Into the Fire

Sibella Giorello’s three prequels in A Raleigh Harmon Mystery series take the reader back to the youthful Raleigh before she’s grown into FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon. Designed for the YA market, these novels appeal equally to adult readers who embraced the five books in the original A Raleigh Harmon Novel series. Stone and Snow is Book Two.

Young Raleigh exists in a world of a mentally ill mom who insists Raleigh (who she’s taken to calling “Ray”) is not her daughter, a rebellious older sister (Helen) in college who comes home for breaks but escapes as often as possible to hang out at bars, a father (who is a Judge) devoted to his wife and striving to stabilize their home life in the midst of total chaos. Adding to the sadness and instability, Raleigh’s best friend Drew endured a terrible ordeal in Stone and Spark (the first novel in this series) and has never fully recovered, exhibiting severe OCD tendencies. Mix in the angst and drama of first love and Raleigh’s life is extreme.

When a school friend dies in a car crash that is ruled a suicide, Drew will not accept it. Not wanting to placate Drew, Raleigh’s loyalty to her friend leads her to geology, where her interests and knowledge have proven helpful to her and others. Learning something new about their deceased friend spurs Raleigh on in her daring investigation.

Sibella captures the abject sorrow, the gutsy determination, and the extreme loyalty of the young Raleigh Harmon. Life’s blows have given her a bit of a cynical attitude, but she pursues what she believes is right in spite of potential consequences. She’s a brave, tender-hearted girl who’s been forced into an emotional survival mode which makes her defiant among those who view themselves as superior.

There is real sadness in Raleigh’s life, and it’s difficult to watch what happens to her. Sibella knows just when to lighten up and give the reader a dose of laugh out loud humor or a romantic moment. Superbly written with deeply constructed characters and a complex plot, Stone and Snow is a near flawless read.

Father, you know the heartbeat of our souls. I pray you would continue to direct Sibella to where you want her to go, show her exactly what you want her to do, and keep her safe from all harm along the way. Bless her, Lord. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.