After Homer Winslow Pudding receives an invitation from the secret society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures (LOST) to occupy his recently deceased uncle Drake's vacant chair in this sequel to Smells like Dog (2010), the 12-year-old and his basset hound, Dog (who has a keen sense for sniffing out treasure but nothing else), skip the local county fair to meet with the world's most elite treasure hunters. When Lorelei, Homer's nemesis turned friend turned nemesis, reappears to challenge Homer's stake in LOST, the young treasure hunters must compete to find Uncle Drake's membership coin, using clues from the greatest mapmaker ever. Periodically interrupting their search is background information on Rumpold Smeller, the once future Duke of Estonia who turned to piracy and whose lost treasure remains the holy grail for treasure hunters. As in the first novel, quirky side characters and over-the-top humor hold reader interest even during slow points. Unfulfilled discoveries leave the scent of another sequel.

Homer (Smells like Dog) gets a much-anticipated invitation to join the Society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures. He finds himself facing an unexpected challenger for the position left open by his late uncle. With treasure-sniffing Dog, Homer sets out to win his place. The somewhat muddled adventure takes its time getting underway, then moves at a good clip.

It has been three months since Homer Winslow Pudding (Smells Like Dog, 2010) discovered the meaning of the initials L.O.S.T. and learned the truth about his treasure-sniffing pooch Dog. Homer and Dog are off on another adventure when the boy receives a letter that says, "Your time has come." The vague message could only mean one thing: that finally the secret society of L.O.S.T. (Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures) is offering Homer the chance to take the seat of his beloved treasure-hunting uncle, Drake Pudding, and become a professional treasure hunter. Familiar characters make an appearance, including the giant Zelda and pink-haired Lorelei, who challenges Homer for Drake's chair. Lorelei and Homer are given a challenge that, if Homer loses, will change the course of his life forever. The author weaves in enough details of the earlier book to refresh readers' memories in this droll, satisfying sequel. The suspense of the challenge—will Homer's knowledge of maps and treasure hunting enable him to best Lorelei?—will keep readers turning the pages. The truth about the great treasure hunter Rumpold Smeller, whose treasure Uncle Drake spent his life looking for, is revealed in alternating chapters. There is plenty of rip-roaring fun here; fans will applaud Homer and Dog's return. (Adventure. 8-12)