped apartment with a weird guy who spends all his time online. He’s shocked when he receives a letter from Mirabel Bellwood Johnson, who says she’s his grandmother and begs him to come “home” to Bellwoods, the mansion she owns in Maple Bay. With nothing to lose, Peter travels to Maple Bay, known as the home of the famous Obelisk Treasure, hidden during the Golden Age of Piracy and never found. When he arrives, he takes an immediate liking to Mirabel, who begins to reveal the family’s past, intimating that the terrible secret she wants to share relates to the Obelisk Treasure. But before she can elaborate, tragedy strikes, and Peter must try to discover the secret Mirabel wanted to share. Aided by Cass, an out-of-work writer, and Dandy, a teenager with links to Bellwood and the Obelisk Treasure, Peter soon finds himself in a labyrinthine tale of lies, greed, murder, and retribution. The mind-boggling, nail-biting twists will keep readers guessing, with a finale that’s as shocking as it is satisfying.