Wow....all I can say is WOW.

This story about a nearly 50 year-old cold case, A skeleton is found under the concrete base of a statue called Midsummer Eves, which dates back to a 1979 music festival at a California mansion-turned-commune (the erstwhile Gardener Estate, which became known as The Commons, then back to the Gardener Estate). The team investigating this mystery are also running against the clock in obtaining the final secrets of a serial killer known as the Highwayman, who is dying of cancer.

This is a book I did NOT want to end. I was really wrapped up in the story! I enjoyed the pacing and descriptions of the characters (especially MC Inspector Raquel Laing). I felt as if I was at the Gardener Estate--or The Commons, depending on the time period--and could easily picture the scenes and people in my mind. I also liked how the online sleuthing community was featured in Dee (Inspector Laing's sister) and how they can assist with cold cases.

I felt this was also a good representation of investigating a cold case--it certainly wasn't solved in 45 minutes, but took place over several days. The twists and turns of the case kept me interested. Once the identity of the skeleton was revealed, I figured out who the murderer was--but that was nearly at the end of the book.

Honestly, if this would turn into a series featuring Inspector Laing, I would be thrilled.

Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this book. All opinions are my own.

“The day had been going so well, until the bones turned up.”

The discovery of skeletal remains on the Gardener Estate sets this mystery by Laurie R. King in motion. Back to the Garden is a story told with dual timelines - the present day search for the victims of a recently identified serial killer and the events from 1975 to 1979, when the estate was home to a hippie commune.

This investigative mystery was the first novel I’ve read by Laurie R. King, and I’d certainly read more. I enjoyed Back to the Garden’s somewhat leisurely pace and the time spent on the historical narrative. Raquel Laing, the unofficial detective, is an intriguing character and the story’s ending seemed to set-up Raquel for a series.

I absolutely love touring house museums when I travel, so I found the vivid description of the Gardener Estate and the commune’s way of life to be very engaging. I also appreciated Raquel’s obviously neurodivergent mind and how her unique perspective was a strength in her investigations. And the positive LGBTQ representation is another plus.

Back to the Garden might not be a fit for readers who crave a high level of suspense in their mysteries, but those who enjoy historical fiction and detective series should definitely check this book out.

Thanks to Random House and Ballantine publishers as well as NetGalley for access to this eARC.

The premise of the book sounded great – that is why I wanted to read it. However, the execution of the book was less than great. I wanted to read more about the mystery itself, than about the Estate. The book mainly focused on the Estate’s history with maybe 10% of discussing the bones. It was a let down for a thriller/crime thriller fan. This was the first book for me by this author, so I don’t have anything to compare it to. But for me, the characters were very one dimensional, lacking any sort of depth. I was honestly a little bored reading this book.

I am able to give the book 3 stars because of the small twist, that if you know how to read author’s tells, you could figure it out, but for someone that isn’t paying close attention, they won’t figure it out.

This is my first Laurie King book outside of the Mary Russell series. It's a slow-burn kind of pace, with a dual timeline story.
I found myself not really liking the present-day characters. I was much more interested in Rob, Jerry and Meadow in the historical timeline, and felt like these characters were more well-developed by the author.
Laurie King writes such well-researched historical fiction, I felt like I could easily picture all the people and the Estate on the historical side of the story. I want to go sit in the gazebo with the wisteria and your the murals in the house.
I am a long-time Laurie King fan, and would definitely check out other books outside the Mary Russell series!

This isn't for the reader who prefers a mystery of the cozy leanings. This is a police procedural with an interesting main character in Raquel Laing. She is complex and has an edge to her. She has baggage. She has been working cold cases and is called in when human remains are discovered at the Gardener Estate, a lavish playground of one of California's elite families. Back in the 1970's the grandson, Rob, turned it into a commune. By 1979, during a festival on the grounds, things started to unravel and several people vanished. Did they just decide to move on or did they meet a sad end at the hands of a serial killer known as the Highwayman? Who was buried on the grounds and who put them there are the questions for Inspector Laing to uncover. It made for a solid mystery that I enjoyed.
My thanks to the publisher Random House and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

BACK TO THE GARDEN is a twisty stand-alone Murders (plural) mystery from Laurie R. King, strongly rooted in Seventies' counterculture and flavored with Hollywood upper crust of the 20's and 30's, leavened throughout with Art, always acknowledging the "outside world": Vietnam, hitchhiking, serial killing in an Era when victims could disappear without being missed.

In the present day, a dedicated but "odd," intuitive cold case Investigator races to uncover clues of a serial killer active in California in the 1970's, a man just recently identified who is literally nearly on his deathbed. Entrapped in the investigation is a commune formed in Oregon, later moved to a Glorious family estate on the Central California Coast.

This dual-timeline slow burn mystery hit all the right spots. Told in the present day with Inspector Raquel Laing trying to solve a fifty year old cold case after bones are discovered on the Gardener Estate in Central California, which was also once a commune as well as trying to catch a serial killer before his time runs out. In the 70s timeline we see everything leading up to the murder. Laing is a cunning detective and I hope to see more stories about her in the future.

Bones are found under a statue in the garden of a former commune and seem to be linked to other murders. They start looking for a serial killer.

Another new-to-me author that I ended up loving. Back to the Garden is a murder mystery that had me hooked from the beginning. I'm honestly surprised I haven't read this author before.

I really love multiple POVs and dual timelines so right away this was a huge plus. The story, the characters, the mystery...all enjoyable and made this hard to put down.

I sincerely appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

Compulsively readable!

A beautiful estate in California has many stories to tell. Through the years it has been home to the wealthy if troubled Gardener family, a magnet for luminaries from Hollywood and the art world, a commune, and is now a museum showcasing its gardens and artworks. When steps are taken to shore up a large sculpture on the property, something completely unexpected is uncovered…a human skull.

It is then that we meet Inspector. Raquel Laing, who has come to investigate the find. There is mystery surrounding Raquel as well…why is she, specifically, here? She is walking with a limp and is in a position of professional limbo, though we don’t know quite why. She is, however, also looking into the victims of a recently discovered serial killer, who is himself close to death. Is this skull from an as-yet unknown victim of The Highwayman, as he has come to be known? Is the last of the Gardener family, founder of the commune that once thrived there and who is still living in seclusion on the property, involved? Raquel has more than one case to solve while she works to regain her professional footing, and time is running out on all scores.

This is more than a mystery. We are taken on a tour through the workings of a 70’s commune, the demands on a small museum rich in art but short of funds, the story of a family that had ambition and money but enough dysfunction to implode. It is a book I found hard to put down, and one in which I was torn between wanting to know the truth of what happened while not wanting the book to end. In Raquel Laing, Ms King has yet again created a smart, flawed and complex character, and I am hopeful that there will be more stories to come featuring her and the people in her world to whom we have been introduced.

Fans of Ms King’’s earlier works will find much to appreciate here, but being one of her readers is not a prerequisite by any means to choosing this as your next read. If you are looking for a fascinating tale from a consummate storyteller, Back to the Garden is for you.

A mysterious setting, the 1970's and a body found from years are found on the sprawling estate called Gardener. The story alternates between its time as a commune in the 70's to the present day when a body is found under one of its acclaimed sculptures in its gardens. Its lead detective serves as our guide through archives and interviews to solve this 50-year old case. Who was murdered and who is the murderer?

This book is a page-turner, and I simply love reading about events of the 70's. This is a solid mystery.

Thank you Random House | Bantam for the #gifted copy.

Laurie R. King never disappoints. This was atmospheric and enjoyable, with King's usual attention to detail, making the reader feel utterly immersed in her world. Looking forward to more in this series.

I typically love historical mysteries, but this one didn't quite work for me. I didn't like the writing or the characters.

A solid murder mystery told in dual timelines (during the time of the murder and present day). Fifty years ago, a murder happened on the Gardener estate - an old hippie commune turned museum.

Raquel Lang is assigned to the cold case of the Highwayman after coming off leave and human remains found on the Gardener estate. Was it the charismatic hippie heir, Rob Gardener? Is it a case of mistake identity?

The book is decently paced and kept me compelled. Raquel Laing was a well developed character and had me rooting for her to solve the case. I look forward to reading more from Laurie R. King.

This book is out now and features a gorgeous cover (which is why I picked the book in the first place). Thanks to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for this eARC.

This was a fascinating mystery that starts with the discovery of skeletal remains under a statue and jumps back and forth in time to find out how a peaceful commune led to murder. King is a fantastic writer with a firm command of all the elements that make a mystery truly great.

Slow burning mystery thriller that might be the start of a new series.

Inspector Raquel Laing faces a complicated case with a sort of timer countdown. The police have a dying man in custody, The Highwayman, who may give them answers and names for a series of murders dating back 50 years. The intensity and pressure increase when a set of remains is found under the base of a huge statue that is being restored on the Gardener Estate. Could this be another of his victims?

The Gardener Estate, a vast property with a huge mansion and extensive formal gardens, has a long history in California. In the family for generations, it was briefly the site of a commune in the 70s when Rob Gardener inherited but had no interest in claiming material possessions for himself. Now, the Estate has been lovingly restored to its former glory by a trust and managed by a board that includes one of Rob's cousins. The hippies have been long gone, but the bones indicate that it was one of them.

Told in a then and now format, the narrative introduces many interesting characters. Raquel learns a lot from the archivist on site and the historical records and photographs from the commune era and tries to find any of those who were there in the 70s to get answers. Although it was slow moving, things really start to pick up in the last fourth of the book and all is revealed in a satisfying conclusion. I found it quite interesting and think that there is much to learn about Raquel so wonder if there will be more novels featuring this character. This wasn't an intense, gripping suspense thriller but more a police procedural mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

Laurie R. King is best known for her long-running Mary.
Russell and Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, but she has also written several excellent stand-alone novels. Back to the Garden falls into that category. The Gardener Estate is steeped in California history and has seen many transformations. It is reminiscent of the Hearst San Simeon Estate, with baronial interiors, exteriors, and extensive gardens. The Estate has always remained in the Gardener family's hands. In the 1970s, the Estate rested in the hands of the "Old Bastard," always referred to by his grandsons." Fort" and Rob Gardener are the heirs to the Estate. "Fort" has already taken off for an ashram in India and disinherited. The rebellious and volatile Rob refuses to be part of his grandfather's plans. He joins the Army and is promptly sent off to Viet Nam. Only a cousin stays involved with the running of the Estate, but since his last name is not Gardener, he can't inherit.

When Rob returns from Viet Nam and inherits, he is still rebellious and volatile. He is also deeply immersed in the 1970s "counterculture." He and his partner, Meadow,
remake the house and grounds into an experiment in communal living. All sorts of people come and go from 1970s cultural icons to petty criminals. "Fort" reappears, still with no designs on the Estate, rather than a seemingly small request. All seemed well until Rob and Meadow decided to have an art and music festival, mainly to showcase the success of their experiment. On that weekend, everything changes. Meadow and "Fort" disappear, and the commune breaks up quickly. Currently, the Estate is managed by a Trust, and Rob is a hermit living on the grounds. The Estate has been returned to its former glory, and big plans are afoot. An immense statue, The Three Eves, has to be moved and shored up. A human skull and remains are discovered beneath.

Anyone who lived through the 70s might remember that there was also a surfeit of serial killers operating in America. Young women on the roads were killed and disappeared all over, particularly in California. When a Cold Case investigator, Racquel Laing from the SFPD, gets wind of the find, she thinks it would fit her case, that of The Highwayman. The Highwayman is in custody, but he is dying. Racquel is on a mission to find out who, other than the nine women they know about, fell victim to him. He isn't talking unless forced to, and Raquel is determined to find out every victim before time runs out. The intersection of the history of the Gardener family and the Highwayman is bound together.

Back to the Garden is an intricate and compelling read with King's signature full-bodied characters and atmospheric writing. Thanks to NetGalley.com and Bantam Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING- 4.5 Stars

I would have enjoyed Back to the Garden far more if it had focused on the Gardener Estate and the fall-out from finding a body there. Inspector Raquel Laing is a painfully boring character and the chapters focusing on her tedious serial killer investigation brought the story to a grinding halt; I'm shocked that King has announced that she's making such lifeless character the focus of a series.

Received via NetGalley.

Inspector Raquel Laing is faced with a new mystery. A skull is found on the grounds of a home that was a commune in times past. When she begins to dig into whose skull it might be, she uncovers many missing people from that time. Can she figure out who the skull belongs to before someone else is killed or the killer gets away forever?

Back to the Garden by Laurie R King is the stand alone novel telling several stories: one cold case serial killer investigation, one newly discovered murder, although it took place 40 years earlier, and the struggles of an excellent police officer, Raquel Laing, who was currently on everyone’s black list and has been relegated to cold cases as a way to keep her out of the limelight. The team was investigating a string of murders perpetrated by “The Highwayman,” whom they now had in custody. Well, he was in the hospital, dying. He was very old and he had cancer, and they were hoping he would open up about the crimes, at least providing closure for the dead girls’ families. He would only talk to Raquel and only for short periods of time, and responding only to certain types of questioning. Meanwhile, a body had been discovered under a huge piece of art at the Gardener Estate. The estate was a trip: it had lived several lives. The first as the showpiece of an incredibly wealthy family who had made their fortunes on the backs of others. Then, it had become a hippie commune. Now it was a mansion, struggling as a tourist attraction, wedding venue, et al.

We met a variety of characters in the finely written police procedural. The Commons, as it had been called when it was a hippie retreat, housed nearly 100 people and played host to a variety of well-known musical personalities of the 70s as they passed through the San Francisco music scene. For a short while it had been a self-sustaining nirvana for damaged people. Now, it was struggling, but the people there were all deeply committed to its success. It was a nostalgic story, one of a time gone by, one that most of a generation loved on the periphery of. Most of the residents moved on. Some well, some not, but the readers felt the transition deeply as the beginnings of the transition to the world we now inhabit. It was a good story, and it took a while to solve all the crimes, but it was time well spent for Raquel, despite bringer her back tot he attention of the higher-ups. It was a well-written piece of detective work. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Back to The Garden by Bantam, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. #Netgalley #Bantam #LaurieRKing #BackToTheGarden