This was a terrific fast paced thriller that kept me reading well past my bedtime. Lots of family drama, many secrets and lots of twists and turns make this a great book! I received an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.

Ruby McTavish is the rich heiress the book title refers to. She was kidnapped and rescued as a 3-year-old and then went on to become her father's favorite, the one he left his entire wealth to, over her other sister Nelle. She has already outlived four husbands all of whom died in somewhat mysterious circumstances. She has adopted a son, Camden and bequeathed him all her inheritance. This obviously does not go down well with her sister Nelle, and Nelle's grandchildren, Ben and Libby. When Ben asks Camden and his wife Jules to return to the family estate Ashby House, the sparks begin to fly. If you love a good mystery with a strong, my-way-or-the-highway female protagonist, this one is for you. It reminded me of Kate Blackwell, the famous heroine of Sidney Sheldon's famous novel The Master of the Game. Of course, Kate was inimitable but Ruby does a decent job of getting there. Overall, a quick riveting read that will keep you guessing till the end.

Thank you Netgalley, St Martin's Press and Rachel Hawkins for the ARC.

Rachel Hawkins masterfully weaves mystery and family drama in "The Heiress," a book that had me enthralled from the first page. The legacy of Ruby McTavish, North Carolina's most notorious heiress, casts a long shadow over Ashby House, her opulent mountain estate. Ten years after her death, her estranged relatives, Cam and Jules, are drawn back into the fold, and the secrets buried within the mansion walls begin to unravel.

Hawkins expertly juggles multiple perspectives, from Cam's cautious pragmatism to Jules' headstrong curiosity, and even delves into Ruby's own story through her chillingly candid letters. Each character grapples with the burden of the McTavish legacy, and the lines between truth and deception blur with every hidden clue and unearthed scandal. The atmospheric setting adds a touch of gothic grandeur, making Ashby House a character in itself, its secrets whispering from every dusty corner.

Do I have many of Rachel Hawkins’ books on my shelf? Yep. Have I read any of them yet? Nope. Did I see this ARC, was instantly drawn to it because of the synopsis & opted to take my dive into her books with her newest one? Yup, I sure did! 🤪 But let’s be real, I’m truly so glad I did! 🙌🏼

The Heiress follows the late Ruby McTavish et. al. - because she has been known by many last names due to her various marriages & the various deaths of her husbands). Ruby is not only the richest woman in North Carolina, but she is also the most notorious- as detailed in the book’s synopsis. The death of an uncle death leads to a series of events that call Ruby’s adopted son, Cam, back to the family home - that he had intentionally been staying away from & rejecting his inheritance of, for over 10 years. Begrudgingly he returns with his wife Jules to the family home, Ashby House, where lies, twists & secrets abound.

This book is told in multiple POV - alternating between Ruby’s letters, newspaper articles, Cam & Jules perspectives. From the start, the story appears to have vague details, making it more ominous and intriguing, in my opinion! It kept me reading, wanting to know what was meant by certain comments, quips or statements, as well as drawing out critical points of information - which kept me hooked! In my opinion, there is a present theme of unreliable narration - but I’ll let you be the judge at who that actually is, when you read the book!

The audio narration was done very well, providing voices to the various characters, classic southern accents (which added to the mystery that this storyline detailed) & portrayal of the characters in a detailed way - which is always helpful with audiobooks! I’m thankful for the opportunity to swap between reading the eARC and listening to the ALC!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel.
For me, this is Rachel Hawkin’s best novel yet!!!So many twists and turns! Ruby McTavish goes missing as a little girl and turns up months later safe and sound. Then, throughout her life, she ends up married and widowed four times. After her death, everything is left to her adopted son, Camden. But he doesn’t want anything to do with North Carolina’s richest woman and her enormous fortune. So for a whole decade before her death, Camden is in California with his wife, Jules, trying to build a life in California. But with Ruby’s sister, Nelle, still alive and Nelle’s children still in the picture, they feel cheated because Camden is left everything. But with another death in the family, Camden is called back to Ashby House and to his estranged family. So many secrets and lies!!! What happened to Ruby in those months she was missing as a little girl when her nanny should have been watching her? Why did Ruby adopt Camden? Is it a coincidence that all four of Ruby’s husbands died? Who is Jules? And to whom were Ruby’s letters being written to? This novel is told from four perspectives…Camden, Jules, a local newspaper, and the letters written by Ruby. You won’t want to put this book down until you finish it!!! Available January 9, 2024

Once again Hawkins has blown me away with the intricate tales she can weave that completely leave you turning the pages and wanting more. On the edge of your seat guessing what will happen next and what deep dark secret will be revealed once again.

I absolutely loved this and couldn't read it fast enough, it was everything I've come to expect from Hawkins and everything I love in a good story that keeps me enthralled until the very end. I can't recommend this one enough.

Family secrets galore in Rachel Hawkins' new book! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out Ruby's secrets, but she wasn't the only one hiding things.

The latest release from Rachel Hawkins, is definitely a page turner of a book! I read this book so fast and I definitely wanted to know how all the different plot points tie together. Ruby McTavish is a socialite and heiress to one of North Carolina's biggest family fortunes. After her death, she leaves the entire fortune and the estate, known as Ashby House, to her adopted son Camden. Since the death of his adopted mother, Camden has left behind his life in North Carolina, and has settled into a modest life with his wife Jules, that is until he is called back home. Told from the perspective of Camden, Jules, and Ruby (through letters to an unknown recipient), the secrets begin to unravel when Camden and Jules return to Ashby House and have to interact with the other McTavishes; Nelle (Ruby's sister) and her grandchildren Ben and Libby.

I enjoy fast paced thrillers/mysteries, and this one definitely delivered! I flew through this one because the whole time, I wanted to know what more would be revealed about the family. I thought learning about Ruby's past was the most interesting part of the story. Each letter revealed more about her, and her character I think is the best developed throughout. Camden and Jules were also interesting characters and I liked getting to know their perspectives and motivations surrounding the events at Ashby House. The twists and turns throughout the book were interesting, although I wasn't terribly shocked by any of them. I still think they were well done and the secrets were revealed at the right times. The ending tied everything together well. Overall, I think this was an interesting mystery and a quick read. I would recommend it to fans of Hawkins previous works and mystery readers!

Early release review! This one comes out January 9th and I was pumped to get my hands on an early release, thanks to NetGalley and StMartinsPress.

Money and murder is the focus of Hawkins newest novel that can best described as not so much a thriller like I was hoping, but rather a family drama.

You can always count on wealth to bring out the absolute worst in people, but there is a bit more to this story. Ruby McTavish was a socialite and Heiress to a lumber empire and was one of the richest women in North Carolina. She became famous when she was kidnapped at the age of 10. Her fame continued when she married several husbands in a row, all dying of bizarre circumstances. When she passes away, she leaves her fortune and her estate to her adopted son, Camden. Who had decided to live a modest life with his wife, Jules, outside of his family, until his family contacts him and he must return. In his return letters from his deceased mother are discovered and many secrets are revealed.

Although I felt this was a slow burn you will still get plot twists, time jumps, and multiple points of view. I was hoping for a bit more of a thriller and I think I did not like any character or see any strong character development. However, the last few chapters were a plot twists I can’t say I saw coming!

I started reading The Heiress during my travels last Saturday, flying from Boston to Savannah, then driving to South Carolina where my parents live. I love when authors hide “easter eggs” from previous books, and I smiled while reading when I found a mention from The Villa, the author’s latest release (and I was proud of myself for remembering details about the character in a book I read 250+ books ago!).
This book was slower for me to get into, which could have been because I was starting it at the airport and reading it on the flight, but I think it’s a good mystery that unravels as you proceed. I hate giving too much away when I recommend a mystery, so I’ll say you should go into this one without knowing much about it - and know you’re along for a good ride, even if it takes a little while to get invested. I did see the ending coming, but I was not disappointed by predicting it!
Thanks to St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I am glad this book is getting a lot of positive press - I could not put it down for the last 25%, and I hope you’ll check it out soon, too! This is also the first book I’ve finished that publishes in 2024! I've read GREAT things about the audiobook, with a cast of narrators for the multiple POV, which sounds like it may be a better method to enjoy this one. Let me know if you do that!

An engaging and distinctive narrative! Ruby's story captivated me; it could easily stand alone as a book. While I anticipated some developments early on, the execution pleasantly surprised me. Brace yourself for well-crafted, unlikeable characters, as nearly everyone in the book harbors a dark side.

A novel about an Heiress, her son, and their family's estate, told through multiple points of view. I personally enjoy books with muli-POVs, because I feel they move the story along.

The story is told through Ruby's confession letters, her son Cam, and his wife Jules. There are also "excerpts" from magazines and books about the characters, but honestly I skipped over those because I found them boring and didn't think they contributed enough importance to the story.

Through the three main POV's, several mysteries and secrets about the family and their estate are revealed. I enjoyed Ruby's secrets the most, but honestly all of the characters are messed up in their own ways, and their dysfunctional relationships and general distaste towards each other are what kept the story interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

4.5 Stars. I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Dan Bitner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla and Patti Murin, mixed in with reading the ebook . The narration was very good.

This was a very good mystery based around the life of a woman who had been "taken" when she was a three year old. She was found and returned to her very wealthy family. Some of the story involves letters that she wrote that are found by her family after her death. She had left all her fortune to her adopted son. There's lots of family drama and tons of twists and turns. Things were never what they seemed and there was surprise after surprise! I really enjoyed the book.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the complimentary copies. All thoughts are my own.

I swear, Rachel Hawkins never misses. I love when she mixes an atmospheric spooky story with a distinctly Southern lens. Her latest, The Heiress, weaves a convoluted story of a twisted old money family in the foothills of the Blue Ridge in Western North Carolina, akin to the Biltmore Vanderbilts. This story reminds me of a blend of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, plus a folkloric twist on the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.

The titular heiress, Ruby McTavish, died nearly a decade before the events of the primary narrative, but her ghostly presence looms large over her descendants, heir, and estate. She was a subject of rumors for much of her infamous life, first when she disappeared in the woods for nearly a year as a baby, only to be recovered from a working-class Alabama family; then for each of her four husbands dying under mysterious circumstances. Her adopted son and sole heir, Camden, and his wife, Jules, get roped into the family's tangled web of scheming, status, and resentments, while visiting the Ashby House to handle some estate matters. Slowly, all of the characters reveal their myriad secrets.

I wouldn't say the book was particularly suspenseful, as I suspected many of the revelations, but the eerie revelations were a really spooky treat. The endless layer of twists is so satisfying.

I am so glad I decided to pull this book next from my TBR pile! Wow! This might be my favorite Rachel Hawkins book to date!

I love how she has written Ruby, a strong woman determined to make sure that her legacy is left in the right hands. And so, enter Camden, her adopted son (describing a picture he was forced to pose for, "I looked like a f***ing ventriloquist's dummy who'd come to life in an assisted living facility"). This is really the story of three people, Ruby, Camden, and his wife Jules.

"We're so close now, and soon, everything I've done will be worth it. And I will tell him. All of it, the whole story, no lies between us, just like it's always been."

Jules is the catalyst for reuniting Camden with his estranged family. She believes that once he's away from their tiny rented apartment in Colorado and back in the huge house on the estate he's heir to in North Carolina, he'll see how good life could be for them. Of course that's not the case. His cousins Ben and Libby, and Nana Nelle, are firmly entrenched in the house, a condition of Ruby's will. And they spare no love for Camden, although Ben is intrigued by Jules' witty repartee.

And of course there are Ruby's secrets. All those dead husbands. That time she disappeared in the mountains. And finally, the way she died. The perfect combination for a suspense-filled novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy.

Ruby McTavish is extremely wealthy and very notorious--famous both for being kidnapped as a child and returned home safely after 8 months and for being married (and semi-mysteriously widowed) four times throughout her life. Her adopted son Camden inherited the vast family fortune and rural estate after she died 10 years ago, but wanted nothing to do with the money or his remaining greedy and spiteful family members. However, when his uncle's sudden death starts to stir up questions about his mother's past, he returns home to North Carolina with his wife Jules to deal with his family and fortune once and for all.

This story is told from different perspectives--we switch between Jules, Camden, and a series of "tell all" letters from Ruby herself, which reminded me very much of the dramatic deathbed confession style of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo." There are also newspaper articles, blog posts, etc. between chapters as well. The focus was definitely more on the plot, and the characters and their motivations felt a bit flat to me. The story took a while to unfold and the book felt more "family drama" than "thriller/suspense," but it was still a decent read, with twists coming up until the end. Ruby's letters were by far the most interesting parts and I wish the book would have focused more on her and a bit less on the present-day storyline.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After his mother dies, Cam must return to Ashby House, his wealthy family's estate. His cousins are none too welcoming to Cam or his wife Jules. Even though Cam was adopted, his mother Ruby was the primary heir, and therefore he is now the primary. But Ruby and all of his family have secrets that Cam had escaped from and now finds himself back part of. But who can Cam really trust?

This is a "wealthy family behaving badly" book with the tone of a mystery noir. I really enjoyed this faster paced mystery that's not really a mystery. I have liked what I've read of Hawkins before, but this book reminded me how her writing style is so accessible and enjoyable. I am adding her backlist titles to my list and will definitely read her in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Through writings and memories, the story of Ruby Ashby unfolds. This is not a book for someone looking for action and adventure. This is a story for those who enjoy the manipulation of the minds and emotions of those around them by a master. Rachel Hawkins has been thrilling us with mysterious happenings for years. Now, she shows that she is a contender in writing a novel about people who have past and their far reaching mind games longer after they are gone. Exquisite! I read this book in one day. It was that fascinating.


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. This in no way affects my rating or opinion of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

I loved this book! It was my third book by this author and definitely my favorite! I feel like she is getting better with every book. I enjoyed the different perspectives, the letters telling Ruby's side of events, and that the reader never quite knows who to believe. I loved the gothic feel with the estate and the history behind it. Overall, I thought it was well-written and a page-turner. I kept reading because I wanted to find out what was going on.

A fun and twisty read. I enjoyed The Villa, but this was even better. The twists made more sense but were still surprising, and the characters were likable despite their actions. It wrapped up a bit quickly, but an enjoyable and fast read.