This was so fun!! I highly enjoyed this quick thriller. I love the setting of North Carolina because I could picture it so well in my head. I really enjoyed the POVs and the twists were twisting!!

I enjoy Rachel Hawkins writing and atmosphere and this one wasn’t exception. This was entertaining and fun to read! I like how story was changing and overall it was quick fun read. Great theiller

An infamous heiress with a storied history and an even longer name died 10 years prior, seemingly burying a lot of secrets with her as her estate was left to her adopted son Camden - who has denounced his family legacy and money for a simple life. We eventually hear multiple perspectives across the years. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was widowed four times, her husbands all dying under mysterious circumstances. Meanwhile, there’s the never ending questions about what happened when she was kidnapped as a child. Years after Ruby’s death, Camden and his wife return for a funeral..and some of those secrets quickly come to the surface.
I found this hard to follow at time with the jumps in timeline, but overall, it’s a good piece of fiction surrounded by mystery and family drama.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a thriller about a woman who is notorious for being kidnapped and then returned to her family name Ruby McTavish and could have quite possibly killed four husbands. When she dies, and her estate is left open for inheritance, everyone wants the money even though she has left the entire inheritance to her adopted son, Camden. When letters are left behind, the past and the present collide in this thriller and you’ll find out everything about Ruby and her past.

I really enjoyed this book! I love an inheritance thriller because everyone comes out of the woodwork and people show their true colors when it comes down to money. You never know who is really after the money and what the character’s intentions are. Also, the ultra rich characters were very over the top and made for an entertaining read. Camden, the adopted son, was a breath of fresh air in not wanting to get wrapped up into all the drama of money.

My favorite part of this was when Ruby wrote about the death of her husbands. It was almost like a dark version of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. There were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming with the husbands. Ruby was dark but for some reason you couldn’t help but root for her. I love a good antihero!

There was a lot going on with the backstory that I think was a push for twists. I’m not sure if it was all necessary for the book and kind of over complicated some of it.

Overall this was a great read and I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the fascinating marital life of Ruby McTavish. She is not someone you want to mess with. I would recommend this hook especially if you like inheritance thrillers.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am a fan of Rachel Hawkins and have read all of her books. If you are looking for wealthy family drama, this is it but I will say the pace was very slow and it took a lot for me to get through.

None of the characters are all that likable, they are all really in it for themselves. I think it's worth it to keep up with all of Hawkins books but I would personally rank this lower on the list.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was fine. Kind of predictable and easy to guess the twists but I had an alright time following it.

Thank you NetGalley and SMP for a copy of this.

Thank you for the opportunity to read The Heiress. I absolutely love Rachel Hawkins gothic mysteries. However, this one fell really flat for me. I DNF at 50%.

Some times books miss and that’s ok. Can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Camden McTavish lives a quiet life in Colorado with his wife Jules despite being the adopted son and only heir of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, famous for her kidnapping and recovery as a small child and notorious for the trail of dead husbands she left in her wake as an adult. After Ruby dies, Cam attempts to have as little to do with his inheritance as possible, but eventually he and Jules are forced to return to Ashby House, where he spent his childhood.

The Heiress is told mainly through three voices: Cam; Jules, who despite her husband’s reluctance loves the estate and is plotting to find a way to remain; and excerpts from a letter written by Ruby to a mysterious “Darling,” detailing the events of her life and how she got her “black widow” reputation. In the meantime, Cam’s toxic relatives circle, trying to find a way to get what they consider to be “their own” back from Cam, whom they have always considered an interloper.

I enjoyed this book but not overly much and didn’t really connect emotionally with any of the characters; thus, the three-star rating.

DNF

Found the characters very felt and was bored by the plot. Thank you NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had expected this book to be a thriller but it felt more like a family drama, and unfortunately, not a particularly good one. If you come across a review describing this as a quick and easy read, I'd say take it with a grain of salt. The pace was frustratingly slow. I kept waiting for that element of excitement, mystery or suspense to kick in, but it never really did. I really had higher hopes for a story about well off people willing to do anything to be wealthier.

We were supposed to uncover whether Ruby had any hand in her four husbands' deaths via letters but the execution was so dull. There was no suspense or mystery. The details had no flair to them – plain storytelling and absolutely no effort by the Hawkins to create a sense of suspense or mystery we could hold onto until the next letter. The placement of these letters felt odd too , they just fell in between chapters regardless of what was happening in the present with Cam and Jules . Honestly, omitting these letters from the story might have added more value to the story by keeping readers guessing. This aspect definitely could have been handled better , it left much to be desired.

The plot itself had some potential to be interesting, but the storytelling fell short. The narrative was sort of boring and predictable. There was a twist at the end that really surprised me but the build up to it lacked finesse of. As for the characters, Cam, Jules, and Ruby were decently developed but the other characters lacked depth. This book left me feeling pretty unsatisfied.

I didn't get far into reading "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" or "Malibu Rises," both by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but I think this book might be similar to both. It wasn’t for me, but I'd recommend it to those who appreciated those novels or can better tolerate a (very) slow burn.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first book I read by this author Reckless Girls was weaker than the second book I read The Villa, and I'm on the fence as to whether this one was better (both got four stars so, if it wasn't better, it was at least on par). As with previous books, I enjoyed the author's writing style and she does seem to lean towards unlikeable characters, which I am also OK with.

As other readers have mentioned, this is more of a family drama than a thriller, but I was engaged throughout the whole thing (and was thrown a bit with the way one letter from Ruby ended but, after thinking on it for a bit, was happy to learn I actually figured out a plot twist ahead of time, which is really unheard of for me).

As with most stories with multiple narrators, I found myself drawn to one over the others (Ruby) and liked her character most of all. Someone mentioned this book was like a soap opera and they aren't wrong - the whole McTavish family was majorly dysfunctional, but it was fun to be along for the ride.

I have really been enjoying Rachel Hawkins’ adult novels, and this one did not disappoint. Besides the covers being gorgeous, she really does draw you in with her books. She made me from California actually feel like I was in North Carolina. Lots of old money glamour and intrigue. Rachel Hawkins is always going to be an automatic read for me with her adult novels.

Finally got around to this but I had a fun time! nothing spectacular, I saw some things coming but I've enjoyed all of Hawkins books I've read before and this was no different!

I loved this book. It had me in its thrall right from the start and the voice acting on the audiobook is impeccable. There are so many layers of secrets and deception. It’s a perfect cozy light thriller for fall. Would highly recommend!

I absolutely loved this book and love Rachel Hawkins. The plot was strong and the ending really surprised me. Generally, I can see what is going to happen, but did not this time! Can't wait for Rachel Hawkins next book.

Really enjoyed this book! I loved how the house seemed to take on a character and built suspense throughout the story. Ended up recommending this one for book club and we had a lively discussion about it.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a captivating historical fiction novel that immerses readers in a world of intrigue, romance, and societal expectations. Set in the late 19th century, the story follows the life of a young heiress who finds herself entangled in a web of family secrets and scandal.

Hawkins' writing is lush and atmospheric, vividly bringing to life the opulence of the era while also highlighting the constraints placed on women of that time. The protagonist is both relatable and compelling, as she navigates the pressures of wealth and status while searching for her own identity and desires. The character development is well-crafted, with secondary characters that add depth and complexity to the narrative.

The plot is filled with twists and turns, keeping readers on their toes as secrets unravel and loyalties are tested. Hawkins expertly weaves themes of ambition, betrayal, and the pursuit of true love throughout the story, creating a rich tapestry that explores both personal and societal dilemmas.

Overall, "The Heiress" is a beautifully written and engaging novel that transports readers to a different time while offering a fresh take on the classic themes of love and power. It’s a must-read for fans of historical fiction and anyone looking for a story that balances romance with deeper reflections on societal roles and individual agency.

I wanted to like this more than I did. It was slow to start, not much happened in the first 60-70%. Could appreciate some of the twists and how it all ended though.

As with the rest of the author’s books, I was immediately hooked. I had a hard time putting the book down because I needed to know what happened next. As someone who frequents the blue ridge mountains, Hawkins perfectly captured the mood of the environment.

The Heiress" offers a good blend of mystery and drama, set against a historical backdrop. Hawkins's writing is engaging, pulling readers into the world of intrigue and family secrets. The characters are well-developed, with relatable flaws and motivations that keep you invested in their journeys. However, the pacing sometimes feels uneven, particularly in the middle section where the story lags. Some plot twists came off a bit contrived, leaving me wanting a more cohesive resolution. Overall, it's an enjoyable read for fans of the genre, but it could benefit from tighter plotting. Worth a read for its atmosphere and character depth!