Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Somewhere, out here in this busy, crazy city, his destiny awaited. He would build a fortune, get the Tundavala diamonds back, and show his father once and for all. And God help anyone who stood in his way.”

I love finding new authors like Jeff who are clearly natural born story tellers. I love a good treasure hunt (I am a biiiiig fan of the Uncharted games) so I obviously fell in love with The Treasure of Tundavala Gap! From the characters and the discoveries to the action and chaos, I loved the journey and I’m already looking forward to another book in this series. I’m so happy to be sharing my review of this gem before its release on 30th September!

About the book

When brilliant PhD student Mateus and his best friend team up with a captivating Angolan guide to hunt for a legendary fortune, the trio find themselves in a harrowing game of cat and mouse with ruthless killers who want the treasure for themselves.

From chaotic battlegrounds of the Angolan Civil War to untamed West African border towns, this cinematic page-turner transports you to a world of exotic locales, jaw-dropping action sequences, smoldering romance, and remarkable bravery in the face of escalating danger.

The beginning

Action scenes at the very start of a book always grab me and straight away we’re plunged into a battlefield. The description was fantastic! I felt like I was experiencing everything first hand as we encounter the extremities of the Angolan Civil War; I could really feel the pressure these men were placed under, feel the panic of rushed orders from Colonel de Silva (Juan). It was such a great opening. Fast forward twenty-five years, and we meet this character’s grandson, Mateus. Our main character had such a brilliant introduction, and I instantly pictured the kind of guy he was in my mind. He’s incredibly clever and witty, but has a bit of a cocaine addiction, which explains why he’s so wired constantly and buzzing with ideas. Timelines shift back and forth, covering important times in Mateus and Juan’s life. The deep backstory was excellent and really set the foundations for what was to come. It already felt exciting and unpredictable, and I was so eager to find out more about Mateus’s journey.

“Tundavala Gap might resemble paradise, but it was not a place to be visiting today; Colonel de Silva planned to use it as his killing ground. Even in the tranquility he could feel the weight of command squarely in his gut; people would die today.”

A mysterious phone call takes Mateus to Cuba, where he’s told his grandmother is dying. Before her death, she mentions a cigar box that once belonged to his grandfather. I really loved this heartwarming connection to his family in Cuba that he didn’t know existed before this point, and I kind of wanted this visit to last a little longer. But what Mateus discovers in this cigar box would be the very start of an exciting treasure hunt. And, to make things even more intriguing, it seems someone is on his tail. The descriptions throughout all this were truly excellent; whether the author is describing a particular moment in time, or the personality and appearance of a character, you can’t help but visualise everything so clearly. Hearing the story of Mateus’ mother from his Aunt Dolores was fascinating and horrific in equal measure, but so vivid. However, it finally allowed Mateus to understand where he’d come from which was so important.

The middle

Mateus and his friends do their best to crack the code of a cryptic poem he found in his grandfather’s cigar box. I loved seeing this group work together, each of them stood out with their own specific skillset. The excitement and curiosity from each of them was infectious, and I soon felt like an extra member of their group. However, things soon get shaken up by an intruder lurking, then trashing Mateus’s apartment. Someone was eager to get their hands on that treasure, and Mateus soon realises he has to reach it first – it was time for a trip to Angola. The shift in timelines continued to be flawlessly written, and I became more and more excited to jump back into the 1980’s. The more I read, the more I became so engrossed in Colonel de Silva’s life, always full of danger and conflict. And now, he had treasure to keep safe. As Mateus and his friend, Tay arrive in Angola, they meet and travel with a woman named Romiana, and let’s just say that I wasn’t sure she was trustworthy at the start… things were exciting!

“He couldn’t shake the sense that something was off, the phrasing too stilted and cryptic compared to his grandfather’s usual eloquent style. The poem had captured his full attention.”

If you liked the Uncharted series of video games, you will love the book here. The treasure hunting aspect was brilliant, the action scenes were tense and had me on the edge of my seat. The clues Mateus, Tay and Romiana follow to find Juan’s treasure lead them to something different and unexpected, but just as precious and important. There’s so much suspense as there are men watching their every move, desperate to claim those diamonds for themselves. I felt so absorbed in what was going on, almost as if I was the one being followed, chased and shot at! After being split from Tay, Mateus and Romiana work hard to locate him and save him before it was too late. But would this mean sacrificing the treasure they’d worked so hard to locate? It seems they have a plan, but whether it worked or not, time would only tell. I couldn’t stop reading at this point and was desperate to know Tay’s fate. It was an uncertain time!

The end

Once shy and geeky, Mateus now has a new found confidence and seems to thrive on his task, even commanding orders to others, doing what needs to be done to get his hands on that treasure and keep it safe. His grandfather would be proud! Learning Mateus and Romiana were connected in some way was very interesting indeed, their histories intertwined and complex. The whole plot was fantastic and worked so brilliantly, and it was really good hearing from multiple perspectives. Of course, nothing good comes easy, and once Mateus and his team hit the jackpot, it’s clear they’d be betrayed. And what came next were some of the best scenes in the whole book. I loved how Muni – hacker extraordinaire and good friend of Mateus and Tay – worked hard to create chaos from the other side of the world. It was definitely a memorable and satisfying part of the book for me! But how on earth would they (and their treasure) return home safe?

“For a long moment, the four of them stared in wonder, transfixed, frozen. A king’s ransom. A fortune. This was truly a treasure.”

What came next wasn’t an easy ride. Right until those last moments, danger threatens to consume Mateus and his crew. It was pulse-quickening and so suspenseful! I wasn’t sure who would survive the whole ordeal, but those ending scenes really had a bit of everything. Shock, sadness, excitement, fear, relief, triumph – all of it! I loved the author’s ability to always keep a reader guessing, which is why that ending completely floored me. After Mateus had gone through so much, I suspected this was only the start… There was a HUGE cliffhanger at the very end of the book which hopefully means a second book in the series won’t be too far in the distant future – and I can’t wait! I’d hugely recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast-paced action/adventure read, and even those who love a mystery. I’ll be keeping a close eye on this author in future!

Overall thoughts

The Treasure of Tundavala Gap is a treasure hunting adventure at its finest! It’s immersive and action-packed from the very start. Schmoll intricately weaves compelling timelines, addictive narratives and on-the-edge-of-your-seat thrills to create a story in its own league entirely. Character development is so impressive, and the cast of characters we get to know feel like friends (and enemies) by the end. A must read for action/adventure and mystery lovers, as well fans of Indiana Jones, Uncharted and The Da Vinci Code!

The Treasure of Tundavala Gap releases on 30th September and is available to pre-order right now on Amazon! Pre-orders really help authors, so please do consider supporting if you can. You can follow the author over on X/Twitter and Facebook for more updates!

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