Rachel Hawkins is another one of those authors that I will always seek out to read and am never disappointed. Her newest book though, it completely exceeded my expectations. From the first chapter to the last page I was so engrossed into the story that I didn’t want it to end. The writing was so enjoyable and the story had a great number of interesting twists.

The book flips between different POVs and letters from the past that only added to this story. Camden and Jules are living a basic lifestyle in their rental house in Colorado when Camden gets a message from his cousin that he needs to return to his family home to take care of things. As the story unfolds we see everyone has deep secrets and while not one character is innocent you still find yourself routing for them.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy.

I had fun with The Heiress but I admit to being a little let down by the twists and turns, which I could see a lot coming.

If you imagine The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but if Evelyn Hugo killed her husbands instead of divorcing them, that would be this book. It also reminded me a lot of The Only One Left by Riley Sager. It follows an older woman recounting her notorious life in mysterious letters, while also following a present day storyline and how the two overlap.

The story is infinitely readable and was a pretty addicting read but after it was over, it didn't capture me and leave me thinking about anything beyond the black and white of the narrative. Jules and Camden were a couple I was rooting for the whole time, despite some murky decisions from both of them, but I strangely believed in the two of them as a couple and what they found in each other.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a captivating and immersive thriller that keeps you glued to its pages from beginning to end. If you're in the mood for a propulsive and compulsively readable story, this book is the perfect choice. With more twists and turns than a rattlesnake, it takes you on a suspenseful journey that will leave you breathless.

The novel is like an interlocking puzzle, and while you may figure out some of the pieces along the way, it does not detract from the locomotive propulsion of the plot. In fact, it only adds to the intrigue as you try to piece together the complex web of secrets and mysteries that surround the characters.

One of the standout features of the book is its use of alternating voices in the chapters. Ruby McTavish, the enigmatic mistress of Ashby House, has a history filled with four marriages and a childhood kidnapping, making her a character with layers of secrets. Cam, her adopted son, is forced to return to his ancestral home after his uncle's death, bringing with him his own set of secrets. And then there's Jules, Cam's wife, who is eager to claim the fortune associated with Ashby House. All three of these central characters have their own hidden truths, and the gradual revelation of these secrets is the core of the book.

The pacing of the secrets' unveiling is emotionally powerful, keeping the reader on pins and needles as they eagerly turn the pages to discover what lies beneath the surface. Rachel Hawkins displays a remarkable talent for ratcheting up the suspense, making the reader feel a constant sense of anticipation and unease. The tension in the narrative is palpable, and it's hard to put the book down until you've unraveled every mystery.

As you reach the final page, you'll likely wish that the suspense and tension could continue, a testament to the author's skill in keeping the reader engaged and invested in the story. "The Heiress" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys thrilling, character-driven novels filled with secrets, unexpected twists, and a relentless sense of anticipation. Rachel Hawkins has crafted a remarkable tale that will keep you guessing until the very end, and it's a book that you won't soon forget.

I've never really been the biggest fan of mystery/thriller books. I like the idea of them, and there have been plenty of mystery movies/tv shows I have enjoyed. But with books, it's never really been something I've gravitated towards. But Rachel Hawkins' "The Heiress" really surpassed my expectations, and helped me delve into the mystery/thriller genre more. I loved the story, the characters, and the whole build-up to the big conclusion.

BRILLIANT!! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OH MY GOODNESS!!! RACHEL HAWKINS HAS DONE IT AGAIN!! What incredibly addictive and darkly twisted gothic mystery thriller that kept me completely immersed and flipping the pages until the very end!! It has suspense, drama, tension, greed, dysfunctional family, romance, secrets, lies, kidnapping, murder, passion, love, multiple POV's, unique plot, fast paced, dual timelines, unexpected twists and turns, shocking ending and an isolated creepy old Ashby mansion which is set in the beautiful Appalachian mountains!! Everything I was hoping for and MORE!! I absolutely LOVED it so much and another amazing thriller to add to my favorite list for 2023!!💚💚💚💚💚

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, her adopted son, Camden, inherits her family mansion and nine-figure fortune. Surprisingly, he wants nothing to do with the house or the money and flees to start his life over in Colorado. Ten years later, he receives an email from his cousin stating his uncle has passed away and that he should come home to Ashby house. This is the last thing Camden wants to do but his wife, Jules, thinks it would be a great idea to visit! Now the fun really begins!!!

Overall, I was totally engrossed until the very end!! I highly recommend this book and it deserves ALL the stars!!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Rachel Hawkins has firmly secured her place on my must-read list. Reading her latest popcorn thriller each January has become a cherished tradition. So, when her publisher offered me a copy of her newest book, The Heiress, I eagerly seized the opportunity. These days, it seems like many thriller authors are exploring the spooky house trope, and Hawkins has now added her unique take to the mix. The Heiress is another gripping page-turner, employing shifting perspectives, a chilling atmosphere, and numerous twists that are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The story opens in the small town of Tavistock, North Carolina, in 1943. Young Ruby McTavish strays away from her parents while they enjoy a picnic amidst the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In an instant, she disappears. Ruby isn't just any ordinary child; she is the heiress to an immense fortune amassed through her father's prosperous lumber enterprise. Her father spares no expense in enlisting the services of top-tier private detectives. Three years later, Ruby is located, living with a family not too far from her original location. It's revealed that she had been kidnapped, and the individual responsible for her abduction is incarcerated, destined to remain behind bars for the rest of his life. That is until he attempts to break free.

As Ruby matures, she transforms into a prominent figure in high society. With her substantial wealth safely secured, she redirects her focus towards matters of the heart. Yet, the dark cloud of tragedy from her early years appears to cast its shadow over her adult life. In a series of unsettling events, each of Ruby's four husbands meets an unfortunate and premature demise, igniting suspicions among those in her circle about her potential involvement in these deaths. Driven by the need to confront the profound void left by their loss and perhaps even more motivated to safeguard her family's fortune from the grasp of her younger sister, Ruby takes the step of adopting a young child named Camden.

As Camden grew into adulthood, he distanced himself from the McTavish clan. Following Ruby's passing almost a decade ago, he was the primary inheritor of her substantial wealth. However, he consciously chose to disentangle himself from that dysfunctional family. Instead, he departed from the ancestral residence, Ashby House, and crafted a life of relative normalcy, finding love and marrying his wife, Jules. The once-renowned family estate has fallen into disrepair, and his family is summoning him back to oversee its restoration. This means he must finally have an open conversation with Jules and reveal the substantial inheritance he's largely ignored. As the couple embarks on their journey back to Ashby House, they must confront the very past that Camden has tried to evade for the majority of his life.

Rachel Hawkins displays her talent for crafting captivating thrillers once again in The Heiress. The eerie ambiance of the run-down mansion nestled in the wooded mountains creates a thoroughly chilling atmosphere, arguably the most intricate setting among all of Hawkins' previous thrillers. This atmospheric backdrop adds a layer of foreboding to every page. The tale unfolds through the shifting perspectives of Camden, Jules, and the posthumous letters from Ruby. This narrative technique artfully dispenses information, winding up the suspense and providing ample opportunities for surprising twists. Each character in the story is predominantly driven by self-serving motivations. This makes it challenging to anticipate their next moves but hard to wholeheartedly root for any of them. While the plot's twists may not entirely startle, the craftsmanship of weaving the story together is commendable. The Heiress stands as another solid and entertaining read from Hawkins.

I was expecting a thriller and got a slow family drama again. I personally feel these are so over done now. Family dramas with all unlikeable characters seem to be the trend and I'm over it.

The story is slow and you start out with Cam and Jules, a young couple who want nothing to do with the family or the family money or so you think. They end up at the house with all the nasty family members fighting over this house.

The letters that Ruby wrote were my favorite parts of the story. The epilogue seemed to go on forever and actually got confusing or maybe I was just over it at that point.

As a thriller, no. As a family drama, yes. So if that's what you're into, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to read an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins will be released on January 9th, 2024.

The Heiress follows the story of the McTavish family, spanning from the early days up to the present. We get to meet Ruby, a big part of the story despite her character having passed away before the start of the book, through her journal entries and the new articles written about her. And the Camden, the orphan Ruby adopted as her own (and thus left the entire estate to, much to the displeasure of the other family members) and his wife, Jules.

Camden wants nothing to do with the money, the estate, the family, but he gets pulled back in when his cousin passes away. The story really takes off from here as you unravel why Ruby was given everything and why she then left everything to Camden. As always, Rachel Hawkins doesn’t hesitate to add in some fun little twists.


A few thoughts: Why did she have to use so many big words? It seemed like she was intent on going for as many different words as possible, but hey, at least my vocabulary has grown now.

I really enjoyed the book. I enjoyed the characters. The storyline was more unique than I expected when going into the story which was nice. Rachel Hawkins is just a good author. She writes solid stories and doesn’t jump around, nothing seems out of place.

4.5 rounded down

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a Netgalley of this one.

This is hands down my favorite Hawkin's books. I really enjoyed the plot of this one. I am not saying every idea here was super fresh, but the story telling was really well done. I was turning pages extremely quick as I was fully engaged in the story. I really enjoyed the characters-- even the unlikable ones.

Highly recommend.

The Heiress was a very addicting book-just enough dark and twisty to keep me hooked. It had flashbacks, multiple narrators with secrets, and a creepy/isolated atmosphere, I loved the subtle reference to her previous book: The Villa. Rachel Hawkins wrote a story that is sure to be a hit. If you like this genre, you will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for this ARC of The Heiress by a favorite author of mine, Rachel Hawkins.

Secrets deliciously revealed in epistolary readings about Golden Handcuffs, family drama and trauma, in multiple POV of Camden and Jules made for a compulsory and atmospheric domestic thriller!

I loved this book, every chapter, every family drama/mystery trope.

I do also love a happy ending even though the scandalous nuance to that “happy” is present.

Five stars!

After the death of the infamous and wealthy Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, her adopted son, Camden, unexpectedly inherits her estate and fortune. Despite his reluctance to embrace his McTavish legacy, he and his wife, Jules, are drawn back to Ashby House, the family's mansion in the Blue Ridge mountains. However, returning home reveals the complex web of secrets surrounding Ruby's life and the McTavish family. As Jules delves into Ruby's mysterious past, she becomes determined to uncover the truth behind Ruby's enigmatic choices, the rumors of her childhood disappearance, the suspicious deaths of her husbands, and the adoption of Camden. The couple soon realizes that the inheritance they've received is more than just material wealth, as they confront buried family secrets that bind them to Ashby House and Ruby's legacy, transcending the boundaries of life and death.
"The Heiress" immediately drew me in and kept my interest throughout the story. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read; I couldn't put it down. The narrative is filled with unexpected plot twists and turns in almost every chapter, creating a suspenseful atmosphere that kept me eagerly turning the pages. "The Heiress" seamlessly intertwines the past and present, crafting a captivating narrative about greed, power, and a complex family legacy spanning generations.

In this gripping tale, we follow the perspectives of three main characters, each with a distinct and compelling voice. Ruby, the enigmatic heiress, shares her life story through a series of candid letters, revealing her wit and intelligence. Then there's Camden, Ruby's adopted son, who endured a difficult upbringing within the McTavish family. After a decade away, he returns home with his strong-willed wife, Jules, forming a resilient trio amidst a backdrop of challenging family dynamics. While the story introduces various side characters, such as Cam's cousins Ben and Libby and their grandmother Nelle, it's the resilience and complexity of Ruby, Cam, and Jules that truly shine. Despite the flaws in some of the supporting cast, the depth and growth of these three central narrators make this novel a compelling read, defying the usual challenges of multiple perspectives in a story.

I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, particularly its well-executed plot twists and the captivating letters in Ruby's chapters. While I can't claim the twists were entirely unexpected, the intricate family drama kept me from truly anticipating them. I found myself deeply absorbed in Ruby's story, to the point where I would gladly read an entire novel dedicated solely to her life. Hawkins showcased exceptional skill in crafting every element of this book, making it a standout read for me. My only critique of "The Heiress" is that it wasn't long enough; I got to the end and just wanted more. It was so captivating that I could easily see it as a movie.

I've read almost all of Rachel Hawkins' books, including The Ex Hex series she wrote under Erin Sterling, and every time, she never fails to captivate me. It doesn't matter where the story is set, who the characters are, or even what the plot is about—Hawkins just knows how to create a story that hooks you in completely.

"The Heiress" is expected to publish January 9, 2024. Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Y'all, this one was a heckuva ride, and I absolutely loved it. Cameron goes back home after his adopted mother dies. She's a very wealthy heiress who was known for her wealth, as well as the deaths of several husbands, and for being a high-profile kidnapping victim as a child. Yes, that's a lot of things. As Cameron returns home, his mom's blood relatives are frustrated that everything has been left to him. But here's the thing, THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO THE STORY. Through Ruby's letters, Cameron and his wife Jules start to learn his mom's real story. As you can imagine, very little is what is seems, and these people have all the secrets. This was such a captivating read, and I loved the way bits of Ruby's real story were revealed along the way, as well as the truth about other characters! Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this January 2024 release!

3.75 Stars

This really reads like a soap opera or like a few episodes of Dynasty- not in a bad way though lol it totally worked.



This is definitely a fast paced and intriguing read. It's full of family drama, family fortune, a sprawling old gothic like estate, lies, murder, betrayal, and secrets. I was quickly pulled into this and honestly fell asleep around 3am with my kindle in my hands because I wanted to keep going.

This is listing as a thriller, and I would say- it's most definitely not one. It's very low on the suspense and twists... I'm usually pretty good at guessing twists but these were glaring right at you with a neon sign. It didn't take away from the book for me though, there were still a few things that I needed to read in order for everything to really fit into place. So again, not a heart pounding thrill ride filled with twists and turns but more a mystery of a long family legacy - not just any family but a family so rich and powerful capable of almost anything. Imagine the things you start finding out once you start digging and uncovering things.


I enjoyed almost all of the characters, especially Ruby. Jules got on my nerves from time to time and I didn't like the vibe she was giving off but aside from that the characters are all well rounded and fairly fleshed out.

The ending is a little far fetched but so is the rest of the story, this is for pure enjoyment and entertainment.. not to pick apart and talk about the unlikeliness of it happening- that's what a soap opera is right? All over the top drama but entertaining nonetheless. 😊



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Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Rachel Hawkins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 💗

Murder, Mystery, Family Fortune, Hatred, Jealousy... I'm so intrigued.

My rating: 3/5 STARS

I didn't fully get into this book until about 20%. It took me a while to fully understand who the characters were and their role in the storyline. This book jumps from present to past and has multiple POVs. The story was dark, mysterious, and the characters were really hard to like! The twists were pretty predictable as well.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Oh man, this was such a twisty, keep you guessing until the end mystery and I couldn’t put it down. Everything just got laid out so well, and the slow release of Ruby’s past with the letters she was writing that were interspersed between Camden and Jules Pov in the present was really great and just kept you guessing who she was writing to and wow what she got away with. The ending was just so good and man definitely not what I expected. Poor Cam with his backstabbing family and what he ran away from after Ruby died since he didn’t want to have to deal with all that money and the strings of his extended family that it came with but eventually you always have to go home again and deal with what you ran away from. Man this was just crazy with the secrets that kept being revealed which kept me guessing but I really enjoyed the ride this book took you on and everything was resolved mostly by the end with a “happy ending”.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

4.25 stars.

I was so invested in every one of these POV's. A couple of times my eyebrows raised and my jaw dropped and I said "OH!" out loud. Jules and Cam had slightly similar voices that if I was reading at work and had to stop in the middle of a chapter it would take me a moment or two to remember whos POV I was in. I LOVED Ruby's letters! The ending wasn't shocking but it was a good overall wrap up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this copy.

This is my kind of thriller! I'm a fan of Rachel Hawkins' books and have read most of her novels. I love the atmospheric, slightly twisty, unreliable narrator vibes - while not being scary or something that will give me nightmares ... haha! I found this one to be a relatively fast paced, family-centered dramatic story with just enough intrigue to be a mild thriller as well. The twists were interesting and everything tied together nicely. This storyline really worked as a family-centered novel and I liked the interspersed letters and other news clips and supporting multi-media to drive the story forward.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review!

I really enjoyed this fun mystery with twists and turns - some of which I saw coming, others I didn't! This is the third book by Rachel Hawkins that I've read and enjoyed. She really excels at creating female anti-heroes for her main characters and I love a complicated woman in a weird circumstance. I won't say too much about the plot so I don't spoil it but I definitely recommend it!

As usual, this authory brought the mystery and the twists throughout the entire story. I read it withina day and a half. It was so interesting and kept you on the edge of your seat. Almost all the characters had huge twists nd mystersy around them and the story and the secrets just kept going. I thought Libby's story was a little lacking if I had to give any negative feedback. Besides trying to seduce her stepbrother...she didn't have much else besides spending money frivously. All in all great story and plot twists.