Big thanks to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of The Heiress via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Although thrillers are not my usual genre, I loved Hawkins’ “The Villa” and was excited to see this new release. It certainly did not disappoint! Anyone who is a fan of family dramas, alternating POVs, and murder mysteries will love this one. I especially enjoyed the North Carolina setting and allusions to the Biltmore! Would recommend.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a very highly recommended mystery with Gothic overtones and oh-so-many secrets.

Jules and Camden McTavish met and married in California and are now happily living a simple life in Colorado where he is an English Teacher and she is working in a living history museum. When his uncle dies an email from his cousin brings Camden and Jules back to his mother's estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Ashby House. Camden was the sole heir to his mother's fortune, so he owns the estate and has control of all the money, something his great aunt and cousins resent. Camden's mother, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore had quite a background. She was kidnapped as a child and then a widow four times. It has been ten years since Camden left and now he and Jules are back in the mire of secrets, resentment, greed, and, perhaps, danger.

The writing is skillful and perfectly paced to hold your attention throughout this mystery/psychological thriller. The narrative unfolds through chapters from the three distinct points-of-view of Camden, Jules, and Ruby. Camden knows the scheming and animosity that awaits his return to Ashby House. Jules is secretly anxious for them to live an easier life in a beautiful setting. Ruby's story is told through letters she is writing to someone in which she is honestly sharing her life's story, as well as clips from news stories. Hawkins does an excellent job using the multiple viewpoints to propel the plot forward as well as tell the backstory.

The characters are well drawn and interesting. Camden and Jules are sympathetic, but they have their secrets along with everyone else. Everyone has their own secrets, thoughts, and schemes that could potentially change everything. The whole McTavish gang at Ashby House are despicable, entitled, and greedy. You will wonder why Camden doesn't just evict them. And there are so many little twists, questions, and secrets from the past that have accumulated, many of which are shared in the honest and sometimes humorous letters Ruby writes. The letters work with the current situation to help create the tension that rises with each page. The ending is surprising, inventive, and perfect. 4.5 rounded up

Disclosure: My complimentary review copy was courtesy of St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. Opinions expressed are my own.
The review will also be published on Edelweiss, X, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I LOVE a well-thought-out, tasteful, and slow-burn mystery. Over the past couple of years, I feel like there's been a real push for mysteries to try to be as shocking as possible but then the reveal doesn't always make the most sense or it is completely out of left field. Now, I'm not saying this one was super predictable, but the ending also made sense and there were small hints toward it throughout the novel.

The lore that this author has created around Ashby House is so intriguing. It gave m similar vibes to Clue and an Agatha Christie novel. I love an extravagant setting where each character is suspicious and each room seems to hold a mystery. If Rian Johnson ever wanted to create a Knives Out adaptation of this book, I would throw my money at him immediately!

Some other things I loved about this book are the use of letters to inform the reader of past events and the commentary on biological family versus chosen family.

This book had everything! Amazing writing, fantastic characters and voices, drama, scandal, twists and turns! The author did a great job giving each character their own voice, but it all flowed so well together it was easy to jump between the different perspectives. I loved the little moments where Ruby swore she would comment about how she shouldn’t. I absolutely LOVED the twists near the end. It all came together perfectly and I wish I could have seen it coming, but it made it even better that I didn’t. Rachel Hawkins may be my new favorite author!

This was such a good book, really got me out of my reading slump. I love the thrill, the family drama, the mysteries, the twist! I have to say, this is my favorite Rachel Hawkins book by far. I love the present to the flashbacks that was done beautifully and kept me engaged. Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy!

The Heiress is full of twists and turns, red herrings , family secrets, murder, nasty people ( love that) and an ending you wont see coming.

Rachel Hawkins has written a very cleverly plotted story that will take you by surprise as it slowly gets you hooked on Cam and Jules story as he reluctantly returns home to a family he would just rather forget.

The story is told in different POV's and just when you think you have it all figured out another curve ball is thrown the reader's way.

I don't want to say much more in case I say too much but I will say get your copy and add it to the top of your TBR pile and settle in for a chillingly good read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the privilege to read and review The Heiress.

I have received an ARC via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I have discovered why I didn't like this thriller at first! It isn't a thriller...it's a soap opera! Which is perfectly fine. Once I adjusted my expectations of what I was reading I enjoyed it a lot more.

It's like if "Dallas" was trying to be that kind of retro paperback that always seemed to a feature a woman running away from a castle on the front cover. Generations of a gross family with plot twists that keep on coming...seriously. Every new chapter seemed to have at least one, if not multiple new scandalous developments. I'm all for keeping the reader on their toes, but this made me just sit back and go "for real, though?" about halfway through. The plot just keeps getting progressively loonier and loonier.

So, if you're looking for a sophisticated, nuanced thriller that gives you chills...you may be happier looking elsewhere. If you're looking for pseudo-gothic camp with a barrage of plot twists that keep you wondering what on earth could possibly happen next, look no further!

Gifted copy provided by St. Martians Press and Netgalley.

I read The Villa last year and I wasn’t sure if The Heiress would be as good. I can tell you that I enjoyed it more. It was better and I can’t wait to read what Rachel writes next.

At first I wasn’t so sure about the duel pov. But as the book and story progressed I was hooked. There was a lot of hints and foreshadowing that I think worked well in this book. Did I see some of the twists and reveals coming? Yes. Did I still enjoy them? Yes.

I enjoyed the layered story and the way that they all weaved together at the end. I found Rubys letters really interesting the first part of the book and honestly they were the thing to keep me hooked.

If you want dynamic characters, layered with murder, plot twists, soaking with family drama spanning generations, pick this book up.

As with all of Rachel Hawkins's books, I enjoyed this a lot. Fast-paced, twisty mystery that draws you in and doesn't let go. I had so much fun reading this book and was sad when it ended. Thankfully she writes fast so hopefully we'll have something fun to read soon.
I will be recommending this to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC!

I think this is my favorite @ladyhawkins book so far! This is full of twists, multiple POVs, flashbacks, and lots of unlikeable characters. None of the twists were particularly explosive, but I loved how they slowly came out throughout the course of the book, so that by the end, everything you think is completely different from the beginning. I also absolutely loved the flashbacks, told through letters -- having those sprinkled through the chapters made the story so engaging, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next.
*
This was such a fun read, I highly recommend it!

I really enjoyed this, despite the fact that there's a plot element in here that I'm sure I've read before in some book and it's driving me nuts being unable to figure out which one. Possibly the Truly Devious series?! (And no, I don't mean any of the real life cases this book explicitly takes inspo from.)

This book weaves a thriller's typical tangle of lies and deceit dropped into an unusual set-up featuring a rich and wretched family, their really cool house, and the town they basically own. Everyone's got secrets, and though the beginning suffers a little from the (also thriller-typical) trope of a narrator being like "hope no one figures out MY SECRET" without saying what the secret is, the revelations ultimately occur at an acceptable pace so it wasn't too frustrating. And then the revelations just KEEP coming, leading up to an ending that truly surprised me! Ultimately a fun, quick read, I'll definitely be checking out more from this author.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I think The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is her best book so far.

"Camden McTavish, the adopted son of the late Ruby McTavish (once the richest woman in NC) is called back to his NC home after the death of his uncle. Camden left the mansion and wealth behind years ago. But now his extended family have some questions about who the real family is.
What about the rumors that followed Ruby and her kidnapping as a child? The four dead husbands? Why was Cam adopted in the first place?"

It's always secrets and often greed. And there's plenty of that here. Cam's cousins, Ben and Libby, are the proverbial "big fish in a little pond" people. And not very likable. Aunt Nell is that relative that always thinks they're better - and she is bitter because she doesn't control the money.
It's a dual timeline where Ruby tells her story through letters to someone - you don't know who until the end.

Jules, Cam's wife, also has secrets - one is easy to guess, but Cam puts a little spin on that.

The ending is wild with the reveals and resolution. This will make a great beach read.

Read if you like:
💰 Stories about who gets the money
✉️ Letters between chapters
🎙️ mixed media in books
🌚 morally grey characters
🏡 messy family dynamics
🚨 lots of dirty secrets

If you have read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and like mysteries- this is your book!

I really enjoyed the story telling from Ruby’s letters as it felt very nostalgic to the way we got Evelyn Hugo’s story in her book.

I also loved the tie of her story impacting those around her and the ones getting the story and the elements of the messy money and family dynamics.

I do feel the story telling would have been stronger if more from Ruby’s pov and less other pov and maybe just 2 total pov throughout the book.

Overall, it was a messy and thrilling ride uncovering the secrets down to the very last pages!

Thank you so much to the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my review!

This novel is a captivating blend of thriller and mystery, set against the backdrop of the opulent Ashby House in the Blue Ridge mountains. The story unfolds following the death of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, North Carolina's wealthiest and most notorious woman, leaving her estate to her adopted son, Camden.

The narrative is driven by the complex dynamics within the McTavish family and the enigmatic figure of Ruby, whose life was marked by scandal, including a famous childhood kidnapping and the mysterious deaths of her four husbands. The story is told through multiple perspectives, including Camden, who has rejected his inheritance and the McTavish legacy to lead a normal life in Colorado, and his wife Jules, who sees an opportunity in Camden's return to Ashby House.

The novel has an intricate but clear plot, filled with intertwined mysteries that unravel like a puzzle. Readers are drawn into the claustrophobic atmosphere of Ashby House, where family secrets and twisted truths lurk behind every corner. The characters are richly developed, each harboring their own secrets and motivations, adding layers of intrigue to the narrative.

Ruby's character, in particular, stands out with her unreliable, sarcastic, and intimidating personality, making her a fascinating subject of the family's dark history. The book is well paced, with unexpected twists that keep readers engaged and eager to uncover the hidden truths of the McTavish family.

Overall, "The Heiress" is a brilliantly crafted and addictive read, offering suspense, drama, and a deep dive into the complexities of family legacies and the burdens of inheritance. It's a novel that promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, making it a perfect read for fans of gothic mysteries and family dramas.

This book hooked me. The mystery of Ruby McTavish had me completely gripped. I had the hardest time putting the book down to get some sleep. I wanted answers. It kind of reminded me of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but with more mystery and thrill.

Ruby McTavish was kidnapped/lost in 1943 and then miraculously found in Alabama. Ruby goes onto have 4 husbands who die. Ruby tells in letters what happened to each of them.

This book was really good and kept me guessing as to what was going to happen. Once I picked up this book I had to finish it. I had to know what happened. I love when books do that, hook you and you have to finish it.

Thanks to St Martin's Press for the copy of this book!

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore passes away - a notoriously rich, four-time widow and child kidnapping survivor - the Ashby House passes to her adoptive son, Camden... who wants nothing to do with it. Ten years later, another death in the family, along with his wife's insistence, finally convinces Camden to return home.

A family drama full of twists and turns and nefarious family members, The Heiress is a fun read. I loved getting the mulitple perspectives in the past and present to piece the story together, which really ended with a bang!

The Heiress should absolutely be listened to - it's a full-cast audiobook with four fantastic narrators!

I’ve enjoyed all three of Rachel Hawkins’ previous books, and The Heiress is another banger, ripe with twists and descriptions so vivid that they even invaded my dreams. Jules and Camden are a young couple living in Colorado, just managing to squeak by financially. Imagine Jules’ surprise when she finds out that her husband is actually the heir to an enormous fortune—one he turned his back on in order to escape the web of his toxic family. When his uncle dies, Camden is summoned back to the McTavish estate in North Carolina, a place he describes as “a haunted house where the ghosts hadn’t had the courtesy to die yet.” Jules accompanies him, visions of becoming the lady of the manor dancing through her head. After all, how bad could it really be?

The novel alternates chapters from Jules’ and Camden’s points of view, interspersed with letters written by Camden’s late mother Ruby, a much-married woman who became known as a black widow when her husbands kept dying. Camden wants nothing more than to get the hell away from his old homestead, especially since his cousins and aunt are not exactly the most welcoming of folks. Hawkins doles out revelations at a reliably steady clip, making it difficult to put the book down before you’ve discovered all the deep, dark secrets of this feuding family.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore: A victim of a child kidnapping, a widow four times over, and a woman known to be the richest of North Carolina. Her estate is to be left to her son, Camden, at her passing, but surprisingly he wants nothing to do with the money or local fame.
Read through the perspectives of Cam, his wife Jules, news articles, and a series of letters written by the late Ruby McTavish, the plot continues to thicken until the very last page.

This book is set to be published January 9, 2024. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.

I couldn’t! Didn’t! Want to put this down!

Ruby Kenmoore is dead and it’s a shock as she was the richest woman of North Carolina. She was the victim of kidnapping as a child so she was known for being notorious. Ruby ruled her small town, so when she passes on her fortune to her step-son, people are honestly shocked. Cam doesnt want the inheritance, but when he decides to go to Ruby’s home and there some secrets are learned.

The story is told from three points of view and alternates. There’s Camden, the stepson, Jules, his wife, and letters left by Ruby. The story weaves a tale of family and hidden secrets amongst them. It’s definitely got some psychological thriller that keeps you wanting to know what has made them the way they are.

Rachel has a way of getting into your head and making you happy nothing crazy is happening in your life!

Cam and Jules are a young married couple who have a quiet (boring?) life. Until Jules comes home to find Cam sitting quietly waiting for her. It's time - time to confront Cam's past and family. So they pack up for a road trip back to the family estate - Ashby House. Ashby House holds many secrets of matriarch Ruby McTavish. Through Ruby's letters to an unknown person - Cam? - we learn about her life and how it is being a very wealthy woman before she adopted Cam.

Through many twists and turns, the story unfolds. Jules loves Ashby House. Cam is uneasy about the return trip but seems to adjust quickly. Cousin Ben has a few cards up his sleeve. Ben's Grandmother (and Cam's great aunt) Nelle is a miserable older woman intent on destroying Cam.

The story talks about how Cam and Jules deal with the family and each other and face a future at Ashby House. The structure of the story was told through letters (now) from the grave as well as current events. It is told from both Cam's and Jules' point of views, as well as, of course Ruby. The writer brings you into each of their minds.

Hawkins weaves a tale of dark family history so well that the reader feels very much a part of the family and not just an observer. This was a book hard to put down once I started because I wanted to know the next thing. And the next thing. I highly recommend that you read this when you have a block of time to just sink into the story.

I was given this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.