A new standalone novel by Laurie R King.

You're introduced to Inspector Raquel Laing and help her figure out who the dead body is at the former commune at The Estate. Were they killed by The Highwayman, serial killer who is on his death bed? Travel back to the 1960's and the time of free love and monsters.

Laurie R. King always writes a good mystery, whether it's part of a series, or a stand alone like this one. A 50 year cold case is at the heart of this story, and the detectives are looking for a serial killer, when bones are found on an estate that used to be a hippy commune in the late 1970s.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of "Back to the Garden," in exchange for an honest review.

"Back to the Garden,'' is about the famous Gardener Estate, one of the most well known estates on the West Coast. 50 years ago, Rob Gardener took over the estate after his Grandfather died, and turned it into a hippie commune where peace, love, and equality were a way of life. Now, years later, human remains have been found at the estate and the police are questioning if they may be tied to a serial killer called, "The Highwayman." SFPD Cold Case is called in to investigate, and the story centers around a Detective named Raquel.

The book is told between present day, and in the 70's at the commune. While I enjoyed Raquel's character and thought she was written well, to me the stand out parts of this book were in the past. I felt like I was at the commune, and very invested in each character. In fact, I couldn't wait to get to these parts of the book!

While it took me a minute to get fully invested in this story, I was engrossed by the middle of it. Without giving anything away, I also loved the ending, and feel like this book is set-up so well for a sequel. Bravo to this author for creating such a unique story. I am excited to check out her other books soon!

4.5 stars

This is a standalone novel by Laurie R. King that takes place in two time periods--the present time and the 70s. The novel primarily takes place at the Gardener Estate located in the Bay Area near San Francisco where the remains of a body are unearthed beneath a statue by a famous artist named Gaddo, a woman who was famous in the 70s and notorious in the 80s. Inspector Rachel Laiing of the SFPD is called in unofficially to investigate, primarily to see if there is a link between the body and a potential serial killer who has recently been caught, but whose victims are mostly unknown. She has been injured and seems to be on probation, but her mentor seems to believe in her and wants her to quietly "check in on things" until they can see if there is something to investigate.

I found this story fascinating for several reasons. First, we recently visited an estate in South Carolina where the works of Anna Huntington (sculptor) were featured, and although her art is not at all like Gaddo's, I kept thinking about the house while I read this book. I also enjoyed reading about the history of the house and what the commune did to the house to create a wonderful place, if only for a short period. I liked Raquel's character, and the relationship she had with her mentor. I liked that he saw something in her and nurtured her strengths, but also taught her how to work with people, even if it didn't come naturally to her. I had the impression that he personally wanted her to be the best she could be without deciding for her what that looked like.

I also liked how solving the case became more about finding peace for the victim/victim's family than about making sure it linked to the serial killer. This story had all the twists and turns and thrills of a Laurie R. King novel (I'm a huge fan of her Mary Russell books), and as much as this book had a satisfying ending, I would love it if the author decides to write more Raquel Laiing books!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and the publisher for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I am a big fan of the author's Mary Russell books, so I decided to try this standalone when it was offered through Netgalley. Raquel Laing is a police detective assigned to a cold case unit while recovering from an injury. When bones are discovered at a local estate underneath a controversial feminist statue, Raquel begins to investigate to see if they might belong to another victim of The Highwayman serial killer.

I went into this book thinking it would be strictly about this serial killer and the quest to find all of his victims before the suspected killer dies from cancer. Instead, the book delves into the communal living of the 1970's and the search for the identity of the bones discovered on the grounds of the commune.

As usual, the author has done a great job in developing the story and as it unfolds, the reader discovers that there are many layers to the tale. Personally, I would have liked to know more about the Highwayman and less about the commune, but by the end, it all ties together (for the most part). I will admit that I skimmed through parts of the middle section of the book when it was focusing on the commune members and their lifestyle.

This dual timeline mystery introduces Inspector Raquel Liang. Her mentor is Al Hawkins. Raquel has a problem with interpersonal communication and decoding visual cues which doesn't make her popular with her fellow cops. Under Al's tutelage, Raquel studies how to "learn to listen" and devises her own techniques from a variety of specialists. She becomes such an expert on body language and microexpressions that her colleagues start to call her Sherlock.

Her skills help her move up quickly from patrol to investigations but don't gain her acceptance from her colleagues as quickly. After some sort of police scandal that leaves her with a bad knee, Raquel finds herself working cold cases who Al. Their current project has to do with a serial killer nicknamed The Highwayman who is responsible for a series of murders on young blonds that started in the 1970s.

Identified by DNA taken from his victims and a DNA test taken by his daughter, the killer is found and arrested. But he's dying of cancer and wanting to play games with the cops. It is up to Raquel and a group of retired cold case cops to get him to identify his victims before he dies.

Meanwhile, some renovations are being undertaken at the Gardener Estate including the moving of a statue created by the famous, or maybe infamous, Gaddo. When the statue is lifted, bones are discovered. Raquel is working on the assumption that these bones are those of another of the Highwayman's victims.

As Raquel investigates at the Gardener Estate, she learns of its complicated history. This is where the flashbacks come into the story as we see what happened at the estate from its building to its history as a commune in the 1970s.

This was an engaging mystery with a not-so-long ago but very different time period. It's infused with details from the 1970s. Raquel is an intriguing character who is filled with secrets. Barely any of them are revealed in this story making me really want more about her so that I can learn more of her story.

I love Laurie R. King’s Russell and Holmes series. This is my first standalone book by her, so I was anxious to read it. The writing was wonderfully descriptive and the characters are the type that will stay with me. I really hope this is the first book in another series. I’d love to learn more about this group of people.

Thank you to Bantam Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I am a huge fan of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series and while this is a standalone mystery novel, she certainly brought the fantastic wit and thrill to this book as well! Covering a mysterious commune from the 1970s to a modern day glamorous mansion and garden estate, this mystery keeps the reader hooked with interspersed story lines. A dying serial killer and Sherlockesque female police detective match wits to discover the truth about what really happened back in the 1970s. There was great representation in this book with a disabled police detective and a LGBTQ relationship. In her trademark way, King brought real life people into the story to really make the reader feel like this is more fact than fiction.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to more of King's fantastic novels. Readers will enjoy meeting the characters and trying to figure out the twists and turns in this awesome mystery. Thank you to #Netgalley for providing me with an advanced reading copy of #backtothegarden

It’s not a new Mary Russell novel, but I’ll read anything from King, so I was pleased to get an early copy (thank you #NetGalley!). Inspector Raquel Laing works cold cases for the San Francisco police department, and she is currently tracking down possible victims of the Highwayman, notorious 1970s serial killer. The Gardener estate is an exquisitely restored mansion, famous in its own right, and that also houses a number of works by illustrious artist Gaddo. As the estate’s managers prepare to resituate an outdoor sculpture, they unearth human remains; the police are called in. Could this be an undiscovered victim and is there time to prove it before the killer dies with all his secrets? Complicating the investigation, the estate is owned by reclusive Rob Gardener, who turned the home into a hippie commune back in the 70s, primarily to spite his family; the former residents, who could hold clues to the dead woman’s identity, have scattered. There are plenty of loose threads that Laing must unravel, and time is of the essence. This is a fascinating read, essentially following two timelines: the current investigation, and the 70s flashbacks to an era of free love, copious weed, and rock and roll. Highly recommended.

I was a big fan of this authors Mary Russell books. The writing here was to the same caliber and I enjoy a police procedural. This felt more like historical fiction than a procedural story. I wanted more time focusing on the serial killer in the present but the majority was spent in the past. It had the feel of a first book in a series because the main character. Had little background matters that never were addressed.

I had a hard time getting into this story, and I was did enjoy the overall mystery. It felt abrupt towards the end and the pacing could be tighter.

Back to the Garden

Laurie King steps away from her very successful Mary Russell/Sherlock Holmes series to take the reader on a nostalgic return to the 1960’s. Vietnam, free love, marijuana, communes, hippies, Janice Joplin, and the beginnings of feminism are the backdrop for a 50 year old cold case.
Inspector Raquel Laing is currently on leave from the San Francisco PD’s cold case unit and serving on an unofficial task force investigating the victims of a serial killer known as “The Highway Man.” He was infamous for killing innocent blond hitchhikers and burying them under concrete. Laing is alerted when an old skull is unearthed during a restoration of a sculpture on the Gardiner Estate. It once was the home of a commune established by heir, Rob Gardiner, a Vietnam Vet. He soon becomes a person of interest.
Laing is fortunate because she has access to the estate archives and the archivist who has organized historical documents. Commune history reveals the activities of daily life along with the identities of the former members. This is a fascinating uncovering of a rich fictionalized history filled with famous musicians and artist who visited and left their mark behind them.
Laurie King leads the reader on a journey through time and the eventual revealing of a murderer. Twists and turns have the reader guessing all the way.

#Random House
#Good Reads
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#Laurie King

A page-turning cold case that masterfully weaves past and present into one flawless mystery.

The opening chapter sets the stage for the mystery: a body is found under a bizarre statue. Inspector Raquel Laing believes it may be a victim of a chilling serial killer,

The Highwayman is playing a messed-up game with the cold case inspectors from his hospital bed. For every victim they identify, he’ll give them two more. But Laing is the only one he’ll talk to and time is running out to identify his long list of victims.

The story weaves 1970s commune life with the present day to give us a complete picture of events. Rather than being jarring, each flashback adds to the present-day cold case and slowly builds tension surrounding the victim’s identity.

I loved Inspector Raquel Laing and her profiling abilities. Her interviews with the serial killer were tense and clever and made for some excellent reading. Laing is a complex, vulnerable, yet strong character who I hope to read about again.

The mystery of the story kept me reading until I finished this book. It was appropriately suspenseful and never obvious.


I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I absolutely DEVOURED this book. Laurie R. King hooks your from the first chapter when human remains are found underneath a statue on an old estate and commune. The book follows a dual timeline between now and then (the 1970's).

The "Then" timeline focuses on Rob Gardner and how he came to be the owner of the Gardener mansion which he used as the home for a commune for 4 years. We hear first hand accounts from Jerry - an attorney who assisted Rob with certain matters regarding Rob's grandfather's will, Wes - a man who lived on the commune, David - Rob' s younger cousin, and Rob himself. Each character describes stories from the development of the commune before and at the Gardner mansion as well as stories throughout the time the commune was hosted at the Gardner Mansion.

The "Now" timeline focuses on Jen, the estate manager, and Raquel and investigator from the San Francisco PD. Raquel is investigating a serial killer and is working to see if the human remains found under the statue could possibly belong to that serial killer's victim. Jen is assisting Raquel by giving her access to the estate and information regarding the goings-on during the 1970's while members of the commune were in residence.

I really enjoyed the dual time lines and the "Is this case a Highway Man murder or isn't it" that was happening. Not only that, but the mystery of who the skeleton belonged to kept me engrossed. I also loved the author's description of the Gardener Mansion and how it transformed from when the property was owned by Rob's grandfather to when the commune resided there, to now. I could clearly envision every aspect of the property and it really made the book come to life.

King did a great job describing what life was like in the commune - how everyone wanted to live peacefully off the land, but little fissures regarding strange guests, money, and jealousy created a huge crack and ultimately led to the downfall.

This was my first Laurie R. King novel and I was super impressed. Definitely adding more of her books to my TBR list!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I have been a fan of Laurie R. King for many years and was excited to be given an opportunity to read this stand-alone novel.

The story takes place during two time periods - the murder that occurred in the 70s and the current investigation. A human skull is discovered under a sculpture that had to be moved for renovations. The scene is a beautiful mansion near San Francisco.

We learn about the hippie culture and communal living that took place at the mansion in the past. Now, the mansion is being restored as a park. There is also an element of family intrigue and questions of ownership.

Inspector Raquel Laing is working cold cases while on medical leave. Is there any connection to the Highwayman, a serial killer who was active during the same time period and who was never caught? Is he still alive? Can Raquel solve the case?

It’s incredibly hard to put into words why this book wasn’t for me. It has all the elements I would typically like. However, the characters felt flat to me for some reason. Normally I am fine with a book told in two timelines. In this situation, I felt the author chose the wrong timeline to focus heavily on. I wanted more of the 70s timeline and got way too much of the current day.

While this is promoted as a standalone book, I have a feeling we will see our heroine, Raquel Laing, again. There are a lot of mysteries surrounding her and few are revealed in this story. I, for one, would be happy to see her return. She is a very interesting character. She is socially awkward and responds to people via a specific set of rules. At the same time, she is a behavioral investigator and excellent at reading suspects. Her skills and her mentor add her to an impromptu group of investigators determined to find who murdered a group of women back in the 70s.

This story is told in two timelines; then and now. Much of the story takes place on the Gardner estate, a Hearst like estate that was taken over by a group of hippies in the 70s. In the "now" timeline, a body is uncovered that matches the serial killer pattern. Inspector Raquel Laing is sent to investigate, and we slowly move through the two time periods. The story builds in tension to a dread of who the body might be, but then the twists start coming, and there is an action packed finale.

I very much enjoyed this story, and I hope to read more of this character. If not, Laurie King has plenty of other stories I can catch up on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an advance copy. The review is my own.

Veteran detective Raquel Laing is known as the "Sherlock of San Francisco" for her logical mind and high solve rate. She and her team have been working the cold case of a serial killer known as the Highwayman for years. When a skeleton is unearthed during renovation at the historic Gardner Estate, once the home of California royalty, she suspects this may be one of his victims. The last Gardner, Rob turned the estagte into a commune known as the Commons upon inheritance and the Highwayman was known to visit. such places. This slow burn standalone is told in Then and Now segments and the reader meets interesting characters as the story unfolds. This is a character driven plot and I was dreading who would be revealed as the victim. The suspense builds with each chapter but the twisted conclusion caught me unprepared.. A stunner it was. I have read and enjoyed King's other series and she has given us another .great story. Raquel is an insightful strong character and I would like to explore more cases with her.. A very satisfying read.

Laurie R. King is a prolific and excellent mystery novelist. In this standalone novel, we meet Inspector Raquel Laing, on quasi leave from the police force, investigating a potential connection to the Highwayman, a 1970s serial killer. Raquel is an enigma, with secrets of her own, whom I'd like to see more of in future stories. She works with Al Hawkins, who we know from the Kate Martinelli books - what a pleasant surprise to bump into him!

The Gardener estate has unearthed the remains of a body presumably buried during the estate's stint as a commune. Raquel digs through art, family dynamics, and communal life in order to discover truth and consequences of actions.

So great! 4.4/5

Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book to read. This book dragged on for me, so it took me awhile to read it. The closer I got to the ending it did get better for me.