At first unsure about diving into this book, I found myself pleasantly surprised by its gradual grip on my attention. While the beginning may have been a tad sluggish, once the narrative found its footing, I was hooked—struggling to tear myself away from its pages. The author weaves a tale that is both well-crafted and refreshingly original, sprinkled with twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. However, amidst the praise, there lingered a sense of restraint, as if the story held back its full potential, leaving certain aspects open to interpretation rather than painting a vivid picture. Despite this, the overall experience was enjoyable, though I couldn’t help but yearn for a deeper immersion into the intricacies of the plot. Nevertheless, it remains a worthwhile journey for those seeking a captivating read with unexpected turns.

I loved this one! Rachel Hawkins seriously cannot write a bad book. I was hooked from the very beginning and there was truly never a dull moment while reading this one. I highly recommend it!

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.


There were a couple twists and turns to this story that kept me guessing until the last chapter. I was pretty sure I had things figured out and then I was thrown for a loop. This was a very engaging story and I read 75% of it in one day. I could not put it down and had to see what happened next. The conclusion was good and I will try another from this author.

Ok, Rachel Hawkins has again done what she does best…sucks you into a sticky web of murder and secrets, making it impossible to escape until you've read the last page.
The wealthy widow (three times widowed) Ruby McTavish has died, leaving her estate to her son Cam, who wants nothing to do with his mother, her fortune, or his childhood. You see, Cam has made a humble life for himself as a teacher and husband to Jules. He'd much rather have his uncle and cousins deal with the family fortune.
Unfortunately, Cam's uncle dies, and Jules (who has never met his family and would like to learn more about her husband) encourages Cam to return to the family fold to help with issues surrounding the estate.
Upon his return, the reader learns of Ruby's dark past, the circumstances surrounding Cam's troubled childhood, and the building of a fortune built on blood.
I really enjoyed this book for several reasons:
It was a suitable palate cleanser after the heavy literary fiction I had been reading.
It was a quick read with a fast-paced plot and interesting characters.
It had two storylines that worked successfully together. When I got tired of one, I was sent back to Ruby's time.
This is a great novel with enough twists to keep you reading until the very end. It's a perfect title for your summer TBR.

The Heiress is another great read from Rachel Hawkins. I flew through this just like The Villa. This book was so clever, with plenty of twists and turns.

This was an intriguing story! I really enjoyed the mystery throughout the story. This kept me guessing throughout and I really didn’t know what to expect until I finished the book.
I think this is her best book yet.

Rachel Hawkins's newest contemporary mystery is full of different narrators and time periods, much like The Villa. It was an enjoyable read, full of twists, that went by quickly. Fans of her other contemporary thrillers will enjoy this.

the cover alone should draw you to this book! Wildly creative and fun!!Thank you net galley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a review

This was an intense read! The story was told by multiple narrators, making it difficult to know who, if anyone, was being truthful. There were a lot of separate events that happened in the story, but the reader isn’t sure how things are connected until the end. There were lots of twists along the way - some expected, some not.

I enjoyed the style of writing. It was a bit of a slower burn, but with enough happening to keep me constantly guessing.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #TheHeiress by #RachelHawkins in exchange for honest feedback. -4 stars

I’ve read many of Rachel Hawkins books, and this one is one of my favorites now! The McTavishes are involved in so many secrets and it just shows how far money and family will take you.

A few too many twists : I felt a few times like I needed a map to keep all the pieces together.

Well written, great depth.

Wow, this book blew me away from cover to cover. The twists and machinations that this author did to wind this story to a close is absolutely masterful. I am in awe. Absolutely Rachel Hawkin's best work to date. I will be thinking about these characters, and this book, for a long time. I might even re-read it soon. There's so much depth, life, and plotting mastery in every single bit of the timeline. The story itself spools out like a beautiful gold masterpiece, I'm only sorry I waited so long to pick it up and start reading it. I seriously couldn't say enough good things.

"THERE’S NOTHING AS GOOD AS THE RICH GONE BAD.
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge Mountains."

One thing that I enjoy almost as much as a mystery/thriller is rich people drama..... and this book had both!
This story is told with multiple POV's that reach into the past through the letters that Ruby left behind for her adoptive son, Camden. When arriving at Ashby House Camden and his wife, Jules, are forced to interact with family that want to get their hands on Ruby's inheritance, and the rich people drama begins. With some twists and turns - some I guessed, others I didn't see coming - and a great cast of morally grey characters, I couldn't get enough.
If you're looking for an engaging, quick read that's sure to deliver a fun reading experience - this ones for you!

⭐⭐⭐⭐💫 (4.5)

Thank you to @netgalley @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy of this book.

After several books from the author I still consider Reckless Girls my favorite. This was more of a family drama kind of literary fiction than a thriller. I still enjoyed this one. I loved the dynamics between the family.

Honestly I had no idea how this story was going to play out. I will say, I feel like there was no huge gotcha moment but the story kept me sucked in from the very beginning. It was so easy to binge and when I wasn’t reading I was thinking about reading it lol.

Rachel Hawkins does it again with bringing a thriller filled with family relationships, money, secret, murder, and lies. The McTavish family is everything you would want in a gothic suspense novel from the first few chapters revealing the loss and then recovery of the toddler Ruby McTavish. But with Hawkins the infamous heiress is not all that she seems.

There are secrets about herself and her husband and her past that unravel as Ruby reveals her story and truth as the Heiress unfolds. However, in typical Hawkins fashion the story is not centered on Ruby alone. The Heiress is also about her adopted son, Camden and his wife Jules.

Even with Camden and Jules there are secrets., there are lies, and there is murder. After Ruby's passing Camden is made the heir to the fortune. Of course the blood rightful McTavish are not willing to just give up Ashby House. In every way Camden is determined to never return to Ashby House. However, the future has other plans.

Plans that leave Camden and Jules returning to North Carolina and Ashby House. As soon as they return more secrets are revealed and more of Ruby's story is told.

The Heiress is split between Ruby's letters to an unknown individual and the present day experiences of Camden and Jules. As the reader becomes more drawn into this addictive story they discover that not everyone is who they say they are and their intentions may not be the purest.

The true question remains of what is really family when it all comes down to it? Should the past continue to haunt or should secrets remained buried? Again Hawkins does not fail to disappoint her readers. I highly recommend the Heiress if you were fond of any of her prior novels or are a new reader. Until next time, Happy Reading!

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins delves into the intriguing world of a wealthy and notorious woman, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, whose life and legacy cast a long shadow over her family and the small town of Tavistock. Despite her wealth and influence, Ruby's past is marred by a famous kidnapping and a string of four marriages ending in mysterious deaths.

Following Ruby's death, her adopted son Camden, along with his wife Jules, tries to distance themselves from the family and its complicated history. However, when his uncle's passing draws them back to the family estate of Ashby House, they find themselves confronted with Ruby's legacy and the secrets it holds.

As Jules and Camden navigate the complexities of their family's history, they are drawn into a web of rumors, mysteries, and unanswered questions surrounding Ruby's life. From the circumstances of her disappearance as a child to the suspicious deaths of her husbands, the truth behind Ruby's enigmatic persona gradually comes to light.

"The Heiress" explores themes of family, inheritance, and the enduring impact of the past on the present. With its richly drawn characters, atmospheric setting, and gripping plot, the novel offers a compelling exploration of wealth, power, and the secrets that lie hidden beneath the surface of privilege.

Meh, not my favorite. I did like the ending quite a bit and how it all came together, but the storyline itself was kind of slow and boring.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenwood was a larger than life figure in a small town of North Carolina. She was widowed four times (all under mysterious circumstances), was kidnapped as a toddler and left her vast inheritance and grand home to her adopted son Camden. However, Cam didn't want anything to do with the estate or money or Ruby's relatives.

Cam and his wife Jules come back to the house to deal with some issues and Jules hopes to get Cam to stay.

I enjoyed the book, especially when it went back in Ruby's POV. Fun mystery with lots of twists.

It is a lovely, fast-paced, modern gothic that is filled with Southern charm and deeply flawed characters. Fans of Rachel Hawkins will be not disappointed.

Many months ago when I requested an ARC I had a sinking suspicion based on nothing but the title that this would be a Monte book™ and I am happy to report that even though I didn't get to it until well after its release, it was indeed a Monte book™.

Told from three distinct POVs I wouldn't say this is like most thrillers or mysteries that I've read. Sure, there are characters that are hiding things from each other while dropping little hints to the reader, but the book isn't trying to beat you over the head with reveals. The experience is more akin to hearing your friend tell you their own convoluted family history over lunch; or them recapping the plot of a particularly messy episode of TV in order to convince you to watch it. The character work is mostly done in broad strokes, the ideas of who these people are and the role they play in the story being told. Again, more like a family history than a high octane plot propelled novel. Still, it works. The book reads like it knows that it's short, that it's been meticulously trimmed of any fat to keep only what is strictly necessary. It's possible that this approach won't be for every reader, but it was for me and I appreciated not only the story itself but how it was told.