School Library Journal Review
Gr 4-6-A spirited follow-up to Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave (Houghton Mifflin, 2012). When Colophon Letterford found the family treasure, manuscripts written by Shakespeare himself, she thought she had foiled the machinations of the man who had been attempting to discredit her father and take over the family's publishing business. However, as she soon learns, Tremont still has a few tricks up his sleeve. With the Letterfords once again in danger of losing everything, Colophon sets out to follow a trail of clues, beginning with an inscription on the inkwell that she found with the manuscripts. This time, the clues lead her not to Shakespeare, but to his contemporary Christopher Marlowe. As she discovers clue after clue related to Marlowe's history, Tremont and his operatives are not far behind. Fortunately, Colophon's brother, Case, is following Tremont in order to protect his sister and uncover the villain's schemes. The action culminates in a journey through London's sewer system, where a hidden room waits that may hold treasures even more valuable than the one Colophon has already found. She and Case must do their best to keep their newest discoveries out of Tremont's clutches. Introducing young readers to Christopher Marlowe, a mysterious and shadowy historical figure in his own right, is a bold move on the part of the author, but it pays off. This book boasts intelligent writing and better pacing than its predecessor. It will appeal largely to mystery fans who enjoy delving into historical puzzles.-Misti Tidman, Licking County Library, Newark, OH (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
When the Shakespeare manuscripts from Secrets of Shakespeare's Grave are decried as fakes, it's up to Colophon and Julian to prove the documents' authenticity. The smart, intrepid--and lucky--duo embark on another search for clues, with Hicks creatively weaving new British historical figures/places into the engaging plot. Discovery of even greater family treasure leads to a tantalizing teaser for further mysteries to solve. (c) Copyright 2014. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Colophon Letterford and her cousin Julian tour Oxford and Cambridge and take to the London sewers to find whatever it takes to refute claims that the family's new-found Shakespeare manuscripts are fraudulent. This sequel to The Shakespeare Mysteries (2012) opens with a 16th-century prologue starring a soon-to-be-dead Christopher Marlowe, but the action really begins in a storage locker, where the man hired to catalog the manuscripts is revealed to be a thief. The camera then shifts to Coly's home in Georgia shortly after the cousins' last adventure. The cataloger has announced that the documents may be forgeries. Once again, a man identified only as Treemont is scheming to take control of the family publishing company. Readers will be justifiably confused by this array of apparent bad guys. When Coly leaves for London, however, her adventures prove to have been worth waiting for. Cutting suddenly from one perspective to another, this modern mystery makes use of Internet connectivity and old-fashioned stealth snooping. What began as a mystery ends with found treasure, and an epilogue seems to offer grounds for yet another installment. Each chapter opens with a word that Shakespeare coined or first used; an appendix provides the context for the word. It's a pity there isn't a more substantial explanation about the posited Shakespeare/Marlowe connection, though. While the adventure may be worth the wait, Hicks would be well-advised to tighten up his next book. (Adventure. 9-13)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Once again 13-year-old Colophon's family is threatened by a nefarious relative, who replaces her father as head of their centuries-old publishing house. When a new (and possibly related) mystery crops up, Colophon and her allies are soon tracking clues to treasure while pondering two very cold (and possibly related) cases: the death of Christopher Marlowe and the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. The adventures play out in vividly described settings, including Oxford's Bodleian Library and London's sewers. Attention to detail includes chapter headings featuring attractive ink drawings and words created or modified by Shakespeare. The second volume of the Shakespeare Mysteries series is a pleasure from start to finish.--Phelan, Carolyn Copyright 2010 Booklist
