When my mother suggested I read Detectives in Togas, I wasn't very enthusiastic. I didn't like the cover of the book and why would I want to read a story about schoolboys living in Ancient Rome? In fact, Detectives in Togas is a whodunit which involves seven boys who live in Rome: Caius, Mucius, Rufus, Antonius, Publius, Julius, and Flavius. They all go to the same school and are all good friends. Their teacher is a Greek called Xanthos and he is very strict. One day, Caius starts annoying Rufus by poking him in the back while he's trying to work. Rufus decides to get his revenge and writes "Caius is a dumbbell" on a wax tablet and hangs it on the wall of the classroom. Caius is so angry about this he shouts out that Rufus' father is a coward! The two boys start to fight each other. Xanthos is furious to see fighting in his school and pulls them apart, but he can't understand how it all started. Suddenly, he spots Rufus' wax tablet and what's written on it. He says that that Rufus is a disgrace and that he should go home immediately and not return to the school ever again. Rufus is very upset. He packs up his school things and leaves the classroom, but he doesn't go home. From his desk, Mucius can see him sitting on a barrel by the side of the road. He seems to be waiting for something or someone. Then suddenly, Rufus jumps up and runs off, but not in the direction of his house. The next morning, Rufus and Caius are not at school. More mysterious, Xanthos is nowhere to be seen! The five boys start to search everywhere. Where could he be? And where is Rufus' wax tablet? And who has written "Caius is a dumbbell" on the temple wall in large red writing? Could it really be Rufus? If you enjoy mystery stories, you'll love Detectives in Togas, especially piecing all the clues together. You also end up learning loads of interesting information about Ancient Rome as you go along - and even a bit of Latin!

When my mother suggested I read Detectives in Togas, I wasn't very enthusiastic. I didn't like the cover of the book and why would I want to read a story about schoolboys living in Ancient Rome? In fact, Detectives in Togas is a whodunit which involves seven boys who live in Rome: Caius, Mucius, Rufus, Antonius, Publius, Julius, and Flavius. They all go to the same school and are all good friends. Their teacher is a Greek called Xanthos and he is very strict. One day, Caius starts annoying Rufus by poking him in the back while he's trying to work. Rufus decides to get his revenge and writes "Caius is a dumbbell" on a wax tablet and hangs it on the wall of the classroom. Caius is so angry about this he shouts out that Rufus' father is a coward! The two boys start to fight each other. Xanthos is furious to see fighting in his school and pulls them apart, but he can't understand how it all started. Suddenly, he spots Rufus' wax tablet and what's written on it. He says that that Rufus is a disgrace and that he should go home immediately and not return to the school ever again. Rufus is very upset. He packs up his school things and leaves the classroom, but he doesn't go home. From his desk, Mucius can see him sitting on a barrel by the side of the road. He seems to be waiting for something or someone. Then suddenly, Rufus jumps up and runs off, but not in the direction of his house. The next morning, Rufus and Caius are not at school. More mysterious, Xanthos is nowhere to be seen! The five boys start to search everywhere. Where could he be? And where is Rufus' wax tablet? And who has written "Caius is a dumbbell" on the temple wall in large red writing? Could it really be Rufus? If you enjoy mystery stories, you'll love Detectives in Togas, especially piecing all the clues together. You also end up learning loads of interesting information about Ancient Rome as you go along - and even a bit of Latin!