He’s a grad student. Thrust into a treasure hunt across the globe, he must decipher the clues left behind by his grandfather to find the prize. Hunted by a ruthless cartel, can he summon enough courage and wit to survive and embrace his legacy?

Mateus is content working on his PhD. Nothing calms him more than the world of dusty academic tomes and quiet libraries. Coming across a tattered map and cryptic war letters left behind by his grandfather, he is suddenly thrust into a deadly international treasure hunt. A fortune lies somewhere in the war-torn Angolan wilds and he needs to find it.

Together with his daredevil friend, Tay, and their shrewd and charming Angolan guide, Romiana, they embark on an adventure filled with twists and turns riddled with unforeseeable dangers. As Angola’s most feared criminal organization closes in, the trio finds itself in the most exotic locales dodging bullets and navigating life and death car chases. Time is running out.

Relentlessly hunted, Mateus and his friends must outwit their pursuers and discover strengths they never knew they possessed. Will they survive long enough to claim the lost treasure, or will they become victims of the dangerous game?

The Treasure of Tundavala Gap is an adventure novel. It tells the story of Mateus and his two best friends, who are seeking to decipher a riddle left by his grandfather to discover a fortune lost in the past. However, when they are hunted down by killers, determined to secure the treasure for themselves, deceit and danger plague them at every turn.

The treasure hunt structure was unusual, and I found it quite immersive. I particularly enjoyed the unique setting of the book, which was based around war-ravaged Angola and West Africa. An intriguing dose of local culture is carefully woven into the plot, with cultural and historical depth playing a key part in the story. The author paints a vivid description of the landscape with amazing attention to detail.

Mateus is a flawed and intriguing main character. With his social awkwardness, drug issues, and other idiosyncrasies, he engaged my interest from the outset. His grandfather was killed fighting in Angola in the 1980s. However, he’d discovered and hidden a stash of diamonds before he died, which Mateus is determined to find.

The plot did take a while to gather momentum, but I’m glad I kept reading, because once it did, I was completely immersed. There’s a cinematic quality to the writing, with visual descriptions of scenes and a good dose of cultural depth as well. At the same time, there’s also a good balance between action and character development, so this novel ticked all the boxes for me.

All in all, The Treasure of Tundavala Gap is an action-packed, thoughtful adventure. With its high-stakes action and suspenseful plot, it kept me entertained throughout. I’d definitely read another book by this author in future, as I was nicely surprised by how much I enjoyed it.

Jeffrey K Schmoll spent his childhood amid the tumbleweeds of Bakersfield before earning advanced academic degrees in engineering and embarking on a global journey across four continents with his wife and two children. From Scotland to Australia, along with the closer-to-home locales of Texas and Louisiana, each place left a lasting impact.

Living in Angola was transformative, fostering a love for its people and offering a new perspective on Africa. Jeffrey has transitioned to a life of global travel, community service, competitive tennis, jewelry making, and Bible study, relishing each day’s new adventure.