Who Are The Main Characters In The Secret Treasure Book?

Oh man, 'The Secret Treasure Book' has such a memorable cast. Leo is the standout for me—imagine a guy who can recite 14th-century poetry but can't figure out how to use a toaster. His chemistry with Mara, the group's resident adrenaline junkie, is hilarious; she’s all 'let’s jump off that cliff' and he’s like 'let’s consult this 500-page safety manual first.' Finn rounds out the group as the glue holding them together, though he’d rather be glued to his computer. The Collector is the perfect villain because you never know if he’s after treasure or just wants to watch the world burn.

There’s also this great subplot with a side character named Eliza, a journalist following the team. She starts off writing an expose but ends up risking her life to help them. The book does a fantastic job making even minor characters feel essential—like the cranky librarian who secretly funds their missions or the taxi driver who knows every secret route in the city. What I love is how no one’s purely good or evil (except maybe The Collector, but even he has a tragic backstory). It’s the kind of story where you miss the characters like real friends after the last page.

If you're diving into 'The Secret Treasure Book,' let me break down the main cast for you. At the center is Leo Valdez (no relation to the Percy Jackson character, though they'd probably get along). He's the brains of the operation, a historian with a photographic memory and a dry sense of humor. Then there's Mara Sinclair, a rogue archaeologist who's equal parts charm and chaos—think Indiana Jones if he were a woman with a grudge against museums. The third wheel is Finn O'Connell, a hacker who joins the team after they accidentally destroy his laptop during a heist gone wrong.

The villain, 'The Collector,' is shrouded in mystery for most of the book, but his influence is everywhere. He's like a darker version of Leo—obsessed with history but willing to burn it down to own it. There's also a handful of side characters who pop in and out, like Mara's ex-partner Javier (who may or may not be working for The Collector) and Dr. Chen, Leo's former mentor who drops cryptic clues. What stands out is how the author balances action with character depth—Mara's PTSD from a past expedition gone wrong, Finn's struggle to connect with people offline, Leo's fear of becoming as cold as The Collector. It's not just about the treasure; it's about what they lose (and find) along the way.

the sarcastic but brilliant historian who can decipher ancient codes in his sleep; Mara, the fearless treasure hunter with a mysterious past and a knack for getting into trouble; and Finn, the tech genius who'd rather hack into a security system than throw a punch. Their dynamic is pure gold—Leo and Mara bicker constantly, but Finn keeps them from killing each other. The book also has this shadowy antagonist, known only as 'The Collector,' who's always one step ahead. What I love is how the author gives each character flaws that make them feel real—Leo's arrogance, Mara's recklessness, Finn's social awkwardness—but they grow so much by the end.