I love a book with a FBI agent as the lead character. After spending the fall in the FBI Citizen’s Academy here in Indiana, I feel better able to judge whether the author has done their research and crafted a character who has the authentic feel of an agent. With Raleigh Harmon, Sibella Giorello has done just that. Raleigh is in a fight to stay in the FBI — for reasons unknown to me because I have not read the first book yet. But she is a committed agent, doing all she can and more to solve cases. This book focuses on two cases: one involving a hate crime and the other a drug operation. What seems simple becomes highly complicated, and the pages flew as I tried to stay ahead of Raleigh. Unlike some books I’ve read lately, I didn’t figure this one out until near the end – a welcome relief. And the writing was great. Highly recommend for those who like twisting plots with a spattering of bodies.

 The Clouds Roll Away: Forensic geologist Raleigh Harmon returns home for Christmas but discovers Richmond, Virginia running low on goodness and light.

Although her exemplary service in Seattle lifted her disciplinary transfer, Raleigh lands a hometown civil rights case riddled with problems that could get her sent away again. When she helps out a fellow cop, her life goes on the line, forcing her undercover in a sting operation. As Raleigh realizes the lines are crossing and double-crossing, her domestic life starts to unravel. Her mother’s mental health cracks like ice, her closest friend grows cold, and her old boyfriend DeMott comes a-calling, hoping for more than chestnuts by an open fire.

While the city glows with Christmas lights and carols, Raleigh is forced to rely on her sharpest skills to stay alive, hoping for that one clear moment when everything makes sense and the clouds roll away.

 About Sibella: Sibella Giorello grew up in Alaska and majored in geology at Mount Holyoke College. After riding a motorcycle across the country, she worked as a features for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Her stories have won state and national awards, including two nominations for the Pulitzer Prize. She now lives in Washington state with her husband and sons. Find out more about Sibella and her other books at her website. www.sibellagiorello.com

The Clouds Roll Away Kindle Giveaway: Sibella’s celebrating the release of The Clouds Roll Away by giving away a KINDLE prize pack worth over $150.00!

One Grand Prize winner will receive:

• Latest Generation KINDLE with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to Amazon.com
  

To enter simply click on one of the icons below! Then tell your friends! Winner will be announced January 3, 2011 on Sibella’s blog: http://sibellagiorello.blogspot.com/.