The Pavilion in the Clouds

Written by Alexander McCall Smith

Narrated by David Rintoul

It is 1938 and the final days of the British Empire. In a bungalow high up in the green hills above the plains of Ceylon, under a vast blue sky, live the Ferguson family: Bella, a precocious eight-year-old; her father Henry—owner of Pitlochry, a
tea plantation—and her mother Virginia. The story centres around the Pavilion in the Clouds, set in the idyllic grounds carved out of the wilderness. But all is not as serene as it seems. Bella is suspicious of her governess Miss White’s intentions.

Her suspicion sparks off her mother’s imagination and after an unfortunate series of events, a confrontation is had with Miss White and a gunshot rings off around the hills.

Years later, Bella, now living back in Scotland at university in St Andrews, is faced once again with her past. Will she at last find out what happened between her father and Miss White? And will the guilt she has lived with all these years be reconciled by a long overdue apology?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 13, 2022
• ISBN: 9781705047972

Alexander McCall Smith

Alexander McCall Smith is the author of the award-winning series The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency, and he now devotes his time to the writing of fiction, including the 44 Scotland Street and the Isabel Dalhousie series. He is the author of over eighty books on a wide array of subjects, and his work has been translated into forty-six languages. Before becoming a full-time writer he was for many years Professor of Medical Law at Edinburgh.

Reviews for The Pavilion in the Clouds

[Alma Quillian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Alexander McCall Smith is among my favorite authors. I particularly enjoyed the Bertie series and almost all the other series. Never got into the " sausage dog" series because as soon as dogs were mistreated I was outta there !
What makes this book unique is that it is a mystery. I hope he writes more mysteries! He is quite good at it.
As usual,he fleshed out some very interesting characters in this one. His imagination seems boundless!

[fliss88_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A book that hooked me with its cover. I could almost feel the breeze coming up the valley. The characters, while not compelling were nonetheless believable. Ceylon just prior to WW2 they lived as part of the moneyed gentry. Owners of a successful tea plantation with servants to do all the work, a governess employed for their 8 year old daughter - life was undemanding and agreeable. This story shows how an indulged yet likeable child managed to ruin a reputation and disrupt their charmed lifestyle. Suspicion and rumour never end in happiness.

[etxgardener · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This appears to be a one-off book from McCall Smith’s series. There is no mystery and no quirky characters. Instead AMS appears to be making a statement on the British Empire and the empty lives of the women who accompany their husbands to distant lands (in this case Ceylon) and have noting to do but to be decorative and fritter their lives away at “the club.’The story is set in 1938 It is 1938 in a bungalow high up in the green hills above the plains of Ceylon, under: The Ferguson family consists of Bella, a precocious eight-year-old, her father Henry – owner of Pitlochry, a tea plantation – and her mother Virginia. Also living in the household is Bella’s governess, Lavender White.. Their life appears to be idyllic, but it is not as serene as it seems. Bella is suspicious of her governess Miss White’s intentions. Her intuition sparks off her mother’s imagination, and, after an unfortunate series of events, a confrontation results in Miss White losing her position and an emotional confrontation with gunfire.McCall Smith uses this novel to make his feelings of both the British Empire (an imperialistic horror) and the British colonialists who kept the Empire running. This is a big change from the author’s usual fare, but makes for a thought provoking read.

[dramman_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Elegantly written but lightweight tale of personal relationships on a tea estate in pre-war Ceylon. Exhibiting a degree of fashionable post-colonial angst, this adds another facet to the prodigious output from Alexander McCall Smith. A perfectly enjoyable, quick read.