When Raleigh Harmon, geologist and special agent for the FBI, is suddenly transferred from the Richmond field office to Seattle, she finds herself in strange territory. The Pacific Northwest has a whole different pace than the South does, her new boss seems determined to prove she can't handle the work, and she's desperately trying to keep her mother's sanity from crumbling altogether. But a missing hiker, a ransom note, an underground card game, and a "friend" with deadly intentions all ensure that there's no time for an easy transition. Raleigh will need all her skills and a little help-to keep the missing girl and herself alive.
When a routine case turns deadly, forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon finds her career on the rocks and her life at stake.
Special Agent Raleigh Harmon is good at her job, but not as good at bureau politics. As one of the few females on the team, she finds herself in a strange land when she’s transferred from Richmond to drought-stricken Seattle. When a hiker suddenly goes missing and a ransom note arrives, Raleigh realizes there’s no time for transitions. Vowing to find the missing college girl, she must rely on her forensic geology skills to uncover the truth, leaving no stone unturned.
Gritty and poetic, with an evocative sense of place, a quirky cast of characters, a fast-twisting plot, and a compelling, complicated heroine, this superbly crafted mystery will keep you reading compulsively as hope runs short, the clock runs down, and the rivers run dry.
Have you ever wanted to be a FBI agent or solve a crime? In The Rivers Run Dry by Sibella Giorella, readers have an opportunity to live vicariously through agent Raleigh Harmon. Raleigh is part of the FBI Violent Crimes Unit as she searches for Courtney, the missing daughter of a wealthy couple, protects a federal witness, Felicia, and inwardly continues to deal with the unsolved murder of her own father. Using her geology degree, she gathers evidence and uses her knowledge of rock formations to try to solve the kidnapping.
Second Corinthians 1:3-4 says “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” We see this illustrated by Raleigh as she later works to get Felicia into rehab so that she can reclaim her children, and as she offers comfort to Courtney’s Mom. Readers also find Raleigh’s mom reaching out to the homeless, further demonstrating this verse.
In The Rivers Run Dry, Giorella develops her characters so that readers are able to feel for them and understand them. The action is good and the undercurrents real. My only critique is that I feel the descriptions were often wordy. Some may like that, but I feel “bogged down” by wordiness.
It is a good, relaxing read for adult women, and one that will keep you there to see “Who done it.” But hang on for the sudden turn near the end! – Linda Demorest, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
Author and journalist Giorello, whose Christy award–winning debut novel, The Stones Cry Out, made a splash in the evangelical Christian literary community, offers another crisply written crime story featuring Raleigh Harmon, the female geologist turned FBI agent. Agent Harmon is transferred from Richmond to Seattle, disciplined for not following orders. She arrives in Seattle with no sure footing and must quickly adapt to the unfamiliar as she begins the search for a missing wealthy young woman, with no choice but to trust her instincts. But there are distractions: her mom's sanity is iffy, her aunt has clairvoyant friends, and a whole host of fellow officers Harmon can't quite trust yet. As the search intensifies, so does the pressure, and Harmon keenly feels the strain of remaining an unemotional agent while coming into intimate contact with evil personified. With great attention to detail, gritty descriptions and fast-paced action, Giorello's tale of suspense is a sure bet. (Mar.)Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information.
Average Rating: 4 out of 5 stars(4 out of 5 stars)
8 of 8 Reviews Showing:
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Phyllis L. Labine (Wagener, SC), July 30, 2009
I really enjoyed this book and I think anyone who likes to read will enjoy it. But I feel it showed that they didn't like women who were with any police force of any kind at all. They think women can't do the job and do it right. Some can and some can't. It was a great book. Thank you for it and God bless all that read it.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Christie (Paraguay, South America), June 25, 2009
This book was a mystery of sorts, with a very believable heroine named Raleigh Harmon. I identified with Raleigh on several points, not the least of which was as a Southern woman displaced from her cultural roots. The plot of this twister unfolded slowly enough to keep me guessing, but not so slowly that I got bored. Raleigh is an FBI agent working on a couple of criminal cases and her own personal woes, all the while adjusting to a new life far from home.
I liked how real Raleigh seemed, with flaws and skeletons in the closet, and how the story told in the first person reflected Raleigh's personality and point-of-view. I also liked how the plot developed in an unpredictable way. I had some clues to the bad guys, but not too early, and not as a definite thing.
This is classified as Christian fiction, but Raleigh's faith isn't an overt thing. No one's throwing a lot of religious cliches around or acting holier-than-thou, which I appreciated. I got the feeling that the main character's faith stabilized her often chaotic life, but I never had to read those words, per se. This is apparently the second novel with the same Raleigh Harmon, so hopefully there are more to come. Any of you southern belles get a chance, spend a couple rainy days with this one!
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Deborah (Reston, VA), June 23, 2009
This was the first book I've read by this author and I will admit I was highly impressed with it. I liked Raleigh's character very much. She's very no nonsense and is a strong female lead. I really liked her name as it's unique and Southern. Her character is not very feminine, there were times when I honestly forgot she was female. Since it was in first person, the reader sees things the way Raleigh does and she doesn't really give off any hints that give away her femininity. There's not really any romantic subplots in this book, which was fine by me. I was glad the mystery was main plot of the book. The suspense build up was done very well, and the storyline felt like it was a good plot for a TV show. I also liked how Raleigh used her geology expertise to help solve the mystery. It's very nice to see a detective be smart and resourceful and not fall into the trap of being stereotyped.
If there was any qualms in the book, I would have to say it is the ending. To me, it felt like it happened rather abruptly and out of the blue. All of a sudden everything was explained and all loose ends tied up without warning. It felt like sort of a let down to just have it end the way it did. I wasn't expecting that ending but at the same time it felt like a predictable bit to explain things. Other than that, I did enjoy reading this book. Even though it's Christian fiction, it's not preachy at all. The characters do attend church, but it's not in your face and it's actually almost an afterthought in the book. Overall the story has strong characters and an interesting plot that makes for a very good read. I am looking forward to going back and reading Giorello's previous book which featured Raleigh and also to any future books by her.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by breezie (Rochester, NY), June 21, 2009
An outstand ing follow-up of the Stones Cry Out. Special Agent Raleigh Harmon, is a charachter that I found easy to like and enjoyed reading about her flaws, desires, and her enjoyment of her job. Who would think that looking at dirt could be so exciting. I highly recommend her book and can't wait for the next one.
5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Terri Haynes (Fort Washington, MD), June 09, 2009
The Christian fiction scene is changing so rapidly that it's easy to discover a new writer you love. This is the case with Sibella Giorgello. Even though The Rivers Run Dry is the second book in the series, it didn't feel like it (which completely impressed me). I normally can't jump into a series without reading the first book first.
I think the thing that impressed me the most about this novel is how well it was written. Giorello doesn't add an ounce of fluff to her narratives and descriptions, but they are powerful and moving. I enjoy her writing for the same reason I like Earnest Hemingway: they both employ a minimalistic style.
This novel has all the making of a great suspense novel. The ticking clock, the troubled detective and setbacks. Sibello also gets cool points for the main character, Raleigh Harmon, being a forensic geologist and the relationship she has with her boss is quite entertaining. Also, the all the characters, not just the main characters, are memorable and draw you deeper into the story, especially the stranger ones. And best of all, I didn't guess who the bad guy but once it was revealed, it made sense. I love it when an author cleverly hides the clues in plain sight throughout the book. Suspense should be unpredictable but logical and this book meets that requirement.
Normally I end my reviews with saying that I can't wait to read the next book, but in this case, I'm looking forward to reading her first book, The Stones Cry Out and her next book.
3.5 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Melissa Avesian (U.S.), April 18, 2009
Depending on what you’re searching for in your next fiction read, you will most likely either love or hate Sibella Giorello’s latest work.
The Rivers Run Dry, by Sibella Giorello is definitely not “predictable” Christian fiction. This story isn’t neatly wrapped in scripture references and inspirational sayings.
The twists and turns of each chapter coupled with a fast moving plot, motivate the reader to keep turning the pages.
Giorello’s main character, Raleigh Harmon, (FBI Special Agent) finds herself transferred across the country and in the middle of a missing persons case. As she battles homesickness and the difficult Jack Stephanson as her training agent, Raleigh has to learn how to compete in a “man’s world” and prove her competence as an agent.
As the plot thickens and the suspense builds, Raleigh is suddenly running for her life from a corrupt state trooper who goes from co-worker, to kidnapper. Drugged and taken into the woods, Raleigh has to literally fight for her life. Sibella Giorello combines suspense and mystery with interesting characters that ebb and flow and add a variety of surprises to the storyline.
The end of the story leaves you hanging in all the right places – good luck putting this one down!
3 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Tim George (Pensacola FL), April 13, 2009
This sophomore novel from Sibella Giorello is a gritty and fast paced suspense novel full of forensic details. The character of Raliegh Harmon is most interesting and the author does a good job of enabling the reader to look through her eyes. While there is much to like about this novel, I also found myself having to set it down at times and start over the next day: not because it was dull but because it simply lost me at times. Perhaps it was just me but I don't think so. Pacing in fiction is very important and The Rivers Run Dry just doesn't quite have that down.
4 out of 5 stars
Reviewed by Sarah Katie (Dallas, TX), April 07, 2009
I enjoyed Sibella Giorello's writing. She's descriptive, but also is discerning with just how much she describes. The Rivers Run Dry is the 2nd book about this character (Raleigh Harmon) by this author. Though it's not exclusively part of a series, it would have helped me to have read the previous Raleigh Harmon book, The Stones Cry Out before starting this book. I was introduced to the characters pretty abruptly for not having met them before, but it would not have been a problem had I already known the people I was reading about.
Raleigh is a smart FBI agent, but she's not a hardened "tough" heroine. Giorello made her personable and likable without the character's edge being lost. This is a great Mystery/ Suspense novel, I thought it might turn out one way and then the author completely blew my theory out of the water! Several different plots and scenarios made it hard for me to follow the storyline at first, but once i got fully into the story, it was no longer a hindrance to my reading. I'm finding out that the more and more I read books of this genre the more I like it.
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