In the intriguing series mystery novel TheVanishing Young of Rydal Cave, sisters pursue the truth behind theinexplicable lights in the sky above their town.Enchantments abound in Warren Cabral’s mystery novel TheVanishing Young of Rydal Cave, in which unexplained lights unsettle a smalltown in the days before Christmas.Smart, proper Mae and free-spirited Isla share a remarkabletelepathic bond. In this series instalment, they are drawn into a bafflingmystery in the scenic Lake District: Eerie blue rays paint the sky in a strangepattern; their electronic devices fuzz out, except for their iPad, whichdisplays the same pattern as the lights. Next, the girls discover that a groupof special agents disappeared near the legendary Rydal Cave while investigatingUFO phenomena. With the help of their gruff but well-meaning grandfather, thesisters decode cryptic messages, uncover the true identities of suspiciousnewcomers in town, and confront shifting adversaries.The story begins and resolves in the span of just over aweek and is told across chapters that read like vignettes, following the girls’daily lives and their attempts to understand the lights in the sky. The lightsmake it hard for them to focus on anything else, though more strange eventsarise: A newcomer has sharp teeth, and a science class recording of dolphinsrepeats the same pattern that the girls recorded.Mae and Isla’s relationship is developed in terms ofordinary sibling bickering and teasing, though it is also amplified by theirgift: They have a silent mental connection. Others around town areunderdeveloped in comparison to the sisters, aside from the girls’ grandfather,who teaches them how to build a radio from scratch. He also supplies necessarybackground information, filling them in on colorful life at the local RAF baseand a case of missing children from decades ago.In addition to a detailed, colorful map of the town with keylocations from the story marked (implied to be the product of Mae’s fastidioushand), the book includes scattered illustrations—both small representations ofkey moments and images of important characters. Hand-drawn in style, they haveexaggerated features and vibrant colors; these seem to represent artisticIsla’s attempts to capture details in her unique way.However, an uncovered secret leads to the book’s abruptending. Indeed, the truth about the lights, the newcomers, and the strangepattern in the sky is somewhat unanswered; Mae suggests a fanciful solution,but the lack of true resolve hampers the story on the whole.In the imaginative mystery novel The Vanishing Youngof Rydal Cave, telepathic siblings witness strange lights in the sky andseek out the truth behind them.Reviewed for Foreword Clarion by John M.MurrayOctober 25, 2025 "This is a mystery that will appeal to readers who have an interest in history, spies and alien communication." LoveReading4Kids
