Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave: The Shakespeare Mysteries, Book 1

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Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave: The Shakespeare Mysteries, Book 1

by Deron R. Hicks (Goodreads Author), Mark Edward Geyer (Illustrations)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 71 ratings · 28 reviews

Twelve-year-old Colophon Letterford has a serious mystery on her hands. Will she discover the link between her family’s literary legacy and Shakespeare’s tomb before it’s too late? Antique paintings, secret passages, locked mausoleums, a four-hundred-year-old treasure, and a cast of quirky (and some ignoble) characters all add up to a fun original adventure. Readers will r...more

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published September 4th 2012 by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children

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Oct 15, 2012 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is an old-fashioned mystery adventure, with dastardly villains and children solving mysteries. Once you get into the book it is fast paced and the reader becomes engaged with the adventure, cheering 12 year old heroine Colophon and her mad uncle as they uncover clues. the chapters are not too long, there are illustrations, and some very funny schemes hatched by the baddies.

A couple of criticisms...the prologue is a bit difficult to understand, as it listed the dimensions and explanations of...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Karen Keyte rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tween-girls-adventure-mystery, tween, middle-grade

“The driveway leading to the family home wound its way through a thick forest of tall hardwoods and then a large rolling field. Golden bales of freshly cut hay peppered the landscape. On both sides of the road, a low-stacked stone wall corralled the vehicle as it sped toward the large brick Victorian resting at the edge of the pasture.” - from Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave

Letterford & Sons might not be the largest publishing house in the world, but it is widely considered to be the most pre...more “The driveway leading to the family home wound its way through a thick forest of tall hardwoods and then a large rolling field. Golden bales of freshly cut hay peppered the landscape. On both sides of the road, a low-stacked stone wall corralled the vehicle as it sped toward the large brick Victorian resting at the edge of the pasture.” - from Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave

Letterford & Sons might not be the largest publishing house in the world, but it is widely considered to be the most prestigious. For over four hundred years the firm has passed from eldest son to eldest son, owned and controlled by one Letterford for the benefit of the entire family. The affable and scholarly Mull Letterford runs the firm currently and, though Mull is dedicated to the business and very good at what he does, the firm has recently been plagued by a series of bizarre accidents and unforeseen events which have threatened the bottom line. Now a distant cousin is launching a hostile takeover and Mull could lose control of the grand old firm forever.

Enter Mull's twelve-year-old daughter, Colophon. Exceedingly bright for her age and blessed with a mind for puzzles, Colophon is determined to keep her father where he belongs, at the head of Letterford & Sons. When her father's eccentric cousin Julian tells Colophon the tale of a long hidden family treasure, she decides to help him find it. A treasure will make it possible for her father to buy out the rest of the family and keep the publishing house in his hands. For his part, Julian is just odd enough to welcome the help of a mere school girl. He cares little for the value of the treasure, he just wants to prove that it exists. But dark forces are aligning against the mismatched duo - can they complete their quest before it's too late?

I've read a few critical reviews of this charming novel and I'll admit they have me puzzled. Some have said that it's unreasonable to believe that a mere girl could succeed where generations of her family's grown men have failed. Does Colophon unravel clues that have stumped adults for hundreds of years? Yes, of course she does. That's what happens in most middle grade mysteries. Nancy Drew, for instance, routinely proved more clever than the entire River Heights police force. What matters is that Colophon is likable, intelligent and devoted to her family - in short, a worthy successor to the likes of Nancy and Trixie Belden.

The characters are certainly a highlight here: Colophon, her studious father and sometimes jerky older brother (that pair have some hilarious adventures of their own), the disheveled Cousin Julian and the delightfully sinister Treemont . They all contribute to the mystery's clever plot. The real stars here, however, are the wonderful settings. From Le Mont Saint Michel in the prologue to the Letterford's grand ancestral London home in the ultimate chapter, every scene is lovingly described and brought to glorious life by Hicks' lively prose. The language is rich and always exactly right at all times and the quirky illustrations by Mark Edward Geyer enhance the story at every turn.

I thoroughly enjoyed this, the first book of the Letterford Mysteries and I await future installments in happy anticipation.(less)

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Aug 16, 2012 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Twelve-year-old Colophon Letterford overhears that her father may lose the family business, a business the family has owned for 400 years. She vows that she will help him save it. When her uncle appears unexpectedly and Colophon learns that he has been searching for a treasure supposedly hidden by her ancient ancestor. She knew then that if she could find the treasure, she would be able to save the family business.

Deron Hicks, the author,did not provide the reader with any physical attributes of...more Twelve-year-old Colophon Letterford overhears that her father may lose the family business, a business the family has owned for 400 years. She vows that she will help him save it. When her uncle appears unexpectedly and Colophon learns that he has been searching for a treasure supposedly hidden by her ancient ancestor. She knew then that if she could find the treasure, she would be able to save the family business.

Deron Hicks, the author,did not provide the reader with any physical attributes of his characters. It would have been nice to know from page one when Colophon was introduced what she looked like. He gave us some of Julian’s physical attributes, but the other characters remained amorphous throughout. I would think that his intended audience would be more likely to like/relate to his characters if they know what they look like.

I, like other reviewers, thought that it was a little too convenient that a 12-year-old would immediately see clues when for four centuries her family members, looking for the same clues, came away clueless. And, I agree that while, Colophon was smart, she lacked the education and, yes, the brains, to pick up on a couple of the clues that came so easily to her. Her bumbling uncle, who had spent a lifetime looking for the treasure, conveniently allowed his niece to take control of the search. Then there is the older brother who was, at first, pictured as not being the brightest light in the array and a bully suddenly turning into the cooperative, proud older brother who, like the uncle, allowed Colophon to order him about. The author needed a way to alert his readers that a sequel will appear, and did it in such a way as to have at least his older readers saying, “No fair!”

In spite of the things I disliked about this book, I found myself picking it up instead of the new Laurie R. King book when I wanted to spend some time reading. I will pass this book on to my 11-year-old niece and hope she enjoys the hunt and the outcome more than I did.
(less)

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Aug 11, 2012 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Colophan Letterford is the daughter of the current owner of the prestigious publishing company Letterford & Sons. This title, however, seems at risk of being compromised when her father’s daunting and aggressive second cousin threatens to usurp her father’s position by offering a seemingly manageable proposition: If he can sustain business by guaranteeing three works from bestselling authors by the next family meeting, his position within the business will be guaranteed. Otherwise, he must g...more Colophan Letterford is the daughter of the current owner of the prestigious publishing company Letterford & Sons. This title, however, seems at risk of being compromised when her father’s daunting and aggressive second cousin threatens to usurp her father’s position by offering a seemingly manageable proposition: If he can sustain business by guaranteeing three works from bestselling authors by the next family meeting, his position within the business will be guaranteed. Otherwise, he must give up his right to the company.
In no time at all, opportunity presents itself when a cousin Colophan never knew arrives at Thanksgiving dinner spreading rumour of a family treasure. In a race against the clock, Colophan must satisfy her curiosities by finding this long-lost treasure as well as securing her father’s formidable place within the family company.
Secrets of Shakespeare’s Grave tells of a wonderfully elaborate adventure conducted by 12-year-old Colophan Letterford. Colophan must delve into the intricate history of Miles Letterford, an ancestor of hers who established the family publishing company, Letterford & Sons. Colophan is introduced as a bright, inquisitive, and determined young girl – in short, the perfect candidate to lead a quest to unearth the whereabouts of a hidden treasure. The adolescent pseudo-sleuth, accompanied by her estranged cousin, aptly applies deductive logic and sound reasoning to advance their journey. Colophan taps into a dormant need for excitement which cannot be accessed within the walls of her comfortable home. This risky undertaking promises the unravelling of a centuries-old secret in a most baffling and unpredictable conclusion.
While Colophan is responsible for estimating conclusions which propel the mystery, it appears that she is too often assisted by convenience. During instances when all seems lost, a simple loophole is identified, evidently corrupting the reality of the story. The author also promotes morals in the novel which are traditionally effective although are sometimes approached generically rather than abstractly. Furthermore, the story sometimes lends the element of foreshadowing which, though certainly valuable, comes off as indiscreet and renders scenes in the story as unnecessarily predictable.
Hicks’ debut novel fastidiously works to revive the past as Colophan and the reader set off to investigate one of history’s most celebrated figures.
Rating: ★★★1/2 (3.5/5)(less)

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Aug 03, 2012 Chris rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own

As a lover of Shakespeare and a graduate with an English degree, the very title Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave had me interested. There's a lot of speculation and mystery surrounding Shakespeare and even though I'm not a big scholar of the research and conspiracy theories, I find the whole thing very interesting. Once I read the summary blurb for the book I decided I'd have to read it. Essentially a young girl (12 years old) is on a treasure hunt to solve a centuries old mystery hidden in her fa...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Tina (yAdultReview) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-books, middle-grade, mystery, arc-netgalley

Originally published at Nose in a Book

I love middle-grade! I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but I’m nearly done with my undergrad degree in Special Education, and lately I’ve been really interesting in finding good middle-grade novels for my future classroom (here, let me recommend two MG novels by Laura Amy Schlitz, A Drowned Maiden’s Hair and The Night Fairy) so I just really wanted this one when I saw it up on NetGalley. Plus, it’s got a little history thrown in there, which is always a p...more Originally published at Nose in a Book

I love middle-grade! I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this, but I’m nearly done with my undergrad degree in Special Education, and lately I’ve been really interesting in finding good middle-grade novels for my future classroom (here, let me recommend two MG novels by Laura Amy Schlitz, A Drowned Maiden’s Hair and The Night Fairy) so I just really wanted this one when I saw it up on NetGalley. Plus, it’s got a little history thrown in there, which is always a plus when choosing novels for a classroom! This one starts off with a little backstory before we meet Colophon and the modern day Letterfords. Colophon’s family sounds stifling, with a rigid seating hierarchy at Thanksgiving dinner and a strict rule that ownership of the company passes to the eldest child only. Her family is rich, owning a huge home with its own library. Colophon is twelve and has her own laptop. None of this stuff bothered me, but I was kind of amused by all the stuff in the Letterford mansion, the formal way her family spoke, and her interactions with her brother. Plus, I love a good black sheep, and Cousin Julian fits the bill quite well.

As we got into the mystery, I found myself liking Colophon more and more. Where at first she seemed annoyingly inquisitive (a common trait among intellectually gifted children), she later seemed charming and precocious. I started to really like both her and the little mystery she’s solving. While Mull Letterford, Colophon’s father, is trying to save his family’s publishing house in Georgia, Colophon herself eventually travels to London to get down to business trying to find the hidden family treasure. The relationship between Colophon and Julian is fun to watch unfold, because Julian has been almost outcast his whole life. I found it amusing that his way back into the family’s good graces was his twelve year old cousin.

As the book goes on, it becomes increasingly obvious that someone is trying to sabotage Mull’s reign as head of the publishing house. Colophon’s main suspect is her father’s recently reappeared cousin, Treemont. I felt so sorry for Mull during his scenes, but even his catastrophes are humorous (to us, at least), keeping a whimsical air about the whole thing. During all of this, Colophon is with cousin Julian in Stratford-upon-Avon, and while the clues fall into her lap a little to easily, the story is cute and fun, and the mystery is easy to follow. Colophon’s brother, Case, who seems like an insensitive jerk in the beginning, turns out to have some depth in him after all. This one was a quick read, but I enjoyed it immensely.(less)

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May 02, 2013 A. Somers rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: student-books

This is one of those cases that justifies the saying" Don't judge abook by its cover." I was somewhat reluctant to try the book because of the cartoonish nature of the cover picture. I'm so glad that I decided to give it a try. It is a kid's version of a Dan Brown novel, full of adventure, suspense, and historical intrigue. The characters are well developed and there is just the right touch of humor. The contemporary dialogue will attract 4th through 7th grade readers but it does not talk down t...more

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Aug 23, 2012 April rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, vine, middle-grade, mystery

Treasure hunters take note, Secrets Of Shakespeare’s Grave by Deron R. Hicks is an utterly charming debut middle grade read that will appeal to you questing sensibilities. The Letterford family owns and operates the prestigious publisher Letterford And Sons. When the family patriarch dies, Mull Letterford takes over the business. A series of disasters occurs and so the family must question whether to take the ownership from Mull or not. Colophon, Mull’s 12 year old daughter, is positive foul pla...more

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Feb 22, 2013 Emily rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery, juvenile

Very fun! I picked this up in the library on the juvenile new shelf because the mystery was Shakespeare and the chapters were lines from his plays. Definitely appropriate for 10 years and up. No silly relationships just a bright twelve year old solving a mystery to save her father's job as the head of the family publishing business. Her 15 year old brother and 40 something year old eccentric cousin help her unravel part of the mystery. Looking forward to fall for mystery #2! I love intelligent r...more

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Jan 27, 2013 StorySnoops rated it 3 of 5 stars

Secrets of Shakepeare's Grave is a fun mystery for book-loving tweens. Main character Colophon is a smart and responsible twelve-year-old who loves her family's publishing business. While Shakespeare is a prominent element of the story, it is not necessary for the reader to know too much about him, other than the fact that he is a famous playwright who lived long ago. Colophon has a strained relationship with her fifteen-year-old brother, but the two develop... (click for full review http://www....more

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Aug 07, 2012 Ashe rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the type of book I would have loved as a kid and was happy to find it for my 12 year old daughter. As a parent I'm thrilled with the educational aspects about literature and anything that helps history come alive to her. It is a fun, well-written, cozy-mystery that I would recommend to engage middle schoolers with reading and Shakespeare. I hope the author ventures into other literary figures beyond Shakespeare for his future novels. I also enjoy the cover art and the chapter illustratio...more

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Sep 05, 2012 Murray Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Mr. Hicks has written a charming adventure with 12 year old Colophone Letterford attempting to save her father from losing his family's publishing house in less than a month. She and her eccentric uncle go on a tresure hunt that leads to Shakespeare's tomb in England while at home her brother Case attempts to find out who is trying to sabotage his father's career and a hilarious chase scene through New York City's Central Park. A fun book that sets for a sequel and I will recommend to our 5th an...more

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May 13, 2013 Madame Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: lower-mid-grade, regular-j-books

I really, really liked this book and would give it a 4.5 star if I could. It is a very good and exciting mystery, a genre not common nowadays. A strong female protagonist who is 12, puts it in JH, however, a stronger J reader would have no difficulty. The male protagonist a bit older and a tad unlikeable in the beginning. I enjoyed the references to the publishing industry, literature, and Shakespeare.

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Mar 29, 2013 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4th, 5th, 6th, mystery, j-fiction

Hard to get into- prologue and intro were pretty boring. Once I was in, I was in, though. Story moved much faster after the first couple of chapters. A bit formulaic and predictable, but a strong start for a new series. Fairly appropriate for younger readers, minus the fact that the whole story does lead to digging around at Shakespeare's grave.

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Jan 24, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a perfect mystery for the MG age group, and it introduces them to the Bard. Taking place near Warm Springs, Georgia, New York and London, it has a similar feeling to Dan Brown's "Da Vinci Code" but for kids. It also has the same energy as "Chasing Vermeer" - a very popular mystery. I'm glad there will be a second book in the series!

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Apr 22, 2013 Catharine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, historical-fiction

Fun mystery. This is written for younger readers, but I found it very entertaining. The plot kept me interested and I was surprised several times to find that the villain was keeping up with the kids in the story. I was also surprised to realize that it was a series, so I'll have to keep reading.

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Apr 03, 2013 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: chi-gentle, chi-mystery

The characters read younger than their actual ages but the context is a bit advanced in terms of the historical/literary components. I think this is a good mystery for an advanced, literary, or classics reader who likes more gentle content but not neccessarily just for a general mystery fan. 3-6th grades.

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Nov 07, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Intelligent fun for 3rd - 6th graders. Love the book related names. Love the strong, intelligent protagonist. Love that it mirrors some of my favorite childhood books -- stuff happens that you know couldn't REALLY happen, yet it is not so absurd as to appear absurd. Looking forward to the next in the series.

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Dec 04, 2012 Charlene rated it 4 of 5 stars

A fun, quick paced mystery for middle schoolers. I liked the literary aspects, the characters, and there's a great chase scene through Central Park. The settings -- rural Georgia, London, Stratford-on-Avon, Mont Saint-Michel -- are well described. I look forward to the 2nd book of the series.

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Oct 22, 2012 Pamela rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: c-art, c-family-life, a-fic, 4-middle-sch, 4-elem, c-mystery-intrigue

More a 3.5 star book than just a 3 in my opinion, I found this a well-written juvenile mystery, though I think I probably enjoyed the connections to the publishing world more than most 4th and 5th graders would. But if you have a mystery lover among you, this would make a solid recommendation.

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Jan 22, 2013 Nancy Brown added it

Colophon and her brother try to save the family's publishing business. I enjoyed this book, although it was rather far fetched. Colophon is a likable character, and the settings in Georgia and England are interesting. This is the first book in a new series.

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Jan 29, 2013 Beverly rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very good mystery with a treasure hunt. Well-written, with some mild suspense.

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Jan 31, 2013 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Great book for fans of 39 Clues, and not as convoluted (sp?).

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Jan 27, 2013 Nitza Campos rated it 5 of 5 stars

Grades 4-6. This book was super fun and I am sad that I have to wait until the fall for the sequel. Kids looking for a good mystery will thoroughly enjoy this and learn a little about Shakespeare.

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Oct 15, 2012 Glenn rated it 2 of 5 stars

Entertaining but superficial mystery adventure. Seems like it tries to be a "39 Clues" adventure but the events play out too easily and without much suspense. Apparently this is going to be a series, but the next installment comes out in a year and a half. Such a long wait kills any momentum the series might have had.

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Aug 20, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

It was a pretty quick read, but a fun story.

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Nov 30, 2012 Tracee Yawger rated it 3 of 5 stars

Cute. But how could anything be worth more than an unfounded manuscript by Shakespeare?

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Nov 02, 2012 Ashley (yAdult Review) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: tina, 2012, favorites

LOVE AND ADORE.

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May 16, 2013 Krista the Krazy Kataloguer marked it as to-read

Shelves: to-read-jervis

May 15, 2013 Xander marked it as to-read

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About Deron R. Hicks

I live in Warm Springs, Georgia with my wife Angela, daughter Meg, and son Parker. I am a proud graduate of the University of Georgia, where I obtained a bachelor of fine arts degree in painting. Having obtained a degree in painting, I took the next logical step in life -- I went to Law school (more specifically, Mercer Law School, which I loved). After years in private practice, I had an idea for...more

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