Books like The Pothunters by P. G. Wodehouse

Set in the fictional English public school of St. Austin’s, The Pothunters follows a cast of sixth‑formers—Charteris, Tony Graham, Welch, Jim Thompson and the enterprising Macarthur, called “The Babe”—as they tackle a mystery of stolen trophies. When Jim Thompson is accused of theft and then goes missing, the boys must untangle the case, discovering that the real culprit is a burglar and that Jim fell into a ditch while returning from the Babe’s house. With the school headmaster’s suspicion clouding matters, the friends launch a plan to raise a pound for Jim’s brother: they produce a special edition of Charteris’s school paper, the Glow Worm, and sell it to other students, securing the funds with ease. Through comedic mishaps and schoolyard camaraderie, the novel paints a lively portrait of school life and the spirited camaraderie of English public‑school boys.

First publish date: 1902