Return to Breakneck Island

The Treasure Hunters Club #2

by Tom Ryan

Long-buried secrets resurface in this alluring mystery from the bestselling and award-winning author of The Treasure Hunters Club that welcomes readers back to Maple Bay—a seaside town “that has all the cozy charm of Jessica Fletcher’s Cabot Cove, with almost as many murders.” (Library Journal, starred review)

Breakneck Island: nestled precariously off the coast of Maple Bay, the lighthouse atop this rocky outcrop is all that stands between safe passage and nautical disaster.

For generations, the MacLeary family lived on Breakneck Island in an isolated and physically-demanding existence. One night in 1932, after a ruthless storm battered all of Maple Bay, the MacLearys disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only whispers of a missing fortune.

Nearly a century later, three people are drawn to Breakneck Island and its perplexing past, Peter Barnett, a recent Maple Bay transplant who’s piecing his life back together and possibly catching feelings for a charming professor; Dandy Feltzen, a wistful teenage girl searching for new beginnings while juggling the arrival of an unexpected visitor; and Cass Jones, a successful author given a cryptic tip for a haunting new story.

As Peter, Dandy, and Cass are drawn into the orbit of one of Maple Bay’s darkest mysteries, dangers past and present collide on the rocky shores of Breakneck Island, and the real story of the MacLearys finally comes into focus. But if the island is to reveal its oldest secrets, it may demand fresh bodies in return.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Cozy, Thriller, Canada

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 6, 2026

About the author

Tom Ryan is an award winning author, screenwriter and producer. His YA mystery KEEP THIS TO YOURSELF was the winner of the 2020 ITW Thriller Award for Best YA Thriller, the 2020 Arthur Ellis Award for Best YA Crime Book, and the 2021 Ann Connor Brimer Award, and is currently being adapted for television. His followup YA mystery I HOPE YOU’RE LISTENING was the winner of the 2021 Lambda “Lammy” Award for Best LGBTQ Mystery. He was a 2017 Lambda Literary Fellow in Young Adult Fiction.

Tom, his husband and their dog live in Nova Scotia.

Reviews

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A cozy-ish murder mystery that was somehow both dark and warmhearted at the same time, Return to Breakneck Island was a fun palate cleanser from my more sinister reads. You see, the foreboding and tension was at an all-time high from the very first page as this wild ride took off like a shot. At the same time, the witty trio of amateur sleuths and charming small-town setting gave me all of the cozy vibes that I could possibly want. Paired with the historical intrigue of the 1930s timeline and the old local legend just begging to be explored, and I happily wrapped myself up in a blanket and binged the whole darn book in one single sitting. An addictive combo of Murder, She Wrote, The Goonies, and an Outer Banks-style treasure hunt, it satisfied every part of my mystery-loving brain. So if you’re looking for an lighter read that is filled to the brim with small town Cabot Cove-esque charm, treasure-hunting fun, dark family secrets, and thought-provoking themes, give this second book in the Treasure Hunters Club series a try. Clever, twisty, immersive, and touching, I’m definitely going to find time to go back and read the first book the moment I can. After all, these characters were the kind that I want to get to know better right away! Rating of 4.5 stars.

Read if you’re a fan of:
- Treasure-hunt mysteries
- Cryptic clues
- Found-family vibes
- Multiple POVs and dual timelines
- Layers of mysteries
- Cozy-ish murder mysteries
- A whodunnit feel
- Bodies dropping like flies
- Buried treasure
- Long-buried secrets
- Amateur sleuths
- Plenty of twists and turns
- Small-town setting
- Thought-provoking themes
- Heartwarming vibes
- Can be read as a standalone

SYNOPSIS:

Breakneck Island: nestled precariously off the coast of Maple Bay, the lighthouse atop this rocky outcrop is all that stands between safe passage and nautical disaster.

For generations, the MacLeary family lived on Breakneck Island in an isolated and physically-demanding existence. One night in 1932, after a ruthless storm battered all of Maple Bay, the MacLearys disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only whispers of a missing fortune.

Nearly a century later, three people are drawn to Breakneck Island and its perplexing past: Peter Barnett, a recent Maple Bay transplant who’s piecing his life back together and possibly catching feelings for a charming professor; Dandy Feltzen, a wistful teenage girl searching for new beginnings while juggling the arrival of an unexpected visitor; and Cass Jones, a successful author given a cryptic tip for a haunting new story.

As Peter, Dandy, and Cass are drawn into the orbit of one of Maple Bay’s darkest mysteries, dangers past and present collide on the rocky shores of Breakneck Island, and the real story of the MacLearys finally comes into focus. But if the island is to reveal its oldest secrets, it may demand fresh bodies in return.

Thank you Tom Ryan and Atlantic Crime for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: October 6, 2026

Content warning: death, violence, murder, homophobia, grief

[Manon (mysterymanon) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably recency bias but I might have enjoyed this sequel better than the first. Something about the dual timeline and dramatic but cozy vibes in this one just hits hard.

Like the first, there are some big reveals alongside tender moments. Tom writes with nuance and sensitivity about identity, belonging, adventure, family ties—and somehow makes it all feel genuine without preachiness or a sense of unease. These are cozy books with deep thoughts.

Many thanks to Atlantic Crime for my gifted copy.

[Kate O'Shea · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

In 1932 Breakneck Island becomes the scene of a mystery when the MacLeary family who lived at the lighthouse disappeared off the face of the earth.

Nearly a century later Cass Jones, who has written a best seller about her first adventure on Breakneck, is taken aside by Cookie Dodge who wants her to look into the family's disappearance and the possibility of a fortune which may be buried on Breakneck.

Cass and her fellow treasure hunters, Peter Barnett and Dandy Feltzen, are separately drawn into the same mystery when tragedy occurs. Can the three solve this and the other mysteries on Breakneck without other lives being lost?

I have not read The Treasure Hunters Club but that did not spoil my enjoyment of this book. All the characters are likeable, the dialogue flows and the plot is clever and twisty. I certainly didn't see the end coming. Plus I really enjoy a "locked room" mystery where the author doesn't try to be too clever with the explanation.

I would definitely recommend this novel whether you've read Treasure Hunters Club or not. I shall, however, be buying it because this book got me intrigued about the first mystery.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for the digital review copy.

[The Honest Book Reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first Treasure Hunters Club book, so I was looking forward to returning to Maple Bay. I love a good treasure-hunt mystery. Unfortunately, this was a disappointing sequel for me.

My biggest problem was the mystery. The main characters do surprisingly little to actually solve anything. Important answers are found by coincidence, confession, and convenient revelations rather than deduction. I felt as though the characters had simply been carried towards the solution rather than earning it. Disappointing because this is marketed as a mystery.

There are far too many coincidences. Too many characters have remarkably convenient connections to Breakneck Island and its history, and clues appear exactly when they're needed. The plot stopped feeling like something the characters were uncovering and started feeling very obviously constructed around them.

I also struggled with the character development and relationships. For some reason, the characters I adored in the first book felt underdeveloped here, and romances develop very quickly and don't always feel organic. This started to feel more YA than adult fiction.

All of this is so frustrating because the basic ingredients are exactly the sort of thing I would love in a story. An isolated island, an old lighthouse, a family that disappeared decades ago, historical secrets, buried treasure, and a modern-day mystery. There was so much potential here for the characters to follow clues, uncover connections, and slowly piece together what happened.

I really wanted to love this story.

I still like the idea of the Treasure Hunters Club and the setting has plenty of charm, but I thought this needed much stronger plotting and character development.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Clark · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I love my Nova Scotian mysteries

[Alan · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

This review is for an ARC copy received from the publisher through NetGalley.
The three heroes from The Treasure Hunters Club, Cass, Dandy and Peter, are back for another treasure hunting adventure in Maple Bay. At Cass's book launch party, Cookie, an older resident (who happens to be related to Dandy) begins to tell Cass there's more than one treasure to be found. Cass agrees to meet with her the next day, but before she can, Cookie ends up dead, apparently having slipped off a cliff. What follows is all three treasure hunters find themselves drawn to a nearly 100-year old mystery tied in to Breakneck Island across the bay.
Whereas the previous book had three disparate characters drawn together due to a death and mystery involving treasure, this book finds the three involved in their own lives, all eventually looking for the same thing without discussing or realizing it. Of the three character plots, the one I just couldn't stand was Peter's, though it was grating for a reason. The story switches back and forth between the origin of the "treasure" in 1932, and the main characters' plots modern day. I found the 1932 plot much more intriguing and unpredictable, while modern day I early on figured out most of the key elements, except for one surprising twist late in the story. I've seen reviews describe the first book as being "cozy thriller" and I would have to say that really describes this novel, as it was more thriller than mystery, but not as fraught with intensity, and having cozier resolutions. A relatively fast, easy read if you want a lighter mystery-thriller. 3.5/5*

[Max Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this - once again Ryan nails the Nova Scotian setting & serves up unmatched cozy vibes.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I settled in with my coffee and Tom Ryan’s Return to Breakneck Island, ready to revisit Maple Bay, and wondered why anyone in this secret-filled seaside town investigates anything. Thank you to Grove Atlantic and Atlantic Crime for the gifted copy. What is it about an abandoned lighthouse that makes us want to uncover every terrible thing that happened there?

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Nearly a century ago, the MacLeary family kept the lighthouse burning on rocky Breakneck Island—until a brutal storm struck in 1932 and the entire family vanished. No bodies, no explanation, and one rumor about a missing fortune. In the present day, Peter, Dandy, and Cass are pulled toward that mystery for different reasons while following separate clues.

The 1932 chapters were easily my favorite. Knowing the MacLearys would disappear gave every family moment a shadow, and each return to the island added another uneasy piece. Their isolation, hidden pain, and the danger around the lighthouse made those sections especially haunting. The historical story also explores the heartbreak of hiding who you loved during that time, giving the mystery more emotional weight than I expected.

I enjoyed being back with Cass, Peter, and Dandy, although I missed seeing them work together as much as they did in The Treasure Hunters Club. Peter tested my patience, and the present-day threads took longer to grab me because everyone was investigating a different corner of the puzzle. Once their paths collided, I was invested—and one reveal caught me completely off guard.

This sequel has treasure rumors, family secrets, suspicious deaths, rocky crossings, and a town that refuses to leave the past buried. It felt darker than a traditional cozy mystery but still had the friendship, humor, and small-town charm that made Maple Bay fun to revisit. The ending answered the important questions while opening the door to another adventure.

Which historical mystery would tempt you to investigate even when every sensible instinct told you to stay home?

#ReturnToBreakneckIsland #TomRyan #TheTreasureHuntersClub #CozyMystery #HistoricalMystery

[Pam Masters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I added Return to Breakneck Island to my TBR when I learned it was being released. Why? Because I read the first book in the series, The Treasure Hunters Club, a couple of years ago and loved it.

Return to Breakneck Island is told through a dual timeline and features multiple POVs. Because of the multiple timelines and POVs, it can be confusing at times. Each chapter is labeled with the name of the character whose POV we are getting. If it is a POV from the past, the year is also included. But with so many POVs, it can be a bit confusing.

I will admit I enjoyed the parts set in the past a tad more than the parts set in the present. There was more drama and tension in 1932. That’s not to say there isn’t any drama or tension in the present, because there definitely is. But the past was a bit tenser.

Overall, I enjoyed my return visit to Maple Bay, and am looking forward to returning. I only ask that it not take two years.

Who will enjoy reading Return to Breakneck Island? Obviously, anyone who has read The Treasure Hunters Club, as I recommend reading it first so you understand some of the events in this book. Who will enjoy reading The Treasure Hunters Club? Anyone who enjoys reading mysteries with some action. The first book was compared to the movie The Goonies, and that is a fairly accurate description of this series.

[Paloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brutal storm hit Breakneck Island in 1932 and wiped out the entire MacLeary family. No one knows what happened or become of them. There are whispers of a hidden treasure but that may only be the town lore.
Cass, Dandy and Peter are pulled to the island for their own individual reasons. But most importantly, for the treasure and the island's secrets.

I enjoyed the multiple POVs and all the information that they exposed. I loved the POV's from the past. I found them much more intriguing and very intense. The isolation and hardness of the past was deep and demanding. You can feel that there are secrets lingering that only fester as time passes. The present characters were well developed and had depth. I enjoyed each of their stories and their reasons for coming to seek the treasure. The pacing was perfect and the need to know what happened to the family kept me hooked!
Thank you Netgalley and Grove Atlantic for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Dezaray Barr · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was gifted this ARC (my first!!!) I was so pumped to read it! Of course, I read the first book and loved it, so I started this one right away!

Now, I’m not typically a mystery reader, but this captured my attention all the way from page 1 to the acknowledgments! I loved the writing style, and I loved that although it was suspense and mystery, it wasn’t “scary.”

I loved that we kept the same theme, location, and characters, but they took on an entirely new adventure.

[Krystle Krystlesbookclub · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story, the back and forth timeline gave the mystery such depth and added to the suspense of it all. I loved that all the characters from the first one made appearances but this story was completely fresh and could definitely stand on its own.
I will continue to read all the mysteries Tom Ryan can throw at me.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This reader was excited to be back in Maple Bay!

I enjoyed the dual timeline so much, present day and 1932. The pacing is quick and I flew through this story. I couldn't wait to find out what the conclusion would be. Another great book by Tom Ryan!

This can be read as a stand alone but don't do it! :) Read The Treasure Hunters Club first and get to know these fabulous characters.

Highly recommend!!

My thanks to Simon & Schuster for the gifted copy.

[Melanie MacDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this might be my favourite Tom Ryan book yet. Really enjoyed the story, the characters and the world Ryan has created. So much of the setting, relationships and connections resonated deeply with me as a rural Nova Scotian living on the coast. Hopefully there’ll be a another return to Maple Bay in our future.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

EVERYTHING JUST KEEPS HAPPENING. As bodies past and present wash up on Nova Scotia's shore at breakneck pace, and our plucky, amateur, Peggy's-Covesque gang figures it out.

[Lucy Black]

Tom Ryan’s Return to Breakneck Island is a standalone sequel to The Treasure Hunters Club, and is set on the rugged coast of Maple Bay, and nearby Breakneck Island. Told in a dual timeline, the novel is both contemporary and harkens back to events that took place in 1932. As the story unfolds, we learn that the MacLeary family maintained the lighthouse on the Island until 1932 when a strong storm swept across the island and the entire family mysteriously vanished. Over the years, rumours and speculation about the fate of the MacLearys persisted, with no resolution. The contemporary portion of the storyline includes a small handful of characters who are drawn to the mystery, determined to see if they can find answers to the enigmatic events of 1932, with a vague hint that there might be hidden treasure as an added incentive. A layered and compelling mystery with unexpected plot twists and lyrical writing. Recommended.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return to Breakneck Island is the second in the Treasure Hunters Club mystery series. Set in Maple Bay in Nova Scotia, three different people are pulled together as hidden treasure caches come to their attention and bodies start dropping. Peter is the last of the illustrious Bellwood line and is now turning the family home into an historical institute and educational site for student archaeologists that doubles as a methodical search for the Obelisk treasure from the first book. Dandy is a teen girl whose complicated family ties always seem to pull her into treasure hunts and murder mysteries, but she’s curious anyways. Cass is an author who found a measure of local fame after writing about the events of the first book, and now she’s looking for her second.

In 1932, the MacLeary family ran the lighthouse on Breakneck Island. When a mysterious stranger shows up with a flimsy story, the three children see opportunities and adventures. But the young man, Jacob, brings danger right to their doorstep. In the present day, Cookie Dodge, an old woman who is also Dandy’s cousin, has a story for Dandy and Cass, but is found dead before she can divulge the secret her family kept for almost a century. Meanwhile, Peter is getting his institute up and running, but his two hires are constantly at odds with each other. But there’s treasure and truth to be found, bringing Peter, Dandy, and Cass back into a treasure hunt and murder investigation.

Return to Breakneck Island was a fun return to Maple Bay and the ongoing lives of Peter, Cass, and Dandy. While I had some qualms with the first book, I was enthralled by this one. One of my complaints was it took far too long for Peter, Dandy, and Cass to come together, and that continued in this book even though Dandy and Cass were brought together early on before diverging. There were so many times when it seemed like their paths crossed, only for the narrative to never go there. It was maddening. It felt like certain things were being built up to and then they just fizzled out. Even the 1932 story threaded through felt a little too anti-climatic even though the story held my attention for most of it. Where this story really shone was in creating tension and atmosphere. These held me in their grip, but the story itself, once it unwound enough, collapsed into a somewhat disappointing conclusion.

For most of the novel, I did enjoy the story. I was dying to know what happened to the MacLeary family. The obsession all the characters had with Breakneck Island made me incredibly curious. Little bits and pieces were revealed, and I found myself reading on just for a little more. But Peter, Dandy, and Cass had little more than barely entwining stories. Peter is preoccupied with his two hires, and his romance with one of them. His story felt the least interesting as, beyond his romantic entanglement, not much happened so his perspective wasn’t returned to very often. Dandy felt like the star here. It’s her family that’s tangled up with the MacLearys, and her dad, who ran off when she was young, is back with unknown intentions. She also gets a little bit of a summer romance, which was sweet. Her drive to figure out who killed her cousin and why Cookie was so obsessed with Breakneck Island drove a good chunk of the story. Cass is looking for her second novel, and Cookie just might have one for her. Unfortunately, Cookie dies before she can tell her story, and her boyfriend is obsessed with finishing his late girlfriend’s last dive out near Breakneck Island. I enjoyed her story, but I sometimes struggled a little to see how it connected to the rest of the story outside of the general obsession with Breakneck Island.

I found the characters to be more engaging and interesting in this novel. Maybe it’s because I know them now or maybe it’s because they’re more fully settled on the island. Peter has more direction in his life, which enables him to see more opportunities. He’s also in a position of power and doesn’t ever really feel like he wants it, which was interesting to see. I wish this novel had delved more into his story, but there really wasn’t too much to tell. As obsessions with Breakneck Island go, I don’t think he really cared at all. Dandy was fun, and I liked how mature she was. She’s adventurous and confident, and I liked that she had someone her own age to hang out and explore with. They were a really cute couple. But it was her relationship with her father I was most intrigued by. Getting to know them and their dynamic was really lovely. I really liked Cass here. She’s not just secretly looking for a story, and now she has a boyfriend obsessed with the last woman he was in love with. I loved how supportive she was, and how curious. She was a fun character to follow.

Return to Breakneck Island was a lot of fun. I liked how the treasure hunt and murder mystery were entwined. It was kind of easy to figure out who must have killed Cookie and how it was tied into the treasure hunt, but it was a fun adventure anyways. I enjoyed Peter, Dandy, and Cass and their stories. The 1932 storyline was nicely woven in and I liked how it didn’t give away too much too early. I was intrigued by their disappearance and loved figuring out, piece by piece, what must have happened. The link to the present day felt a little more fragile, but I enjoyed the curiosity about all of it, and the obsession with Breakneck Island was fun to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

Breakneck Island: nestled precariously off the coast of Maple Bay, the lighthouse atop this rocky outcrop is all that stands between safe passage and nautical disaster.

For generations, the MacLeary family lived on Breakneck Island in an isolated and physically-demanding existence. One night in 1932, after a ruthless storm battered all of Maple Bay, the MacLearys disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only whispers of a missing fortune.

Nearly a century later, three people are drawn to Breakneck Island and its perplexing past: Peter Barnett, a recent Maple Bay transplant who’s piecing his life back together and possibly catching feelings for a charming professor; Dandy Feltzen, a wistful teenage girl searching for new beginnings while juggling the arrival of an unexpected visitor; and Cass Jones, a successful author given a cryptic tip for a haunting new story.

As Peter, Dandy, and Cass are drawn into the orbit of one of Maple Bay’s darkest mysteries, dangers past and present collide on the rocky shores of Breakneck Island, and the real story of the MacLearys finally comes into focus. But if the island is to reveal its oldest secrets, it may demand fresh bodies in return.

This was a fun sequel to the previous book and brings the gang back together, even if they don’t get to spend too much time with one another throughout the book. Since the characters and their backstories are from a previous book, it does help to have read it since the treasure and their exploits and the book written about it need context.

Cookie Dodge (what a name!) has some information for Cass about a secret treasure and a family that disappeared, but she vanishes before she can share it. Also entering the picture is Dandy’s deadbeat dad, Dodge, and Dandy is not happy to see him.

Peter is still trying to sort out Bellwoods and an artefact coming from there could point them to the answer of the family from the lighthouse’s disappearance. Plus he is dealing with the tension between Victor and Kate with the job tasks he has given them and the signals that Victor seems to be sending his way.

Dandy and Parker’s relationship is growing closer, and Bryson needs to sort out the fallout from the diving incident.

Add in the Obelisk Treasure that is still missing and you have a treasure mystery galore!

I enjoyed the two timelines and how they intersected and the mystery of the MacLearys is well thought out.

The writing is so easy to read and you can literally fly through it. The places are well depicted and when the rocks are described around the island, it feels as though you are there rowing and trying to navigate the swells. The characters feel real, as though you have been invited into their lives and are not just reading a book, and even though you have to take some incidents with a pinch of salt, it’s still well worth the read.

The book ends with a setup for the third, so we know we are in for another adventure. I can’t wait!

Thanks to NetGalley, Grove Atlantic, and the author for an advanced reader copy.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is called Return t o Breakneck Island which is a little misnomer because none of the main characters have been to Breakneck Island but it is the return of the Treasure Club which I gladly embrace. It is a year after the events in the first book. Cass Jones has just had the book launch for her true crime novel about the events last year and is looking for a new story when one of the attendees at the event gives her a clue to another possible local treasure. Meanwhile, her boyfriend is looking to lay the ghost of his dead girlfriend behind who died at the mysterious Breakneck Island 10 years before. Peter is handing off the foundation he founded with the money he inherited and looking for what is next in his life. And Dandy, a sixteen year old young woman, a year wiser, is helping a guy she might be interested in to fix up an old boat to visit Breakneck Island and possibly solve the mystery that her older cousin told her about. They all lead to Breakneck Island where in the 1930s, the lighthouse keeper and his family disappeared during a storm and the rumors of a treasure. But a recent death may mean this old story has new life to it...and maybe more deaths....

There were a lot of character povs in this book, both the present with the three main characters and then some from the 1930s. They are clearly marked who they are but it might make it a little difficult at times to keep straight who is who. However, overall, the author does a good job in making the characters distinct enough that you get a grip on the different characters pretty quickly.

Ryan creates the emotional intimacy of a close-knit community but also captures the sometimes claustophobic feeling that can also exist. That is especially true of the lighhouse keeper and his family on the small island isolated for so much of the year by themselves. Added to that is the foreboding with each entry from the 1930s because you know something is going to happen to them.

People are looking to see what is next in their life. Sometimes that means they don't make the best choices but I enjoyed seeing them trying to move on from grief, a wrapped up project or whatever it is. There is growth and reaching for dreams.

I did miss the treasure hunters working together. They end up in the same place, but for most of the book they come at it from different directions and only occassionaly cross each other's path.

Be ready for some surprises. There were several twists I did not see coming. Overall, a very enjoyable book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Belinda (Belle) Witzenhausen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Return to Breakneck Island by Tom Ryan from Net Galley and Grove Atlantic in order to read and give an honest review.

Having read the first book in this series, The Treasure Hunters Club, I was thrilled to dive into this sequel; yet another twisty mystery set in the small coastal town of Maple Bay, Nova Scotia. As a Canadian reader, I was proud to pick up a mystery rooted in local lore and set along our gorgeous eastern coast. Tom Ryan delivers once again with Return to Breakneck Island, taking us back to Maple Bay’s coastal charm and hidden darkness.

The story treats us to dual mysteries. The first occurred in 1932 and follows the MacLeary family, who tended the lighthouse on Breakneck Island until a violent storm blew through. Their disappearance launched a local legend of a family vanishing without a trace, leaving behind no bodies and whispers of a hidden fortune. In the present day, Cass, Peter, and Dandy find themselves drawn back to the island’s secrets. While each character initially follows a separate trail, from cryptic clues about a missing manuscript to unexpected family arrivals and mysterious artifacts, their individual investigations eventually collide in a deadly puzzle.

The dual-timeline structure and multiple points of view keep the narrative moving at a brisk pace. The 1932 chapters are what truly hooked me; knowing the tragedy awaiting the MacLearys lent every historical scene a heavy, atmospheric tension. Ryan brings significant emotional depth to the story, layering themes of sacrifice, forgiveness, overcoming social mores, and the lingering psychological impact of the past. The labeled chapter headers successfully anchor the plot, making it easy to juggle the various character viewpoints across both time periods.

While I missed seeing the main trio team up as closely as they did in The Treasure Hunters Club, the payoff when their storylines finally merge is well worth it, culminating in a plot twist that caught me completely off guard. The atmospheric writing shines throughout this complex, engaging wild ride of a plot. Filled with red herrings and dynamic characters, the story seamlessly blends historical secrets with present-day danger.

Combining small-town warmth, action-packed treasure hunting, and dark historical secrets, this sequel strikes a wonderful balance between a cozy mystery and a thrilling adventure. It answers the lingering questions of the MacLeary disappearance while perfectly setting the stage for the next chapter in the series.

[Robert Goodman · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Return to Breakneck Island is the second book in Tom Ryan’s Treasure Hunters cosy crime series. The first book, The Treasure Hunters, introduced readers to three unlikely detectives – novelist Cass Jones, heir to the local family fortune Peter Barnett and teenager Dandy Feltzen. The three came together to solve a crime but do not find the famous, probably mythical, pirate treasure of Maple Bay in the first book of the series.

The second book has a cold open set in 1932, involving the lighthouse keeping MacLeary family on Breakneck Island, which sits at the mouth of Maple Bay. It then shifts to the present day where Cass is launching a new book based on her adventures in The Treasure Hunters. At the event she is told of another long held secret by an old woman called Cookie, about the disappearance of the MacLeary family from Breakneck Island in 1932. It turns out Cookie is also Dandy’s cousin, on her absent father’s side. Before either Cass or Dandy can find out what Cookie is trying to tell them she is found dead at the base of a cliff on her farm. It appeared that her secret had something to do with Breakneck Island and possibly someone was willing to kill for it. At the same time Peter has started a research institute with his inherited family money to research the myth of the missing pirate treasure but is having some issues with the staff he has employed to set the institute up, one of whom is interested in Breakneck Island.

Cass, Dandy and Peter are on separate courses in this book but suffice to say all roads lead to Breakneck Island. At the same time, Ryan provides flashbacks to 1932 to the events that led to the disappearance of the MacLeary family. As the three strands of the story come together so does the resolution of that old mystery.

Set in the sleepy Nova Scotian town of Maple Bay, this series features characters who are keen for adventure but also just want to live their lives. Full of wholesome relationships, or very specifically unwholesome ones (Cass learns of her partner’s secret involving the death of his ex- and wants to help him get through it, Dandy has her first kiss, Peter desperate for companionship avoids some red flags). The build up is fine but the slightly twisty denouement is a little bit Scoby Doo. And the resolution of the 80 year old mystery is designed to leave readers satisfied rather than traumatised. All of which makes Return to Breakneck Island engaging but fairly slight cosy crime fiction.

[Amanda Konnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Return to Breakneck Island is one of those adventure stories that feels like local lore you’d hear at a pub while visiting Maple Bay, and everyone wants to know if you’ve heard what happened at the lighthouse.

Cass, Dandy and Peter find themselves pulled into another wild adventure that once again has nothing and everything to do with them. Dandy is out and about doing teen things minding her own business when an estranged family member shows up, turning everything upside down. Cass is celebrating the success of her last novel when someone offers up insight on a cold case that’s long mystified locals, and Peter’s attempt at trust puts him in danger, again. Trying to sort out the tricky business they’ve found themselves in, all three friends end up on Breakneck Island, trying to figure out what happened before they get added to the list of missing people.

I loved the background story!!! The dual timeline gave us the perfect insight into the tough living that the MacLeary family had to endur while managing the ighthouse in the early 1930s. Their commitment to each other and the keeping those safe at sea added to the warmth and heartbreak to the mystery of their disappearance.

I really liked each of Cass, Peter and Dandy’s story. They each had their own thing going on, and yet it all tied together in this big adventure. It’s a murder mystery, with some hard issues to contend with, but all three of them are just the most decent of people and they have a unique way of sorting through really hard shit.

Meh for me was Peter’s plot twist. Kinda saw that coming right out the gate. Peter didn’t need to be put in that kind of danger again. Kinda felt like he’s learned nothing since his last traumatic foray, while Cass and Dandy had significant growth.

I didn’t like the conclusion of the treasure. Seems kinda unrealistic that a little girl could plan and plot such a twist.

Return to Breakneck Island is a cozy, fun and the perfect autumn read. I really enjoyed book two of Tom Ryan’s ‘A Treasure Hunter’s Club Mystery’ series and look forward to catching up with Cass, Dandy and Peter soon.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada & NetGalley for this ARC read in return for my honest opinion.

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLURB:
Author Cass Jones’s tip about a treasure linked to the old disappearance of the McLeary family draws her, Dandy, & Peter into a mystery of buried secrets & dangerous treasure hunters.

REVIEW:
This is the 2nd book in the Treasure Hunters Club Mystery series, and I did an immersive read, as two of my fave narrators, Graham Halstead and Cassandra Campbell, were narrating. This can be read as a standalone, but you’ll get much more out of it if you read both books back to back, especially with the returning characters. It’s a unique mystery series set in a fictional coastal town in Nova Scotia, with treasure hunting, murder, family secrets, and local history. This book has a dual timeline jumping between 1932, when the McLeary family is living on Breakneck Island, and the present day, when protagonist Cass and others are looking into the mystery of the family’s disappearance and a possible hidden treasure. I appreciated the LGBTQ representation woven into both timelines, especially the heartbreaking look at how gay relationships were seen in 1930s Canada.

This is a multi-POV story told in third person, following young author Cass, teenage Dandy, Peter, a gay man who inherits his family mansion, and the MacLeary family members in 1932. The book opens with young Louis MacLeary seeing a boat approaching Breakneck Island, which sets the stage for one of the main mysteries.

In her present-day timeline, there are multiple threads that are all interesting to follow. Cass is working on ideas for her next book while investigating Breakneck Island, and she uncovers secrets involving her boyfriend. Dandy’s dealing with the return of estranged father, who makes claims on the family farmhouse. The farmhouse and the woman living there, Cookie, are important to the Breakneck Island mystery, especially when she talks about treasure that’s hidden there. And Peter’s chapters are very intriguing as he works to turn the family mansion into an institute—and things take a darker turn. As the two timelines become increasingly connected, the truth of what happened to the MacLeary is slowly revealed.

This is definitely a slow burn, but I was never bored. The chapters are short, and the POVs and timelines change frequently, which really helps. There’s a major twist in the present-day storyline that I didn’t see coming and that made me angry. My one minor complaint is that when one of the villains is revealed, I had to suspend my disbelief at how easily they confessed their plans. They come across as very intelligent, so I didn’t believe they would reveal so much when they still could get what they wanted. Even still, this didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

If you’re an audiobook listener, you’re in for a major treat as Graham Halstead and Cassandra Campbell do a fantastic job, each narrating multiple characters with expert pacing, lots of expression, and distinct voices. They also bring the coastal Nova Scotia setting to life, and I felt like I was right there with the characters while listening. If you’re considering this one, an immersive read or audiobook is the way to go!

[Becky | myhyggereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

If he writes it, I will read it! I loved Ryan’s first book in this series, The Treasure Hunters Club, but I absolutely adored this one! While it would be helpful to read the first to get a backstory of the main characters, I think this would still be just as enjoyable as a standalone!

Ryan’s writing, as always, is superb, and the balance he manages to strike between advancing the plot and developing the characters is just chef’s kiss! It’s so easy to read, and I just flew through the chapters. The multiple POVs and dual timelines are a treat, and it truly does feel like I’d been dropped into an episode of Murder, She Wrote (which was one of my favourite TV shows growing up and still is, to this day).

This is a classic whodunnit with added layers of small-town charm, hidden secrets and dark pasts. The isolation of Breakneck Island was very evident in the historical chapters, and it definitely shapes the events that took place there. It’s quite atmospheric… the dangerous rocks, the starkness of the island, the storms… you become immersed in the story.

The theme of loving who you want to is prevalent throughout, as we see the evolution of what being openly (or secretly) gay means; while heartbreaking at times, I appreciate that Ryan addresses this both in the past and present timelines.

Even though we don’t see Peter, Cass and Dandy work together as much, it’s interesting that they’re all drawn to the same unsolved mystery. Each has matured and grown more confident in themselves, and it’s lovely to see them all thriving in their own capacity. They are more settled in Maple Bay, and we get to see more of their own interests and pursuits, which I loved.

While the full-circle moments of the ending answered all of my questions, it does leave the door open for more adventures, and I truly hope that we get to see more of Peter, Dandy and Cass in the future!

Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for my advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[DeeG Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the free book.

Return to Breakneck Island is a dual-timeline mystery centered around the disappearance of an entire lighthouse-keeper family from a remote Nova Scotia island in 1932. In the present day, old family secrets, a mysterious death, a decades-old diving tragedy, and rumors of hidden treasure begin pulling several people back toward Breakneck Island and the truth about what happened there.
For me, the historical timeline was definitely the strongest part of the book. The 1932 chapters had everything I wanted, danger, family drama, secrets, a storm closing in, and a mystery that became more interesting with every new piece of information. Every time the story returned to the past, I wanted to stay there.
The present-day storyline was a little slower for me. There were stretches where it felt like the story was taking its time getting where it needed to go, and some of the side plots didn’t always feel necessary while I was reading them. But once the different storylines started coming together, the pace picked up considerably and there were a few reveals I genuinely didn’t see coming.
I really enjoyed how the mystery was layered across generations. Old clues, family connections, missing people, buried secrets, and questions surrounding Breakneck Island all gradually connected, and I liked seeing seemingly small details become important later.
The ending also helped this one a lot for me. The major questions were answered, the different threads were tied together, and I wasn’t left wondering what happened. I especially enjoyed the epilogue, which gave the historical storyline a satisfying and complete finish.
Overall, Return to Breakneck Island was a solid four-star mystery for me. The past timeline was the standout, the present-day sections were a little slower, but the final stretch and clean wrap-up made the journey worthwhile.

[Jessica Emery · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I love a good mystery, especially one that involves long-buried secrets, a dual timeline, and a setting that practically becomes a character itself! Return to Breakneck Island by Tom Ryan delivers all of that and more!

Set in the coastal town of Maple Bay, Nova Scotia, this story takes us back to a mystery that began in 1932, when an entire family disappeared from the lighthouse on Breakneck Island during a terrible storm. No bodies, no real answers, and decades of speculation about what actually happened. Fast-forward to the present, and characters Cass, Dandy, and Peter are caught up in a mystery involving hidden clues, family secrets, and a past that won't stay buried.

I really like the chapters set in the past. It was eerie to know something terrible was coming but not how it would unfold. I also loved how the different storylines slowly came together, revealing connections I didn't anticipate.

The atmosphere was another highlight for me. The isolated island, the old lighthouse, and the secrets surrounding the town made this the perfect setting for a mystery. And just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist had me questioning everything!

I actually haven't read the first book in the series, The Treasure Hunters Club, but after enjoying this one so much, I'll read that one too! I love when a book makes me want to go back and discover what I've been missing.

Overall, this was such an entertaining read. It has a little bit of everything I enjoy in a mystery: intriguing characters, family secrets, historical intrigue, unexpected twists, and just enough danger to keep things exciting.

If you like mysteries with dual timelines and secrets that span generations, I highly recommend adding this one to your TBR!

A huge thank you to Tom Ryan, Grove Atlantic, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Return to Breakneck Island in exchange for my honest review!

[Whitney Eberhardt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy of Tom Ryan’s Return to Breakneck Island, a sequel to The Treasure Hunter Club Mystery.

I absolutely loved The Treasure Hunters Club so I was excited to get back to Cass, Peter, and Dandy in Maple Bay. This sequel introduces new characters from the past and present and a few visitors to the island. Return to Breakneck Island has a dual-timeline, providing history and hints of a new treasure to find in Nova Scotia. And our main characters are spending more time apart.

I had high hopes for this sophomore effort in this series but ultimately felt overwhelmed by ALL of the themes and plot lines used to move the story along. The sequel requires readers to remember a lot from the original book, which may be difficult since this book doesn’t publish until October.

Because the main characters aren’t working together this time, there are a lot of new characters to get to know, which means they don’t get much depth or complexity. Several have pretty transparent motives, which leave few surprises at the end of the book.

I believe some of the themes and storylines could have been saved for the next book so that they could be introduced more thoroughly and developed more meaningfully. Return to Breakneck Island seemed rushed to say a lot of things, maybe too many things.

I still enjoyed the adventure and like the main characters. Return to Breakneck Island sets itself up for a third book which I will happily read and hopefully enjoy more than this sequel. I’m rating Return to Breakneck Island ⭐️⭐️⭐️ because the main characters are growing and changing in meaningful ways and the setting and history are interesting to me.

[Laurie • The Baking Bookworm · Rating 3.25 out of 5]

Disclaimer: Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary trade paperback which was gifted to me in exchange for my honest review.

This follow-up to Ryan's previous The Treasure Hunters Club brings readers back to the fictional small Nova Scotia town of Maple Bay and reunites them with the trio of main characters from the first book.

The story is told in dual timelines - current day and the 1930's where readers are introduced to the MacLeary family who man the lighthouse on the isolated Breakneck Island off the shores of Maple Bay. The mystery of the family's sudden disappearance has been debated among townsfolk for generations and Peter, Dandy and Cass each find themselves drawn to solve the mystery which leads to murder, mayhem and a sense of foreboding.

With the trio each trying to solve the mystery, at times it felt like there was a bit too much going on with many new characters to meet and minor plots to keep track of. I enjoyed seeing the growth in our trio of main characters and the inclusion of budding familial relationships and connections but couldn't shake the feeling that this felt more like a contemporary fiction read with a side of mystery where the main characters don't have a big mystery to solve and much of the revelations occur by coincidence.

I enjoyed the first book a bit more than this follow-up, but I continue to love the cozy Canadian vibe and how the author weaves bits of the fictional small Nova Scotia town's history into his stories.

Note: With its frequent references to the first book, I would strongly recommend reading this new series in order.

[boogleloo · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5 stars: This is Ryan's second entry in the Treasure Hunters Club series which is a Canadian Cozy-ish Mystery set in Nova Scotia. Following three people who are drawn to an island, nestled precariously off the coast and it's lighthouse that's all stands between safe passage and nautical disaster, and its perplexing past: a recent transplant who’s piecing his life back together and possibly catching feelings for a charming professor; a wistful teenage girl searching for new beginnings while juggling the arrival of an unexpected visitor; and a successful author given a cryptic tip for a haunting new story. As the three are drawn into the orbit of the area's darkest mysteries, dangers past and present collide on the island's rocky shores, and the real story of a family, who in 1932 disappeared without a trace after a ruthless storm battered the area, leaving behind only whispers of a missing fortune, finally comes into focus. But if the island is to reveal its oldest secrets, it may demand fresh bodies in return.

Written in dual timelines and multiple POVs, unfortunately this just didn't click for me; leading me to DNF it at 7%.

Ryan touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check out the CWs. Can be read as a stand-alone but to start at the beginning pick up book one, The Treasure Hunters Club.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic, Atlantic Monthly Press in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

[Alison C · Rating 4 out of 5]

.After the events of last year in Maple Bay, Cass Jones, Peter Barnett and Dandy Feltzen have all grown up a little, more comfortable in their skins. Cass is now a successful writer following publication of her book about last year, Peter has decided to turn his inherited mansion into an institute specializing in local history and archeology, and Dandy might just have finally found a friend of her own age. When an elderly resident of Maple Bay approaches Cass about another mystery in the area, this time having to do with the sudden disappearance of the lighthouse keeper and his family from Breakneck Island back in the 1930s, the trio are prepared to (cautiously) explore the story. But then Dandy’s ne’er-do-well father appears, her great-aunt dies and there are rumours about American gangsters and a jewelry heist in Montreal, and things begin to get very complicated indeed….I don’t know that you need to have read the previous book, “The Treasure Hunters Club,” to appreciate this one, but the main characters are all so much fun that I can’t imagine not wanting to read it; plus the first book is very twisty indeed. This sequel isn’t quite as twisty, and there were elements that I saw coming, but overall it was just as satisfying as the first book; there’s rollicking adventure, almost of a YA kind, but the characters all have deeper feelings and more complicated lives (and life histories) than a standard adventure story. I very much enjoyed it and look forward with the hope that there will soon be another visit to Maple Bay, Nova Scotia; recommended!