From Mind Games to Malaga: The Birth of False Friends

After wrapping up my Mind Games series—a psychological thriller that took readers deep into the murky waters of manipulation, deceit, and a nameless cult—I found myself at a creative crossroads. The characters were still echoing in my mind, their twisted logic and buried traumas lingering long after the final page. But the question remained: what next?

I knew two things for sure. First, that my next series would be set in Málaga. I had just moved to this sun-soaked city on the southern coast of Spain, and I was falling under its spell. The sea, the light, the rhythm of life—it was all too vivid not to write about. Second, I wanted the new series to somehow stay connected to South Africa, the country I had called home for a decade.

South Africa wasn’t just a place I lived. It was where I forged deep friendships, experienced the vibrancy and complexity of its culture, and endured the greatest loss of my life—the passing of my husband. That country will always hold a piece of my heart, and I knew it needed to live on in my work.

The pieces began to align when I enrolled in a Spanish language school here in Málaga. At first, it was just a way to integrate more fully into my new surroundings. But then... strange things started happening. Small things. Odd behaviour. Inconsistencies. People who didn’t quite add up. My writer's brain kicked in.

What if this school, seemingly ordinary on the outside, was the perfect setting for something darker? What if the teachers—those cheerful, grammar-drilling guides—had secrets of their own? Dodgy pasts. Hidden agendas. And what if one of the students—perhaps someone from South Africa—saw what others didn’t?

And just like that, False Friends was born.

A thriller series set in a Spanish language school in Málaga, where not everyone is who they claim to be. Where the language barrier isn’t the only thing hiding the truth. Where a simple desire to learn Spanish becomes a dangerous game of trust, lies, and survival.

This new series is deeply personal—anchored in two places that have shaped me profoundly, and inspired by real experiences that were, at times, stranger than fiction. Of course, it takes a while to write, so I thought, what better way to connect with you, my readers with little updates via Instagram posts and a Blog. And here it is. I've been doing this on Instagram for a while. So, if you want to head over, and see what I've been doing, just check out agr_goff. Otherwise, just stay put. I can’t wait to take you with me into this new world.

Welcome to False Friends.