Into the Fire

In Book Three of the prequels to the Raleigh Harmon Mystery Series (which features the adult FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon) we see Raleigh at almost 16 years old headed out with her weird Aunt Charlotte in her aunt's ancient Volvo to participate in a billionaire's science contest with four other contestants on Ocracoke Island. And although these are labeled YA, they're clearly up to the reading standards of adults who love the writing and stories of Sibella Giorello.

The last one to arrive at the contest gathering due to the breakdown of the old Volvo and rescue from the ferry by the billionaire himself (Bill Brogan), Raleigh's vulnerability and insecurity amp up, her belief that her best friend Drew should be the one present here, but since Drew's experience depicted in Stone and Spark, the first prequel, Drew has become even more of a genius recluse.

To disrupt the contest one of the female contestants (Cady) is found unconscious buried in the sand. She's taken to the hospital. Brogan decides the remaining four must work as two teams, two guys and two gals, to determine the scientific answer to his proposed question about the island dune grasses offering to double the prize to $100K.

Nothing fires up Raleigh's inquisitive nature like an unsolved puzzle involving geology, her specialty. So many questions arise about how and why the girl Cady came to be buried in the sand that her discovery about the sand used in the burial takes her away from answering the question about the dune grasses. Her partner Lanette, another quirky genius, seems to be onto an answer concerning the dune grasses, but Raleigh pursues her questions about the two kinds of sand which in no way should be mixed together according to an old flame of her brilliant, paralyzed science teacher back home.

Complicating all of it is one of the other contestants' blue eyes and easy drawl. "Tex" (aka Marcus) is smooth and charming but also kind and troubled, and Raleigh is drawn to him in spite of herself, even after seeing him where he doesn't figure to be.

Sibella's writing is compelling, her characterizations superb, the dialogue fully engaging, and the story fascinating. If you have no interest in geology and can't muster any, this might not be the novel for you because there is plenty of technical information about minerals. I found it informative and necessary to the story, but some might not think so.

Stone and Sand offers the usual Giorello intrigue mixed with insightful revelations from a young Raleigh who's growing up with a mentally ill mother, an agoraphobic OCD best friend, a new-age aunt, and the emotional experience of meeting a young man who hides his sorrows in his blue, blue eyes. There are profound moments in this story of young brilliance, conniving greed, supernatural poppycock, and serious science. The end brought real tears.

Raleigh's faith stays inherent in her character but is understated throughout the story.

Highly recommend this series from prequels and beyond.

Father, my prayer is that you would continue to give Sibella many stories just for her to write, that her gifted writing would be rewarded. I pray you would minister to her for what she needs, keep her safe from all harm, and may everything she does to honor you be richly blessed. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.