Machinery of Power

What happens when the very systems designed to protect us become instruments of control?

Rob Mohr’s latest novel, Providence of the Blind, takes readers on a gripping journey into the heart of institutional corruption, personal transformation, and the eternal tension between truth and illusion. Mohr doesn’t write fiction that hides behind metaphor. He writes stories that burn, bleed, and force us to reckon with uncomfortable realities.

Set in the southeastern United States and Mexico, this political thriller/historical fiction hybrid centers on Christian Martinez, a former intelligence officer turned investigative journalist. He’s a man haunted by his past; a past that includes covert operations, disillusionment, and the slow erosion of ideals. But when a chance discovery leads him into the underbelly of government lies and transnational exploitation, Christian is forced to confront the very structures he once upheld.

A Man in Search of Truth—and Himself

Christian Martinez is not your typical hero. He’s not infallible. He’s not polished. But he’s awake and waking up further. Mohr crafts him as both seeker and witness, a character torn between faith and logic, grief and purpose. As Christian dives deeper into a web of political manipulation, racial injustice, and economic disparity, his personal demons rise to meet him.

And yet, Providence of the Blind is not a story of despair. It’s a story of breaking open. A story of shedding blindness; not just Christian’s, but our own.

Through visions, dreams, and unexpected allies, including a circle of indigenous women in Mexico and a group of radical thinkers back in the U.S., Christian begins to unlearn the narratives he was trained to accept. What emerges is a quiet revolution of the mind, and an understanding that the battle for truth must begin within.

When Systems Crumble, People Rise

As in Mohr’s previous work, this novel is charged with a deep commitment to social justice. The narrative unflinchingly critiques:

• The militarization of the U.S.–Mexico border
• The surveillance state
• Systemic racism and class oppression
• The commodification of indigenous knowledge

But Mohr doesn’t stop at critique. He offers counter-narratives. Within the ruins of empire, he uncovers spiritual resilience, cultural power, and revolutionary tenderness.

The novel weaves real history with fictional threads, highlighting the complicity of political elites, the betrayal of democratic ideals, and the quiet bravery of those who resist invisibly, every day.

Mysticism Meets Investigation

What sets Providence of the Blind apart in the genre of political fiction is its unapologetic blend of the rational and the mystical.

Christian’s journey isn’t just about facts—it’s about faith. Not religious doctrine, but a deeper spiritual reckoning. Through encounters with spiritual leaders, ancient wisdom, and dreams that seem to peel back layers of reality, Christian learns that truth isn’t always written in government documents or found in databases.

Sometimes it’s whispered. Sometimes it’s sung. Sometimes it’s hidden in plain sight.

This fusion of thriller pacing and spiritual insight makes Mohr’s work uniquely powerful. It’s rare to find a novel that moves like a spy story but thinks like a sacred text.

For Readers Who Demand More

Providence of the Blind doesn’t ask readers to escape the world. It asks them to see it more clearly.

If you’re a fan of fiction that questions power, explores human complexity, and respects cultural nuance, this is your next must-read. Mohr’s writing is fearless, but not preachy. Emotional, but never manipulative. His characters don’t speak in slogans; they speak in truths that have been earned.

A Legacy of Storytelling as Resistance

Rob Mohr brings decades of lived experience to his novels. His work as an educator and activist in Latin America, combined with his training in the arts and literature, gives his writing both authority and soul.

With Shadow Love and The Dream Teacher already cementing his place as a literary voice for justice, Providence of the Blind extends that legacy. This is fiction for thinkers, believers, and skeptics alike.

As Mohr himself writes through one of his characters:

“Providence does not reward obedience. It rewards awareness.”

That awareness, painful, powerful, transformative, is what makes this novel unforgettable.

Why Now?

In an era where truth feels negotiable and trust in institutions continues to erode, Providence of the Blind reminds us of literature’s power to wake us up. It’s not enough to know what’s wrong with the world. We need to ask what kind of people we must become to change it.

Christian Martinez’s journey mirrors that call, a man who learns that to truly serve justice, he must dismantle the lies within himself as well as around him.

Available Now

Published in 2025, Providence of the Blind is now available through major retailers and independent bookstores.
To explore more of Rob Mohr’s work, including upcoming projects and articles on political resistance through storytelling, visit his author pages and social channels.