The Shadow of The Mole

By: Bob Van Laerhoven

Narrated by: Martyn Swain

1916, Bois de Bolante, France. The battles in the trenches are raging fiercer than ever. In a deserted mineshaft, French sappeurs discover an unconscious man, and nickname him The Mole.

Claiming he has lost his memory, The Mole is convinced that he's dead, and that an other has taken his place. The military brass considers him a deserter, but front physician and psychiatrist-in-training Michel Denis suspects that his patient's odd behavior is stemming from shellshock, and tries to save him from the firing squad.

The mystery deepens when The Mole begins to write a story in écriture automatique that takes place in Vienna, with Dr. Josef Breuer, Freud’s teacher, in the leading role. Traumatized by the recent loss of an arm, Denis becomes obsessed with him, and is prepared to do everything he can to unravel the patient's secret.

Set against the staggering backdrop of the First World War, The Shadow of The Mole is a thrilling tableau of loss, frustration, anger, madness, secrets, and budding love. The most urgent question in this extraordinary story is: When, how, and why reality shifts into delusion?

©2022 Bob Van Laerhoven (P)2022 Bob Van Laerhoven

Critic reviews

"The Flemish writer Bob Van Laerhoven writes in a fascinating and compelling way about a psychiatric investigation during WW1. The book offers superb insight into the horrors of war and the trail of human suffering that results from it" (NBD Biblion)

A unique story set during the war!

What a remarkably unique story in The Shadow of the Mole by Bob van Laerhoven. I've read work by this author before and am honored to read more. I read the print book, and then listened to the audiobook. The narrator brings the story to life, and you feel a whole new perspective of the story. Amnesia is a real condition that takes a part of a person's memory, leaving a hole where those memories used to be. Sometimes they come back, and other times, they don't. It's the like the brain as a reset button, and becomes blank, ready to start filling it again. The setting WWI. The illness, war and its effect on some, and even a deeper investigation into the mind of one, suffering from the horrors of war. A very compelling and intriguing story. They used to call it "shell-shock" now, it's more like PTSD, but the trauma is true and goes deep. Meet "The Mole" and why he is called that, and what happens next, when the military believes one thing, but a doctor believes something else. I am a definite fan of this author! It’s one of those embraceable stories. This author is a great storyteller. A definite attention grabber. Both thrilling and intriguing, all the way to the end. Masterfully written! This author not only tells the story but shows it with words as well. Simply awe-inspiring. I will definitely add more of this author's books to my bookshelf. Tantalizing and intriguing! The Shadow of the Mole is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I listened to this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who listens to this book, to also write a review.