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.

I love Rachel Hawkins and this novel was full of her robust and real quips. That said, it wasn’t my favorite overall of her books and felt a bit predictable plot wise. Still a fun ride!

This was a wild ride!
I enjoyed the different POVs and different time lines. It worked out well with this story.
This book has it all. Dysfunctional rich family, kidnapping, murders, secrets, and lots of drama.
Ruby Mctavish leaves her wealth and mansion to her adopted son, Camden, when she dies and it does not go well with her blood family. But Camden hasn’t touched his inheritance and wants nothing to do with that family. Until there is another death in the family and his wife, Jules, helps convince him to help out with things at the Ashby House. And a lot of secrets come out!
I loved Ruby’s letters telling her story with each of her four husbands who all died while married to her. And of course a few more crazy twists come out.

This book was so good! Tons of family drama and juicy secrets. I love the way it was written in multiple point of views and the ending came together perfectly.

I loved The Heiress! This is my favorite Rachel Hawkins book since The Wife Upstairs.

Ruby McTavish, an heiress, is now dead and leaves behind money, mystery, and secrets. Her life was grand. From being kidnapped as a child to all four of her marriages ending up with the husband dead, her life was anything but boring. Her son has inherited her fortune, but he wants nothing to do with the remaining family or even the inheritance. This book is a complex tale told between 3 alternating points of view: Ruby, Ruby’s son, and Ruby’s daughter-in-law. This is a story of deep family and personal secrets. It is a novel that shows things aren’t always what they seem and the reasoning behind decisions are always more complicated than they appear. This book starts off strong and captivating with surprises throughout and never slows down until the satisfying end. I really enjoyed how complex this mystery/thriller was.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Rachel Hawkins, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

This gets all the stars! I started The Heiress this morning and just finished it!
I love reading about horrible wealthy people, and hoping they’ll get what’s coming to them. This book had me questioning everyone and their motives. Even when something seemed straight forward, it wasn’t. There are 2 pov’s in the current timeline and dual time lines. This book was unputdownable!!
There are questionable identities, deaths, and motives for every event in this book! This is my favourite Rachel Hawkins book and she is now an auto-boy author for me.
Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for a digital advanced copy!
All opinions are my own. I highly recommend this story!

Within the past two months I have devoured all four of Rachel Hawkins adult novels and this is absolutely one of her best. She combines many of my favorite pieces of her style (mixed media, multi-POV) in a combination that really works.

I loved how flawed all of Hawkins protagonists are and how she combined you to root for them regardless and she did this so effectively with Jules and Cam.

I will pick up whatever she writes (but will always hope for most twisty stories with gothic hints). Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC.

I really enjoyed the dual POV chapters mixed in with letters of Ruby’s past. I wasn’t expecting to learn how all 3 main characters were connected, which is typical of Rachel Hawkins writing. Overall I enjoyed the book and am very thankful to have received an eARC. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

Family, while blood or inherited, can be interesting.

As a young girl, Ruby McTavish goes missing. She is later found, and her life with her husbands and son are explained in a series of letters. She now has passed, and her son Camden, his wife Jules, and the extended family all meet up at Ashby House, which everyone but Camden wants to own, along with Ruby's fortune. What other secrets are abound? Read this engrossing book and sift through the twists and turns to see how it all plays out.

I truly enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to keep going after something new happens at the end of each chapter. There's a big showdown at the end that you won't see coming.

Told in multiple POVs, we unravel the life and legacy of Ruby McTavish and Ashby House.

We see her life through letters she has written, detailing her infamous marriages. We also follow her adopted son, Cam, as he returns to Ashby house into less-than-welcome embrace from surviving McTavishes. Lastly, we have Jules, his wife who may know more than she is letting on.

This was a pretty quick read. There are some pretty good twists in the book that I really enjoyed. Only critique is that things may have wrapped up a little too neatly.