The Reluctant Villain is the prequel to the author's first novel, Ghostly Witnesses, the story of how the two young villains, Mark Yarrow and Gerry Reynolds, were drawn into the murky crime world of ex-policeman, Ernie Newsham... Mark was no angel, but Gerry had a promising career ahead until Gerry's boss retired and a new owner took over, giving him the most menial tasks and accusing him of stealing and, eventually, dismissing, Gerry. Stalked by tragedy, as his pregnant girlfriend dies, the only person Gerry can turn to for help is Ernie - which plays straight into the crooked ex-policeman's hands. As Gerry transforms from an honest, hard worker into a reluctant criminal - what hope will the future hold?