Reviewed by Saifunnissa Hassam for Readers' Favorite

Louise Furley's Halo Valley: The Legend of the Stolen Children is a twisty, suspenseful mystery set in Ireland. Two villages, Cleasai on the seashores and Halo Valley inland, are separated by the coastal Maru Mountains. According to the Maru Mountains almanac, a catastrophic winter storm occurs every 150 years, a prediction that is confirmed by this winter’s forecast. A terrifying legend links the catastrophic storm to the disappearance of children from Cleasai and Halo Valley. In preparation for the impending storm, all the Cleasai villagers have been evacuated and temporarily resettled in Halo Valley. Sergeant Michael Kelly of the local police department oversees the evacuation and the villagers' safety and security. Cataleigh (Cat) Sylvester from the West region coordinates and helps with the details of resettling individual Cleasaí families in Halo Valley. As residents prepare for the storm, the growing tension and fear of losing their children are palpable. Kelly provides stringent instructions to the parents to be more vigilant than usual, keeping their children safe. Then, as the storm approaches, the children start to disappear. By the time the storm hits, twelve children, aged 8 to 12 years, have disappeared. Kelly is determined to find them. The suspense grows as he and the villagers must wait for the deadly storm to pass.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Louise Furley's gripping and harrowing tale for its remarkable characters and its terrifying twists and turns. I liked the layers of complexity and mystery, which created a constant atmosphere of suspense and tension. I liked the character development of Sgt. Michael Kelly, his responsibilities as head of the local police department, and his leadership abilities in guiding the residents. The story sprang to life through Michael's deeply caring nature for the residents and, most notably, through the frightening and unbearable thought of losing the children forever. He is haunted by some dark memories in his personal life, but I liked his inner courage and self-discipline to focus on saving the children as the most urgent matter. The teamwork and camaraderie that Michael developed with his police officers, particularly Justin and Lucas, added great depth to the overall story. The character of Cat Sylvester is remarkable: her sharp mind, incredible courage, and determination not to leave Halo until she knows the fate of the children. The growing attraction between Michael and Cat was interwoven into the story sensitively. The characters of individual children emerge through family and school settings, their strengths and weaknesses, and their friendships. This enriched the story and became a powerful connection later on as the children disappeared. Halo Valley is a profound and immersive human story of a community coming together in the face of a horrifying and deadly ordeal. It is a great read, indeed, with vivid settings and outstanding character development.