Bob Van Laerhoven throws us into a fantastic psychological mystery set against the backdrop of World War I with The Shadow of the Mole! It’s 1916 and war is raging in France when soldiers encounter a mysterious man they dub The Mole. This man believes he died and was replaced by an Other. The soldiers turn him in as a deserter, but budding psychologist Michel Denis quickly takes on the unusual case. Van Laerhoven expertly sets up the scene and world building here, making me feel the muck and oppression of World War I trenches, but I especially loved how the story quickly took a turn, diving headlong into the realm of mystery. Psychology has always fascinated me, so it was interesting to see it explored in this way (especially in a time period where psychology wasn’t widely accepted but was simultaneously exploding as a new field). If you’re looking for a compelling psychological mystery or love the World War I period, definitely come dive into a mind as meandering as the trenches with The Shadow of the Mole!
