The Gardens

The Gardens by Emma Babbington is a twisty psychological thriller that pulls you straight into a dark family mystery, set against the glossy façades and hidden corners of London.

When human bones are uncovered in the garden of the home Jess McIntyre grew up in, she’s forced to confront the loss that’s shadowed her life for decades: her sister Nina vanished in 1992 and was never found. Now living in Australia as a widowed single mum, Jess returns to London with her teenage son, Ollie, to give a DNA sample and face what the investigation might reveal.

As Jess retraces Nina’s last summer—drawn into a magnetic new crowd squatting near Willow Gardens—old loyalties, half-truths and a sinister cult connection begin to surface, raising unsettling questions about what really happened.

Perfect for readers who love domestic suspense, cult mysteries, and emotionally driven crime fiction with an irresistible 90s thread.

Step back through Willow Gardens and see what’s been buried.