One thing Rachel Hawkins is going to do is write a good, fast paced thriller. I think this author has absolutely perfected the art of writing a thriller that is short, sweet, to the point, but it also creates tension and mystery for the reader to sort through. This one had so many loose threads towards the ends, but they all were tied up to well that I was torn between being shocked at the plot twist itself or how well the executed it. I can always rely on this author for one of my top thrillers of every year!

A dark and twisty family drama. Ruby McTavish, a wealthy woman who was kidnapped at the age of three and made a widow four times over, has left her fortune, including the family mansion, to her adopted son Cam. While Ashby House was left to Cam after Ruby died ten years ago, he fled the state leaving Ruby's sister, Nelle, and her family to live in the house, but after Nelle's husband's death, Cam is called home to Ashby house to deal with the neglected estate, bringing with him his wife, Jules.

The story unfolds from three POVs, Cam, Jules, and letters written by Ruby McTavish to recipients unknown. Rachel Hawkins does an excellent job creating a dark and foreboding atmosphere and I looked forward to reading the letters from Ruby. The story is twisty with characters that are unlikeable, selfish, and wholly entertaining. I was kept guessing throughout the book and enjoyed the ending. A solid 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Heiress had it's highs and lows. I found it incredibly slow moving and found the family to be villians for seamingly little reason. I wish there was more of that written into the plot so we could not like them for more than the fact the main character said so. There were a few great plot twists that made the ending more interesting and kept my attention through the whole book. I liked the flashback parts much more than the contemporary,

A gripping gothic tale told from multiple perspectives. Just enough twists to keep me hooked the until the sunrise ending.

I read most of this in one sitting but then took a two month break whoops. So I decided to restart it as I was enjoining it. Even though it took me 2+ months to read this was just as enthralling as Hawkins others novels. Rachel Hawkins knows how to write to keep the readers interest, with short chapters and just enough information to keep you wanting more.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.

This novel has alternating chapters from both Camden McTavish and his wife Jules’ present day perspectives. It also has a written letter entry perspective from Ruby McTavish written in the past. In present day, Camden has run away from Ashby House and his family inheritance in search for a normal life. After a decade absence from North Carolina Camden is called home to deal with the McTavish fortune and the secrets they’ve all kept.

I highly recommend this to readers that have enjoyed past Rachel Hawkins novels and to anyone who enjoys a fast paced mystery.

This book is a combination of family mystery, rich people problems, and just a dash of con artistry. Which feels like it should have worked really well for me, but ultimately I just thought it was okay. The reveals were really well-paced, where the reader gets small nuggets of information and drama throughout the entire book, the downfall of this however, is that there are perhaps too many reveals which make the culmination feel a bit obvious by the end.

This is told from a couple different POVs, one of which is a series of letters between Ruby and an undisclosed recipient. This broke the story up pretty nicely and, for me, was a rare situation where I did find myself invested in each POV/timeline. However, even though I found this format fairly engaging, the characters all felt very incomplete to me. As things are revealed about each of them, I was expecting to start to care about someone, anyone, and I just never connected to any of the characters.

I think if you're looking for a Knives Out-type mystery, this is still a solid option, but I don't think it's going to blow anyone away, unfortunately,

Looooooved this book! Rachel Hawkins just continues to thrill and entertain me far beyond what her peers can do. And this book is no exception. I love the mix of formats used to tell this story: traditional narrative, letters, newspaper & magazine articles. I loved the multi-POVs. And I loved this whole story built on the premise that we are all multifaceted and all better than our worst mistakes/choices. Such a thrilling ride!! My ONLY critique is I would’ve loved to find out who Cam’s biological father was. Was it Howell??? There were so many hints but nothing ever conclusive. But, still, loved this book!

THE GOOD:
A truly fascinating twist that I didn't anticipate! (But probably should have!)
Truly creepy, which I didn't expect either!

THE BAD:
I was hoping for more environment saturation into the Blue Ridge Mountains.

CONCLUSION:
Recommended. Great for thriller/suspense lovers.

I had really high hopes for this one, and it was written well, but it wasn’t as intense or thrilling as I had hoped it would be. Although, I wasn’t able to predict the big twist at the end, so that’s always a plus! I would recommend to friends.

That was really Verity type shit there. As usual, well written and intriguing. Love a Rachel Hawkins novel!

This book was a very unexpected mystery. Camden and Jules seemed like such a normal couple. The McTavish family was bizarre, I don't blame Camden for leaving and starting a new life. I REALLY did not see all of the plot twists coming.

This gripping novel, set within the enigmatic confines of Ashby House, presents a tantalizing mystery that grips readers from start to finish. With its clever twists and relentless pace, it immerses readers in a world brimming with secrets and intrigue, fueled by the enigmatic persona of Ruby McTavish, dubbed "Lady Kill-more," whose presence adds an extra layer of complexity.

The narrative unfolds through three distinct perspectives: Camden, an orphan who rejects his family's fortune only to be drawn back into its web of secrets; Jules, his wife, who longs for the wealth and status denied to her by her humble upbringing; and the letters of Ruby McTavish, whose shadow looms large over the unfolding drama.

As the story unravels, readers are introduced to a cast of characters entangled in a web of deceit and hidden agendas, each harboring secrets that threaten to unravel the delicate balance of power within the family. Behind the opulent facade of Ashby House lie truths that have the potential to reshape the lives of all involved, leaving readers eagerly turning pages in anticipation of the next revelation.

Filled with unexpected twists and pulse-pounding suspense, this novel is a testament to the author's skill in crafting intricate and compelling narratives. From its captivating characters to its atmospheric setting, it's a must-read for fans of gripping thrillers.

Ok first of all I love Rachel Hawkins and love all her books so I was super excited about this newest release. I always love Rachel’s writing and this book was very similar in style to The villa in that there are regular 1st person POV chapters as well as articles and letters. Because of this I feel like this book was super quick and easy to read and totally binge-able. However the thriller aspect fell a little short. This felt more like a family drama than a thriller. The big reveals and revelations were so heavily foreshadowed that the weren’t shocking at all and when I’m reading a thriller I want to be smacked so hard by that plot twist that my head spins. Ya know?! The characters were all so unlikable which is great but I almost wish they had been MORE creepy. Just slightly more unhinged. And the house itself could have had more of a haunted feel to it since it was such a character as well. All in all I’d say this was an easy and entertaining read but not my favorite from Rachel.

As I read this book, I devoured the pages! I was doing my best to find more time that I could spend reading it! Hawkins did a great job of painting the picture for us readers with her details and the characters came to life with their individual voices. I think this book would be a fabulous movie! I would definitely recommend it!!

This is probably my favorite of all the Rachel Hawkins’ books that I’ve read. I enjoyed the twists though I did see a lot of them coming. And I will admit there were parts when the twists got confusing to me. This being said I really enjoyed the story. It’s giving a dark Evelyn Hugo!

This was an enjoyable read. I liked all the layers to the story, though it felt a bit much at times. I thought I would get through it a bit quicker than I did, but I did like all the twists, and the ending was interesting.

Hawkins’ thrillers seem to be hit-or-miss for me. I liked this much better than The Villa, but I didn’t love it as much as I hoped. The premise is great, but it felt more like a family drama than an actual thriller, and I suppose I expected something a bit more sinister overall. However, Hawkins does a great job at writing morally gray main characters that are (mostly) likable. I like her conversational writing style, and I particularly enjoyed the sections from Ruby’s POV, which gave the story a bit of an Evelyn Hugo vibe.

The story itself moves along at a good pace, but I liked the first half more than the second and I didn’t think the twists were super shocking. The ending was fine, and I appreciated how it was tied up pretty neatly rather than leaving the reader with something ambiguous.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance copy in exchange for honest feedback. An entertaining thriller.

I absolutely loved this book. I was so excited to read another Rachel Hawkins novel, I thoroughly enjoyed Reckless Girls, and The Heiress did not disappoint. A truly exciting twist and story that kept me from being able to put the book down. I can’t wait to read what she publishes next

This is a smart, well written, perfectly paced and plotted story, both thrilling and satisfying, and in my opinion, Rachel Hawkins’ best book yet.