I received an ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. I read a lot of thrillers and this one was a new premise for sure! It kept me engrossed throughout, wanting to find out what would happen next. Ms. Hawkins writes very intelligently - every chapter matters - every interaction matters. I especially enjoyed the chapters written by Ruby, which were equal parts heartbreaking and hilarious. Ms. Hawkins does a great job making the reader hate Camden's relatives, most of whom seem to have zero redeeming qualities. I did not predict the twists which is always satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Hawkins for allowing me to review this book with an ARC!

This is probably my favorite Rachel Hawkins novel! This story started off with a kidnapping of a Ruby McTavish, an heiress to the McTavish fortune in North Carolina. Ruby is found months later and returned to her family. As she gets older she wants to adopt a son, Camden, who is a major character in the story in the present time.

Camden and Jules, his wife, need to go to Asheville to sort out affairs with the McTavish estate. When arriving, things are not as they seem and it is confirmed what Camden has always felt, that he doesn't feel like he is welcomed by the family. During the present time story, we are also reading letters that Ruby McTavish is writing to an unknown person. The letters are telling and divulge quite a bit of information about Ruby McTavish. However, is this the Ruby McTavish that was kidnapped and returned or could the story have been fabricated?There are quite a bit of storylines that all run together in the end. However, during the reading of the book I was unsure how the story is going to end. I enjoy the fact that I couldn't guess what was going to happen. I didn't know who Ruby was writing letters to. I didn't know if that was the real Ruby. I didn't know if there was any sort of malicious intent with Jules, Camden's wife. What happened at the Ashby house and within the family that was so bad?

I think that the author summed up the story well and closed out all the different storylines, with a little surprise at the end. I wanted to keep reading and it held my attention the entire time! I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others!

4 stars

What a page turner!!!
Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a book and completely captivate and entrap the reader's attention in the best possible way!!

The story is very entangled and the more you read the more twists and turns are revealed and some of them are pretty surprising.

The book is written from three points of view: Camden, Jules and the letters Ruby was sending to someone. I must admit, Ruby's letters were my favourite stories for most of the book.
Camden and Jules are married. Camden is Ruby's son and/or her little project. He is adopted and yet he is the one to inherit all the fortune. So to say there is a lot of bad blood between him and his relatives is to put it mildly.

The ending was a bit controversial. I'd say the one thing that I wanted to be different about the book is the escalating negative vibe you get as you read and approach the ending. Pretty much everyone lies, hides secrets, has a big skeleton in the closet. As a reader I was left with no people to root for and that was a bit disappointing. However I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller and mystery!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read this awesome book!!

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

What did I just read.....this is definitely my new favourite by Rachel Hawkins. In this fast paced adventure, we learn about Ruby and her secrets, as well as her toxic family. What is the truth? I loved finding out.

Highly recommend!

This kept me hooked! I needed to keep reading to see what was next in this web of a mystery!

I definitely loved the Matriarch. She was surrounded by mystery and intrigue. Let’s be honest, the family dynamic here is what sold the story.

Think knives out meets The 7 1/2 deaths of Evelyn Hugo.

Rachel Hawkins did not disappoint.

3.75⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and SMP for an early copy to review.

The Heiress follows Ruby McTavish and her family and all the secrets and scandals that come with it. And wow are there a lot of scandals.

Camden, Rubys adoptive son, and his wife Jules finally return to Ashby house after the death of another family member.
Camden is reluctant to return due to his past with the house but also his stressful relationship with his past mom Ruby. Jules is excited to see the giant manor and experience the life Camden grew up with.
Both are narrators hiding secrets of their past, but will they be honest to eachother after 10 years of marriage? Guess we’ll see 😉

There are chapters with letters from Ruby to an unknown recipient divulging all the nasty secrets from her past.

The story unravels slowly at first but then about halfway everything gets so quick and each chapter has a reveal. By the end of the book everything clicks together so perfectly you question how you didn’t figure it out sooner.

I love Rachel Hawkins mysteries and this one definitely hit my expectations.

"Time Brings All Things To Pass. And as I drive away from the new life that I’d build for myself, heading back towards my past, I wonder if those words were supposed to be an encouragement or a warning. Or a threat."

Similar to the family disfunction of The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, with the gothic undertones of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, Rachel Hawkin’s new novel is as intriguing as it is atmospheric. This new to me author sets a tale of deception and diversion against the spooky backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains: a novel I could not put down!

Heiress, philanthropist and one time kidnap victim Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore died 10 years ago in her legendary mansion, Ashby House, and her adopted son, the sole heir to the McTavish fortune, has been summoned back to North Carolina. Cam reluctantly returns with no intention of claiming his inheritance, but he is coming “home” with his new wife Jules, who may have other ideas. The surrounding community of Tavistock and its residents are entwined in the vortex of money, power and privilege, embraced by some and shunned by others. Told in the points of view of Cam, Jules and letters from Ruby herself, the present day plot seamlessly intersects with the backstory - one including back stabbing, kidnapping, and murder.

Highly recommended by Dennis @scaredstraightreads, this January 2024 release will be perfect for wintry reading by the fire and I will definitely be exploring Ms. Hawkin’s backlist of novels next year!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for the early copy in exchange for my honest review, which will be posted on @bookshelfbybeckwith closer to publication.

Rachel Hawkins is a dependable author of twisty, suspensy, bad people doing bad things, and unreliable narrators novels. I enjoyed The Heiress, out in January of 2024. It's the story of Jules and Camden, a couple who has been together over ten years. They live a simple life. He found out his uncle died, and his cousin summons him back to their wealthy family's homestead. Which is actually Camden's homestead as his adopted mother, Ruby, left it to him in her will and she died 10 years ago. Ruby had lived a LIFE. Not only was she married four times, all of those hubbies died under mysterious circumstances. Oh, also, when Ruby was a baby she went missing and was found a year later. A miracle! Or was it?

Anyways, Rachel Hawkins delivered with this book, as per usual. I would have liked some of the side characters fleshed out a little, but all in all a good dysfunctional family and the dangers of inherited wealth read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC for my honest review.

I loved loved the wife upstairs and the villa was great too. This one was so different, but also so great. Absolutely can’t pick which one is my fave if the ones I have read. All are fabulous! Such a talented author. Keep writing!!

I'm still digesting this one. It was very intriguing, but somewhat predictable and full of unlikable and just generally terrible characters.

Camden is the adopted son of Ruby McTavish and the heir to her fortune. We learn what happened to Ruby's four husbands and why Cam left his childhood home and won't touch the fortune when Cam and his wife Jules return to the estate.

Is money the root of all evil? All this McTavish drama makes me think, yes, and I was more than excited to read all about it!

Ruby McTavish is the daughter of the wealthiest family in Tavistock, NC and is kidnapped at a young age only to be found months later and returned to her home in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Ashby House. A life that starts with so much intrigue must end with it too, right? Absolutely, yes!

This story is told through varying perspectives. First, we get to know Ruby after her death through the letters she penned. Then we hear from Camden, Ruby’s adopted son who is forced to confront a past he thought he had escaped. Instead, he inherits Ruby’s fortune, a fortune he wants nothing to do with. Finally, we have Jules, Camden’s wife, who adds an additional layer of complexity. Wealth and deception collide when Camden, Jules, and the rest of the McTavishes arrive back at Ashby House.

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery that continued to build through unexpected twists and a jaw dropping ending! Hold onto your seat, friends! It’s time for you to get to know, ‘The Heiress’!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of, 'The Heiress'. It was my pleasure to read and provide an honest review.

This was delicious! I love Hawkins’ writing and how fast-paced her stories are. I’m not always overly enthralled with the plots of her books, but there’s just something about her way with words that has me coming back for more. Her stunning covers don’t hurt, either!

I’m happy to report that The Heiress is officially right up there with The Villa as my favorite by the author. I loved the secluded North Carolina mountain setting and the creepy old mansion. It felt like a gothic version of the Biltmore with way more juicy drama added in.

The story was addictive and naughty and a lot of fun. I’ll admit that the beginning was a bit slow but I was totally invested in the story and all the secrets so I didn’t mind.

Overall, this was a great twisted family drama that I’ll highly recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own!

This is the first book by Rachel Hawkins that I have read, but the premise piqued my interest, so I decided to try this book; I'm glad I did. It grabbed me from the start and didn't let go.

Ruby McTavish, the heir to the vast McTavish fortune, was abducted when she was a child, survived four sketchy marriages, and childless, adopted Camden when he was a child. Ten years after Ruby's death, Cam married and a teacher in Colorado, is summoned back to North Carolina to face his remaining relatives, who feel he has no right to his inheritance. While there, questions about Ruby's past, as well as the untimely deaths of her four husbands, surface. What happened when she was abducted, and were the circumstances of her husband's deaths honestly as reported?

Told from the point of view of Cam and his wife, Jules, and unsent letters written by Ruby, the answers to the above questions are teasingly revealed. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller with twists that are excellently plotted. I rooted for Cam to stay true to himself despite the Siren song of wealth and power. 4.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. The publication date is January 9, 2024.

This was. a great book with many twists and turns that I never saw coming! I am a big Rachel Hawkins fan, so being able to read this ARC from Netgalley was a privilege!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was a woman with many secrets. From her early kidnapping and return to the mysterious deaths of all four of her husbands, she left her mark before her death ten years ago. Her adopted son Camden has managed to avoid confronting the fallout of her chaotic life, but upon the death of his uncle, he now has no choice but to return home and face the family who never welcomed him.

With his wife Jules in tow, he must now contend with his aunt and cousins who are very motivated to prevent him from receiving any of the inheritance left solely to him. As the family fights to prove he does not belong, secrets about all their messy lives start to unravel and drama ensues.

I enjoy a book told from multiple viewpoints, especially when the narrators are unreliable, and this book delivers on that front. Told from the perspectives of Camden and Jules, it is clear they are both hiding something. Add in letters from Ruby confessing her many sins and secrets, and the intrigue piles up. Of course, the downside with unreliable narrators is the characters usually are not the most likable people, and that rings true for most in this book. While the plot is interesting and over the top, it is hard to be invested in any of the individuals when no one seems to have any good motives.

This book is a good read for those wanting a mystery comprised of drama and untrustworthy characters, as well as fans of the author’s other works. The story does tend to veer off into soap opera territory, but it works well for the style of the book and offers a nice escape from reality. I would recommend it to any fans of familial drama.

Last night I dreamed of Manderly . . . oops, I mean Ashby House.

The Heiress is an intriguing domestic thriller. It is told in alternating chapters by Camden, the unwilling heir to the McTavish family fortune; by Jules, Camden's loving wife of ten years; and through letters that Ruby, Camden's adoptive mother, had written to someone before she died in 2013. Ruby was infamous for being kidnapped as a child and then found a year later and also for being widowed four times under suspicious circumstances.

While Ruby's father left all the money to her, he gave his other daughter, Nelle, a life estate in Ashby House, the family's imposing home in North Carolina. After Ruby's death when Camden was only 19, he left Ashby House and moved to California. Nelle, her son, and two grandchildren remained there. Nell's family had always despised Ruby, especially when she adopted Camden to keep them from inheriting anything further.

Camden and Jules met in California and quickly fell in love. They lived a simple life in a rented house in Colorado. That was until it became obvious that Camden needed to return to North Carolina to handle some maintenance issues. Once Camden reenters the gates, he is sucked back into the menacing world of Ashby House.

This is a story of wealth, greed, murder, hidden truths, and many lies. I really enjoyed it.

WOW!! You NEED to add this to your reading list NOW!! It is SO GOOD!!

Still puzzling after all these years are two things.

Was Ruby McTavish really kidnapped and found a year later and why did she adopt Cam and make him the sole heir to the family's fortune.

His siblings definitely were not happy about his inheriting everything.

The funny thing, though, is that he doesn't want the inheritance, but his wife wants to know more and continues to wonder why they live such a simple life while Cam has millions to his name.

When Cam's uncle passes, his wife Jules asks if they could visit the mansion and meet his family.

Cam complies, and off they go.

What a surprise - the mansion is something Jules definitely could get used to, but she can see why Cam never wanted any parts of his family or the inheritance.

Secrets, secrets, secrets - lies, lies, lies - they all have them and they all tell them in this juicy, difficult-to-put-down read that will have your jaw dropping when you find out everything.

And as the old saying goes: “money is the root of all evil.” 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is my new favorite Rachel Hawkins book! I loved the suspense it built throughout the book and all the twists at the end! Beautifully written throughout and told from multiple perspectives. I will say I think it would be difficult to follow on an audiobook. This is a perfect cozy book read!

Thank you for the ARC St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley & Rachel Hawkins!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins pulls you in from the first page. After the death of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, North Carolina's most infamous and wealthy woman, she passes on her nine figure fortune and sprawling family estate in the Appalachians of North Carolina to her adopted son, Camden. Camden, however, wants nothing to do with the money or the toxic family.

He moves across the country and meets his wife, Jules. They move to Colorado. He is a teacher. He doesn't spend a dime of the money. After ten years of absence, Cam gets an email that there are things that must be dealt with in person after a family death. Jules is supportive of Cam--but she's curious. Wouldn't you be?

What I loved!
-It is told from three points of view. Jules, Cam and through his adoptive mother Ruby's confessional correspondence.
-Unreliable narrators. Gosh, there is nothing better in a thriller.
-Short chapters with switching POV made the story pace and build suspense quickly.
-Rich people behaving very badly. Cam's estranged family you will love to hate.
-The rich description of the Blue Ridge Mountains and wilderness surrounding the estate was another character. II loved this!

All in all, this is a wonderful, quickly paced thriller set in the American South. Hawkins does a wonderful job tying up multiple plot lines beautifully in 300 pages. Honestly, I am in awe of this alone! Definitely add this one to your TBR. It releases Jan 9, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

For lovers of the unhinged female protagonist genre, this one is for you. (Or any Rachel Hawkins novel for that matter.)

This book felt like if TJR’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo had a baby with Riley Sager’s The Only One Left. I know that sounds absurd but, trust. I ate it up like an order of hot wings.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Basically, this book was like if Evelyn Hugo never got divorced and was recounting how her husbands all ~mysteriously~ died instead. The story is set in an old, gothic, southern mansion which she was the heiress to, as her grandson confronts the literal and figurative mess that is her estate.

I’m going to blame breastfeeding brain, but the twist really did take me a minute to understand. I had to map it out. 😂😂😭Either way, I absolutely recommend this to my thriller-loving book besties if you are looking for a fun, fast cozy-mystery.

Thank you Net Galley for the E-Book— I will definitely be buying a physical copy as a trophy for my shelf when it comes out in January!