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School Ship Tobermory Books in Order

Part ofAlexander McCall Smith Books in Order

Browse the School Ship Tobermory books in order by Alexander McCall Smith, with short summaries, series background, and where to begin.

Last updated: January 16, 2026

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Publication Order

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4 books

1

The Secret of the Dark Waterfall

by Alexander McCall Smith

2019

A mystery linked to a dangerous waterfall pulls young investigators into a case with hidden motives and staged appearances. Using observation and courage, they follow the trail through a colorful world where every person seems to be performing.

2

The Race to Kangaroo Cliff

by Alexander McCall Smith

2019

Ben and Fee MacTavish sail with the School Ship Tobermory to Australia for a tall ships race, but the trip turns into a rescue mission. When the ship’s dog disappears, the search leads into bigger danger than anyone expected.

3

The Sands of Shark Island

by Alexander McCall Smith

2016

Ben and Fee MacTavish sail with the School Ship Tobermory to the Caribbean, where modern-day pirates threaten the crew. As they learn more about their captain’s past, the students must use teamwork and wits to escape real danger.

4

School Ship Tobermory

by Alexander McCall Smith

2015

Ben and Fee MacTavish join a school aboard a ship, where lessons happen at sea and problems are never far away. When trouble strikes, the students must work together, using courage and quick thinking to stay safe.

Series background & context

School Ship Tobermory is a middle-grade adventure series set on a floating school. The main characters, including siblings Ben and Fee MacTavish, live and learn aboard the Tobermory, which sails from Scotland and takes its students into situations that feel bigger than ordinary school life.

The books balance shipboard routines with real adventure. There are classes, friendships, and the daily work of keeping a vessel running, but there are also rescues, mysteries, and brushes with danger. The stakes are exciting, yet the tone stays readable and reassuring.

Travel is a big part of the series. The ship’s journeys carry the characters far from home, and each destination brings its own problems, unfamiliar people, unexpected storms, and the occasional threat from modern-day pirates. The young characters have to think quickly, work together, and take responsibility when adults cannot solve everything for them.

It is a sea story that moves.

If you want to follow the arc, start with School Ship Tobermory and continue in order through the later adventures. The books build on the same cast and deepen the friendships and rivalries along the way.

This series is a good fit for readers who like travel, ships, and mysteries with a clear moral center. The action keeps things brisk, but the stories are also about courage, loyalty, and how a group of kids can become a crew.

Edited by

Richard Reis

Software engineer whose passion for tracking book recommendations from podcasts inspired the creation of MRB.

Anurag Ramdasan

Lead investor at 3one4 Capital whose startup expertise and love for books helped shaped MRB and its growth.

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4 School Ship Tobermory Books in Order (Complete List 2026)