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!

Rachel Hawkins has written a compelling, riveting mystery in The Heiress, and it is easily my favorite book by the author!

Ruby McTavish was notorious for being the richest woman in North Carolina, and also for that string of dead husbands in her wake. Upon her death, her gorgeous mansion and all of her wealth are left to her adopted son, Cam. Cam moved away years ago, married, and set up his own life in Colorado. His cousins beckon him home to help with some things around the estate, and Cam and his wife Jules go to North Carolina for the first time in their marriage.

The backstory is told in letters that Ruby wrote to someone, each detailing the circumstances of her life and of the deaths of her four husbands. The format was great, alternating between the letters, present day in Cam or Jules’ POV, and in newspaper or magazine articles about Ruby’s life. The format felt fresh and very engaging.

I could not put this one down. The story was fascinating, with layers upon layers of intrigue in this one family’s past. It is full of morally grey moments, deception, and snappy dialogue. It is a short read that keeps you constantly wanting more, and I would highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’sPress for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Murder, family rivalries, and a gorgeous but creepy mansion set this story up for some fun twists and an entertaining read.

I loved the juxtaposition between ugliness and beauty in the characters’ actions and thoughts, and their surroundings. While I was slow to latch on to the plot, overall, the direction and finale held my attention and were satisfying.

The only drawback for me was that the tone and voice of the book had a juvenile feel even though it wasn't intended as Young Adult. Others are rating this much higher so maybe it'll be different for you.

That being said, I’d recommend this to other readers.

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for my advance copy due to publish on January 9, 2024.

Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but make it a thriller. 3.75 stars.
Pros: page-turner; rich people problems; family drama; quick read; short chapters; a mix of multiple POVs, news clips, diary entries; got me out of a reading slump
Cons: no big crazy twist; slow burn; needed to write out a whole family tree to keep up with all the characters; a bit confusing at times

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of The Heiress from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and this cryptic-thriller definitely delivered! The book's style, with three perspectives intertwined, kept me engaged throughout. We hear from Ruby McTavish, the enigmatic heiress, as she writes letters revealing the truth about her four deceased husbands. Then there's Camden, her adopted son, who inherits a massive fortune and Ashby House but chooses to stay far away. And lastly, Jules, Camden's spunky wife, who has secrets of her own.

The story unfolds through letters, first-hand accounts, and newspaper articles, making it a fast and enjoyable read. The mysteries surrounding the deaths of Ruby's husbands and the hidden intentions behind her inheritance kept me on my toes. If you enjoyed Freida McFadden, you'll love this captivating and suspenseful tale of family bonds and dark secrets. The Heiress is a compelling page-turner that will keep you guessing until the very end.

I love a good family picture drama and this one was excellent. Hawkins did a wonderful job of delivering the family’s secrets and drama at just the right pace.

4 stars
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advance Copy. This review contains my honest opinion.
If you enjoyed The Villa, you’ll enjoy this.
I love the way Rachel Hawkins writes. Something in her style has me flipping pages and staying up til the wee hours to see what happens next.
The story centers around the McTavish family, a Vanderbilt-wealthy clan from North Carolina. One day, their 3-year-old daughter Ruby goes missing in the woods surrounding the family estate. The search is on, and the world holds their collective breaths. When all hope is lost, a little under a year later, they find Ruby living with a poor family (the father was, at one time, an itinerant worker on the estate) and she is reunited with the wealthy McTavishes.
This is the story of Ruby’s life, that of her family, Ruby’s adopted son Cam, his wife Jules, and all of the secrets and lies that make up their lives, hidden behind the force field that only great wealth can buy.
I loved the way that most of the secrets are revealed through letters of confession that Ruby writes. It adds a lot to the level of anticipation as she ends each one with “more on that later.”
I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone who loves family drama and family mysteries.

I inhaled this book flying through the pages as quickly as I could. So many twists and turns in the plot. I absolutely loved Ruby and her letters were my favorite parts of the book. She was sinister and hysterical. I loved the format of the book with Ruby's letters, newspaper and magazine articles and Cam and Jules’ alternating points of view. It’s a slow burn thriller with plenty of dysfunctional family drama and rich people behaving badly and I loved all of it. I will be recommending this book to everyone. Wow! What a ride!!!

Loved this book! Fast and addicting read, I didn’t want to put it down! I thought it was very well-written and I was engaged through the entire story. The only drawback for me was the news articles that were interspersed - I didn’t love the format of that although I did think most of the information from them was relevant for the overall story. Reminded me a little bit of Evelyn Hugo!