The Walton Detective Society takes its name from Walton College, one of the famous colleges of Rompchester University. The detective society is set up by Tom and Lily when they investigate their first case, the Case of the Murdered Don.

Did I say first case?  That is something of an understatement, because Tom and Lily investigate not just one case, but right from the start they are after poachers, thieves, and a murderer. A lot of work even for two detectives.

So who are Tom and Lily? Let’s be courteous and start with Lily.  Whose full name is Lilian Amanda Smollen. At the start of the first case she is 13, and she is a very energetic creature who loves adventure. She lives in a large house right in the middle of Rompchester. Her mother is a beautiful lady who would like to see Lily become a beautiful and well behaved lady, too. Not something Lily is much interested in. Her father is Professor Smollen, the Vice-Chancellor of the university. The two are quite close, but Professor Smollen is so much drowned by his work that he never has quite enough time for Lily.

Tom‘s full name is Thomas Howard Gunby. Some of his schoolmates call him Tommy Gun, but Tom does not like this nickname. His mother died when Tom was 8. Tom never quite got over her death, the circumstances of which have remained obscure. Now, he lives with his father, Professor Gunby, at Walton College. Professor Gunby is an unfathomable man, always remote, always lost in thought. But he does leave Tom all the freedom that Tom could possibly desire. They live in a cottage in the beautiful gardens of Walton College. There is also a housekeeper, Mrs Frysh, who is something of a mother to Tom. Like Lily, Tom is 13 at the start of the first mystery. He still attends Christminster School, where he has been trained as a choir-boy.

The university in general and Walton College in particular are run by academics, most of them men. They are called dons. These dons are a curious lot. You are introduced to them in the Walton Society’s first mystery. Every don is odd in his own particular way. But some traits are common to them all: They love intellectual skirmishes, and they have a devious sense of humour. So beware of their joking and teasing.

There is much more I could tell you about Rompchester, Walton, College, the dons, and, of course, the Walton Detective Society. But I leave the rest to you: Find out what you can! Enjoy!