Rachel's books are always such a breath of fresh air. They dont strain my brain and I have the best time.

The Heiress is a captivating mystery that had me staying up all night to finish.

I've read a few novels by this author already, and I can promise you she doesn't disappoint. If you're in the mood for a fast-paced and juicy mystery novel then this is it. Her books have the perfect blend of mysterious twists and rich people behaving badly. I couldn't put it down!

I would have loved to give this book a full 5 stars, but when I compare this book to some of her other novels it just didn't quite hit the 5 star mark.

Overall, I had a great time reading this and can't wait to see what she writes next.

This was my first Rachel Hawkins book, and honestly? Not bad. The plot had me hooked for most of the ride, and there was one tiny twist that I didn’t see coming, but I was still left with some “wait, but why?” questions. At the end of the day, The Heiress is basically Saltburn Lite—gilded drama, dysfunctional rich people, and just enough darkness to keep you turning pages without needing a shower afterward.

Side note: I especially enjoyed was Hawkins’ unapologetic use of F-bombs. They fit the vibe, and honestly, they made the book more fun. And if you’re looking for bonus entertainment: check out all the pearl-clutching Goodreads reviewers who left one star because they were scandalized by the “vulgar” language.

I really wanted to like this book but I found it hard to get through. For some reason I found the story hard to follow.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins, and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc!

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore is as complicated and sophisticated as her name. She was the victim of a famous kidnapping as a child, all four of her husbands die under mysterious circumstances, and she’s filthy rich. She lived at Ashby House, her family’s incredible estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains. When she dies, her huge fortune and the estate are left to her adopted son, Camden. However, Camden isn’t interested in the inheritance and is even less interested in the remaining members of the McTavish family with their messy, tense dynamics—frankly, this is a nice way of saying they are truly not good people. He moves away and settles into a normal life with his wife Jules who also has a messy past. Ten years later, Camden and Jules are summoned back to Ashby House following the passing of his uncle. While they are there, they begin to uncover a lot of secrets—about the remaining McTavishes, Ruby’s kidnapping as a child, what really happened to her four late husbands, and even why she chose to adopt Camden.

The best way I can describe this story is The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but make it a mystery/thriller—which is such a high compliment! I absolutely loved learning about Ruby through her writing and uncovering the juicy details of her life.

The Heiress had great pacing and was compulsively readable. In fact, this may have been the fastest I’ve read a book in a while. I’ve found that to be true with Rachel Hawkins’ other books as well—she knows how to hook the reader. If you’re looking for a fast-paced, gripping mystery/thriller, I highly recommend this novel!

If you are looking for a gothic thriller that will make you keep turning the page, stay up late, and guess the culprit...this is the one! I enjoy Hawkins' writing style and how she keeps you guessing until the very end!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a twisty, entertaining read full of family secrets and suspense. I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the way the story unfolded with unexpected turns. The pacing kept me engaged, and the characters had just the right mix of charm and mystery. Overall, a fun and compelling read that I happily rated 4 stars.

The characters were interesting and the story was engaging. I will look for other books by this author.

Twisty, moody, and full of family secrets. I loved how Hawkins layered the story through letters and multiple perspectives—it made Ruby McTavish feel larger than life even after death. Camden’s return to Ashby House is filled with tension, betrayal, and just the right amount of gothic drama. A perfect pick if you enjoy wealthy families with skeletons in every closet.

The vibes are vibing in Rachel Hawkins's The Heiress. This is the story of Ruby McTavish, a wealthy North Carolina heiress who has died and left behind a life of notoriety, mystery, and an adopted son with no desire for any of it. This book weaves together the McTavish history with the present life of Camden, his wife, and the horrible remaining McTavish family members. Part gothic mystery and part family drama, The Heiress is my favorite of the Rachel Hawkins books I have read. The characters are flawed and interesting, the setting is atmospheric, and the mystery of it all is well done, if still a bit predictable. I did guess a few things, but it didn't really matter to me. The vibe of it was very well done and I still wanted to see how everything played out. I think the small North Carolina town and the creepy house setting was a great backdrop for Rachel Hawkins's writing. I would definitely recommend this as my favorite of hers so far.

I love Rachel Hawkins! I found this book to be almost addicting, I couldn't put it down, I think I read it in one setting. It was twisty and fun. One of my favorite part about reading a book of Rachel Hawkins is that I can hear her voice coming through, that makes it more fun for me.

The Heiress is a beautifully atmospheric Gothic thriller that weaves together mystery, family intrigue, and Southern charm with a deft hand. From the haunting grandeur of Ashby House in the Blue Ridge Mountains to the lingering secrets embedded within its walls, Rachel Hawkins crafts a multi-perspective story that pulls you in from the very first moment. The alternating viewpoints of Camden, Jules, and the enigmatic Ruby not only illuminate the tangled layers of their relationships but also lend a compelling intimacy to the narrative—as if each character were whispering their truths directly into your ear. The inclusion of letters, newspaper clippings, and multiple timelines adds richness to the storytelling, making the reading experience feel both immersive and cinematic. Twisting revelations come at just the right pace to maintain suspense, and Hawkins’s sharp prose and storytelling flair ensure you remain invested from start to finish. In short, The Heiress is a gorgeously rendered family drama drenched in secrets, betrayal, and Gothic allure—an enthralling read that will satisfy anyone craving suspense with a sophisticated, Southern Gothic flavor.

This book is wonderful ! The suspense and the secrets had me wanting to keep reading so that I could find out what really happened! I loved it! Rachel Hawkins does it again!

Having read The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins and enjoying it so much, I will read anything she writes. The Heiress was filled with so many twists and turns and had me hooked. Easily a 5 star read.

A quick twisting read. A mystery full of family drama. The Heiress will be a book you will not be able to put down.

I usually really love Rachel Hawkins books. But this one was just so so to me. It took me a while to get into it and I just did it feel like the plot was all that exciting. All in all it wasn’t that memorable and wouldn’t be something I would recommend. Thank you Netgalley for my free review copy.

Rachel Hawkins' *The Heiress* presents an intriguing mystery that skillfully intertwines narratives from both the past and present, creating a multi-layered story rich with family secrets and suspense. The novel follows Ruby McTavish, who passed away a decade ago, leaving her substantial estate to her adopted son, Cam. Rather than embracing this inheritance, Cam chooses to distance himself from his complex family history by retreating to California. However, circumstances draw him back to North Carolina, prompting him to confront long-buried family secrets.

Hawkins utilizes multiple perspectives to provide a thorough exploration of each character’s mindset, enhancing the narrative's depth and overall intrigue. This narrative approach effectively connects the past and the present, allowing readers to navigate the unfolding mystery alongside Cam. The use of alternating timelines lends a dynamic quality to the text, successfully maintaining suspense and engagement throughout.

What distinguishes *The Heiress* are its unexpected twists and turns. Just when readers believe they've unearthed the truth, Hawkins introduces further surprises, ensuring continued engagement. These elements strengthen the book within the mystery genre, making it an enjoyable experience from beginning to end.

In summary, *The Heiress* is a noteworthy mystery that is likely to appeal to fans of suspenseful family dramas. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and thoughtful narrative structure, it offers a rewarding read for those intrigued by the exploration of dark family secrets.

What a page turner. This book had so many twists & turns. Had me surprised right until the last chapters. What a fun book!

𝙈𝙮 𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

𝙈𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨:

Oooh this was juicy. Rich people, old secrets, creepy estates in the mountains—yes please. Rachel Hawkins takes the classic Southern Gothic and gives it a slick, modern twist in The Heiress, and I was absolutely in for the ride.

Ruby McTavish was an infamous figure: adopted into wealth, kidnapped as a child, married four times (with some very dead husbands), and haunting her family even from the grave. When her adopted son Camden is forced back to the ancestral home after her death, he and his wife Jules start to unravel just how tangled Ruby’s legacy really is.

Told through alternating POVs and snippets of letters and articles, this was a fun structure that kept the pace up and the reveals coming. There’s a strong “old money rot” vibe throughout—the kind of story where the walls have secrets and the past is never really buried. A few moments leaned more melodramatic than I prefer, but honestly? I wasn’t mad about it. This is a book that knows exactly what it is: dark, fast, entertaining, and a little bit wicked.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Hawkins for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Heiress is available now.

Ok!! A lot of twists and turns in this one. Ruby gave me Evelyn Hugo vibes…just the excessive husband and la-dee-da personality. The ending threw me, never saw it coming. Now it really wasn’t anything that will keep you on the edge of your seat. However, definitely an oh geeze kind of book.