Is there really buried treasure?
Yes.

What is the treasure?
Twelve emerald-studded numbers pried from the Emerald Khroniker, a legendary clock.

But what are they really?
Twelve emerald-studded numbers designed and hand-crafted by Anna Sheffield.  Anna is a New York-based jewelry designer, the founder of Anna Sheffield Fine Jewelry, Bing Bang and Bespoke. Her work is sold at Barney's, Urban Outfitters, and around the world.

What do the numbers look like?
Each one is different, and all are pretty sweet.  No one will know what each number looks like until that piece is dug up.
 
Where are the numbers now?
They're buried in twelve holes across the country.

How do I find the treasure?
Study the clues in the book — everything you need is there. There will also be extra info on this website and at certain bookstores (full list coming soon).

Can I have a clue?
Check this website. Visit a bookstore. Attend an event (tour schedule coming soon). Mostly, read the book.

If I find a number, do I get to keep it?
Definitely.

How will I know if someone else finds a number?
As soon as we know, we'll announce it on the website and Gus Twintig's twitter feed.
 
What if I don't want to dig? Will I still enjoy the book?  Should I still care about the hunt?
Definitely. The book is intended first as a basic whodunit, a mystery solved on the final page; the wheredtheyputit is just an extra bonus for especially energetic or greedy readers.  For readers who'd like to follow along with the search, we've created a special "hunt card" for recording and guessing the locations of each number; the first hundred correct hunt-cards we receive will win a special prize kit.

How is this book structured?
The book is essentially a single building, squashed flat: the cover is the roof, and then each subsequent page is a floor, starting in the penthouse and ending in the lobby.  

Who is Gus Twintig?
Augustus Twintig III is the official confident assistant to detective Roy Dodge, and the narrator of this book.  Twintig was born in 1952 in the town of Dutch Oven, Pennsylvania, where his family ran a successful funnel-cake restaurant. He is the author of Mallow Me, Mallow You: A Year in the Marsh (a guide to rural confectioneries), and is a member of the Guild of Podiatric Investigators.

Who did the portraits of the residents?
The amazing Adam Rex.

What are some of the inspirations for this book?
The Eleventh Hour, Graeme Base; The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin; Masquerade, Kit Williams; Life, a User's Manual, Georges Perec.

What age readers is this book for?
We, of course, believe it can be enjoyed by everyone, but it's probably best for readers born before 2001 but yet after 1903.  Readers beyond either side of that span will still find plenty in the book to enjoy, but might miss some of the references.