Acclaimed marine archaeologist and explorer Sean Kingsley’s debut novel dives deep into shipwrecks, history, and the global race for underwater treasures.

Imagine a world where billions of dollars in treasure lie hidden beneath the sea, untouched for centuries, veiled by the mysteries of time. The debut novel from Dr. Sean Kingsley, Finders Keepers, takes readers into this fascinating realm that offers a thrilling blend of historical intrigue and modern-day treasure-hunting adventure, written in accessible prose and spiced with a hefty dose of understated British humour. Released in October 2024, the novel has already captured the imagination of adventure fiction lovers and maritime history buffs alike.

More than just a made-up story of riches discovered and lost, Finders Keepers draws deeply from Kingsley’s extensive experience as a renowned maritime archaeologist, who has spent over 30 years uncovering the secrets of the world’s oceans. Often referred to as the “David Attenborough of shipwrecks,” Kingsley crafted a gripping narrative that reflects a centuries-old debate: who has the right to claim treasures buried beneath the sea?

A Sunken Past Under Siege

A gold chain from the wreck of the Atocha, lost in 1622. Photo: © Don Kincaid.

In Finders Keepers, Kingsley’s characters—an eclectic group of aristocrats, surfers, scholars, and tech-savvy adventurers—find themselves lured to the sun-drenched shores of Key West, Florida, where stories of long-lost Spanish galleons captivate their imaginations. What begins as a lighthearted quest soon escalates into a high-stakes battle against rival nations, shadowy legal challenges, and dangerous political machinations. At the heart of their pursuit is a treasure worth $250 million, hidden deep in the waters of the Florida Straits.

The novel is anchored in real historical events, adding to its thrilling authenticity. The book’s biggest inspiration is the famed Spanish Tierra Firme treasure fleet that sank in 1622 off the coast of Key West and in deeper water during a hurricane. The real-life discovery of the Atocha by treasure hunter Mel Fisher, and the Tortugas wreck discovered by Seahawk in 400 metres, was followed by years of legal battles—a story that parallels the struggles faced by the characters in Finders Keepers. “Finding treasure is easy, getting to keep it a dark art,” Kingsley told RIVIERA BUZZ. “It’s important that my novels are anchored in reality, to have an authenticity where fact is stranger than fiction. Hunting for sunken treasure brings out the best and worst in people. The hunger for riches, deep greed, awful jealousy and heritage ‘politricks’ is painful to live through but makes a wonderful setting for a novel.”

Mel Fisher and his team celebrate finding off Key West the ‘motherlode’ of the Atocha and its gold and silver bars sunk in 1622. Photo: © Don Kincaid

Gold bars found by Seahawk on the Tortugas shipwreck, a Spanish galleon lost 400 metres under the Straits of Florida in 1622; © Seascape Artifact Exhibits Inc.

Kingsley’s story doesn’t just offer adventure, however—it dives into a modern conflict over underwater cultural heritage. The debate between treasure hunters, who argue that salvaging shipwrecks is a birthright as old as human civilization, and heritage organizations like UNESCO, which advocate for leaving such treasures undisturbed, is a major theme. As Kingsley told RIVIERA BUZZ “the world’s oceans are the greatest museum in the world. Right now, we’re living through the fiercest tipping point in the battle for who gets to keep this sunken cultural heritage. Passions run very high, reputations are destroyed and those on the wrong side of mob thinking–typically pro-treasure supporters–find themselves cancelled. It’s this unbalanced zealous world that Finders Keepers is having a poke at, using real places, wrecks and court cases, spiced up even more with fictionalized twists.”

Bridging Fact and Fiction

Dr. Sean Kingsley brings an unparalleled level of expertise to his debut novel. With a career spent exploring ancient shipwrecks and maritime treasures, Kingsley’s life mirrors the adventures of his characters. He has uncovered everything from 1,500-year-old wine jars off the coast of Israel to hundreds of World War II letters preserved in the wreck of a ship off the coast of Ireland. His experiences have shaped a narrative that is as educational as it is entertaining.

Though Finders Keepers is his first work of fiction, Kingsley is no stranger to storytelling. He is the author of 16 non-fiction books, the founder and editor-in-chief of Wreckwatch Magazine, and has contributed to publications such as Smithsonian Magazine and National Geographic. His deep understanding of history and archaeology seeps into every page of Finders Keepers, making it a book that blurs the lines between reality and adventure fiction. “In some ways, it feels like a new genre that I call ‘faction’,” says Kingsley.

Shifting the Adventure Fiction Landscape

Just released, Finders Keepers has already drawn attention not just for its gripping content but for what it represents in the world of literature. Published by Deep Down Press, a UK-based publisher that specializes in maritime themes, the novel pushes back against what leading publishing houses see today as a focus on female-targeted genres, carving out a space for readers of all genders and interests who crave adventure and historical intrigue.

The response has been overwhelmingly positive. Mensun Bound, the well-known director of underwater exploration projects, most recently in the discovery of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Endurance, described it as “a modern classic,” and many early reviewers predicted that Kingsley’s debut would have cinematic potential, with a gripping plot that feels tailor-made for a film adaptation.

The Adventure Continues

“From Jules Verne to Clive Cussler, there’s always been a loyal love for what lies underwater. I humbly hope to softly follow in those esteemed footsteps,” says Kingsley, “sharing real-life adventures in a popular way. Right now I’m writing a second novel with the same cast, Guardians of Genesis, which fuses marine and biblical archaeology. It’s going to be pretty explosive.”

With its blend of real-life maritime history and thrilling adventure, Finders Keepers taps into humanity’s enduring fascination with what lies beneath the waves. In a world where our submerged past is constantly under threat, Kingsley’s debut novel is a timely reminder of the treasures—and dangers—that await those who dare to claim them.

Released in October 2024, Finders Keepers is available now in bookstores and online. It’s a perfect gift for early holiday shopping or simply a thrilling escape for yourself.

Lead image shows Sean Kingsley investigating King Henry VIII’s wooden wharf, exposed in the River Thames at Greenwich in London. Photo: © Sean Kingsley; all other images as credited