The Stones Cry Out

Winner of the Christy Award for Best First Novel!

"Every once in awhile a book comes along that you want to share with everyone you know. The Stones Cry Out is one of those. With three-dimensional characters who could be your neighbors, fascinating forensic geology tidbits, and a rich attention to details, The Stones Cry Out is easily one of 2007's most compelling novels."
—C.J. Darlington, Titletrakk.com

Read the full review and more praise

When nobody talks... the stones cry out.

During a rally in the searing heat of a Virginia summer, two men plummet from a building into the crowd below. The victims are a white police officer and a young black man with a troubled past. And though hundreds of people stood at the scene, nobody saw what happened. Or are they just not talking? FBI agent Raleigh Harmon, one of Richmond's own, has to solve the case—fast.

The Bureau wants a quick verdict, with or without the truth. But with tight-lipped witnesses, Raleigh must rely on her instincts and her training in forensic geology to uncover the facts. Working her connections with the city's powerful families and its seedy underbelly, Raleigh is determined to see justice prevail. Will she solve the case before the growing racial unrest rages out of control? Or will her choices ultimately bring down everyone involved—including Raleigh herself?

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Buy the ebook:

Kindle Edition
Running Girl Productions, March 2011, ASIN: B004QGYURS

Reviews

Special agent Raleigh Harmon has just been assigned a civil rights case her supervisor wants closed yesterday. A white male police detective and a black man with a shady past died when they fell off a factory roof during a "Parade for the People" rally two days prior. The city of Richmond has become divided by color before the facts are even known. The police stand by their man, the African American community by theirs. And if there were witnesses, they're not talking. Especially to the FBI.

What really happened on that factory roof? Why were the men together in the first place? Is it really an open and shut case? Raleigh isn't sure. Despite the surmounting odds, she's determined to dig down to the truth, because to a forensic geologist the stones do indeed cry out.

Nominated twice for a Pulitzer Prize, Sibella Giorello has already proven she's a gifted non-fiction writer. But with the publication of The Stones Cry Out, Giorello can now add "gifted novelist" to her resume. Her skillful use of language has created a unique novel that smacks of quality. More than once I found myself awed by her vivid word pictures.

Falling somewhere between plot-driven and character-driven, Stones mixes the sparse writing style of a beat reporter with the attention to detail you'd expect from an artist. Take this description for example: "Her sleeveless housedress exposes large black arms, where deltas of stretch marks flow like sandy estuaries to her elbows." I could literally "see" this character, and Giorello wields this astute word crafting ability throughout the book.

Set in Richmond, Virginia, the city is accurately portrayed, even down to the murder statistics. Life and death's gritty realities aren't glossed over either. Rather than spoil the situation, let's just say I found one scene startlingly frank. But Giorello is never gratuitous. The Stones Cry Out is about real-life. Her prose reflects that. And since its spiritual message is more subtle than overt, it's a great crossover candidate.

Raleigh Harmon is a refreshing addition to Christian fiction's leading ladies. She's strong and independent, but not Wonder Woman—the type of person who could chat with you over coffee one minute, and protect your back the next. Her struggles become your struggles, her keen observations drive you to read on. And while the novel could have been a third longer (I felt cheated a few times when a new chapter skipped ahead in time), its lean storyline is complete and satisfying.

Every once in awhile a book comes along that you want to share with everyone you know. The Stones Cry Out is one of those. With three-dimensional characters who could be your neighbors, fascinating forensic geology tidbits, and a rich attention to details, The Stones Cry Out is easily one of 2007's most compelling novels.

—C.J. Darlington, Titletrakk.com

"With a riveting story line, fascinating forensic science, and a pungent portrayal of the grimy side of Richmond, Virginia, The Stones Cry Out holds the reader in its powerful grip until the very last word. Sibella Giorello writes like a seasoned pro. No mystery lover should pass up this novel."
—Fred Chappell, author of I Am One of You Forever

"In an exceptionally skillful debut, Sibella Giorello brings to life forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon, a heroine who is surefooted in grisly crime scenes but feeling her way along the intertwining paths of life, love, and faith. Readers will follow her eagerly through this adventure and hope for more to come."
—Ann McMillan, author of Civil Blood

"Sibella Giorello writes from the heart without leaving her head behind—which is what makes her writing so strong, so memorable. She's gutsy, funny, and meticulous, with an eye for the real story, the profound connections."
—Phyllis Theroux

"This novel was such a great pleasure to read. It's riveting, intelligent, and peopled beautifully with characters I will never forget. Giorello presents a quiet, steady (perhaps even iron-clad!) depiction of people of faith. Beautifully written and a pleasure to read."
—Augusta Troubaugh