Before he became a monster, he was just a boy. But what made him that way?

“Some people are born with darkness. Others are made by it.”

Before Sun on Your Back revealed the damage André Kruger inflicted on his family, André’s Story takes you to the very beginning—when he was still a boy.

From his childhood in a boarding house in Cape Town to the moment he became the man Diara feared, this novella is a psychological deep dive into the trauma, choices, and circumstances that shaped him.

What turns a man into a perpetrator of abuse? André’s Story does not excuse, but it seeks to uncover the roots of destruction.

Behind-the-Scenes / Author’s Note
“Monsters aren’t born—they are created.”

Writing André’s Story was one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. While Sun on Your Back focuses on survival and justice, this novella explores the making of a man who destroyed lives.
This story does not seek to excuse André’s actions, but rather to pull back the curtain on how abuse can take root—through generational trauma, poor choices, and a society that often looks the other way.
If you choose to read it, I hope it brings understanding, reflection, and difficult but necessary conversations.
Thank you for reading. If this book resonates with you, I would love to hear your thoughts.

⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Childhood trauma, abuse, psychological manipulation, and themes of violence.