Tom Playfair and its two sequels mix comedic stories of school sports, pranks, and classroom anecdotes with moral and theological lessons.

Due to his uncontrollable behavior, his strict and distant father sends him to a Catholic boarding school, St. Maure’s.

On a visit with his family, Tom continues to be playful and irreverent, but his escapades are now focused on helping the poor and being kind to others.

Percy shows surprising determination and courage, as when he walks four miles across the prairie to warn Tom about some school bullies who are planning to ambush him.

Three years later, at age thirteen, the anxious and high-strung Harry arrives at St. Maure’s and meets Tom, Percy, and their friends.

Harry searches the mansion with help from his uncle’s old servant, Caggett, and discovers a secret drawer containing the money.

Tom is studying in the seminary to become a Jesuit priest, while Percy is doing charity work and planning to start a Catholic magazine for children with Harry.

[4][5] It received good reviews and quickly became widely read, with the series filling a gap for Catholic children's fiction.

[7] The same magazine had similar criticism for Harry Dee, which makes an abrupt tonal shift from previous books in the series; it is more focused on academic achievements with the characters aging towards graduation, but also has an overarching murder mystery.