The Will Shakespeare Mysteries

My name is Will Shakespeare. I live with my nice but very dull family in the most boring town in England the universe. Still, that doesn’t matter, because I’ve decided I’m going to be

The Greatest Person-Who-Solves-Crimes in History!

Things I’m supposed to be doing:

  • Learning how to say stuff in Latin (Why? The Romans are all extremely dead!)

  • Cleaning the enormous pile of poo out of our privy. (I don’t see why Mum always gives this chore to me!)

  • Going to the butcher’s to collect the Christmas Pie for our big Twelfth Night Party. (Sounds easy, right?)

Things I’m actually doing:

  • Trying to solve the mystery of who stole the Moundsofgoo Treasure (AKA a bag of Henry VIII’s very stinky toenail clippings) with my best friend, Tybalt.

  • Trying to unite the star-crossed lovers, Ronaldo and Judy, before Ronaldo cries so much he LITERALLY DISSOLVES.

  • Hiding from my parents because I still haven’t dealt with the poo pile (see above) and I’ve accidently managed to lose the Christmas Pie.

I think I’m about to be in a turnip-load of trouble…

Cover and illustrations by Sammy Elgie

Available from all good bookshops including:

Waterstones

Bookshop.org

Blackwell’s

Amazon

About Kaz

Kaz Penney writes for adults and children.

As Katharine Corr she is the co-author of seven young adult fantasy novels, including the Kirkus-starred ‘Daughter of the Underworld (sold as Daughter of Darkness in the UK and France) published by Hot Key Books / Candlewick Press.

As Kate Penney, she writes romantic comedies for grown ups. We’ll Always Have Paris (her debut) is being published by Hodder & Stoughton in February 2026

Kaz read history at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, and worked in London before becoming a full-time mother and writer. She was introduced to Shakespeare by her mum, who believed that the Bard, with his timeless insights into what makes us human, is for everyone. Kaz hopes these books will be a fun and relatable introduction to Shakespeare for kids from all backgrounds.

For more information on Kaz’s young adult fantasy novels, please go to www.corrsisters.com.

For information on her romantic comedies, please go to www.katepenney.co.uk

Visits to schools and libraries

Kaz is available for small group workshops or for talks to larger groups in schools and libraries. For details, please contact her at:

katepenneywrites@gmail.com

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A huge thank you to everyone who came along yesterday to celebrate the publication of book 1 of The Will Shakespeare Mysteries: The Stinky Stolen Toenails, written by me and illustrated by the talented Sammy Elgie! We had such a brilliant evening! Ma
Happy book birthday to me and @sammyelgie !!! It’s been over 5 years since young Will popped into my head. There were lots of times I thought he would never get any further, which means I’m extra delighted that today he is out in the wor
One for my US followers! Both the paperback of DAUGHTER OF THE UNDERWORLD and the hardback of QUEEN OF THE GODS (out in August) are currently in the Barnes & Noble pre-order sale with up to 25% off! Sale ends tomorrow. “Strong character d
I could only get a tiny fraction of my @thersc programmes into the photo. I may have a problem… Also, my own Shakespeare inspired children’s book is out this Thursday! Please pre-order if it’s your cup of hot water (IYKYK), preor
So over the elitist ‘Shakespeare couldn’t have been an ordinary bloke from Stratford upon Avon’ conspiracy theories. 😤🫠 Also, the best Pride & Prejudice screen adaptation is and always will be the BBC 1996 tv version. 😎 If
What was I thinking?!? 🫠🫠🫠 (Actually the first draft of Will 3 is going fine thank you very much, absolutely nothing to see here 😬😬😬😂😂😂) #amwriting #childrensbook #authorsofinstagram #thewillshakespearemysteries #shakespeare
Obviously the Tudor toilet has to be front and centre 😂 Some of the inspo behind the first of The Will Shakespeare Mysteries- out in less than 2 weeks! Anything you recognise/relate to? #thewillshakespearemysteries #thestinkystolentoenails #shakes
I was fortunate enough to see Our Town at the Rose Theatre in Kingston last night. It is an absolutely BRILLIANT production - wonderful acting all round, and stunning use of space and choreography to make the most of the minimal staging that the play
I am INSANELY BUSY at the moment but reading is one of the things keeping me going. Here are a few FABULOUS books I’ve recently finished: *An Ocean of Time by @kennedykerrauthor - super sexy historical time-slip romance, sending a modern day h
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Contact

Kaz is represented by Kristina Pérez at Pérez Literary & Entertainment.

kristina@perezliterary.com