A gently told mystery with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing until the final reveal. I enjoyed getting to know the strong willed, good hearted Ruth with her eye for a mystery and determination to solve them. The story guides you along Ruth's thoughts with enough hints dropped along the way for the reader to solve the mystery themselves. The historical back drop for the mystery shows different aspects to the lives of civilians surviving WW2 to those usually portrayed, and made me want to find out more myself. It left happy with the conclusion to the story, and a want to visit the British Museum again soon!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can see this becoming a firm favourite with middle grade students. Set just after WW2, the story is skilfully wrapped around uncovering mysteries of hidden treasure and family secrets as well as finding new friends and coming to terms with the past. It was refreshing to have a WW2 book set outside of London for the most part and the tragic bombing of Norwich by the Luftwaffe was written with compassion and empathy. Myself and my 10yo daughter really loved this book and we would highly recommend it to others.

The Secret of the Treasure Keepers is set just after World War II and is a compelling story of friendship and mystery with likeable and intriguing characters.
The story opens with Ruth waiting for her mum, Harriett Goodspeed, to come out of an interview at the British Museum. Harriett volunteers there already, but is hoping to be offered paid employment in archaeology by Mr Knight. Whilst waiting for her mum, Ruth answers the phone in the office and takes a call from a Mrs Sterne who lives on a farm in the Cambridgeshire Fens and believes she has found some treasure on her land. She wants Mr Knight’s help with valuing it. Mr Knight decides not to give Harriett the job saying that she needs more experience before he can offer her paid employment. Ruth and Harriett are both disappointed with this news. Ruth’s mum and dad have recently separated and she is struggling with the idea of having to leave their family home.
Ruth doesn’t get chance to pass the message from Mrs Sterne on to Mr Knight and instead tells her mum, who hatches a plan to travel to Cambridgeshire and help Mrs Sterne with her treasure, whilst in turn hoping to impress Mr Knight enough to change his mind about the job. As Ruth has helped her mum on an archaeological dig before, she travels to Rook Farm with her mum to assist her. They receive a warm welcome from Mrs Sterne (Mary) and Audrey, but are met with a frosty welcome from Mary’s son, Joe.
I don’t want to give away any more of the story, but this was such a delightful read! I love how the relationship between Ruth and Joe develops and changes over time. I raced through this book as I was so desperate to find out what happened. The characters were intriguing and so much happens in a short space of time - there were certainly plenty of secrets to reveal! The historical setting was spot on and I think this would make a great alternative read during the World War II topic I do with my Year 6 class.

Ruth’s mum is a volunteer at the British Museum just after the Second World War. When Ruth takes a telephone message from a lady on a farm about some items she’s dug up, Ruth and her mum decide to visit. When they arrive, the situation is more complicated than they first thought. While her mum returns to London to seek advice, Ruth decides to stay and embarks on an adventure accompanied by Joe, the farmer’s son.

This is a great mystery story, with a rather unusual setting. I’ve never before read a book about archaeology, nor one set just after the war. The factual details included remind us that hardships didn’t come to an end immediately after the war, but rationing and fuel shortages continued for some time. The characters also discussed the setting up of the NHS and why it was needed.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I read this story as a teacher, to see if it would be suitable for those who I teach. It is a well written story, and would particularly appeal to children with an interest in archaeology. The mystery throughout the book gives an interesting plot. I felt that the beginning and ending of the story were particularly good, but perhaps it was a little slow in the middle. However, it caught my interest again, and was a nice read.

A wonderful adventure with a feisty little protagonist. After helping her mum out all she wants to do is help her friend Joe. Together they solve the mystery and discover a whole new exciting hoard in the process! A fast paced and enjoyable read. Perfect for UKS2 and Y7.

I read this with my daughter who loved this story.
She is 7 year old and probably a little too young for a story of this length. She loves anything that features adventure so this was totally loved by her. She loved the description. However it was quite a long book so will continue to read with her.

I did finish it and loved it. Probably better for the age intended of 9+ but she was drawn in by the cover.

My students will devour this faced paced adventure. Who doesn’t love a book with a map. The characters kept off the page from chapter one!

A.M. Howell has done it again with her latest book, The Secret of the Treasure Keepers, set in the Fens of East Anglia in the years following WWII.
Howell has a talent for historical writing and mysteries. Each of her books has been a fascinating trip through time to learn and understand society and people of those years. For me, I enter her world through the first chapter and find myself completely engrossed in the time period within a few pages. She truly brings history to life. All set in East Anglia, Howell is a local author for me and I am so pleased to see this part of England celebrated and highlighted.
Her research is clearly deep and this book speaks about the beginning of the NHS and about a one stop shop in place of visiting butcher, grocery, etc, which her dad thinks will never take off. I laughed at this thought as where would we now be without these stores!
Joe and Ruth become detectives and allies in this tale of archeology and family. Having enough in common to form a friendship, these two will need to work together to solve several interwoven mysteries. Mistakes will be made but they are both determined to see Rook Farm saved.
Both have their own reasons for wanting to save Rook Farm, and there is a real sense of working together for both their families, not just themselves. As the mysteries were unfolding, I made some judgements and Howell once again proved me wrong, ensuring her talent for mystery writing.
Having watched each of her books take the UK by storm, she has earned her place in the kids lit market. I for one will buy anything with her name on as I know I am guaranteed a brilliant adventure.

I have read many books, but I have never read a book about archaeology before. It is a totally different take on historical fiction and a breath of fresh air. The book is set in post WW2 England, so there is plenty in there about the war, bombings and how life had changed for so many British people. I absolutely loved the fact that this book has a strong female lead, and I have no doubt that the story will inspire many children to learn more about archaeology, and even to take a visit to the British Museum. I really enjoyed the mystery, and whilst I had theories about what had happened, and what the outcomes might be, the story was far from predictable. There were twists and turns aplenty. It really is an engaging read. I can see a lot of readers 9 and above enjoying this book.

Having loved House of 100 Clocks, I was really excited to read AM Howell's latest dive into the world of Children's Historical Fiction.....and it definitely didn't disappoint!
The strong female lead character so familiar in HOOHC was again in evidence with Ruth, daughter of a wannabe archaeologist on a mission to solve a mystery involving Roman artefacts in a beautifully described Suffolk landscape. This time, in a war torn post WW2 South East England.
Really strong support characters who jump off the page helped to add to the world described.
Having read House of One Hundred Clocks to my Year 3 class during lockdown and again last year, I absolutely cannot wait to share this story with them..
Some great examples of descriptive passages will serve as the basis for some of my English lessons too.

A.M. Howell's growing fanbase will be pleased to hear of the newest in her set of historical fiction for middle-grade readers. True to form, The Secrets of the Treasure Keepers is a wonderfully immersive story that takes the reader back to what life might have been like for one family at a particular moment in history. The story felt extra special for me, as it is a rare example of fiction set in the Fens near where I live. I know that the author's commitment to highlighting this area of the country will be warmly welcomed by schools both in the local area and also for those readers yet to discover the hauntingly beautiful geography of the Fens.

The story centres around the apparent discovery of some buried Roman treasure in the field of a struggling farming family. Ruth and her mum - a budding archaeology expert - visit the farm to discover more. What drives the story is the unfolding secrets and backstories of the various different main characters - all interesting and well-nuanced - making for an enjoyable mystery full of intrigue and due compassion for the desperation that can drive deceit.
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I particularly enjoyed the well-drawn historical setting of post-war Britain. We see a lot of middle-grade stories set during the war, but the period immediately after the war had finished is just as interesting and much less widely considered in children's books. How does a country get back on its feet after the devastation of the war? No stone is left unturned when it comes to incidental details that flesh out the time and place of the story's setting. The country is still reeling from the war's impact and the reader is given space to reflect on the difficulty this caused for different individuals - for example in terms of ongoing rationing, widespread poverty, the 'make do and mend' mentally, missing family members, the dawn of the NHS and the deeply-felt consequences of the war's destruction on property, people and family relationships. A major theme of the story is embracing change and looking at ways to improve the future even during difficult times - a theme that is just as relevant today as it was in 1948. For me, this is the crux of what makes A.M. Howell's writing so compelling; the stories feel so authentically and evocatively set in their time period while also being timeless in their themes.

Heartfelt and hopeful, this is a historical adventure not to be missed.

Our review features on our Spring 2022 Ones to Watch list: https://www.booksfortopics.com/post/ones-to-watch-new-children-s-fiction-for-spring-2022.

A thoroughly enjoyable read set in Suffolk and London just after the second World War. Ruth and her mum are struggling to make ends meet, so when Ruth sees an opportunity for mum to look for archaeological treasures, they travel together in search of what Rook Farm will be hiding.
A M Howell has brought together a fabulous group of characters in a fantastic story that will have you turning pages and not wanting to put the book down to find out what happens. This is definitely going to get children interested in archeology and in earlier civilisations, as well as encouraging them to read more of her work!

Set in Post War England, this story follows Ruth, the daughter of a wannabe archaeologist who is trying to get a job as an assistant in the local museum.
While waiting patiently for her Mum to come out of the interview, the office phone rings with an important call that leads to an archaeological adventure in England.
This is definitely an adventurous historical story comparable to novels by Michael Morpurgo and I know many children and adults will be thrilled reading this story and getting to the nail biting adventure as the story unravels.

The Secret of the Treasure Keepers by A.M. Howell is the latest historical mystery by a writer who is fast becoming a master of the genre.

I always get a little thrill reading Ann Marie Howell's books as they have all so far been set in a part of the world I am familiar with: East Anglia. This new book is no different and is set in the Cambridgeshire Fens near Ely. I love the way the book captures the landscape so vividly and uses it to enhance the mood of isolation that forms a large part of the story.

The story is set a few years after the end of world war 2 and centres around Ruth, whose mother is an amateur archaeologist. They go to Rook farm, near Ely to investigate some treasure that has been dug up in one of the fields. This treasure is amazing and intriguing and could be a major find but Ruth's mother senses that something isn't right and Ruth too has her suspicions because the son of Mrs Sterne (the farmer) is behaving suspiciously and seems to be hiding something.

This set up draws you into the mystery and we get to meet an array of characters including Joe (the farmer's son), Audrey, a land girl who stayed to work on the farm after the war and her fiancé amongst others.

I am not going to describe what happens in the story in much detail as it is a mystery story and I don't want to describe anything that would spoil the mystery, suffice to say that this story is written with the writer's usual flare for detail. I found my self drawn into the time and place immediately and with every chapter I wanted to read on to see if more of the mystery was revealed or I could begin to piece the clues together and figure out what was going on.

I really enjoyed this story-in fact I ended up reading it in one sitting and found myself very tired the next morning as I had stayed up late to finish it. The characterisation and character development is really good and I loved seeing the world after world war two. I hadn't realised how much everyone was still struggling after the war and it took quite a few years before everything was recovered and rebuilt-this story allows you an insight into this time.

This book is perfect for anyone who is a fan of history or mystery stories. Ann Marie Howell already has quite a large fan base at my school as I have loved all of her books as have the children I have introduced them too.

I read Mystery of The Night Watchers last year and was so looking forward to this. And it didn't disappoint!
Much more "recent" story as it is set in England after WW2 but still within rationing times, when life was still very difficult for the citizens. Men came home from the war but life was different marriages didn't survive.

Ruth's Mum and Dad were one such couple. As such Ruth's mum needed a, proper job in order to help pay for their flat. Her Dad couldn't give as much because he had a business to rebuild and a flat of his own to pay for.
And so Ruth had found herself at the British Museum where her mum volunteered waiting for her interview with Mr Knight to be over. The phone in his office was ringing but no-one was there to answer it. In the end Ruth answered the phone and took a message. But Mr Knight didn't give her mum the job and he wasn't in a very good mood and, in his rush to get back to a dig in Cambridgeshire, refused to take the note Ruth offered, not knowing of course that she had answered his phone.
When Ruth told her mum it was too late, he'd left. But she decided that this could be the way to get that job she needed. She followed the lead to Rook Farm, where Mary had found a pepper pot, and they then found yet more, but Ruth's mum wasn't so sure about it all. Then Mary becomes ill, and Ruth decides to ask if she can stay and help with the farm work. Ruth discovers Joe's secret and sets about helping him. But can they sort things out and can they get to the bottom of Audrey's (the land girl) secret.
I absolutely loved this book, as an East Anglian girl these are places that I know, much like The Night Watchers. The story follows through very well. The descriptions of the setting and the feelings of the characters are great. The interwoven story of Ruth and Joe, and their friendship despite a rocky start is lovely.

I am really rather partial to Middle Grade World War 2 stories. There’s just something about the era that never fails to captivate me, perhaps because it’s a time that belonged to my beloved grandparents. The Valley of Lost Secrets, Midnight Guardians and When the Sky Falls are some of my very favourite books and I can now add The Secret of the Treasure Keepers to that hall of fame – it’s pure Middle Grade gold!

It’s 1948. Whilst loitering in the corridors of The British Museum, twelve year old Ruth hears a phone ringing persistently in one of the offices. With most of the museum staff gone home for the day, she has an overwhelming urge to answer it. She tentatively lifts the receiver and what follows is a crackly conversation about long lost treasure. Calling from a telephone box, Mrs Mary Sterne is trying to contact Mr Knight, Curator of British collections.

‘If you can tell Mr Knight that some of the treasure – well what I hope is treasure – is still in the field. The ground is becoming waterlogged and snow is forecast…’

Ruth and her mother Harriet – a museum assistant – trek to the lonely Rook Farm to investigate the discovery of the long-buried treasure. But at the farmhouse, secrets lurk around every corner. Joe, the farmer’s son, is hiding something about the treasure, while Land Girl Audrey watches their every move – not to mention the mysterious and scary ‘Eel Man’ who spies on the farm from his hut in Magpie field.

But before Ruth can find out more, the treasure is stolen… With a storm coming, Ruth must race to uncover the secrets of the treasure keepers before all of their lives are changed forever.

This was just the type of twisty mystery I love! There were so many secrets (and lies) to unearth – believe me, trust nobody! I was really kept on my toes and couldn’t second-guess who was genuine.

Whilst many WW2 novels focus on the experiences of evacuees or the Blitz, The Secret of the Treasure Keepers highlights the aftermath of the war. With a crowded curriculum, we seldom have the time to focus in depth on this period of time and I feel children may not fully appreciate that although the War had ended, the recovery period was a long one. The battlescars are raw, both on the landscape and the people and number of characters we meet are grieving for lost loved-ones.

Life on the farm is extremely hard; rationing is still in force, harsh winters have caused the crops to fail, money is scarce – almost all the characters have motive. But the wartime Keep Calm and Carry On mentality shines on. The blitz spirit, hard graft and ‘make do and mend’ resolve is palpable. Not everything is how it seems, Ruth learns that appearances can be deceptive and important lessons about the importance of looking at things from different perspectives and not taking things (and people) at face value.

I thoroughly enjoyed travelling back in time to be reminded of a simple life without modern complications: no telephones, the smell of a pie baking in the range of a farmhouse kitchen, the relief of being able to light the fire in the evening to stretch out the coal ration…The isolation of Rook Farm, the inclement weather and just the right level of threat makes for an atmospheric setting for this thrilling historical mystery. I must, must, must read more A.M Howell!

Published by Usborne, The Secret of the Treasure Keepers will be released on March 31st.

With thanks to Netgalley and Usborne Publishing for approving me to read an advance of publication.

10 year old me would have absolutely loved this book, as a budding Archaeologist, who also had a keen interest in the war! Whilst it's primarily a mystery book, The Secret of the Treasure Keepers is also a love letter to all things Archaeology. It beautiful sucks you in to the world of treasure and antiquities and, for me at least, reawakened a passion that I have lost over the year and had me googling for hours.

What I really love about the book, is that it takes place once the war is finished, which is a period of time that you read much less about in fiction. There were lots of little details about how people coped during this time, the losses they all felt, as well as a little nod to the creation of the NHS. It would certainly be a fun way to introduce the subject of the recovery effort to a young reader, particularly one reluctant to learn in a more traditional way.

There are so many underlying mysteries at Rook Farm that it would be hard to know where to begin. Every member of the family, and their friends, seem to have secrets, and it was exciting watching them unravel slowly. The biggest mystery is who took the Roman treasure, and I definitely didn't guess who had done it. Despite all the mysteries, there are plenty of big hearts amongst the cast of characters, and a reminder of how communities can rally together during the worst of times.

You really do get a sense of the research that has gone into the pages of The Secret of the Treasure Keepers, with lots of little historical tidbits throughout. I thoroughly enjoyed unpicking the puzzle around Rook Farm and it's inhabitants, and would certainly recommend the book.

Set in 1947, whilst Ruth's mother, Harriet Goodspeed, is being interviewed for her ideal job at the British Museum, Ruth picks up the phone to Mary Sterne, a woman who is desperate to know what she should do about the treasure she has found on her farm. Emerging from the meeting, it is clear that Ruth's mum hasn't got the job and Mr Knight's grumpy tone means that Ruth doesn't get the chance to pass the message on to him. Instead, the pair make their way to Rook Farm south of Ely themselves, hoping that Harriet's archaeological skills will be able to help Mary and also impress Mr Knight enough to give Harriet a job. Sure enough, the treasure turns out to be impressive and potentially valuable, however, Ruth quickly feels that there is something not quite right. Why is Mary's son, Joe, so unwilling to let Harriet take the treasure back to London to be examined? With secrets waiting to be uncovered, can Ruth get to the bottom of everything in time to help her mum and help save the farm?

I'm a fan of historical fiction, especially anything set around the time of WWII, and, coupled with the fact that I have loved Ann-Marie's previous three books, I was thrilled to have access to an early copy of The Secret of the Treasure Keepers on NetGalley. She's a fantastic writer of historical fiction and brilliant at balancing the historical content with the adventure in the plot.

Set firstly in London, I enjoyed being able to imagine where Ruth and her mum were at the beginning of the book and am now set to visit the British Museum next time I'm down there (I can't believe I haven't been already!). The attention to detail in accuracy of the setting for the time period drew me in and mentions of the introduction of the National Health Service (or a new health service that won't cost a penny), a new self-service shop where you pay for everything together at the end, not to mention Baedeker raids (I had to look this up!), shops opening on buses after the bombings and electricity being used sparingly, means that readers quickly learn that 1947 Britain was still feeling the after-effects of the war (something I suspect many children will not realise). Then you have the comparison of Rook Farm where Ruth thinks life will be easier and food more plentiful. Surrounded by vast open fields, it quickly becomes obvious that life on the farm is far from easy: the place is heated sparingly, the family are still working the land by hand and food isn't as plentiful as Ruth thought it would be. There is a contrast in the landscape but not in the daily struggle.

Having survived the Blitz in London, Ruth is not scared of getting stuck in and it is her idea to venture to Rook Farm. Underneath it all though, she is driven by the idea of not wanting to lose her childhood home, the home where her father has created the most amazing sounding mural on her bedroom wall and, despite the fact that her parents are divorcing amicably, it's a change she can't bear to face. However, Ruth doesn't always get things right and I like that about her; it makes her real. Compare that to Joe who is definitely more reserved and clearly doesn't want to get close to Ruth; it is apparent that he has the world on his shoulders and is trying to help his mum in every way he can. I can imagine that this is something that many children went through during this period: having lived through the harrowing events of the war, both of their childhoods are essentially being robbed from them as they have to help make ends meet, understand that food is often scarce and that life is still very different.

As well as mastering the historical content in her novels, Ann-Marie is brilliant at weaving in intriguing plots and The Secret of the Treasure Keepers is no different: hints are dropped subtly throughout the book that something is not quite as it seems (although you're not quite certain what it is) and this draws the reader in (indeed, I couldn't put the book down, even though it was New Year's Eve!). The odd red herring is also scattered to keep you on your toes and will ensure that you are guessing until the end (I'm determined not to give anything away!). There's a slight darkness to the book that helps to add to the air of mystery and the host of characters helps to build that feeling. In short, what I'm trying to tell you in a rather long-winded way, is that I adored this book! It's a gripping read that combines intrigue. mystery and treasure whilst also expertly tackling themes of divorce, bereavement and family struggle. The Secret of the Treasure Keepers is a compelling post-WWII mystery that I know will go down very well with the children in my class; I just worry that they won't be able to put it down for long enough to be able to pay attention in lessons!

Due for release on the 31st March, I urge you to pre-order the book today!

A story that starts with a scene at The British Museum, one of my favourite places to visit, was always likely to be a hit with me, and this is a beautifully written middle grade adventure from one of the best current authors of children’s historical fiction. Set in 1947, it provides children with an insight into the post-war period of hardship and rationing, within the context of a gripping page-turner.

When Ruth Goodspeed and her mother, Harriett, embark on an archaeological investigation at a remote farm set in the bleak landscape of The Fens, little do they realise that they will not just be scraping away layers of earth covering ancient artefacts; family and personal secrets and mysteries will also be laid bare. Mirroring the meticulously patient art of the archaeologists, the author slowly brushes away at the surface of her characters, gradually revealing the emotions, anxieties and pain buried deep within. The characters that emerge are so believable, with flaws and mis-steps combined with good intentions that you just can’t help rooting for them.

A.M. Howell’s writing style is wonderful in its ability to lure you in and propel you through the story. You rapidly lose yourself in the mystery, making it very difficult to put the book down or cease to think about the characters and their plight even when you have to break away and return to everyday reality! She conjures the flat, mist covered, dank, ditch drilled Fen landscape with its sudden explosions of birdlife magnificently. I love the image of this landscape providing farseeing horizontal viewpoints for those who wish to spy on their neighbours as well as a vertical view down to our history, buried and preserved in the damp earth. The comparisons between life in the bombed out ruins of cities such as London and Norwich and the hardships of rural life during and immediately after the Second World War are sympathetically portrayed through Ruth’s reflections on her experiences and the tales that she hears from farmer’s son Joe. The realisation that similarities can be found in what initially appear to be drastically different circumstances are thoughtfully uncovered, increasing that empathy that children can develop through reading great literature.

The story is perfectly pitched to entertain a middle-grade readership of 9+, featuring a race against time to uncover buried treasure, save a family’s livelihood and home, and unravel hidden mysteries. The evolving friendship between Ruth and Joe after a resentful beginning is developed believably and the mutual support between two children adapting to different family circumstances is portrayed with great positivity. I can also imagine this book being a valuable addition to primary school classrooms with its factually-based portrayal of the post WWII years, the actual hiding away of national treasures from the great museums during the War, as well as the way that ancient historical finds are handled and investigated to shed light on our past. At the end of the story the author provides factual details on some of the real treasure hoards that provided inspiration for this book. I understand that publishers Usborne will be providing additional online resources to accompany publication of this book.

I am most grateful to Usborne and NetGalley for allowing me access to an electronic copy of The Secrets of the Treasure Keepers in advance of publication.