I love the two perspectives of Jules and Camden, the letters from Ruby, and the different newspaper articles. The twists never stopped coming. I didn’t want to put it down!!!!

I just finished this book and I loved it! I enjoy stories about families generally and this one had that but it also had secrets, murder, inheritances and twists upon twists which made it engaging all the way through.

It was very well written, multiple POV which I tend to like. I highly recommend if you like thrillers.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this read for an honest review.

What a ride. I felt drawn to this story to figure out what was happening. I enjoyed the realism they gave the Ashby house and how it made the house come alive. It took some time to set the scene before the story fell into place and questions one had were answered. You were left hanging until the very end.

Overall I enjoyed the book and rate this book a 3.75/5

I really enjoyed this book! This book had several deep family secrets that get revealed as the book goes on and some of them were certainy explosive. I enjoyed the storyline with Ruby and learning about the untimely demises of all of her husbands (of which there were plenty). I did also enjoy reading from the other characters points of view but I felt some of the twists and drama were a little forced. It was definitely perfect if you like dysfunctional family dramas and lots of secrets exposed. I enjoyed the multiple POV and dual timeline aspects as well. I would recommend this book to other people however it didn't seem like a true thriller, it was more a family drama/suspense novel.

The beginning of this novel hits you bam, bam, bam. First the quote from a magazine, then the missing persons report by Associated Press 1943, then the changeling definitions with links from 2023 - all before throwing you head first into Jules the narrator in first person, telling us she has a shock while wearing her work uniform of a pioneer woman. That’s four varied styles and punching information in a row. Without giving anything away, I can say that the author’s delivery is fantastic.

Hawkins keeps up this stylistically integrated format, juxtaposing the two major narrators, Jules and Cam, in first person POV, with letters from Ruby, emails from relatives and articles from newspapers furthering the plot. This all works smoothly and gives a more complex view of events which Hawkins ekes out to the reader.

Jules is a great character, direct and quick, but with hidden dimensions not immediately discernible to the reader. Cam likewise is an affable character, and we become invested in wishing them happiness in the face of adversity. Hawkins hints at hidden or doubled meanings throughout, which works well to keep up the tension.

Finally, one must never forget the title, and who this novel is really about. It works, and I was entertained.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“’Family’ is a complicated word.”

WOW! The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was definitely not what I was expecting, but I sure read it faster than any other book in a long time! Twists, turns, mystery, and underlying control guide this novel on a path of ultimate havoc. The McTavish name means something in North Carolina, and Ruby McTavish is clearly in charge. Writing from the grave – she still has her hands on the mansion Ashby House, her family, and people who she was scheming with from before her death. Her adopted son, Camden, ten years later with his wife, Jules, finally returns to Ashby House to sort out unsettled affairs – and realize that rumors may be true, and that this family may be their worst enemy.

Is anything ever as it seems? In real life? In Novels? I don’t think we really know people behind their closed doors – and this book validates that point. And, obviously, having a lot of money doesn’t seem to help anyone in these types of situations (greedy for more – anyone?).

I did get some Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes from this novel – which isn’t a bad thing, but the back-and-forth timelines, and the older, richer matriarch drive the storyline with shocking connections throughout. As a side note – I loved that Hawkins tied in the Lara Lachmont’s Aestas album playing in a scene (from her novel, The Villa)!

I was captivated from the start; I had some plot lines figured out early and some not until the end – but this is a great escape read about motives and family drama that will keep you turning the page. While I think there was too much drama, and maybe some characters (like Libby) had no need to be included, I was addicted to the story and would definitely recommend Hawkins to others. A solid 4 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC! All opinions are my own and honest – and I suggest you add this to your TBR pile for January 2024!

“The truth isn’t some finite thing, it’s what we all choose to believe.”

This was my first book by Rachel Hawkins and it certainly won’t be my last!

I enjoyed the mystery surrounding the infamous Ruby McTavish and all of the family drama that came with it. The characters are flawed, even the narrators, but you still can’t help but root for them. This one felt more family drama than thriller, so I think that’s important to know going in, especially based on reviews I’ve seen of Hawkins’ other books.

Ruby has an Evelyn Hugo feel to her. Not in the Hollywood sense, but she was well-known and mysterious and had lots of husbands, so she gave me that vibe. I was hooked and always looking forward to picking this up!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read this early!

Thoughts

Hawkins never lets me down. This was a page-turner. An evil rich family out here doing all kind of evil stuff, it was entertaining. But also a little realistic in parts. I don't remember the peoples name or the documentary but there is this super rich family here in the United States that has been surrounded by death but always get away with it.

It was hard to put down because you really want to keep reading those letters! Like give me the tea!! I think this may be Hawkins' best book to date.

It was entertaining and intriguing. I would recommend this one if you like books with terrible people that keep you turning pages with their foolishness.

Thanks to Netgalley for this eARC.

Thank you for the ARC! I loved this book, it might be my favorite of Rachel Hawkins thriller books. I was pulled in immediately from the beginning of the story and enjoyed the format of letters from Ruby McTavish mixed with multiple points of views from the other characters. I found it fast-paced and kept me intrigued as I progressed through the book. There is a fun twist towards the end of the book. One of my favorite parts of the story was the descriptions of the town and house as I felt that it really painted a picture that added to the plot.

A big thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for offering the ARC of this great book.

I’ve read several books by Rachel Hawkins previously and have enjoyed them all to varying degrees. The Heiress has got to be the best so far. The many unexpected reveals are throughout the book and kept me reading all day until I finally finished the book. I love a book that surprises me with its twists. This was just such a book, but Ms. Hawkins wasn’t satisfied with just one, or even a couple. She was skillfully diverting us right up until the very last few pages.

Written with insertions of letters and newspaper accounts this book told the story of a wealthy, beyond our imagining, family and the many struggles for that money once the matriarch of the family dies. However, the question of her relation hangs over the story throughout as she was a kidnapping victim when just three years old. What she and other family members won’t do for an inheritance is threaded through the entire book.

Completely enthralling! Ms. Hawkins has hit a bullseye with this book. You must give it a chance and then go back for her other books.

This was a seriously bingeable read! I flew through this one in just 2 days, and kept wanting more and more and more.

So many twisty story lines between the characters and it was a mystery with them all. I had a hard time following the timelines at points with Ruby’s stories, but what 👏🏼a 👏🏼ride 👏🏼

If you’re looking for a page turner, this is it!

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. This book comes out January 9th and if you love a good mystery read, you’ll definitely want to add it to your TBR.

Are you the type of person that will see a snippet of drama show up on your favorite social media and immediately pop some popcorn and spend the next hour or more on a deep dive to get all of the juicy details? If so, then The Heiress is definitely for you!
I absolutely loved this one and inhaled it in one sitting. Why does Cam want nothing to do with the estate he inherited years ago? Why does he have to deal with it now? Why does his family dislike him? So. GOOD.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read Rachel Hawkins before, and the Heiress was a great start. This drama centers on the story of the McTavish family, from the disappearance and reappearance of a toddler in the family through the decades of consequences that follow. We hear the story from many viewpoints, and the mystery is in trying to figure out each character's true motivation and the secrets they hide. There are several twists and turns; some are predictable, because the characters leave bread crumbs along the way. One of the twists does feel slightly more contrived than others, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I don't expect my mysteries/thrillers to be 100% plausible.

With multiple POVs, dual timelines, exploration of issues like nature vs nuture and generational dysfunction, this is a fun ride!

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for a free copy of #TheHeiress by Rachel Hawkins. All opinions are my own.

This is probably my favorite book by her so far. I was sucked in immediately. This one gave me 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo meet V.C. Andrew’s vibes. It weaves a very complicated web of lies, drama, and murder.

Camden left home and hasn't been back since. But, when his adoptive mother dies, he travels back with his wife to help settle the immense estate that was left behind. Camden enjoys his simple life and is not thrilled to be thrown back into this tumultuous family. The more time he spends there, the more secrets are revealed about the mysterious women who was his mother.

This story was told in a unique way. There are chapters that have different perspectives from different characters. There are also newspaper articles and letters left behind from Ruby. All of this adds to the narrative to help tell the story. This held my attention from the start. The book began one way but went on quite a few twists and turns that I wasn't expecting and ended a completely different way. It was cleverly told and well thought out.

Ruby is an interesting character, and I really enjoyed hearing her story and reading about her. She had a lot of secrets, and I wondered what would come out next. It had similar feels to The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo since a well-off woman started spilling her secrets and went through a number of men. This was engaging and held my attention. The only reason I didn't give it a full five stars were that some events seemed a little far-fetched, but it was entertaining and well written. I look forward to checking out her other books!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The plot of The Heiress centers around Ruby McTavish, a controversial widow four times over, and the legacy left in her family estate, Ashby House. Her adoptive son, Camden, returns to North Carolina with his wife, Jules, to try to settle the inheritance and they end up contending with a whole lot more family drama and mystery.

Told from multiple perspectives (Cam, Jules, letters Ruby wrote, and various media like emails and newspaper articles), the story unfolds in the present while exploring the many mysteries of the past. I really enjoyed the character development, the exploration of nature vs. nurture, and all of the family drama and secrets. Overall, this was a propulsive page-turner! I highly recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own. I loved it!

4.25⭐️

The Heiress is a delightfully twisty dual-timeline mystery. Cam and his new wife travel back home to the Blue Ridge mountains to visit and deal with the estate and inheritance he had previously rejected, and end up finding out more than they bargained for- about the family legacy, themselves and each other. Both timelines- theirs and Ruby’s- were quite compelling and left me in suspense right up to the very end. I was so captivated by this tale I finished it in one sitting and was not disappointed.

Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Rachel Hawkins, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow. This author never disappoints. The storytelling and the pace are perfection. The did povs keep the reader in the know but also the book keeps us guessing. 5 stars for me.

Rachel Hawkins always delivers a great psychological thriller. With this book, The Heiress she truly outdid herself. It revolves mainly or told by three POV’s Camden, Jules and Ruby, Camden’s adopted very wealthy mother. There are so many secrets here that slowly are revealed but the last reveal by Jules is wild. Camden is married to Jules and has moved across the country to getaway from his very toxic family. He is left everything when his mother dies but wants nothing to do with the mansion. But ten years later his Uncle dies and with Jules insisting they go back east. Everyone in this book has their own agenda and secrets. To even get into that. I would have to give away spoilers. All I want to say is thank you to net galley and the publisher for this ARC I received for an honest review. This is a must read for fans of psychological thrillers. Ruth Hawkins delivers another great book.

I was a little nervous going into this one since I read and didn't enjoy another book by this author, BUT I was pleasantly surprised by this one and reminded that it's always good to give authors second chances! I thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent reading this one. This one felt like a combination of "The Only One Left" and "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" and I mean that in the BEST way possible. I really liked that one of the perspectives was through letters written by Ruby before she died and that we didn't know who these letters were being written to until the end. The way the letters and the present timeline came together for the big reveal was incredible. The only reason this isn't five stars for me is because I guessed a pretty major plot twist so I was missing that wow factor at the reveal, but I still really enjoyed it despite that. I will absolutely be recommending this to people I know!