What a page-turner! Very engrossing and hard to put down. Lots of twists, some I saw coming and some I didn't. I think Rachel Hawkins just gets better and better with each new book. This one had a dark, family drama, gothic feel and I just couldn't read it fast enough!

This might be my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet! The same twisty turny people and situations but somehow they all hit perfectly! I love how each character was developed as if they were their own individual plots. You'd think you knew them then something would happen to change that opinion. And even the ones you knew were awful people seemed at points to be redeemable. Trickle it all down through generations of a wealthy family and you have the perfect set up for gripping story! At points you think you have all the tangled webs untangled, but you don't! This is what kept me up reading!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an Advanced Reader Copy of The Heiress in exchange for my honest review.

Rachel Hawkins' book is due for release on January 9, 2024, and was a very reasonable 291-pages (Kindle) long. This author had a huge hit with her last novel, The Wife Upstairs, which shares many themes of the upcoming The Heiress: rich family, foster parents/adoption, deceptive marriages, dislikeable characters. Looks like the author is running with a successful concept.

This novel centers on a rich and powerful family that lost on a hike, and then found, a 3-year old child many years ago. Separately, there is a couple called back to that family's estate. There is a legacy of tremendous wealth at stake. Sadly, nearly all the characters are liars and terrible people, not likable at all. I didn't care about any of them. This is a book where all the characters have secret back stories that they only allude to, leaving the reader knowing something is coming, but having to bide their time, page after page, waiting for the reveal(s). There are plot holes I could list in the review, but I'll leave it to future readers to find them (hint: lost hikers, chef, nanny).

In the end, even unlikable characters and a not-engaging plot can work (just look at the many reviews!), as long as the story has a great ending. Again, sadly, this one didn't. Clever yes, and if you like books written entirely to arrive at a semi-complicated reveal that most readers will semi-predict (in concept, if not the details), then this is your book. If you're looking for a book where those predictable reveals are simply red herrings and there is a real surprise, don't bother with this one. Disappointing. 2-stars.

When Ruby McTavish was 4 years old, she was kidnapped in the woods near her family estate, the Ashby House. Being the daughter of one of the richest families in North Carolina, this became a huge story. Nearly a year later, she is returned home to her family and goes on to become a 4-time widow, rumored husband killer, and the heir to the entire McTavish fortune. Somewhere in the mix she adopts a son, Cam, much to her sister's dismay. Cam is not well-received by his Aunt Nelle, or her husband and childen, especially when Ruby dies and leaves Cam everything, Years later, when Cam is beckoned back to Ashby to take care of the house, things become to unfold why he really left and what secrets he, and everyone around him, is keeping.

This story was a whirlwind. The perspectives alternated between old letters from Ruby, current day Cam, and current day Jules, Cam's wife. Everyone has a wild secret (or two...or three...) and it was fun seeing them get revealed. However I hate when author's constantly allude to big reveals with "but he doesn't know what I have done!" type lines over and over. Some of the plot points got a little productive and far-fetched, but I still could not put the book down.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Time Brings All Things to Pass'- is this a term of encouragement or warning as Cam goes back to his family home that is full of ghosts who are still alive?

Cam was adopted by the reclusive heiress with a string of dead husbands in her past:
"Duke killed in a robbery.
Hugh, electrocuted in the barn.
Andrew, sick with some mystery ailment.
Roddy, partying too hard and going over the side of a boat'.

The story is told from the point of view of Cam- the prodigal son come home to set things right, Jules Cam's wife harboring a secret from Cam, and Ruby's journals from the past disclosing her secrets she worked so hard to hold on to. Each point of view is engaging, with the personality of each character slowly unfolding to reveal more facets of their personality- each equally entertaining as a narrator- even if they aren't equally reliable.

I noticed that green was color that played a role throughout- marking the color of parts of the plot- and whether this was done intentionally or not I can't tell. Green is the color of greed and money, each being a main motivator for characters, so perhaps the 'green' itself was a character in the background.

Rachel Hawkins delivers again, and I found myself unable to put this one down. A slow burn of a plot in the present day, while the past itself is a wildfire- and Ruby's ghost is very much alive even in the present.

By far my favorite Rachel Hawkins book to-date, I loved the setting, twists and turns and pacing of this novel. As a reader you get the sense that every character is keeping secrets from you early on, even as you read from their perspectives. I also loved the interstitial multi-media format with not only letters from Ruby, but also articles and blogs that gave the reader of a sense of how the McTavishes were perceived by the outside world. I would recommend to a lover of Gothic settings, twisty mysteries and unreliable narrators.

Wow! This is such a fun and fast paced thriller. I loved getting the different POV from Camden, Jules and Ruby's letters. Ruby's letters were my favorite part of the book! I loved getting the knowledge about her life and what she was doing leading up to her death. I personally did not see the twists coming at the end, even though there were plenty of hints leading up to it. This was the second book that I have read by this author, and I can't wait to read more by her!
Thank you Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for the ARC!

Honestly this was convoluted and boring after a while. Interesting story about a woman who goes missing when she’s three, but everything after was a hodge podge. I think the book showing us Ruby, Camden, and Jules’s point of views just killed the flow of the book.

"The Heiress" follows Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore as she pens a letter to someone telling them all about her younger life and how she came to meet the many men she marries. In between that the book provides us points of views from her adopted son, Camden, and his wife Jules. Camden is now a very wealthy man who is reluctant to return to his hometown and to a house he was treated as an outside. Jules though thinks this is what they need to do. The book provides us with many twists and turns and we realize that things are not as they seem.

Ruby was not interesting. I don't know if it was just the letter aspect of things or what, but I found myself growing bored with her. Camden was more interesting to me, but I think having us follow him and Jules was not a good idea. There were so many reveals throughout the book I just stopped counting after 5. And the other characters were so lacking that I just didn't even care about the outcome.

The flow was terrible and I blame that on the three points of view we get throughout the book. I got tired of going back and forth between all of them. And since I saw the twists/reveals coming it just made for a boring read.

The ending was a meh moment. Something tossed at readers and of course no real explanation follows.

What would you do to amass immeasurable wealth? And how far are you willing to go to keep that wealth?
Lie?
Kidnap?
Murder?
As the title suggests, this story centers on a heiress, Ruby Anne McTavish, who has recently passed. With that death, some old secrets come to light - some confessions through a series of letters from Ruby, others come about when truths are finally shared by the remaining family members. Let's just say, there is a lot of family drama.

I liked how this story unraveled, alternating from Ruby's letters and her past marriages, and the return of her son, Camden, to her home to sort out things following her death. Most of the present part of the story is told by Camden's wife, Jules, and it is clear she has her own secrets. Do they tie to Ruby and if so how? This is a twist I never saw coming, even though the buildup is there.

This story was a bit darker and more devious than I expected, which is a good thing. If you are looking for a thriller with plenty of twists, look no further.

A twisty thriller that will leave you guessing up to the last minute. The McTavish family is extremely wealthy and very devious. Short and simple, right? It’s the tale of the have and have nots, and truly makes you ask how well you know those closest to you. The Heiress is Ruby McTavish and we discover her story, which starts out in tragedy but she becomes the heir to an immense fortune. Does that remove that tragedy? Perhaps. This is a great story - however, there really isn’t a character that I connected to and thus only a 4 star rating. Thanks to NetGalley for the read.

“The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is an engaging blend of mystery and romance. Told through the eyes of three main characters Ruby, Camden, and Jules, they skillfully weave a tale of secrets, wealth, and death. Lots of death. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is filled with twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Hawkins' writing style, especially for Ruby, was both charming and suspenseful, making this novel a delightful and thrilling read for fans of historical fiction with a touch of romance and a delicate push of thrilling death.

#netgalley #review #RachelHawkins #thriller #honestreview #goodreads #fiction #amazon #theheiress #NetGalley #booklover #bookstagram #miabooknook

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC.

This book was told from three view points with one view point being if Evelyn Hugo was a serial killer. Sounds intriguing, but ultimately it all fell flat for me. The twists I found expected and I saw the ending coming. If you’re in the market for a fast paced thriller this is enjoyable enough.
Thank you NetGalley and St.
Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this down! If I hadn’t started this the week before Christmas, I probably could have finished it much sooner.

Murder, greed, family drama; this book had it all. There were so many twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, and each character had secrets they were hiding. It reminded me of a much darker version of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. There were some parts I wanted more details about, especially towards the end, but overall it was a fantastic book!

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an advanced copy!

📕I did not expect that ending. Ruby, you freaky rich lady! What a plan you devised! I should have known better: when a woman with such means decides to adopt a child, even if it’s out of spite, she definitely would have an ulterior motive
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📗Ruby was kidnapped when she was a little kid, but as a member of a founding family of the town people did anything and everything to find her. She was the eldest and she was the rightful heir. After her parents’ passing, she further developed the town and Tavistock name. Only thing she was missing was a child
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📘Such a powerful telling of an heartbreaking story of search for justice! I don’t know if I agree with the way Ruby is looking for justice but also I understand why she did what she did. I’m happy to report that I lost hours of sleep to finish this

A spooky mansion, family drama and unreliable characters? Sign me up! This book was definitely a little bit of a slow burn, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t completely invested and rapidly turning pages to get answers. I loved the multiple POVs and how Ruby’s POV was through letters that took place in the past. It was through these different POVs that I kept doubting myself as every chapter had me questioning everyone. The ending was twisty and wrapped every loose end up perfectly. I definitely recommend!

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on January 9, 2024.

Ruby McTavish, a four-time widow and the richest woman in North Carolina, died 10 years ago and left her estate to her adopted son, Camden. Cam wants nothing to do with the money or the house in the Blue Ridge mountains. For the past 10 years, Cam has been living in California, trying to put Ashby House and the McTavishes behind him. After his uncle’s death, Cam and his wife, Jules, are summoned back to Ashby House where they have to face Cam’s hateful and bitter aunt and cousins. He’s quickly reminded why he left, and is determined to leave as soon as possible. Jules, however, has other ideas. She’s fallen in love with Ashby House and wants Cam to take his rightful place as head of the McTavishes.

This is my third Rachel Hawkins novel, and I’m a big fan. This is my favorite of hers so far. It’s told from the perspective of three characters: Ruby, Cam, and Jules. Ruby, since she passed away 10 years earlier, tells her life story through epistolary chapters. And she spills so much tea! I couldn’t put this book down. There were many twists and turns, but it never felt like too much. I’m already read for my next Rachel Hawkins novel.

Rachel does it again! I actually loved Reckless Girls & The Villa but I didn’t feel the same intrigue, page turning, anticipation with those that I felt with The Wife Upstairs. This is that followup. It became a fast pace, page turning story that I quickly couldn’t put down.

The TWISTS! Yes, multiple twists this story had I wasn’t expecting at all. The murders, and ill will this family is so easily willing to conduct is both stomach churning & makes you so uneasy. Seeing who the letters were actually written to spilling all Rubys secrets… I absolutely didn’t see that coming. I didn’t at all think Jules was involved in any of it the way she was, but was so glad that the story of her and Cam was truth. I wasn’t expecting the fire either! What a way to end the story!!!

I know I’m suppose to include a synopsis but you can read that on your own. I like to include my own insights, aspects that spoke to me, portions of the story that kept me intrigued & committed to the story. In this case I was FULLY committed from the first pages!

This story in whole is a multiple storyline. Told in 3 different characters views. Each character is well developed, the portions of their stories flow seamlessly while all eventually tying together. It combines the main character Rubys story in her own words retelling her journey, sharing her truths of her history & family, while unveiling the secrets that become part of the story in the current moment of Jules & Cam.

I loved that the main character(Ruby), proves to be a strong (though a little psychotic) independent woman who doesn’t allow a man to slow her down. Although it’s always at their peril when they do.

If you love crime fiction, psychological thrillers this is for you!!!

Huge thank you to St. Martins Press & NetGalley for this copy in return for my honest review!

this book was addicting good, flipping between jules’, camden’s, and ruby’s perspectives in the now and then. oh it was so messy and twisty i couldn’t put it down. camden is the heir to his mother, ruby’s, massive fortune and massive but what comes with it is years of family hatred and disdain. when camden is forced to confront the family he left, a whole host of secrets are unraveled. hawkin’s intertwined her story so well leaving me rereading pages to put the whole story together!

I thought this was a great read. It was a little predictable at times, but I enjoyed the storyline. This was all about a greedy/twisty/wealthy family and the fight for control over inheritance of a large estate. I enjoyed the shift between the past and present timelines. This story also shifted perspectives which I also thought was nice. This was a great mystery/thriller and unlike others I have read previously in this genre.

This is probably my favorite Rachel Hawkins book to date.

I loved the twists and turn. And the other turns.

Hawkins does a great job of keeping you interested from the very beginning, making you dislike the characters you should dislike. And like the characters you should.

It’s dark. Deeply twisted. And set in one of my favorite places on earth, Asheville, NC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.