This was a fast paced, smart thriller. It's told through three points of view, Camden, an orphaned boy who was adopted into the McTavish family, Jules, Camdens girlfriend, and Ruby Mctavish speaks to us through letters. I couldn't stop turning the pages to see what was going to happen and who would end up with the estate. This story will keep you guessing until the end of how it will all end up. There are several twists that I did not see coming. I have read all of Rachel Hawkins's books and I do think this one is her best! I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ebook copy for review. All opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the new book by the author of Reckless Girls and The Villa. Told in alternating points-of-view interspersed with letters and articles, Hawkins carefully paints a portrait of a wealthy, secretive, dysfunctional family and expertly chronicles their downfall. (Swipe for synopsis.)

The Heiress has all the hallmarks of a great psychological thriller: a richly-described setting, multiple narrators, an unsettling tone, and steadily-built tension. Everyone in this story is hiding something! The secrets are revealed at just the right pace, culminating in an epic meltdown. I can’t count the number of times I told myself, “Just one more chapter!”

Because the book takes place near Asheville, North Carolina, I couldn’t help but think of The Biltmore when reading the descriptions of the house. I’ve visited Asheville many times and could picture the clouds floating over the Blue Ridge Mountains with the sunrise.

Although some were outright villainous, none of the characters were very likable. I did root for Cam and Jules to get what they desired, and I was satisfied with the ending.

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the digital ARC! Put this one on your TBR list!

Just finished this book and still processing everything learned, and implied, from it.

Camden McTavish has been called back to the family's home, Ashby House, after being away for ten years following the death of his adoptive mother, matriarch Ruby McTavish. Along with Cam's wife Jules, they head back into the lion's den - so to speak - to the family who doesn't feel like Cam deserved the entire inheritance and has made no secret of their disdain for the "golden child".

Cam has no disillusions about who his family is and how they view him, but regardless, it's time to put the past to rest - and he has a few things he's been keeping close to the chest. They all have.

I think this is one of Rachel Hawkins' best - at least so far. It really recalls Hawkins' The Villa in the idea that there's always more to the story than surface level. One of the most interesting aspects of the story was seeing how certain events are viewed differently by different people. We switch from Ruby's past recollections and revelations to the present moment with Jules and Cam's points of view on the return to Ashby House. Intermingled with all of that are newspaper articles giving an outsider's perspective into the McTavish family.

Let's face it, families are complicated. Throw on top of that a family with generational wealth and an "image" and name to uphold and you have this added layer of pressure to keep that affluence - no matter the cost.

Then there are certain expectations that come with it. Just being a McTavish establishes those societal expectations, but in Ruby's case she survived a traumatic kidnapping and gained a notoriety afterwards that followed her around into adulthood where a string of dead husbands furthered her mythology.

I found myself more interested in Ruby's sections of the book as I was very interested in unravelling the mystery. I felt like it all kind of revolved around her so it makes sense that her part would be the highlight. Cam and Jules are both caught up in what she created after all though they are carrying their own set of secrets.

Jules' sections are interesting because she really pulls the reader into the narrative by breaking that "Fourth Wall" so to speak and talking directly to the reader. This is used to the best effect in the audio version. It makes you feel like you're in on whatever it is that's going on or that she's appealing to the reader for some kind of sympathetic ear.

It's the type of book where it's difficult to know who the real villain is. The twists come at a pretty steady pace which caused me to keep updated my opinion on this character or that.

The pacing was so quick. It helps that the chapters are relatively short, but also I just got so pulled into this story! Something would happen or would be revealed and I just had to keep reading to see how things would continue on with this new knowledge.

I'll say that there were a few twists that weren't as surprising as maybe they were supposed to be, but then I think Rachel Hawkins was setting us up for the big reveals, the ones that get to the meat of who these characters are and who they've grown into. And I'll say I like the sinister feeling the runs underneath the surface. Like you don't really know where everyone stands and maybe that's a commentary on how we really only see as much about people as they want to show us.

It's definitely a story that I've sat with for a couple of days now replaying all that transpired and rethinking how things connect. All I'll say is if a book can have my attention, keep my attention, and continue to replay in my head even after finishing, I'd say it's a pretty good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ALC and ARC. I read and listened to it. LOVED it!!! So freaking good. I did like the narrators but there's new articles, diary entries, etc that I think reading it was easier! This will be a book i recommend to everyone!

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℍ𝕖𝕚𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤
𝗥𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗹 𝗛𝗮𝘄𝗸𝗶𝗻𝘀
Psychological Thriller
304 pages

❓QOTD: Do you like it when a book alternates between present and past?

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs

The McTavishes are a rich and well-known family. Their lavish lives were interrupted when young Ruby was kidnapped and found after a period of time.

When Ruby passes, she leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden, which causes a ruckus among the remaining family members.

Camden has no interest in Ashby House or his family, and they full on hate him. The feeling is mutual. He lives a quiet life with his wife, Jules, until Ruby passes. Then the story begins, and we learn about this family’s sorted background.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs

This book tickled my fancy. 🤪 My favorite part was Ruby’s letters telling about her past. Some shocking things were hidden over the years, and I couldn’t wait to hear more.

Ruby is one of a kind. She has had quite a life, keeping more than one dark secret. Privilege saved her from herself more than once.

Camden and Jules seemed like an average couple at first. When they pulled into Ashby House, life changed for them.

The story was told in the present with Ruby’s letters explaining the past. I loved how the two flowed together. This book had everything needed to keep my attention while keeping me in suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

⭐️Release Date: January 9, 2024

~

Rachel Hawkins' upcoming novel, The Heiress, is a captivating story that delves into the intricate lives of a wealthy family with a multitude of hidden secrets. While it may not be an adrenaline-pumping thriller, the book offers an entertaining narrative that keeps readers engaged from start to finish.

Although The Heiress may not be classified as a thrilling page-turner, it compensates with its exploration of the complexities within a wealthy family. Hawkins skillfully weaves together a web of past secrets, creating an atmosphere of intrigue. . As the layers of the family's history are gradually peeled back, readers are drawn deeper into the story, eager to uncover the truth and find out more about this family.

The novel's pacing is steady, allowing readers to savor the unfolding of the plot and the development of the characters. Hawkins' writing style is engaging..

While The Heiress may not offer heart-pounding action, it excels in its portrayal of complex family dynamics and the discovery of long-held secrets. In conclusion, Rachel Hawkins' The Heiress is a compelling novel that combines elements of mystery, family drama, and secrets. The multiple narrators in the audiobook version enhance the storytelling experience, bringing the characters to life. While it may not be a thrilling rollercoaster ride, it is an entertaining and thought-provoking read that will leave readers pondering the power of secrets within families.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I'd give this one a solid 4 stars.

This was Knives Out meets The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and I really enjoyed this!

This is essentially about a wealthy & notorious woman named Ruby McTavish who was not only abducted as a baby and then returned to her family, but she has also left a trail of dead husbands. Her sister and her son/grandchildren despise her for inheriting the family fortune, and then subsequently leaving it all to her adopted son, Camden.

Camden is now an adult and even though his mom Ruby died years ago, he’s beckoned back to the estate after his uncle dies and is there to handle some final business with his wife Jules at his side.

This book had a lot going on, but it was absolutely engrossing. Between Ruby’s letters detailing her experiences and secrets, to the mysterious and secretive family members I was hooked. Everyone had their secrets and no one was as innocent as they seemed. Down to the very last page the revelations kept coming and my mind was blown.

Told in a multi-pov, multi-timeline and mixed media style, this story was so unique and a total delight from Rachel Hawkins. I also had the pleasure of getting to listen to this in advance on audio and the multiple narrators kept this so engaging and exciting. The narrator who voiced Ruby deserves all the praise.

My only complaint is that the twists weren’t THAT unpredictable, and like I said, there was a lot going on in this one. All in all though, this was fantastic.

I’ve really enjoyed this and Hawkin’s last release, The Villa, from her the most. She’s a master storyteller and will always be an autobuy author for me!

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and MacMillan audio for the ALC. This publishes on January 9, 2023!

This thriller was smart, additive and unputdownable. It's unexpected twists and heart-stopping pace provided quite a captivating mystery in the confines of the Ashby House near Asheville, NC. Be careful what you uncover behind closed doors, as you meet the inhabitants and learn their secrets.

Told from Three Points of View:
1.) Camden, an orphaned boy adopted by the family heiress, is posed to inherit the estate. Only, he's abandoned his upbringing to live a simple life with his wife many states away. Its only after a call from his cousin Ben does he decide to clean-up the mess of the estate and its future.

2.) Jules, Camden's wife, finally sees a light at the end of the tunnel after years of financial struggles. Jules yearns for the lifestyle she never had.

3.) Ruby, the infamous heiress, who pens letters of confession throughout the story which are read after her death. She is a women with many lovers who many consider a black widow.

Wow this is only the beginning as more awaits the deeper the reader immerses themselves in this book. I'm not sure who to like at the end. Best book yet by this author!

Thank you St. Martins Press for the complimentary copy.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book for review.

This enthralling novel unspools its narrative through an innovative blend of dual perspectives, personal letters, periodical articles, and omniscient narration – a tapestry of storytelling techniques that ensures an immersive reading experience.

The narrative moves at a brisk pace, seamlessly oscillating between two distinct timelines. In the past, we are introduced to the enigmatic Ruby, a compelling character whose intriguing past isn't limited to her four lost husbands but also extends to her origins. Her tale is ingeniously twisted and keeps the reader engrossed.

In the present, the spotlight is on Ruby's heir, Camden, and his wife, Jules. Camden, pulled reluctantly back to his ancestral home - the Ashby House - must navigate a family that harbours no affection for him. Jules, a character shrouded in mystery, accompanies him, her motives subtly raising questions and suspicions.

The novel brilliantly navigates the convoluted corridors of family dynamics, exploring the ties that bind and the lengths to which individuals will go when driven by greed. It is a masterful exploration of human motives in the face of tantalizing wealth.

Despite its dark undertones, this thriller concludes on an unexpectedly bright note, not typical of the genre, making it a gripping page-turner that can easily be devoured in a single sitting.

Rachel Hawkins has a knack for writing books that are impossible to put down, and this one is no exception!

This is quite possibly my favorite Hawkins book to date. It is dark and twisty and clever and chock-full of secrets. It kept me engaged and interested and just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story pulled the rug right out from under me. And let me tell you, I love it when that happens! Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed this one!

When she was 3, Ruby McTavish was kidnapped and returned to her family 8 months later. As one of the wealthiest women in the Carolinas, upon her passing she left everything to her adopted son, Camdem. Camdem wants nothing to do with what’s left of the McTavish family and has spent the past decade putting as much distance between himself and where he grew up. When he’s summoned back to take care of the family estate, he opens up old wounds and may finally have the answers he’s long sought.

Alternating between Cam’s POV, his wife Jule’s POV, and letters from Ruby; this was an entertaining thriller filled with unlikable characters, secrets, and backstabbing. I wasn’t entirely sure at first how much I liked the alternating POVs but I ended up really enjoying the way all three played together. Ruby was by far my favorite character, and had all the attributes of ‘black widow’ but I found her to be brilliant and a women ahead of her time.

I primarily listened to this one, and the audiobook narration was fantastic. Each of the narrators truly captured the unique personality of the characters, and Ruby’s narration is exactly how I would have imagined her to sound. Personally, I’m a big fan of multiple narrators when it comes to audiobooks.

While The Heiress might well be my favorite Rachel Hawkins book so far, it ended up as a 4-star read for me. This is an entertaining, fast paced thriller, and if you enjoy twisted family dramas or even shows such as Succession, then you’ll certainly enjoy this book!


The Heiress comes out January 9, 2023. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for my advanced copies in exchange for my review. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.

When I first started reading THE HEIRESS, I was immediately hooked. I finished reading it in about a day because it was such a compulsive read. At first, I was worried that there would be too much happening, but instead, I felt that the author did a fantastic job weaving everything together. Even though I was able to guess some of the twists, I found myself surprised often. Honestly, I feel like if you love domestic thrillers with a hint of murder, mayhem, unreliable characters, and generational wealth, this is the book for you.

The novel is told through three POVs: Camden, Jules, and Ruby. Ruby, married four times and each ending in the death of a husband, her adopted son, Camden, and his wife, Jules. These characters make for a enthralling read. Each character's POV is engaging and interesting. Usually with books that have multiple POVs, I find myself caring less about one of them. This wasn't the case here. The author's ability to tell this story this way, and to do it well, really made this one of my favorite thriller reads.

And, as a good thriller requires, the ending and the twists and turns BEFORE the ending were fabulous. Again, I guessed some of these, but some I wasn't expecting and I felt that they made sense. To someone that reads a significant amount of books like me, it can be hard to truly surprise me. But it did and I honestly thought the way that these twists were interwoven, through the multiple POVs and the story itself, were worth it.

Overall, I really liked this book and I feel it is a must read for those that like this author and family centered thrillers.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

To begin - the audio production of this book was excellent. The rotating cast of voices used suited the characters and really added to the story as a whole. I would recommend it.

I also really enjoyed the novel itself. I feel like the comparisons to Evelyn Hugo will be inevitable - a rich woman who has many husbands throughout her life - but this is a darker version with the twists that Hawkins is known for.

I think the plot is cleverly executed, unfolding in layers the further you progress. If I have any criticism, it's that the story almost felt too fast. I think more could have been added to really build towards the ending.

If the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo had an evil twin…. It would be this book and I mean that as the biggest compliment. This book was so fun and so twisty!! Also, I loved the writing style so much and the flow of the book was just very fitting.

I have nothing bad to say about this book!

I could not put this down! I really loved "The Wife Upstairs," so I was excited to dive in to this one. This was a really fun thriller to work my way through. Lots of fun!

Have you ever read a book and felt like you read it before? That's how I felt reading this. The best parts of the book were told in Ruby's pov, but those chapters are very reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The rest of the book was very convoluted and slow.

"I had gotten away with murder, and I was glad for it."

Oh man this book 😮‍💨 I listened to the whole thing in one day while packing/cleaning my apartment and I was obsessed. It follows a man and his wife as he returns home after the death of his incredibly wealthy mother.

Read if you like:
👨‍👩‍👧‍👧family drama
💚THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO
💵wealthy family secrets
😇😈flawed main characters
📝past perspectives from letters
🌀twistsssss

⚠️ PSA: this book isn’t really a thriller in my mind. It’s more of a drama with elements of mystery and twists. I felt this way about Hawkin’s other book THE VILLA as well. Just go into it with this mindset and get ready to be immersed in Ruby McTavish’s world.

I devoured this book!!! The story grabbed me from the start: this rich child disappears while on a picnic, and is found months later in a family in Alabama. Her name is Ruby McTavish and she lives in the Ashby House in Tavistock, North Carolina. Ruby is a mysterious, notorious, and scandalous creature and this book will take for a fun ride full of twists and turns, getting to understand her and discover all her secrets, and witness the ugliness money can bring in a family. The McTavish family is ready to destroy one another in order to get the House.

The story is written in multiple POVs: Camden (Ruby's adopted son), Jules (Cam's wife), and Ruby herself in epistolary format. There is also a narrator here and there, news clippings,.. just overall very intriguing to alternate from one to the other.

The mysteries kept me on.my toes, I could not put this book down, it's insane! I enjoyed what Rachel Hawkins did with the colors red/ruby and green/emerald. At times it gave me The Only One Left vibes, which I read this past summer and also loved.

Great execution overall! This book is going to be a hit, no doubt!

Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for this e-ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

3.5 stars
This was a twisty, rich people behaving badly story with some mysterious happenings thrown in too. I enjoy the accessibility of Rachel Hawkins’ writing- she always hooks me in quickly with her books! In “The Heiress”; everyone’s personalities come across clearly. I enjoyed how well orchestrated the plot/character developments were along the way. I don’t want to spoil anything as this is one to jump right into without reading too many advance details.
Thanks to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance review copy.