1980s book with hidden treasure if you solved the mystery inside?

October 26, 2009 9:35 PM

I'm struggling to remember the title of a book I read in the 1980s, which had a real-world twist: hidden within the narrative was the location of a spot in the USA where some sort of treasure or reward money was located.

The only images I can come up with -- based on fuzzy memories of the book's title and/or cover -- would be: necklace, silver, moon, locket. And for some reason: rabbit.

The prize was somehow thematically linked with the book's content - that is to say, I think the plot involved some hidden treasure.

Any ideas? My memory was jogged by Everything is Terrible's recent post about a low-budget VHS noir with the same hook, but this book was much classier. If it helps, by the time I read the book (mid 80s?), the mystery had been solved and the prize located and dug up. Thanks!

posted by squid patrol to Writing & Language (11 answers total)

Best answer: Masquerade?
posted by Madamina at 9:42 PM on October 26, 2009

Best answer: Masquerade by Kit Williams
posted by Ostara at 9:43 PM on October 26, 2009

Best answer: Yep, it's got to be Masquerade -- set in England, though, not the states. I was obsessed with it for a year or two in the early '80s.
posted by scody at 9:43 PM on October 26, 2009

Response by poster: Wow, thanks to all of you! That is indeed it, although I remember a different cover (google images and librarything suggest, however, that I'm mistaken.) The Wikipedia article covers the scandal of the hare's fraudulent discovery, which I had no idea about! I stopped reading the article when it got to the "Solution" section, however -- it will be great to get the book out of the library and see how far I get 25 years later...

Thanks again!
posted by squid patrol at 9:53 PM on October 26, 2009

Just in case anyone's interested, Kit Williams did an interview on BBC Radio 4 a few weeks ago - first time he has ever spoken about the fraudulent discovery of the hare. The hare's new location is still a mystery!
posted by hatmandu at 1:29 AM on October 27, 2009

By the way, Kit Williams did a sort of sequel - another treasure hunt, all around the theme of bees. The book (I'm lucky to have a copy) doesn't even have a title!
posted by hatmandu at 1:30 AM on October 27, 2009

Yes he was on Radio 4 recently and the granddaughter of the current owner of the hare was listening, and the two have now been reunited, albeit briefly. A BBC 4 documentary is appearing shortly.
posted by fire&wings at 4:25 AM on October 27, 2009

By the way, Kit Williams did a sort of sequel - another treasure hunt, all around the theme of bees. The book (I'm lucky to have a copy) doesn't even have a title!

Actually, the "treasure hunt" aspect WAS that you had to figure out the title. (I also had a copy.) I recently looked up what the title actually was, but it was something kind of unmemorable.

My guess was better, anyway.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:44 AM on October 27, 2009

BBC 4 Kit Williams Interview (fascinating story, by the way, thanks for asking this question).
posted by bluefly at 9:11 AM on October 27, 2009 [2 favorites]

This post may be relevant to this question.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:21 AM on February 20, 2010

*****SPOILER*****





For those interested, the title is: The Bee on the Comb. (I grew up reading both Masquerade and this book).
posted by DisreputableDog at 1:47 AM on October 24, 2010