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...

When their life raft at last comes to ground, Jim, Peggy, and bossy Ralph rejoice. But this island is not like the world they left behind. The entire island is filled with miniature villages, roads, even cities with skyscrapers. The kids would love to play with the doll-sized vehicles and houses . . . until they discover that the tiny buildings have all-too-alive tiny people who live in them. It's tough to be a little kid, especially when you're not little--the children only want some help (and maybe some hot chocolate), but everyone views them as terrifying giants.

When their life raft at last comes to ground, Jim, Peggy, and bossy Ralph rejoice. But this island is not like the world they left behind. The entire island is filled with miniature villages, roads, even cities with skyscrapers. Where are they?

The children in Timpetill are so rotten, ill-behaved, and just all-around unpleasant that one night all the grown-ups in town leave for good. What will the kids do now?