She didn’t just change his life. She took control of it.

When celebrated novelist John Stone hires a young gardener to restore the grounds of his lakefront estate, he believes he’s found a welcome distraction from grief. Recently widowed and dangerously alone, Stone is unprepared for Vicki Dunn—beautiful, sexual, impulsive, and relentless in her pursuit of everything he has to offer.

What begins as an affair quickly becomes an obsession. Within weeks, Vicki has moved into Stone’s home, emptied his checkbook, alienated his daughters, and married him in a whirlwind ceremony abroad. But beneath her seductive charm lies something volatile. Strange nocturnal episodes, emotional cruelty, and an unsettling hunger for dominance signal that Stone’s new wife may not be who—or what—she claims to be.

As Stone struggles to reconcile desire with dread, he realizes too late that he has surrendered more than his heart. He has invited a predator into his life.

Darkly erotic and deeply unsettling, The Gardener is a chilling psychological thriller about grief, power, and the lies we tell ourselves when we’re afraid to be alone—from bestselling author Peter Leonard.

About The Author

Peter Leonard

Peter Leonard the son of legendary crime novelist, Elmore Leonard, is a national bestselling author of seven thrillers, including Quiver, Trust Me, All He Saw was the Girl, Voices of the Dead, Back from the Dead, Eyes Closed Tight, Unknown Remains, and a continuation of his father's most famous character, Raylan Givens, titled Raylan Goes to Detroit. He lives in Birmingham, Michigan with his wife, Julie, and his dog, Sam.

Product Details

Publisher: Rare Bird Books (October 20, 2026)
Length: 272 pages
ISBN13: 9781644285763

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Raves and Reviews

“A strong debut that combines a tight plot (about a deadly double-cross in the woods of Michigan) with memorable characters and dialogue—come to think of it, not unlike what Leonard’s father, Elmore Leonard, creates.”

– Seattle Times

"Quiver is a spectacular debut….With a large cast of characters—each presented as meticulously as an Andrew Wyeth portrait—and numerous points of view, all funneling inevitably to a stunning conclusion, you will be holding your breath until the final page. Peter’s dad should be proud.”

– Otto Penzler, owner of The Mysterious Bookshop

"While he will always face comparisons with his legendary father, Elmore Leonard, the author (Quiver; Trust Me; Voices of the Dead; All He Saw Was the Girl) continues to establish himself as one of today’s better mystery writers. Easily readable in a single sitting, Leonard’s fifth novel will appeal to fans of mystery, thrillers, and the Leonard name.”

– Library Journal

"If you haven't read Leonard before—and you must—this is a great place to start."

– The Guardian

"A deftly crafted and simply riveting read from beginning to end by an author who is a master of narrative driven storytelling, Peter Leonard's Raylan Goes to Detroit is very highly recommended and unfailingly entertaining."

– Midwest Book Review