What do readers think of The Clouds Beneath the Sun by Mackenzie Ford? Write your own review.

This is the second book I've read by this author. I really hoped this one would be better. The author may be a well known and respected historian, but I think he should stick with writing non-fiction. His lame attempts at romance only cheapen the story for me. I found the background and location interesting, but the characters disappointed me.

I love most any book that can transport me to a place and a time other than my own; a book that I can get lost in. The Clouds Beneath the Sun is such a book. From the very first page I liked Natalie’s character and was interested in and intrigued by the excavation project she was joining as a team archaeologist. From the initial premise, the book expanded to deal with social customs of the Masai, local politics, romance, history, mystery, adventure and more. It may seem like an ambitious undertaking but Mackenzie Ford was definitely capable of dealing with every challenge. I was completely enthralled by the events of the story and think most everyone I know would enjoy this book. It would definitely make a good book club selection because of the variety of topics that could be discussed. The only negative: it ended too soon.

The story of a 28 year old British woman's participation on an archeological dig in Kenya was very enjoyable on many levels. Although the descriptions of her past relationships with her family and her lover drag somewhat the overall story is suspenseful and ends with many surprises. The way the author weaves together the theme of music with African history and politics and with archeology should keep most readers interested. Especially because of the family relationships of both the main character and the dig participants, this book would be an interesting one for a book club.

This book started with such potential – Natalie has been invited to an archeological dig in Africa shortly after getting her PhD. This is the clean break she is looking for as she mourns the death of her mother and the rejection by her lover. The bits about the roaming herds, the discoveries in the dig, and the descriptions of the politics are all interesting, but the book lags with the overly done descriptions of Natalie’s struggles to maintain her reserve in the small group of scientists. We read again and again about her grief, her reluctance to enter into a new relationship, her distrust of her colleagues’ intentions and her various accidents, all of which she is able to miraculously recover from. I wanted to like the characters, but overall, I couldn’t truly embrace them or their trials. The ending was a bit too pat and anticlimactic.

A good read! The writing is excellent. The characters were of immediate interest and the setting so skillfully done, I wasn’t aware how much I was learning about Kenya. As for the plot, I found it a “page turner.” I felt it a privilege to read and review this novel.

I began reading this book while I was in the middle of another novel that I was enjoying; I thought I would read them concurrently. Surprise! Once I began "The Clouds Beneath the Sun" I couldn't put it down! The setting of an archeological dig in East Africa was unfamiliar to me but it was well-described. While controversy about the dig is getting more involved, the book begins to deal with the lives of the main characters and it becomes a love story. This is definitely a book you won't be able to put down!

The back cover says this is "an irresistible page-turner of forbidden love on the wild plains of East Africa." This novel is FAR more than a love story! (The love story doesn't begin until page 330!) I was drawn in after reading three pages. The descriptions of the Maasai, the wildlife, and the Kihara Gorge area all contributed to a strong sense of place. The multi-layered plot kept my interest throughout. I agree that is is "an irresistible page turner."

This book has it all; mystery, history, jealously,murder and a love story. I learned about Kenya working toward independence and about archaeology. The character development is fantastic and the story grabs you from page one.
The ending isn't what I expected. Wow. This is a great read!