A husband and wife who are both keeping things from each other, plus a mysterious adoptive mother with a dark past? Sign me up! This has the hallmarks I've come to expect from Hawkins: a vivid setting, a slowly building backstory, a rapid unwinding of twists and secrets at the end, and then a lingering focus on characters at the end that prompts you to think more about everything that has happened. Some reveals I saw coming and some I did not, but I enjoyed the entire ride.

Very fun and engaging thriller.

Book is told on the POV of the 2 main characters, plus letters from a third and some articles about family. Though none of the characters are really likable, story was very interesting and book was very well written - I read it in a few days. I did find the ending a little unsatisfying though, but may be just my expectations and the fact that as said prior, I did not sympathized with any of the characters.

I recommended read, and will check out other books from the author!

Thanks Netgalley for the arc exchanged for a honest teview

Murder, mansion and twists galore this book is a must read. I don't recommend picking it up when you have anything to do that day because you will not want to stop reading it. I devoured this book in one day with no regrets. Rachel Hawkins does it again.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins follows the story of Camden and Jules, a married couple traveling back to Cam's hometown where his family is considered "old money" and his adopted mother's reputation as "Mrs. Kill-More" precedes her. Will Cam and Jules find out all the secrets of the McTavish family and live to survive them?

This book was giving Evelyn Hugo during the adopted mother, Ruby's, letter writing flashbacks. I enjoyed it more towards the end when the secrets started to unravel. It read a little slower than I would like for about 65% of the book. The end really made up for it though. I definitely recommend this one so keep an eye out for its release on January 9, 2024!

Big thanks to St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

#theheiress #rachelhawkins #netgalley #arc #stmartinspress

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

My rating:
5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the story of the McTavish’s. When Camden returns to his childhood home, he brings his wife Jules. They leave their small town life to come back to the house because of his Uncle’s death. Told in the perspectives of Ruby, Jules and Camden, you slowly figure out the family history and even some family secrets as well.

Okay this one got me 😅
I definitely was thinking this book was a solid 4 the entire time but once I got to about 70% I was absolutely hooked and had to round up to a 5. I pretty much figured out one of the main plots but I was a little off. The pace of this was a lot of build up and then it really sped up towards the end.

This book reminded me of the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by TJR so if you liked that, I think you’ll enjoy this one as well!

I really enjoy this author! My other fave by her was The Wife Upstairs. Another solid thriller.

Thank you netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC! I absolutely recommend this one. The Heiress comes out in January of 2024, so make sure to add it to your TBR now as a reminder to order it once it comes out!

#netgalley #bookrecs #books #theheiress #rachelhawkins #Arc #thrillerbooks

This one started a little slow for me but I plodded on and it sped up as I got to know the characters. I really enjoyed the chapters in the different character views. Meet the McTavishes! What a family!

The Heiress is an addictive, fast-paced read, perfect for a summer treat. The characters lay all their cards on the table, or do they? The characters are morally Grey, and have questionable motives. This book kept me turning the pages to see if I could guess what their real motives were. This novelist told through the perspectives of both of the main characters in through a few snippets of mixed media, including letters, newspaper clippings, etc. Though I did predict some of the twists, I really enjoyed this read, and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author. 3.5 stars rounded up for me!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for my advanced reader copy.

Scandalous right down to the very last page. I really enjoyed the story and the plot twists. I was definitely constantly left guessing. To be honest, the only reason I rate it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I really didn't care for the characters. But, spoiler alert, the more I dwell on it, the more I believe that this poor taste in my mouth left by the main characters was deeply intentional on Rachel Hawkins part. And, in that case; mission accomplished!

So many trails of intrigue propel The Heiress to its very satisfying conclusion. The list of cataclysmic events range from a lost child to kidnapping to adoption to murders to massive inheritance to mysteries that span generations. Well-written prose, driven by fully developed and believable characters, this twisty story is a great read.

Thanks to the publisher and to netgalley for providing an advance copy for me to read and review.

I have mixed feeling about this book. I was hoping for a thriller but I think this story is more of a family drama. This being said, I believe my expectations were off.

I enjoyed the story line, learning about the characters and the plot but kept waiting for the "thriller" part. Once I let that go, it started to pick up for me. However, at the end, I started to get confused trying to figure out who was related to who and ended up having to do some rereading inorder to keep it all straight in my head. Ugh, I hate that!

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

I really love Rachel Hawkins books and this one didn’t disappoint. The story artfully weaves between timelines and has some fantastic twists and reveals along the way! What I loved most about this one is how each character felt complete, both in their storylines and in their unique personas. I kept thinking about the characters and WHY they each acted the way they did well after I put it down. If you liked ‘The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo’ you’ll love this book!

"The Heiress" is one of those rare books that will have you on the edge of your seat for the entirely of the adventure. Exuding gothic vibes, the backdrop of our story is set the mysterious backwoods of North Carolina at the McTavish's mansion - Ashby House.

Ruby McTavish in our presumed heiress and shrouded in scandal - she went missing as a young girl only to be discovered years later and returned to her family home. Ruby's death predates the present day plot and her story is told through a series of letters that ease the transition between the chapters and give the reader our glimpse into the past.

The book begins with a young couple returning to Ashby House after the death of an uncle. We soon discover that Camden and his wife Jules are not as innocent as they seem and this family drama will have you at the edge of your seat. Riddled with unlikable characters, deceit, and scandal - Hawkins expertly weaves together the plot and keeps readers engaged as the mystery unfolds. If you're looking for a gripping whodunit that will leave you guessing until the very last page, "The Heiress" is a must read.

It was absolutely binge-worthy and I enjoyed the drama that unfolds in a rich family when notoriously rich Ruby leaves her wealth to her adopted son Cam. I did not have high expectations when I started it but enjoyed the drama, twists and the shrewdness of all the characters as everyone's secrets keep surfacing at regular frequency to keep the readers hooked. It was a quick read that was more of a domestic thriller but definitely addictive. There were multiple POVs told in a dual timeline that impacted the current timeline keeping them constantly connected. One of the characters surprised me as I thought this character, though remaining in the limelight, is simply manipulated by everyone around but it was interesting that the character knew a lot more!

After the most infamous and richest woman in North Carolina, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, dies, the McTavish estate, Ashby House, and a 9 figure fortune are passed down to her adopted son Cameron.

Cameron, who is a McTavish by name only, wants nothing to do with his inheritance or the McTavishes. All he wants is to live a normal life with his new wife Jules. But The McTavishes, who are much like royalty in Tavistock are far from normal, they are rich, and behave as such. They will do anything to get the inheritance and Ashby House back to a true McTavish.

The Heiress was an enthralling story about the rich behaving badly and family secrets that come to surface after Ruby's death. I could not put this book down. The different POVs from Cameron, Jules, and Ruby's letters were neatly done and the descriptions of Ashby House made me feel like I was right there in all it's grandeur.

I definitely recommend this book if you are looking for a domestic suspense novel about a rich and spoiled family out to take back what is theirs.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the eARC for my honest opinion.

Ruby McTavish is the wealthiest woman in North Carolina. As the oldest daughter, she inherited the bulk of her father's money along with the family estate. She is well known as Mrs. Kill-more for her 4 marriages, all who died before her, along with her kidnapping at a young age. Her only son, Camden inherits her wealth upon her death but turns away from the money and swears he will never return to the family estate again but must return when financial decisions have to be made about the estate. Through clippings and letters written by Ruby, we learn about her life beginning when she is a toddler and all of her marriages. In Camden's chapters, we learn about his dysfunctional family and how his aunt and her son's family was and are still cruel to him. Learning about Ruby's 4 marriages and how all the men died along with Camden's spolied cousins was like reading a tabloid. There were many mysteries along the way including why Camden walked away from all the money along with secrets his family is keeping maybe including his wife.

Well color me surprised! I started this book with relatively low expectations. I assumed it would be the same story I’ve read before- the mystery that you are quickly able to guess and see coming…I am pleased to say I was very wrong! I enjoyed the various POVs in the book and how they each sprinkled in little tidbits of information to keep you guessing.

Oftentimes authors write books like these with very unsatisfying endings, in my opinion this one was unlike that completely.

The story keeps you captivated from the beginning. It focuses on 3 main characters- obviously the heiress Ruby whois coined as Mrs. Kill-More due to her multiple husbands dying. Next we see Camden- her adopted son who lives in Colorado far away from the rest of his “family.” Finally- his wife Jules. Whose POV is probably my favorite, she feels like a real person in today’s world with her comedic internal side comments and hope for the future and fortune of her husbands estranged family estate.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick, luring, exciting and twisty read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early digital reviewer copy of this book!

Phenomenal book! It took a couple of chapters to really get started for me, but then it really took off and became addicting. The story is intriguing and incredibly twisty until the last page.

{This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.}

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was a child, she was the victim of a famous kidnapping, and as an adult she has become a widower 4 times over giving her the nickname “Mrs. kill more.” When she dies she is not just North Carolinas richest woman but also it’s most notorious. In the aftermath of her death, her estate and nine figure fortune was passed down to her adopted son, Camden, who wants no part of it but…his wife does and she knows more than she has led on for years.
There was a lot going on in this story and it alternates timelines and perspectives. It was not my favorite Rachel Hawkins book to date but it was a good read. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an arc copy. 3.5 ⭐️

Cam is the adopted son of a controversial, four-times-widowed, heiress. When email calls Cam to return to the place he left behind, Jules, his wife, encourages him to go. She shouldn’t know of his inherited mansion and millions, but is sure she can make Ashby House good for them both. But Ashby House holds resentful relatives and long-held secrets.

Told through multiple points of view and spanning decades, Hawkins keeps the reader suspicious of everyone in this kaleidoscope of a novel. Just when you think you understand people and motives things shift again. Hand to fans of Hank Philippi Ryan’s The House Guest. Recommended

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Heiress took me a litttle bit to get into and honestly I thought about moving to a different book until I remembered I felt the same way with The Villa and I kept going and was pleasently surprised. It took about 30% to finally get to a part where I wanted to know more about Ruby and what she had done. I found this story to be twisty and fun (odd word to use but, I really enjoyed it).