The book starts in the early 1600’s, as the founder of the publishing house of Letterford, Miles Letterford, creates a puzzle hiding original works by Shakespeare, intended to be found by future heirs.  Zoom forward to today.  Mull Letterford is now the president of the publishing house and his second cousin is breathing down his neck trying to take over the business.  Odd things have been happening and business has been poor for Letterford’s.  If Mull isn’t able to sign contracts with writers to publish three new books by December 24, the company goes to his cousin.  What Mull doesn’t know is that his cousin has hired some shady characters to destroy his changes.  Mull’s daughter, Coly, and his other cousin, Julian, collaborate to solve the puzzle that’s in the portrait of Miles Letterford.  For almost four hundred years, no one has been able to figure out where the family treasure is hidden, or even what the family treasure is.  It comes down to a race against time as the deadline nears.  There are almost two parallel stories here: one of the clues and the hunt that follows and the second one the disasters that befall Mull.  Both are interesting and funny.  This was a very enjoyable book and I hope it is the first of many to follow.