Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of "The Heiress" in exchange for an honest review.
There's nothing I cherish more than a twisty gothic-like book that delivers so many startling twists, you lose count of them while your head's spinning trying to take them all in.
"The Heiress" had me shaking my head in admiration at the sheer avalanche of revelations piled up before I reached the last page.
You may think that you've read about every forbidding, mysterious vast estate populated with strange families holding on to dark secrets. But nothing compares to North Carolina's Ashby House, amid the Appalachian mountains. It's home to the McTavish family, a filthy rich collection of vipers whose infinite wealth allows them to cruelly, carelessly rule the area like the Romanovs of Russia. And for sheer dread, their mansion makes Daphne du Maurier's Manderley look like a Motel 6.
Camden, the family's young heir, fled as far from these reptiles as he could, now living a simple paycheck-to-paycheck existence with his beautiful wife Jules. But when he's summoned back to Ashby House, Jules, entranced with the glamour of living there, convinces Camden to reluctantly return to return to his home - a place where, as an adopted child, he suffered insults and abuse from the McTavish blood relatives.
So back they go to the place steeped in the memory of Camden's legendary, notorious late mother Ruby McTavish. She first achieved early fame as a toddler rescued from a kidnapping and then later as a four time widow whose husbands all died under suspicious circumstances. At Ashby House, Cam and Jules endure withering contempt from Cam's elderly aunt and two cousins, the surviving McTavishes who permanently reside there.
From this point on "The Heiress" becomes a breathless ride through its staggering amount of twists and reveals,, almost guaranteed to keep a reader's mouth wide open in surprise right up to the finale. And by no means will you hear about any of them in this review......just dive into the book yourself and enjoy.
Highly recommended for anyone who craves a 5 star, quickly paced tour of a rotten-to-the-core family riddled with enough ominous backstory to fuel 10 soap operas. And who can resist that?

My Kindle shows this file as "Read" but I could not tell you a single thing about this and honestly that is fine with me.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Ashby House is a huge estate in the small town of Tavistock, North Carolina and it is owned by Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. That's right, that is her full name as she has been married and widowed four times. It is really unfortunately what has happened to her husbands to the point where she has the nickname "Kill-more." After each husbands' death, it has been increasingly harder to step outside her estate. When she passes, her adopted son, Camden, inherits the estate and all that comes with it.

The 2 blood-born McTavish siblings are upset that Camden inherits it all as he hasn't talked to them in years and he lives far away from the estate. All Cam wants is to live far away from the Ashby House and to teach English to children.

When Camden and his wife, Jules, decide to visit Ashby House, Camden is reminded as to why he wants to live far away.

What happens to the Ashby House? What happens between Camden and his 2 siblings? What are all of Ruby's secrets?

This book was definitely not predictable to me and I really enjoyed reading it. I was curious about Ruby and her life as she writes letters, which allows the readers to understand her secrets. Who was she writing the letters to though?

The first parts were really confusing as there was a lot of character development and if you go in blind like I did, you're trying to figure out who is who and how they are related. As the book progressed, it was more enjoyable and made you absolutely curious as to what was going to happen next.

Rachel Hawkins is a master of the complicated family, convoluted character relationship, shocking reveals... books that fly by, engross the reader, and give a super fun reading experience. I really enjoyed reading this, it might not be the most memorable book ever but it provided solid entertainment while I was reading it.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this e-book prior to the publishing date, I really enjoyed reading it.

Heiress is immersive and captivating as Rachel Hawkins weaves a compelling narrative through multiple perspectives. Hawkins skillfully blends these different perspectives with newspaper accounts while also weaving through different time periods. The cleverness of these chapters helps to keep the pace dynamic, leaving readers constantly engaged and turning the page. I couldn’t put this books down as I sought to unravel the unspoken nuances of each character. Although I am not a huge mystery reader, this book has started to change my mind. Likeable characters that are shrouded in layers of mystery only add to the anticipation I felt. The best comparisons I could make with this book is that the moments with Ruby echoed aspects of 'The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo'. Specifically her storytelling and the way she delved into her many relationships. Ultimately, Hawkins has written a fast paced page turner that is approachable for any reader. The finale only solidifies this book as a must-read as you are left laughing at the characters misfortune.

Rachel Hawkins’ The Heiress follows Jules and her husband Cam as they return to his childhood home in North Carolina. It’s more than a home, it’s a mansion named Ashby House. Cam’s larger-than-life adoptive mother left everything to him in her will, but he’s never wanted the baggage that comes with his inheritance. Cam returns with a dread that his wife can’t understand. The family doesn’t welcome their arrival. Ashby House, the family, and old money have a power over Cam and Jules that’s hard to escape. As they spend awkward days in the mansion, the family shows that they’ve never stopped plotting to seize the wealth.

This family drama centers on an inheritance. It’s about a husband and wife arguing over money. And it’s about the way that greed makes evil easier and quiet disagreements slip into murder. There’s a lot of suggestion and a lot of suspense about what makes this family evil. Some of it seems more like just out-of-touch people being weird. In the end, it didn’t matter to me who won this family squabble.

I’ve given this novel four stars. There’s some twists, and they’re good ones, especially at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for this enjoyable advance read.

4.25 stars
I just wanted to express my thanks for getting the chance to dive into an early copy for review purposes. I'll be sharing a detailed breakdown on my blog soon, but here’s a more technical take on it.

The book's description got me interested. It seems like Hawkins has a certain theme running with her thriller covers. Having read a few of her works before, I was hopeful about this one, and boy, did that first page grab me!

Hawkins has this thing she does with her books: chapters set in the present, mixed in with these cool formatted interludes. Personally, I'm a big fan of this style. The way she switches up the format and point of view makes the book a quick, engaging read. It’s why I keep coming back for more, even if not every story hits the mark for me.

There was something a bit odd about how one of the characters’ perspectives was written. In Jules’ chapters, it felt like she was looking back on things, telling the story like it was in the past, and then suddenly, she'd switch back to the present tense. It threw me off a bit and kind of took me out of the moment.

Overall, though, I liked this book and the story it told. The ending? It left me with that same eerie feeling I got from 'The Villa'—like maybe everything’s not quite as right with the world as it seems.

This story starts a little slow with what appears to be clippings from newspapers and letters. I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it or where this was going but I am glad I stuck with it. What a unique story and writing. Everything came together so well! I loved the concept of following generations of a wealthy and powerful family and all their secrets and twists.
I highly recommend adding this to your 2024 TBR list.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑬’𝑺 𝑵𝑶𝑻𝑯𝑰𝑵𝑮 𝑨𝑺 𝑮𝑶𝑶𝑫 𝑨𝑺 𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑹𝑰𝑪𝑯 𝑮𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝑩𝑨𝑫

➡️ swipe for synopsis 👉🏼

Special thanks for this #gifted ARC from @netgalley @ladyhawkins and @stmartinspress .

This one started out slow for me. I wasn't sure how the title had anything to do w the story that was being told and unveiling as I read on, but i was still very intrigued. I was so focused on the life of Cam & Jules and wondering how "the heiress" fit either of them.
Cam and Jules are very innocent and likable, and the rest of the tavosich family are cringeworthy in every way, shape, and form.

It unravels more, the further along as you go through the handwritten "letters" as a sort of "dual timelines" / multiple POVs.
The jaw-dropping twist comes, and now you don't know who to trust.
How can people, let alone family be so evil.
Money really does make people do evil things no matter who it's to.
The last like 15% of the book was like a tilt a whirl. Twist after twist. You think you know, but then it's something else. And each character thinks it's got the other sneaky character figured out......but that's the thing about secrets. You never know who's got one......

PUB DAY:
Jan 9, 2024

QOTD❓️⁉️❓️ Have you, or someone you know ever inherited a lot of money from a "famous" family member?

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Ruby is a rich heiress that has died and has left the family fortune to her adopted son. Her blood relatives are not happy about this and what what belongs to them. They think they have figured out how they can get their hands on it.

This book is written in a very different, but smart way. It gives you small bits of the story as it switches between 2 POVS, Cam and Jules, newspaper articles and letters written by Ruby.

This is a story where everyone has a secret and you don't know what they are until the end. This is such a twisty and keeps you guessing novel that you won't be able to put down.

Thank you to Netgalley, Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. This review is 100% my own and honest opinion.

3.5 Stars

I know this book has suspense and murder, and maybe I should have been tense or stressed about what was to come, but it was just so fun to read!

The Heiress is told from multiple point of views: letters from Ruth (the heiress) to her adopted son; Cam, the adopted son; Jules, wife of Cam; and various newspaper and magazine articles. I love unreliable narrators and they were certainly present here.

Family drama, secrets, and the unruly rich make this a juicy suspense novel that’s hard to put down.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed this book. I’m a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins, both her adult and young adult books so I was excited to read this book and it didn’t disappoint. It was very dark and I was here for it. Loved the storyline and the twists. I couldn’t stop reading.

This is not my first Rachel Hawkins book and won’t be my last - I always find myself sucked into her stories.

This story was gripping from the first few chapters and kept me guessing the entire time! This story follows one super rich and horrible family but focused on Ruby and how she lived her life with her four (dead) husbands.

It is full of twists and turns and I couldn’t figure it out until it was spelled out for me at the end. This was a great book!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author for the complimentary advanced reader copy. The opinions below are my own.

Ruby McTavish leaves behind quite the legacy in the wake of her death. A notorious widow x 4, childhood kidnapping survivor, and oldest daughter of the wealthiest dynasty in North Carolina. She bequeathed her fortune to her adopted son, Cam, but he has distanced himself from the remaining family members and refuses to acknowledge his inheritance. That is, until another passing in the family forces Cam and his wife, Jules, to return to Ashby House and confront all the figurative demons he has been avoiding for the past decade.

Greed. Envy. Pride. Deceit. It’s all here in spades in this gripping, gothic thriller. I enjoyed the dual POV between Cam and Jules, as well as the third perspective from Ruby through letters indulging her deepest, darkest secrets. Every single character had skeletons in their closet threatening to be exposed and the tension held me through the entire novel. I kept turning the pages, anticipating the next reveal. I also felt immersed in the isolated, mist-clotted Appalachian mountains. While Ruby’s past was quite sordid, I couldn’t help but like her character most. She was giving Evelyn Hugo vibes - right down to the green gown.

This was my first Rachel Hawkins novel but I know I will now be exploring her backlist. If you love rich-people-behaving-badly stories with layers and twists, this is one you won’t want to miss.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
This book was something! It was a little slower paced than I usually enjoy. There were letters thrown in between chapters that gave just little bits of background to the current day story, they always left me wondering and slightly confused! I kept reading and the story REALLY picks up in the last 1/4! I was reading so fast, I couldn’t wait to find out more! I loved the story and even though I was left with a few questions in the end, I felt there were a few other things that could have been touched on to really wrap up the whole book, however, I still enjoyed the current ending and overall this book was 5 ⭐️!!

Rachel always succeeds in top tier mystery - you'll seriously be unable to put this one down. Something I don't see enough in these books, MULTIPLE POV!! Also- short chapters! In a book like this, short chapters work so well as they keep you moving throughout the story and mystery unfolding.

This book had me up way too late. I could not put it down. As soon as I read the first page it sparked a need to devour this book as quickly as possible. First let us discuss the Ashby House. It is a perfect setting for a wickedly rich family. The mansion is nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. It is eye catching, stately, everything you would want if you were rich beyond your wildest dreams. As soon as you step through the doors, everything around you cease to exist. You become a part of it, you cannot escape its grasp. The McTavish's is the family that has graced the hallways, the endless trails, the beautiful falls, and the woods that takes people at its will. The McTavish's are a family that you would never want to be a part of. They want everything, bend the rules to their will, and destroy whatever is around them.

Ruby McTavish died ten years ago. She was an insanely interesting woman, who kept everyone on their toes. From the moment she was kidnapped as a young child. To the questionable deaths of her four husbands, to the adoption of the nicest boy this family has ever witnessed. On her death, her adopted son, Cameron, inherited everything. The house, the staggering amounts of money in the bank, EVERYTHING! Instead of becoming the lord of the house. He decides to head west, hardly ever touches the money, and has no intention of returning. That is until his cousin Ben sends him an email. An email he cannot say no to. Cameron and his wife, Jules, make the decision to see what the family wants. Jules is excited to see where Cam came from. To witness everything, she has googled. Their arrival is not met with Joy, just more harsh words. That Cam is not blood and should not have inherited. As this family's story is exposed, my jaw inched closer and closer to the ground. It is fantastic! I cannot say anymore, or I will ruin it for you!

You need to put this book on your list. I am giving it all the stars! Thank you to Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin's Press for this phenomenal family drama.

I was given the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Rachel Hawkin’s upcoming thriller, ‘The Heiress” and I jumped on it! I have enjoyed each one I’ve read, but this may be my favorite!

The title refers to Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, a notoriously wealthy widow. As a child, she was the victim of a famous kidnapping, and since then, she has ruled over her family’s estate, as well as the neighboring town. Her adopted son, Cam, had left the family early on, refusing his inheritance. However, when there is another death in the family, he and his wife must return and face the music.
Chapters alternate between the past and present, dropping tiny morsels of information. It is a slow burn, and BAM! The ending sneaks up on you. Every family member has secrets, and no one trusts each other. This family is beyond dysfunctional!!
I loved the suspense and not knowing the truth until the very end. This book was well-written and thoroughly enjoyable.

**Will be posted to Instagram (@readrestrecharge) closer to publication date

What started off as a very promising read soon fell flat. I usually love this author's books but this story had way too many characters and soon got very confusing.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc of The Heiress in exchange for an unbiased review. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading this book - it’s a story of family tension and trauma, with some surprisingly good twists.