truly truly truly love everything Rachel Hawkins writes! I've had the privilege to read ARCs of her last two books and I'm already excited for the next.

In The Heiress you're taken along the journey of Jules and Camden who are living a simple and frugal life despite Camden having a fortune many can only dream of because of his shattered ties with his family and family home.,

In the book there is letters that go through time which are nicely done by Hawkins and always paired with articles that coincide with the story.

While her first two-three books were more thriller based this one is more drama based but I LOVED that aspect of it and love seeing it in books so I read this really quickly once starting it! Highly recommend as a 2024 read to kick off your year.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I really enjoy all of Hawkins’ books, so was super excited to read her up-coming release! First, this is a SLLOOOOWWWW burn, and it definitely fits more into the domestic suspense/family drama genre rather than thriller/mystery. This is far from a fast pace, twisted, edge of your seat thriller. If you go in knowing that and not expecting an action packed thriller then you will definitely enjoy this one. I really loved the few twists that this one had, the sinister characters, the multiple POVs, dual timelines, the creepy Ashby mansion, and the gothic atmosphere & vibes. Think dysfunctional family drama featuring rich, unlikeable, and unreliable characters who are harboring dark twisted secrets🤫 This one is up there as one of my favorites by the author, aside from The Wife Upstairs. Hawkins definitely knows how to change it up between each of her books, as each is very different and unique from the rest, and I LOVE that she has the ability and the talent to do that! Overall, a fantastic read with an unforgettable ending that left me shook. Despite this being a definite slow burn, I had a hard time putting this book down! I was hooked from beginning to end. I am already anxiously awaiting Hawkins’ next book!

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞?
If you enjoy a slow burn domestic suspense full of characters who are dysfunctional, money hungry, and enjoy misbehaving and keeping sinister secrets-then check this one out!

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫4.75/5

Ruby McTavish dies and leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden. Cam returns home to deal with his family and the estate. Lots of drama, twists and turns, and secrets come to light.

This is a well-written book with well-developed characters. There are three POV: Ruby, Camden, and Jules (Camden's wife). I felt like this book kept me guessing. I was intrigued by the letters that Ruby left and what she had to say.

Rachel Hawkins has written another fantastic book; one that I couldn't put down! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read The Heiress!

I’ve enjoyed most of this author’s books, but I think this one might be her best. It does start off a bit slow, but once Ruby’s story starts to develop, I could not stop listening. Her character alone was so fun to follow as she deals with her murderous tendencies. The rest of the characters were well-developed and the plot got super twisty, especially at the end. I never imagined I could like a book about a disputed inheritance so much!

Note: this is less of a “thriller” and more of a family drama with suspense. A lot of reviewers said that they wished they had known what to expect and not knowing had negatively impacted their rating. My rating, however, reflects my evaluation of the book with this in mind.

This book was most reminiscent of Hawkins’ The Wife Upstairs. It’s rich with untrustworthy characters and has you wondering what to believe until the end.

3.5/5. I had no idea what to expect from this book, but was pleasantly surprised! I don’t read a ton of “thrillers” and I’d probably label this one thriller lite. The plot itself is pretty simple and the present day narrative is interspersed with articles and letters from Ruby. But with that, it’s hard to tell what characters know at any given time. The McTavish’s are all pretty awful and seem kind of one note. Is there absolutely no conscience in these people? Camden and Jules are definitely the most likable of all the characters, but even so I don’t know that I’d label them as absolutely likable. Overall, I could predict most things that happened, but was still pleasantly surprised a couple times. For some reason I wish the townspeople had played a little more into things though.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've really liked this author's other books, so I was thrilled to get an early look at "The Heiress" thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley. I jumped into it right away, both reading and listening. Quick heads up: it's not a thriller; it's more of a suspenseful family drama.

“The Heiress" is what you'd expect from Rachel Hawkins – a slow burn that’s focused on characters. In the past, I enjoyed this style because her stories got intense and had me hooked. But this time, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. There weren't those edge-of-my-seat or OMG moments. I don't regret reading it, but it's my least favorite of hers.

I love epistolary formats, and the letters crafted by Ruby were hands down my favorite parts of the book. The audiobook has a full cast and the narrators were on point! They captivated and held my attention, possibly making the audiobook better than reading it.

If you're into family dramas featuring dysfunctional families with a soap opera vibe, set in a Southern “old money” mansion with unlikable characters, "The Heiress" could be a good fit for you.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Spice Level: Fade to black
Language: High (full of f-bombs and more)

This is a crazy book of manipulation, lies, and cover-ups.

The letters from Ruby are haunting and horrible. I seriously wonder how someone gets to that point in their life. Sure, she grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth, but seriously, she's indescribable in her level of entitlement and such.

Everyone is pretty horrid in this book. The characterization is on point!

Did I feel sorry for anyone? Yes, a bit for a couple of them. It was an interesting choice to have Jules talk to us, the reader, directly. I was okay with it, though it was a tad jarring, because: 1. the whole novel is jarring. 2. It worked because the entire book is about sharing secrets. 3. It was infrequent enough to not become grating. 4. It added to the texture of the novel by the end. There are also interesting flashbacks and historical elements in this novel.

This is a twisty novel. I mean twisty!!! Periodically, I thought I knew what was happening. Nope. I was wrong other than obvious things until the very end! Yeah, there are clues, and maybe you'll catch on better than I did.

This isn't my normal fare in books, but I like to try new things. I think if you love thrillers, you're going to love it!

Happy reading!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and author Rachel Hawkins for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Oh my, where do I start? I LOVE everything about this book! The mystery, suspense, how cunning some characters are, and what's weird about it is that there is some heart to it. It pulled my heartstrings despite of all the twists and turns that this book has told me. The author definitely delivered, it made me feel connected to the characters, including Ruby's, and as the story progresses, it made me love the entire book even more! The writing style was so spot on as I envision these characters. Love love love it! This book releases on January 9th, so please do yourselves a favor and grab this!

First, I would like to extend my thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of "The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins.

"The Heiress" is a riveting tale that weaves together mystery, family drama, and the allure of wealth in a gripping narrative. Set against the backdrop of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, the story unravels the life of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, who is not only the state's richest woman but also its most notorious.

Ruby's life was far from ordinary – a child kidnapping victim and a widow four times over, she commanded the small town of Tavistock from her family estate, Ashby House. However, her death triggers a series of events that draw her adopted son, Camden, back into the world he had consciously walked away from.

Camden had willingly rejected his inheritance and the associated complications. Yet, the demise of his uncle pulls him and his wife Jules back to the opulence and mystery of Ashby House.

The book skillfully explores the lingering legacy of Ruby and the questions surrounding her life. Was there any truth to the rumors about her disappearance as a child? What really happened to her four husbands, all of whom died under mysterious circumstances? As Jules and Camden delve deeper into these mysteries, they discover that an inheritance is more than just material possessions and that the bonds of family extend well beyond the grave.

Hawkins’ storytelling is engrossing, filled with suspense and intrigue. Her characters are well-drawn, and the plot is well-paced, keeping the reader hooked till the last page. I rated "The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins 4 out of 5 stars. It's a captivating read that offers an intriguing blend of mystery and familial drama, making it a perfect pick for fans of the genre. This book is a testament to Rachel Hawkins' narrative prowess and her ability to craft compelling stories.

The Heiress
By: Rachel Hawkins

Red Flags: Alcoholism, Abandonment, Child abuse, Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Language, Grief, Kidnapping

Genre:
Adult Mystery, Suspense, Thriller

Summary/Review:
Hold on for the story of Ruby McTavish and the Ashby house in this fast paced, suspenseful, and unpredictable novel written by Rachel Hawkins. This plotline is addictively dark and revolves around the life of Ruby and her adopted son, Camden. From secrets of deception, to kidnapping, murder, to love and unforgettable passion, you will not be able to put this book down. I was engrossed in this novel and highly recommended it! Yes, it had lots of red flags, but still an excellent read!

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#reluctantreaderreads
#Rachelhawkins
#netgalley #audiobooks
#stmartinspress
#theheiress
#advancedreaderreads

This is almost reminiscent of Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but murderous. I’m actually really impressed! Rachel Hawkins is typically hit or miss for me but this one is exceptionally good! The only thing I would doc it for is the multiple POVs. Although, at times, it really does add to the story, it really just distracted me from Mrs. Killmore’s story (which of course, is the most interesting one!)

I received a complimentary egalley of THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley. I also received the advance listener copy thanks to Macmillan Audio!

THE HEIRESS is set in the wake of yet another death in the McTavish family. Ten years prior, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, a woman well known for her wealth and her history, passed away. Kidnapped as a child and married to four men who died, Ruby made quite the name for herself. Her family’s home is worth a lot of money and there are many who want it. The one who inherits both it and Ruby’s fortune is the one who least wants the home, her adopted son Camden.

Camden left all of that behind to settle down as an English teacher, marrying Jules, and making a quiet life for themselves. Now it is Cam’s uncle who has passed and he’s summoned back to the family home to wrap things up. Jules isn’t so sure that Cam is making the right decision to entirely cut ties with the family and their wealth. Still, it seems Ruby has plans and secrets to tell, even from death.

I had seen great reviews for this book so was excited to pick it up even though I have had a bit of a mixed history with this author’s books. I am happy to report that this one really worked well for me. We’re following multiple POVs including letters from Ruby written before her death, Jules, and Cam and there are a lot of secrets on every side. It took me a little bit to figure out the timing and who was who in the narrative, but by about 20% in I was definitely hooked!

There are a lot of messy family secrets and a lot of people who are not good people or are at least morally gray. Still, they are compelling to read about and it was a hard book to put down! I think I flew through the whole thing in about 24 hours! There aren’t solid answers to all of the questions I had in my mind (things are left intentionally vague on a few points) so beware of that if you’re the type who wants all the threads tied up in the end. Still, I found the end satisfying!

I think this would be a fantastic book for discussion because there are a lot of questions raised about who was and wasn’t right in their actions and how things went down in the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. It's a slow suspenseful burn, but once it gets going, it really gets going! Fans of Hawkins will love it.

One of my favorite things about Rachel Hawkin's books is how the end leaves you guessing everything. This one felt slow to start, but once the action started I was sucked in. I also really loved how the letters from Ruby slowly revealed more about her past.

Ruby McTavish was the victim of a childhood kidnapping and is a widow to four husbands. Yep - four. She’s passed on her family’s considerable fortune to Cam, her adopted son. Unfortunately, he wants absolutely nothing to do with the families massive estate, the Ashby House, money, or the remaining McTavishes. Cam escapes to Colorado and marries Jules. Ten years later, he and Jules head back to Ashby House, and find themselves entangled in a long history of family secrets.

The story is told from the views of Jules and Camden, with supporting letters from Ruby and clippings from news articles. Personally, I think there were too many POVs in this book. It took me a long time to really get into this book. It was slow and it wasn’t until about 75-80% of the way through that I finally felt engaged by the drama. The ending was satisfying, and I did enjoy the twists and turns that happened at the end.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Heiress starts off with the premise of a three year old Ruby getting lost in the woods and being returned to her very wealthy family approximately 1 year later. Fast forward to present day, Ruby has passed away and now there is family drama regarding who is the rightful heir to her estate.
The book is told from three perspectives: letters written by Ruby before her death, her adopted son and his wife.
I found the book a bit difficult to get into. It was a bit confusing in the beginning, but it came together in the end. I didn't feel like the twists were that shocking, but overall it was a good read.

I have become quite a fan or Rachel Hawkins works. The Heiress is a twisty, keep you guessing, suspense novel that trasports the reader to the Ashby House. There is something unique about the way that the story is woven between timelines with just enough of a mystery thrown in to keep your attention. I highly recommend this book.

5 Freaking Stars!
This is my new number one suspense novel. This was full of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat. It i a dual POV which I LOVE. It was dramatic, suspenseful, intriguing, and I could not put it down. This is for sure in my top 10 now. I predict this book will have much success and cannot wait till it is released to get a copy.

Rachel Hawkins continues to impress me with her books. I enjoyed the North Carolina mountain setting and the shroud of mystery surrounding the deceased Ruby McTavish. Her string of deceased husbands raises lots of questions. I appreciated the smaller cast of characters and the ability to delve into each of them. The family North Carolina mountain estate is what dreams are made of. It was the perfect setting for this tale of wealth and inheritance, conniving family and secrets.