INSTANT NATIONAL BESTSELLER Nominated for the Lilian Jackson Braun Memorial Award
A rollicking mystery about a secret society, nautical charts, cryptic clues, and a fabulous treasure to die for-perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Benjamin Stevenson.
For nearly a century, tourists have ventured to the idyllic seaside town of Maple Bay in search of a legendary lost pirate treasure, though 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.
Peter Barnett is rapidly approaching forty with little to show for his life when a mysterious letter invites him to Maple Bay and the mansion his estranged family has called home for generations.
Fifteen-year-old Dandy Feltzen is isolated and adrift following the death of her beloved grandfather until 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 lap: 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 centuries. None of them are prepared for the shocking truths that may still be buried there, or the fresh bodies piling up. Tom Ryan is the author of two adult mysteries, the internationally bestselling The Treasure Hunters Club, which was a 2025 Edgar nominee for the Lilian Jackson Braun Award, and We Had a Hunch, which Publishers Weekly called "criminally good fun". He is also the author of the YA mystery Keep This to Yourself, winner of the 2020 ITW Thriller Award for Best Young Adult Novel, the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for Best YA Crime Book, and the 2021 Ann Connor Brimer Award. His YA follow-up, I Hope You're Listening, was the winner of the 2021 Lambda "Lammy" Award for Best LGBTQ Mystery. Tom, his husband, and their dog live in Nova Scotia. "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."
- Kirkus Reviews "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."
- EMILY MELTON, Booklist "An absolute delight . . . Ryan gives readers a story that crackles with clever turns and one particular twist that left my jaw on the floor. Readers will be holding their breath until the very last sentence. Perfect for fans of Nita Prose and Riley Sager."
- B. R. MYERS, Edgar Award-winning author of A Dreadful Splendour "Hidden coves and buried bodies. Ornate mansions and dark family lore. A legendary pirate ship and rumours of gold. Tim Ryan spins a fascinating tale of adventure and skullduggery. It's a lot of fun--and surprisingly poignant."
- WILL FERGUSON, Giller Prize-winning author of 419 "A lovingly crafted blend of classic tropes-Hidden treasure! Family secrets!-and modern thrills, including a twist that left me gobsmacked."
- RILEY SAGER, New York Times bestselling author of Middle of the Night "One of those rare unexpected gems, a mystery that stands out from the crowd, somehow managing to be both utterly original and an homage to the great lost treasure stories at the same time. The real treasures here are Tom Ryan's lyrical prose, a twist that will make your jaw drop, and a tender story grounded in a young girl's love for her grandfather."
- ALEX FINLAY, author of Every Last Fear and If Something Happens to Me. "A romp of a thriller, as cozy a mystery as
