Author Kate Carlisle Asks,
Sunken Treasure: Finders Keepers?
Off the coast near Lighthouse Cove, California, a clipper ship went down in 1839. The Glorious Maiden transported precious cargo and wealthy passengers along the Western American coast. Rumors suggest that a Spanish princess went down with that ship and, with her, a fortune in gold and jewels.
What if, while snorkeling one day, you found a piece of jewelry that could pay off your mortgage and pay for your kids’ college education? Would you report your find, or would you quietly try to sell the piece for as much money as you could? Who would you trust?
There are approximately 65,000 shipwrecks logged into the North American Shipwrecks Database. Sixty-five-oh-oh-OH. Kind of makes a person want to take up diving.
But if you find treasure, is it yours to keep?
In 2012, a Florida salvage company had to return $500 million in sunken treasure to the government of Spain, without compensation. Just last year, courts ruled that a California couple would have to pay approximately 47% in state and federal income tax on the $10 million of gold coins they found buried in their own yard—private property—whether or not they decided to sell the coins.
The Glorious Maiden is fictional. For that matter, so is Lighthouse Cove, the setting of This Old Homicide, the second book of my Fixer-Upper Mysteries series. The series features Victorian home restoration expert Shannon Hammer, owner of Hammer Construction.
It’s a fun question to contemplate, isn’t it? What would you do if you found a treasure?
In This Old Homicide, Shannon’s neighbor, a retired navy SEAL, claimed that he found a necklace while diving near the Glorious Maiden, but Jesse has claimed a lot of things, few of them true. His tall tales kept getting taller so that, by the time he bragged about the necklace, no one believed him.
Or perhaps someone did, Shannon will think… on the day she discovers him dead.
Do you think it’s fair that if someone finds a treasure, they have to pay income taxes on it? If you found a treasure worth millions of dollars, what would you do? Would you try to hide it from the authorities? Why or why not?
About the Author:
Kate Carlisle is the author of the Fixer-Upper Mysteries, featuring Victorian restoration expert Shannon Hammer. The first book in the series, A High-End Finish, debuted at #9 on the New York Times bestsellers list. This Old Homicide, Fixer-Upper Mystery 2, is available now wherever books and ebooks are sold.
Valentine’s Day is approaching, and while Shannon is delighted to be friends with not one but two handsome men, not everyone in town is feeling the love. After her elderly neighbor Jesse Hennessey fails to make his daily appearance at the local diner, Shannon swings by his place to check on him. Not only does she find Jesse dead—of an apparent heart attack—but she also realizes that his home has been ransacked.
Someone suggests that a thief was searching for a priceless necklace Jesse claimed to have retrieved from a sunken sailing ship, but Shannon doesn’t believe it. Everyone knows Jesse had a penchant for constructing tall tales—like the one about him having a hot new girlfriend. But his death is soon ruled a homicide, and shady suspects begin popping out of the woodwork. When another victim turns up dead, Shannon is convinced she must find the killer before someone else gets nailed….
Jennifer’s Review of This Old Homicide
Review (4.5 Stars): This Old Homicide is a delightful mystery that is filled with humor, thrills and a sassy heroine that is sure to entertain. In this mystery, Shannon is gearing up for Valentine’s Day with two prospective boyfriends and helping to plan to the Valentine’s Day event for Lighthouse Cove. She is asked by her father to check in on their elderly neighbor, Jesse Hennessey, when he doesn’t show up at the local diner after a few days. Shannon finds Jesse’s body in his home and his house ransacked, which makes Jesse’s death look more than just a heart attack. Shannon must find a killer before it is too late and another victim gets added to the killer’s list.
I adore Shannon and the lovely cast of characters in Lighthouse Cove and the Fixer-Upper mysteries are definitely in my top five favorite cozy series at the moment. I always enjoy Ms. Carlisle’s books because they are well-written, fast-paced and readers are definitely in for a good time with each mystery. This is the second book in the series, which is just as good as the first, A High-End Finish, and I can’t wait to read what adventure Shannon finds herself in with the next installment of this great series.
Giveaway
I’m excited to give away a copy of This Old Homicide. This giveaway is for US Residents only. To be entered in the drawing by February 19th, please leave me a comment below:
Loved the first book in this series! Can’t wait to read this installment!
Thank you so much, Kim! I’m so glad you enjoyed A HIGH-END FINISH!
I love this writer’s work—thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book!
Can’t wait for it to be available on Audible!
Shouldn’t be too long… A HIGH-END FINISH is available now, and it came out in paperback just a couple months ago.
Love this series and hope to win a copy.
Good luck, Rebecca! In the meantime, I hope you’ll read the free excerpt at KateCarlisle.com!
Thank you for doing a give away! I just finished the first book in this series, can’t wait to read the next.
I’d love to win! Thanks for the opportunity!
47% for income tax on gold found on their own property? That bothers me! But I don’t know all the rules or why they are written the way they are. Maybe I would move to another country if I found that much! Anyway, I am really looking forward to reading this series!
Isn’t that shocking? And that was whether they sold the gold or not. I was really surprised when I read that.
This Old Homicide sounds awesome! I would love to win a copy of the book. Thank you for the review and giveaway.
myrifraf(at)gmail(dot)com
I love cozy mysteries. I would try to sell the treasure. I would hate to pay income tax on something like that. Reminds me of a story about a person finding money in their attic walls.
catbooks72(at)gmail(dot)com
It seems so odd to me, too, Michelle, that something found would be considered “income.”
If the treasure is found on your property, I don’t think you should pay taxes on it.
I completely understand how you feel!
I love Kate Carlisle and love this new series. Great review. Who wouldnt love to find a big treasure trove! I would sell it and give most of the money to everyone I know. Saving enough for me and my pup though, lol.
I don’t think the finder of treasure should have to pay taxes on his find. Thank you for the giveaway.
It really does make you think, doesn’t it, Daniele?
A High End Finish was fantastic and I love Shannon Hammer! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a nice dilemma that would be, to find a treasure and then decide what to do with it! Not sure I like the income tax thing tho! Great series, can’t wait to read this one.
Loved both books. I read them too fast, can’t wait for the next one. 5 stars*****
Looks like a great read…sounds like a good series to start on. Thanks for the chance to win!
Loved the first one so I can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
Of course I’d hide it. I’d package it up and find a way to move it to a country that doesn’t let government’s snoop in the records. I’d have a vault box and occasionally arrange to sell off a piece or two. Then live quietly on that till I needed more. I’d also have the best attorney money could by on a retainer.
Can’t wait to start this series.
Loved the first book. Can’t wait to read this one!
Always looking for something new; would love to win and read this one. 🙂
Sounds like a great book.
Thanks for the chance! I can’t wait to read this book!
I’ve been thinking of purchasing this book but wanted to get my TBR pile down first. Would love this book!
I love your books and can’t wait to read this one!
i enjoyed the first book in this series and am looking forward to reading this one!
If they can tax you for dying I’m sure they will for finding treasure, give them time they’ll tax us for breathing, LOL. No, I wouldn’t try to hide it, I can’t get away with anything, I think it’s in my blood, LOL.I loved the first in this series and congrats on your release!
Looking forward to reading this book!
Enjoyed High- End Finish and would love to win this 2nd book in the FIXER UP series. I’ve yet to read a book by Kate Carlisle that didn’t leave wanting the next book in the series.
sounds like a great read. Love mysteries. Would really like to win !! Have a great holiday.
Oh and no I don’t think the govt should be able to tax. Lord knows they get enough already.
Love the Bibliophile series. Looking forward to reading this one.
Love it! Sounds wonderful! Thank you for the chance!
This sounds like a wonderful book. Thank you for the generous giveaway!
Sunken treasure and a cozy! What a great duo!
I think if it could be determined that no one else had a claim to the treasure, you should be able to keep it.
If I found treasure I don’t believe that I should have to pay taxes on it. However, I would research and find out if I was required to report it. I am a rule follower and would constantly worry if I thought that I was doing something illegal.
If I found treasure I would definitely find out if it was mine before I did anything with it.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
Big Kate Carlisle can and want to read this One!!!!!!
Kate Carlisle is such a great author and this is sure to be another great story from her. Thanks for the chance to win.