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.

Overall, this book was an interesting look at the downfall of a woman suffering from paranoia and schizophrenia who, after feeling like she has no choice, runs away from her problems only to end up in a worse situation

. She feels abandoned by her family and friends. She flees to Las Vegas, where she immerses herself with the wrong sort of people who live in underground tunnels, plagued by drugs and trapped in the lifestyle of "Wonderman," who promises freedom and safety but who is a villain himself. Overall, this shows an important view of what life can be like for those who believe they don't have support and highlights the need for the taboo view on mental illness to go away.

The Mole People
By: Kevin Landt

5 Stars

This was a book that will stick with me. It paints a very vivid picture of what living with schizophrenia is really like. Suzie is diagnosed with schizophrenia and now she has that to explain the voices in her head. It explains so much about why she is not "normal." This book follows Suzie as she tries to work through college, relationships, and family while dealing with the constant noise in her head. At least now, it can be explained, named. Soon, she finds herself among an infamous group known as The Mole People. Suzie finds herself on a life changing journey of change and redemption.

This was a book that was brought to me by the author, and I am so glad to have read it. It is a colorful and emotional story that left me shocked and understanding. It was a grim look at the hard sides to mental illness and addiction. It was compelling and complex. It is one that reached deep into my psyche to alert me to the darker side of life. The things that may be hidden, the people who may be hidden.

This story is one that needs to be read and understood. It is a book that presents the journey as well as maybe the reward at the end.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Mole People by Kevin Landt is a dark, heavy and gripping story about mental health struggles and the devastating influence of street drugs.
This book will show how easy is to move from shiny stability to dark addiction that results in living on streets and doing everything to survive or get the next dose!

The main character Suzie suffers from schizophrenia and is trying to deal with it as well as she can. It's a challenge to go to college as it is and then imagine doing it with schizophrenia! Suzie is trying hard to fit in but it's challenging. And when things are too much she runs and finds herself on the streets to face heavy reality.

This is a sad read but was right up to my street as I am working in a homeless team and helping people like Suzie get back to stability and normality!

I am happy that I chose this book, it's well-written, realistic and emotional. This book provided deep insights into the daily challenges faced by those less fortunate or at some point made a bad decision and fell into the hands of addiction.

Thank you, NetGalley and publisher for this copy!

Mental illness is and always has been stigmatized. This is the dynamic story of Suzie, who suffers from schizophrenia. She knows the voices she hears are not real, but sometimes she can’t help but listen to them. When life becomes too much for her, she runs away to Las Vegas and becomes one of the thousands of homeless people who live in the underground tunnels. Lines are constantly blurred between real and imagined for Suzie, yet she refuses the medication that can help her believing it is poison.

The parallels between mental illness, homelessness and drug addiction are extremely well characterized and make for a very poignant story. I have been thinking about this book ever since I finished it. It is heartbreaking what Suzie endured, yet her resilience held strong.

I highly recommend this book.

This book was ok. I enjoyed the beginning and really enjoyed getting to know Suzie, the main character, and how she battles with schizophrenia. She tries to have a normal life and goes to college, but she hears many voices in her heads which get her in to trouble.

The book then takes a complete 180 turn and Suzie ends up leaving her mom and her boyfriend because she thinks they’re trying to put her away in the insane asylum… so she runs away from her life and heads to Las Vegas, getting addicted to drugs and becoming homeless.

She stumbles into Wonderman, who is the leader of the Mole People. I’m not sure if Mole People are actually a real thing, but they live underground in Vegas and it was a little creepy. It becomes the main problem, and Suzie’s schizophrenia isn’t really an issue anymore.

It was an ok story, but it was just all over the place to me.

A poignant narrative showcasing the complexities of mental illness from multiple perspectives. Suzie, a sufferer of schizophrenia, is plagued by persistent auditory hallucinations. Despite accepting assistance from her mother, Dana, boyfriend, Robbie, and prescribed medication, she repeatedly rejects their aid, feeling overwhelmed and trapped. Meanwhile, both Robbie and Dana tirelessly endeavor to provide Suzie with the necessary resources and support to aid in her recovery. However, their efforts are met with constant resistance and hostility from Suzie, leading to understandable feelings of frustration, helplessness, and even anger.

What an eye-opening book! Its unique plot makes it a must-read. This beautifully written yet tragic story centers on Susie, who has battled various mental illnesses since childhood and is now grappling with schizophrenia. Struggling to function in mainstream society, she becomes homeless and finds herself living in the tunnels beneath Las Vegas, alongside others who share their own harrowing stories.

The book is deeply emotional, offering profound insights into the daily struggles of those who fight for basic necessities while coping with mental illness. It gave me a new perspective on the challenges faced by those with mental health conditions.

I found myself rooting for Susie's survival and for the friends she made in the tunnels. The story is tough to read, challenging and engaging, with moments that are dark, eerie, sad, and even humorous. Overall, it's fantastic.

The tunnels themselves are an unexpected and haunting backdrop, stretching for miles beneath the city known for its glamour and glitz. These dark, damp passageways are a stark contrast to the bright lights above, home to hundreds of forgotten people who seek refuge there. The book vividly describes life in this underground world, where makeshift communities form and every resident has a story of hardship and survival.

I had no idea these tunnels existed and was compelled to research them afterward! This book will stay with you long after you've finished it, and it's not one to miss!

Loved it 🥰

The Mole People was not a very interesting book in my opinion. I slugged my way through it. I was expecting much more of a narrative about the "mole people" and Susie. I learned more watching Vegas Tunnels.

The story was interesting and the farther into the story you get the crazier it gets! However, it just felt like it jumped around and made me feel like a schizo with how it was all over the place. just felt strange that one minute Suzie is at school and then the next she’s with the mole people like wait a minute that happened way too fast. I did enjoy how it portrayed someone as a schizophrenic and what their everyday life is probably like, which you don’t see very often, but there wasn’t really any reason to care for any of the characters, sympathize or root for them. Overall, the story was a great concept it just wasn’t as interesting for me and just felt like it was lacking something.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the glittering city of Las Vegas, where fortunes are won and lost on a toss of the dice, there is a world unseen by those above. Beneath the neon lights and towering casinos a community of outcasts called the Mole People reside.

Kevin Landt’s novel,“The Mole People,” delves into this hidden realm, where survival becomes a high-stakes game, and escape is the ultimate prize.

Suzie Franks, plagued by schizophrenia and alienated from her loved ones, abandons her college life in Oregon and finds herself in this dark underworld beneath Sin City. Her struggle for survival takes center stage, as she battles adversaries real and imagined. Suzie’s mind constantly plays tricks on her—distorting reality and blurring the lines between friends and enemies.

Landt skillfully explores themes of resilience, courage, and the enduring human spirit. Suzie’s journey—from the brink of despair to the heights of determination—tests the boundaries of what can be endured.

Suzie’s internal conflict is heart-wrenching. She refuses to take the medication prescribed by her doctors, grappling with the voices in her mind that lie to her and tell her the medicine is "poison". As readers, we witness her vulnerability and strength, rooting for her as she fights to recognize reality.

Landt’s prose is evocative and haunting. He paints a vivid picture of the underground world, where shadows move and secrets fester. The pacing keeps us on edge, mirroring Suzie’s own frantic quest for freedom from both the life she has mired herself in and the voices in her own head.

The Mole People is a gripping story and Landt’s exploration of mental illness and survival is one you won't soon forget.

If you seek a novel that challenges your perceptions and is unique, well-researched, yet compassionate, venture into the tunnels with Suzie Franks—you won’t regret your journey.

Personal Note: I typically avoid fictional books related to mental health issues like the plague - historically I have found them far too depressing, especially with everything presently occurring in the US political and climate arenas. I originally did not request this book for just this reason, however I was interested in the mole people aspect. I am glad I ended up selecting this book, as it proved to be unlike previous novels I have read where the mental health issue is prevalent. If you have a similar aversion, take a chance on this book; it is entertaining, exciting, and ultimately, it focuses on hope and renewal.

Suzie has schizophrenia and leaves her college life behind to find a new one in Vegas. Not the normal Vegas, the one no one sees. The one that lurks in the shadows. The deadly one where everyone is on their own and battling their own demons. Is what Suzie experiences real or all in her mind. That's the unique question that is at the heart of this book.

A dark, sad tale as seen from both sides of the mental illness coin. There's Suzie, who suffers from schizophrenia. Who can't escape the voices in her head. Who accepts the help offered by her mother (Dana), boyfriend (Robbie) and medication, only to then reject it over and over again because she feels like Dana and Robbie are ganging up on her, trapping her, and the medication makes her 'fat'. Then there's Robbie and Dana. Both do everything they can to help Suzie, get her treatment, be supportive. Only to have Suzie throw it back in their faces time and time again. Their frustration, feelings of helplessness, and even anger, understandable.
A well written tale showcasing the difficulties of dealing with mental illness. The ending is beautiful.
Thanks to Netgalley, Ryland Publishing and Kevin Landt for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'll just say it: this book didn't work for me. I cannot pinpoint anything essentially wrong with it. It just isn't for me.
I personally do not like horror stories about mental illness as a big part, or even the whole thing, of the reason as to why a character is behaving the way they are. I don't feel comfortable with it and it also triggers me, so...not cool for myself.
The mole people themselves 'arc' was fairly interesting to me. But not enough to truly pull me in to the storyline. In my opinion, this story is disturbing in a more realistic way, and I don't tend to enjoy realistic horror. I'm much more of the "unrealistic/ludicrous/fantasy/impossible to happen in real life kind of horror reader.
I see that some readers are enjoying this book, so it's clear that it has its audience. I'm just not part of it.
Thank you, anyway, to NetGalley and the author, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel.