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The Gardens
Pre-order this gripping domestic psychological thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and C.L. Taylor now!
It might look idyllic, but the secrets buried there are deadly…
When human bones are found in the garden attached to the glamorous London home where she grew up, Jess McIntyre prepares to receive the news she has dreaded for thirty-four years that her sister, Nina, is dead and now here is the proof.
Nina disappeared without a trace in 1992, aged eighteen, the summer she fell in with a charismatic group of friends who squatted in a vacant house on the other side of Willow Gardens.
Having moved to Australia years ago, widow and single mum Jess arrives back in London to provide a DNA sample to help the investigation, with her teenage son, Ollie, in tow.
As they try and unravel the secrets of Nina's past, will they discover that some bodies are best left buried…?
Readers love Emma Babbington!
'I could not put this down! The twists and turns – I did NOT see them coming!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'I haven’t read a book with such well developed characters in a long time and this book manages to match that with a fast, clever plot.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'You will not be able to out this one down.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'A twisty, atmospheric story that's deeper and more complex than your everyday domestic thriller' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'I stayed up well past the time I should have been asleep. Five stars no doubt. Can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It might look idyllic, but the secrets buried there are deadly…
When human bones are found in the garden attached to the glamorous London home where she grew up, Jess McIntyre prepares to receive the news she has dreaded for thirty-four years that her sister, Nina, is dead and now here is the proof.
Nina disappeared without a trace in 1992, aged eighteen, the summer she fell in with a charismatic group of friends who squatted in a vacant house on the other side of Willow Gardens.
Having moved to Australia years ago, widow and single mum Jess arrives back in London to provide a DNA sample to help the investigation, with her teenage son, Ollie, in tow.
As they try and unravel the secrets of Nina's past, will they discover that some bodies are best left buried…?
Readers love Emma Babbington!
'I could not put this down! The twists and turns – I did NOT see them coming!' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'I haven’t read a book with such well developed characters in a long time and this book manages to match that with a fast, clever plot.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'You will not be able to out this one down.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'A twisty, atmospheric story that's deeper and more complex than your everyday domestic thriller' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
'I stayed up well past the time I should have been asleep. Five stars no doubt. Can't wait to see what else this author has to offer.' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2026
About the author
Emma Babbington
2 books29 followersEmma Babbington writes novels that are part psychological thriller, part family mystery and full of twists and turns. Her debut novel is The Neighbours and her second book, The Gardens is released June 2026.
She is a London-born, now Sydney-based journalist with a 25 year career in the UK and Australia on newspapers and magazines. This has seen her interview celebrities, everyday heroes and even the occasional criminal. Emma lives with her husband, children and cat not far from Sydney harbour.
Instagram @emmababbington
Facebook @emmababbingtonauthor
She is a London-born, now Sydney-based journalist with a 25 year career in the UK and Australia on newspapers and magazines. This has seen her interview celebrities, everyday heroes and even the occasional criminal. Emma lives with her husband, children and cat not far from Sydney harbour.
Instagram @emmababbington
Facebook @emmababbingtonauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
June 6, 2026
3.5⭐️
If you’d told me beforehand that this was going to involve a cult storyline, I probably would’ve left it on the shelf. Cult thrillers aren’t usually my thing. Surprisingly though, I ended up enjoying how the Chisledown storyline fed into the wider mystery. I was far more invested in Jess’s present-day chapters than the ‘Before’ chapters set in 1992, but the payoff ultimately justified their inclusion.
The pacing dipped for me through the middle section and I found myself wishing things would move along a little faster, but the final 40% pulled me back in as the pieces started falling into place. Despite the slower middle, I remained invested in uncovering what had happened to Nina all those years ago, and there were a few reveals along the way that I thought were particularly well executed. Looking back, one character reveal in particular felt surprisingly obvious in hindsight, yet completely flew over my head while I was reading. I also appreciated that the story focused just as much on the emotional fallout of Nina’s disappearance as it did on solving the mystery itself.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Jess and her son Ollie, which gave the story some heart amongst all the secrets, grief and unanswered questions. The family dynamics felt authentic, and I found myself genuinely invested in the characters as well as the mystery.
The ending didn’t quite land as strongly for me as the rest of the book. While I don’t mind a little ambiguity, this left things more open-ended than I’d hoped, and Jess seemed surprisingly willing to accept certain revelations and head back to Australia. Personally, I would’ve liked to see a little more vengeance before she boarded that plane home.
A solid mystery with strong family dynamics, buried secrets and enough discussion points to keep a book club busy afterwards.
If you’d told me beforehand that this was going to involve a cult storyline, I probably would’ve left it on the shelf. Cult thrillers aren’t usually my thing. Surprisingly though, I ended up enjoying how the Chisledown storyline fed into the wider mystery. I was far more invested in Jess’s present-day chapters than the ‘Before’ chapters set in 1992, but the payoff ultimately justified their inclusion.
The pacing dipped for me through the middle section and I found myself wishing things would move along a little faster, but the final 40% pulled me back in as the pieces started falling into place. Despite the slower middle, I remained invested in uncovering what had happened to Nina all those years ago, and there were a few reveals along the way that I thought were particularly well executed. Looking back, one character reveal in particular felt surprisingly obvious in hindsight, yet completely flew over my head while I was reading. I also appreciated that the story focused just as much on the emotional fallout of Nina’s disappearance as it did on solving the mystery itself.
I really enjoyed the relationship between Jess and her son Ollie, which gave the story some heart amongst all the secrets, grief and unanswered questions. The family dynamics felt authentic, and I found myself genuinely invested in the characters as well as the mystery.
The ending didn’t quite land as strongly for me as the rest of the book. While I don’t mind a little ambiguity, this left things more open-ended than I’d hoped, and Jess seemed surprisingly willing to accept certain revelations and head back to Australia. Personally, I would’ve liked to see a little more vengeance before she boarded that plane home.
A solid mystery with strong family dynamics, buried secrets and enough discussion points to keep a book club busy afterwards.
June 5, 2026
3.5⭐️
The Gardens was a very quiet mystery that just never really quite got there for me.
Following the discovery of human remains in the garden of her childhood home, Jess heads back to London to figure out what happened to her sister that went missing more than three decades prior. What she finds is a tangled web of lies and deception.
This book was written in a very engaging style. I absolutely appreciated that about it, and the anticipation for where the story was going really did have me hooked in. Unfortunately, the payoff at the end didn’t live up to the hype, and I was left with more questions than I started with.
Thank you to HQ Australia for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Gardens was a very quiet mystery that just never really quite got there for me.
Following the discovery of human remains in the garden of her childhood home, Jess heads back to London to figure out what happened to her sister that went missing more than three decades prior. What she finds is a tangled web of lies and deception.
This book was written in a very engaging style. I absolutely appreciated that about it, and the anticipation for where the story was going really did have me hooked in. Unfortunately, the payoff at the end didn’t live up to the hype, and I was left with more questions than I started with.
Thank you to HQ Australia for providing me with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 21, 2026
I really enjoyed this story. I love a then and now storyline, and particularly when there is a house central to the story and the secrets it may hold.
Jess heads back to England when bones are unearthed in the back garden of the house she used to live in, as there is a chance they may be from her missing sister Nina. The prologue sets the scene for this story - it is incredibly sinister and leaves a lot to the imagination (which went every which way), and I wondered how it could possibly be connected to the bones in the garden.
As we learn more about the circumstances surrounding Nina's disappearance, and the extremely weird commune known as Chisledown, the more this story takes on a mysterious and ominous feeling.
Jess's family felt that the police weren't that helpful back in 1992 when Nina disappeared, and this leads Jess to make some very questionable decisions that may very easily put herself and her son Ollie in danger. I certainly did a bit of yelling at her!
As the facets of this story started to come together and I realised who the characters were, the feeling of dread did not diminish at all and there were some very tense moments. The conclusion was well done and I liked that there was an added bit of intrigue that will remain unanswered.
Jess heads back to England when bones are unearthed in the back garden of the house she used to live in, as there is a chance they may be from her missing sister Nina. The prologue sets the scene for this story - it is incredibly sinister and leaves a lot to the imagination (which went every which way), and I wondered how it could possibly be connected to the bones in the garden.
As we learn more about the circumstances surrounding Nina's disappearance, and the extremely weird commune known as Chisledown, the more this story takes on a mysterious and ominous feeling.
Jess's family felt that the police weren't that helpful back in 1992 when Nina disappeared, and this leads Jess to make some very questionable decisions that may very easily put herself and her son Ollie in danger. I certainly did a bit of yelling at her!
As the facets of this story started to come together and I realised who the characters were, the feeling of dread did not diminish at all and there were some very tense moments. The conclusion was well done and I liked that there was an added bit of intrigue that will remain unanswered.
June 6, 2026
I know the majority of people loved this book, but sadly it wasn’t one of my favourites. Human remains have been discovered in the gardens of Jess’s former home. Her sister Nina went missing decades earlier so Jess flies back from Sydney with her son Ollie to see if the mystery of Nina’s disappearance can finally be solved. This is a mystery that goes between past and present but for me the tension wasn’t quite there and the ending was a bit of a let down. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
There are books that quietly creep under your skin… and then there are books that dig up the entire damn garden and leave you emotionally pacing your kitchen at midnight questioning every character decision like you’re suddenly employed by Scotland Yard.
Emma Babbington’s The Gardens absolutely buried me in secrets, grief, manipulation, and that deliciously unsettling feeling that nobody in this story should be trusted for even a single second. HQ Digital, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This story starts with human bones being discovered in the shared garden of a glamorous London home, and honestly? That alone already had me fully sat with coffee in hand and zero plans to be productive. Jess McIntyre returns from Australia with her teenage son Ollie after learning the remains may belong to her sister Nina, who vanished back in 1992 after becoming involved with a mysterious group of charismatic squatters tied to a cult-like community. And from there this book just keeps tightening the screws.
What I loved most is that this doesn’t rely on cheap shock value. It’s atmospheric in that slow-burn, deeply human way where the tension comes from memory, family dysfunction, buried resentment, and the terrifying realization that the people closest to us are often the ones keeping the darkest secrets. Willow Gardens feels beautiful on the surface, but underneath? Rot. Emotional rot everywhere. My favorite kind of thriller setting honestly.
Jess felt incredibly grounded and believable to me. She’s grieving multiple versions of her life at once—her missing sister, her dead husband, the childhood she can’t quite make peace with—and that emotional weight gave the mystery real depth. Ollie also added such an important layer because his presence constantly reminded you what was at stake while Jess unraveled the past.
And Nina’s storyline? Whew. The cult element was handled so well because it wasn’t over-the-top theatrical nonsense. It felt disturbingly plausible. The kind of manipulation that sneaks in slowly under the disguise of belonging, freedom, friendship, and purpose. Those sections genuinely unsettled me in the best way.
The dual timelines worked beautifully here, and every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, this book basically looked me dead in the eye and said, “Cute theory. Anyway…” I kept changing suspects every few chapters like I was rotating shifts in an emotional support conspiracy group.
“Some bodies are best left buried.”
Yeah. About that. Apparently my sanity was buried right alongside them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the kind of thriller I’d hand to someone who loves layered domestic suspense, emotionally messy families, cult dynamics, missing persons mysteries, and stories where the setting feels alive enough to become its own character. If Lisa Jewell-style tension mixed with eerie nostalgia and simmering psychological unease is your thing, you need this on your radar immediately.
Also can we talk about how books with beautiful gardens are never actually about gardening? At this point if a thriller mentions flowers, hedges, or an idyllic courtyard, I immediately assume somebody’s about to uncover trauma and/or a skeleton.
Have you ever read a thriller where the atmosphere unsettled you more than the actual murder mystery? Because this one absolutely got into my head.
#TheGardens #EmmaBabbington #NetGalley #BookReview #PsychologicalThriller #DomesticThriller #MysteryThriller #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BooksCoffeeBrews #CultThriller #SuspenseReads #GeneralFiction #HQDigital #LisaJewellVibes #DarkFiction #CurrentlyReading #BookLover #ReadersOfInstagram #TwistyThril
Emma Babbington’s The Gardens absolutely buried me in secrets, grief, manipulation, and that deliciously unsettling feeling that nobody in this story should be trusted for even a single second. HQ Digital, thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the gifted ARC.
This story starts with human bones being discovered in the shared garden of a glamorous London home, and honestly? That alone already had me fully sat with coffee in hand and zero plans to be productive. Jess McIntyre returns from Australia with her teenage son Ollie after learning the remains may belong to her sister Nina, who vanished back in 1992 after becoming involved with a mysterious group of charismatic squatters tied to a cult-like community. And from there this book just keeps tightening the screws.
What I loved most is that this doesn’t rely on cheap shock value. It’s atmospheric in that slow-burn, deeply human way where the tension comes from memory, family dysfunction, buried resentment, and the terrifying realization that the people closest to us are often the ones keeping the darkest secrets. Willow Gardens feels beautiful on the surface, but underneath? Rot. Emotional rot everywhere. My favorite kind of thriller setting honestly.
Jess felt incredibly grounded and believable to me. She’s grieving multiple versions of her life at once—her missing sister, her dead husband, the childhood she can’t quite make peace with—and that emotional weight gave the mystery real depth. Ollie also added such an important layer because his presence constantly reminded you what was at stake while Jess unraveled the past.
And Nina’s storyline? Whew. The cult element was handled so well because it wasn’t over-the-top theatrical nonsense. It felt disturbingly plausible. The kind of manipulation that sneaks in slowly under the disguise of belonging, freedom, friendship, and purpose. Those sections genuinely unsettled me in the best way.
The dual timelines worked beautifully here, and every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, this book basically looked me dead in the eye and said, “Cute theory. Anyway…” I kept changing suspects every few chapters like I was rotating shifts in an emotional support conspiracy group.
“Some bodies are best left buried.”
Yeah. About that. Apparently my sanity was buried right alongside them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is the kind of thriller I’d hand to someone who loves layered domestic suspense, emotionally messy families, cult dynamics, missing persons mysteries, and stories where the setting feels alive enough to become its own character. If Lisa Jewell-style tension mixed with eerie nostalgia and simmering psychological unease is your thing, you need this on your radar immediately.
Also can we talk about how books with beautiful gardens are never actually about gardening? At this point if a thriller mentions flowers, hedges, or an idyllic courtyard, I immediately assume somebody’s about to uncover trauma and/or a skeleton.
Have you ever read a thriller where the atmosphere unsettled you more than the actual murder mystery? Because this one absolutely got into my head.
#TheGardens #EmmaBabbington #NetGalley #BookReview #PsychologicalThriller #DomesticThriller #MysteryThriller #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BooksCoffeeBrews #CultThriller #SuspenseReads #GeneralFiction #HQDigital #LisaJewellVibes #DarkFiction #CurrentlyReading #BookLover #ReadersOfInstagram #TwistyThril
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Gardens by Emma Babbington is a highly recommended psychological thriller following bones found in a garden and a story that is told through two timelines, past and present.
Thirty-four years ago, in 1992, Jess McIntyre's eighteen-year-old sister, Nina, disappeared, and was presumed dead. Now Jess, who lives in Australia, receives the news that bones have been found under the shed in the garden of her childhood London home and they are though the be Nina's. Jess and her fifteen-year-old son Ollie, return to London to give DNA samples to the police and finally clean-up and sell the home since her mother is now living with them after her father died. Jess can also provide the police information on what she remembers at that time when she was sixteen and Nina disappeared.
Alternating chapters go back in time and follow a cult, Chisledown, up to the time of Nina's disappearance. Chisledown is lead by Mary, who adopted the children she brought in and purported that they were a learning community, but, as expected in any cult in a novel, that was not the case. As time went on, Mary became more of a dictator, manipulating everything to suit her. An unnamed male narrator tells the readers the events of Chisledown. Eventually the two story lines have a connection.
This is a well-written thriller that starts out at an even pace, with new information disclosed later in the plot which allows the pace and subsequent tension to quickly pick up. Jess is recalling events from years ago, so her memories are that of a younger sister. She does remember a group of young squatters in the house next door and how they all became friends with Nina. This piecemeal memory leads to more information and connections that the police didn't make, or apparently try to unravel, thirty-four years earlier.
Generally, I'm not a fan of novels that use cults as a device to move the plot forward. The connections to Chisledown and Nina's disappearance are not immediately apparent, so those chapters early on in the novel actually, for me, detracted from the present day concern over the identification of the bones and the reopening of Nina's case. I had no reason to care as I was there to read a psychological thriller and discover the identity of bones found on a property.
Jess is a believable, sympathetic character who has been placed into an extremely stressful situation. She has been living in Australia for years, is a widow, and is raising her son alone. Her mother moved down under a couple years earlier. Now she is revisiting her grief from years earlier, which opens up all the emotions again, and she wants closure and an answer to what happened to Nina. Ollie is written as a typical teen. The other supporting characters, including the neighbor and police, are all believable.
As everything begins to be revealed and connected, the pace picks up, along with the suspense, tension, and sense of dread. With all the twists and new revelations toward the end of the novel, it does become a more compelling read. Some of the twists may be predicted ahead of time, but several will be a surprise.
The Gardens is a good choice for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and will appreciate a tie in to a cult in the plot. Thanks to HQ/HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Thirty-four years ago, in 1992, Jess McIntyre's eighteen-year-old sister, Nina, disappeared, and was presumed dead. Now Jess, who lives in Australia, receives the news that bones have been found under the shed in the garden of her childhood London home and they are though the be Nina's. Jess and her fifteen-year-old son Ollie, return to London to give DNA samples to the police and finally clean-up and sell the home since her mother is now living with them after her father died. Jess can also provide the police information on what she remembers at that time when she was sixteen and Nina disappeared.
Alternating chapters go back in time and follow a cult, Chisledown, up to the time of Nina's disappearance. Chisledown is lead by Mary, who adopted the children she brought in and purported that they were a learning community, but, as expected in any cult in a novel, that was not the case. As time went on, Mary became more of a dictator, manipulating everything to suit her. An unnamed male narrator tells the readers the events of Chisledown. Eventually the two story lines have a connection.
This is a well-written thriller that starts out at an even pace, with new information disclosed later in the plot which allows the pace and subsequent tension to quickly pick up. Jess is recalling events from years ago, so her memories are that of a younger sister. She does remember a group of young squatters in the house next door and how they all became friends with Nina. This piecemeal memory leads to more information and connections that the police didn't make, or apparently try to unravel, thirty-four years earlier.
Generally, I'm not a fan of novels that use cults as a device to move the plot forward. The connections to Chisledown and Nina's disappearance are not immediately apparent, so those chapters early on in the novel actually, for me, detracted from the present day concern over the identification of the bones and the reopening of Nina's case. I had no reason to care as I was there to read a psychological thriller and discover the identity of bones found on a property.
Jess is a believable, sympathetic character who has been placed into an extremely stressful situation. She has been living in Australia for years, is a widow, and is raising her son alone. Her mother moved down under a couple years earlier. Now she is revisiting her grief from years earlier, which opens up all the emotions again, and she wants closure and an answer to what happened to Nina. Ollie is written as a typical teen. The other supporting characters, including the neighbor and police, are all believable.
As everything begins to be revealed and connected, the pace picks up, along with the suspense, tension, and sense of dread. With all the twists and new revelations toward the end of the novel, it does become a more compelling read. Some of the twists may be predicted ahead of time, but several will be a surprise.
The Gardens is a good choice for anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and will appreciate a tie in to a cult in the plot. Thanks to HQ/HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Gardens was a really engaging slow-burn psychological thriller with an atmosphere that quietly crept under my skin the further I read.
The story follows Jess McIntyre, returning to London from Australia after human bones are discovered in the shared gardens of her childhood home. The remains may belong to her sister Nina, who disappeared back in 1992 after becoming involved with a mysterious, cult-like friendship group living nearby. From there, the story slowly unravels decades of buried secrets, grief, manipulation, and family dysfunction.
One thing I really appreciated is that, despite being a thriller with cult themes, it never felt overly theatrical or heavy-handed to me. I’m actually not the biggest fan of cult-focused thrillers because they can sometimes lean too exaggerated or cliché, but Emma Babbington approached that aspect in a much more grounded and psychological way. The manipulation felt subtle, believable, and far more unsettling because of it. You could genuinely understand how someone could slowly get pulled into that world.
The dual timelines and multiple viewpoints worked really well too. I liked gradually piecing together the events surrounding Nina’s disappearance alongside the present-day investigation into the body discovered in the gardens. Even when I suspected certain twists ahead of time, I was still completely invested in seeing how everything fell into place.
What worked most for me was the atmosphere and overall feeling throughout the story. There’s this lingering sense that something isn’t quite right, and it made every interaction feel layered with tension and mistrust. Willow Gardens had the perfect thriller setting too, beautiful and polished on the surface while slowly unearthing secrets that refused to stay buried.
While the pacing occasionally slowed for me in parts, overall this was a strong and very readable domestic psychological thriller.
Definitely one to pick up if you enjoy dark, layered domestic suspense, cold case mysteries, emotionally messy families, and haunting slow-burn atmospheres.
3.5⭐️
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Jess McIntyre, returning to London from Australia after human bones are discovered in the shared gardens of her childhood home. The remains may belong to her sister Nina, who disappeared back in 1992 after becoming involved with a mysterious, cult-like friendship group living nearby. From there, the story slowly unravels decades of buried secrets, grief, manipulation, and family dysfunction.
One thing I really appreciated is that, despite being a thriller with cult themes, it never felt overly theatrical or heavy-handed to me. I’m actually not the biggest fan of cult-focused thrillers because they can sometimes lean too exaggerated or cliché, but Emma Babbington approached that aspect in a much more grounded and psychological way. The manipulation felt subtle, believable, and far more unsettling because of it. You could genuinely understand how someone could slowly get pulled into that world.
The dual timelines and multiple viewpoints worked really well too. I liked gradually piecing together the events surrounding Nina’s disappearance alongside the present-day investigation into the body discovered in the gardens. Even when I suspected certain twists ahead of time, I was still completely invested in seeing how everything fell into place.
What worked most for me was the atmosphere and overall feeling throughout the story. There’s this lingering sense that something isn’t quite right, and it made every interaction feel layered with tension and mistrust. Willow Gardens had the perfect thriller setting too, beautiful and polished on the surface while slowly unearthing secrets that refused to stay buried.
While the pacing occasionally slowed for me in parts, overall this was a strong and very readable domestic psychological thriller.
Definitely one to pick up if you enjoy dark, layered domestic suspense, cold case mysteries, emotionally messy families, and haunting slow-burn atmospheres.
3.5⭐️
Thank you to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Gardens is a beautifully tense, slow‑burn mystery that pulls you straight into its shadowed corners from the very first page. When human remains are unearthed in the garden of her childhood home, Jess McIntyre is forced to confront the truth she’s been dreading for more than three decades: that her sister Nina, who vanished in the summer of ’92, may finally have been found.
Jess’s return to London—grief‑tinged, reluctant, and accompanied by her teenage son—sets the tone for a story steeped in memory and unease. The contrast between her quiet life in Australia and the charged atmosphere of Willow Gardens is striking, and the novel makes brilliant use of that tension. Every street, every house, every familiar face seems to hold a fragment of the past, just out of reach.
As Jess begins to unravel what really happened to Nina, the narrative slips between timelines with a deft, unsettling rhythm. The world Nina fell into—charismatic friends, a vacant house, whispers of a cult—feels both intoxicating and dangerous, the kind of place where a young woman could disappear without anyone noticing until it’s far too late. The more Jess uncovers, the more the story tightens, revealing layers of manipulation, secrecy, and the kind of loyalty that curdles into something darker.
What makes the novel so compelling is its emotional core. Jess’s grief is quiet but constant, and her determination to finally understand her sister’s fate gives the story a steady, aching heartbeat. The relationship with her son adds warmth and grounding, a reminder of what she still has to protect even as she digs into the past.
Atmospheric, haunting, and deeply human, The Gardens is a gripping exploration of family, memory, and the dangerous allure of belonging. A chilling, beautifully written mystery that lingers long after the final page.
With thanks to Emma Babbington, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Jess’s return to London—grief‑tinged, reluctant, and accompanied by her teenage son—sets the tone for a story steeped in memory and unease. The contrast between her quiet life in Australia and the charged atmosphere of Willow Gardens is striking, and the novel makes brilliant use of that tension. Every street, every house, every familiar face seems to hold a fragment of the past, just out of reach.
As Jess begins to unravel what really happened to Nina, the narrative slips between timelines with a deft, unsettling rhythm. The world Nina fell into—charismatic friends, a vacant house, whispers of a cult—feels both intoxicating and dangerous, the kind of place where a young woman could disappear without anyone noticing until it’s far too late. The more Jess uncovers, the more the story tightens, revealing layers of manipulation, secrecy, and the kind of loyalty that curdles into something darker.
What makes the novel so compelling is its emotional core. Jess’s grief is quiet but constant, and her determination to finally understand her sister’s fate gives the story a steady, aching heartbeat. The relationship with her son adds warmth and grounding, a reminder of what she still has to protect even as she digs into the past.
Atmospheric, haunting, and deeply human, The Gardens is a gripping exploration of family, memory, and the dangerous allure of belonging. A chilling, beautifully written mystery that lingers long after the final page.
With thanks to Emma Babbington, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Gardens
By Emma Babbington
4 ⭐️
It might look idyllic, but the secrets buried there are deadly …
When human bones are found in the garden of Jess McIntyre’s childhood home in Willow Gardens, she prepares herself for receiving the news her family have been dreading for decades. Her sister, Nina, has been missing for 34 years … is this the proof that she has been so close to home all this time?
In 1992, Nina disappeared without a trace after she became friends with a charismatic group of people who were squatting in the vacant house within Willow Gardens. Jess had to move on; she got married, became a mum, moved to Australia. But Nina has never been far from her thoughts.
Jess arrives back in London to give a DNA sample and alongside her teenage son, Ollie, she begins her own re-investigation into Nina’s disappearance. They didn’t trust the police then and she is worried to trust them now. As ghosts of the past come to the surface, Jess and Ollie risk their own safety trying to get answers. They may find that some secrets are best left buried …
The majority of the book is told in the present through Jess’ experience, however, occasional chapters - titled ‘before’ - are told by an unknown character. I was surprised at who this was and their part within the story. Not often a lover of ‘cult’ involved books but this is really different and I think more present than we know. The characters within the book are excellent and I adored the relationship between Jess and Ollie and they have been so well developed by EB to be realistic and dynamic.
An atmospheric, twisty domestic thriller which covers deep topics including family relationships, coercive behaviour and a living cult. I think you are best going into this blind so don’t do too much reading!!
Thank you to NetGallery, Harper Collins and Emma Babbington for the ARC of this book.
By Emma Babbington
4 ⭐️
It might look idyllic, but the secrets buried there are deadly …
When human bones are found in the garden of Jess McIntyre’s childhood home in Willow Gardens, she prepares herself for receiving the news her family have been dreading for decades. Her sister, Nina, has been missing for 34 years … is this the proof that she has been so close to home all this time?
In 1992, Nina disappeared without a trace after she became friends with a charismatic group of people who were squatting in the vacant house within Willow Gardens. Jess had to move on; she got married, became a mum, moved to Australia. But Nina has never been far from her thoughts.
Jess arrives back in London to give a DNA sample and alongside her teenage son, Ollie, she begins her own re-investigation into Nina’s disappearance. They didn’t trust the police then and she is worried to trust them now. As ghosts of the past come to the surface, Jess and Ollie risk their own safety trying to get answers. They may find that some secrets are best left buried …
The majority of the book is told in the present through Jess’ experience, however, occasional chapters - titled ‘before’ - are told by an unknown character. I was surprised at who this was and their part within the story. Not often a lover of ‘cult’ involved books but this is really different and I think more present than we know. The characters within the book are excellent and I adored the relationship between Jess and Ollie and they have been so well developed by EB to be realistic and dynamic.
An atmospheric, twisty domestic thriller which covers deep topics including family relationships, coercive behaviour and a living cult. I think you are best going into this blind so don’t do too much reading!!
Thank you to NetGallery, Harper Collins and Emma Babbington for the ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was going through one of those phases of not being able to find a book that really captured my attention when I read Emma Babbington’s The Gardens. And PING – just like that – I was staying awake until 2am, promising myself I’d put the book down once I finished the next chapter, then the next, then the next.
The plot of The Gardens centres around Jess, a widowed mum from London, living in Australia, whose half-sister Nina went missing in the UK when Jess was a child. When human remains are found in the garden of the house where Jess, her parents, and on occasion Nina, lived at the time, Jess hops on a plane back to London in the hope of laying the mystery that has plagued her family for decades, to rest.
Starting with a great premise, you might be fooled into believing this is a standard murder-mystery but oh my, it absolutely isn’t. What follows once Jess returns to London is a reveal of layer upon layer of past secrets where Emma Babbington sends the reader off on a multitude of possibilities as to what the truth is. With the turn of every page, I felt certain I’d figured out what was really happening. Not once did I get it right.
The characters, particularly Jess and her teenage son, are skilfully developed, plotlines include a sinister cult, a wanted criminal who may be stalking Jess and the mystery of her wealthy neighbour who Jess is convinced is hiding his elderly father in the flat upstairs. Then there are the chapters from the POV of an unknown narrator. Not to brag, but I do have an uncanny knack of guessing endings. The Gardens completely blindsided me. It is a hugely entertaining and highly engaging read with great depth and fabulous pacing. This book will keep you awake at night for all the right reasons.
Thanks to the author for providing an advance copy.
The plot of The Gardens centres around Jess, a widowed mum from London, living in Australia, whose half-sister Nina went missing in the UK when Jess was a child. When human remains are found in the garden of the house where Jess, her parents, and on occasion Nina, lived at the time, Jess hops on a plane back to London in the hope of laying the mystery that has plagued her family for decades, to rest.
Starting with a great premise, you might be fooled into believing this is a standard murder-mystery but oh my, it absolutely isn’t. What follows once Jess returns to London is a reveal of layer upon layer of past secrets where Emma Babbington sends the reader off on a multitude of possibilities as to what the truth is. With the turn of every page, I felt certain I’d figured out what was really happening. Not once did I get it right.
The characters, particularly Jess and her teenage son, are skilfully developed, plotlines include a sinister cult, a wanted criminal who may be stalking Jess and the mystery of her wealthy neighbour who Jess is convinced is hiding his elderly father in the flat upstairs. Then there are the chapters from the POV of an unknown narrator. Not to brag, but I do have an uncanny knack of guessing endings. The Gardens completely blindsided me. It is a hugely entertaining and highly engaging read with great depth and fabulous pacing. This book will keep you awake at night for all the right reasons.
Thanks to the author for providing an advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Jess McIntyre's older sister Nina's been missing for over 34 years, since she was a teenager. Jess and her mother are still grieving, hoping against hope that Nina - or her body - will eventually be found so they can put to rest this aching, unending grief. Such an awful situation to live with.
The police at the time of Nina's disappearance seemed unhelpful, and Jess (now widowed) and teenage son Ollie eventually moved to Australia to get away from their bad memories, and her mother is also now there. Out of the blue a phone call comes from the British police. Bones have been found in their old back yard during a garden renovation, and they need a DNA sample from Jess...
What a spectacular beginning to what becomes a slow-burning mystery. Jess and Ollie fly to London to begin the hopeful procedure with the police, this time meeting with people who seem more inclined to assist them now there appears to be a lead in her sister's cold case.
Ollie is between schools, somewhat of a genius but also a rebel. His behaviour in London, although well meaning, is also very 'teenagery' and leads to more tense situations that magnify in menace as Nina's back story begins to unfold. There is more to Nina's disappearance that Jess ever knew. Infinitely more, and that same danger now begins to extend to Jess and Ollie as connections are made.
This was a hold-your-breath story, the past revealing itself in unbelievable ways, with slow menace and long memories. All is not what it seems. Secrets and lies are held very close to the chest - and people don't want Jess to learn a thing. The truth, when it comes, is shocking.
Thankyou HQ Books and Harlequin Australia for the advance reading copy. Thoroughly enjoyable and very unputdownable!
The police at the time of Nina's disappearance seemed unhelpful, and Jess (now widowed) and teenage son Ollie eventually moved to Australia to get away from their bad memories, and her mother is also now there. Out of the blue a phone call comes from the British police. Bones have been found in their old back yard during a garden renovation, and they need a DNA sample from Jess...
What a spectacular beginning to what becomes a slow-burning mystery. Jess and Ollie fly to London to begin the hopeful procedure with the police, this time meeting with people who seem more inclined to assist them now there appears to be a lead in her sister's cold case.
Ollie is between schools, somewhat of a genius but also a rebel. His behaviour in London, although well meaning, is also very 'teenagery' and leads to more tense situations that magnify in menace as Nina's back story begins to unfold. There is more to Nina's disappearance that Jess ever knew. Infinitely more, and that same danger now begins to extend to Jess and Ollie as connections are made.
This was a hold-your-breath story, the past revealing itself in unbelievable ways, with slow menace and long memories. All is not what it seems. Secrets and lies are held very close to the chest - and people don't want Jess to learn a thing. The truth, when it comes, is shocking.
Thankyou HQ Books and Harlequin Australia for the advance reading copy. Thoroughly enjoyable and very unputdownable!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was a decent read, centered on Jess, who returns to her childhood home when human bones are discovered in her backyard that seem likely to be tied to the disappearance of her sister Nina 30 years prior. Jess brings along her son Ollie and together they dive into her childhood while waiting to hear the results of the testing on the remains. What starts out as a murder mystery turns into more, as Jess realizes that Nina's friends have ties to a mysterious communal living situation that may or may not be some kind of cult. The story goes back and forth between past and present and also contains some chapters told by an unknown narrator.
Jess was a likable character and I thought her decisions made sense, for the most part. The dynamic between Jess and Ollie felt real , as did Jess's desperation to find out what happened to her sister and her grief over the death of her husband. I don't have a whole lot of interest in cults but the mystery around what was really going on was interesting to me, and I also found the squatter storyline unique. The reader is introduced to a lot of characters as Jess digs deeper into Nina's past but it wasn't hard to keep everyone straight. The story became increasingly tense as it continued and there were some good twists as the mystery unraveled. While I thought the ending was OK, I was left a little confused with both the actions and the intentions of some of the characters.
Overall, this book ended up being different than I expected, but I liked where it went. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Jess was a likable character and I thought her decisions made sense, for the most part. The dynamic between Jess and Ollie felt real , as did Jess's desperation to find out what happened to her sister and her grief over the death of her husband. I don't have a whole lot of interest in cults but the mystery around what was really going on was interesting to me, and I also found the squatter storyline unique. The reader is introduced to a lot of characters as Jess digs deeper into Nina's past but it wasn't hard to keep everyone straight. The story became increasingly tense as it continued and there were some good twists as the mystery unraveled. While I thought the ending was OK, I was left a little confused with both the actions and the intentions of some of the characters.
Overall, this book ended up being different than I expected, but I liked where it went. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 18, 2026
When human bones are found in the garden attached to the glamorous London house where she grew up, Jess prepares to receive this news she has dreaded for years, that it’s her sister Nina. Nina disappeared without a trace the summer she fell in with a group of friends who squatted in a vacant house the other side of the London home. Jess returns to London from Australia where she now lives, to try and unravel what really happened to Nina.
This was my first book by this author but I was drawn to the cover and synopsis. This ended up being a pleasant surprise, in that it was a highly compelling, intricate mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. Straight away I found myself invested in the story, feeling the unsettling atmosphere and slow burn suspense. Even though this was a slow moving book, it worked well for this story, helping create depth and build the backstory. Told in two timelines, the author did a great job at developing both and building a haunting, emotional read.
The characters were strongly written, even though Jess frustrated me slightly at times, feeling a bit overbearing. Saying that I could really picture her plight. The story kept me guessing and even though I predicated parts it did not impact the story at all. I did find that at times it became overly complex and felt dragged out, however for the most part, I found the story entertaining and interesting. This was a solid thriller overall and an author I will definitely read more of. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
This was my first book by this author but I was drawn to the cover and synopsis. This ended up being a pleasant surprise, in that it was a highly compelling, intricate mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. Straight away I found myself invested in the story, feeling the unsettling atmosphere and slow burn suspense. Even though this was a slow moving book, it worked well for this story, helping create depth and build the backstory. Told in two timelines, the author did a great job at developing both and building a haunting, emotional read.
The characters were strongly written, even though Jess frustrated me slightly at times, feeling a bit overbearing. Saying that I could really picture her plight. The story kept me guessing and even though I predicated parts it did not impact the story at all. I did find that at times it became overly complex and felt dragged out, however for the most part, I found the story entertaining and interesting. This was a solid thriller overall and an author I will definitely read more of. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Gardens is a very enjoyable dual timeline thriller. When Jess was a teenager, her sister Nina went missing. Now many years later, bones have been discovered in her childhood family home in England
Jess, now a widow and living in Australia, flies back with her teenage son, to see if she will finally find out the truth. From the moment she arrives suspicious things happen around her from her wallet being stolen to the strange behaviour of Adam who lives in the building her apartment is in. As her son starts mixing with other local boys, her stress increases when he seems to be getting involved in risky behaviour.
In the other timeline set in the past, we learn about Chisledown, where a group live together basically having little contact with the rest of society. For the young ones there, it is a harsh world. A group are given the opportunity to leave to bring more people into their sect and this is how their lives and Nina's life become connected.
All the characters from Chisledown have personalities and behaviours that make them perfect candidates for causing Nina's disappearance. Even though it is not a fast-paced thriller, there are plenty of twists to keep the reader second guessing what the conclusion will be. I definitely didn't guess the ending, which tells you how many suspects there were. I really liked the ending, especially the last couple of pages.
Thank you HQ Insiders for the chance to read this great book.
Jess, now a widow and living in Australia, flies back with her teenage son, to see if she will finally find out the truth. From the moment she arrives suspicious things happen around her from her wallet being stolen to the strange behaviour of Adam who lives in the building her apartment is in. As her son starts mixing with other local boys, her stress increases when he seems to be getting involved in risky behaviour.
In the other timeline set in the past, we learn about Chisledown, where a group live together basically having little contact with the rest of society. For the young ones there, it is a harsh world. A group are given the opportunity to leave to bring more people into their sect and this is how their lives and Nina's life become connected.
All the characters from Chisledown have personalities and behaviours that make them perfect candidates for causing Nina's disappearance. Even though it is not a fast-paced thriller, there are plenty of twists to keep the reader second guessing what the conclusion will be. I definitely didn't guess the ending, which tells you how many suspects there were. I really liked the ending, especially the last couple of pages.
Thank you HQ Insiders for the chance to read this great book.
June 3, 2026
The cover will grab you but it’s the story that will captivate you….
The Gardens is told from the point of view of Jess, the main protagonist, in the current timeline, and then throughout the book we are taken back to the past, witnessing events and a lifestyle through the eyes of an unknown teenager.
This story captivated me from the start and didn’t let go until the final pages. An entertaining read with characters that lead you through the mystery of the past to try and unravel the secrets of the present.
An ensemble of characters, each playing their role to bring the story to life. A sister trying to find answers, a teenager trying to survive his upbringing, and everyone seems to have something to hide.
I enjoyed the pace of this story and the sense of trepidation as information was revealed. It really kept me on tender hooks wondering what was coming next and where the twists and turns were going to lead.
Emma’s skill really shone through in the way that she built the tension, described the surroundings, and had an atmosphere that felt like it was on the verge of igniting at any moment.
As the story nears the thrilling end, you will wonder who can be trusted, just what the truth is, and experience a few twists and turns that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew, but then that is the sign of a great story.
Thank you Harlequin Australia for my fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date | 28 July 2026
#thegardens
#emmababbington
#buriedsecrets
#harlequinaustralia
#harpercollinsbooks
The Gardens is told from the point of view of Jess, the main protagonist, in the current timeline, and then throughout the book we are taken back to the past, witnessing events and a lifestyle through the eyes of an unknown teenager.
This story captivated me from the start and didn’t let go until the final pages. An entertaining read with characters that lead you through the mystery of the past to try and unravel the secrets of the present.
An ensemble of characters, each playing their role to bring the story to life. A sister trying to find answers, a teenager trying to survive his upbringing, and everyone seems to have something to hide.
I enjoyed the pace of this story and the sense of trepidation as information was revealed. It really kept me on tender hooks wondering what was coming next and where the twists and turns were going to lead.
Emma’s skill really shone through in the way that she built the tension, described the surroundings, and had an atmosphere that felt like it was on the verge of igniting at any moment.
As the story nears the thrilling end, you will wonder who can be trusted, just what the truth is, and experience a few twists and turns that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew, but then that is the sign of a great story.
Thank you Harlequin Australia for my fabulous ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date | 28 July 2026
#thegardens
#emmababbington
#buriedsecrets
#harlequinaustralia
#harpercollinsbooks
June 7, 2026
If you're a fan of slow-burn mysteries, family secrets, dual timelines, and a touch of cult intrigue, then The Gardens is definitely one to add to your TBR.
The story follows Jess McIntyre, who returns to London from Australia after human bones are discovered in the shared gardens of her childhood home. The remains could belong to her sister Nina, who vanished without a trace in 1992 after becoming involved with a charismatic group living nearby. As Jess digs into the past, long-buried secrets begin to surface, and it becomes clear that the truth is far more complicated than anyone imagined.
I really enjoyed how this story unfolded. It's not a fast-paced thriller packed with constant twists, but more of a layered mystery that gradually pulls you in. The dual timeline worked brilliantly, revealing just enough of the past to keep me guessing while building tension in the present day.
One of my favourite aspects was the atmosphere. There was an underlying sense of unease throughout, and the cult element added an extra layer of intrigue without feeling over-the-top or unrealistic. Jess was a relatable protagonist, and I found myself completely invested in her search for answers.
The pacing is definitely on the slower side, but for me it suited the story perfectly. The character development was strong, the mystery kept me engaged, and although I guessed a couple of things along the way, there were still enough surprises to keep me turning the pages.
A compelling, character-driven mystery full of secrets, grief, family drama, and a satisfying sense of suspense. Perfect for readers who enjoy Lisa Jewell-style domestic mysteries with a darker edge.
Thank you to Netgalley, HQ and Emma Babbington for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows Jess McIntyre, who returns to London from Australia after human bones are discovered in the shared gardens of her childhood home. The remains could belong to her sister Nina, who vanished without a trace in 1992 after becoming involved with a charismatic group living nearby. As Jess digs into the past, long-buried secrets begin to surface, and it becomes clear that the truth is far more complicated than anyone imagined.
I really enjoyed how this story unfolded. It's not a fast-paced thriller packed with constant twists, but more of a layered mystery that gradually pulls you in. The dual timeline worked brilliantly, revealing just enough of the past to keep me guessing while building tension in the present day.
One of my favourite aspects was the atmosphere. There was an underlying sense of unease throughout, and the cult element added an extra layer of intrigue without feeling over-the-top or unrealistic. Jess was a relatable protagonist, and I found myself completely invested in her search for answers.
The pacing is definitely on the slower side, but for me it suited the story perfectly. The character development was strong, the mystery kept me engaged, and although I guessed a couple of things along the way, there were still enough surprises to keep me turning the pages.
A compelling, character-driven mystery full of secrets, grief, family drama, and a satisfying sense of suspense. Perfect for readers who enjoy Lisa Jewell-style domestic mysteries with a darker edge.
Thank you to Netgalley, HQ and Emma Babbington for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: 4.0/5
Emma Babbington's debut novel, "The Neighbours" slipped under my radar on its release, but based on my experience of this, her second publication, I may well make a point of reading it in the coming weeks.
"The Gardens" is a slow-burning, but compelling mystery drama. If you like your fiction to start with a bang and move along at a rollicking pace, then this might not be for you. The writing is intelligent and considered, with a storyline that gradually hooks you and draws you further into its depths. The narrative plays out across two timelines. The majority is set in the present day, but there are regular flashbacks to an unspecified "Before" period - although it transpires that this was around 1992. The flashback sections are told from the perspective of an unnamed first person narrator, whose identity is not revealed until much later in the piece, though you may have worked it out prior to the formal disclosure.
The characterisation is solid and the setting is well-drawn. These elements combine impressively to evoke an almost tangible atmosphere. The fictional dramas that work most effectively tend to be those that the reader can envisage actually happening in reality and Emma Babbington certainly achieves that with "The Gardens".
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Emma Babbington's debut novel, "The Neighbours" slipped under my radar on its release, but based on my experience of this, her second publication, I may well make a point of reading it in the coming weeks.
"The Gardens" is a slow-burning, but compelling mystery drama. If you like your fiction to start with a bang and move along at a rollicking pace, then this might not be for you. The writing is intelligent and considered, with a storyline that gradually hooks you and draws you further into its depths. The narrative plays out across two timelines. The majority is set in the present day, but there are regular flashbacks to an unspecified "Before" period - although it transpires that this was around 1992. The flashback sections are told from the perspective of an unnamed first person narrator, whose identity is not revealed until much later in the piece, though you may have worked it out prior to the formal disclosure.
The characterisation is solid and the setting is well-drawn. These elements combine impressively to evoke an almost tangible atmosphere. The fictional dramas that work most effectively tend to be those that the reader can envisage actually happening in reality and Emma Babbington certainly achieves that with "The Gardens".
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
June 18, 2026
[ARC received in exchange for my honest review]
I just love a thriller that I can binge in a day. And this is exactly what this book gave me.
A missing sister. A mysterious cult. A body found in Jess’ childhood garden.
All these things are inextricably linked together as per most thriller’s storylines, but the way they came together in this story was so clever, with so many twists that just kept you guessing, morally grey characters who were convinced they were doing wrong for the right reasons and the most deliciously unsettling yet beautiful locations both in a high end London community and the mansion in the New Forest that was home to Chisledown.
I loved how we flipped between timelines in order to piece the eventually mystery together, with anonymous narrators and the blurry memories of childhood only adding to the chaos and confusion of the mystery.
The only thing I would have loved to learn about more was the character of Ollie, Jess’ son, regarding some of the decisions he got involved with and things that were mentioned about him at the beginning that never, to me, seemed fully resolved or explained.
It was so exciting to have the opportunity to revisit Emma’s writing after reading The Neighbours last year and seeing how much she’d grown as an author and I cannot wait to read whatever she produces next!
A huge thank you to Emma Babbington and HQ Stories for the physical ARC and the opportunity to read this one early.
I just love a thriller that I can binge in a day. And this is exactly what this book gave me.
A missing sister. A mysterious cult. A body found in Jess’ childhood garden.
All these things are inextricably linked together as per most thriller’s storylines, but the way they came together in this story was so clever, with so many twists that just kept you guessing, morally grey characters who were convinced they were doing wrong for the right reasons and the most deliciously unsettling yet beautiful locations both in a high end London community and the mansion in the New Forest that was home to Chisledown.
I loved how we flipped between timelines in order to piece the eventually mystery together, with anonymous narrators and the blurry memories of childhood only adding to the chaos and confusion of the mystery.
The only thing I would have loved to learn about more was the character of Ollie, Jess’ son, regarding some of the decisions he got involved with and things that were mentioned about him at the beginning that never, to me, seemed fully resolved or explained.
It was so exciting to have the opportunity to revisit Emma’s writing after reading The Neighbours last year and seeing how much she’d grown as an author and I cannot wait to read whatever she produces next!
A huge thank you to Emma Babbington and HQ Stories for the physical ARC and the opportunity to read this one early.
June 18, 2026
3.5 ⭐️
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You put the word cult into a book and you can guarantee I’ll be picking it up.
This domestic thriller follows a well balanced dual timeline that doesn’t alternate by chapter, but heads back to the past when needed in order to build up the history of Chisledown and the backstory of the mystery POV.
I’m calling the second timeline set in the past a mystery POV as it isn’t revealed who they are until further into the book. I had my suspicions on who this character could be, and I jumped back and forth a bit, but got there in the end.
The main timeline and POV is set in the present day and follows Jess, who has returned back to London after receiving news of remains found in the garden of their old home. These remains could likely be those of her missing sister Nina, and one way or another, she will find the truth.
The story and reveals follow a slower pace, but nothing is ever set in stone. The constant ambiguity helps in creating a layer of tension that makes you want to read on to get to the bottom of all the unanswered questions.
The reveals were heartbreaking rather than shocking, but that just made them hit so much deeper. Coupling this with an open ending (which I do enjoy because you can draw your own conclusions on the events) leaves you thinking about the story for a while after you’ve finished.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You put the word cult into a book and you can guarantee I’ll be picking it up.
This domestic thriller follows a well balanced dual timeline that doesn’t alternate by chapter, but heads back to the past when needed in order to build up the history of Chisledown and the backstory of the mystery POV.
I’m calling the second timeline set in the past a mystery POV as it isn’t revealed who they are until further into the book. I had my suspicions on who this character could be, and I jumped back and forth a bit, but got there in the end.
The main timeline and POV is set in the present day and follows Jess, who has returned back to London after receiving news of remains found in the garden of their old home. These remains could likely be those of her missing sister Nina, and one way or another, she will find the truth.
The story and reveals follow a slower pace, but nothing is ever set in stone. The constant ambiguity helps in creating a layer of tension that makes you want to read on to get to the bottom of all the unanswered questions.
The reveals were heartbreaking rather than shocking, but that just made them hit so much deeper. Coupling this with an open ending (which I do enjoy because you can draw your own conclusions on the events) leaves you thinking about the story for a while after you’ve finished.
June 22, 2026
ARC Review: The Gardens by @emmababbington published by @hqbooks supplied by @netgalley
Release date: 28 July 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well this was a twisty mystery/thriller that really had you guessing what the exact truth was at the end.
Widow Jess and her 15 year old son Ollie, have travelled from Sydney to London to visit Jess’ childhood home after human remains were found in the backyard that date back to the early 1990s. The reason Jess wants to be there in person for the police investigation is because her older sister Nina went missing in 1992 and her body has never been found.
What follows is a dual timeline narration that follows Jess in the present and an unknown narrator in ‘Before’ while they are living in a cult like commune called Chisledown. Could Nina’s disappearance and suspected death be linked to the young cult members who were squatting in a house on Jess’ street the summer Nina went missing? Or is Nina possibly still alive?
I’m a sucker for a good cult story and got The Family vibes from this fictional one. I loved Jess as a narrator and her trying to piece together memories from 30 plus years ago while investigating the body in the yard. I admit I did not guess who the ‘before’ narrator was and enjoyed piecing their part of the story together.
Release date: 28 July 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well this was a twisty mystery/thriller that really had you guessing what the exact truth was at the end.
Widow Jess and her 15 year old son Ollie, have travelled from Sydney to London to visit Jess’ childhood home after human remains were found in the backyard that date back to the early 1990s. The reason Jess wants to be there in person for the police investigation is because her older sister Nina went missing in 1992 and her body has never been found.
What follows is a dual timeline narration that follows Jess in the present and an unknown narrator in ‘Before’ while they are living in a cult like commune called Chisledown. Could Nina’s disappearance and suspected death be linked to the young cult members who were squatting in a house on Jess’ street the summer Nina went missing? Or is Nina possibly still alive?
I’m a sucker for a good cult story and got The Family vibes from this fictional one. I loved Jess as a narrator and her trying to piece together memories from 30 plus years ago while investigating the body in the yard. I admit I did not guess who the ‘before’ narrator was and enjoyed piecing their part of the story together.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is my first book read by the author though I recently purchased The Neighbors and its on my tbr list. This is a slow burn mystery. There are themes of cold case mystery, manipulation, messy dysfunctional family, cults, buried secrets, grief and domestic suspense. The story centers around Jess, who returns to her childhood home because a body has been found in the backyard/garden that could be her sister that has been missing for more than 3 decades. Jess is a widow with a teenaged son. Things start to happen when she returns and while she is waiting to know for sure that the bones belong to her sister Nina. The story has two timelines, going back and forth from the present to the past. We find in the past timeline about a cult like group and we find out about how Nina could have been connected with them making them potential suspects in her disappearance. There were some twists that kept me guessing how this was going to end up and it wrapped up in the last few pages. I found it rather sad how it all ended, but that is all I can say as to not give spoilers. Thank you Netgalley and HQ Digital for the complimentary copy of the story.
June 18, 2026
The Gardens is an eerie read that I enjoyed.
Jess is returning with her son to London Australia, there have been some human bones found buried at the bottom of the garden where she lived growing up. In 1992 her sister, Nina went missing and hasn’t been heard from since. Jess is hoping it’s not her sister so they can keep on hoping she’s living her life somewhere else happily. Things take a turn and things aren’t the same after some discoveries and Jess is struggling to put things together as well as trying to keep her son on a straight track after finding some friends.
This was a book I probably wouldn’t have picked up had it said anything about featuring a cult but this is written so well it didn’t really feel like I was being drawn into anything like that and was definitely not heavy. The book is a slow burn with a tense and unsettling atmosphere. The then and now worked really well as you get deeper into Nina’s story. There are a lot of characters but were well developed so I didn’t get mixed up. The ending was well done and didn’t feel rushed.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Jess is returning with her son to London Australia, there have been some human bones found buried at the bottom of the garden where she lived growing up. In 1992 her sister, Nina went missing and hasn’t been heard from since. Jess is hoping it’s not her sister so they can keep on hoping she’s living her life somewhere else happily. Things take a turn and things aren’t the same after some discoveries and Jess is struggling to put things together as well as trying to keep her son on a straight track after finding some friends.
This was a book I probably wouldn’t have picked up had it said anything about featuring a cult but this is written so well it didn’t really feel like I was being drawn into anything like that and was definitely not heavy. The book is a slow burn with a tense and unsettling atmosphere. The then and now worked really well as you get deeper into Nina’s story. There are a lot of characters but were well developed so I didn’t get mixed up. The ending was well done and didn’t feel rushed.
I would like to thank NetGalley and HQ for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A slow burn that keeps you gripped through out.
Jess and her son Ollie now live in Australia, but when they receive a phone call about a skeleton found in the gardens of the flat they used to live, Jess returns to London, hoping to find some information on her sister that went missing decades ago.
This novel is excellently plotted and adds to the suspense by having a dual timeline and POV. I found myself taken in by the cult element, but grounded by Jess’s very normal existence, which was an excellent parallel. I found great empathy for Jess and wish more books would have more relatable characters living in unexpected times. I felt that the inclusion of her son, added to the tension and made this a truly thrilling book.
The book was a tiny bit let down by the sheer amount of characters and background that weren’t easy to recall quickly.
I would recommend this to those that enjoy a sleepy pace with danger around every corner.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Jess and her son Ollie now live in Australia, but when they receive a phone call about a skeleton found in the gardens of the flat they used to live, Jess returns to London, hoping to find some information on her sister that went missing decades ago.
This novel is excellently plotted and adds to the suspense by having a dual timeline and POV. I found myself taken in by the cult element, but grounded by Jess’s very normal existence, which was an excellent parallel. I found great empathy for Jess and wish more books would have more relatable characters living in unexpected times. I felt that the inclusion of her son, added to the tension and made this a truly thrilling book.
The book was a tiny bit let down by the sheer amount of characters and background that weren’t easy to recall quickly.
I would recommend this to those that enjoy a sleepy pace with danger around every corner.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"The Gardens," by Emma Babbington is a slow burn mystery. It begins with Jess and her tennage son, Ollie flying from Australia, where they currently live, to London which is where Jess grew up. I loved the garden description within the book. It is a large communal garden in which all the residences share and can see outside their homes. One of the neighbors has been doing some garden renovations and they come upon human remains. Thirty four years ago, Jess's half sister Nina disappeared from their lives and Jess is going to give DNA to help identify if it is her sister.
From there the story goes back in forth between current day and the past and a cult, called Chisledown, and the people who grew up there and the complexities of the varous character, personalities and hierarchy of the members.
Obviously these two storylines come together in the end. If you like slow burn mysteries and the complexities of cults and their various characters then I highly recommend this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
From there the story goes back in forth between current day and the past and a cult, called Chisledown, and the people who grew up there and the complexities of the varous character, personalities and hierarchy of the members.
Obviously these two storylines come together in the end. If you like slow burn mysteries and the complexities of cults and their various characters then I highly recommend this novel.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really enjoyed The Gardens. It was one of those books that had me wanting to keep reading to find out what happened next, even though I did pick a few of the twists pretty early on. That’s probably the only reason it’s a 4-star read for me instead of a 5.
The cult aspect was easily my favourite part. I’m weirdly fascinated by cults, so I loved that side of the story and thought it was really well done. The only thing that drove me mad was the son. I know he’s a teenager, but I found him so frustrating. Maybe it’s just the teacher in me, but parents making excuses for their kid’s awful behaviour instead of calling it out is one of my biggest pet hates. 😂
Overall, this was an engaging, well-written mystery that kept me invested from start to finish. If you enjoy a well-paced thriller with plenty of family drama, buried secrets and twists that keep you guessing, it’s definitely worth picking up.
The cult aspect was easily my favourite part. I’m weirdly fascinated by cults, so I loved that side of the story and thought it was really well done. The only thing that drove me mad was the son. I know he’s a teenager, but I found him so frustrating. Maybe it’s just the teacher in me, but parents making excuses for their kid’s awful behaviour instead of calling it out is one of my biggest pet hates. 😂
Overall, this was an engaging, well-written mystery that kept me invested from start to finish. If you enjoy a well-paced thriller with plenty of family drama, buried secrets and twists that keep you guessing, it’s definitely worth picking up.
June 14, 2026
I recently received an ARC copy of The Gardens by Emma Barrington for an honest review from HQ Insiders. It's a story of a sister who goes missing from her childhood home never to be seen again and the lengths her sister goes to to find answers about what happened to her and the mysterious gypsy like cult who camp out on the grounds outside their yard. It's a decades long mystery. Jes the surviving sister starts a new life in Australia with her son but is called back to London to give a DNA sample when a body is located and believes she'll get the closure and and answers she's been seeking for decades. But will she? Or will it stir up more unanswered questions than before? And does Jess really want to know what really happened. Full of plot twists and unexpected results. A page turner till the last page. A good read
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When human remains are found in the gardens attached to the upmarket family home where Jess grew up, she returns to the UK from Australia - where she is now settled - with her teenage son. Jess is both hoping for and dreading the prospect of closure since she suspects that the remains are of her 18 year old half sister Nina who disappeared years ago, during one eventful summer when Nina became involved with a group of charismatic young people who were squatting in another house in their neighbourhood. But as she gradually discovers, the story is not quite so simple...
Engaging, original, and thoroughly entertaining, Emma Babbington has done it again with her latest book. Well worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Engaging, original, and thoroughly entertaining, Emma Babbington has done it again with her latest book. Well worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book from HQ via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I would categorize this as a mystery rather than a thriller, but it was a solid one. Ms. Babbington did a great job developing Jess, Ollie, the mystery person, as well as all the minor characters such as Jess' parents. They were fleshed out with their own issues and stories. The description of the homes on the gardens was also skillfully done. I would have 100% been hiding in the garden where Jess and Nina did.
I didn't suspect the mystery person's identity until nearly the end. I don't think the author really alluded to it, but it also made sense and was believable.
I just didn't like the epilogue as it left things unsatisfactory (IMO).
I didn't suspect the mystery person's identity until nearly the end. I don't think the author really alluded to it, but it also made sense and was believable.
I just didn't like the epilogue as it left things unsatisfactory (IMO).
June 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for sending me a widget for The Gardens.
I have also read The Neighbours by this author, and enjoyed that, so thought I’d give The Gardens a try.
I struggled a bit to engage with the characters, and guessed one of the identity twists, but not much before it was revealed. It was a good, solid read, but I wasn’t wowed. The teenage son was an absolute liability and I couldn’t keep from thinking how I would handle him very differently if he was mine (having one of my own)! But each to their own I guess.
The last quarter went quickly, as lots seemed to happen in a short space of time.
3.5 stars rounded up (please could we have half stars GoodReads?!)
I have also read The Neighbours by this author, and enjoyed that, so thought I’d give The Gardens a try.
I struggled a bit to engage with the characters, and guessed one of the identity twists, but not much before it was revealed. It was a good, solid read, but I wasn’t wowed. The teenage son was an absolute liability and I couldn’t keep from thinking how I would handle him very differently if he was mine (having one of my own)! But each to their own I guess.
The last quarter went quickly, as lots seemed to happen in a short space of time.
3.5 stars rounded up (please could we have half stars GoodReads?!)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book had me hooked right from the very start. It was another one of those errie books.
In 1992 Nina disappeared never to be seen again. When bones have been found in the garden of the glamourous home Jess and her family lived in. All fingers are pointing towards the bones belonging to her sister, Nina. Jess flies to London with her son Ollie to assist the police and find out what has happened to Nina. This is where the story becomes eerie and takes you for a wild ride.
A chilling psychological thriller that you need to read. The chapters are told by Jess with now and flashbacks to before and we get some chapters from an unknown character at Chisledown. The cult aspects of this book was absolutely eerie. The ending was very emotional and I don't want to give too much away. Maybe grab some tissues.
Thank you Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for gifting me a copy for my honest book review.
In 1992 Nina disappeared never to be seen again. When bones have been found in the garden of the glamourous home Jess and her family lived in. All fingers are pointing towards the bones belonging to her sister, Nina. Jess flies to London with her son Ollie to assist the police and find out what has happened to Nina. This is where the story becomes eerie and takes you for a wild ride.
A chilling psychological thriller that you need to read. The chapters are told by Jess with now and flashbacks to before and we get some chapters from an unknown character at Chisledown. The cult aspects of this book was absolutely eerie. The ending was very emotional and I don't want to give too much away. Maybe grab some tissues.
Thank you Harlequin Australia and Netgalley for gifting me a copy for my honest book review.
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