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The Stones Cry Out Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Sibella Giorello / Revell Reviewed by Gail WelbornGiorello writes like a seasoned, professional mystery writer, which makes this novel a pleasure to read.When two men mysteriously plunge to their deaths from the rooftop of an abandoned building, FBI agent Raleigh Harmon, joins Special Agent John Breit, to investigate. Was the "Parade for the People" rally in the sweltering and humid streets below merely coincidental, or was it somehow connected to the deaths? Or were the deaths race related? When the autopsy revealed no illegal or intoxicating substances in either man's system, that only left loss of balance as the cause of death. The outstanding question-who pushed whom, and why did one follow the other to their deaths? With more questions than answers, the city divided into near-riotous civil rights issues. Petty thief Hamal Holmes was black, and Detective Michael Falcon; decorated Richmond City police officer was white. While city officials demanded a civil rights investigation, the FBI wanted to close the case quickly. Richmond city's police department wasn't particularly interested in either event. However, Harmon refused to shut down the case as commanded. Instead she relied on her faith in God, her hard-earned expertise in forensics, and her instincts to ferret out the truth. She couldn't foresee the danger that would jeopardize her career and put her life at risk. Two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, from Washington state, and debut fiction author, Sibella Giorello, writes from her Southern background. She draws on prize winning journalism experience and forensic geology skills with the FBI to craft her story. Even with her background, she did extensive research with the FBI's materials analysis lab, to ensure The Stones Cry Out read like a true-to-life whodunit. Giorello writes like a seasoned, professional mystery writer, which makes this novel a pleasure to read. Her characters are realistic and gritty, yet genuine and human. The story line is compelling, the forensics fascinating and true-to-life. Disturbing crime scenes are only used to advance the plot. Written in first person, Giorello's strong writing is memorable. Her wording and sense of description is better than I've read in years. Already known as a top-notch nonfiction journalist, Giorello is a novelist to watch. |
About Gail Welborn |
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The Stones Cry Out Click title to read excerpt or buy from CBD.com By Sibella Giorello / Revell Reviewed by Laura HiltonTHE STONES CRY OUT is stellar.FBI agent Raleigh Harmon is assigned a civil rights investigation when a black man and a white police officer plummet from the top of an abandoned factory and fall to the sidewalk below. Both men are killed instantly, and even though the streets below were crowded, no one saw a thing. Raleigh is told to go in, discover that no one is willing to talk, write up her report and get it over with fast. They don't care if it's the truth or not, but something has to be done since it's racially dividing the city. Raleigh works her connection with the powerful members of the city, as well as the improvised underbelly, and finds that as predicted, no one will talk. Racial unrest is growing and could rage out of control. Will Raleigh be able to discover the truth? THE STONES CRY OUT is a debut novel by skilled author Sibella Giorello. The book is very tightly written, in fact, I thought the author would be male as the writing is "Just the facts, ma'am." No rabbit trails existed in this book. Written in first person, it took me a long time to figure out the main character's name. The heroine is a Christian, but she is very low key, partnered with a man who wants nothing to do with Christianity. I enjoyed one of the secondary characters who was very straight-forward and open with her faith, not caring who it offended. THE STONES CRY OUT is stellar and I completely enjoyed the book, the story, the setting, and the outcome. I hope to read more from this talented newcomer to publishing. |
About Laura Hilton |
Sibella Giorello, a former geologist, is a journalist based in Issaquah, Washington. A features reporter for the Richmond Times-Dispatch for fifteen years, Giorello has won several awards for her writing and has been nominated twice for the Pulitzer Prize. The Stones Cry Out is her first novel.
©2006-09
Susan Sleeman
Susan Sleeman
is the author of Nipped in the Bud, available May of 2009 from Heartsong Presents: Mysteries, an imprint of Barbour Publishing.
