The Accidental Detectorist cover art

The Accidental Detectorist

Uncovering an Underground Obsession

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The Accidental Detectorist

By: Nigel Richardson
Narrated by: Patrick Warner
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About this listen

When a travel writer is stuck on home soil in the middle of a pandemic, he meets Kris Rodgers, one of Britain's eminent metal detectorists. Dipping a toe in the hobby, Nigel quickly finds himself swept up in the world beneath the surface. Above the ground are a cast of fascinating and passionate people who open Nigel's eyes to a subterranean world of treasure and stories that bring the history of the island to life.

Scouring the country from Cornwall to Scotland in search of treasure and the best detectorists, Nigel finds himself more immersed in the culture than he bargained for and makes his own personal journey from cynicism to obsession in his trail through the heartlands of metal detecting. From women's groups who react against the hobby's male bias, to the 'Nighthawks' who risk jail-time in their pursuits, he finds his preconceptions disabused and gets to the heart of what makes this quiet community so obsessed with happy beeps.

©2022 Nigel Richardson (P)2022 Octopus Publishing Group Travel Writing & Commentary Treasure

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All stars
Most relevant  
It’s a very realistic view of the people within the hobby.Excellent book for a detectorist or beginner of the hobby.

Makes you Smile

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I've been detecting for around 9 months and I kept finding myself saying, that sounds like me, that's just what happens to me.
Apart from the author seeming to be able to get invited to permissions without much trouble, I put this down to being a journalist and knowing how to write the right things in emails, it's an accurate account of the trials and tribulations of detecting and trying to find something interesting
I would highly recommend reading/listening if you're wanting to dip your toe in becoming a metal detector .

As a new Detectorist this rang so true

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I really hope Nigel writes a second book to take us through his next phase of detecting. Thoroughly good account and certainly reminds me of my first year in this amazing hobby.

Great account of starting a fantastic hobby

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After an accidental purchase of “muddlarking”, and subsequent 3 x listen I felt envious of those fortunate enough to be close to them Thames… I live in the darks of Cornwall..then this treasure of a book was recommended! I have already listen twice and still feel I haven’t absorbed all the wisdom contained within it. This book has been written with intelligence, looking at both sides of argument around historical finds and how they are discovered. I truly appreciate the trouble the author had gone to speak with each stakeholder involved in the ‘conflict’. Now when I go sea glass collecting with my 2 & 6 yo boys, I can tell why some of those red stones have corners have right angles.

But what I took from this book mainly is it’s about finding our place in the world, feeling connected within that space and most importantly connecting with others. I feel really feel not just for myself but for society as a-whole that isolation is at an epidemic point and only increasing One day, IF the pennies ever add up, I hope to have the pleasure of joining you on the beach or field

Inspirational listen

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Funny and informative. As an amateur detectorist myself I enjoyed listening to Nigel’s journey. I could identify with some of his frustrations and picked up a few tips as well.

A thoroughly good listen

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As a middle aged man looking for a hobby to get me away from my desk at home, the post pandemic world we now live in, this was the ideal story to give me that push I need. I wonder how many people have watched “Detectorists” and thought I wouldn’t mind a go at that. Well this book is an honest account of one persons journey into this world. I enjoyed it and am now saving for my first metal detector. Bring on the hammered!

Honest & Useful Insight Into Metal Detecting

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excellent, but not long enough, more information is needed please. thank you enough words now?!

excellent, but too short

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I enjoyed this very gentle book. The journey that we are taken on let's us see the world from a privileged position in life. If only we all could freely roam around Britain just detecting to our hearts content and live in cottages with history. It was a good book, if just a little saccharine

Some nice moments

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Thoroughly enjoyed this journey together with the excellent narration. Having also taken up metal detecting in Spain (I am a British expat) around the start of the Covid pandemic I could relate to pretty much the entire story.


During my learning process, I often watched Youtube videos in order to get a grasp of the hobby, the frequent references to 'Digger Dawn' and the TV series 'The Detectorists' were very welcome to me and very familiar.


Great listen, story and narration.

A familiar and pleasant book

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Having absolutely no interest in the hobby, other than watching the TV series I thought I would take a punt and I was so glad that I did.
Excellent story, well written and kept me interested with well balanced facts and narrative, been back and listened several times and the narration was excellent, I couldn’t believe that it was not read by the author such was the narrators tone and pace.
I guarantee you will not be disappointed.

Mesmerising!

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