Robert J. Collins’ Finders kicks off a sprawling story rooted in ancient mystery and young discovery. The novel follows a group of university students on an archaeological dig in Cornwall, where what starts as a search for pottery shards and Roman tiles quickly transforms into something much more extraordinary. At the center is Ozzie, a dry-witted archaeology student who stumbles into a buried enigma, an ornate stone with gem-encrusted carvings and hints of long-lost rituals. As the dig deepens, tensions rise among the team, strange local figures emerge, and what lies beneath the surface, both literal and emotional, begins to shift their reality.

Reading Finders felt like being caught between a campus comedy and a mythic awakening. I absolutely loved the banter between the students. It’s quick, playful, and often funny. Ozzie is a wonderfully grounded narrator, the kind who doesn’t take himself too seriously but still brings a lot of heart to his observations. Collins has a real ear for dialogue. It’s chaotic, clever, and completely believable. But what surprised me most was how seamlessly that humor folded into something deeper. The archaeological details are rich but not overwhelming, and the slow burn of supernatural or symbolic significance unfolding in the knotwork stone was addictive. I didn’t expect a book about digging to keep me turning pages this fast.

The writing isn’t afraid to take its time. Collins lingers in conversations and small moments, and sometimes that gives it a slower pace than I wanted. But by the end, I appreciated the buildup. The characters felt real, not in a polished, archetypal way, but in the clumsy, lovable, kind-of-annoying way real people do. I was drawn to Mercie and her mystical side, to Carl’s playful chaos, and even to the mysterious Petroc, who might be charming or dangerous or both. The book flirts with fantasy, but it keeps one muddy boot firmly planted in the real world. That mix makes it special. It reminded me of Susan Cooper or early Neil Gaiman, only with more beer and sunburns.

Finders is for readers who like their magic grounded and their characters messy. If you enjoy smart young adult fiction with ancient puzzles, witty dialogue, and the tension of something just-about-to-happen, this book is worth your time. It’s not flashy. It’s not fast. But it leaves you curious, unsettled, and thrilled. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Pages: 260 | ASIN : B0FBXCM5BW