Review for The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins ”

1. Plot Uniqueness : 3/5
2. Pacing and Coherence :” 4/5
3. Emotional and intellectual Engagement : 3.5/5
4. Twists and turns : 3/5
5. Protagonists Character Development : 3/5
6. support character development : 3/5
7. Setting and atmosphere : 3.5/5
8. Chapter Organization : 4/5
9. Conclusion and tied loose ends : 3.5/5
10. Overall rating of book : 3.5/5

I really enjoyed this!! I loved the different new articles and journal entries throughout. The dual pov and jumping timelines made this a super quick read

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Convoluted with some crazy surprises. Jules and Camden are heading to Camden's family home where secrets abound. But they each have secrets of their own . . .

I liked that the narrative was interspersed with letters from Ruby. The letters were a great way to fill in the background details. Lots of suspense and thrills throughout, although some parts were predictable. Worth the read for the character and plot development.

This book was a pleasant surprise.
I thoroughly enjoyed it, as it was a quick read and a good time.

Smart and addictive. I couldn’t wait to keep reading and will definitely be grabbing more from Rachel Hawkins.

I thought this book was a slow burn, but a fast read. I'm a sucker for a book with different POVs. I listened to the book as I read, having a different narrator for each POV was great. It helped make the characters more themselves. The book had great twists. I don't think it was necessarily a thriller, but it was still a good read. This was my second Rachel Hawkins book, and it won't be my last. Thank you to Macmillian Audio and St. Martin's Press for the copies of this book in exchange for my review.

Cunning and interesting We learn about Ruby‘s life through Cam snd Jules. The twists and turns in the plot kept me reading. I enjoyed hearing how each little bit of this mystery unfolded! Thank you to ARC for the advanced copy.

I really wanted to like "The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins. I've seen her books floating around, and the premise sounded like my kind of gothic-tinged mystery. Unfortunately, I ended up DNF-ing this one at the 50% mark, and honestly, I'm not sure I could have pushed through much further.
The biggest issue for me was the sheer lack of depth. It felt like the story was skimming the surface of everything – the characters, the plot, the atmosphere. Everything felt paper-thin. I kept waiting for something substantial to happen, for some kind of emotional hook, but it just never materialized. I was left feeling completely detached from the story.
The "mysteries" felt predictable, and the characters, despite the dramatic setup, were incredibly bland. I just couldn't bring myself to care about what happened to any of them. It felt like a checklist of gothic tropes, but without any of the heart or tension that makes those tropes work.
This is actually the second book I've tried by Rachel Hawkins, and sadly, I haven't been impressed by either. I'm starting to think her writing style just isn't for me. I’m really disappointed, because I enjoy gothic mysteries, but this one just didn’t deliver. Perhaps if you enjoy books that are light on depth and heavy on predictable plot points, you might enjoy this one. But for me, it was a complete miss.

This was such a fast book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The twists were good, only a few were surprising, but I just enjoy Rachel Hawkins' thrillers. Comforting and a great palette cleanser.

Book was really fast paced read. I enjoyed it a lot and kept my attention. I’ve read a lot of Racheal’s books and this is one of my fave. Can’t wait to see what else she does.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a lot of fun! Rachel Hawkins is a great author.
The Wife Upstairs was my first book by her, but this was so much better!

Rachel Hawkins writes amazing books. This one was a bit of a slow burn but I stuck with it. What a main character name too lol Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. Gothic and atmospheric.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for my honest review and feedback. OMG - I have no words! What a story! So many twists and turns that will leave you hanging on until you reach the very end. Such a great book! Highly recommend.

I requested this on NetGalley before it came out last year and I’ve been getting caught up on these reads. The premise of this book had me so curious. And I finished listening to this book with my mouth wide open in shock.

The twists and turns did not stop. All of the narrators were so well done. Each point of view had secrets the characters were holding on to. I think Ruby was my favorite. Her accent was nailed perfectly. Ruby’s written letters were fascinating as she spilled all of her secrets to one reader. (Can’t say who, but WOW.) Jules and Camden were also excellent. I couldn’t keep track of the times I was left in awe at the unexpected turns the story took.

The other characters are held together by greed and money and secrets. As Camden is called home to Ashby House to sort out his inheritance (and so much more!)

The author does a great job with ending chapters in such a way I had to keep reading. The story is told with 3 points of view and newspaper articles to give a background story. I absolutely loved how it was written. I remained invested the whole time.

I received a NetGalley approval for the ebook. I listened to the audio on Libby.

Rachel Hawkins delivers another gripping, atmospheric read with The Heiress, a novel packed with dark family secrets, an eerie mansion, and a lingering sense of unease. Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ashby House is more than just an estate—it’s a character in its own right, steeped in the legacy of Ruby McTavish, the enigmatic, scandal-ridden heiress whose death leaves behind more questions than answers.

Told through multiple perspectives, including Ruby’s own letters, the novel expertly weaves past and present, peeling back the layers of deception surrounding Ruby’s infamous life—and her adopted son Camden’s reluctant return to the McTavish family. His wife, Jules, quickly finds herself drawn into the house’s sinister pull, and as buried truths come to light, the novel ramps up with gothic tension and creeping dread.

While some twists are a little predictable, the richly drawn setting, compelling characters, and slow-burn suspense keep the pages turning. Fans of The House in the Pines or The Family Upstairs will love the mix of Southern gothic vibes and psychological intrigue.

Slow burn mystery. Love this author and will read all her books. A great cast of characters in a gothic setting that you love to hate. Def recommended to fans of this author and fans of gothic mysteries. Thank you to publisher for my copy!

Whenever I see Rachel Hawkins with a new book, I MUST read it out of loyalty because I loved her first book so much. However, I've tended to find her other books a hit or miss. Unfortunately, this one was a miss.

This book was great! Thrilling without being cruel or graphic. Jules married into wealth that her husband has tried to get away from. Until it pulls them both back into the estate and reveals truth amid speculation.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a gothic-tinged thriller filled with family secrets, old money, and a mysterious inheritance that comes with more questions than answers. Hawkins excels at crafting an atmospheric setting, pulling readers into a world where everyone has something to hide.

The dual timelines and shifting perspectives add layers to the mystery, and the slow-burn suspense keeps you engaged. However, some twists feel a bit predictable, and certain character motivations could have been explored more deeply.

3.5 stars — a moody, twisty read with strong gothic vibes and family drama, perfect for fans of character-driven mysteries, even if it doesn’t quite hit its full potential.