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Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine
Barnaby and Philo’s story begins with very bad chili and a dead body.
Barnaby is in St. Augustine, Florida, to teach a college seminar, and plans to use The Secret—a treasure hunt book—as a framework for his class. He enlists Philo Brice, owner of an antique map store, to aid him in seeking clues in the historic sites of the ancient city.
Together they face murderers, thieves, thugs, and fanatics, heightening their already strong attraction to each other. Can they solve the puzzle and unearth the treasure before the villains do? Philo and Barnaby pursue several twisting paths and false leads before arriving at a startling conclusion.
Barnaby is in St. Augustine, Florida, to teach a college seminar, and plans to use The Secret—a treasure hunt book—as a framework for his class. He enlists Philo Brice, owner of an antique map store, to aid him in seeking clues in the historic sites of the ancient city.
Together they face murderers, thieves, thugs, and fanatics, heightening their already strong attraction to each other. Can they solve the puzzle and unearth the treasure before the villains do? Philo and Barnaby pursue several twisting paths and false leads before arriving at a startling conclusion.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 4, 2022
3 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
M.S. Spencer
21 books238 followers Although M. S. Spencer has lived or traveled on five continents, the last 30 years have been spent mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. Once she escaped academia, she worked for the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Department of the Interior, in several library systems, both public and academic, and at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. She holds a BA from Vassar College, a Diploma in Arabic Studies from the American University in Cairo, and Masters in Anthropology and in Library Science from the University of Chicago. Ms. Spencer has two fabulous grown children and a perfect granddaughter. She divides her time between Maine and Florida.
Writing as M. S. Spencer, she has published sixteen cozy mystery and romantic suspense novels.
Writing as M. S. Spencer, she has published sixteen cozy mystery and romantic suspense novels.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 23, 2022
Our characters find themselves together by a common interest in a 100-year-old buried treasure story. A would-be professor, Barnaby, working at the local university finds himself in an antique bookstore attracted to the owner. She is interested in his quirky manner and together they form an unusual pair. A mysterious map thought to be associated with the treasure’s secrets arrives at Philo’s bookstore but goes missing as mysteriously as it appeared.
Will Barnaby and Philo find the treasure before the unscrupulous treasure hunters find it or get rid of the competition first? Along with Barnaby’s students who have a class assignment to follow clues. The only clue is that is supposed to be in St. Augustine at an historic site, of which, there are many. Barnaby, Philo and the students find themselves in strange and dangerous encounters while other treasure seekers are trying to find it first. Who will get to it first?
There are lots of twists and turns with romantic involvement along with funny characters. You don’t want to miss this one!
Will Barnaby and Philo find the treasure before the unscrupulous treasure hunters find it or get rid of the competition first? Along with Barnaby’s students who have a class assignment to follow clues. The only clue is that is supposed to be in St. Augustine at an historic site, of which, there are many. Barnaby, Philo and the students find themselves in strange and dangerous encounters while other treasure seekers are trying to find it first. Who will get to it first?
There are lots of twists and turns with romantic involvement along with funny characters. You don’t want to miss this one!
April 28, 2022
This book has it all. There’s mystery, intrigue, romance, clues, misdirection and a cast of characters that you’d expect to be peeking over the back fence, trying to get a better sense of what’s going on. Throw in plenty of local flavor from St. Augustine and you’ve got the recipe for an entertaining story.
And there are quotes too! Each chapter kicks off with a famous quote that ties well into the story. Only Spencer would find a way to include great lines from Captain Jack Sparrow and Edith Head.
Spencer has a knack for creating memorable lead characters. She continues that here with Philo and Barnaby, who somehow find time for romantic activities while following up with each day’s twist of events. Fortunately for Philo, she gets just enough breaks from Barnaby to keep her store running. But that doesn’t mean she’s not thinking of this exasperating new man in her life.
This is a great read. Highly recommend it.
5 stars.
And there are quotes too! Each chapter kicks off with a famous quote that ties well into the story. Only Spencer would find a way to include great lines from Captain Jack Sparrow and Edith Head.
Spencer has a knack for creating memorable lead characters. She continues that here with Philo and Barnaby, who somehow find time for romantic activities while following up with each day’s twist of events. Fortunately for Philo, she gets just enough breaks from Barnaby to keep her store running. But that doesn’t mean she’s not thinking of this exasperating new man in her life.
This is a great read. Highly recommend it.
5 stars.
April 27, 2022
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press, Inc!
When Barnaby decides to focus the curriculum for his new class around a well-known treasure hunt, he enlists the help of local antique store owner Philo to assist in the quest. They soon find themselves not only fighting attraction but also for their lives.
Hidden Gem: The Secret of St. Augustine is a fun mix of suspense and intrigue with just the right amount of romance. The plot is so fast paced that there is almost no lead in. There are plenty of twists and surprises to keep readers guessing until the very end. (I revised my suspicions several times throughout reading.) There is plenty of good banter especially between Philo and the very quirky Barnaby.
Overall a very enjoyable book. This is the first book that I have read from author M. S. Spencer but I love a good mystery and this one did not disappoint.
When Barnaby decides to focus the curriculum for his new class around a well-known treasure hunt, he enlists the help of local antique store owner Philo to assist in the quest. They soon find themselves not only fighting attraction but also for their lives.
Hidden Gem: The Secret of St. Augustine is a fun mix of suspense and intrigue with just the right amount of romance. The plot is so fast paced that there is almost no lead in. There are plenty of twists and surprises to keep readers guessing until the very end. (I revised my suspicions several times throughout reading.) There is plenty of good banter especially between Philo and the very quirky Barnaby.
Overall a very enjoyable book. This is the first book that I have read from author M. S. Spencer but I love a good mystery and this one did not disappoint.
April 26, 2022
This book had me laughing and trying to sort out the red herrings from the genuine clues at the same time..
An adventurous story with murder, the police, and a little romance. A most enjoyable read with surprises
galore to keep you in suspense, Read it!!!!
An adventurous story with murder, the police, and a little romance. A most enjoyable read with surprises
galore to keep you in suspense, Read it!!!!
May 3, 2022
A 100 year old treasure and treasure hunts have been going on for the last few decades trying to
uncover the riddle. Barnaby meets Philo - two more unlikely opposites but there is a spark of
attraction and the focus is on solving this puzzle.
There is a whole host of characters and several strands from romance to mystery, to cross confusing
directions and lots besides. It got a bit difficult to follow the several strands though it did come
together in the end.
A good mystery.
uncover the riddle. Barnaby meets Philo - two more unlikely opposites but there is a spark of
attraction and the focus is on solving this puzzle.
There is a whole host of characters and several strands from romance to mystery, to cross confusing
directions and lots besides. It got a bit difficult to follow the several strands though it did come
together in the end.
A good mystery.
August 5, 2022
Mystery and more
This is a great story of mystery treasure hunt by two individuals that want to solve long time mystery all the while other treasure hunters are on their heals.
This book has mystery, interesting characters, written well with a sprinkle of relationship.
Julie with Summer Fling Reading Challenge.
This is a great story of mystery treasure hunt by two individuals that want to solve long time mystery all the while other treasure hunters are on their heals.
This book has mystery, interesting characters, written well with a sprinkle of relationship.
Julie with Summer Fling Reading Challenge.
May 23, 2022
‘The Secret’ is a puzzle book published in 1982 by Byron Preiss. To set up the puzzle, Preiss traveled to different locations in North America to bury a dozen ceramic vases secretly, which he called "casques", containing a small key that seekers could be redeemed for one of 12 jewels Preiss kept in a safe deposit box in New York. The key to finding each casque was to match one of the paintings in the book to one of the verses in the book, solve the resulting riddle, and start digging. To date, only three of the twelve treasures have been located. ‘Hidden Gem: the Secret of St. Augustine’ by M.S. Spencer cleverly uses one of these potential sites, St. Augustine in Florida, and the search for the Preiss casque there, as a wonderful vehicle to immerse the reader both in the treasure hunt and an ongoing cozy murder mystery.
Author Spencer’s protagonists, Philo, the owner of an antique map and book store, and Barnaby, an assistant professor using the hunt to teach his students investigation techniques, are both memorable characters, yet for very different reasons. Philo is far more down to earth and her motivation in this murder mystery is driven more by her romantic interest in the quirky professor. Barnaby, on the other hand, is an oddball mix of genius, a fountain of useful and not so useful information, and an extravagant and eccentric personality that will stay with the reader for some time after finishing the book. A difficult character combination, yet one that provides all the wittier moments in the tale, thanks to the skill of the author in rendering both as solid believable personas whose adventures together carry this complex story to a satisfactory conclusion.
This is an extremely entertaining murder mystery, which respects the real events on which it is based, while engaging the reader throughout. Truly an enjoyable and fun read. Recommended.
Author Spencer’s protagonists, Philo, the owner of an antique map and book store, and Barnaby, an assistant professor using the hunt to teach his students investigation techniques, are both memorable characters, yet for very different reasons. Philo is far more down to earth and her motivation in this murder mystery is driven more by her romantic interest in the quirky professor. Barnaby, on the other hand, is an oddball mix of genius, a fountain of useful and not so useful information, and an extravagant and eccentric personality that will stay with the reader for some time after finishing the book. A difficult character combination, yet one that provides all the wittier moments in the tale, thanks to the skill of the author in rendering both as solid believable personas whose adventures together carry this complex story to a satisfactory conclusion.
This is an extremely entertaining murder mystery, which respects the real events on which it is based, while engaging the reader throughout. Truly an enjoyable and fun read. Recommended.
May 2, 2022
What an interesting premise for a cozy mystery! Fans of The Secret: A Treasure Hunt will enjoy this story about Philo, a rare books shop owner, and Barnaby, a rather awkward visitor to the bookshop who immediately connects with the shop's owner. Barnaby is in St. Augustine to look for treasure. More specifically, he believes the 6th image in the real-life book, The Secret: A Treasure Hunt, written by Byron Preiss, is referencing St. Augustine, Florida. Preiss buried 12 casques in 12 cities across the continental US and published a book with 12 images and corresponding verses with clues as to each casque's whereabouts. Each casque holds a key to a safe deposit box in New York City where a jewel is waiting for each casque finder. Preiss hid these items in the early 80s and sadly passed away in 2005. Nonetheless, the hunt for his treasure continues and not even his surviving children know the locations of the casques. Few have been found to this day. Many Secret treasure hunters are convinced one is located somewhere within the city limits of St. Augustine. Real-life mystery meets fiction in this delightful tale, and a dash of romance is sprinkled in. I deducted one star because the character of Barnaby lacked authenticity to me. Regardless, the story and the red herrings take the reader on a delightful adventure.
May 15, 2022
It had me at the cover picturing a background of a crossword puzzle (I geek NYT crosswords).
Barnaby (whose conversations are a crossword junkies dream) takes his students on a hunt to solve the riddle of the casques found in The Secret (a treasure hunt book) relating to a treasure hunt for a hidden sapphire in St Augustine, Florida. Philo runs a bookstore and the two have a history and an interest in each other. All of the zany characters had me snurfling and guffawing throughout. The whole thing is great fun with an interesting mystery to follow as best as possible.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from The Wild Rose Press, Inc via NetGalley. Thank you!
Barnaby (whose conversations are a crossword junkies dream) takes his students on a hunt to solve the riddle of the casques found in The Secret (a treasure hunt book) relating to a treasure hunt for a hidden sapphire in St Augustine, Florida. Philo runs a bookstore and the two have a history and an interest in each other. All of the zany characters had me snurfling and guffawing throughout. The whole thing is great fun with an interesting mystery to follow as best as possible.
I requested and received a free e-book copy from The Wild Rose Press, Inc via NetGalley. Thank you!
July 29, 2022
Hidden Gem is such a fun, engrossing story. Barnaby is teaching a class in St. Augustine, Florida, centering his class around the hunt for gemstones rumored to be hidden in the city. Philo. a bookstore owner, is intrigued by his quirky manners and soon finds herself caught up in a suspenseful, unusual scavenger hunt.. This book had something for everyone-history, murder, mystery .and one of the most bizarre romances I've ever read (I absolutely loved it). I enjoyed the quotes starting off each chapter and how they lead into the storyline. If you're looking for a unique, fast-paced, unusual story this gem of a book is for you. Thanks to Netgalley and The Wild Rose Press, for copy in return for an honest review .#HiddenGemTheSecretofStAugustine #NetGalley
January 19, 2025
I chose this book because it is set in St Augustine, FL (one of my reading goals is to read a book set in the area I'm traveling to that month). I learned some interesting things about St Augustine and about The Secret by Preiss. But it was a chore to finish. Of the two main characters, one is unlikable and annoying, and the other is not developed enough for me to care. It was worth the nuggets I picked up about St Augustine, but I'm glad it's over.
August 10, 2022
Be prepared to be led on an intriguing adventure throughout St. Augustine as you follow some unique and quirky characters in their quest. i found the story to very entertaining with lots of twists and red herrings. Includes murder, mystery, intrigue, suspense, banter, and romance. Loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.
July 21, 2023
I enjoyed the story because I recently moved to St Augustine.
May 10, 2022
I loved this book, though I did find it a little long. But so much fun. Barnaby is positively one of the most unique, funny, interesting characters I’ve ever read. I laughed so hard at him – and kudos to Philo for putting up with him! Be aware, you may need a dictionary to read some of this. Barnaby (and others) has a penchant for using high-class words that you’d use only in a crossword puzzle—which figure into the story as well as other things.
The story centers around a real mystery – the Preiss gems. Before he died, Robert Preiss buried twelve caskets in twelve cites around the country. In each is a key to a specific gem held by the Preiss Trust. As of 2019, only three of them have been found. In this story, everyone is looking for the St. Augustine casque which will give them a sapphire. But there are other challenges for our hunters – like who is trying to kill them and/or their neighbors. Who killed the hunters? And more. There are mysteries within mysteries here. But I still have some questions that were not answered. Like…why is the shop only open two days a week? Seems rather odd. There are others, but I won’t go into them here because they would give things away. I will note, it’s a very long book – over 400 pages – but totally worth it. It’s so much fun. And has a good ending that satisfies.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended!
Disclaimer: Thanks to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for providing this book. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Merged review:
I loved this book, though I did find it a little long. But so much fun. Barnaby is positively one of the most unique, funny, interesting characters I’ve ever read. I laughed so hard at him – and kudos to Philo for putting up with him! Be aware, you may need a dictionary to read some of this. Barnaby (and others) has a penchant for using high-class words that you’d use only in a crossword puzzle—which figure into the story as well as other things.
The story centers around a real mystery – the Preiss gems. Before he died, Robert Preiss buried twelve caskets in twelve cites around the country. In each is a key to a specific gem held by the Preiss Trust. As of 2019, only three of them have been found. In this story, everyone is looking for the St. Augustine casque which will give them a sapphire. But there are other challenges for our hunters – like who is trying to kill them and/or their neighbors. Who killed the hunters? And more. There are mysteries within mysteries here. But I still have some questions that were not answered. Like…why is the shop only open two days a week? Seems rather odd. There are others, but I won’t go into them here because they would give things away. I will note, it’s a very long book – over 400 pages – but totally worth it. It’s so much fun. And has a good ending that satisfies.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended!
Disclaimer: Thanks to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for providing this book. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
The story centers around a real mystery – the Preiss gems. Before he died, Robert Preiss buried twelve caskets in twelve cites around the country. In each is a key to a specific gem held by the Preiss Trust. As of 2019, only three of them have been found. In this story, everyone is looking for the St. Augustine casque which will give them a sapphire. But there are other challenges for our hunters – like who is trying to kill them and/or their neighbors. Who killed the hunters? And more. There are mysteries within mysteries here. But I still have some questions that were not answered. Like…why is the shop only open two days a week? Seems rather odd. There are others, but I won’t go into them here because they would give things away. I will note, it’s a very long book – over 400 pages – but totally worth it. It’s so much fun. And has a good ending that satisfies.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended!
Disclaimer: Thanks to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for providing this book. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Merged review:
I loved this book, though I did find it a little long. But so much fun. Barnaby is positively one of the most unique, funny, interesting characters I’ve ever read. I laughed so hard at him – and kudos to Philo for putting up with him! Be aware, you may need a dictionary to read some of this. Barnaby (and others) has a penchant for using high-class words that you’d use only in a crossword puzzle—which figure into the story as well as other things.
The story centers around a real mystery – the Preiss gems. Before he died, Robert Preiss buried twelve caskets in twelve cites around the country. In each is a key to a specific gem held by the Preiss Trust. As of 2019, only three of them have been found. In this story, everyone is looking for the St. Augustine casque which will give them a sapphire. But there are other challenges for our hunters – like who is trying to kill them and/or their neighbors. Who killed the hunters? And more. There are mysteries within mysteries here. But I still have some questions that were not answered. Like…why is the shop only open two days a week? Seems rather odd. There are others, but I won’t go into them here because they would give things away. I will note, it’s a very long book – over 400 pages – but totally worth it. It’s so much fun. And has a good ending that satisfies.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended!
Disclaimer: Thanks to The Wild Rose Press and Netgalley for providing this book. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
June 1, 2023
This was a very well written book with incredible characters that popped off the page. The dialogue was on point, the mystery unfolded at the perfect pace, and the romance budded in sync with ups and downs that reflected reality, in a charming way. Set in Saint Augustine, with crossword puzzles and history pushing the story along, this treasure hunt tale had me falling in love from page one.
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