Tom Trelawney Books in Order

The Tom Trelawney books are Josh Lacey's treasure-hunt adventures, built for readers who like old clues, new danger and adults who are just a little too reckless to trust. Tom is not a polished hero. He is curious, easily bored, and quite capable of getting himself into trouble. That turns out to be useful once he falls in with his uncle Harvey, a charming, slippery grown-up who seems happiest when chasing family legends across the world.

In Island of Thieves, Tom is swept into a hunt for buried treasure in South America after an old clue surfaces. In The Sultan's Tigers, the search shifts to India and a jeweled tiger tied to his family's past. Both books lean hard into the pleasures of classic adventure, coded histories, dangerous rivals, mysterious documents and the constant feeling that somebody else is only a few steps behind.

Uncle Harvey is a huge part of the series' appeal. He is funny, unpredictable and never quite as prepared as he pretends to be. Tom knows this, which is why his voice matters so much. He brings skepticism to the story. He notices the lies, the grand promises and the terrible plans, even when he goes along with them. That push and pull gives the books a lively rhythm. Harvey charges ahead. Tom questions everything. Then the chase starts anyway.

The settings do real work here. These are not adventures that could happen in any vague exotic location. Peru and India matter because the books are built around local history, family stories and the specific treasures Tom is trying to find. Josh Lacey likes using the past as the engine of the plot, so the present-day danger always carries a longer shadow behind it.

The tone sits a little older than The Dragonsitter. There is humor, but the stakes are sharper, and the villains feel more threatening. Still, the books move quickly and keep the focus on excitement rather than darkness. These are brisk middle grade reads with cliffhangers, escapes and a strong sense of place.

If you enjoy adventure stories where maps, rumors and half-true family legends open the door to very real trouble, Tom Trelawney is a good series to try. It has the mood of a classic caper, but Tom's voice keeps it grounded. He may grumble, doubt and panic, but he also keeps going, which is exactly what a treasure story needs.