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Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death, and Glory in America's Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt

Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death, and Glory in America's Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt

by Daniel Barbarisi

Knopf ·2021 ·368 pages
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Bottom of the Pile
I Index
9/99
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6/99

Critics' Rating Index

Bottom of the Pile

12/99

Readers' Rating Index

n/a

Scholars' Citation Index

51/99

Volume of Reviews

60/99

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About This Book

A full-throttle, first-person account of the treasure hunt created by eccentric millionaire art dealer—and, some would say, robber baron—Forrest Fenn that became the stuff of contemporary legend. When Forrest Fenn was given a fatal cancer diagnosis, he came up with a bold plan: He would hide a chest full of jewels and gold in the wilderness, and publish a poem that would serve as a map leading to the treasure's secret location. But he didn't die, and after hiding the treasure in 2010, Fenn instead presided over a decade-long gold rush that saw many thousands of treasure hunters scrambling across the Rocky Mountains in pursuit of his fortune. Daniel Barbarisi first learned of Fenn's hunt in 2017, when a friend became consumed with decoding the poem and convinced Barbarisi, a reporter, to document his search. What began as an attempt to capture the inner workings of Fenn's hunt quickly turned into a personal quest that led Barbarisi down a reckless and potentially dangerous path, one that found him embroiled in searcher conspiracies and matching wits with Fenn himself. Over the course of four chaotic years, several searchers would die, endless controversies would erupt, and one hunter would ultimately find the chest. But the mystery didn't end there.


Reviews

"The book is weakest when Barbarisi takes extended detours into stories of similar book-based treasure hunts and other lost treasures as well as during an account of his trip to Florida to meet other treasure hunters."

Kirkus Read review ↗ Near the Top

"You can find out online, of course, but Barbarisi tells the story so well that you should resist any form of peeking ahead and leave the matter in his capable hands."

Dennis Drabelle· The Washington Post Read review ↗ Maybe Someday

"[A] captivating account of the exploit of an eccentric community of treasure hunters who scoured the Rocky Mountains from 2010 to 2020 in search of New Mexico art dealer Forrest Fenn's hidden chest of gold and jewels ..."

Publishers Weekly Read review ↗ Near the Top

"Journalist Barbarisi spent several years researching and writing this mesmerizing account of a modern-day treasure hunt, which reveals a whole subculture of Indiana Jones types willing to travel across the country and invest life savings in the search for something special ..."

Brenda Barrera· Booklist Read review ↗ Near the Top

"While stalling until the treasure is finally uncovered, Mr."

Edward Kosner· The Wall Street Journal Read review ↗ Maybe Someday

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