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Wyatt Hunt #2
Treasure Hunt
The widow of a major player in the world of San Francisco nonprofits believes that his alleged mistress killed him-and she's putting up fifty grand to whoever helps prove it. Wyatt Hunt and his investigation firm want in on that action-no matter where it takes them...
417 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 12, 2010
247 people are currently reading
950 people want to read
About the author
John Lescroart
141 books1,300 followersJohn Lescroart (born January 14, 1948) is an American author best known for two series of legal and crime thriller novels featuring the characters Dismas Hardy and Abe Glitsky.
Lescroart was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Junípero Serra High School, San Mateo, California (Class of 1966). He then went on to earn a B.A. in English with Honors at UC Berkeley in 1970. In addition to his novels, Lescroart has written several screenplays.
Lescroart was born in Houston, Texas, and graduated from Junípero Serra High School, San Mateo, California (Class of 1966). He then went on to earn a B.A. in English with Honors at UC Berkeley in 1970. In addition to his novels, Lescroart has written several screenplays.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
January 14, 2011
I appreciate winning this book from Goodreads, but it was a tough read for me. Unfortunately, while the concept was interesting and this author is obviously accomplished, the characters were less developed than I expected, and aspects of the story made it difficult to read. A few things with which I struggled: One of the main characters parked in handicap spaces and viewed this as a seeming accomplishment, he fell in love with a murder suspect after knowing her for one week, and he did not seem particularly perturbed that his 70-year-old grandfather had gone missing. I also found it difficult to believe that the police would practically turn over the murder investigation to a black-listed private investigator. So, while the writing style was engaging, the content affected my ability to enjoy it.
October 1, 2011
When Dominic Como, one of San Francisco's Movers and Shakers, is found bludgeoned to death, Wyatt Hunt and his team of investigators are on the job. Actually, the agency--the Hunt Club--has fallen on hard times and the "team" now consists of only one investigator, Mickey Dade who conveniently discovers the body.
Mickey convinces Hunt that the crime provides an excellent opportunity to revive the agency's fortunes. Como was deeply involved with a number of the city's major charities and Mickey's plan is that the agency will get the charities to contribute to a reward fund that will be used to encourage people who might have information to come forward. Since virtually everyone in San Francisco apparently distrusts the police, the Hunt Club will take the calls, filter out the crazies and pass any good tips along to the investigating detectives. In addition to having this brilliant idea, Mickey is soon entangled with a sexy young woman who quickly becomes the principal suspect, and inevitably, rather than simply filtering tips, the Hunt Club will be deeply involved in the ensuing investigation.
I am a huge fan of John Lescroart's great series of legal thrillers featuring Dismas Hardy, and Wyatt Hunt initially appeared in a couple of the Dismas Hardy books before Lescroat decided to spin him off and give him a series of his own. But based on this book, I'm not sure that this was the best idea that the author ever had. While the Hardy books are compelling, absorbing, keep-you-up-all-night page turners, Treasure Hunt doesn't remotely rise to that level.
To begin with, the entire premise seems totally improbable and smells a lot like ambulance chasing. The characters, Hunt included, are not very interesting; the victims are not at all sympathetic, and people in this book keep doing silly, stupid things, like the nubile, but not-too-bright blonde teenage girl in every horror movie who, left alone in a dark abandoned house with no power, will still light a candle in the middle of the night and go down to investigate a noise that she heard in the basement.
This is not a bad book compared to a lot of others out there, but it's certainly not up to Lescroart's usual standards. But at least it does serve the purpose of making one just that more anxious to read his next Dismas Hardy book.
Mickey convinces Hunt that the crime provides an excellent opportunity to revive the agency's fortunes. Como was deeply involved with a number of the city's major charities and Mickey's plan is that the agency will get the charities to contribute to a reward fund that will be used to encourage people who might have information to come forward. Since virtually everyone in San Francisco apparently distrusts the police, the Hunt Club will take the calls, filter out the crazies and pass any good tips along to the investigating detectives. In addition to having this brilliant idea, Mickey is soon entangled with a sexy young woman who quickly becomes the principal suspect, and inevitably, rather than simply filtering tips, the Hunt Club will be deeply involved in the ensuing investigation.
I am a huge fan of John Lescroart's great series of legal thrillers featuring Dismas Hardy, and Wyatt Hunt initially appeared in a couple of the Dismas Hardy books before Lescroat decided to spin him off and give him a series of his own. But based on this book, I'm not sure that this was the best idea that the author ever had. While the Hardy books are compelling, absorbing, keep-you-up-all-night page turners, Treasure Hunt doesn't remotely rise to that level.
To begin with, the entire premise seems totally improbable and smells a lot like ambulance chasing. The characters, Hunt included, are not very interesting; the victims are not at all sympathetic, and people in this book keep doing silly, stupid things, like the nubile, but not-too-bright blonde teenage girl in every horror movie who, left alone in a dark abandoned house with no power, will still light a candle in the middle of the night and go down to investigate a noise that she heard in the basement.
This is not a bad book compared to a lot of others out there, but it's certainly not up to Lescroart's usual standards. But at least it does serve the purpose of making one just that more anxious to read his next Dismas Hardy book.
May 6, 2011
Finished "Treasure Hunt" by John Lescroart. I think I'm going to give up on the private eye/murder mystery genre, and this book is to blame. I picked it up solely because the project I'm doing at work is codenamed Treasure Hunt. By the time I was halfway through, I was tired of it. I couldn't wait for it to be over. The dialog was lame and repetitive, and the author seemed to have some kind of food fetish. I *really* don't need to be walked through the entire recipe your character is preparing! So, yeah, not recommended.
June 24, 2022
A PI firm is on its last legs when there's a murder of a muckety muck. The firm becomes a clearing house for tips.
Not nearly hard boiled enough.
Not nearly hard boiled enough.
March 26, 2019
25th of march 2019 monday evening finished good read four stars really liked it kindle library loaner have read several now from lescroart and have enjoyed them all. this one threw me at the end, all that italicized and i'm thinking, whud? alternative ending? doin' a king? explained later. movers and shakers. imagine there is a kernel of truth here. me i'm doin fine. work is picking up, a few more calls...snow is melting though you wouldn't know to look at it, watched pot and so forth. lookin forward to summer. onto something else now, the deep south, 60s
February 10, 2019
Great story with many of the beloved characters from the other series, with lots of twists and turns. You probably won't guess who done it, but, as usual, the characters are the main story. If you like them, you'll probably like this one.
May 5, 2016
Good series. This is the second. Waiting for the third. I do hope they lead into the next book with more consistency than they did this one. The transition was not smooth.
June 19, 2021
This is different John Lescroat voice. I have always read the Dismis Hardy series, I know the pace and structure, so even though some of the characters were familiar, the pace was different.
Wyatt Hunt's, The Hunt Club, seems to be drying up, business is so bad, Wyatt may have to close the doors. His employee, Mickey comes up with an answer to their problems when a high profile activist is murdered. The victim, Dominic Como is on several non-profit boards, surely they would want to help catch the murderer.
Things may backfire for Mickey when a friend, Alicia, someone who Mickey would like to get to know better becomes a person of interest. Evidence against the lovely Alicia keeps piling up; but, is she really the culprit?
As Mickey and Hunt are pulled into the case, they soon learn that the city's golden fundraiser was involved in some highly suspect deals. And the lovely Alicia knows more about this-and more about Como-than she's letting on.
Treasure Hunt is both a nail-biting thriller and a coming-of-age story, filled with Lescroart's trademark San Francisco flavors. Mickey Dade, its young protagonist, gradually learns the hard lessons Hunt knows only too well, as the world he though he knew unravels around him.
Wyatt Hunt's, The Hunt Club, seems to be drying up, business is so bad, Wyatt may have to close the doors. His employee, Mickey comes up with an answer to their problems when a high profile activist is murdered. The victim, Dominic Como is on several non-profit boards, surely they would want to help catch the murderer.
Things may backfire for Mickey when a friend, Alicia, someone who Mickey would like to get to know better becomes a person of interest. Evidence against the lovely Alicia keeps piling up; but, is she really the culprit?
As Mickey and Hunt are pulled into the case, they soon learn that the city's golden fundraiser was involved in some highly suspect deals. And the lovely Alicia knows more about this-and more about Como-than she's letting on.
Treasure Hunt is both a nail-biting thriller and a coming-of-age story, filled with Lescroart's trademark San Francisco flavors. Mickey Dade, its young protagonist, gradually learns the hard lessons Hunt knows only too well, as the world he though he knew unravels around him.
July 6, 2017
I drew this book for the summer reading challenge. Otherwise I would probably not have read it. However, it was an enjoyable read. I wasn't able to figure out who did it. So, it was a nice surprise. I liked the main characters. Which is nice because in most books I dislike quite a few. If I have time maybe I will check out the rest of the series.
December 27, 2011
Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart is the second book in the Hunt Club series. It's set in San Francisco at a flailing detective agency.
Wyatt Hunt has been sleeping in his car and cutting as many corners as he can to keep the Hunt Club afloat. Things might turn around if he can stay in business long enough to figure out who killed Dominic Como, a high powered activist.
The reason the Hunt Club is on the case at all is because the one remaining employee besides Hunt himself, Mickey Dade found the body. Not having any active cases and needing something to do, Mickey convinces Hunt that they should pursue leads.
The book reads like an early season of Simon & Simon with some Rockford Files thrown in, except that it's set in San Francisco. I mostly read it for the setting and the City and its neighbors are well described.
The mystery itself is a pretty standard detective agency style mystery. If you like that type of mystery, you will probably like this book. I think I would have enjoyed Treasure Hunt if I had read Hunt Club first.
Wyatt Hunt has been sleeping in his car and cutting as many corners as he can to keep the Hunt Club afloat. Things might turn around if he can stay in business long enough to figure out who killed Dominic Como, a high powered activist.
The reason the Hunt Club is on the case at all is because the one remaining employee besides Hunt himself, Mickey Dade found the body. Not having any active cases and needing something to do, Mickey convinces Hunt that they should pursue leads.
The book reads like an early season of Simon & Simon with some Rockford Files thrown in, except that it's set in San Francisco. I mostly read it for the setting and the City and its neighbors are well described.
The mystery itself is a pretty standard detective agency style mystery. If you like that type of mystery, you will probably like this book. I think I would have enjoyed Treasure Hunt if I had read Hunt Club first.
June 6, 2010
John Lescroart writes character-driven thrillers set in San Francisco. He is, in his own way, a definitive writer of the city. When I think of writers who capture the feel of San Francisco I always think of John Lescroart.
This is the second in a relatively new series by Lescroart and it's a pretty good book. His strengths are on display here with great characterization and wonderful setting of place. Where the book is not up to his usual standard is in its plotting - there's convoluted and then there's Convoluted and this is definitely the latter. When it starts becoming too difficult to keep track of (or care about) all the minor characters and plot threads then it's just too Convoluted.
Still and all a fun read and I'll be interested to see how the series progresses, but my heart belongs to Dismas Hardy (the main character in Lescroart's other long-running series).
This is the second in a relatively new series by Lescroart and it's a pretty good book. His strengths are on display here with great characterization and wonderful setting of place. Where the book is not up to his usual standard is in its plotting - there's convoluted and then there's Convoluted and this is definitely the latter. When it starts becoming too difficult to keep track of (or care about) all the minor characters and plot threads then it's just too Convoluted.
Still and all a fun read and I'll be interested to see how the series progresses, but my heart belongs to Dismas Hardy (the main character in Lescroart's other long-running series).
August 19, 2016
This is, I think, the second book in the series. It spoils the first book if you don't read them in order (I haven't read the first book). The author seemed to really dislike any female character who was overweight. I'm not sure if he was trying to convey the character's dislike of overweight women, or if it's the author's own prejudice. Also it was distracting because he used the term "shaking her head" or "shook her head" to mean the character was agreeing to something or with someone. Later he used the word "nodding" or "nodded" to convey agreement. This book could use an editor.
May 19, 2020
Another outstanding novel. Still somewhat confused though as to whether something happened in the initial novel of this series that I didn't catch or if I was missing something else about Craig leaving and the Hunt Club business almost ceasing to exist. As the book goes on a little is revealed about that, but not as clearly as I would have hoped. Overall though I really enjoyed this novel.
July 31, 2024
Lots of sexism. Most of the women were described solely in terms of how attractive they were to men, including one woman character who was described as someone who would have been sexy except for the fact that she was fat. Really? I would have stopped reading all together, but I was on vacation and made the mistake of not bringing enough to read.
February 9, 2013
Did not care for this. Instead of reading about Clue, i.e "Treasure Hunt," I’d much prefer to buy and play the game. 1 of 10 stars
September 30, 2013
I really enjoy Lescroart's writing style. The Hunt Club series is peopled with particularly interesting characters. I enjoy the way he interweaves his characters from other novels into this series.
December 3, 2024
Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart is the second book of the Wyatt Hunt mystery series set in contemporary San Francisco. Dominic Como was a popular "hands-on" director of many non-profit organizations in the city. His murder is a surprise, since he didn't seem to have enemies.
Wyatt Hunt is about ready to close his investigative business, The Hunt Club. But they have work for a little longer to help with the Como case: line up sponsors to fund a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the killer, handle the huge volume of calls, follow up on calls that seem valid. Many people won't call the police, but will call Hunt's agency since a reward is offered.
In this, the most left-wing big city in the country, better the murder of one or two of their own should go unsolved than that they should cooperate with the Man.
Police Inspector Devin Juhle reluctantly agrees, stressing that any useful information must be reported immediately to him. One call leads to discovery of the murder weapon. Hunt follows up another call, discovers a second victim.
Headlines reveal non-profits misused donated funds; Como's fundraiser activities are now suspect. Hunt's young, eager investigator Mickey Dade is attracted to the lovely Alicia Thorpe, but she's "a person of interest" in the case, was close to Como.
A man who loves what he does never works a day in his life.
"Some have been known to call him consigliere."
"Oh, it's illegal, all right. But illegal only matters if someone is going to pursue it criminally."
'Apparently' is the new 'alleged'.
"You want to see harsh, point me even a little bit the wrong way."
"So what are you looking for?" "I don't know exactly, except I'll know it if I see it or hear it. Somebody always knows something, you know, even if they don't know what it is."
That was the extent of the thought he gave to turning back uptown. It could easily have gone either way, since he didn't have a destination in mind. Such a small, random decision. Such huge consequences.
The emphasis on food is an unexpected touch for a detective story that is not designed to be a culinary cozy. The ending is farfetched, implausible; in real life detectives don't round up their suspects and put on a show a la Poirot.
He was already halfway through his six-week Professional Series course - "Knives and Butchering", his eighth formal class in the past three years. At his present rate, he could expect to get his Certified Culinarian ticket, the lowest professional ranking, and possibly get hired to cut onions or sift flour for eight hours a day, in only another two or three years.
He pulled out the paper-wrapped leg of lamb he was going to butterfly and barbecue after smearing it with garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, soy sauce, and lemon juice. He brought it over to his cutting board, where he'd piled the ingredients you really didn't want to refrigerate if you didn't have to: heirloom tomatoes--green, purple, yellow--bunches of Thai basil, thyme and rosemary, two heads of garlic, a lemon. Grabbing his favorite six-inch carbon-steel Sabatier knife, he honed to a razor's edge with his sharpening steel. Then, whistling, he pulled the leg of lamb toward him and started cutting. In a saucepan he heated butter, olive oil, chopped shallots, garlic, thyme and rosemary, allspice, and cup of the chicken stock he made from scratch whenever he started to get low. Some things you simply couldn't cut corners on. Adding Arborio rice and orzo to simmer, he created his own version of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat. "Donna's famous salad" named after an old girlfriend was composed only of tomatoes, basil, salt and balsamic vinegar. Final touches: sourdough bread and olive oil for dipping.
Belden Alley alone, one short block in length, if it were the only street in the city, might make San Francisco qualify as a better-than-average-destination restaurant town: Brindisi Cucina di Mare, Voda, Taverna, B44, Plouf, Cafe Tiramisu, Cafe Bastille, Sam's Grill.
Lou the Greek's wife, Chiu, was Chinese, and for twenty-five or more years, she'd been honoring her and her husband's union by creating a new dish nearly every single day, always based on their two nationalities. Today's Special, for example, General Lou's Pork, was at once typical and unique: pita bread pockets stuffed with bright red Chinese barbecued pork, scallions, garlic, hoisin sauce, yogurt, and hot pepper flakes. A lot of hot pepper flakes.
Wyatt Hunt is about ready to close his investigative business, The Hunt Club. But they have work for a little longer to help with the Como case: line up sponsors to fund a reward for information leading to the apprehension of the killer, handle the huge volume of calls, follow up on calls that seem valid. Many people won't call the police, but will call Hunt's agency since a reward is offered.
In this, the most left-wing big city in the country, better the murder of one or two of their own should go unsolved than that they should cooperate with the Man.
Police Inspector Devin Juhle reluctantly agrees, stressing that any useful information must be reported immediately to him. One call leads to discovery of the murder weapon. Hunt follows up another call, discovers a second victim.
Headlines reveal non-profits misused donated funds; Como's fundraiser activities are now suspect. Hunt's young, eager investigator Mickey Dade is attracted to the lovely Alicia Thorpe, but she's "a person of interest" in the case, was close to Como.
A man who loves what he does never works a day in his life.
"Some have been known to call him consigliere."
"Oh, it's illegal, all right. But illegal only matters if someone is going to pursue it criminally."
'Apparently' is the new 'alleged'.
"You want to see harsh, point me even a little bit the wrong way."
"So what are you looking for?" "I don't know exactly, except I'll know it if I see it or hear it. Somebody always knows something, you know, even if they don't know what it is."
That was the extent of the thought he gave to turning back uptown. It could easily have gone either way, since he didn't have a destination in mind. Such a small, random decision. Such huge consequences.
The emphasis on food is an unexpected touch for a detective story that is not designed to be a culinary cozy. The ending is farfetched, implausible; in real life detectives don't round up their suspects and put on a show a la Poirot.
He was already halfway through his six-week Professional Series course - "Knives and Butchering", his eighth formal class in the past three years. At his present rate, he could expect to get his Certified Culinarian ticket, the lowest professional ranking, and possibly get hired to cut onions or sift flour for eight hours a day, in only another two or three years.
He pulled out the paper-wrapped leg of lamb he was going to butterfly and barbecue after smearing it with garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper, soy sauce, and lemon juice. He brought it over to his cutting board, where he'd piled the ingredients you really didn't want to refrigerate if you didn't have to: heirloom tomatoes--green, purple, yellow--bunches of Thai basil, thyme and rosemary, two heads of garlic, a lemon. Grabbing his favorite six-inch carbon-steel Sabatier knife, he honed to a razor's edge with his sharpening steel. Then, whistling, he pulled the leg of lamb toward him and started cutting. In a saucepan he heated butter, olive oil, chopped shallots, garlic, thyme and rosemary, allspice, and cup of the chicken stock he made from scratch whenever he started to get low. Some things you simply couldn't cut corners on. Adding Arborio rice and orzo to simmer, he created his own version of Rice-A-Roni, the San Francisco treat. "Donna's famous salad" named after an old girlfriend was composed only of tomatoes, basil, salt and balsamic vinegar. Final touches: sourdough bread and olive oil for dipping.
Belden Alley alone, one short block in length, if it were the only street in the city, might make San Francisco qualify as a better-than-average-destination restaurant town: Brindisi Cucina di Mare, Voda, Taverna, B44, Plouf, Cafe Tiramisu, Cafe Bastille, Sam's Grill.
Lou the Greek's wife, Chiu, was Chinese, and for twenty-five or more years, she'd been honoring her and her husband's union by creating a new dish nearly every single day, always based on their two nationalities. Today's Special, for example, General Lou's Pork, was at once typical and unique: pita bread pockets stuffed with bright red Chinese barbecued pork, scallions, garlic, hoisin sauce, yogurt, and hot pepper flakes. A lot of hot pepper flakes.
May 4, 2023
RICK “SHAQ” GOLDSTEIN SAYS: “MORE COOKING ACTION THAN CRIMINAL ACTION.”
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The Hunt Club, a private detective firm in San Francisco headed by Wyatt Hunt is holding on to solvency by a thread. In fact it’s a stretch to call it a firm. The employee roster consists of Wyatt a licensed detective… Mickey Dade who does office work and “go-fer” assignments while pursuing his real dream of becoming a chef… and an empty chair that used to be inhabited by Mickey’s sister Tamara… who is M.I.A. and “shell- shocked” in the aftermath of her former boyfriend being a murderer in a prior episode by this author. After Wyatt tells Mickey that he’s going to have to shut down The Hunt Club in the near future… Mickey decides he’ll attempt to take fate into his own hands and find the soon to be defunct detective firm some new business. The following amalgamation of serendipitous circumstances may be a little too convenient for some readers to accept. Mickey while walking by a lagoon comes across the dead body of Dominic Como who “had either founded or sat on the boards of no fewer than six major charities in San Francisco”. It turns out that Dominic who was taking in exorbitant sums of money from government agencies… public donations… protection rackets… moving companies… rehab facilities… and more… was murdered. It so happens that Mickey who shares a small apartment with his aforementioned “shell-shocked” sister along with their grandfather Jim Parr… who lo and behold used to be a personal driver for Dominic. After stumbling across the body Mickey is interviewed by local reporters and when he says he works for The Hunt Club a detective agency they think he’s a detective and his face… name… and company… are plastered on the evening news. So the moribund detective agency gets free publicity which creates a bevy of potential client activity. Mickey a hertofore cooking class student and office “go-fer” comes up with a plan to have Dominic’s charitable and business foundations help create a reward “kitty” that would channel leads from people who wouldn’t want to talk to the police to The Hunt Club… and the foundations would pay The Hunt Club for its services. The person that must give final approval on this proposal is Len Turner “a lawyer, pretty much at the top of the charity food chain.”
Len approves the proposal based on the understanding that all evidence and info uncovered will be cleared with him and he’ll decide what goes public. Wyatt Hunt desperate for financial survival agrees to the semi-ludicrous arrangement. What follows is the equivalent of a “MURDER SHE WROTE” or “MATLOCK” episode. The rest of the book is investigative foot work with the usual suspects… drivers… department heads… scorned lovers… temperamental wife… and loony tipsters such as “the balloon lady” who says she saw Dominic’s body dropped from a blimp into the lagoon… all hoping for a large reward.
There is very little physical action and unless you’re a hard core fan of Julia Child or Wolfgang Puck… you may be stymied at times by too many intricacies regarding the simple task of making and eating a meal.
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The Hunt Club, a private detective firm in San Francisco headed by Wyatt Hunt is holding on to solvency by a thread. In fact it’s a stretch to call it a firm. The employee roster consists of Wyatt a licensed detective… Mickey Dade who does office work and “go-fer” assignments while pursuing his real dream of becoming a chef… and an empty chair that used to be inhabited by Mickey’s sister Tamara… who is M.I.A. and “shell- shocked” in the aftermath of her former boyfriend being a murderer in a prior episode by this author. After Wyatt tells Mickey that he’s going to have to shut down The Hunt Club in the near future… Mickey decides he’ll attempt to take fate into his own hands and find the soon to be defunct detective firm some new business. The following amalgamation of serendipitous circumstances may be a little too convenient for some readers to accept. Mickey while walking by a lagoon comes across the dead body of Dominic Como who “had either founded or sat on the boards of no fewer than six major charities in San Francisco”. It turns out that Dominic who was taking in exorbitant sums of money from government agencies… public donations… protection rackets… moving companies… rehab facilities… and more… was murdered. It so happens that Mickey who shares a small apartment with his aforementioned “shell-shocked” sister along with their grandfather Jim Parr… who lo and behold used to be a personal driver for Dominic. After stumbling across the body Mickey is interviewed by local reporters and when he says he works for The Hunt Club a detective agency they think he’s a detective and his face… name… and company… are plastered on the evening news. So the moribund detective agency gets free publicity which creates a bevy of potential client activity. Mickey a hertofore cooking class student and office “go-fer” comes up with a plan to have Dominic’s charitable and business foundations help create a reward “kitty” that would channel leads from people who wouldn’t want to talk to the police to The Hunt Club… and the foundations would pay The Hunt Club for its services. The person that must give final approval on this proposal is Len Turner “a lawyer, pretty much at the top of the charity food chain.”
Len approves the proposal based on the understanding that all evidence and info uncovered will be cleared with him and he’ll decide what goes public. Wyatt Hunt desperate for financial survival agrees to the semi-ludicrous arrangement. What follows is the equivalent of a “MURDER SHE WROTE” or “MATLOCK” episode. The rest of the book is investigative foot work with the usual suspects… drivers… department heads… scorned lovers… temperamental wife… and loony tipsters such as “the balloon lady” who says she saw Dominic’s body dropped from a blimp into the lagoon… all hoping for a large reward.
There is very little physical action and unless you’re a hard core fan of Julia Child or Wolfgang Puck… you may be stymied at times by too many intricacies regarding the simple task of making and eating a meal.
May 7, 2017
This is the 6th John Lescroart book I've read since latching on to him a couple years ago. I can depend on him to write a solid murder-mystery. This one is not as good as most of the others I have read, suffering from a slow-moving plot and too much repetitiveness by the author.
The book is about the death of a leading figure in the charitable world. Like all of Lescroart's books, this is set in San Francisco. The victim has apparently been involved in some fraudulent use of charity funds, so this may have something to do with his demise. He is also a bit of a womanizer, though married. That often does not turn out well.
Having read enough of Lescroart's books, I am comfortable with the cast of characters that return from book to book. Different characters take on leading roles in his books. In this one, private investigator Wyatt Hunt is the star.
An OK book, with a pretty good finish.
The book is about the death of a leading figure in the charitable world. Like all of Lescroart's books, this is set in San Francisco. The victim has apparently been involved in some fraudulent use of charity funds, so this may have something to do with his demise. He is also a bit of a womanizer, though married. That often does not turn out well.
Having read enough of Lescroart's books, I am comfortable with the cast of characters that return from book to book. Different characters take on leading roles in his books. In this one, private investigator Wyatt Hunt is the star.
An OK book, with a pretty good finish.
January 28, 2020
Wyatt Hunt-hero of John Lescroart's New York Times bestseller --returns with a new protégé, in an intricate, tightly plotted thriller set against San Francisco's glamorous charity circuit
Mickey Dade hates deskwork, but that's all he's been doing at Wyatt Hunt's private investigative service, The Hunt Club. His itch to be active is answered when a body is discovered: It's Dominic Como, one of San Francisco's most high-profile activists-a charismatic man known as much for his expensive suits as his work on a half dozen nonprofit boards. One "person of interest" in the case is Como's business associate, Alicia Thorpe-young, gorgeous, and the sister of one of Mickey's friends.
As Mickey and Hunt are pulled into the case, they soon learn that the city's golden fundraiser was involved in some highly suspect deals. And the lovely Alicia knows more about this-and more about Como-than she's letting on.
Mickey Dade hates deskwork, but that's all he's been doing at Wyatt Hunt's private investigative service, The Hunt Club. His itch to be active is answered when a body is discovered: It's Dominic Como, one of San Francisco's most high-profile activists-a charismatic man known as much for his expensive suits as his work on a half dozen nonprofit boards. One "person of interest" in the case is Como's business associate, Alicia Thorpe-young, gorgeous, and the sister of one of Mickey's friends.
As Mickey and Hunt are pulled into the case, they soon learn that the city's golden fundraiser was involved in some highly suspect deals. And the lovely Alicia knows more about this-and more about Como-than she's letting on.
July 22, 2020
Set in San Francisco, Lescroart’s books always satisfy, with great writing, characters and terrific stories. This is from the Hunt Club series, about the investigators surrounding Wyatt Hunt’s detective enterprise. But here, the business is in trouble, and apprentice Mickey Dade comes up with a plan to save it by creating an opportunity around the murder of Dominic Como, a fancy SF politico. I love the depth of this writer’s characters, even minor ones. We see see Mickey and his sister, orphaned young, but also hear the story of their grandfather, and his struggles with his past. We delve into the who-what-where-why of those involved in the charity headed by Como, rich and poor, seeing multiple levels of SF society. Another wonderful book by this author.
January 25, 2020
I have read several Lescroart novels and I particularly like the Wyatt Hunt character and the employees of The Hunt Club. This particular novel was very long and included a lot of description - perhaps more than I needed – though it makes me think the author wanted to make sure his readers got their money’s worth. The plot was engaging, the dialogue crisp, the characters likable. The mystery was very well-structured. I consider myself a pretty good armchair sleuth, but Lescroart created a killer and a motive that slipped right past me. At the end, Hunt explains exactly what tripped the killer up. I definitely got my money’s worth from this book. Well done!
July 8, 2021
This Lescroart novel features his private investigator, Wyatt Hunt and his staff who are indeed questionable. Hunt is a fixture in San Francisco and he now finds himself deeply immersed in the murder of one of he city's leading charitable philanthropists. His sidekicks drop the ball repeatedly in this book causing Hunt serious complications that he did not need. However, the ending is what you want in a good mystery. Ala Sherlock Holmes, all of the major players are together when Hunt revels who the true killer actually is. The book starts out a little slow but the ending more than makes up for its other deficiencies. Good read.
December 9, 2024
Lescroart switches lanes here and goes back to Wyatt Hunt and friends. But this one seemed to go more for the Dismas and Glitsky style versus the pure entertainment of the first Hunt book.
It's always fun to get into sticky San Francisco politics. There are some uncomfortable and distracting relationships in this book, though.
It makes me wonder why this series so far has stopped with only three books. Though I have noticed that that Hunt is featuring more in the Dismas series, or at least where I am in it now.
It's always fun to get into sticky San Francisco politics. There are some uncomfortable and distracting relationships in this book, though.
It makes me wonder why this series so far has stopped with only three books. Though I have noticed that that Hunt is featuring more in the Dismas series, or at least where I am in it now.
June 10, 2018
Lescroart is one of my favorite authors, but I couldn’t get into Treasure Hunt. Took it on a transatlantic cruise with plenty of time to read. I picked it up a few times during the cruise and after but never got hooked. Was it me or the novel? Who’s to say. Now weeks later I turned to the back to read the denouement. Lescroart did cap it off nicely.
Do read Lescroart, but maybe start with another title.
Do read Lescroart, but maybe start with another title.
December 9, 2019
Wyatt Hunt is this close to closing his private investigation business because of lack of business when a prominent member of the non-profit community is killed. Wyatt proposes that his firm sift through the hot line calls to rule out the obvious kook calls. Getting his name in front of the public rejuvenates his business. Wyatt and his team also investigate the murder, even though they are supposed to leave it to the police.
May 3, 2020
More of a 3.5. While by no means perfect, I actually found the main characters to be fairly likable and the book had a good amount of humor tossed in there as well. I felt the ending paid homage to classic mysteries in a sense. There was overall a lot of characters to keep track of though and I wonder if the characters have any sense of professional boundaries (i.e. they seem to tell everyone every detail of the case).
June 20, 2017
After reading, and loving, Treasure Hunt, I wonder if there is an earlier book, not part of The Hunt Club, that sets the stage for Treasure Hunt. Not even sure if I would want to read it since so much of it was revealed in this book, but I am curious. Anyway, this was a good read, looking forward to #3.
December 15, 2017
This mystery moved well throughout. Innocent Mickey is a lovable, love-struck guy ripe for a few darker life lessons. Treasure Hunt makes for a good audio book. I was always happy to begin my commute knowing I would learn more about the sometimes less than stellar philanthropic world of San Francisco.
August 29, 2018
Good Characters But A Slow Read
This is the first book I've read by this author. I liked the characters, but found it a little hard to get into the story. It is not exactly a thriller type of mystery. I might try another book in the series just to see if the story line is more exciting. I liked the San Francisco setting.
This is the first book I've read by this author. I liked the characters, but found it a little hard to get into the story. It is not exactly a thriller type of mystery. I might try another book in the series just to see if the story line is more exciting. I liked the San Francisco setting.
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