We Had a Hunch - by Tom Ryan (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Nancy Drew meets Yellowjackets in We Had a Hunch-a lively and suspenseful mystery from USA Today bestseller Tom Ryan that asks a simple question: what happens to your favorite teenage detectives when they grow up? Few stories captured the public's imagination in the year 2000 like the friendly rivalry between the Teen Detectives of Edgar Mills, Massachusetts. Twin sisters Alice and Samantha Van Dyne were thrust into the spotlight when they helped their father Police Chief Bill Van Dyne bust a dangerous drug smuggling ring. Across town, bookish Joey O'Day proved himself to be a talented investigator of a different sort when he used his computer skills to expose an online grifter preying on elderly victims. As the two sets of teenage sleuths began jockeying to outdo each other, they became a sensation, appearing on talk shows and the covers of teen magazines. But when a brutal series of murders rocked Edgar Mills, a deadly miscalculation on the part of the Van Dyne twins led to the shocking and gruesome deaths of both their father and Alice's boyfriend. The killer, Bruce Phillip Kershaw-better known as The Janitor-was ultimately captured, but both Edgar Mills and their beloved Teen Detectives would never be the same. It's been a quarter century since The Janitor terrorized Edgar Mills, and the Teen Detectives have grown up. Samantha and Joey have scattered: Sam to Los Angeles and a life as a B List reality TV star, and Joey to a lucrative tech career in Boston. Alice, on the other hand, still lives in Edgar Mills, rooted by her guilt and heartbreak. When Edgar Mills is shaken by a new murder that matches The Janitor's M.O., Kershaw offers, from his maximum-security prison cell, to provide information that could help crack this new case. The catch? He'll only talk to the teen detectives that put him away"--

Book Synopsis

Nancy Drew meets Yellowjackets in We Had a Hunch--a dark and suspenseful thriller from USA Today bestseller Tom Ryan that asks a simple question: what happens to your favorite teenage detectives when they grow up?

Few stories captured the public's imagination in the year 2000 like the friendly rivalry between the Teen Detectives of Edgar Mills, Massachusetts. Twin sisters Alice and Samantha VanDyne were thrust into the spotlight when they helped their father Sheriff Bill VanDyne bust a dangerous drug smuggling ring. Across town, bookish Joey O'Day proved himself to be a talented investigator of a different sort when he used his computer skills to expose an online grifter preying on elderly victims.

As the two sets of teenage sleuths began jockeying to outdo each other, they became a sensation, appearing on talk shows and the covers of teen magazines.

But when a brutal series of murders rocked Edgar Mills, a deadly miscalculation on the part of the VanDyne twins led to the shocking and gruesome deaths of both their father and Alice's boyfriend. The killer, Bruce Phillip Kershaw--better known as The Janitor--was ultimately captured, but both Edgar Mills and their beloved Teen Detectives would never be the same.

It's been a quarter century since The Janitor terrorized Edgar Mills, and the Teen Detectives have grown up. Samantha and Joey have scattered: Sam to Los Angeles and a life as a B List reality TV star, and Joey to a lucrative tech career in Boston. Alice, on the other hand, still lives in Edgar Mills, rooted by her guilt and heartbreak.

When Edgar Mills is shaken by a new murder that matches The Janitor's M.O., Kershaw offers, from his maximum-security prison cell, to provide information that could help crack this new case. The catch? He'll only talk to the teen detectives that put him away.

Review Quotes

Praise for We Had a Hunch:

"Mr. Ryan's mix of traditional plotting and modern obfuscation is undeniably entertaining."--Tom Nolan, Wall Street Journal

"[A] sinuous small-town thriller. . . it doesn't take long for Ryan's tale to hit its stride. Whiplash-inducing plot twists and convincing red herrings abound, but Ryan leaves plenty of room for character development, using the present-day mystery as a means for his three protagonists to confront their pasts and reassess their futures. This is criminally good fun."--Publishers Weekly

"Ryan crafts a character-driven, deeply psychological narrative about loss, heartbreak, and redemption . . . Clever, tightly plotted, and complex, Ryan's novel is as immersive as it is satisfying. A fabulously twisting maze of murder, intrigue, and suspense."--Kirkus Reviews

"With its psychological curves and emotional twists, We Had a Hunch will keep you turning pages right to the truly surprising conclusion . . . We Had a Hunch knocks it out of the park."--Carol Iaciofano Aucoin, WBUR

"Alice and Sam are like a pair of gritty, grown-up Nancy Drews, and fans of twisty mysteries that explore childhood trauma will be thrilled."--Booklist

"Tom Ryan once again infuses nostalgia with newness--this time recalling our fondness for iconic teen detectives like Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys but contrasting the relative innocence and good fortune of their youthful exploits with the far more complex and messy realities of adulthood . . . This book is near impossible to put down, and you may find yourself fighting the urge to grab a flashlight and read straight through the night. (Do it!) Simply put, I have a hunch you're gonna love it."--Criminal Element

"I have a hunch everyone is going to love this twisty mystery that evokes the era of classic teen detectives while making something entirely new."--Lev Rosen, author of Lavender House

"With a page-turning premise and a heaping dose of nostalgia, We Had a Hunch is one of the most fun books I've read this year. To my fellow former teenage sleuths: you'll think you know where this one is going. Trust me - you don't. Tom Ryan is a master of twisty escapism."--Stephanie Wrobel, author of The Hitchcock Hotel and Darling Rose Gold

"For anyone who misses the adrenaline of staying up late on a school night huddled under the covers with Nancy Drew or The Hardy Boys, Tom Ryan gives you all the thrills and nostalgia . . . and skips the coziness entirely. These grown-up teen detectives live in the real world, with all its ugliness and fear and regret - no happy ending guaranteed. I do guarantee, though, that you'll keep turning pages way past your bedtime."--Gin Phillips, author of Fierce Kingdom and Family Law

"I had a hunch I'd figure out the whodunnit in We Had a Hunch, but I couldn't have been more wrong. Twists, turns and surprises abound in this fast-paced novel. Every time you think you've got it figured out another shocker is revealed. A rollicking roller-coaster of a mystery."--Eliza Reid, author of Death on the Island

"A charming mystery packed with satisfying twists that shocked me till the very last page. We Had a Hunch is a clever and entertaining look at true crime and young fame." --Liann Zhang, author of Julie Chan is Dead

Praise for The Treasure Hunters Club:

"An ingeniously plotted adult mystery that cleverly combines a marvelously entertaining cast of characters, writing embellished with a wonderfully wry sense of wit, and a vividly realized setting that has all the cozy charm of Jessica Fletcher's Cabot Cove, with almost as many murders. Readers who fondly remember Ellen Raskin's The Westing Game and newer fans of Gigi Pandian's "Secret Staircase Mysteries" will find Ryan's cleverly crafted adventure to be a real treasure."--John Charles, Library Journal (starred review)

"A labyrinthine tale of lies, greed, murder, and retribution. The mind-boggling, nail-biting twists will keep readers guessing, with a finale that's as shocking as it is satisfying." --Emily Melton, Booklist

"Ryan's masterful interweaving of multiple storylines, surprising plot twists, and often eccentric characters makes for a novel that is as enjoyable as it is suspenseful. An edge-of-your seat, page-turning delight."--Kirkus Reviews

"Ryan's ambitious and atmospheric latest centers on a seaside town's century-old legend of buried jewels...with an immersive setting and a truly surprising final twist. This Goonies-esque caper delivers the goods." --Publishers Weekly

"The Treasure Hunters Club--like a shot of oxygen, or a jungle cruise, or a giddy freefall from 10,000 feet--exists to make you happy. Here's a novel that evokes the thrill of Saturday-morning serials (and cereals: remember gobbling Corn Pops as cartoons blared on the TV?), the romance of classic adventure stories in tattered paperbacks... but it's turbo-charged with a very modern momentum, a zippy forward thrust that'll power you well past bedtime and into the small hours. If you love The Goonies, or Stranger Things, or big-hearted, full-throated tales of suspense and surprise... well, open the book already!" --A.J. Finn

"A lovingly crafted blend of classic tropes--Hidden treasure! Family secrets!--and modern thrills, including a twist that left me gobsmacked." --Riley Sager

"One of those rare unexpected gems, a mystery that stands out from the crowd, somehow managing to be both utterly original and an homage to the great lost treasure stories at the same time. The real treasures here are Tom Ryan's lyrical prose, a twist that will make your jaw drop, and a tender story grounded in a young girl's love for her grandfather." --Alex Finlay

"A romp of a thriller, as cozy a mystery as it gets. Tom Ryan writes with a sharp wit; he weaves together intricate plotting with a deft eye for pace. Rare is a novel that manages to both thrill and charm its reader. I adored The Treasure Hunters Club; it swept me away."--Amy Stuart

"An action-packed and heartwarming treasure hunt with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the end."--C.L. Miller

"A meticulously crafted mystery fueled by a large but memorable cast of unique characters, The Treasure Hunters Club by Tom Ryan is an absolute delight. A master of intricate plots, Ryan gives readers a story that crackles with clever turns and one particular twist that left my jaw on the floor. The addictive blend of family secrets, small town quirkiness, and a high stakes treasure hunt makes for an atmospheric and fast paced ride. Readers will be holding their breath until the very last sentence. Perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Ruth Ware."--B.R. Myers

"Hidden coves and buried bodies. Ornate mansions and dark family lore. A legendary pirate ship and rumors of gold. Tom Ryan spins a fascinating tale of adventure and skullduggery. It's a lot of fun--and surprisingly poignant." --Will Ferguson

About the Author

Tom Ryan is an award-winning author, screenwriter, and producer. His adult fiction debut, The Treasure Hunters Club, an instant USA Today bestseller, is nominated for the Lillian Jackson Braun Award and his YA mystery, Keep This To Yourself, was the winner of several awards, including the 2020 ITW Thriller Award for Best YA Thriller, and is currently being adapted for television. His follow-up YA mystery I Hope You're Listening was the winner of the 2021 Lambda "Lammy" Award for Best LGBTQ Mystery. He was a 2017 Lambda Literary Fellow in Young Adult Fiction. Tom, his husband, and their dog live in Nova Scotia.