Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Kevin Landt, for the ARC.

The Mole People is a beautifully told novel about Suzie, a young schizophrenic trying to find her way in a life ravaged by mental illness. There are several triggering concepts in this book and it can be difficult to read however I felt like the author was respectful writing about them.

As someone who struggles with mental illness, albeit not schizophrenia, I thought this was a well written book. It did a good job of showing the daily struggles of the illness and explaining why some people refuse medication.

This was a beautiful redemption story, and I liked the ending a lot.

(Trigger warnings for self harm, disordered eating, drugs, sexual assault)

As Suzie's hallucinations due to schizophrenia worsen while attending university, she copes with severe drug use. This leads her to run away from school and down a slippery slope into the undergrounds of Las Vegas. Here she finds herself trapped amongst an ensemble of outcasts that have also found a home there. They call themselves the Mole People and they all owe a debt to a mysterious man named, Wonderman. As time goes on, Suzie realizes that their debts aren't so easily paid off, and maybe the family she left behind won't give up on her an easily as she thinks they will.

Landt told a fast-paced, compelling story following Suzie's experience with schizophrenia and her descent into severe drug use. Plagued by near constant visual and auditory hallucinations mixed with paranoia, Suzie's unreliable narration was incredibly gripping. I was expecting this type of narration to be difficult to keep up with, and while it was rightfully discombobulating many times, it was very easy to follow. The characters were all unique and interesting to read about and Landt avoided some annoying character trait tropes (like having the Dean actually caring and listening to Suzie, instead of aggressively blaming her and not listening to her), which I greatly appreciate.

Overall, this was a compelling, intense, and concise read. Definite content warnings for attempted SA, drug use, and self-harm.

Thank you to Kevin Landt and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was not what I was expecting but it was still a fascinating read. There was a focus on mental health issues, portrayed in a very personal and captivating way. The author made the struggle of the main character feel very real and the reactions of the other characters feel credible. There was suspense and action mixed with relationship drama. Despite the main character making bad choices, the author was able to evoke empathy from me as a reader.

4.5 ⭐️ This was a quick read and intriguing story that followed the fractured mind of Suzie, who has schizophrenia. Suzie, in attempts to live as normally as possible, quite literally raw dogs her diagnosis because she fears medication. She begins lashing out in class and making rash decisions due to her symptoms, and that’s where this story really starts—when she leaves University, and begins traveling about strung out on drugs and doing what she can to silence the voices in her head. It’s during her travels that she meets The Mole People, a group of lost souls living in the storm drain tunnels of Las Vegas. From Suzie’s fear to her healing, this book really does paint a more empathetic picture of what people similar to her go through and how their addictions began.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author, Kevin, for providing this ARC for me to read and review. I really enjoyed this.

In his gripping new novel, Kevin Landt delves into the turbulent psyche of Suzie, a young woman whose paranoia drives her to flee from the people she loves. Desperate for peace and liberation, Suzie escapes to the neon-lit chaos of Las Vegas, only to find herself entangled in an even darker and more perilous world. As she navigates this treacherous underbelly, Suzie faces not only the terrifying realities of her surroundings but also the haunting voices within her own mind. The question looms: who can she trust, and does she even want to?

Kevin masterfully explores the complexities of mental illness through Suzie's harrowing journey, offering a raw and compelling portrait of a young woman grappling with both internal and external demons. The narrative vividly captures the disorienting struggle of coming of age while contending with mental health challenges, making Suzie's journey both poignant and thought-provoking.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced reading copy of this intense and introspective novel.

"The Mole People" by Kevin Landt is a captivating, thought-provoking novel that delves quickly and deep into the young life of a beautifully written character, Suzie. I’ve often wondered but never knew until now what it must feel like to live with schizophrenia. I felt as though I was in her head, hearing her thoughts, and seeing what wasn’t there, which left me with a profound understanding of her actions. The authors' commitment to understanding this subject matter is clear and made it difficult for me to put this book down.

The story is driven by Suzie’s journey towards maintaining a “normal” life through her first year of college, first real friend, and first boyfriend. She tries so hard. Yet mental illness can attract cruel people, comments, and intentions. Suzie, not trusting doctors or herself experiments with drugs and alcohol to help quiet the voices in her head, keep her out of trouble, and in school…but it’s a temporary solution that creates an even bigger problem.

This soon leads Suzie on a tragic drug-fueled journey from her loved ones in Portland to the Mole People living in the deep underground tunnels of Las Vegas. Unable to enjoy the freedoms she once had, addicted to drugs, and dependent on dumpsters for food, she does find connections with some of the forgotten people living in this dangerous world.

Landt briefly touches on several 'mole people', each with their own heartbreaking backstory that led them to seek refuge in the tunnels and abandoned spaces beneath the city of Las Vegas. The characters are handled with compassion and nuance, avoiding stereotypes and bringing depth to their struggles and hopes.

The author shines a light on the systemic failures that contribute to homelessness, from a lack of mental health resources, and inadequate housing to cycles of poverty and addiction. While the book is fictional, it raises important questions about how society treats its most vulnerable members.

As for Susie, Landt's writing is vivid, painting a detailed picture of life with schizophrenia—both the dangers and the moments of unexpected beauty coupled with the love of family.

Overall, "The Mole People" is a powerful, impactful read. It challenges readers to see the humanity in those often overlooked and confront the larger social issues at play. Landt's compelling characters and thought-provoking themes make this a worthwhile, eye-opening novel. It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page, making you think about the unseen lives happening just below our feet. If you're interested in urban exploration or social issues, this book is definitely worth your time.

TRIGGER WARNING: Attempted Rape, Eating Disorder, Death, Mental Health Hospitalization, Self-Harm, Murder, Drug Use, Alcohol Use

Thank you #kevinlandt for the ARC for my honest review of your book. #themolepeopleThe Mole People

This is a story that only touches on someone with a mental illness and those that become homeless for different reasons. It resonates with a society broken; that has cast out those who do not live up to others’ expectations and how we fail to help those in need. They are swept away to a different reality, dangerous ones. Many never escape, only to die one way or another to the life they now lead.

Suzie is schizophrenic. She has had trauma from the time she was little. Although Dana has been there for her, her illness hacks away at her until she believes she has no recourse but to set out on her own. What leads is catastrophe. She believes the life she has chosen is the new ‘normal’ and one she deserves.

She will find no rest, no love, only voices, turmoil, drugs, and so many more deviant and inhumane conditions. There is hope though, she is loved by others. and they are consumed with finding her among the forgotten. When they come for her though, her new found captors will refuse to let her go. What will happen? Although the book has a happier ending, it leaves you to wonder if her struggle will truly ever end! The author did a great job about writing about mental illness, homeless people, and the things that go on in a world many of us are not familiar with.

The Mole People by Kevin Landt - 4.5 stars
The Mole People by Kevin Landt is one of those books that grabs you from the start and doesn't let go. The story centers on Suzie, a girl who's battling schizophrenia and the crushing paranoia that comes with it. When she decides to stop taking her medication, her life takes a dark and difficult turn. Suzie’s struggle with the voices in her head is heartbreaking and feels all too real. When it gets too much for her to take, Suzie decides to run away from her current life.
From now, this story takes us from Oregon to the tunnels beneath Las Vegas, where Suzie ends up living among the "mole people", a community of others dealing with their own battles, like addiction, substance abuse, homelessness.
This novel powerfully portrays Suzie’s descent into a world both physically and mentally dark. The description of the mole people and the tunnels is vivid and disturbing, making you feel the weight of the darkness both in Suzie’s mind and in her surroundings.
What really stands out is the emotional depth of Suzie’s character. You feel her pain, her confusion, and her desperate attempts to hold on. The book also touches on the impact her illness has on her family, adding another layer of heartbreak. "The Mole People" opens your eyes to the harsh realities of mental health struggles, giving you a raw and compassionate look into lives that are often ignored.

My thanks to Kevin Landt and netgalley for providing me with this copy in exchange on my honest review.

What a harrowing read about a promising young college student suffering from schizophrenia and drug addiction. A cast of characters in tunnels under Las Vegas provides a fascinating setting. You may not relate to these characters, but will root for them.

The Mole People
by Kevin Landt
Pub Date: Jun 30 2024

The Mole People is about the lives of the mole people who live underground in the dangerous underbelly of Las Vegas. It covers illness's such as schizophrenia, mental illness, addiction and self harm. The main individual the author is writing about is named Suzie. The story is very sad and tragic. A must read eye opening informative subject that the public needs to be aware of.

Synopsis: Alone and tormented by her own mind, a young woman must confront her darkest fears, or be swallowed by them—forever.

Thank you to the author Kevin Landt for providing me with an E copy of his book. I truly enjoyed reading it and highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this story of Susie! She suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia- believing that her support system (family, friends) and people she knows are out to get her. This leads to her finding herself in an even more dangerous/scary environment underground in Vegas wondering who she can really trust.

The book was well written, intriguing, and I felt excited to know more with each page. I did find myself wanting more- but honestly just more of the story- not that the book was lacking anything. It was just that enjoyable!

Well done & worth the read for sure.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for my honest review!

Kevin Landt's story is one of awe because most women aren't brave enough to do what Suzie did in this story. She fell in love with Robbie which she had her doubts about. She had met him at college at a party but she also remembered her dad who was always playing the piano, he died. But she could aways remember what he liked to play. Her mother, not her real mother, was called Dana and was always worried about her. She finally got kick out of her college and ran away from Portland to Las Vegas into the hands of Wonderman, who was the leader of the mole people. You can read about Suzie and what happened to her. It will surprise you completely and make you interested in what happens. I recommend this book as a good read.

The Mole People is a heartbreaking look at mental illness. Suzie has a mental illness, Schizophrenia to be precise. Unfortunately, she refuses to take the necessary medication which could help her function, jeopardizing everything. She finds herself in a world even darker than she could have imagined, underground Las Vegas with other homeless, illegal drugs, and very dangerous people. This book is a well-written, very believable story with realistic characters. A very good read.

In the glittering city of Las Vegas, where fortunes are won and lost on a single roll of the dice, there exists a world unseen by the pleasure-seekers above. There, a community of outcasts can be found. They dwell in the shadows, beneath the thin veneer of glamour, far from the twinkling lights and towering casinos. Plagued by schizophrenia and alienated from her loved ones, Suzie Franks abandons her college life in Oregon, ending up in the dark world beneath Sin City. Here amongst the threats underground, her struggle for survival become its own high-stakes game, with escape the ultimate price.

Suzie is intelligent, but she suffers from schizophrenia and paranoia. With a little help from her mother, she gets into college, but she struggles to cope. She starts living in some of the tunnels underneath the streets of Las Vegas, where she meets some friendly and nasty characters.

I learned more about schizophrenia in this book than I knew before. It's a short read with around 175 pages. My heart went out to Suzie, her story is quite sad, and definitely not an easy life to live. I was hooked in this compelling read from the first page.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RylandPublishing and the author #KevinLyndt for my ARC of #TheMolePeople in exchange for an honest review.

The story of Suzie Franks as told by Kevin Landt is a peak into the mind of a young lady hearing voices. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that I have heard of but wasn't familiar with how a person diagnosed with it may have to deal with it in society. On the one hand, there is medicine that helps subdue the voices and gives the patient the chance to live without many of the effects of the disorder. On the other hand, the medicine can come with many side effects that trade one issue for another. In this novel, Suzie is hyper aware that her condition leads to so many bad choices in her life. she inflicts violence on those around her in order to deal with out of control rage and feelings of inadequacy. She has people that care about her but she never seems to trust those in her life to guide her to making better choices. She makes the drastic decision to go off her meds and take off for Las Vegas. This is where the story starts to turn dark. To be honest, dark underworld gritty scenes are a little out of my comfort zone and there are times when I cringed while reading about these "mole" people. I had no idea this world existed.

This is an extremely short novel (more like a novella than a full novel) and so it's a quick read. I could see this story being expanded upon to really flesh out some of the characters and give them more of a backstory and fuller characterizations. There were times when the story felt rushed. Interesting book with a lot of potential. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review.

The Mole People is a dark and sad story about mental illness and drugs. The main character, Suzie, struggles with schizophrenia and experimenting with different drugs. This book is an eye opener for what people go through with this mental illness. It really makes me more aware and sad for them. This was a really good and interesting story! Thank you Kevin Landt and NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 - 4 This book explores a world that is thankfully entirely new to me, that if the ‘mole people’ a peripatetic community of people who live in the Las Vegas storm drains.

Our protagonist, Suzie, is a college student suffering from schizophrenia. It is clear very quickly that Suzie is not coping in the unfamiliar environment, despite developing a relationship with Robbie, an emotionally developed jock and her roommate, Andrea.

Feeling Suzie’s world spiral out of control as she resists deadening her senses with medication and instead turns to drugs is painful and the second half of the book where she lives with the mole people is even worse. For me, this was the difficulty of the book, it is unrelenting. Whilst the book is good, because it is really bleak throughout it lacks the pathos that more moments of contrast could have provided.

With thanks to the author for offering me a copy of the book and to NetGalley for providing easy access to it.

Tough book. Very straightforward and painful. Suzie has schizophrenia and it is heartbreaking to see her struggle with peers, school, her roommate, her mom and herself. Her story is written in a very raw, real voice. Even though I don't have her problems. I could understand her motives and feelings.
When Suzie meets the mole people in Las Vegas there is a moment of relief. Suzie has found a place to rest. However, the respite is short and her new "friends" are not the saviors she thinks they are.
This book is an honest, heartbreaking look at mental illness and homelessness. I was grateful for the happy ending but the book reminds us that so many don't get one.

Thank you, Kevin Landt, for the DRC in exchange for this honest review.

This book was a bit of a rollercoaster. I felt several emotions while reading it. I actually needed to take a couple of days away from reading it because I feared what the MC was going to deal with. The writing is so detailed that I felt like I was inside the story. It gives a glimpse into [what I assume] what it’s like for people who suffer from mental illness and the heartbreaking situations that is a reality for a lot of people.
My only issue was the way the POV would abruptly change from one character to another. I needed better transition; it would take me a second to catch onto whose thoughts/feelings I was reading. Ultimately, the flow of the book was easy to follow though. It was a bit repetitive at times.
Toward the end, things became tense and erratic, but maybe that was the Author’s intent? I’d imagine the life Suzie was living was erratic and chaotic. I would recommend this book, but be warned that you may develop feelings of sadness, anger, and depression while reading.

The Mole People follows Suzie, a young schizophrenic, through college and life on the streets. The trials and tribulations of a mental health problem, drugs and self preservation in the harsh climate of homelessness.

This story was tragic, sad and emotive, yet heartwarming at the same time. I cried for Suzie, I yearned for a better life for her and I was angry for her at the way she was treated. It portrays a realistic scenario and covers topics of self harm, hallucinations and the importance of a good support network when dealing with mental health problems.

A very raw read, that I feel a bit strange about saying I “enjoyed”.

“The voices would keep up their incessant demands, until Suzie gave in, hoping her obedience would finally silence them. She often felt like an intruder in a story she didn’t understand, as if she were performing her actions mechanically, someone else pulling the strings”

Many thanks to Kevin Landt for reaching out and inviting me to read his story.