My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for an advance copy of thriller about family, obligation, wealth, and secrets that even death can't stop.

Wealthy families and their secrets have always been a rich material for writers. The antics of the very rich, the venal ways they live their lives, the foolishness that one thinks they should be above, can make for humorous stories a la Wodehouse, or satire, a la French film directors. And can make for some circumstances and events, events that even death can't protect people from. In The Heiress, best selling author Rachel Hawkins has created one of her most interesting and memorable characters a very wealthy and very widowed woman whose hand on her family and relations continues well past her death, along with her hold on many secrets that could destroy everything she left behind.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore is the grand doyenne of a powerful family in South Carolina mistress of a vast estate, Ashby House, in South Carolina, and power broker for the nearby town Tavistock. Ruby treats her family as she treats everything, under her dominion, but her death has left much in flux. Ruby's adopted son Camden has left the area, his inheritance, and his family behind, fleeing to Colorado to become a teacher, and marrying a woman who also has a past that she would rather forget Jules. Camden's uncle dying ten years after Rudy forces Camden back to the home and the orbit of his family, not a place where he wants to be, and one that is getting uglier an uglier. Stories about Ruby and how she was once kidnapped are starting to be told again. And the fact that all four of her husbands died well before her are being discussion. Camden is learning that one can go home again, but something is looking back in anger, and things might be ugly. Or murderous.

A big sprawling gothic tale that spans many years and is told in a epistolary style, and from the point of view of three different narrators. And yes they can't be trusted. A different kind of style for Hawkins, one which works well, and really helps keep the story moving and interesting. Ruby is a character, and one that really stands out as she should as she is the locus of this story. There is some humor, some horror, and a lot of tension which keeps the story tight and a page-flipper. There is a lot of atmosphere, a few red herrings, but this is not the usual oh I see where the story is going, oh cleaver writer you took this in another direction. This is a well plotted out story about wealth, power, and what some people do with it, sometimes for more wealth, sometimes out of malice and sometimes just because.

A great book to read while inside while the weather is miserable. Hawkins is really trying new things here, which is refreshing as many authors are willing to coast on a formula that works. Quite an enjoyable story and I am interested in seeing where Hawkins will go next.

"The Heiress" was a twisty, sinister, thriller that kept me guessing until the final page. It had the glamour of "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" stirred with the gothic intrigue of "Jane Eyre," and mixed with the game of "Clue." This is one of those books you read long into the night, unable to put it down until you know how it ends.

Ruby McTavish made headlines when she was kidnapped as a child. She lived a mysterious life, leaving a trail of husbands behind. A decade after Ruby's death, her son, Cameron, returns home with his wife to face the family he left behind. As Cameron navigates the McTavish's sinister legacy, he learns some secrets never stay buried.

Hawkins is a master at her craft. Her narrative style flows seamlessly and she has an uncanny sense of how to show without giving too much away. The book has a quick pace that builds to a satisfying crescendo. The threads between the past and present narratives alternated seamlessly. Characters were thoughtfully fleshed out with well-written motives. The multi-POV format worked well with the plotline, allowing me to see the characters' motivations and hidden tells. Each POV had a unique voice, making it easy to track whose narrative turn it was. Jules' dynamic with Camden's family was intriguing, as an outsider looking in with secrets of her own. This novel had twists abound, solving one mystery only to unravel another. Themes of class, inheritance, and family are explored with fine distinction.

Jules' POV was one of my favorites in the book. Her mysterious intentions and engaging dynamic with the major players made me eager to see events from her perspective.

With gothic undertones and layers of mystery to unravel, "The Heiress" is the perfect psychological thriller for a dark winter's eve. The book releases on January 9, 2024.

I don’t typically like the heiress/family tree type of stories but I was really sucked into this one. I think the story was unique and had a lot of moving parts, but never felt confusing. Overall, I love Rachel Hawkins and this was a great book.

Wow, I loved this book!

"The Heiress," by Rachel Hawkins caught my attention from the very first page. Told from 3 different POVs, I loved each of the narrators despite their faults, and trust me they have a lot of faults. My favorite character was definitely the heiress, Ruby. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say I can't believe I liked this woman so much after everything she did. Hawkins did a great job of making her root-able, even though you arguably should hate her,

The pacing of this book was perfect, and I was very satisfied with the ending. Though it is not out until January 9th, I would put this one on you pre-order list now! Thank you the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ruby McTavish wandered into the woods as a baby, and was never seen again. Until almost a year later when they found her alive in the home of someone who had worked on her parents estate.

After her death her adopted son, Camden inherits all of her wealth much to the dismay of Ruby's younger sister ( who once spread a rumour that Ruby was dead and the family they took her from was her real family). Camden has never wanted anything to do with his adoptive mothers money but some how finds himself forced to return home and at the centre of a scandal as his family tries to disinherit him.


This was such a face paced thriller that had me on the edge of my (airplane) seat the entire time. I wasn’t able to put it down in the few hours it took me to finish it. This book is the epitome of dysfunctional family and every twist and turn had me guessing how this was going to end. I ate this up. Between this one and The Villa, Hawkins is an auto buy for me!!

Thank you to St. Martins Press for this arc.

I was absolutely giddy when I got the email for this ARC! I absolutely love Rachel Hawkins and all of her books. I read this in maybe 2 sittings. Ruby's storyline with her and her sister growing up, and the stories about each of her husbands was my favorite besides the newspaper clippings about the kidnapping when she was a child! Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Rachel Hawkins for this ARC.

I love rachel hawkins books she never disappoints. I LOVED THIS BOOK BEST OF ALL HER BOOKS. I love the characters and the plot it’s terrific.

I normally like Rachel Hawkins but this one fell flat for me. I wasn't sure about the character motivations and it felt confusing to have the overlapping perspectives. The letters from Ruby were my favorite part, the whole story could've been written from her letters.

Such a fun read! Gone Girl meets Knives Out meets Evelyn Hugo. 🔥 4.5 stars rounded up to 5. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Another addictive read from Rachel Hawkins. I really enjoyed the gothic vibes and the mountain setting helped add to the eerie atmosphere. So entrancing and thrilling!

Rachel Hawkins has become an auto buy for me. The Heiress continues to prove that. A twisty novel that is twisted…it’s about family money and the terrible things people do or become to keep or steal it. Hawkins is so good in this niche genre of gothic/emo thrillers. This is how you write a good book about terrible people. Many have tried but few have succeeded as well as this book and this author. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. If this is your genre HIGHLY Recommend!

I will admit that I've never read anything by Rachel Hawkins. Yes I have seen the gorgeous covers of her other novels yet never picked one up to read her style of writing and how she crafts a story. I was fortunate enough to read an ARC of The Heiress due out in January 2024. I found the novel and the characters to be fascinating,complex and interesting. I loved reading about the mystery surrounding Ruby McTavish and did not see the twist coming at the end of the novel. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to dip their toes into Rachel Hawkins writing and will be finding and reading her other novels soon.

Great twists and turns in this story! Ruby goes missing as a toddler on her parents vast property in North Carolina and is found alive miraculously or was it? Ruby continues to grow up in Ashby manor as the favorite child of her father and becomes the heiress of the McTavish family fortune. She marries Duke Callahan before leaving college whom mysteriously dies on their honeymoon, Ruby continues to find love and marry 4 times and all her husbands find their untimely demise under unusual circumstances. The McTavish family tries to find any way to inherit more of the family fortune and Ruby rubs it in their face by adopting an orphan, Cam, and leaves him as the sole heir after her death.
Cam in the current timeline has nothing to do with the McTavish family and lives in Colorado with his wife Jules. They live a modest life as a teacher and community theater actress. All is well until Cam is called home to settle this estate once and for all with the remaining McTavish family his cousins Ben and Libby and aunt Nelle.
This family has many secrets and they all come to light in the fight to settle this estate. Hawkins will keep you guessing with each relationship and who is who they really say they are and what really happens. I could not put this book down between the descriptions of the landscapes and house to who said what and who are they.

Rachel Hawkins novels have become can't miss books of the year! The Heiress is no exception. In this story we alternate POV between Ruby McTavish's letters, her adopted son, Cam, and finally his wife, Jules. Ruby has been dead for about ten years when this story begins. And in that time Cam has not returned to their family estate in North Carolina. Finally an email from his estranged cousin convinces him to return. He and Jules arrive to find his two cousins and aunt still living in the family estate. It's clear they want to own the house and the family money. Unfortunately, Ruby left all of it to Cam.

The level of unhinged behavior in this book! Ruby was missing as a three year old, found miles away in Alabama, making everyone question if it's really her or someone else. As an adult Ruby marries four times and each husband dies an untimely death. Cam and Jules are both also holding their own secrets from each other and the rest of the family.

This book was very hard to put down! So many things happen and you just want to get to the bottom of all the drama. If you enjoy a good unhinged family with lots of money check this out in January when it hits shelves. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

At first this one took some time for me to get into and I am not sure why. I think I wanted to have more suspense in it and was almost expecting that. Overall, great writing and the storyline turned out well!

Believe it or not, this was my first Rachel Hawkins read! I cannot believe it took me this long. This story had scandal and intrigue that was so juicy. I refused to put it down. This book is a must-read for avid thriller readers.

I can't wait to binge-read everything Hawkins. has written. Her. writing style and tone of voice is *chefs kiss*

This was a great story to read. For me, the beginning was a bit slow/confusing, but as I continued on, it started to make sense and pull me in. It is a tangle of lies, deceit, jealousy, secrets, death(s) and everything that comes with being wealthy or in a wealthy family. It really drew me in especially with the letters. I did find there are quite a few "F" bombs. I do not really see the need for these in any book (just my opinion). I thoroughly enjoyed The Heiress and could not put it down. I finished it in 2 settings. I did love the ending though. Would highly recommend to other readers. I also enjoyed the author's writing style.

This story in a lot of ways reminded me of the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo, a book I loved. The alternation between the POV of Cam, Jules, and the letters from the dead heiress were really interesting and made the story fly by. Took a bit to get started but the end really brought it up for me.

Well, that was certainly a twisted story! It follows Jules and Cam, a couple who have been married for ten years. Cam has been summoned back to his ancestral home after having run away from all the wealth many years prior.

This book stacked secret upon secret, lie upon lie. Suffice it to say, the McTavish family has plenty of skeletons in the closet! I don’t want to say much else about the plot because I think it’s a book that you should just dive into blind if you’re at all interested in it. The writing was good, and the story moved along quickly. This author definitely doesn’t shy away from darkness in her characters, but if you’re interested in domestic thrillers with horrible truths coming to light, definitely give it a try.

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

THIS BOOK!

I have to admit - I’ve never read a Rachel Hawkins book, but when I saw this gorgeous cover on NetGalley it took me less than 2 seconds to hit that request button. I was hoping that the inside pages were going to be just as satisfying. Wow, satisfying isn’t even close to being the right word for what I just read!

Told through multiple POVs and letters that give an insight into the past, we learn just how much money, greed and power can bring out the absolute worst in families - especially when there is a death involved.

I found this one very hard to put down. It is FILLED with drama, juicy secrets, lies and insane twists!

This is easily one of the top books I’ve read this year! It’s a must read for fans of the genre. I’m looking forward to reading some of her other books. I’m a new fan!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Rachel Hawkins for my advanced copy to read and review.