Likely Stories - The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan

The Treasure Hunter’s Club by Tom Ryan is told through 3 very different character perspectives and points of view, and my only light complaint is that I had a hard time keeping the MANY characters and their offspring straight. But it was a layered read with lots of surprises along the way.

Years ago, a group of 5 boys playing in the woods discovered what they believed to be pirate treasure off the coast of their homes in beautiful Maple Bay, Nova Scotia.

Through a series of dramatic events (including subterfuge, manipulation, and death), the treasure was lost to the ages. Years later, Peter Barnett is 40, in a dead-end job and sort of a loser, until he receives a mysterious letter from his long-lost grandmother, letting him know that he has a home to inherit on Maple Bay.

Cass Jones is a writer who receives an offer for a year-long house sitting job on Maple Bay and decides to make the story of hidden treasure and intrigue the focus of her new book.

Danielle Feltzen, aged 14, is reeling from the loss of her grandfather. She is intrepid and dogged, and once she discovers that he left her clues about the treasure, she makes it her mission to honor his legacy and find it.

All three of these people are on a collision course with each other (though they don’t yet know it) and are carrying
many deep secrets from the past. Because when a life-changing amount of money is involved, or when life-changing secrets are threatened to be revealed, it doesn’t bring out people’s best sides.

I enjoyed all the storylines in this book, especially once they coalesced together. The original 5 boys grew up to have children and grandchildren who are present-day characters in the book, and sometimes those were a bit hard to keep straight—who belonged to whom and who was double-crossed by whom, etc. Still, it was intriguing and with enough surprises to keep me guessing until the end.

The Treasure Hunter’s Club is solid recommendation for anyone who loves a hunt.

PREVIOUS EPISODES OF LIKELY STORIES

Likely Stories - The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

I don't know if there is a more perfect book. I've read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern five times (unheard of for someone like me who does not ever reread books), and each time I find myself utterly captivated by this beautiful, mystical story of love, magic, sweeping talents and mystery, and the ties that bind us to each other.

Likely Stories - The Book of Light by Lucille Clifton

This is Guilherme Feitosa de Almeida, senior lecturer in music theater at Baylor University. I'm here with this week's edition of Likely Stories.

Likely Stories - The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo

Have you contemplated spring cleaning? When this bug hit me, I turned to the grand-master cleaner, Marie Kondo, for inspiration. This best-selling author has sold 9 million copies of her classic book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up – the Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing. Ok, add me, Maggie McCarthy, to the ranks of readers as I set out on my decluttering journey with this instructive read.

Likely Stories - Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur by Jeff Pearlman

I'm Kevin Tankersley and this is likely stories on KWBU. I first learned about the book 'Only God Can Judge Me: The Many Lives of Tupac Shakur' when I heard the author Jeff Pearlman on 'The Pete Sousa Show' podcast last year. I knew of Pearlman from his writings at Sports Illustrated and ESPN. He was a sports guy. Why would he be talking about Tupac?

Likely Stories - Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

I can remember a number of truly incredible meals in my life, whether cooked for me at home or in restaurants locally or while traveling. Some of the food stands out in my mind: a perfectly-cooked piece of meat, a well-crafted cocktail, a side dish that pairs perfectly with the entree, a dessert that caps off the wonderful meal. But in all those epicurean events, what I recall most are the people with me around the table, loved ones sharing a gustatory experience always seems more important than the food itself.

Likely Stories - A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson

"Some books stay with you for decades. For me, that’s A Short History of a Small Place by T.R. Pearson. First published in 1985, it’s a funny, Southern tale of Neely, North Carolina, told through the eyes of young Louis Benfield, Jr. From quirky townsfolk to a chimpanzee companion, the story blends humor and heart in unforgettable ways. I first heard it on The Radio Reader in 1986—and I’ve never forgotten it."

Likely Stories - The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein

Imagine being punched in the ovaries to bring on a fit.This is The Madwomen of Paris by Jennifer Cody Epstein, which was inspired by the dark history of the Salpêtrière asylum in the 1880s.

Likely Stories - Killers of a Certain Age

I am a huge James Bond fan, and never missed an episode of Charlie’s Angels as a pre-teen growing up. A story about women my age who could still fight, run, plan, take action, and do all the things they did in their early years really appealed to me.

Likely Stories - My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell

The book that I'm reviewing today is challenging. It was an unsettling read, and I thought about it for weeks after I finished it. I hesitated to recommend it on Likely Stories. But these difficult books catch our attention for a reason, they are important to talk about and examine.

Likely Stories - American Road Trip by Patrick Flores-Scott

War is hell. And what comes after war, when soldiers return home, is often its own version of torment, one that takes exceptional patience and grace from everyone--those who love the soldiers as well as the soldiers themselves.