Book review of my latest read.
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks so much to @netgalley and also @stmartinspress for the early copy of this great book.
This is such a twisted book. This is told from several points of view and I think that adds to the intrigue.
Ruby McTavish has dies. She was the richest woman in North Carolina but also the most talked about. She was from a small town and as a child was kidnapped but later returned. She was also married four times and every marriage ended with the death of her husband.
Her adopted son Cam wants nothing to do with the family estate, the money or the house. He creates a life for himself as a teacher and marries Jules the love of his life.
When his uncle dies, he is summoned home to deal with the estate and money. Jules gets him to agree to go, but she wants him to claim his inheritance, unbeknownst to Cam.
As they settle in, Aunt Nelle dies too, is the house cursed? And what about all those dead husbands? Was there something there? Twisty, turny family saga with tons of drama where money is concerned.

Grab this one when it comes out January 9th, 2024!

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This book was so fast paced and interesting. I liked the way that each of the McTavish’s were described and I liked all the twists. I enjoyed the placement and pacing of the articles and letters throughout the different chapters but I didn’t like that it is told in first person for Jules, who breaks the fourth wall, and not the same style for Cam. It did make a little more sense with the final chapter and letter but still pulled away from the storyline for me. I did think it was strange that Jules didn’t take the McTavish last name if the plot was to become a heir in the first place, but maybe it was explained and I missed it. I liked the town and the Ashby house setting. I did feel like the storyline with the boys missing in the woods should have been more descriptive because it felt more like a passing comment than anything relevant to the storyline. Overall a good read.

I have read everything Rachel Hawkins has written since The Wife Upstairs and I eagerly anticipate each new book. This one was definitely worth the wait! I loved getting the backstory on Ruby and why things happened the way they did. I enjoyed Cam’s character but I do wish Jules character was more well rounded. I didn’t particularly enjoy her scenes and sometimes her actions didn’t make sense. The twist at the end was definitely a stunner! Don’t miss this one!

I had high expectations when starting The Heiress because I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs. It far surpassed my expectations. The web of deception and denial within this family was so thrilling to read. Especially because it wasn’t my family. The twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat and the reveal twist at the end (no spoilers) actually made me gasp. That is the sign of a good book! I will make my way down the list of Rachel’s books because I am a fan!

This book had a very interesting premise - a story about Ruby McTavish, a 3 year old little girl who was lost in the woods near her home. Ruby was found about 8 months later and returned home. Ruby writes letters to be read after her death. Ruby has an adopted son Camden who is set to inherit her fortune. What could go wrong? This was a book that I did read quickly because I wanted to know what happened but in the end, it didn't blow me away. This book can definitely be very entertaining and I definitely do recommend giving it a read. Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of The Heiress in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Heiress Ruby McTavish dies and leaves a sizable inheritance to her adopted son, Camden. Ruby has lived quite a notorious life. As a child she was kidnapped, and as an adult she has had 4 husbands who have died mysteriously. What other secrets does the life of Ruby McTavish hold?

My review: This book was a 5 star read for me! I loved the juxtaposition of the two timelines - Ruby's time and the present. Ruby's life was quite entertaining, to say the least! There were plenty of surprises and twists as the story unfolds. Ruby's family members were strange and engaging at the same time. I wanted more at the end of the book!

5 stars for me! I would recommend. Looking forward to reading more by Rachel Hawkins.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins was unexpected in the best way. A family drama set in a lavish estate in The Blue Ridge Mountains, it is centered around the notorious heiress Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore and her family. After she dies the estate and the family fortune causes in-fighting within the family. Told in an interesting way, the story unfolds in a gripping manner and the twists and turns are not to be missed.

So interesting and nearly impossible to put down. Great mystery, or mysteries, great setting, and colorful characters. I loved the letters about the past woven with the present day drama. Highly recommended for any mystery lover. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I finished this book over the weekend and have had to sit on it to really collect my thoughts about it. Overall, I really enjoyed it. The characters (for the most part) are multifaceted and really add to the development of the story. And, oh what a story! The story of the McTavishs and its former matriarch Ruby will draw you in and probably keep you up all night (like it did for me!). The twists are complicated, but fully realized, with few, if any, plot holes to derail the whole thing. While I wasn't a fan of Rachel Hawkins before this, I gave her a second chance with The Heiress and I am so glad I did! Thank you to St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Okay. I loved this! I am beginning to think I am a Rachel Hawkins fan. But seriously this book is a meaty psychological thriller with alternate points of view and secrets galore. I thoroughly recommend this book.

I received an e-arc from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an unbiased review.

Holy cannoli was this ever good! This is only my second Rachel Hawkins book (and the first was an audiobook, so not the same) but I was hooked! While the premise was kinda meh, rich adopted son to an heiress with spoiled, entitled blood relatives, the execution was great! I especially enjoyed how as soon as you thought you had the big plot twist figured out, something else would happen. I especially enjoyed Ruby's letters, they were funny yet very informative to the story overall, and the ending? Incredible.

A fabulous read! I don't say this often (maybe once or twice before) but this was definitely one I couldn't put down.

I received this netgalley arc in return for an honest review. This book was like a combination of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo and The Only One Left by Riley Sager. it had multiple twists up until the last pages that keep you guessing. I did feel like the characters could use more. development we hear so many times how toxic the McTavish family is but I think there could have been more descriptions to show us instead of telling us repeatedly. I enjoyed the back and forth timeline of Ruby telling her story each chapter and it made this a very addictive quick read. Even though there were twists at the end it still felt like it dragged out a bit and the pacing was off. thank you for this ARC and I will definitely continue to read any new Rachel Hawkins books in the future

You can't go wrong with an author like Rachel Hawkins! I got engulfed in this story and when I thought I knew what was coming next, bam! Another twist! Give this story a read, you won't regret it!

Thank you #Netgalley for this arc of
The Heiress
by Rachel Hawkins
Pub Date: 09 Jan 2024

4.5 stars.
I really enjoyed this story and was hooked pretty early on. I found it intriguing that it’s named The Heiress, but we mostly read the perspectives of the heiress’s son and daughter-in-law, with news clippings and letters mixed in. (Going into why that title was chosen could lead to spoiler territory.)

Even from the first half of the book, I still would not have accurately predicted where the reading journey would go.

There was a reference to The Villa that was fun to come across, and I found myself wondering if these same woods are in another Rachel Hawkins book (or will be).

Many thanks to the author, St. Martin’s, and NetGalley for the eARC of this novel.

CW: domestic violence, kidnapping

“The Heiress” by Rachel Hawkins is her newest thriller novel set to be published on January 2024. “The Heiress” is a gothic mystery filled with murder, tense family relationships, and a sprawling estate called “Ashby House”. This novel will leave you wondering whether Ruby McTavish really is who she claims to be, whether she is really a black widow-style murder, and why she adopted her son Camden. This will be explored through three alternating points of view that give the reader delicious tidbits a little at a time. I kept finding myself needing one more chapter and ended up reading late into the night. I have greatly enjoyed Hawkins’ writing and found myself placing “The Heiress” as her best novel yet.
A special thanks to Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Hawkins for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a really promising blurb AND first chapter about people going missing in national parks and I was hooked immediately. Unfortunately, about 50% through the book I realized it wasn't going anywhere for me. It felt like a story I have read before, in addition to being predictable. I wasn't the biggest fan of the writing style, which felt different from Hawkins other adult thriller novels. Finally, I felt like there were way too many plot twists in this book and it felt excessive and unnecessary. Overall, it fell flat for me but I'm always excited to read a Rachel Hawkins novel and will continue to!

I loved this book. Rachel Hawkins is a master and she has done it again! Each character was unlikeable in their own way and the twists were perfect. This story was told in a unique way and was woven together masterfully. Highly recommend!

Rachel Hawkins seems to draw plot inspiration from famous works for all her novels, with this one (in my opinion) being a thriller / mystery version of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. I cannot lie, I wish we had more of Ruby’s life highlighted rather than Cam’s or (especially) Jules’. I strongly disliked Jules’ portions and didn’t understand her motivation for her actions even though they were explained? Fun read, but did not measure up to my expectations after reading The Villa. With that being said, this is still a solid three out of five stars.

Does money buy happiness? This book is the perfect example that it doesn’t!

We are introduced to the story of Ruby McTavish, a little baby lost who became a headline when she was reunited with her family. Through letters from Ruby, you learn the history of what happened to Ruby and how she was affected going forward through life and relationships.

We also are introduced to Ruby’s adopted son Camden. I loved him. From his memories we learn that he was treated poorly by the family for not being a real McTavish, yet Ruby’s estate was bequeathed to him.

We also are introduced to Camden’s wife Jules, who to me seemed suspicious from the get! When Cam did not want to return to Ashby House, Jules insisted. Why? That comes out!

The remaining McTavish’s want the wealth and power. Does Cam give it to them?

As they return, we are given glimpses into the past through Ruby’s letters. Ruby is rumored to have killed her husbands, or be a bad luck charm. What really happened is revealed along the way!

This was a quick read-the chapters were short and the letters intermingled really helped to speed things along.

I prefer books with dual or multiple perspectives, so this was a plus for me.

The ending stole the show for me. At times I thought it was a tad predictable- but when we got to the final chapters I couldn’t put it down! That was not the ending I was expecting!

Your questions will be answered and you will have an entertaining read. It’s a win!

Pub date: Jan 2024
St. Martin’s Press

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

I loved Hawkins change in narrator, snippets of articles and resources giving you a glimpse of the distant past and especially the inclusion of Ruby's words herself.
The Heiress was a page turner in numerous ways. (1) Is there more to Ruby's disappearance as a child? (2) I wanted to know more about Ruby. Had she killed all her husband's? Aside from Arthur who seemed to be her true love.
(3) What is Jules hiding? Is she connected to this family aside from marrying Cam? Is her fairy tale love story with Cam a shame? I
Did she seek him out for who he no longer wants to be? (4) Is Cam somehow a blood relative? The comparison of Libby and Cams smirk as well as mention of the smirk in Duke. (5) Why does Cam hate Ashby house? Why doesn't he want to be "home"? (6) What is with Ben and Libby?
Every chapter ended with more questions that kept you going hoping to find out the truth of this family mystery.
The mystery was alive in so many ways as I read through the past and the present of the McTavish family.
So many secrets needing answers and the mystery kept you going back for more.