Some gardens grow flowers. Others grow secrets. In a small Devon town, recently widowed Reg Burridge shuffles through his quiet routines expecting to experience grief, not fear. But when a young man befriends him, offering help, Reg's life becomes the stage for a crime he never saw coming. What follows is a gripping, darkly humorous descent into coercion, exploitation, and how one man copes in a time of desperation. In order to get his life back, Reg must navigate intimidation, shifting loyalties, and the unexpected possibility of fighting back. The Reluctant Gardener blends the bleak charm and psychological sharpness of Pascal Garnier with the human depth of Fredrik Backman.