This was an interesting story.
I struggled getting through parts of the story but then other parts had me obsessed.
It was a good story and it is definitely a page turner but I just found I struggled when it came to the talk of the main characters mental health and the way it was described and talked about.

This book was a bit of a surprise. It covered the issues of mental illness, addiction, homelessness and more. It was worth the read.

This books is about a young woman with schizophrenia and the struggles she goes through. It really makes you think about mental health and all tge things people and the people in their lives go through. Give it a read.

A young woman struggling with schizophrenia leaves her old life behind and finds herself in an underground community beneath Las Vegas. Facing both real and imagined threats, she must confront her fears and find a way to escape the darkness that surrounds her.

This book delves into a topic that many of us are unfortunately all too familiar with. Chances are, you know someone who has ended up in a situation similar to the one described in this story.

As a member of the military, I have had the opportunity to travel extensively across the United States. During my travels, I have encountered numerous individuals living on the streets in areas where homelessness is a prevalent issue. Through personal experiences, I have met many people who are struggling to survive in uncertain circumstances, often going unnoticed by society. These individuals have found themselves in dire situations through no fault of their own, as life has simply gotten away from them, or they lack a support system to lean on. Additionally, I have encountered individuals who have turned to illegal substances as a means of coping with their challenges, as well as veterans who have fallen through the cracks due to mental or physical health issues.

This book truly resonated with me on a deep level. Despite being a short story, it was incredibly difficult to put down. The characters were so well-developed that I found myself empathizing with their struggles and contemplating what I would do if they were my friends or family members.

The narrative touches on themes of substance use, body image issues, and mental health struggles, all of which are portrayed in a realistic and relatable manner. The vivid descriptions of the environment further enhance the authenticity of the story. Upon finishing the book, I was left with a sense of hope and optimism, particularly in regard to the positive ending for the main character, Suzie. I found myself rooting for her to overcome her challenges and seek the help she needed.

I devoured this book in a matter of hours, unable to tear myself away from the gripping storyline. I highly recommend giving this book a read and forming your own opinion. If you enjoy thought-provoking reads that offer a glimpse into the lives of others, this book is must-read. It will leave you breathless and leave you pondering.

Thank you, Ryland Publishing and Kevin Landt for ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#TheMolePeople is an interesting and thought provoking read about mental health and addiction, the struggles of those living with mental illnesses and their loved ones. It’s a very dark, intense moving story. I was completely hooked from the start to finish. Just brilliant.
The story follows Suzie Franks, a young woman with schizophrenia. She’s struggling with her inner voices and thinking her loved ones are going to send her away. This drives her to runaway from Oregon where she ends up in Las Vegas among the mole people, an underground community.
I enjoyed the fast paced writing style and the vivid character descriptions as you can picture everything that is happening. The author made susie’s struggles feel very real and you feel empathy towards Susie.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it as it’s well worth a read.
Thanks to @kevinlandt for a copy of #TheMolePeople.
I look forward to reading more from this author.

THE MOLE PEOPLE, those outcasts who survive in the underground, away from the bright lights of the big cities. In his short novel, Kevin Landt, takes us into the tunnels under Sin City.

Suzie Franks, ‘Suzie Schizo’ hasn’t had an easy time in her life. Then, diagnosed at 20 with schizophrenia and other mental illness issues, she leaves Hudson University and Portland Oregon behind when paranoia tells her that her mother, her roommate and her boyfriend are conspiring against her. She finds herself in Las Vegas, doing whatever she has to do to survive. Luckily, or not, she meets Wonderman, who brings her to a world that many don’t even know exists, setting her up and his place. He initially offers her safety and cares for her. She begins to meet others who are in the same position as she and learns to love her new. ‘family’. As her mother, Dana, and her boyfriend, Robbie, find her and attempt to get her some help, Suzie rebuffs them and retreats further into her illness. But there are literally clouds forming that could wipe away everything she’s come to know and those she’s come to love.

This is my first Kevin Landt novel but it will certainly not be my last. Although a shorter novel, it packs a serious punch. The writing is so clear and concise, I could feel myself enveloped in darkness and splashing through the tunnels with Suzie. I felt like most of the characters were people I wanted to know and hug. The compassion and respect with which Mr. Landt addressed mental illness was beyond reproach. I cannot say enough about this. Mr. Landt has earned my unwavering respect for his storytelling abilities.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ryland Publishing and the author for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

The Mole People is a heartbreaking story of a girl who suffers from schizophrenia and refuses treatment, she has finally made it to university but she does not feel included by her peers and her hallucinations start to escalate. Her boyfriend keeps her grounded till he doesn't anymore, and she runs away and starts to live in the streets. In Vegas she sees herself brought into a community "The Mole People" who live underground and their leader has Suzie under his wing but he is a ruthless predator, drug dealer and a pimp. Life in the tunnels will spiral Suzie's addictions and sickness out of control until her mother and her boyfriend come to her rescue. Although this is a work of fiction, I'm quite sure this story is real (maybe not the tunnels) but the exploitation of sex, use of drugs, crimes against those in need and with mental health issues, in many parts of the world. Mr. Landt was able to make a portrait of a very sad condition and exploitation of same in a very easy-to-read way.
I thank the author and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.*

This title came to my attention when the author DMed me on Goodreads and suggested I might enjoy his new title. Of course I could NOT pass up that offer!

Interestingly, the book that I had read that led Goodreads to suggest "The Mole People" was a travel murder mystery/thriller, and The Mole People is definitely more contemporary fiction. I enjoy both genres so it was a good miss in that way but I thought it was an odd connection for Goodreads to make.

I wasn't sure what I was getting into with this book. It begins with the story of a college girl, Suzie, who suffers from Schizophrenia and is struggling to keep her head above water. Suzie begins to spiral, goes off her meds and has a serious incident that causes the school to contact her mother and boyfriend resulting in her being forced to go back on her meds. Suzie agrees, but rather than returning to her dorm, she makes a run for it. Suzie lands in Las Vegas and begins to live among "the Mole People" a group of people suffering from addiction and/or mental health issues that live in a tunnel system beneath the city. The story is heartbreaking and led me to want to read more about the trials of those who opt to live outside of the norm with their mental health issues rather than take meds and try to be mainstream.

Parts of this story broke my heart, parts were really disturbing, but overall I enjoyed it. I will read more by Kevin Landt.

*with thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for this honest review. And also to Kevin Landt for the suggestion.

In reading the description of The Mole People by Kevin Landt, I will admit I was leery on whether I would enjoy the book based on the description alone, but this really was an intense read for me. It hit home based on the character of Suzie and her mental illness and Dana, Robbie and Andrea who are close to her. For families/friends who deal with mental illness among loved ones, understanding the ups and downs one faces and the patient refusal to take medication based on the real or imagined side effects, this book just nails it. An emotional read with some intriguing Las Vegas underground tales that will have you rooting for the forgotten mole people who have a good heart buried within their addiction. A very special thank you to Kevin Landt and NetGalley for the e-copy to read for which I leave a voluntary review. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book I have ever read from this author and was not really sure what to expect. This was definitely was one of those books that I could not put down. I started it in the evening and finished the same night because I needed to know what happened. Suzie has a very rough life due to her mental health issues and ends up spiraling down to the point that she is homeless. She meets Wonderman in Las Vegas and is brought to live in a tunnel with other people that have also met hard times. I wish there would have been a bit more structure with this read as I felt there were times that it needed to refocus. There were a couple of plot points that just felt were thrown in there out of nowhere and had nothing really to do with what was going on in the book. Overall, it was a fairly good read. Thanks for the ARC,NetGalley.

4.5 stars
this book follows suzie and her struggles with schizophrenia and paranoia and how much untreated mental illness can effect someone. this book had me hooked from the very beginning.

Susie is an intelligent, caring, beautiful young college student with the perfect boyfriend……and schizophrenia. Paranoid, she runs away from her loved ones for fear that they will have her committed. Eventually, desperate and hungry she accepts an invitation for shelter and safety and thus, becomes one of “the mole people” living in the dark, dank storm drains under Las Vegas. In this community of people experiencing homelessness she finds friendship, but also comes to fear Wonderman, the self-proclaimed ruler of the underground.
This book does an empathetic job at chronicling the experiences of “mole people”. This may be fiction, but the fact is that there are communities living under most city streets. These are human beings who found themselves in what they feel is the safest and most comfortable place they can find, the reasons are infinite. Mental illness, addiction, a history of being victimized, the feeling that they have no where to go and no one ,safe to go to. These are mothers, fathers, siblings, friends, children.
Suzie wants to leave, but Wonderman forbids this and she knows his punishments can be brutal. The skies over Las Vegas eventually come into 0lay as the rainy season begins and storms threaten the underground community. A turbulent climax wraps things up and we get our answers that address Suzie’s future and the fate of her friends and foes among the mole people. Thank you #KevinLandt for contacting me and Goodreads to offer me your excellent book. Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC of #TheMolePeople.

This story delves into the topic of mental illness. Suzie is suffering from schizophrenia and hallucinations. Although she has a wonderful support system in her mother and boyfriend, she thinks that they are trying to put her in an institution. She runs away and finds herself in the underbelly of Los Vegas, where she learns there are worse things that could happen. I liked the way the author portrayed the characters and topic with sensitivity and kindness. I would definitely recommend this book. I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my reviews.

The Mole People is a compelling read about a young girl called Suzie, who has schizophrenia and is struggling to deal with the disorder. Despite having a supportive mother, friend, and boyfriend, the voices combined with paranoia leads her to believe that they just want to lock her up in a secure facility. Medication helps, but leads to further issues, and soon Suzie is masking her pain with a concoction of alcohol and drugs, which have her spiralling into greater paranoia and dysfunctional behaviour. Suzie goes on the run, where rough living leads to deeper despair. She eventually lands in Sin City and into the clasp of Wonderman, who welcomes her into the protection of the Mole People, who live in the storm drains under the city. This protection doesn't come for free. It is a tough living in this underworld, and barely anyone escapes..The Mole People deals with tough subject matter, but it is a compulsive page-turner that has you rooting for Suzie, her friends and her family. #themolepeople #Kevinlandt #rylandpublishing #netgalley

Susie is a survivor and a fighter and you can see this throughout the book. This book depicts what life is like for people with mental illness who struggle day to day and must also deal with whatever curve ball is thrown at them like homelessness, drug addiction and society turning a blind eye to their struggles and needs. Hard to read at times but well worth it.

To be honest I really didn't like this book. I couldn't stay focused and couldn't keep up with the story. It wasn't terrible but it always wasn't one that I would read a sequel to either.

The Mole People dives into the complexities of mental illness and survival. The story follows Suzie Franks, a young woman battling schizophrenia, who finds herself in the hidden world beneath Las Vegas. It's in intriguing premise and a very interesting read, and I'm glad I went out of my typical genres to give this a shot! I would have like to have more depth to the characters. This makes it harder to fully connect with their journeys and motivations. I would have liked to read more about Suzie’s struggles with mental illness, as this aspect of the story had the potential to be deeply compelling but wasn’t explored in enough detail.

Overall, The Mole People is an interesting read with a unique setting and premise, but it could benefit from more nuanced character development. It’s worth picking up if you’re interested in stories about mental health and the unseen lives of society’s outcasts.

This is one of those books that I just could not put down. Even away from it, I couldn’t wait to get back to it.

College girl Suzie suffers from schizophrenia, and constantly see’s and hears people, who don’t exist. One day, leaving hospital, after almost losing her life, she decides that the only thing that will keep her safe, and everyone else, is to leave Oregon. She’s afraid that if she stays, her loved ones will force her into a mental health facility.

Finding herself in Las Vegas, she wanders into a rundown casino, where she meets the sleazy ‘Wonderman’ who offers her a place to stay…under the city, down in the rain tunnels, with ‘The Mole People’. As her mental health and drug addiction gets worse. She soon realises, nothing comes for free, and ‘Wonderman’ will want payment, for providing protection and somewhere to live.

This is fast paced, emotional, and tells the story of an umbrella of various, accompanying, mental health issues.
My heart hurt for Suzie, and for her friends and family who try to help her.

Thanks to Kevin Landt, Ryland Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with this free ARC, with which I leave a voluntary review.

This was a DNF for me, well more like a skip to the end after 30%. This is 100% on me, not the book, I should have paid closer attention to the description. I didn't realise how focused it would be on mental illness, addiction and relationships in general, these are genres I usually try to avoid.

That being said, I loved how the author's writing style flowed, I loved the detailed descriptions of the people and settings and feelings. Despite skipping through the middle I enjoyed the dramatic ending.

I would love to read future books by this author.

Kevin Landt’s The Mole People is an emotionally charged and atmospheric thriller that delves into the hidden underbelly of Las Vegas, a stark contrast to the city’s dazzling exterior. This haunting novel brings readers into a world where the line between reality and delusion is often blurred, creating a gripping psychological exploration of mental illness, survival, and isolation.

At the heart of the novel is Suzie Franks, a young woman whose struggle with schizophrenia leads her into the dark, subterranean tunnels of Las Vegas, inhabited by the forgotten and displaced. Suzie’s journey is both a literal descent into the city’s underworld and a symbolic confrontation with her inner demons. Kevin Landt paints a vivid and unsettling portrait of Suzie’s mental state, keeping readers on edge as they question what’s real and what’s a product of her illness. This constant tension gives the novel its razor-sharp intensity, pulling readers into the fractured lens through which Suzie views the world.

One of the most compelling aspects of The Mole People is the depth of its character development, particularly in Suzie. She’s not just a victim of her circumstances or her illness; she’s a multifaceted protagonist, one who is resourceful and resilient even when pushed to her breaking point. Her battle with schizophrenia is portrayed with raw honesty, highlighting the confusion, paranoia, and fear that often accompany the condition. Landt does a masterful job of making Suzie’s struggles feel deeply personal and relatable, ensuring that readers empathize with her as she tries to navigate a reality that seems to shift and twist around her.

The plot is as layered as the characters themselves. Suzie’s descent into the tunnels below Las Vegas is filled with tangible and intangible threats, making it difficult for her—and for readers—to discern who or what can be trusted. The underground world Landt creates is hauntingly claustrophobic, filled with eerie figures, dangerous situations, and moments of stark beauty amidst the decay. The community of outcasts that Suzie encounters in the tunnels adds a sense of melancholy and danger, as they each grapple with their own demons while surviving on the margins of society. Suzie’s interactions with these people reveal as much about her character as they do about the world she’s entered, shedding light on her mental resilience and emotional vulnerability.

Landt skillfully weaves themes of survival, mental health, and societal neglect into the narrative, using the bleak setting of Las Vegas’ underground to reflect the struggles of those living on the fringes of society. The novel doesn’t shy away from portraying the harsh realities of mental illness and homelessness, but it does so with nuance, avoiding clichés and instead focusing on the complex inner lives of its characters. There’s an underlying question that permeates the novel: Is Suzie’s journey to escape the tunnels an allegory for her battle with her own mind? And will she find redemption, or be lost to the darkness?

As the stakes rise and Suzie’s situation becomes increasingly perilous, the pacing of The Mole People builds to a nail-biting climax. Readers will find themselves holding their breath as Suzie faces not only physical danger but also the ever-present threat of her mind turning against her. The novel strikes a delicate balance between being a thriller and a psychological drama, keeping readers engaged on multiple levels as they try to piece together the mystery alongside Suzie.

In The Mole People, Kevin Landt has crafted a novel that is both a riveting exploration of human resilience and a sobering reflection on the darker sides of society. The story grips readers from the very first page and doesn’t let go until long after the final chapter. Suzie’s journey—both physical and psychological—will resonate deeply with anyone who has ever struggled to find their way in a world that doesn’t seem to fit. For fans of thrillers with complex, well-developed characters and a deep emotional core, The Mole People is an unforgettable addition to any bookshelf.