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The vans empty off a deserted road in Chile next to a waterfall.

The 12 people assemble in a group while their host hands out cards for them to fill out and pass forward. This card indicates which person is suspect in the short time they've known one another. One person who appears more guilty than the rest is singled out to come forward.

The host puts her in charge of assigning who among the others will end up with money in the bags they are to catch as they go over the waterfalls on a raft attached to a bungee cord.

One by one the 11 who choose her as their initial pick go over the falls, trying to grab their money bag. Some have fake money in their bags, others have real money. Not everyone catches their bag. In all, $20,000 is added to the pot of money that will grow over time.

Someone in this group of strangers is "The Mole." The mole will do whatever he or she is able to in order to sabotage the efforts of the remaining players. He or she is a double agent, pretending to be a part of the group while working against them.

Every couple of days there is a new mission to accomplish. With each success, more money goes into the pot. With each sabotage, money is kept out of the pot.

While trying to do their best, the people also are trying to figure out which among them is the mole.

They can trust no one, not even those they consider friends. Anyone could be the mole.

At the end of May of this year, my family was not that interested in watching yet another reality TV show.

We had just finished watching the conclusions of "American Idol," "Survivor Micronesia" and "The Bachelor-London Calling." We were midway through watching "Hell's Kitchen's" fourth season and already invested in following Deanna's love story in her season of "The Bachelorette."

But like with any good mystery novel, I was drawn into the fifth season of ABC's espionage reality show, "The Mole." I had not watched any of the other seasons, so was unsure what it was at first.

Quickly, we caught up with the episodes we had missed by watching online. Since then, we have set aside Monday nights at 10 p.m. so we could continue to draw our own conclusions on who the mole is.

We loved getting to know the different characters. It's people watching at its best - from the comfort of your own home. So many of them fit into some basic stereotypical roles from the onset.

That adds to the flavor of the plot as the mystery mole carries out his continual sabotage.

At the end of each show, each contestant, including the mole, takes a quiz. Whoever has the fewest questions right or slowest time in completing the quiz goes home. It is said they are executed for the sake of the espionage thriller storyline.

Part of the fun in watching such a show is to be able to go online and participate in the message board and watch extra video clips for clues.

As everyone on the message board tries to hash out the details, various theories pop up. The show is discussed much like you would discuss a well-written mystery novel or an espionage film. Each piece of information is key to deciphering who the mole is - or isn't.

The show is created in such an intelligent and thoughtful way to create a story beyond just how the producers can edit.

Next Monday at 10 p.m., you'll find me sitting with my family in front of the TV tuned in to ABC watching as they unveil the mole and clues that would have led us straight to him or her.

I can't wait!

Linda Vestal is a wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend living in Gibsonville. Contact her with comments or story ideas at lindavestal@triad.rr.com.