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Detectives in Togas #2
Mystery of the Roman Ransom: An Amusing Crime-Solving Adventure in Ancient Rome for Kids
In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.
It seems the boys can get nothing Their teacher's fiftieth birthday is long past (they should have done their math homework); the servant they bought as a present for his birthday isn't just your run-of-the-mill Gaul slave but a courier running for his life; and, to top it all off, the message he's carrying requests the assassination of a Roman senator—the father of one of the boys.
It seems the boys can get nothing Their teacher's fiftieth birthday is long past (they should have done their math homework); the servant they bought as a present for his birthday isn't just your run-of-the-mill Gaul slave but a courier running for his life; and, to top it all off, the message he's carrying requests the assassination of a Roman senator—the father of one of the boys.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1953
30 people are currently reading
772 people want to read
About the author
Henry Winterfeld
13 books24 followersHenry Winterfeld (born April 9, 1901, in Hamburg, Germany; died January 27, 1990, in Machias, Maine), also published under the pseudonym Manfred Michael. He was a German writer and artist famous for his children's and young adult novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
September 14, 2025
How opinions and tastes can change. The copy of the book I have was published by Odyssey/Harcourt Young Classics in 2014 and the publisher's blurb begins:
“It seems the boys can do nothing right; their teacher's fiftieth birthday is long past (they should have done their math homework); the servant they bought him as a present is actually a secret courier.”
Servant? No, that is 2014 speaking. The boys are the sons of senators in ancient Rome. As Henry Winterfeld makes clear in 1971, the date of the first edition, they bought their tutor a slave not a servant, and think nothing of it. Well of course they don't. Slavery of the defeated was the Roman way. Why pay a servant wages when a slave costs no more than some clothing and a basic diet – and perhaps a whip to keep him in order.
Mucius and his chums are astonished when old Xanthos turns their present down, and not because he is full of Greek ideas of liberty and civil rights. The Greeks were as pro-slavery as the Romans, until the Romans invaded their cities and started capturing them. He insists he can't afford all the administration costs of registering a slave's presence. All this is a good point. An important part of the author's story is to educate his reader and he does not shy away from the aspects of Roman life that some classicists seem to disregard.
Anyway, back to the story. It contains so many facts, in a simplified form, of Roman life, culture and politics mixed in with the lively adventure yarn of boy detectives thwarting an assassination plot, that the teaching seeps through almost unnoticed. It is quite masterly in fact. After many adventures the slave Udo ends up being treated well and respectfully, though perhaps he wins his freedom a little too easily for any stickler of Roman principles to accept.
OK, though some parts are silly, such as Rameses the tame Numidian lion and a collection of villains about as much use as those guys in Home Alone, they don't detract from an artfully told tale that races along at sprinting speed. It is certainly a boys' story as the women are few in number and confined to the household. The nearest any of the boys comes to having a girlfriend is Publius' infatuation with Caius' younger sister Claudia – she is only twelve so nothing much happens. So, old fashioned? Yes, yet very enjoyable.
“It seems the boys can do nothing right; their teacher's fiftieth birthday is long past (they should have done their math homework); the servant they bought him as a present is actually a secret courier.”
Servant? No, that is 2014 speaking. The boys are the sons of senators in ancient Rome. As Henry Winterfeld makes clear in 1971, the date of the first edition, they bought their tutor a slave not a servant, and think nothing of it. Well of course they don't. Slavery of the defeated was the Roman way. Why pay a servant wages when a slave costs no more than some clothing and a basic diet – and perhaps a whip to keep him in order.
Mucius and his chums are astonished when old Xanthos turns their present down, and not because he is full of Greek ideas of liberty and civil rights. The Greeks were as pro-slavery as the Romans, until the Romans invaded their cities and started capturing them. He insists he can't afford all the administration costs of registering a slave's presence. All this is a good point. An important part of the author's story is to educate his reader and he does not shy away from the aspects of Roman life that some classicists seem to disregard.
Anyway, back to the story. It contains so many facts, in a simplified form, of Roman life, culture and politics mixed in with the lively adventure yarn of boy detectives thwarting an assassination plot, that the teaching seeps through almost unnoticed. It is quite masterly in fact. After many adventures the slave Udo ends up being treated well and respectfully, though perhaps he wins his freedom a little too easily for any stickler of Roman principles to accept.
OK, though some parts are silly, such as Rameses the tame Numidian lion and a collection of villains about as much use as those guys in Home Alone, they don't detract from an artfully told tale that races along at sprinting speed. It is certainly a boys' story as the women are few in number and confined to the household. The nearest any of the boys comes to having a girlfriend is Publius' infatuation with Caius' younger sister Claudia – she is only twelve so nothing much happens. So, old fashioned? Yes, yet very enjoyable.
October 2, 2014
Actually 3.5
Nice, short, fun little book. A nice break from the other long and complex school lit books I've had lately. I probably would've really enjoyed it at about the age of...nine. Would be a perfect read-aloud for my little brothers. Had trouble keeping track of the seven main characters, and coincidences abound, but otherwise this was a great little story.
Recommended for youngins of about 7 to 11, especially boys. Or anyone who wants a break from more serious and intense stuff.
Nice, short, fun little book. A nice break from the other long and complex school lit books I've had lately. I probably would've really enjoyed it at about the age of...nine. Would be a perfect read-aloud for my little brothers. Had trouble keeping track of the seven main characters, and coincidences abound, but otherwise this was a great little story.
Recommended for youngins of about 7 to 11, especially boys. Or anyone who wants a break from more serious and intense stuff.
December 31, 2018
Even better than the first volume "Detectives in Togas" (German "Caius ist ein Dummkopf"). Just finished reading it to my son who cannot wait for the third volume. He could read himself but wants me to do a scenic lecture.
April 29, 2024
Engaging and amusing, this sequel is just as good as the original. There are plenty of twists and surprises so interest never flags. Historical information is not at the forefront, but there is enough.
February 10, 2011
This book is an exiting sequel to the Detectives in Togas. The setting is the same except their slave is a secret curior that is carrying a message about witch of the boys fathers is to be murdered! This story is a very good read-at-night or read-when-bored book.
There are some parts that you will not understand unless you read the first book!! That is another reason to read the first one (Detectives in Togas)
The setting for both the books is in ancient Rome in a schoolhouse with four boys who find out an important mystery for the government of Rome.
Oh... and by Hades do not forget to look out for when more of this authors books come around!!!
(written by CHP)
There are some parts that you will not understand unless you read the first book!! That is another reason to read the first one (Detectives in Togas)
The setting for both the books is in ancient Rome in a schoolhouse with four boys who find out an important mystery for the government of Rome.
Oh... and by Hades do not forget to look out for when more of this authors books come around!!!
(written by CHP)
December 20, 2013
Second book to this series. Good book for young readers, 5th grade and up. Group of boys, working together to solve a problem. And a wonderful teacher who helps. My 5th grader enjoyed it and is now going to read the first book.
December 21, 2014
I read this book aloud to my kids (7, 10, 12) as part of our history studies this year. (When we last studied ancient Rome, we read Winterfield's previous book Detectives in Togas.) The kids really enjoyed the book, followed the plot well, and were eager to listen each time we read. As an adult, I found the book to be just okay. I typically enjoy the things I read aloud to them more than I did this one.
I found it strange that the mystery was "solved" in theory, but they didn't actually get the lost gold in hand before the book ended. It's not over 'til it's over.
I found it strange that the mystery was "solved" in theory, but they didn't actually get the lost gold in hand before the book ended. It's not over 'til it's over.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2010
Writing was a bit better in Roman Ransom than in Detectives in Togas. I think these books were originally written in German and then translated into English, which would explain why some of the writing seems disjointed in parts. Still, a super fun story with lots of laughs. The whole family enjoyed it!
September 5, 2014
The Detectives in Togas series was a fun complement to our ancient Rome history lessons. Historical fiction is a perfect way to transport students back in time in an interesting and engaging way. My kids really enjoyed the ride. :-)
June 27, 2015
Fun and witty :) Some parts were very funny, and it's just a sweet relaxing book to read!
April 21, 2018
An entertaining rollick set in ancient Rome that would be great for middle grade readers.
May 12, 2021
I read this book out loud as a read aloud to my boys for school (ages 11-7). At the end of our read aloud, I asked them for their review of the book. They both said they'd give it 4.5 stars. They enjoyed the book because there was a good mystery that kept them curious until the end. They liked how the main characters were kids like them. One thing they didn't like was some of the events of the story happen "off scene" and you only learn about them from one character sharing something. They would have enjoyed hearing the side stories in more details too.
As a mom, I enjoyed the book too. I would probably give it 4 stars. The chapters were a good length for reading aloud at one sitting. I did think some of the political background might be a bit confusing if you knew nothing of Ancient Rome and this book was your own source. But since we are studying Ancient Rome in school this year, that helped shed light in some aspects of the book that are just briefly touched upon in this book.
As a mom, I enjoyed the book too. I would probably give it 4 stars. The chapters were a good length for reading aloud at one sitting. I did think some of the political background might be a bit confusing if you knew nothing of Ancient Rome and this book was your own source. But since we are studying Ancient Rome in school this year, that helped shed light in some aspects of the book that are just briefly touched upon in this book.
October 12, 2017
A year after reading the first installment into this series (Detectives in Togas), I was pretty excited to see this volume in the tall stack of books my mom purchased through my homeschooling curriculum. If it was anything like the first, this one would be a wild ride.
It was.
It was flawed, like the first, but the story is a twisting conspiracy involving a paralegal ring of gladiators, a slave, and a pet lion, all experienced by the mischievous and various group of Roman kids that made the first so darn memorable. Give it to your kids if they like slapstick violence and can understand a good plot.
It was.
It was flawed, like the first, but the story is a twisting conspiracy involving a paralegal ring of gladiators, a slave, and a pet lion, all experienced by the mischievous and various group of Roman kids that made the first so darn memorable. Give it to your kids if they like slapstick violence and can understand a good plot.
January 20, 2014
In these two delightful history-mysteries, seven boys in Ancient Rome solve strange crimes . . . thanks to some help from their cranky teacher, a little bit of logic, and a lot of amusing misadventure.It seems the boys can get nothing right: Their teacher's fiftieth birthday is long past (they should have done their math homework); the servant they bought as a present for his birthday isn't just your run-of-the-mill Gaul slave but a courier running for his life; and, to top it all off, the message he's carrying requests the assassination of a Roman senator--the father of one of the boys.
Simply written but wonderful suspense for a middle age first mystery.
Simply written but wonderful suspense for a middle age first mystery.
March 21, 2012
So far this book is AMAZING. When I first saw it, it looked, well, stupid. But as I read it my interest grew. I would have finished it by now, if I hadn't been re-reading the Harry Potter series (sorry, but even though this book is good, Harry tops them all, except maybe Redwall.)
November 2, 2015
As rated by my children. This book was written in 1971 (or at least the English translation was published then.) It is full of locations and places in Ancient Rome but I thought a map to refer to would have been very helpful. There was also a lot of logic involved in the story which was fun for the kids. We'll definitely look into more books by this author.
June 18, 2008
This is a sequel to Detectives in Togas. The kids liked this one just as well. I didn't think it quite as funny, but it still had its moments. And it had more "mystery".
Another fun book to read with your study of Rome or just for fun.
Another fun book to read with your study of Rome or just for fun.
November 26, 2009
I wasn't so exited to read this book, since it looked like a boy book. But, even though it had the main charicters boys, it was still a lot of fun to read. I liked knowing all the Greek names for the Roman gods.
October 20, 2010
This sequel to Detective in Togas is just as enjoyable and witty as it was! Funny, entertaining and full of mishaps and antics as the boys try to solve the mystery of which of their fathers is about to be assassinated and why. A great read for all ages.
August 9, 2011
Exciting mystery to solve and prevent the murder of one of the boy's fathers. Many quick turns and reversals that keep the reader on his or her toes. Xantippus and Mucius save the day with help from Antonious and Udo the slave.
October 3, 2008
A continuation of Detectives in Togas. The seven Roman students come across another mystery in ancient Rome.
Also very funny.
Also very funny.
May 6, 2009
Another ancient Roman mystery by the author of Detectives in Togas. As fun as the first. We wished there were more!
January 20, 2010
I read this for Tara's schooling. It was pretty lame historical fiction - still better than a textbook though.
January 12, 2010
Another Mystery by Henry Winterfield with lot of clues that you don't even know about until you have read the whole thing.
April 30, 2013
it was a funny book from the roman times and it is a cool book.
it is definetly a book you should read
it is definetly a book you should read
July 29, 2013
This was wonderful fun. A great supplement to homeschooling on ancient Rome, the author works in little bits about the history while weaving a page-turning mystery full of action and adventure.
November 19, 2013
Read this with the kids. It was originally written in German and translated to English. That made it difficult to read sometimes.
June 13, 2014
Hilarious, witty, suspenseful and solid historical fiction - it freaked me out as a kid, but then I was easily disturbed.
June 23, 2021
Viele originelle Einzelheiten1 Am besten hat mir gefallen, dass die Schüler ihrem Lehrer einen Sklaven schenken wollten. Die Geschenkidee muss ich mir merken...
July 12, 2018
Read for Max's school. Even though he can read above this level, the book was fun for bringing ancient Rome to life and the silly jokes. The mystery was well done and keep us guessing as we went. We read them out of order courtesy of Amazon shipping speeds, but it is fine as a stand-alone. We are going to circle back and read the first one next.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews