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Sibella Giorello
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Stone and Spark: Book 1 (The Raleigh Harmon Prequel Mysteries) Kindle Edition

by Sibella Giorello (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 660 ratings

During the worst week of her life, Raleigh Harmon discovers her destiny.

Her best friend is a smart-mouthed genius girl named Drew Levinson. But Drew is gone. Nowhere to be found. Everybody insists Drew ran away. But Raleigh suspects something worse.

Armed with one rock hammer, an encyclopedic knowledge of city criminal codes, and a stubborn streak wide as the Chesapeake Bay, Raleigh searches for clues.

  • Did Drew secretly meet somebody?
  • Did her loony parents finally push her over the edge?
  • Or is Raleigh’s hunch dead-on: Drew didn’t choose to leave….

The first book in the best-selling Raleigh Harmon mystery series, Stone and Spark introduces the girl who will grow up to become a forensic geologist and FBI agent—provided she survives her high school years.

Praise for the Raleigh Harmon series

“Read her for her wonderfully descriptive prose, her killer plots or her well-drawn characters, but read her. You’ll come away enriched in deep and plentiful ways.”—The Richmond Times-Dispatch



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  1. Print length
    325 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Accessibility
    Learn more
  4. Publication date
    9 Nov. 2015
  5. Reading age
    14 - 18 years
  6. Grade level
    8 - 12
  7. File size
    2.9 MB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

About the Author

Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska bundled for warmth and fascinated by mountains and rocks. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she wrote newspaper stories that earned two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her family and their very spoiled pets. Contact her at www.sibellawrites.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B017TBS9W8
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Running Girl Productions
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 9 Nov. 2015
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 325 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0692568941
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 - 18 years
  • Customer reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 660 ratings

About the author

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Sibella Giorello

Sibella Giorello

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After riding a motorcycle across the United States, Sibella Giorello wrote features for the Richmond News Leader and the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Virginia's largest daily paper. Her stories earned two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize among other national awards. She now writes the bestselling mystery series featuring forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon. The first book in the series, "The Stones Cry Out," won a Christy Award for best first novel. The long-running series now includes a prequel series in which 15-year-old Raleigh Harmon learns how to use mineralogy to solve crime. Amazon Studios has optioned the YA series for four movies.

Contact Sibella through her website, www.sibellawrites.com. Or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SibellaGiorelloAuthor

RALEIGH HARMON P.I. MYSTERIES

The Waves Break Gray, Book 1

The Moon Stands Still, Book 2

The Wind Will Howl, Book 3

RALEIGH HARMON PREQUEL (Y.A.) MYSTERY SERIES

Stone and Spark, Book 1

Stone and Snow, Book 2

Stone and Sand, Book 3

Stone and Sunset, Book 4

RALEIGH HARMON FBI MYSTERIES

The Stones Cry Out #1

The Rivers Run Dry

The Clouds Roll Away

The Mountains Bow Down

The Stars Shine Bright

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
660 global ratings

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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Lydia
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A real treat and fantastic (re)introduction into the life and mind of Raleigh Harmon. Sibella Giorello is a true artist, she writes with flair, wit and wisdom, inviting us on an adventure.
    Drew, Raleigh's best friend has disappeared and once you've started you not be satisfied until you know the where's and whys. A gripping read - highly recommended for everyone who loves a good read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • jenners
    4.0 out of 5 stars A Slow Burn....
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first 'Raleigh Harmon' book I've read, I chose it from the Kindle list partly due to the reviews. It was a good read but didn't become a proper page turner until too close to the end. I enjoyed the story and may read more in the series.
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  • lisa Fitzpatrick
    5.0 out of 5 stars Stone and Spark
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I utterly loved everything about this book.
    The friendship the two girls had reminded me of one friend I hold dear.
    Unputdownable and totally brilliant plot...on now to book 2 ...Stone and Snow..
    Never read the author before but glad I have now.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mule
    3.0 out of 5 stars Ok
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 July 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Good book
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  • ,
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Very good. really enjoyed it. cannot wait for another from the same author.
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Witty
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 March 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Witty.
    Clever writing.
    Interesting plot.
    Excellent description of friendship.
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  • Mrs. J. Knight
    5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Really enjoyed this book just the right amount of suspense
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  • EllieWC
    2.0 out of 5 stars No Spark for me
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 April 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Raleigh is a 14 year old girl, possibly with Aspergers, but who has a friend who may also have Aspergers or they are both somewhere on the spectrum.. but her friend definitely has OCD in a big way.

    They at the extreme end of the socialisation spectrum and Raleigh has an obsession for Geology and goes into some very strange, and rather dangerous places to find samples of soil and rock to consider hypotheses.

    Raleigh’s friend runs off and only Raleigh believes that in fact she was kidnapped as she recognises elements of her friend’s apparent behaviour that do nto chime with her OCD behaviour.

    I anted to read this book bev]cause of the aspergers element which I thought was interesting and should help the plot as they tend to be obsessive about the smallest points and thus clues would not miss them.

    But.

    I tried twice. The first time I got to 15% and stopped.

    The second time I got a little further – 35%. But again failed to drum up the enthusiasm to continue.

    Perhaps I am the wrong audience?
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Loved every word
    Reviewed in Canada on 21 November 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Stone and Spark is riveting. I read it all within 24 hours, despite heavy jet lag, because I could barely put it down!

    The book is so engagingly written and gets you right into the story so quickly that reading it seems effortless. I enjoy YA, but I think this book holds appeal for adults even if you don't normally read the genre. It also gives a glimpse into the Upper Class culture of the South through the eyes of someone who doesn't feel she belongs and does a great job of relaying the effects on a teen of dealing with a mentally ill parent. I also love how Sibella works in the character's Christian worldview not in a preachy way, but a human one, as Raleigh questions what she has been taught in context with her life--a normal process not just for teens but throughout our lives, regardless of belief structure. Plus, Sibella has an amazing way of putting words together--I was constantly highlighting (in my Kindle) favourite turns of phrase. So great.
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  • Nicole Petrino-Salter
    5.0 out of 5 stars The answers in . . . Stone and Spark
    Reviewed in the United States on 25 March 2014
    Verified Purchase
    The prequel to the Raleigh Harmon Mysteries has arrived. All of you who love Sibella Giorello's writing will certainly not be disappointed to read Stone and Spark which introduces us to 15 year old Raleigh Harmon and the situation with her best friend, young genius and physics devotee, Drew Levinson. This is the stark account of the origination of Raleigh's love for geology, taught to her by the paraplegic teacher she calls Teddy - except in front of her southern gentleman father who is also a judge - and the development of her innate investigative skills inspired by her love of rock and earth.

    Raleigh and Drew have a few things in common, but the prominent factor is their difficult home life. Raleigh's mother is mentally ill and floats in and out of lucidity, but mostly stays out, as Raleigh's dad does his best to avoid a strained and stress-filled balancing act in their home - without succeeding. Drew's mom is a divorced, self-absorbed, work-governed, position-climber by weekday, drunk on the weekend, parent while her dad is no less a self-absorbed, now banker-turned-free-spirit starving artist. So as best friends who forged their friendship from various feelings of alienation from the social-climbing twits at their private school and from their different kinds of intelligence, Raleigh and Drew meet every Friday evening at a former Atlanta Braves player's little burger joint for the staple of teen meals: burgers and shakes. Whoever arrives first earns a free milkshake from the owner Titus.

    When Raleigh beats Drew to their hangout for the first time after securing a surprise to show Drew, Raleigh's elation soon fades to suspicion and doubt when Drew fails to show. After leaving the restaurant to go to Drew's house, she finds Drew's mother Jayne there, drunk, but no Drew. From this moment on Raleigh is determined to find her best friend based on everything she's learned about Drew and from her young instincts as to Drew's behaviors.

    Raleigh's relentless pursuit and her rock-solid belief that her friend is in trouble convinces almost no one that Drew hasn't decided to just disappear to get much-needed attention. A few even believe Raleigh is involved in the conspiracy.

    In this story we see and feel the tremendous burden and pain of a young girl, who should be enjoying discovering her skills and allowing herself the comfort and thrill of young romance, enduring an intense conflict with her mom's multiple faces of mental illness which cause her and her dad to guard every word, every action, almost every thought in their home. Raleigh feels she doesn't matter much in the heirarchy, especially since her mom always refers to Raleigh's older sister Helen (away at college) with such favor and looks at Raleigh with constant suspicion.

    Raleigh's moral dilemmas face mounting challenges as her faith in God wears thin. Drew is missing, and the police seem handcuffed by unconvinced parents as to Drew's whereabouts. Raleigh's perseverance takes her into dangerous places physically, emotionally, and spiritually, but she won't give up the hunt. She runs, she bikes, in the cold dark after-midnight hours searching, escaping, finding, and fleeing. Risking it all for the friend she needs to prove her worth, to share her pain. To rescue each other.

    Sibella's writing continues to be at a high level, an inspiring example to those of us who write. Her wit, intelligence, and the perfectly organic presentation of faith remind us what Christian novels are supposed to be. This is a meaningful story of love and loss, mystery and mayhem, determination and devotion, all meshed together in a picture of a young girl's heart struggling with each one.

    I'm a sap - that's no surprise - but there are a couple of emotional scenes in Stone and Spark which will gnaw at your gut and if you don't have Raleigh's practiced control, you will cry.

    Stone and Spark by Sibella Giorello, published by Cool Gus Publishing, is a beautiful but painful story of the young Raleigh Harmon. A quick read that drives you to the next page but one you don't want to come to an end in spite of the hurt, the tears, the struggle . . . because you recognize Sibella has caught life in her words, and those words just won't let you go.

    An absolute must read for lovers of mysteries and one of today's finest and superbly written characters: Raleigh Harmon.

    I rarely give books five stars, but this novel deserves every one of them.
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  • Caryl A Dineen
    4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on 6 February 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Great suspense!
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  • Jacqui Corn-Uys
    4.0 out of 5 stars A can-do attitude gets it done...
    Reviewed in the United States on 1 November 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Stone and Spark tells the first part of Raleigh’s story and gives you an insight as to what she experienced as a youngster which influenced her career decisions later on. The prequel series is YA based, leading to a more adult series as she joins the FBI.

    Raleigh’s best friend Drew is missing. Yes, she has run away once before but this is different. For one thing, her bike is still at the school, and the lock holding it in place has been looped incorrectly and not reset to zero. Anyone who knows Drew knows this is not right. Drew is smart; super-smart, and is a stickler for statistics and things in their right places. When Drew doesn’t pitch up for her lunch meeting with Raleigh at Titus’s burger place, Raleigh knows something is wrong. But the more she tries to convince the adults around her, the more they don’t believe her. Her dad has enough on his plate, being a judge by day and her mother’s keeper the rest of the time. Drew’s mom lives in a bottle and Drew’s dad doesn’t care. Raleigh decides to play detective and is helped by her Geology teacher to look for clues beyond the obvious. To find signs where there should be none. So with just a rock hammer, a decent knowledge of the law, and a can-do attitude, Raleigh is determined to find Drew. The odds are against her – but when has that ever stopped her?

    Having downloaded this as a free book and never read any of the Raleigh Harmon series, I was pleasantly surprised. While not featured a lot in the book, I loved Drew’s smarty pants character and the fact that no matter what others thought of her, that she was true to herself. Raleigh was a very interesting character. The number of times she snuck out of the house or did something she was told not to do was astounding. It served her well later, but I’m sure her dad was pushed to the limit. Her mother’s mental health issues and the effects that her medication had on her must have been very scary for Raleigh. To be constantly accused of not being her daughter, to not knowing which side of her mom was out must really have taken a toll. I liked the way that baseball played an integral part in the story, and how it weaved the burger place (with its side story) to the quarry to the character of DeMott. I would like to have known a lot more about DeMott but I guess that is brought up in other stories. Bar the Geology teacher; the staff in her school were awful – so disrespectful and condescending. About halfway through you start to figure out where the story is going, only to find out you were completely wrong. I really liked the twists and turns.

    A very well-written and easy to read book with interesting characters and an exciting story. The bonus was that I learnt a heck of a lot about geology too! Definitely recommended.
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  • Bruce Judisch
    5.0 out of 5 stars Where is that sixth star when you need one?
    Reviewed in the United States on 9 August 2014
    Verified Purchase
    I have no idea how they did this, but both Sibella and Raleigh have set the bar even higher with "Stone and Spark." Followers of the "Raleigh Harmon Mystery" series know exactly what I mean--or will when they've finished this latest release.

    When I heard Sibella was going to dip back into Raleigh's childhood, my first thought was, "How on earth is she going to pull *that* off?" She'd developed Raleigh's adult character so deeply, how could she possibly undergird it with backstory to any degree of empathic success? Silly me. Sibella Giorello could describe the magmatic activity that produced the Petersburg Batholith, and her prose would bring tears of pathos to the geology student's eyes. (In fact, she's probably actually done this at one time or another...) The simple answer--if there really is one--is that it's not really backstory; it's just story, really good story, that thrives on its own even with no hint of an inevitable future.

    I recommended S&S to a friend, who, when she read the synopsis, asked, "So, this is YA (young adult fiction)?" My immediate reaction was, "No, of course not ... well, I suppose it could be ... but then not really." I was reminded of those wonderful classic Warner Brother's cartoons (think Bugs Bunny) that, while they held fun for kids, also--even mostly--held myriad nuances and undertones only adults would appreciate. Sure, in this series Raleigh is a high-schooler, but if you were only to download it to your kid's Kindle you'd be doing yourself an immeasurable disservice. No mistake, your YA will totally get into Raleigh, DeMott, and Tinsley, but you will even more so, because there *is* so much more.

    So, no surprise then when I conclude with "highly recommended"? Seems so inadequate--kind of like Five Stars does.
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