Cam McTavish, the adopted son of North Carolina's richest woman, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, was once described as "the luckiest boy in the world". That's why everyone is shocked when after her death, Cam walks away from everything she had left him to inherit - a multi-million dollar fortune and Ashby House, the family’s Blue Ridge mountain estate. But Cam isn't interested in the money, the house or anything else to do with being a McTavish. Because Ruby and the rest of the McTavish family have already proven to him that money doesn't buy happiness.

THE HEIRESS by Rachel Hawkins is a brilliantly crafted psychological suspense with characters that are never exactly who they appear to be. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore is a daunting larger than life presence in the town of Tavistock and over Ashby House. Her letters are at the heart of the narrative but it is only in combination with the alternating voices of Cam and his wife, Jules does the story catch fire.

Secrets and ulterior motives lurk beneath the surface, and a cloud of questions and rumors envelops "THE HEIRESS" from the very first page to the last. Everyone has a secret (or two) and no one's motives are pure. There are so many questions and rumors running through THE HEIRESS from the first page to the last: How can one woman be so unlucky as to be widowed four times? Why is Cam estranged from the McTavish family and why hasn't he claimed his inheritance? How much does Jules really know about her husband's background? Why did Rudy adopt Cam in the first place?

While Ruby's letters provide some answers, Cam, Jules, and the other surviving McTavish family members each contribute their own revelations. The dysfunction within this family makes for a truly entertaining spectacle when they brought together again under the same roof. "THE HEIRESS" is a brisk, captivating, and immensely gratifying read, its limited cast of characters ensuring a tightly focused narrative. Rachel Hawkins forges an intimate connection between readers, characters, and the unfolding mystery, drawing the audience in. The attraction lies not only in discovering what secrets will be unveiled next but also in observing how each revelation reshapes our perceptions of these characters, whom we believed we were beginning to understand.

I strongly recommend THE HEIRESS for fans of psychological thrillers and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and the author, Rachel Hawkins for access to the ARC in consideration for a objective review.
Pub. date: January 9, 2024.

Ruby McTavish was the heiress to the McTavish fortune - all the money one could ever need, and the famous Ashby House. Ruby isn’t just the richest woman in North Carolina, she’s also the most notorious. She’s been in headlines her whole life - starting from when “Baby Ruby” went missing during a family picnic and was found a year later, all the way through the unfortunate and unexpected deaths of her four husbands. After she has died, she leaves her fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Camden wants nothing to do with the McTavish life, family, or money, and decides to leave for the west coast. Years later, Cam and his wife, Jules return to Ashby House for unfinished business and is drawn back in to the world of McTavish secrets, lies, and betrayals.

I LOVED this book! It felt very “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”-esque to me, but with a darker and more twisted plot. Some of the twists were a little predictable, but others I never saw coming (especially the last chapter!!). I loved the characters, even if the villains were just that - villains. I also loved that the chapters switched between Cam’s POV, Jules’ POV, Ruby’s letters, and news articles/headlines throughout the years.

Overall I thought this book was amazing and couldn’t put it down or stop thinking about it. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley, and Rachel Hawkins for the eARC!

Jules and Camden have been married for a decade, and this is the first time she is meeting his family. His adoptive, cold, and extremely rich family that live in a giant and historic mansion, and he hasn't seen in years. As Camden's family's secrets are revealed, he feels his choice to go no contact has been proven right. But Jules has gotten a taste of the good life and wants her husband to claim the legacy left by his late mother. As secrets from his mother's past come to light, both Jules and Camden realize there is more to his estranged family than they realized.

I loved this book! I sat down to read it and I didn't stop until I'd finished it! The writing kept me captivated throughout the book and it was so easy to get into and so hard to put down.

The characters in this book were equal parts infuriating and lovable. I loved that the book was told from multiple characters points of view and that it contained artifacts from the family's past to give you a better understanding of them.

Ruby McTavish died the richest woman in North Carolina and left her fortune to her adopted son. Married four times, widowed four times. Kidnapped as a child and returned eight months later, Baby Ruby was a celebrity. But she always wondered… Was she Ruby?

Cam and Jules love their life in Colorado, but Cam gets called home to NC to deal with his inheritance. His family has something up their sleeve, though. They’ve never been happy that Ruby left ALL the money to someone not blood related.

Secrets are revealed and nobody is left untouched.

Such an amazing read! I’d give more than five stars if I could! Rachel Hawkins is such a phenomenal storyteller.

The McTavish house (more like mansion) is as well known for its opulence as its tragedy. Baby Ruby goes missing when she’s 3, and they don’t get her back until a year later. When she grows up, she’s followed by bad luck- 4 dead husbands. There’s no way it could be a coincidence but money buys secrecy. Before she dies, she adopts and raises a young boy named Cam so that she can leave her entire inheritance to him and not her leeching sister and her family. When Ruby dies and Cam is forced to face his family again, this time with his wife Jules, the stakes are even higher.
💭Thoughts💭
I can’t say enough about Hawkins’ writing. I flew through this book and was so entranced with the story. While I could figure some plot points out, there were many that I couldn’t pinpoint. Ruby was such a dimensional character, as was Jules. The conversational nature of Hawkins’ books just really reels you in.
.
⌛️Favorite Moment⌛️
All of the letters about Ruby’s husbands and the news articles interspersed added to the story big time. You got points of view from Cam, Jules, Ruby, and the general public/news.
.
🎉 Theme Ideas 🎉
Jules loves having coffee on the front porch. Sip some coffee from a gorgeous view and write a letter to someone you love.

BOOK REVIEW: ✨💚🏯 The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Wowza! What did I just read?This is my favorite Rachel Hawkin’s book yet. I loved the pace and multiple points of view. None of the characters were all that likable and everyone was a big fat liar, but it worked for me. 😝 I never knew where this book was going and I couldn’t possibly guess all of the twists/lies.

I really did enjoy it but there was so much going on. I sometimes had to pause to be like wait, what?! A kidnapping of a baby, a heiress that has had five dead ex-husbands (by her hand or by really bad luck?), family rivalries, beautiful scenery, and SO MUCH DRAMA.

I ate it up. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress @ladyhawkins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Add this one to your TBR coming to a bookseller near you January 2024!

I wasn’t sure going into this book what it would be. What originally drew me into this book was the cover. For me this was Rachel Hawkins' best book. I absolutely loved this book. The twists and turns were incredible. I did find it slightly slow at the start, but once it got going I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this book, finished it super fast !
I loved the different point of views and the story was very interesting ! Definitely recommend !

A solid suspense that I can see being popular with book clubs.
Thanks for the ARC to the publisher and NetGalley.

This was such a binge worthy book! I read it in one day! This was my first book by the author but I can’t wait to read more by them! If you love family drama, slow burn and suspense with gothic vibes then you will love this! It opens up with a bang and kept me entertained the whole book. I loved the alternating POVs and all the letters. There were also some great twists! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress, and the amazing author, @ladyhawkins for the opportunity to read this #advancedreadercopy in exchange for my honest review! The Heiress is available for preorder now and will be published January 9. Do yourself a favor and preorder your copy right MEOW!

Ruby McTavish lived a life bathed in luxury and scandal. Four husbands that all met their demise under suspicious conditions. A media darling after her supposed kidnapping and return to her affluent parents. But now her adopted son, Camden, is left to pick up the pieces and reconcile the tainted past in the wake of her death. But as the sole heir of her estate, Cam wants nothing to do with any of it - the legacy, the estate, the money, and especially the family. When he’s called home to help handle repairs to Ashby House in the wake of his uncle’s passing he and his wife, Jules, pack up and head to Tavistock. Once there it doesn’t take long for Jules to poke around and pick at the loose threads of the past. Will Jules find the answers she’s seeking or will she unearth secrets that are best lest buried?

OMG! This was everything I hoped for in a new Rachel Hawkins book. It had the intrigue of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and the cutthroat family shenanigans of Not A Happy Family. I did suspect the big twist coming but it was so satisfying to be proven right and see it all playing out. I’d kill to be in that Waffle House meeting. IYKYK. I highly recommend for those who love vigilante shit and thrillers.

TW: murder, poisoning, bl@ckmail, kidnapping, @buse, coverup

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - 5/5

I absolutely loved this book! I read it in less than 24 hours because I just could not out it down! I even caught myself thinking about while I was working. I immediately picked up after work and finished the last 200 pages in 3 hours! Do yourself a favor and read this book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I loved this book. I could not put it down I read it in a few hours. So many great twists and turns.

Cam McTavish had no intention of going back to the North Carolina home and family he was adopted into, despite being the one who legally owns everything. But when his uncle dies, he realizes things are getting too complicated and he's going to need to go and settle everything once and for all.

This book is Cam's story, but it's also Ruby's, told through letters to a mysterious recipient. I was hoping to like this, but unfortunately it didn't do much for me. Most of the characters are unlikable, including Cam's own wife Jules, who appears to be working against him for a lot of the book and is only interested in living in the giant house. The family drama is really twisty, but I didn't really connect to anyone, even Ruby. In an unusual twist, the ending was actually pretty good. Not so much that it redeemed the rest of it, but it came together in an unexpected way.

This is my first book from Rachel Hawkins and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The story is told from three different points of view, Cam McTavish, his wife Jules, and his adoptive mother, the infamous Ruby McTavish (through letters written before her death). When Ruby dies, Cam inherits the Family home and fortune, thus causing drama between Ruby's younger sister, her son, and grandchildren. Cam wants nothing to do with his inheritance nor his family. Cam and Jules return to Ashby House after Cam receives an email from his cousin reaches out after his uncle's death. Full of drama, secrets, and suspense, I would recommend this book to everyone!


Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.

I have to be honest after reading the author's previous work, "Wife Upstairs," I didn't enjoy their subsequent releases as much. However, with this ominous and engaging thriller, they have made a triumphant return. The story is filled with intertwined mysteries that fit together like puzzle pieces, making you want to read faster to uncover the big secrets. Behind the closed doors of Ashby House, numerous secrets lurk. Is Ruby truly a cold-blooded killer? Or is she a miracle child who was kidnapped at the age of three, only to be found living with another family who insisted she was their daughter? Expect the unexpected as you dive into this gripping read. It will keep you on your toes, and you'll find yourself wanting to devour it in one sitting, even if it means staying up all night. In my opinion, this is the author's best work yet. I truly enjoyed this read and I think others will to.

If you love twisted family stories, you are going to love this one. Camden and his wife, Jules, are called back to his family's estate to help settle some issues. Camden was the adopted son of the late Ruby McTavish, who was given the estate and fortune by her father. She in turn willed it to Camden, but no one in the family was happy about that, not even Camden, who wanted to get as far away from this twisted family as possible. Seems everywhere you turn a new family secret is popping up, and if you are living on the estate there is nowhere to escape.

I don't think Rachel Hawkins is for me. I loved her first book, but I couldn't finish Reckless Girls and this was a struggle for me to get through. At least I finished it. However, I found the characters extremely unlikable and the storyline predictable. The writing is fast enough paced that I was able to force my way through the storyline, but part of me wishes I had not.

The Heiress of a rich family dies and her adopted son, who has been away for ten years goes home with his wife to finally deal with the estate and his rich bad behaved family. This book has many twists and turns. I thought the ending was very satisfying. All in all another great mystery from Rachel Hawkins.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc.

78-year-old heiress and philanthropist Ruby McTavish is dead. Her adopted son, Camden, is her sole heir. Camden and his wife, Jules, travel from their home in Colorado to Ashby House, Ruby’s home, in North Carolina. The story emerges through the points of view of three characters—Camden, Jules, and Ruby. What’s the real truth about Ruby?

The family dynamic of Ruby’s relatives is interesting as they gather together at Ashby House. I especially like when Ruby speaks to the reader, directly, through her letters. The truth about Ruby is exposed deftly by the author, Rachel Hawkins. She knows how to grab a reader’s attention and maintain it. There comes a point when I can’t look away and have to keep reading. Needless to say, I recommend reading THE HEIRESS. Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advance reader copy of THE HEIRESS.