Rachel Hawkins can be hit or miss for me - I liked The Wife Upstairs, didn't really like Reckless Girls, and now The Heiress falls somewhere in the middle. I think the reason for my review being what it is is that going in I was expecting more thriller and less family drama but boy was there ever a lot of family drama, basically the first 2/3 of the book. It was also giving The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes to me, probably because that was another book with multiple husbands that I went into thinking there would be a thriller aspect and turns out that is not the case.

Overall if you like an easy read, family drama and some lil twists, I'd say this book is worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars: I was hooked right from the beginning and wanted to keep reading. But as intrigued as I was with the story, at times I also felt it was going nowhere & somewhat repetitive. I liked the way the story was told with Ruby writing letters but I felt like the last chapters & epilogue tried to wrap everything up in a quick explanation rather than weaving into the plot; although the twists were satisfying and unexpected. Thank you Net Galley, Rachel Hawkins, & St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of The Heiress-publishing on Jan 9.

"There should be some kind of warning when your life is about to change forever." (loc. 53*)

Ashby House is a legend, and so is the family that owns it. When Ruby dies and ownership passes to her adopted son, Camden, he wants nothing more than to forget the house, forget the tens of millions of dollars that come with it, and live a quiet and normal life. But his wife, Jules, isn't so sure that the money wouldn't make a difference...and the rest of Cam's family is not content to let that money lie untouched in a bank account they can't access.

To complicate matters: everyone knows more than they're saying.

I read this because I love a good enormous-rambling-house mystery, and also because I read a number of Hawkins' YA books once upon a time and have been curious about what she's done with adult mysteries.

The shift in genre has paid off: this is *satisfying*. You know early on that most of the characters are harboring secrets, and few of those secrets, when they come out, are surprises—but learning the hows and the whys and the outcomes makes it worth it to keep reading. I can get frustrated with twists so sharp that they zigzag without warning, but here, for most of the twists, we can see enough of the shadow of what's coming that the twists feel like they fit naturally into the story. Few characters come out of this book looking squeaky clean, but somehow I still found myself rooting for many of them, and that's satisfying too.

The one thing I really would have liked more of: the house! I live in a studio apartment, and that suits me just fine, but I'd like to get the house drama *somewhere*. I wish we'd seen more of Jules exploring, wandering through a library and billiards room and servant's quarters that haven't been used in decades and seeing it all through her eyes, or Ruby's.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*I read an ARC, and quotes may not be final.

How many murdered husbands is too many?! 💍

I think I just finished a premier example of a modern gothic family drama.

Camden & Jules have been married for ten years, living in Colorado, far away from his past in North Carolina & the inherited fortune & family ties he left behind. When they are called back to the family’s estate— Jules is ready to embrace life in the famous McTavish family, but Camden is in turmoil.

We can’t discuss this book without talking about Ruby— the late matriarch of the McTavish family. I don’t know that I’ve ever had more mixed emotions about a character. Even now, having read this, I don’t know if I love her or hate her. She’s really a picture of nature vs nurture.

Equally as complicated is Jules. In the end, I loved that I never knew how I was supposed to feel about her or her intentions. I thought Hawkins did that really well— balanced that tension.

I went around and around while reading this one trying to land on how I felt about it. The POV shifts could at times be off-putting, but I finally decided on a big 4/5 stars. I absolutely LOVED the twists, because they kept coming. They weren’t huge revelations, but little fine-tuned details that eventually blew the plot wide open. We all know we love a plot-driven story over here!

It fell shy of that fifth star for me due solely to language. There’s quite a lot of harsh language. I also think there’s room in this story for a TW for suicidal ideation. It’s not a major theme, but there is content that touches on it.

This one registers a 1/5 on the FOTMS scale. There was almost no on-page spice, but it is discussed and insinuated between a husband and wife.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Rachel Hawkins & NetGalley for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

💵💵💵💵/5

Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
I have loved every single one of Rachel Hawkins' books but this one tops all her others! It is soooo amazingly good, I could not put this book down. The storyline develops and makes it more and more suspenseful. I thought I had everything figured out but was completely wrong. The twists and turns kept on coming, from beginning to end.
I loved the way the story developed and was written from the different protagonists. I truly think that each of the characters was a protagonist. Each individual story and point of view built the story and made it more interesting and mysterious.
Rachel Hawkins topped herself with this book. While I loved all her other books, this one truly seems to be her best. The suspense starts from the first chapter and keeps building. It keeps the reader glued to the story. This book was definitely 5 🌟 for me!! I cannot wait to read all her further books.

Rachel Hawkins best yet!!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin’s press for an e-ARC of The Heiress.

Camden McTavish is begrudgingly returning to Ashby House and the family he happily left a decade ago. Despite his adoptive mother’s incredible wealth she left to him when she died, he has spent his adulthood wanting nothing to do with any of it. His wife, Jules, on the other hand, wants him to confront his past and his estranged family.

This book was delicious and I ate it up. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was such a fun character, and I loved the short chapters of her letters, shifting perspectives between Cam and Jules, and news articles. While the plot did seem to idle for a bit, the end kicked it up in high gear and had me hooked. Ruby’s secrets were delectable, the rich and entitled cousins were perfectly easy to hate, and it was such an entertaining story.

Highly recommend for a variety of readers! It’s not quite what you’d think of as a mystery/thriller, but has a lot of those elements to make for a fun read.

Rachel Hawkins does it again! The Heiress is full of twists and turns. Some are predictable whereas others keep you guessing. I enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down.

Fast-paced, intriguing story that you could easily finish in a day - particularly a rainy day….I mean, what’s better than curling up with a mystery/thriller on a gloomy day?

We follow three different POVs: the former matriarch heiress, Ruby (via letters); her son, Camden, who is reluctant to return home to Ashby House in NC; and his wife, Jules, who wants Camden to fight for his inheritance. The different POVs came together well, and I enjoyed each of them equally (which is usually rare for me).

The story addresses a few different “mysteries” in the main characters lives, unfolding to the reader via past and present timelines. In the past, we learn about Ruby - her kidnapping and return as a toddler; the mysterious deaths of her 4 husbands (such that she soon became known as Mrs Kill-more); and why she adopted Camden. In the present, we learn why Camden is estranged from his family and hasn’t been back to Ashby House in years; and why Jules seems so motivated to return Camden to Ashby House.

Overall, the novel focuses on the McTavish family, through the generations, as they navigate power, money, and greed. There were a few twists, as any good mystery novel should have, but I found them predictable and not as surprising as Ms Hawkins’ past works. Regardless, I found the ending to be a satisfying conclusion to the story.

My thanks to publisher and author for providing a complimentary digital ARC via NetGalley to read in exchange for my honest, fair, and personal review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with e-book access to The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins, to be published on January 9, 2024.

I've read three previous books by the author (The Villa, The Wife Upstairs, and Reckless Girls). Of those, Reckless Girls was my favorite, but they were all 3 - 3.5 star ratings for me, whereas The Heiress was a 4 star read.

The story is set in a mansion in North Carolina and centers upon a wealthy, backstabbing family who comes together after their matriarch, Ruby, has passed away. The plot vacillates between multiple points of views, including letters left by Ruby to a mystery character, her adopted son, and his wife. The extended relatives are furious that Ruby left all of her assets to her adopted son in the will, and it soon becomes apparent that everyone in the family has something to hide.

I dinged one star because a few of the major plot twists were predictable to me, but there was one surprise at very end that I did not anticipate. Overall, this was a quick, fun, and suspenseful read. If you have never read any novels by Hawkins before, I definitely recommend making this one your pick!

Oh I gobbled up this thriller so quickly!! It grabbed me from the start and I was genuinely interested in each character - a rarity these days. Told engagingly through multiple POVs, letters, and articles from newspapers and magazines, “The Heiress” centers around Ruby, a now deceased millionaire whose four dead husbands leave everyone questioning whether she was unlucky in love or a murdering psychopath. Her large fortune and estate was left to her heir - a poor boy she adopted - not to her sisters or other blood relatives so you can imagine how well that is going. Although the story of a dead rich person and survivors squabbling over money isn’t new, the characters are nuanced and the pacing is spot on so the tale never feels tired. There are lots of twists and turns and even an Easter egg from Hawkins’ “The Villa” tucked into the narrative! Overall, it was a really enjoyable read and another hit from Hawkins!

I absolutely devoured this book! I read it in two sittings and did not want to put it down. From the juicy family secrets, to the characters haunting pasts, to the mysterious deaths of Ruby’s husbands being uncovered, and the unexpected twist at the end… I loved it all! It is written in multiple perspectives and flows so naturally like you’re having a conversation with a friend, especially Jules’ perspective. Ruby’s letters detailing her life and marriages was a great way to incorporate her perspective into the story as well.

If you’re looking for a great read that you won’t want to put down, The Heiress is it!

I simply love Rachel Hawkins and will read anything she writes.

I will say that I enjoyed this book. Hawkins' gothic writing style always keeps me turning pages.

With that said, I didn't love this book. I liked it a lot and parts of it were total Hawkins while other parts felt not particularly Hawkins, felt unfinished. It felt like two stories in one.
I love the letters and felt that was the story, not the story of her adopted son. Maybe the link between the two was missing for me. I loved the twist that I sorta started to see it coming and don't want to spoil for others.

I would still recommend this book but The Villa is my still my favorite Hawkins book.

Wow! What a phenomenal novel by Rachel Hawkins.
Beautiful and intelligent writing, a well thought out storyline and amazing characters! I could not ask for more.
The story is told from three POV’s: Heiress Ruby McTavish, her adopted adult son Camden, and his wife Julianne, along with newspaper articles and magazine snippets.
I adored Ruby’s POV. The writing was fantastic, entertaining and felt truly authentic. When she referred to some as a “limp dishrag” I actually laughed out loud. Ruby was a force and I adored her (for the most part)!
The twists in this were great too and wildly unexpected! The author didn’t wait until the end to unravel everything and I really liked that aspect too!
Overall, I could not have loved this book anymore! It was original, fun, and absolutely wild — everything you want from a domestic thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to get my hands on this digital ARC before it is released in January, 2024!

Camden McTavish is a teacher, married to Jules who works part time acting as a butter churner in re-enactments for tourists. They have a small rental and keep to themselves, never touching the nine-figure inheritance Cam was left by his adoptive mother Ruby.

Ruby, kidnapped as a toddler and eventually returned to her family nearly a year later, grew up rich and is the keeper of many secrets, which she reveals in letters (the best parts of this book!). Most entertaining are the parts about her numerous deceased husbands.

Cam and Jules return to Ruby's mansion after the death of an uncle, and we meet all the various devious family members and learn why Ruby left her fortune to only her son.

This was well paced, and just twisty enough that I didn't see that ending coming.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of The Heiress in exchange for my honest review.

WOW I loved this book. I found it to be such a fun read and I read it in about two days. The mystery around "whodunnit" juxtaposed with the letters from Ruby (with their intended recipient/time period unknown) was fun to play around with. I did figure out the twist about ⅔ of the way through, but it didn't make it any less enjoyable for me to finish. I would definitely recommend this as a fun read to my friends/family.

Cam and Jules live a normal life in Colorado, trying to make ends meet. When Cam is called home to North Carolina, and the sprawling estate that is technically in his name (along with loads of money), Jules is happy to go. Cam is an outlier in his family, but he's the sole heir to the estate.. and his family is pretty awful. His adopted mother, Ruby, has died, and we are able to live through her letters to an unknown person.

The letters were the best part of this book, in my opinion. Ruby was the protagonist that I wanted! I didn't care for Jules or her voice. It was a little juvenile.. and there were times when Cam's chapters just were a little boring.

I give this book 3.5 stars. I definitely wanted to get to Ruby's letters, and although parts were predictable, it was still interesting.

4.5 Stars! Rounded up to 5.

Read Immediately if you love:

*Gothic Thriller
*Mystery
*Rich people drama
*Dual timeline
*Multiple POVs

This was my first time reading a book by Rachel Hawkins and I immediately picked up two more of her books after and loved them both!

Hawkins writing style is a little slow burn but so intriguing that I genuinely enjoy the way story unfolds. Each chapter reveals little bits and pieces of the mystery that keep you wondering and entice you to keep reading. Now I'll be patiently impatiently waiting for the next Rachel Hawkins novel.

Bring on the old letters, pass down the cherished estate, keep Jules on her toes, and bring on Cam...
Folks, this is all over the place in the beginning with letters, and estate planning, and the family drama.
It centers around adopted Camden and his wife Jules. She's actually more involved than he is in terms of getting her fair share of the prize.
Ten years later he arrives to the estate after his uncle died .
However, the 4 marriages plot, twist, and drama filled center of this doughnut wasn't a big win for me. I'm not a fan of simply killing everyone off -one by one- and then bragging.
The ending with the twisty Auntie Annie Pretzel debacle was just ok but Dora and Caitline or whomever you wish to contact just didn't do it for me.
Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for an ARC of The Heiress, by Rachel Hawkins, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Does money buy happiness? Is evilness a nature or nurture thing? What kind of problems do the rich have?

In this story, a child goes missing at 3 years old in the woods. Little Ruby McTavish. 8 months later, she is found. Ruby McTavish becomes a well known name. As an adult, she continues to be a well known name, having lost 4 husbands and eating the name Mrs. Kill-more.

This story is the definition of a page turner. With several different point of views. Twists and turns that happen repeatedly and have you wanting more of the story. To the very last page.

Rachel Hawkins does it again! I loved this book and the alternating points of view. It was one of those books that I stayed up late to keep reading because with every chapter new information was coming up that you wanted to know more about. There are alternating viewpoints and you think you know motives, but you really don't. It was a really good read!