THE GARDENER’S SECRET by S. Hansberger

Fiction, Suspense, 266 pages

4****

Blurb: Believing she’ll get to report gritty news, Callie accepts a job at her hometown newspaper. Instead, she’s assigned the gardening column—a subject she knows nothing about. She begs advice from a tight-lipped neighbor when he admits he’s a retired gardener, even though his mannerisms and speech suggest he’s anything but. Not knowing the full truth doesn’t matter—she needs his help. The townsfolk think him strange and warn Callie to keep her distance, but she regards him and his family as friends. Learning their horrifying secret doesn’t deter her, even though loyalty will draw her into danger.

Thoughts: This was a good suspense novel. Callie is a young, avid reporter who wants to be a big-time investigative reporter — but she’s stuck doing a gardening column for her small town newspaper. Unfortunately, she knows absolutely nothing about gardening. But a new friend does and he agrees to help her. She becomes intrigued by him. He lives with his daughter and grandson and is very reclusive. Over the next few months, they become friends, and she learns why they are secretive. Their problem becomes her danger. Note trigger: this is a story about abuse though nothing happens in the book, there is talk about escaping bad situations.

I enjoyed the story—though I knew what was going on from the beginning—which is the only reason this was a four and not a five. The characters are believable and the settings well-done. Even the situation with the brother coming back sick and forcing the secret out is an interesting part of the story. 

Recommendation: I would definitely read more from this author and do recommend this if you’re looking for suspense that is on the lighter side (no murder, very little romance). 

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”