• Age: 12 to 15
• Grade: 7 to 10
• Reading age: 12 to 15

Legend has it that a paymaster lost his gold during the War of 1812, and Sam, Eadie, and Ben are determined to find it.

The Jackson family has moved into an old house on Commissioners Road near London, Ontario, and twins Sam and Eadie discover an exciting legend that involves their new home. Their neighbour, Ben, tells them that a skirmish in the War of 1812 took place right in front of their house, and that, during the fight, it is thought that an army paymaster lost a chest of gold that has never been recovered.

Sam, Eadie, and Ben decide to solve the legend and find the lost gold. But almost two hundred years have passed. How will they know where to look? What clues are there to follow? With the help of the Internet, Dave at the library, and some clever sleuthing with maps and a metal detector, they make some progress. But why are all the most likely places to find the gold off-limits?

Jo Shawyer has been writing all her life as a university professor. Now retired, she has turned to writing fiction, creating exciting stories from her wealth of research material. She is the author of Twenty-Dollar Reward, and lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Jo Shawyer's profile page

• Commended, Top Grade: CanLit for the Classroom selection

The treasure hunting storyline helps readers to learn about the War of 1812.

Resource Links, book review

a nicely paced adventure tale

Open Book: Ontario