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Hilton Head Mystery #1
Secrets of Sea Pines
Can You Unravel the Secrets Buried Beneath Hilton Head Island's Most Luxurious Resort?
Embark on a heart-pounding journey through history, greed, and conspiracy in a thrilling race against time.
What if the foundation of one of America's most exclusive resorts concealed a dangerous secret? Dive into the gripping tale of "Secrets of Sea The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" and experience an exhilarating adventure that will leave you breathless.
Here's why you need to read this compelling
If you're a fan of these genres, you'll love this
You'll enjoy this novel if you've liked these types of
This book is perfect "Secrets of Sea The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" is an enthralling and captivating novel that blends history, mystery, and adventure into a mesmerizing tale that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Don't miss out on this exhilarating journey into the heart of Hilton Head Island's darkest secrets.
Click the "Buy Now" button and dive into the gripping world of "Secrets of Sea The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" today!
Embark on a heart-pounding journey through history, greed, and conspiracy in a thrilling race against time.
What if the foundation of one of America's most exclusive resorts concealed a dangerous secret? Dive into the gripping tale of "Secrets of Sea The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" and experience an exhilarating adventure that will leave you breathless.
Here's why you need to read this compelling
If you're a fan of these genres, you'll love this
You'll enjoy this novel if you've liked these types of
This book is perfect "Secrets of Sea The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" is an enthralling and captivating novel that blends history, mystery, and adventure into a mesmerizing tale that will keep you hooked from start to finish. Don't miss out on this exhilarating journey into the heart of Hilton Head Island's darkest secrets.
Click the "Buy Now" button and dive into the gripping world of "Secrets of Sea The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" today!
- GenresMystery
301 pages, Paperback
Published March 6, 2023
170 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 9, 2024
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It's an interesting read for certain. The book starts in Atlanta, Georgia 1947. Joseph Gramer is going to an auction to bid on something for his wife Pearl. A book from the Salem Witch Trials titled On Witchcraft by Cotton Mather. Which he wins and takes back to the lumber yard to show his son Charles. A piece of paper fall out – a receipt for a strongbox – security box 17 owned by Samuel Goldsmith at the Plymouth Savings Bank signed by Steven Rands. His son, Charles goes to investigate it. And doing so unearths a treasure hunt mystery more than 300 years in the making.
For me the writing is a bit fast – I would like more description and for events to be more fleshed out. If a conversation isn’t between the main three characters then it is glossed over so you don’t get a feel for the secondary characters at all and therefore you feel that they are just plot fodder. You are told that they had the conversation and the outcome in two sentences. Even the bad guys aren’t properly fleshed out enough. Samuel Goldsmith is more of an annoyance than an actual real threat and the big bad mafia boss isn’t that bad and is quickly dealt with. For example, when our main characters and anyone else mention this Boss’s name everyone is afraid because he controls the city with an iron fist and has law enforcement in his pocket but that comes to nothing and barely inconveniences the main characters. I just feel that there was a lot of potential but it was too quickly ended in an easy manner.
All in all it’s not a bad read. I feel that it could have had more suspense and although the situations the characters find themselves in are dangerous they don’t feel that dangerous at all and are always over pretty quickly. The plot armour for the main characters is practically visible in every dangerous situation. So you don’t really worry about them.
Potential Spoiler.
This is supposed to be the first book in a series of seven but unless the actual book ending is different to the ARC copy then I don’t know how it can be stretched to seven books every character was neatly ended. Charles & Mary were married and had children. Joseph & Pearl died of natural causes 10 years after the events. They even killed Samuel Goldsmith in the epilogue which happens 47 years after the ending and faked Charles’ death and ended up sipping rum on an island in Caicos. Reading the synopsis of the following book Robber’s Row it looks like all that was scrapped. Because in that Pearl is killed in a hit & run not a natural death, and it looks like the whole faking death thing never happens.
More detailed review here: https://youtu.be/JVyeDyRuf2g
It's an interesting read for certain. The book starts in Atlanta, Georgia 1947. Joseph Gramer is going to an auction to bid on something for his wife Pearl. A book from the Salem Witch Trials titled On Witchcraft by Cotton Mather. Which he wins and takes back to the lumber yard to show his son Charles. A piece of paper fall out – a receipt for a strongbox – security box 17 owned by Samuel Goldsmith at the Plymouth Savings Bank signed by Steven Rands. His son, Charles goes to investigate it. And doing so unearths a treasure hunt mystery more than 300 years in the making.
For me the writing is a bit fast – I would like more description and for events to be more fleshed out. If a conversation isn’t between the main three characters then it is glossed over so you don’t get a feel for the secondary characters at all and therefore you feel that they are just plot fodder. You are told that they had the conversation and the outcome in two sentences. Even the bad guys aren’t properly fleshed out enough. Samuel Goldsmith is more of an annoyance than an actual real threat and the big bad mafia boss isn’t that bad and is quickly dealt with. For example, when our main characters and anyone else mention this Boss’s name everyone is afraid because he controls the city with an iron fist and has law enforcement in his pocket but that comes to nothing and barely inconveniences the main characters. I just feel that there was a lot of potential but it was too quickly ended in an easy manner.
All in all it’s not a bad read. I feel that it could have had more suspense and although the situations the characters find themselves in are dangerous they don’t feel that dangerous at all and are always over pretty quickly. The plot armour for the main characters is practically visible in every dangerous situation. So you don’t really worry about them.
Potential Spoiler.
This is supposed to be the first book in a series of seven but unless the actual book ending is different to the ARC copy then I don’t know how it can be stretched to seven books every character was neatly ended. Charles & Mary were married and had children. Joseph & Pearl died of natural causes 10 years after the events. They even killed Samuel Goldsmith in the epilogue which happens 47 years after the ending and faked Charles’ death and ended up sipping rum on an island in Caicos. Reading the synopsis of the following book Robber’s Row it looks like all that was scrapped. Because in that Pearl is killed in a hit & run not a natural death, and it looks like the whole faking death thing never happens.
More detailed review here: https://youtu.be/JVyeDyRuf2g
November 5, 2022
"Secrets of Sea Pines: The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure" penned by the author Robert J Perreault is an interesting read. William Hunter along with his friend Samuel Goldsmith buried the treasure in 1662 amongst pine trees.
Before dying, William told his son Andrew about his will, testament and the map to locate the treasure. But William's friend Goldsmith who was eavesdropping the entire conversation stole William's will and map. He deposited that will and map in a safe deposit of the bank. Andrew suspected that Goldsmith must have stolen the will so he murdered him. Centuries later the receipt of the safe deposit came into the hands of Joseph Gramer. Joseph's son Charles sets out on an adventure to find the treasure. Will he be successful?
The plot of the story is interesting. This story kept me on the edge. The language used in the book is easy to understand. The cover photo is nice and the title couldn't have been better than this. Robert has done great work in this book.
Before dying, William told his son Andrew about his will, testament and the map to locate the treasure. But William's friend Goldsmith who was eavesdropping the entire conversation stole William's will and map. He deposited that will and map in a safe deposit of the bank. Andrew suspected that Goldsmith must have stolen the will so he murdered him. Centuries later the receipt of the safe deposit came into the hands of Joseph Gramer. Joseph's son Charles sets out on an adventure to find the treasure. Will he be successful?
The plot of the story is interesting. This story kept me on the edge. The language used in the book is easy to understand. The cover photo is nice and the title couldn't have been better than this. Robert has done great work in this book.
November 30, 2025
Enjoyed this a lot. I usually read non fiction books. This was a nice change of pace. An exciting adventure from Georgia to Boston to Hilton Head. A fast pace enjoyable read. From finding a piece of paper from 1650’ s Plymouth Rock to finding a treasure map of Hilton Head Island and ultimately finding that treasure and it’s ramifications.
September 4, 2025
Not sure how to even begin with this one. I understand this was Perreault's first book and therein may be the problem. I found the main story line to be interesting (finding the missing treasure of William Hilton). That alone could have been developed into a good story. But beyond the main story line I would say this is a poorly written book. It reads like the author attempted to include everything he knew or wanted to include about the south or buried treasurer, or pirates, or mobs, or love stories, etc. The author attempted to include and bring together too many side stories. Parts of the story line were unbelievable, such as "allowing" a new love interest to accompany the main character on a dangerous mission. Even before that happens in the book, it was hard to fathom that the main character could have readily accepted her participation in many aspects of a treasure hunt. It became "we" very quickly and almost magically with a "head over heels" explanation about their relationship. Dialogue was choppy, but did improve between the male and female main characters through the book. The dialogue writing style made me check to see if the book had perhaps been written for a young adult audience. It was not and I would not suggest it for young adults due to a few violent scenes in the later aspect of the book. I suggest that this author use descriptive detail only when it truly adds to the story. Including the Parker rolls from the Parker House hotel in Boston was a nice detail, but was repeated too many times in the story. Minuscule details such as the color of someone's uniform did not add value to the story. Italics appear to have been used for thoughts or emphasis, but they were overused and mostly unnecessary. I believe this book was self-published and this author has potential. However, I suggest that the author work with a professional editor and perhaps beta readers to create a better finished product.
August 5, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't be talking about the plot too much. However, this novel was a lot of fun. I loved the flashback moments used as context and setup, and the rest of the story was also fast-paced, interesting, and had real stakes.
Additionally, the characters were unique. I wish I could have spent more time with Joseph and Pearl, but Charles and Mary were a delightfully quirky couple that I would enjoy seeing in future books. They worked well together, and watching them unravel the mystery was very satisfying. Their adventures, it seems, are only just beginning, and this reader, at least, cannot wait to see what happens next.
One thing I really appreciated about this novel was that there were clear stakes. Every antagonistic felt like a real danger, and there were real and dangerous threats to our heroes. People got hurt. I worried that the characters were not going to be okay, and that made the moments of triumph even sweeter.
The writing style is easy to follow and not overly complicated. I don't mind a bit of flowery language, but in this case, it would have felt out of place. The author picked a tone and stuck to it. Overall, the tone of the novel was consistent. It reminded me of an adventure film set in the 40s, and I could not help but imagine the beautiful way it would translate to screen.
This is was a solid first adventure in a series that promises to be full of Southern charm and adventure. The biggest downside is that it is so short, but it is the first book in a series, so more adventures are sure to follow!
Additionally, the characters were unique. I wish I could have spent more time with Joseph and Pearl, but Charles and Mary were a delightfully quirky couple that I would enjoy seeing in future books. They worked well together, and watching them unravel the mystery was very satisfying. Their adventures, it seems, are only just beginning, and this reader, at least, cannot wait to see what happens next.
One thing I really appreciated about this novel was that there were clear stakes. Every antagonistic felt like a real danger, and there were real and dangerous threats to our heroes. People got hurt. I worried that the characters were not going to be okay, and that made the moments of triumph even sweeter.
The writing style is easy to follow and not overly complicated. I don't mind a bit of flowery language, but in this case, it would have felt out of place. The author picked a tone and stuck to it. Overall, the tone of the novel was consistent. It reminded me of an adventure film set in the 40s, and I could not help but imagine the beautiful way it would translate to screen.
This is was a solid first adventure in a series that promises to be full of Southern charm and adventure. The biggest downside is that it is so short, but it is the first book in a series, so more adventures are sure to follow!
April 28, 2024
I listened to the 9 hour audio book on YouTube (https://youtu.be/81T_Hyw3ceM ) or at least I tried to. It's definitely read by AI & definitely did not get checked before being posted. There's weird pronunciations & word spacing but I was able to overlook most of that & enjoy the story. Unfortunately, at around the 5 hour mark (I feel like it may be the climax) it starts skipping. Don't know if it was an issue with the text the AI was fed or the audio the AI output but there are little glimpse of the story as it fast-forwards through the ending before going completely silent. I did not listen to the last 4 hours but I skipped around & everywhere I checked was silent.
As for the parts I was about to listen to, I enjoyed it. Mary is great (5 stars for the train meet-cute) & I enjoyed her & Charles sleuthing together. I don't know if it's the transition from detective story to land rights or Mary leaving the narrative to go back to work (or probably the combination of both) but after Yale I did not enjoy the story as much as I had been.
Ultimately, I am glad I spent 5 hours listening to this story, even if I didn't get the whole picture. Maybe some day I'll pick up a copy & read the ending I missed.
As for the parts I was about to listen to, I enjoyed it. Mary is great (5 stars for the train meet-cute) & I enjoyed her & Charles sleuthing together. I don't know if it's the transition from detective story to land rights or Mary leaving the narrative to go back to work (or probably the combination of both) but after Yale I did not enjoy the story as much as I had been.
Ultimately, I am glad I spent 5 hours listening to this story, even if I didn't get the whole picture. Maybe some day I'll pick up a copy & read the ending I missed.
November 4, 2022
BOOK REVIEW: Secrets of Sea Pines by Robert J. Perreault
Secrets of Sea Pines: The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure by Robert J. Perreault is a mystery fiction. William Hilton and Samuel Goldsmith from Massachusetts buried a treasure chest on an island. Their plan was to return home and bring their people to live on the island. When William returned home, he was bedridden. He became so sick that he died soon after.
On his last day, William told his son Andrew about the family legacy. He told him about his will and the map which will help Andrew to locate the treasure chest. When Andrew went to retrieve the will, it wasn't there as his father's friend Goldsmith had already stolen it.
The adventure begins when Charles Gramer and Joseph Gramer get a clue about the treasure. The story has adventure, history, romance, etc.
Those who love reading mystery stories should get their hands on this one. The storyline is gripping. The pace of the story is fast and I wasn't bored anytime while reading it. Go for it without any second thoughts. You would be delighted to read this book.
Rating: 5/5
Secrets of Sea Pines: The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure by Robert J. Perreault is a mystery fiction. William Hilton and Samuel Goldsmith from Massachusetts buried a treasure chest on an island. Their plan was to return home and bring their people to live on the island. When William returned home, he was bedridden. He became so sick that he died soon after.
On his last day, William told his son Andrew about the family legacy. He told him about his will and the map which will help Andrew to locate the treasure chest. When Andrew went to retrieve the will, it wasn't there as his father's friend Goldsmith had already stolen it.
The adventure begins when Charles Gramer and Joseph Gramer get a clue about the treasure. The story has adventure, history, romance, etc.
Those who love reading mystery stories should get their hands on this one. The storyline is gripping. The pace of the story is fast and I wasn't bored anytime while reading it. Go for it without any second thoughts. You would be delighted to read this book.
Rating: 5/5
August 31, 2023
This was a very enjoyable read that I enjoyed from the get go! I fell in love with the characters, and I look forward to reading more about them in the other books in the series.
An interesting premise about the search for buried treasure from 1662, following information falling out of an old book. Charles goes off to search out the treasure using the information to hand and soon meets Mary on a train and they both become embroiled in the hunt. Little do they realise the danger they are in as they are not the only ones searching for the treasure.
I loved the plotting of this book and the pace at which it moved. As if two people being in the hunt wasn’t enough, soon we have a mafia boss enter the fray. At points the book almost took on a romp in its approach.
This book is ideal for those that love treasure hunts and fast moving books, with quirky characters. There is plenty of action. It isn’t a book for people that want plenty of descriptive sections within the book. Personally I loved this book and will be reading others in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
An interesting premise about the search for buried treasure from 1662, following information falling out of an old book. Charles goes off to search out the treasure using the information to hand and soon meets Mary on a train and they both become embroiled in the hunt. Little do they realise the danger they are in as they are not the only ones searching for the treasure.
I loved the plotting of this book and the pace at which it moved. As if two people being in the hunt wasn’t enough, soon we have a mafia boss enter the fray. At points the book almost took on a romp in its approach.
This book is ideal for those that love treasure hunts and fast moving books, with quirky characters. There is plenty of action. It isn’t a book for people that want plenty of descriptive sections within the book. Personally I loved this book and will be reading others in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 7, 2022
🔵 BOOK: Secret of Sea Pines
🔵 AUTHOR: Robert J Perreault
🔵 REVIEW:
There are very few books that have the power to capture the readers' attention from the first page itself. Secrets of Sea Pines: The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure by Robert J. Perreault is one such book.
William Hilton along with Samuel Goldsmith buried a treasure on an island that was named as Hilton's Island. Centuries later, Joseph Gramer and Charles Gramer got the information about this treasure. Charles, who was always keen on being a detective, found it interesting. On his journey, he met a beautiful woman named Mary Stone.
Is the Charles family the only one who is looking for treasure? The author has narrated this story well. I was so much pulled into this story that I felt as if I was on an adventure myself.
If you enjoy reading adventure stories that have romance and mystery then pick a copy of this book. Add this book to your tbr. I am sure you would love this one.
🔵 RATING: 5/5
🔵 AUTHOR: Robert J Perreault
🔵 REVIEW:
There are very few books that have the power to capture the readers' attention from the first page itself. Secrets of Sea Pines: The Battle for Hilton Head Island's Treasure by Robert J. Perreault is one such book.
William Hilton along with Samuel Goldsmith buried a treasure on an island that was named as Hilton's Island. Centuries later, Joseph Gramer and Charles Gramer got the information about this treasure. Charles, who was always keen on being a detective, found it interesting. On his journey, he met a beautiful woman named Mary Stone.
Is the Charles family the only one who is looking for treasure? The author has narrated this story well. I was so much pulled into this story that I felt as if I was on an adventure myself.
If you enjoy reading adventure stories that have romance and mystery then pick a copy of this book. Add this book to your tbr. I am sure you would love this one.
🔵 RATING: 5/5
August 19, 2023
This was a great book. Such an adventure. I was really drawn in from the start. I really love these mysteries that pull us back in time and allow us a glimpse into what might have happened in the past. I wish there was a bit more character development, and the secondary characters seemed like more of a mention than players in the story. They had a lot of potential. This is only book 1 in the series, and I'm interested to see what the next book has to offer. Overall, I enjoyed the history and mystery of this book.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 15, 2025
You have the name Sea Pines in your title - leading readers to believe this entire story will focus on Hilton Head, right? WRONG. The story was half in Massachusetts, half in Georgia. There were maybe a few pages on which Hilton head is featured, and the only description? Digging for treasure.
This book wanted to be National Treasure of the south, meets a 1940s romance novel, meets gangster action book. None of it worked. I kept reading for the soul hope that Hilton head would get a bigger description, but nope. Turks gets a mention though.
Do I sense an area of need in literature? Do I just write the book I hoped to read? Maybe.
This book wanted to be National Treasure of the south, meets a 1940s romance novel, meets gangster action book. None of it worked. I kept reading for the soul hope that Hilton head would get a bigger description, but nope. Turks gets a mention though.
Do I sense an area of need in literature? Do I just write the book I hoped to read? Maybe.
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March 10, 20233.8
May 1, 2023
This was an absolutely fantastic read.
June 8, 2023
I absolutely loved this book. Talk about a page turner. I couldn’t put this book down. Best book I have read in a long time.
September 16, 2024
I am being very generous with the second star.
June 25, 2025
A little romance, a bunch of history and so many mysteries!!! Quite a page turner.
It is book 1.
It is book 1.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews