You’re gonna see this a lot in the reviews of this book…I am a massive fan of the TV series The Detectorists and that is the reason I decided to give this book a go…well that and the awesome cover. The thing I loved about the series was how easy it was to get lost in the show, the rambling through fields, being at peace in a chaotic world, friendly banter and the way a find can spark your imagination…I got all of that from this wonderful book. There is a real Zen to detecting whether in the field, watching or reading you can find yourself at peace, even if nothing gets found.

The book starts off with Richardson laughing at the weird folk wondering around fields with an electronic stick comparing them with train spotters after a bit of research he decides to give it a go and see what the fuss was all about, what follows is a full blown obsession to experience the rush you get from finding a hoard. Richardson is very honest with the reader, he explains that he isn’t going to take it seriously and he is shocked about how quickly he falls in love, he also shares his insecurities around other people and the fact that he can’t find even the basic items a new detectorist discovers. Each time Richardson finds something his imagination goes crazy and he creates a story about the item and how it came to be buried in the field he was searching, I loved these little stories, his energy is contagious and I could find no fault in his stories. The area he is exploring is in my neck of the woods and I’ve been to a few of the places, including the Curtis Museum two weeks before starting this book, I think I also met the same museum lady who overloaded me with leaflets and gave me half a dozen different locations to visit.

The writing is very good, the subject matter is fun, I’ve learnt loads and maybe once I become a middle-aged man with one of those weird electronic sticks this book will come in handy in helping me follow the rules and become a world famous detectorist. If you’re a fan of The Detectorists then you’re gonna love this book so give it a go. Anyways, I’m now off to Silchester Roman Wall to bury this book in a nice metal box for some lucky nighthawker to find.