Oh my goodness. The Heiress hits the list of my favorite books of 2023.
I loved this way more than I thought I would and my only regret is that I didn't pick it up sooner.
Something about a strong female lead..
I loved the MCs and how nicely everything tied up, but that epilogue has my jaw on the floor.
Loved the twists. Some I saw coming from the start, but that did not take away from the story for me at all.
Would recommend this read to everyone!

Once again, Rachel Hawkins has created mystery that has you hanging on at every turn. Much like my other favorite of hers, The Wife Upstairs, The Heiress was full of suspense and had me truly wondering what would happen next!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Cam and Jules are on a cross-country road trip back to his childhood home. He’s been putting this off for years now since his adoptive mother passed away. Cam moved from North Carolina to California years ago and built a new life for himself away from the chaos that is the McTavish family and their legacy. But now his two worlds are set to collide as he introduces Jules to the family and their less than loving ways. Adding to the drama is the legacy Ruby, Cam’s mother, left him – a small fortune, a house in dire need of repairs, and a long legacy of questionable deaths. Will Cam’s marriage survive this trip back home or will they become another casualty of the McTavish clan?

New York Times Best Selling Author Rachel Hawkins is back with a new thriller to delight readers! The Heiress follows both Ruby, the matriarch of the clan, as she divulges the secrets of her life, and the latest heads of the family – her son Cam and his wife Jules. Utilizing flashbacks and letters written by Ruby to the younger generation, Hawkins seamlessly transports readers through the timeline allowing the backstory to slowly develop. Full of twists and surprises, this novel is about family bonds and shows that true power isn’t in the money, but the way you treat one another.

I give The Heiress 5 out of 5 stars. Not typically one for thrillers, this book had me enthralled with the family drama and storyline from the first chapter! I found the characters relatable and well-developed – from the reluctant heir in Cam to the eager-to-see-the-family-money Jules, the motivations behind their actions were clear and compelling. Each chapter brought a small twist I didn’t see coming and something that compelled me to keep reading. I thought I had an idea of where Hawkins was taking the storyline, but was completely surprised by the end!

If you loved Rachel Hawkins’ other works like The Wife Upstairs or The Villa, you will love this novel, too! This book is true Hawkins at her best – a gothic thriller with lots of twists. Given the discussions of death (and murder!), I would direct this novel to readers over the age of 13. This would also make a great choice for book clubs with so much to unpack from all the twists through each character’s perspective.

I have been a fan of Rachel Hawkins since reading The Villa a few months back and jumped at the chance to review her latest work when it became available on NetGalley! Set in one of my favorite areas of the country (Ashville, North Carolina), I was drawn to this book by the description- a notorious widow with a legacy surrounded by rumors leaves everything to her adopted son at the despair of her other relatives. This is truly southern gothic meets murder mystery at its best!

The Heiress will release January 9th. You can pre-order your copy today on our Bookshop.org page!

*possible spoilers*

This was one book I definitely didn’t expect. Rachel Hawkin’s books have been hit and miss for me, so I wasn’t sure what I would think. But, I really enjoyed it. I’m glad I had a chance to read it.

This novel is filled with mystery from the first page. You quickly learn that Ruby was kidnapped as a child, though soon found and returned to her family. Then, as she grew older, her husband’s were passing away after marriage from mysterious accidents. After adopting her son, Camden, she then left her estate to him when passing away, even if he may not have wanted it.

When Camden and his wife return to his childhood home, mystery and family drama surrounds them. Though he was reluctant to return, with poor relationships with the family waiting for him at his home, little did he know that his wife also had her own reason for visiting. Through the story, answers would unfold. What happened to Ruby as a child when she was kidnapped? What were the mysteries surrounding the passing of her husbands through the years? Why was there bad blood in the family?

This book was an interesting surprise. I appreciated how the story unfolded throughout, and the use of articles and journal entries. It, to me, gave more depth to the story, and multiple POVs as to what different characters were thinking.

Also, it gave me a better understanding of the characters’ personalities. Did I like the characters? No, I really didn’t. But, I thought that their characters were well written.

It was a gripping story, and really was difficult to put down. There was just so much happening. But, surprisingly, it was easy to keep up with. I had no trouble making sense of the different story lines and each one was interesting. It also wrapped together nicely.

So, check this one out if you like:
💎a complex thriller
💎twists in your story
💎family drama

If you like thrillers, check it out! Pub date is January 9, 2024.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, received from St. Martin’s Press and Rachel Hawkins through NetGalley. However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

Wonderful book! If you love a suspense/thriller that keeps you hooked from beginning to end - this book does just that! There are numerous layers of mystery embedded into the storyline and Rachel Hawkins does a masterful job at keeping the reader guessing until the end. This was a quick and easy read, but also a fantastic story, highly recommend! 4.5/5 stars!

The Heiress is written by Rachel Hawkins. This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it will not be the last. The author's story draws you in within the first few pages. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. But in the aftermath of her death, her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. He just wants a normal life.

Ten years later, his uncle’s death pulls Cam and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but the legacy of Ruby is inescapable. Jules grew up in poverty - and makes a living portraying historical figures. She is happy when Cam goes back to the Ashby home. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. The author throws in so many twists and turns and the story is peeled away like an onion. Secrets and long hidden pasts will be brought to light.

The book is well written, the storyline engaging. Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is an astonishing tour de force. After carefully leading me along with subtle hints of fresh revelations to come, the author kept me glued so closely to the pages that it was difficult for me to put the book down. In fact, it's one of those books that kept me awake and flying through the pages late at night when I should have been asleep.

The characterization is incredibly well done. There are times when with a careful twist and a few choice paragraphs she managed to cause me to feel a sense of horror about a character I previously liked. In the end, most of them had secrets.

This is definitely a five star book.

I am thoroughly impressed with 'The Heiress' and would easily grant it 10 stars if I could. I extend my gratitude to Net Galley, Rachel Hawkins, and St. Martin's Press for providing me with the advanced copy. As someone who rarely awards five stars and finds it uncommon to finish a book within 24 hours, this novel stood out remarkably.

It's my firm belief that 'The Heiress' deserves a prominent place on everyone's reading list for 2024. Rachel Hawkins has created a compelling narrative that I found impossible to set aside. The story lingered in my thoughts, compelling me to rush home eagerly to continue reading, resulting in a late-night reading session that kept me engaged until 3 am, unable to sleep until I reached the end.

The narrative revolves around Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, North Carolina's wealthiest woman, who left an indelible mark on her small town of Tavistock. Ruby's life was marked by childhood fame after her abduction and subsequent return to her family, followed by adult notoriety due to her multiple marriages, all ending in the husbands' deaths. Residing in the family estate, Ashby House, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ruby, childless herself, opted for adoption. However, her decision to leave her inheritance to Camden, who was not biologically a McTavish, created tensions within her family.

Camden, desiring no association with the McTavish legacy, had moved far away. seeking a normal life. He and his wife Jules have a normal life until the McTavish family reeled him back in. Upon their return to the estate, numerous unanswered questions are resolved, unveiling hidden truths. The well-developed characters and the narrative's structure, with each chapter presenting its own compelling story, contribute to 'The Heiress's' seamless and engrossing flow, ensuring a captivating experience for any reader.

Look, these thrillers are mostly the same. They keep me engaged enough that I finish them in 48 hours but also don’t stay in my memory much longer than that either. The Heiress comes out 1/9 and would be great to read in the drag post Christmas. Lots of family secrets and twists but minimal violence on the page (still some murder though obviously). The ending here did feel slightly anticlimactic, but was also ok without the exact formula being followed.

It’s been a while since I read a riveting page-turner.

Ruby, our female MC is rich RICH. After her death, her son, Camden, inherits her assets but decides to live modestly. What he did not expect is the consequences he’ll face after inheriting Ruby’s assets.

Plot twists I did not expect, family drama, and themes of greed, power, and love! This is the kind of thriller I enjoy. Definitely reading more of Rachel Hawkins as she was able to keep me invested in the story from start to finish.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins centers around Camden McTavish who inherited Ashby House, a large estate, and money when his adoptive mother, Ruby, passed away. He also walked away from the McTavish family legacy, and for good reasons too. Ten years later, Camden's called back to Ashby House following news of his uncle's passing. With his wife, Jules, in tow, he returns home to confront dark family secrets.

Holy cow, this book needs to be on every thriller lover's radar. Hawkins brought the wealthy geriatric women confession trope into this book with full force, and I totally loved every minute of it. "The Heiress" explores the complexity of a family with deep secrets, wealth equating to power, and the use of a surname to get away with any wrongdoing.

With the multiple POVs, I honestly had a hard time putting this book down, especially when it came to Ruby's letters confessing all her deepest and darkest sins. I also thoroughly enjoyed reading Jules' POV because it was very relaxed and casual, as if I was listening to one of my friends talk.

I absolutely recommend this book, especially to thriller enthusiasts who enjoyed "The Only One Left" by Riley Sager.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for the eARC copy for review consideration. All opinions expressed are mine alone. "The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins will be widely available on January 9, 2024.

RACHEL HAWKINS DOES IT AGAIN - Reckless Girls was one of my favorite reads of 2022. This is up there with the feeling that book gave me. I love the southern conservative old money take down.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

I have to say that I LOVE Rachel Hawkins writing style and her plots have yet to disappoint me as a reader. The Heiress is no exception and I very much enjoyed everything about this book.

This is a story that really hinges on characters that are dynamic and complex and all utterly unknown and somewhat untrustworthy. Every time I thought I had something figured out in this story, a perfectly timed twist would appear and prove me wrong all over again.

The type of book that would make for a VERY good screen adaption, it has flavors of Knives Out with a little soap opera Dynasty-like drama just for fun.

Truly one for your winter reading lists, it's hugely entertaining and not to be missed!

I've really liked the author's previous books, so was very excited to get my hands on her new one early! This book did not let me down. The Heiress was a fast paced, unpredictable story that I flew through because I couldn't put it down! I loved the different points of view throughout the story, though I definitely enjoyed Ruby's sections way more than Jules's or Cam's. I also loved the newspaper clippings scattered throughout. The pacing was little off and a couple of the characters were deeeeply unlikeable (which I guess was the point?), but all the secrets, flashbacks, and dysfunctional family dynamics kept me turning pages. I guessed a couple of the more minor twists, but could not have predicted the last one, and I appreciated how everything came together! Ultimately, I would definitely recommend this book when it comes out, and I can't wait to see what Rachel Hawkins does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

****Publishing January 9, 2024****

I loved the quote “Without a Trace,” by Bill Naracott, Outside, May 2017 included at the beginning! It really sets the tone for the book! How many go missing on the Appalachian trail that are never accounted for or are found? Have they died from a fall or succumbed at the hands of an animal looking for a meal? Just chilling!

This book begins with Ruby Ann, a 3-year-old, from the wealthiest family in NC, going missing while on a family picnic! She was kidnapped, but reunited with her family after 8 months! This is just the start of life’s tribulations for Ruby. She had four husbands, but all died for various reasons, giving her the nickname “Mrs. kill-more”, although she was never charged with their deaths. When she dies at 73 as an Heiress, her adopted son, Camden, inherits her wealth and house, which is thought to be 8 figures. This causes an uproar with the rest of the family due to Camden’s lack of contact with the family for the past 10 years because of complicated family dynamics. Will it further drive them apart, or will it help fix the rift between them? As the story unfolds, this book will have you shaking your head at times!

This book definitely has an ending I didn’t see coming! I loved how each chapter was narrated by a different character : Camden, Ruby’s letters, and Jules. This kept the pages turning! Also, I loved all the twists and turns! Made for an entertaining read! A great book to add to your TBR list if you love a great mystery/thriller!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, I was provided an ARC of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #NetGalley

Another Rachel Hawkins that does not disappoint. Perfectly paced and a good balance of twists. Also loved the little ‘The Villa’ cameo on there!

Quick and Dirty⁣
-Domestic thriller⁣
-Alternating POVs and timelines⁣
-Epistolary flashbacks ⁣
-Fast-paced read with short chapters⁣
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Swipe for the full synopsis!⁣
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Thoughts ⁣
Domestic thrillers are not my go-to genre, but I do like them. In particular, I seem to be drawn to stories that have some flashback aspects, especially those with bold, unforgiving women with nothing left to lose. In The Heiress we find exactly that, though we have to wait to see which of our female protagonist is the most ruthless. Ruby, the deceased wealthy heiress has secrets to share with her beloved adopted son, Cam. Jules, his wife, has secrets of her own. And Cam, the good little boy that he is, has a few himself. As the book progresses we find out more and more about the state of affairs at the MacTavish estate, chiefly the not-so-secret loathing for Cam and his having inherited the family fortune despite his pedigree. The best part of this book were the letters Ruby left for Cam detailing the lives and deaths of all four of her husbands (Evelyn Hugo, anyone). Over the course of the book we start to realize things are not exactly as they appear, with Ruby’s role as innocent widow being the first thing called into question. The twists and turns in this book will keep you guessing, down to the last pages, which is exactly what I want from a thriller. Was anything super shocking or jaw dropping? Not really. But it was thrilling enough to keep my attention and keep me flipping pages to find out what everyone was hiding, what lies they were weaving, and what secrets would be unearthed in the end. Overall this is a solid domestic thriller that kept me engaged and guessing until the end.

The Heiress is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year. Rachel Hawkins does an amazing job of not only bringing the characters to life but also pulling you into the story and not letting you go until you reach the end.
I loved both Camden and Jules, I thought they were the perfect couple flaws and all.
There is mixed media in newspaper clippings, and letters sprinkled throughout the story and they really added something extra to the story. This story is full of twists and turns and I just ate up all of the family drama!
This is a book I will definitely read again.

This book was.. odd. It reminded me of The Only One Left but not in the best way? The story was told through letters and newspaper clippings, as well as the grandson's POV. It was difficult to follow at times to understand the point of the book. There was a nice twist at the end that was surprising, but it wasn't one of the better thrillers that I have read.

I really liked this! Though the pacing felt a bit off, I was really in the North Carolina mountains with the characters - the effervescent descriptions really flew off the page and made up for anything else. I loved the multimedia writing; it added a lot of depth to the story. I was reminded of Truly Devious and the Lindbergh case, along with all those changeling horror stories. I’ll definitely be recommending this one!