Owen Godfrey is spending his summer in Paris studying science fiction writer Jules Verne, the brilliant mind behind Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and Around the World in Eighty Days. When Owen and his new friends find what appears to be a dusty copy of Verne’s collected works in an old bookshop, they’re intrigued by the hidden codes written inside. As one clue leads to another, the trio gets swept up in an epic treasure hunt spanning the city—from the depths of the catacombs to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and by way of skateboard, boat, car, and even a hot air balloon! But they quickly realize they’re not the only ones searching for the hidden riches and that there are others who will stop at nothing to get to them first.
All that is impossible remains to be accomplished. – Jules Verne
Out of all the books I’ve read, nothing is quite as comforting as a good action mystery adventure. Especially an action mystery adventure treasure hunt connected to a well-known historical figure. This may seem oddly specific, but there are a few books with this plotline. See list of books below:
Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes
The Amelia Six by Kristin L. Gray
Shakespeare’s Secret by Elise Broach
Finders Keepers by Shelley Tougas
Charlie Thorne (Books 1 – 4) by Stuart Gibbs
I didn’t know I wanted a Jules Verne-based treasure hunt story until I found this book. In retrospect, Jules Verne would be the kind of guy who would leave behind a treasure hunt to solve, since his stories featured ciphers and puzzles.
Let’s start with a little history lesson on Jules Verne:
Jules Verne was a French novelist, poet, and playwright. Born in 1828, his most prolific years were between 1863 and 1905. His most well-known works are Journey to the Center of the Earth, From the Earth to the Moon, Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, and Around the World in Eighty Days. To this day, he remains the most translated author of science fiction in the world and has been named the father of science fiction. He wrote of technology that wouldn’t be invented until years later – for example, air conditioning, the moon landing, fax machines, and skywriting.
Jules Verne’s stories might not seem that impressive by today’s standards, but you have to consider that he was writing about realistic space travel back in 1865, a century before humanity would accomplish landing on the moon. That’s impressive if you ask me. After reading this book, I’m considering giving some of Jules Verne’s books a try, but I’m a little nervous. The writing style back then was different than what I’m used to, and he goes heavily into the scientific details.
I loved the Paris setting. Jules Verne’s treasure hunt takes Owen and his friends all around Paris. Most of the historical facts and dates went over my head, though. I visited Paris back in 2014. It was amazing! I kind of want to go back and visit all the places mentioned in the story, check out some old bookstores, and maybe visit a museum.
I was thrilled to learn this book is the first in a series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!