I loved The Heiress. Rachel Hawkins writes smart, complex stories filled with unique characters. The Heiress is unputdownable. The plot unfolds in a way that takes you back and forward in a clear and clever manner. You come to realize that the actions of the past are very much affecting the outcomes of the present. The setting is vivid and brings the story to life.

The multi cast narration was entertaining and well delivered.

This is a good fun read with several twists and turns. Some of the plot twists are a little too clunky, but overall it was a page turner that kept me reading.

“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. But not now. Not yet.”

The Heiress is the third book I’ve read by Rachel Hawkins. There’s a lot I liked about it, but overall, this is my least favorite of hers.

Like The Wife Upstairs and The Villa, it’s a slow burn at first, then a page turner as the mystery builds.

Camden McTavish was adopted by one of the richest women in America. Ten years after her death, he is encouraged by his wife Jules to return to the house he grew up in. He was left his mother Ruby’s fortune and wants nothing to do with the house or the money. As a child, Ruby went missing for a time while on a picnic with her family, and that plays into the story throughout as well.

It definitely kept me turning the pages and was a good escape read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher St. Martins Press for a digital advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review. The Heiress publishes on January 9.

A page turner! And sure, you might guess (like I did) one of the twists but there's so much more out there so hang on for a wild one. Camden has ignored his hateful family back in North Carolina, as well as his very large inheritance but now he and his wife Jules are there, taking back the MacTavish estate left to him by Ruby, his adoptive mother. This merges the present, as Jules and Camden navigate the challenges of the family with letters written by Ruby to someone (who?) describing her rather colorful (to put it mildly) life and relationships - no spoilers from me. There was always a shadow over Ruby who, as a child, was kidnapped and then recovered from another family in Florida but nothing compares to her marriages. This moves between Ruby's letters to Camden to Jules and it races to a wild conclusion. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was a really good read.

I will absolutely declare this book the best thriller of 2023! Holy cow...I could not put this book down. So many twists and unexpected turns. It had me glued to the pages. Cannot wait to recommend this book in the next few weeks. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the advanced copy of The Heiress!

We are both in agreement - a 4 star binge worthy read! It’s rare that two people would both read the same book within one evening, but we did it – it’s that good! We enjoyed the southern gothic atmosphere and the alternating viewpoints. While some aspects of the book were a bit far-fetched, we didn’t see the twist coming, and it all ended up being believable. As someone who lived in the area, D can attest to the portrayal of the setting, and both D and S enjoyed reading about Ruby, and believed her to be an embodiment of a woman living in that area during that time. We appreciated Jules' gumption and wanting to pull herself up by the bootstraps at any cost. Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for providing us with a digital reviewer copy of this book in exchange for our honest thoughts. Publication Date: January 9, 2024. Until the next murder! - Murdersibs.

Thank you netgalley and St. Martins Press for giving me the opportunity to read The Heriss by Rachel Hawkins. Nothing is what it seems in this twisty, suspenseful thriller about family, murder and the bonds that make or break those involved. I highly enjoyed reading about Rudy McTavish who was kidnapped as a child, returned home and built an extravagant life for herself. This life was filled with several husband's who died tragically and mysteriously. Ruby never had any children of her own until she adopts her son, Camden. Camden is raised with the McTavish fortune but we learn that money and all the wealth is not enough to keep Camden close to Ruby and he starts a life for himself in California. Ruby dies and Camden is called back to his home town to settle the estate and will at Ashby house with his remaining family members. This book is highly recommended and will not disappoint! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The vibes are giving that one mobile game where she goes to fix her grandma's house and finds out her grandma has a crazy mysterious past. I read this in one day; it was really engaging. I guessed the "main" twist from hints in the writing, but reading the last page of the book had my jaw dropped.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is the story of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. Her life story that includes several husbands who have all met a untimely death. The untimely deaths of her husband's leaves Ruby with quite the legend in the North Carolina area that she has lived her whole life. Ruby along with the notoriety of husbands who met untimely deaths was also famous for how she was missing for 10 months when she was a little girl and then miraculously found in Alabama. Ruby passes and her adopted son Camden and his wife Jules make the journey back to a home he swore he would never go back to. The story by Rachel Hawkins is an amazing tale with so many twists.

This has been my favourite Rachel Hawkins book yet, and it's definitely one of my top reads this year! I read it in one sitting because of how much it gripped my attention. While parts of it were a bit over the top, it wasn't enough to pull me out of the story.

I loved Camden and how sweet he seemed in the sea of unlikable characters. The extended McTavish family was something else, but I also really loved Ruby and how twisted her story was. Jules was also a great main character who constantly left me thinking. It was a nice trio of Camden and Jule's POV's and Ruby's letters to present this story.

And the twists! This was a book that I really didn't think much as I read, which is a huge complement. I was so ingrossed with the story that I didn't slow down to try and figure out what was going to happen. This meant that the ending was so unexpected for me, and I loved it!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars rounded up.
Wow, this was a wild, twisty ride! So many sub-plots with their own twists. Hawkins keeps getting better. Loved the Easter egg to the Villa

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!