Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King 4.5 stars

A cold-case, bodies found in concrete foundations and an analytical mind – your introduction to Inspector Raquel Laing starts now. Set in the world on Kate Martinelli, this book could be a stand-alone or the start of a series - only time will tell.

When human remains are discovered underneath a statue on the grounds of a large estate in San Mateo County, the authorities are happy to accept the help of Inspector Raquel Laing of the SFPD. She is assigned to cold cases because she has been injured and not quite fit for duty. Due to the timing on when the body was buried, the individual could have been the victim of “The Highwayman” – a serial killer whose territory spanned the Bay Area. Inspector Laing will use her considerable intellect and connections to solve the mystery of the body buried under the statue.

I will confess that I have not read the author’s Kate Martinelli mysteries – I found her through the Beekeepers Apprentice and haven’t stopped since. This book is set in the world of Kate Martinelli through the character of Al Hawkin, Kate Martinelli’s partner on the force. He is also Inspector Laing’s mentor and advisor. The mystery is compelling, but there is a second mystery with multiple threads that need to be tied up. When it comes to the identity of the body underneath the statue, the story alternates between the past and the present. The other puzzle is time sensitive, because the guy with the answers is terminally ill and without his cooperation the victims may never be found or identified. In addition to all the world building, the book establishes the character of Inspector Raquel Liang. A highly intelligent individual whose observational skills are above the norm – her co-workers have nicknamed her Sherlock (an small reference to the Mary Russell series). I enjoyed the book, but I will say that a few parts were a little slow. I hope Ms. King will write another book featuring Ms. Laing; she deserves another outing to show her skills.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine Bantam for this ARC.

Creepy serial killer.
An estate garden that keeps producing bodies under statures.
Decades old cold cases of missing women.
A look back at 1970s communal life in California.
Back to the Garden includes all,the above elements. It was a fast read and the moving pieces of the puzzle fit together nicely.

This was an interesting book and I would definitely recommend to fans of police procedural/cold case mysteries. The pacing was a bit slow but the story worked. I also think this could be the start of or part of a series because the main detective, Inspector Laing, really needs more development. I could not figure her out! I haven't read anything but this author before but would definitely read more form her!

Back to the Garden comes out next week on September 6, 2022 and you can purchase HERE.

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

I always love a great 'Who Done It?' and Back to the Garden definitely succeeded there. When a statue is threatening to topple over, a crane comes in to move it. Human bones are discovered underneath and since the statue was put into place and cement poured in June of 1979, the detective knows when the body was placed there.

Inspector Raquel Laing of SFPD is outside her jurisdiction because of a serial murderer she had recently arrested. Her investigation is centered on determining if this apparent murder was part of the previous string of murders.

In flashbacks to the 70's, we get a close up look at counter-culture and commune living. We meet the players from the 70's, some of whom are still alive and some are long gone. I truly enjoyed the look back and how some of these "hippies" believed that they could change the world.

No spoilers, so I won't give away who was killed or by whom. Suffice it to say the Laurie R. King does a great job of keeping you reading!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for this honest review.

A garden that's more of a home to art and statues than it is for flowers is the perfect setting for this absolutely chilling mystery that had me hooked from the very beginning.

An overturned statue is the beginning of our journey, it's where we find the bones, yes bones, and where we see the beginning of our story in the past.

From famous works of art, members a family that aren't at all what they seem, unsolved mysteries galore, and to ties to a serial killer this is such a twisty tale

One thing I loved about this book was the alternate time frames, so as you're going along trying to figure out in the preset who did what and who knew what you have the alternate perspective of reading it as it happens, with just a few missing pieces in both perspectives that keep you from figuring everything out until the author is ready for you to know it all.

I will say this is a very original take on this type of story, the way it's written the Gardner Estate is almost it's own character and I love when a location plays such a poignant part in a story.

The history of the estate is fascinating how a "home" can be so many things to so many different people breathes new life into the story over and over again.

As for Inspector Raquel Laing she's my favorite type of character. The one that wants to bring justice to people who don't know how to or can't fight for it themselves. Strong, independent, and above all compassionate with her work and her life she is a fantastic character.

I can see myself reading this one again looking for all the little things that I'm sure I missed to see if I could figure all of it out any sooner.

Wonderful books always keep you thinking about them and talking about them and I can't stop thinking about this one and can't wait to start talking about it.

This is a solid 4.5 star book. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher Random House Publishing-Ballantine for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

The mystery in this novel clearly kept me engaged throughout until it’s resolution at the end. Loved the setting…a formal estate transformed in the 60’s by one of the sons and his commune, complete with tie dye curtains and psychedelic paintings. A sculptor has designed a massive piece for the garden that plays an important role in the story.
The story is told with dual timelines - in the 60’s and in present day. Family discord, commune living, cold case investigations, mysterious bones, murder suspects, Vietnam recluse, romantic entanglements, mysterious statue, and the drive and determination of one Inspector Raquel Laing, all contribute to the success of Back to the Garden.
I so loved watching Raquel’s mind work to make connections between random pieces of information and the ways she sought information she needed. Also loved her connections with other characters that served to show her as a real person. Rob was the character who stole my heart. The ending was somewhat predictable about 3/4ths of the way through but confirming my supposition was reassuring.
I can easily see that a sequel to this novel would definitely be interesting.
Many many thanks to Laurie R. King and NetGalley for affording me the pleasure of reading an arc of this interesting novel.

I'm a big fan of Laurie King's books so I was excited to have the opportunity to read this one. In this book she has a mystery that spans the years between the 1970's and the here and now. As someone who came of age in the 1970's I immediately identified with the characters and appreciated the setting greatly. Fans of King will thoroughly enjoy this book. And those of us who survived the 70's will enjoy going back to the garden!

Back to the Garden
by Laurie R. King
Pub Date: Sept. 6, 2022
Bantam
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. Back to the Garden is a story about a fifty-year-old cold case involving California royalty during the time of free love and a wealthy family. This story is told in the past leading with events leading up to the present, and alternating with the present, Although the story takes a bit to get into, my interest was piqued which kept me turning pages. This is my first Laurie R King novel and I was impressed.
3 stars

This stand alone mystery was so fun to read with incredible writing. I loved the dual timelines and the cast of characters were so great. I really enjoyed the main character, inspector Raquel, and I think she was my favorite character. I definitely recommend this book for mystery lovers and those who are wanting a fun, fast-paced novel!

Thank you to to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I have never read Laurie R. King before, but was intrigued by the premise of Back to the Garden and the prospect of the story involving the investigation of a cold case. While there are some flaws with the execution, I more or less enjoyed the overall story.
It definitely doesn’t feel much like a mystery at first, as the story goes back and forth between past and present, setting the scene of the location.
Raquel gets overshadowed as the investigator by some of the other major characters, especially with the “Then” timeline as a contrast. Who cares about the barely drawn detective when you have a whole bunch of well-drawn persons of interest, including one who is telling Raquel their story?
The time-period is well-drawn, and I actually wouldn’t have minded spending the whole book in the 70s, even if it meant dispensing with the cold-case angle. Either doing that or spending more time fleshing out the present-day characters to match might have helped to achieve more of a balance, but the latter may have bogged down the pacing even more.
And while the mystery itself receives a resolution, I didn’t feel like the narrative got proper closure. It was pretty abrupt, especially given how much effort it took to get there.
I suspect that the style was just not for me, as I’m so picky about dual-timeline narratives. But many others seemed to enjoy it, so I would encourage any interested readers to consult a balance of reviews before making a decision.

Back to the Garden is the story about a fifty-year-old cold case involving California royalty during the time of free love and a wealthy family. This story is told in the past leading with events leading up to the present, and alternating with the present,

Rob returns home after having served in the service. After a very short conversation with his grandfather he leaves in anger and heads for the mountains and finds peace in a commune. Rob is surprised to find after the grandfather has dies, he is the only heir to the family fortune. The lawyer tells Rob he has to live their for five years in or he loses all of it. Rob believes his older brother Fort should have a say in what happens. Eventually they all move to the mansion, commune and all, to live.

Fifty years later as the estate is undergoing restoration work a human skull is found under one of the statues.
Inspector Raquel Laing has her work cut out for her. The young heir, Rob Gardener, turned his palatial home into a counterculture commune of peace, love, and equality. But that was also a time when serial killers like The Highwayman, become a suspect in the recent find.

Laurie R. King has once again written a novel filled with amazing characters and a slow-burn mystery. For a change I actually enjoyed the dual-timeline set in present day and in the 1970's, intersecting the lives of those who lived in a California estate-turned-hippie-compound, now operating as a nonprofit garden and art center.

If you enjoy mysteries that are more than just facts and action thrown at you, and are more introspective, character drive, and take you on a journey of discovery, then you will enjoy this book as much as I did. The actual famous people from the 1970's written into the book also make it feel like a tiny piece of history.

I find all of her books great for book clubs or fans of crime novels, mysteries, historical fiction, and literary fiction alike, and this one did not disappoint.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for and ARC of this book.

SFPD cold case Inspector Raquel Laing is sent to investigate when human remains are found under a statue that has been in place for over 50 years at the Gardener Estate, once the formal home of one of California's wealthiest families, now held in trust with gardens open to the public. At the time the statue was placed, the estate was home to the younger Gardener brother, Rob, and the hippie commune he called family. Inspector Liang's goal is to discover whether the bones represent one of the victims of The Highwayman, a serial killer active in the area at the time who has recently been identified through familial DNA. While she waits for the coroner's report, Laing tries to learn everything she can about what was happening at the commune at the time and to narrow down the identity of the victim. I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timeline mystery. The present focuses on Liang, the Highwayman, and Liang's investigation into the bones found at the estate. The past provides the background on the Gardener family, the commune, and events leading up to the days when the statue was placed, introducing possible victims and alternate suspects, if the victim was not one of The Highwayman's. The characters are nuanced and interesting, the writing and imagery brings the scenes to life, and King keeps the reader turning pages quickly as she slowly reveals clues (and diversions) to bring the mystery to a satisfying conclusion.

Back to the Garden is my first book by this author and I really liked it. If you are fan of forensic shows, this novel is the perfect book for you.
Alternating between 1970's and now, this novel takes us into the communes and their lifestyle. The story told by different characters unfolds slowly and brings this book to life.
Liked: The atmospheric feel of the book with its magnificent estate, gardens and the art world beautifully combines for this book to work.
Did not like: Inspector Raquel and her sister's background is unclear. Since this is my first book by this author I am a bit unclear if these characters appear in any of her other book so a little background would have been great.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher, but all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Back to the Garden is a stand-alone (at least for now) title featuring dual timelines. The first is current day featuring Det. Raquel Laing who is involved with trying to identify as many victims as possible of a serial killer (the Highwayman) with days to live. The serial killer will reveal the location of victims if Raquel can bring him the name of one of his victims. At the nearby Gardner Estate, a body is discovered when a sculpture in the garden is moved. Given the estimated time that the body was in the ground, Raquel is convinced that they may have discovered another victim of the Highwayman, and is working against the clock to identify the victim before the killer dies.

The other timeline is set during the 1970s when the Gardner Estate was a commune filled with hippies. This part of the story felt like a trainwreck that I couldn't look away from - you know that one of the characters is likely the body found in present day making for a tense read. Ms. King provides a compelling look into the counterculture of the time which looking back from current society feels almost unbelievably naïve. The mystery leading up to the reveal of the identity of the body is very well crafted and I honestly didn't figure out who it was until almost the very end. Some readers may find Raquel a difficult character to connect with, but the glimpses of her that we are provided are tantalizing. I hope that this is not the only title to feature Raquel.

I received an ARC of Back to the Garden from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very human detective story with a very human homicide detective at its center.

Inspector Raquel Laing is following a serial killer’s trail through decades of attacks on young women when her investigation takes her to the Gardener Estate, a spacious house and garden with a colorful history. As she learns about the years when the Estate was home to a hippie commune, she meets many characters and tries to piece together the final months that led to its unraveling. Was the body located at the base of an important piece of statuary one of the serial killer’s victims?

The story is told neatly through flashbacks mixed with modern-day interactions. The charismatic characters come to life in memorable vignettes. I enjoyed the story right up to its conclusion, when I felt like maybe the last ten pages had gone missing. The mystery solved, this book ends abruptly without giving the reader a moment to consider where the characters are left. Worth a read, but don’t get too comfortable—it’ll end before you know it!

I have always loved a good cold case mystery. A story where the story has to unfold for investigators as well as us. This book gave us that, a cold case that played from after the Vietnam War until now, The story flowed between the then and now with ease making it very easy for me to follow and keep up. Honestly there wasn't a part of this mystery that I didn't enjoy nor guessed, which always makes it more fun for me. I love a book that doesn't give it all away too fast. I can't wait to recommend it to all of my mystery loving friends. Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the chance to read it before it comes out.

Hippies and serial killers - an interesting combo 🤔

Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for this #arc from @laurierking out on September 6!

Synopsis: A magnificent house, vast formal gardens, a golden family that shaped California, and a colorful past filled with now-famous artists: the Gardener Estate was a twentieth-century Eden.

And now, just as the Estate is preparing to move into a new future, restoration work on some of its art digs up a grim relic of the home’s past: a human skull, hidden away for decades.

Inspector Raquel Laing has her work cut out for her. Fifty years ago, the Estate’s young heir, Rob Gardener, turned his palatial home into a counterculture commune of peace, love, and equality. But that was also a time when serial killers preyed on innocents—monsters like The Highwayman, whose case has just surged back into the public eye.

Could the skull belong to one of his victims?

My thoughts: the beginning felt a bit chaotic and confusing to me (much like the beginning of a murder investigation, I'm sure) but once I settled in I enjoyed the book quite a bit. The contrast of the swanky estate with the hippie commune made for an intriguing setting and I liked most of the characters quite a bit. However, the story didn't seem as tight as King's Mary Russell books, and I had a number of questions left at the end. All in all, I think this is set up nicely for a new series with Laing as the lead.

Back to the Garden by Laurie R. King is a novel with many stories. Throughout the novel, we are introduced to many different characters, the Gardener family, especially brothers Fort and Rob, the members of the commune called the Commons, serial killer Michael Johnston and his victims and finally Det. Raquel Laing. We meet many characters and learn about their histories and relationships. All these characters and their worlds come together when a body is found on the grounds of the Gardener Estate. Who is this person? Who is the killer? Is this body one of Johnston’s victims? Perhaps, the killer is completely unrelated to Johnson. Possibly, the killer is someone we would least expect. We have many choices and scenarios to decide the killer. After many attempts trying to figure the who, when and why, the mystery is solved. While I did enjoy reading this novel and attempting to identify the killer, this book is not one of my favorites.

This book is a standalone book that is wonderfully written. I want to ask the author where she came up with the ideas for the book, because it was full if twists and turns that I didn't expect. An inspector who dives into archives is right up my alley, along with the gardens. I highly recommend this book for everyone who loves good mysteries.