Subjunctive Mood ist der erste Roman der Reihe False Friends – ein psychologischer Thriller, der von den eigenen Erfahrungen des Autors beim Studium an einer realen Sprachschule in Südspanien inspiriert wurde.
Bianca, die in Südafrika lebt, lernt Ramón kennen, einen Sprachlehrer, dessen Faszination für Grammatik und Kontrolle weit über den Unterricht hinausreicht. Als sie eine Einladung erhält, dem Instituto Guerrera in Málaga beizutreten, verspricht ihr der Umzug eine neue Perspektive durch Sprache und Zugehörigkeit. Doch was sie stattdessen vorfindet, ist ein sorgsam ausbalanciertes System aus Einflussnahme, Abhängigkeit und Schweigen.
Während Bianca sich im Institut einlebt, verschwimmen die Grenzen zwischen professioneller Beratung und persönlicher Manipulation. Sprache wird mehr als nur ein Studienfach – sie wird zum Mechanismus, durch den Verhalten geformt und Autonomie stillschweigend untergraben wird.
Anhand realer Beobachtungen der Dynamik in Sprachschulen untersucht „Subjunctive Mood“ Macht, Suggestion und die subtilen Wege, auf denen Umgebungen die Identität prägen können. Es leitet eine Reihe ein, in der Grammatik nicht Metapher, sondern Struktur ist – und Unsicherheit jeder Entscheidung innewohnt.
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Bewertungen
Subjunctive Mood takes a different approach from most psychological thrillers and focuses more on atmosphere and inner tension than on fast plot development. I appreciated the originality and the theme of obsession running through the story, but at times I found it slightly difficult to fully connect with what was happening. The pacing is quite slow and a lot is left open. Still, it’s clearly a carefully written and distinctive book that will appeal to readers looking for something less conventi
What kept me reading Subjunctive Mood was the way Bianca’s situation slowly becomes more unsettling, while Ramón’s perspective adds a completely different layer to the story. Their storylines feel separate at first but gradually create a sense that something larger is going on. The characters feel distinct, and their decisions don’t always follow typical thriller logic, which makes the book feel less predictable. It’s clearly the start of a series, and I’m interested to see how Bianca, Ramón and
Subjunctive Mood begins with Bianca, who is confronted with the situation that her husband, believed to be dead, appears again. That in itself isn't original, but it creates unease, because nothing is ever fully explained and you are never completely sure what is real. Gradually does the connection to the Spanish language school emerge, adding another layer of tension. The restrained writing style works very well here, as much is implied rather than stated directly. It's intelligently written.
The story drew me in straight away, as it’s inspired by a real Spanish language school the author attended in Málaga. It starts with Bianca and immediately feels uneasy. When Ramón comes in, the tension deepens, helped by a strong but non-romantic sexual charge between them. The SA setting also feels authentic, which makes everything more believable. It’s uncomfortable, understated, and stayed with me after I finished. I'm intrigued what the school has to hide. I like the twist. Bring on book 2.
What I appreciated most about Subjunctive Mood is how controlled everything feels. The story never becomes loud or exaggerated, yet there is a constant sense that something is not quite right. The familiar idea of a supposedly dead husband returning is used in a way that focuses more on uncertainty and perception than on shock value. The narrative is very restrained, which makes small details feel more important. It trusts the reader and avoids obvious genre clichés, and that made it stand out.