Customer Reviews

The Mountains Bow Down (A Raleigh Harmon Novel)

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(26)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Raleigh Harmon is back and this time she's on an Alaskan cruise ship. Every girl needs a vacation right? But trouble follows Raleigh like calcium forms rocks. What should have been an opportunity to explore Alaska and hunt for rocks turns into a murder investigation. Then there are the problems with her mom and cousin. And don't forget her love life. This book has more points to it than one of the unique Star of David rocks she finds.

The author is a gifted writer, spinning words into a web that is lyrical and engaging. I even had to grab the dictionary for one word that she later explained. But she uses words in a beautiful way to paint pictures and make Raleigh a truly unique character that I've come to love. I'm already eager to read the fourth book in the series and go back to book one. Each book in the series stands alone, but has enough ties to prior books to keep someone who loves a series engaged without losing new readers.

And the spiritual threads in this book are poignant. I loved this book.

The mountains bow down (a Raleigh Harmon novel) written by Sibella Giorello is absolutely THE best book so far that she has written. As she works to juggle personal life, work life and unraveling the mystery before her Raleigh must answer many questions that will have a lasting effect on many of those around her. This book is very easy to read and follow. I could NOT put it down. The characters are well described and it's as if I was there on the ship with them.


I was very blessed to have gotten this book from [...]. I absolutely love this site and have NOT been disappointed in any of the books yet.

Sometimes there is a book that can really confuse you to read. You're simply not sure how to react to it. Did the book have a point, beyond event the story? And if so, did it make that point? Was the point real? Or just tacked on so the book can sell better?

To be honest, all of these questions swarmed around in my head as I was completing this novel. In *The Mountains Bow Down*, by Sibella Giorello, the above questions arose for me. In the story, the main character, Raleigh Harmon, is a mineralogist, a geologist who specializes in studying minerals, and she is an FBI agent. She has a somewhat complicated backstory that precedes this novel, but winds up as the story begins, on a cruise with her Mom, her Aunt Charlotte, and Charlotte's extremely eccentric friend, Claire.

Raleigh is hired to be the official FBI consultant on a film project taking place on the cruise ship. During the early part of the voyage, the wife of the movie's star winds up dead. From there, as they say, the mystery thickens.

Several threads are woven together in this book. From Raleigh's turbulent relationship with her fiance, to her strained relationship with her family. Her mother is always at the point of a psychological breakdown, while Aunt Charlotte and Claire are into ridiculous new agey garbage, that becomes increasingly a way to try to evade the enormous pain and loneliness that they feel.

At first, I was looking for an overt Christian message, but couldn't find one. I mulled over if this was good or not. Too many authors put in some evangelistic message to appear "Christian" for the publisher's check lists or whatever, but the message makes no sense with the plot. It sometimes seems like a "Now You Know" segment from the GI Joe cartoons I'd watch as I kid. About two-thirds of the way through the novel, Raleigh does, indeed, cry out to God for help.

I was somewhat taken aback by this, thinking the "Now You Know" had come after all, much to my disappointment. It *seemed* to come out of nowhere. As the story progressed, however, I found that I was wrong. Within the numerous plot elements, the story makes perfect sense.

We are shown how the heroine is unable and unwilling to condemn others when not angry, because of her numerous sins. We are also shown that perhaps, just perhaps, those who do that which we would normally consider ridiculous, rocks, and New Age stuff, are just as lonely and searching as the rest of us. To condemn their evil is a must, of course, for they dabble in what the Lord hates; but to show them love and a desire to help them is also a must. God holds out the hammer of His wrath to those who reject Him (as we all do as sinners), but He also holds out His arms as a loving Father to draw His children to Himself, if we will only turn from our sins and to Him.

In the end, this book did not fall into the trap of having a convenient Gospel message that seemed almost pointless in the structure of the story. There was no "Now You Know" segment here. There was a deep, thoughtful, engaging narrative, with fleshed-out characters and situations, as well as a deep Biblical message.

Of course, there is a romance. Didn't really think you'd avoid that one, now did you? ;) Thankfully, it is tastefully done, and is left open-ended for future books. There is so much more characterization about relationships, how people should and should not treat each other, and so forth. Plus the story is actually compelling, and a good mystery. I usually figure out the bad guy right away when I read a mystery. Here I didn't figure the bad guy out until near the end.

Were there deficiencies in the narrative? A few. The ending seemed a little rushed. Which was a disappointment. The clues were all there and developed patiently over the course of the story, so it seemed to me like the author was simply trying to cram all of this story into a limited page space. For that matter, the interactions of Raleigh, and her fiance, DeMott, made neither seem very sympathetic. I'm trying to decide if that was the point of the author in the first place, or not.

All that said, this book, while not Sherlock Holmes, is a delightful treat to read, with a positive and compelling Christian message about salvation and how to love and reach out to our enemies, with the hopes of winning them to the Lord. Recommended.

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I received this book for free from Thomas Nelson Publishers. I am obligated to read it and give a review on my blog and on a commercial web site such as Amazon.com. Thomas Nelson emphasizes their desire for honest reviews, whether positive or negative, in order to help them create a better product. The opinions above are my honest viewpoint. I want to thank Thomas Nelson Publishers for allowing me to review this book, and thank you all for reading this.

I couldn't wait to read this book cause I love a good mystery! And the setting was Alaska, a state my husband and I can't wait to visit!! So I started to read with great anticipation. First I find out that the main character, Raleigh Harmon, is newly engaged. But she has taken a vacation to Alaska to think about whether she really wants to marry this guy. The trip, by the way, is compliments of her Aunt Charlotte, who also invites a friend of hers and Raleigh's Mom. Come to find out, Raleigh's Mom does not know that her daughter is an FBI agent and also seems to border on Alzheimer disease. Then her Aunt believes that special rocks heal spiritual wounds and her Aunt's friend is a psychic. Okay, that's more information than I really care to sort through after just 2 pages. But I press on.

Okay, after we are told the ship takes a detour we find out a wife of a movie star onboard has committed suicide. Raleigh is quickly put on the case since the ship's captain knows she is an FBI agent. So we are introduced to Geert, the ship's head of security, who doesn't appear to be too intelligent. The dead woman's body is taken to the mortuary at Ketchikan where Raleigh finds her fears confirmed. This was not a suicide. Her boss calls her and tells her a co-worker named Jack is going to come help her with the case. Jack of course seems to be quite arrogant and taken with himself and also taken with other women, including Raleigh. But he does have some smarts about solving a murder mystery.

As a whole I did enjoy the book and loved the description of the Alaskan scenery. It had more bunny trails than I wanted to read about and that did kind of dampened the whole mystery theme of the book for me. But I may read her next book, just to see how the author continues the series.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon needed this vacation, but she sure didn't need to get stuck on a ship with 2,000 other people invading her personal space. She's nearly desperate to get into the Alaskan port of Ketchikan and take a hike in the most beautiful landscape she will likely ever see, finding rocks and minerals to add to her collection in this geologist's paradise. Then a trio of deep, bellowing sounds shatters the air and further wrecks her already stressful vacation; three long, deep horn blasts that signal the ship's return to sea. At their mercy, Raleigh watches her hopes for some time alone disappear just as fast as the Ketchikan coastline.

Before she has time to grieve the lost opportunity, the body of a woman presumed lost overboard is found hanging from the side of the ship, and despite the cruise line's official leap to a label of suicide, Raleigh's forensic experience is telling her that there are too many inconsistencies, too many problems with the scene and the evidence to assume the woman's death was anything but murder.

What had been intended as a family vacation with her ailing mother, her aunt, and her aunt's best friend has turned into a high-profile homicide investigation of the producer of the Hollywood film production that had hired her aunt to provide some spiritual assistance to the cast and crew. And as the ship returns to its scheduled route, Raleigh has to deal with the grim knowledge that though the suspect pool is limited to the crew and passengers, the secrets and lies swarming around the crime go deeper than the ocean on which they sail. And she has until the end of the cruise to solve the case before the murderer disembarks and disappears forever.

With a sweeping panorama painted by the words of a true authorial artist and a layered plot of mystery, family crisis, personal challenge, and tests of faith, Sibella Giorello brings readers into the life of Raleigh Harmon and delivers a solid mystery that was thoroughly entertaining. This is the first book I've read by Giorello, and I don't intend it to be my last, and frankly, that surprises me. For several reasons, some of which are personal, I'm not a fan of Christian fiction and I tend to avoid it, but I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads program before I realized it was Christian fiction.

To be completely honest, it was only out of a sense of obligation to rate and review it as part of that program that made me pick it up once I'd received it. Also to be completely honest, it was the first page that hooked me, and all the subsequent pages that kept me captivated, enthralled, and impressed.

I'm more than a little in love with both Giorello's writing style and her characters, who were all so wonderfully three dimensional and real. Raleigh is a character with the most interesting flaws, but she's also strong, fiercely intelligent, and dedicated to a job that occasionally tries her faith and pushes her into compromising her ethics. Her mother's mental illness weighs on her heart and the actions she takes to protect her mother...and herself...aren't always honest, but she owns them. She's occasionally surly, judgmental, and a bit hot tempered, and she's not exactly dealing with her fiance in the most emotionally mature ways, but she's got the admirable ability to look into herself and acknowledge her flaws. Even when she's not necessarily so willing to work on rectifying them. I found her refreshingly easy to relate to and completely sympathetic as a heroine, despite some differences in ideology. In fact, I just flat-out liked her. And I loved, loved, LOVED Jack.

I'm guessing Raleigh has had a few contentious run ins with Special Agent Jack Stephanson in previous books, because their chemistry had a weight and feel of history to it that speaks loudly of previous development. As I have every intention of continuing this series, I can only hope their relationship continues, because I'm a romantic at heart and I think Jack's much better suited for Raleigh than her childhood sweetheart, no matter how nice a guy he may or may not be. Maybe I'm biased because I started the series here, but the synchronicity between Jack and Raleigh is totally entertaining and made a good story even better. I was particularly happy with Jack in that he adds some touches of levity to the story, lighting up the occasionally too-serious Raleigh, and providing the opportunity for some wonderful witty repartee.

Admittedly, geology, rocks, and minerals aren't really my thing, so there were points in the story when my mind started to wander or the story dragged a bit when Raleigh was hitting the geological high points, and I do wish the suspense and mystery aspects of the plot had come with a few more suspenseful moments. I was deeply moved, though, by Raleigh's struggles with a mother who sees her as a villain, and sympathized with the feelings a child has when she realizes that she's been thrust into the role of being a parent for a parent. I was also deeply grateful that while Raleigh's faith was evident in places throughout the book, it was also quite obviously personal and subtle woven into everyday aspects of her life, seeming more genuine for it, and thankfully, totally lacking in proselytism.

I'm ever so glad to have made the mistake that brought me the gift of Giorello's deft and accomplished storytelling and got me hooked on Raleigh Harmon and her series of crime solving mysteries. I am thoroughly and anxiously looking forward to finding out what comes next for Raleigh, her family, her fiance, and of course, Jack.

Disclosure: This book was received for free through Goodreads First Reads for the purpose of an honest rating. All ratings, comments, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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One Good Book Deserves Another

Suspense books-inspirational genre or mainstream-do not get much better than Sibella Giorello's Raleigh Harmon series. I was first introduced to Sibella's work in December when I read The Clouds Roll Away, and what I stated in that review still stands true: Sibella Giorella is my queen of suspense writing. I read this book in one sitting, and at 369 pages in 8 hours, that is a testament to the riveting storyline.

The Mountains Bow Down is a character driven approach to suspense writing. Instead of just preoccupying readers with the 'whodunnit' and numerous action sequences, Sibella roots her story in the complexities of human nature and the nuances of human relationships. The first person narratives draws readers into Raleigh's mind and heart as she struggles with the turmoil of dealing with an ill and unstable mother and the accompanying guilt of balancing her personal and professional life. The cast of characters in this book is strong and complex-from the egotistical narcissist, the broken and fragile introvert, to the preening seductress and self-medicating train wreck. When thrown together on a ship journeying through the breathtaking wonders of Alaska, the reader can't help but be captivated from page one.

Sibella's writing style flows so naturally for first person narrative. Sometimes it can be difficult to immerse yourself into someone's thoughts without feeling like an intruder or have the story feel dubious, but Raleigh's confidence and wit are compelling from the start. Her sarcastic jabs are hilarious but never put on or overused-they are just a natural overflow from her Southern lexicon.

I am eagerly anticipating the next installment of this series, set to release March 2012.

Rating: 9/10
**Thank you to Litfuse for providing a review copy**

First reviewed here: [...]

Taking an Alaskan Cruise for Raleigh Harmon was meant to be fun, enjoyable and a much needed vacation ....So she thought! Raleigh is so looking forward to this trip with her Mother, her Aunt, and a friend of her Aunts. But when someone is found murdered aboard the Cruise Ship, and is with the movie crew they are helping with, Raleigh finds herself involved in the investigation. Along with the Ships security chief, and the FBI's Special Agent Jack Stephanson, they all try to find the answers to this murder.

The Mountains Bow Down is filled with Mystery, Suspense and I love the Humor from Raleigh! This book is AWESOME and I am so happy to say I have found yet another new and amazing author to read!!

A cruise to Alaska promises plenty of time to delight in nature's beauty. The majestic mountains and geological opportunities beg to be enjoyed. Or so FBI Agent Raleigh Harmon thinks. Raleigh's plans to mine for gems and relax on her vacation go horribly askew when a passenger is murdered aboard the cruise ship. The ship's security chief enlists Raleigh to assist in the investigation. To complicate matters, Raleigh's mother's health quickly digresses, her aunt's friend's behavior annoys everyone, and Special Agent Jack Stephanson joins the investigation. With only five days to solve the murder, Raleigh struggles with the challenges before her. Will she solve the murder? Will her mother recover? And Stephanson is not quite as bad as she remembered...

The Mountains Bow Down by Sibella Giorello is the fourth book in her Raleigh Harmon series. I did not have the advantage reading the previous books. However, enough information was given that I had sufficient background information on Raleigh and the supporting characters. I suspect there would have been more information about her fiance in the previous books. The book ended with several loose ends. Raleigh's mother's health and Raleigh's relationships with her fiance and Jack Stephanson will likely be addressed in the next book.

I enjoyed reading The Mountains Bow Down. Kudos to Giorello for creating a plot that was catchy and unpredictable. Raleigh's character is especially well-written. I appreciated that Giorello's treatment of Raleigh's mother's illness was sadly authentic, but also sympathetic. The only character I disliked was the very New Age Claire. It is reasonable that the author meant for this to happen as Claire is deeply integrated into the story. I just found her annoying.

I recommend this book to those who enjoy mystery and suspense fiction.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Mountains Bow Down by Sibella Giorello

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the book synopsis:

"Everything's going to work out. Time away always makes things better..."

That's what FBI Special Agent Raleigh Harmon believes as she boards a cruise to Alaska. A land of mountains and gems and minerals, the Last Frontier is a dream destination for this forensic geologist who's hoping to leave behind a hectic work schedule and an engagement drained of romance.

But when a passenger goes missing and winds up dead, Raleigh's vacation suddenly get lost at sea. The ship's security chief tries to rule the death a suicide, but Raleigh's forensic background points to a much darker conclusion. Somewhere onboard, a ruthless murderer walks free.

Engulfed by one of her toughest cases yet, Raleigh requests assistance from the FBI and receives her nemesis--handsome Special Agent Jack Stephanson. As the cruise ship sails through the Inside Passage, Raleigh has five days to solve a high-profile murder, provide consultation for a movie filming onboard, and figure out her increasingly complicated feelings for Jack--who might not be as arrogant as she originally thought.

And that's only her work life. Family offers even more challenges. Joined on the cruise by her mother and aunt, Raleigh watches helplessly as disturbing rifts splinter her family.

Like the scenery that surrounds the cruise ship, Raleigh discovers a mystery so daunting that even the mountains might bow down before it."



I really enjoyed reading this book. In fact, my husband had to wait to go out to dinner on the night I finished it because I just could not put the book down. I had to know who did it. This was probably one of the most well written mystery/suspense novels that I've ever come across. It kept me guessing who really committed the crime right up to the very end.

I've always wanted to take a cruise along the Alaska coast line, so I found the descriptions of the skyline and scenery fascinating. I also thought the information on the different gems and minerals Raleigh come across was really interesting, especially what she learns about benitoite.

While I would consider this book a stand-alone novel, you do feel like there is some inside information that is only offered by reading the previous novels (this is book four in the Raleigh Harmon series). For instance, there are some underlying issues going on with Raleigh's mother at the start of the book which leads up to a very disturbing incident. I got the feeling that there was some background here from the other novels that lead up to this incident. It's for this reason that I put the other three novels on my "to-read" list.

I would definitely be interested to read more books in this suspense series.

I almost never read fiction. It's really not my thing. So, I was a little surprised when I truly enjoyed this book. It's actually a part of series, however I had not read the preceding titles, and the book read well as a stand alone novel.


The writing is impeccable, the story line really flowed and kept me captivated from the get go. I usually get bored with fiction and did not get at all bored with this title. There was just enough romance as well. The author does an excellent job of balancing the plot with romance and intrigue.


The story takes place aboard a cruise ship, which in and of itself, created extra interest for me...it even made me want to go a cruise in the very near future. Beautiful descriptions and imagery, make the read feel like you are right there.


Overall, this is a very good read. It is suspenseful and will keep you guessing until the very end which I love. Any book that I havent' figured out before the ending gets at least four stars in my book! '

This book was given to me by Thomas Nelson publishers, however the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.