This gives off serious Evelyn Hugo vibes! I loved the history feel of this mixed with rich wealthy scandals. The cover matches the inside because it’s alluring and you question a lot when you’re reading it. Get your Agatha Christie hat on because the end might even surprise you,

Rachel Hawkins is certainly an author I frequently keep up with, whether it's her thrillers or the witchy rom-coms she writes under the name Erin Sterling.
In fact, I loved her YA series growing up, and think it's so fun to be a fan of her adult books now, over a decade later. I think THE HEIRESS is Sterling at her best. This novel is original, imaginative, and checks off several of my boxes, the biggest being rich people problems, of course! Ruby McTavish dies North Carolina's richest and most notorious woman. Not only did she make headlines when she was kidnapped as a baby, but all four of her husbands mysteriously died while married to her. When she dies, she leaves behind a nine-figure fortune, an estate in the Blue Ridge mountains and a complicated legacy that her adopted son Camden is now in charge of. Although Camden left the family years ago, his wife Jules persuades him to return to his hometown, where the couple learns that Ruby wasn't the only McTavish keeping dark secrets. I LOVED this book and absolutely devoured it. Ruby is an incredibly compelling character. The chapters told from her POV in the form of letters divulging her life story were so much fun to read, and felt very cinematic.
We also get chapters from the perspective of Camden and Jules, which aren't quite as captivating, which is my biggest critique of the novel. This book honestly feels like someone took THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO, set it in the North Carolina mountains, and gave it a healthy pinch of murder. Truly a winning combo.

I really enjoyed this book, however it was not what I typically expect from a mystery book. This story is told from three different points of view. I found this book to be easy to follow and enjoyed all the twists and turns throughout. A must read!

I got this on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I don't know why I requested it when I am not a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins...but here we are lesson learned.

One of the main drawbacks of this book is its pacing. The story moves at a sluggish pace, with long periods of stagnation that make it difficult to maintain interest. Instead of building tension and momentum, the narrative feels bogged down by unnecessary details and repetitive scenes, leading to a lack of excitement and anticipation.

Additionally, the characters in The Heiress lack depth and development, making it challenging for readers to connect with them on a meaningful level. The protagonist, Alva Webster, while initially intriguing as a wealthy heiress with a mysterious past, ultimately comes across as one-dimensional and unrelatable. Her motivations and actions feel forced at times, detracting from the authenticity of her character.

The plot itself feels contrived and predictable. While there are moments of intrigue and suspense, they are overshadowed by clichés and tropes that have been done better in other works. The mystery at the heart of the story lacks complexity and fails to deliver any truly surprising twists or revelations, leaving readers underwhelmed by the resolution.

Overall, this isn't a book for me or an author for me so proceed with caution.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a mystery novel full of intrigue, lies and secrets. Ruby McTavish is a household name in the small town of Tavistock. She was kidnapped as a young child and had a string of dead husbands. When Ruby McTavish dies her large estate, Ashby House, goes to her adopted son, Camden. Camden wants nothing to do with the house or money even though his relatives are still living there. Once Camden’s uncle dies he returns to Ashby House with his wife, Jules. Camden’s estranged family members come after him and his inheritance.

The Heiress is told from dual POVs (Jules and Camden) in the present and the past is told through letters that Ruby wrote.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Parts I really enjoyed and others had me frustrated.

What I Enjoyed:

I really liked Ruby’s letters telling her story and version of events. I only kept reading because of Ruby’s storyline. I was fascinated by this wealthy woman who turned to unconventional ways to solve her problems.

The drama! There’s so much family drama, what’s not to like?? Everyone has secrets and I enjoyed trying to figure them out along the way.

The audiobook, the narrators did a fantastic job.

What I Didn’t Like:

The pacing. Parts of the story are slow (and boring) while the ending felt rushed. I enjoyed how the story wrapped up but I wish it was drawn out a bit more. A lot of the twists are told right at the end.

I've read almost all of Rachel Hawkins' books and I find her very hit or miss for me. This one I REALLY enjoyed. The McTavish family is a very wealthy well known family who runs a town in North Carolina. Ruby is the Heiress of the estate and much to her family's dismay, she leaves all her riches to her adoptive son Camden.

Camden however wants nothing to do with the family or the money. He is back at the Ashby house after a death in the family and the family drama begins.

I loved hearing Ruby's story through her letters which seemed straightforward at first but then there is a twist! The letters tell us about all of Ruby's past husbands and that part reminded me a little of Evelyn Hugo.

There is a lot that unfolds in this story and I would highly recommend. I will continue to read Hawkins for gems like this one!

This book was a captivating and unique reading experience! The blend of different narrative styles, including past and present timelines, newspaper clippings, and multiple points of view, added a depth and richness to the story. It's intriguing that the entire book is directed at the reader from the main character's perspective; that kind of intimate storytelling can really draw readers in. And who doesn't love a story with unexpected twists? Overall, it was a highly engaging read that would appeal to anyone looking for something fresh and compelling.

My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Rachel Hawkins and Netgalley for this book for review.
Every Rachael Hawkins book that comes out is my new favorite so I could not wait to start this one! Of course, it was perfection. Told from multiple points of view this twisty disfunctional family drama was hard to put down from the beginning! Great ending, fun read. Definitely would recommend this to friends!

Rachel Hawkins writes awesome stories! This one had me hooked from the beginning and I stayed up late to finish it!

Thank you for the advanced copy!

This book was almost a 5 star read! The only reason it wasn't 5 was because I guessed it. BUT that does not mean it was not a good book. I was intrigued and interested the whole time. I liked how the two story lines intertwined but made sense and you could see it all leading to the same point. I do with the epilogue had a little bit more but I guess that's what last minute cliff hangers do is not give you everything and keep you guessing!

This book was a fun and suspenseful read. The characters had quite a bit of depth to them, which gave the story some unexpected twists and turns. I enjoyed how Jules spoke to the reader at times - it gave the story a little something different.

This book kept me guessing until the bitter end. What a messed up family. I can see why Ruby’s money was left to her adopted son and even moreso, why he wanted nothing to do with them 😵‍💫

While this novel was okay, I had a hard time keeping up with what was happening. I found that I was often lost while trying to follow along. 3 stars.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the free copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins in exchange for my honest and free review.

I loved the inclusion of letters throughout to help us understand the history behind this well off family. This book is full of secrets, lies, deceit, murder, and family drama, oozing off of every page.

One thing I struggled with, though, were the characters. While I was fascinated in learning the history and getting to the truth of the various mysteries, I wasn’t really a fan, so to speak, of any character. However, as always, Hawkins writes in such a compelling and easy way that that really didn’t matter and I finished listening to this book in two sittings.

While predictable at times, THE HEIRESS was still a fun, atmospheric, and quick mystery read!

The first third of this felt so slow that I almost considered giving up. But I am glad I persevered, because suddenly, a few twists revealed, it really hooked me and I sped through the last half in a day. I liked the multiple POVs and time jumps, which felt fairly smooth, even though there were quite a few of them, and added different perspectives - all unreliable - which I enjoy in thrillers. Recommended!

A little late to reviewing this book but as the old saying goes “better late than never!” I really do love Rachel Hawkin’s descriptions of people and places. While some I wasn’t 100% sure where things were going every moment of the book, I did have a sense that I could help follow along which I was appreciate in mystery thrillers. However, I felt like there were a lot of plot holes or directions in which the book could have gone that just made a lot more sense. I also felt like the ending was a little too nicely wrapped for our characters. The epilogue was a bit contrived. Not my favorite of her books but had potential.

Twisty in all the right places, gothic feeling without the anxiety of real horror. This book surprised me with how compelling the last half was. A reflection on mankind/nature versus nurture set in Downton Abbey-esque opulence.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was a trilling story that kept me guessing until the end.

The story surrounds the late Ruby McTavish's adopted son, Camden, who was left all of Ruby's inheritance that he didn't want and his wife Jules. Cam and Jules return to Ashby house 10 years later after the death of Cam's uncle.

The story is set in the present with multiple POVs with letters from Ruby in the past. The story has a good pace and some great twists. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc of The Heiress.

Wow this book was so wild and dysfunctional, in the best way. This is the fourth book I’ve read from this author, and really cements Rachel Hawkins as an autobuy author for me. And did you know she’s also Erin sterling? I gobble those books up too. So entertaining and a quick read.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore led a life of privilege as The Heiress yet had quite a reputation. Every one of her husbands died a mysterious death, which led to others referring to her as Mrs. Kill-more. The jury's out on whether she caused her husbands to die or not. When she passes away herself, her adopted son Camden inherits everything including the majestic and spooky Ashby House where secrets abound. This makes the rest of the McTavish clan furious yet Camden disappears to make a new life for himself in California in Rachel Hawkins' latest novel.

When Camden returns with his wife Jules in tow years later, he dreads every second and contends with the rest of the family after he was summoned. But why was he summoned and what will his wife think when she learns of the family secrets and the legacy that he bears? He knows that he and Jules would never need to struggle again, but is it worth it? And will all the secrets that built the home and the McTavish reputation crumble them into dust?

Since I heard this was coming out, I was so excited to read this book. I love this author and her novels although I haven't read any of her young adult fare. When I finally did start reading it, I was swept up in the story. In fact, at 70 percent into the book when the stories started spilling at a feverish pace, I simply could not put the book down. It was engaging before, but I tempered my excitement because I always have a stack of books and magazines to read. The rewards were great.

The book is set up with chapters narrated by Camden, others narrated by Jules, letters from beyond the grave from Ruby, and various newspaper and magazine articles about the family, Ruby's disappearance as a child, and her husbands' demises. I thought that worked very well in that you had a wide-ranging perspective, so that you could view the story as the objective observer.

I loved all the characters, too, whether or not they were villains or champions in the story. Every character felt likeable, no matter what they did, and I had a pretty clear view of their motivations. I rooted for the main characters including Ruby. Some of what was told of Ruby and her multiple marriages gave me a feel of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, but it's very, very different. The way it was told brought that comparison to mind yet that's where the similarities end.

I felt thoroughly satisfied with all the reveals of the many secrets that pervade the book. There are plenty, some of which I figured out, some of which felt shocking and scandalous. Although it's not terribly suspenseful, you're always wondering when the shoe will drop. There is plenty of misdirection to leave you unsteady on your feet and keep you captivated until the very last page. I stayed up late to finish it and felt good about sacrificing those precious extra minutes of sleep that I missed. This book is a solid winner, and I can't wait until Hawkins' next book set to come out in January 2025.