I rarely crush a book during the work week, but I was eager to dive into my early access from Net Galley (thank you!). This was a fast-paced page turner told primarily from the perspective of Jules and Cam with letters from Ruby sprinkled in. I love this type of book structure. Even after finishing the book I’m still not sure who I’m rooting for…everyone? No one? Certainly not anyone who is dead…they all deserved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Going into this one, I was a little concerned as I’ve had a mixed experience with the authors other books. However, I really enjoyed this one.

This book is more of a character study/ domestic suspense, than a thriller, so I think it’s important that readers have the right expectations going in. Not a ton happens, plot wise, until the end of the book. Most of the novel is spent learning about our characters, their messy relationships and motivations, and the dark and toxic family history they are all tangled in. With that being said, I really enjoyed this book. I found the characters and family dynamics fascinating. Most of the characters are not likeable, but reading about them was like watching a reality tv show and I was here for it. The only real complaint I have is that then ending felt a little drawn out, but other than that I really enjoyed this one.

I absolutely loved this book! I started reading it while on a plane ride home and I was so invested that I didn't want the plane to land. I loved how the story was told through interwoven characters and stories with twists I never saw coming.

As a big fan of The Wife of Upstairs, I had really high hopes going into this book. While I did find it somewhat enjoyable, in my opinion, it lacked the usual thriller pacing needed to keep me on the edge of my seat. I found that I kept waiting for the plot to pick up and hook me in, but it sadly never did.

I was honestly glad for this book to be over, as it just didn't do it for me overall. I did enjoy the idea of the story, but the slow pace just ultimately left me wanting more.

Due to the nature of the other reviews, especially from fans of this author, I do wonder if my expectations were maybe inaccurate going into this book. The other novel of Rachel Hawkins that I've read was very fast faced, but it is entirely possible that the pacing of this novel is consistent with her other novels and writing style.

While this book ultimately missed the mark for me in terms of being categorized as a "thriller," I do encourage fans of mystery to check this out-especially if you are interested in the wealthy, southern family drama vibes.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is, by far, Rachel Hawkins best work. I wasn’t personally a fan of her other novels, but I decided to give her another try with this book. I’m glad I did! This was a super quick, twisty read. I would definitely recommend you read it if the synopsis appeals to you! While the story isn’t the most unique thing I’ve ever read, it was certainly well done and worth the read.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC.

I loved this book! I haven't read a book in a while that I couldn't put down or stop thinking about.

Camden was adopted by a wealthy woman with a history consisting of kidnapping, 4 husbands that have died, and a greedy family willing to do anything to get their families money. The book is told from 3 POVs with one of them being letters previously written. Camden has moved as far away from his family as he can but needs to go back to his family home about years of being gone. Every chapter reveals more and more and keeps you invested in finding out what is happening in this family. I was completely surprised by the ending and would highly recommend this book for anyone that likes mysteries with twist and turns throughout.

I’m always on the hunt for a twisty, fast-paced thriller and this delivered. I couldn’t get enough of the McTavish family, and the story kept me guessing until the last page. Another great read from Rachel Hawkins. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC!

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a compelling slow burn thriller that captivates readers with its complex family dynamics, hidden secrets, and unexpected twists. At the heart of the story lies a husband's carefully guarded secret about his estranged, wealthy family, which sets the stage for an engrossing and suspenseful tale.

The protagonist, a husband with a mysterious past, has successfully kept his rich family background hidden from his wife. However, when his adoptive mother passes away, he is faced with the daunting task of settling her vast assets and deciphering her will. This leads him to confront his estranged relatives, whom he shares a tense relationship with, making the situation all the more challenging.

One of the book's strengths lies in the author's masterful portrayal of family dynamics. The tension and conflicts between the husband and his adoptive family members add depth to the plot, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. As the protagonist delves deeper into his family's history, the story unfurls in unexpected ways, creating an intriguing web of secrets and revelations.

The slow burn aspect of the novel serves to intensify the suspense, as the author carefully builds up the suspense and anticipation throughout the narrative. Hawkins crafts an atmosphere of uncertainty and keeps readers guessing, ensuring they are fully invested in the characters' journey.

What sets "The Heiress" apart is the brilliant twist that occurs when the husband discovers that his wife had been aware of his family background all along. This revelation not only challenges the husband's perception of his past but also brings forth a new layer of complexity to their relationship. The author cleverly weaves this twist into the plot, leaving readers shocked and enthralled.

Furthermore, the character development in "The Heiress" is noteworthy. The husband's internal struggle as he comes to terms with his past, along with the evolving dynamics with his wife, creates a deeply emotional and relatable experience for the readers.

Overall, "The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a gripping novel that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. With its well-crafted suspense, intricate family dynamics, and unexpected revelations, this book offers a thrilling reading experience that is difficult to put down. While the pace may be slow at times, the payoff is more than worth it. Therefore, I wholeheartedly recommend "The Heiress" to fans of suspenseful thrillers and family dramas.

I’ve always enjoyed Hawkins’ writing, so I knew to expect good things, but this one was fantastic!!! Throughout the book, little twists kept happening that I wasn’t expecting at all, and by the end, everything was tied up in an incredibly satisfying way. I would definitely recommend The Heiress, especially if you like twisty, messed up stories of families who keep secrets that change everything!!!

In this gripping novel, “The Heiress," the narrative unfolds through the voices of Camden, Ruby's adopted son, and his wife Jules. Interwoven with intriguing snippets from news articles about the infamous kidnapping of Ruby McTavish, the story keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

Jules, married to Cam for a decade, conceals her deep involvement in Cam's family history, while Cam himself guards secrets from Jules. As a child, Cam endured a tumultuous upbringing with the McTavishes after being adopted by Ruby. Despite their cruelty, he eventually escapes their clutches and starts a new life in a distant state, leaving the dark past behind. However, fate forces him to return to the family estate as the sole heir, where he unravels the web of family mysteries.

The atmosphere of the grand mansion, shrouded in secrets, initially seems familiar, but the plot takes an intense turn during the final quarter of the book. Surprising revelations surface, shedding new light on the previously perceived truths, leaving readers astounded.

"The Heiress" boasts a compelling storyline that keeps readers engrossed, evoking a sense of suspense and foreboding throughout. The characters, though easy to despise due to their actions, are also profoundly human and complex, making redemption a challenging journey for most, except for the resilient and relatable figure of Camden.

In summary, "The Heiress" is a captivating read, where secrets and lies intertwine to create a riveting tale of dark family legacies and unexpected twists. It is my favourite Rachel Hawkins book so far!

Cam is heir to his family's fortune, but doesn't want anything to do with it. After years, Cam and his wife Jules return to the family's mansion and the twists keep coming from there. I loved this book and couldn't wait to hear how it ended.

I really enjoyed this book. At about 60% I started flying through the pages to see what was going to happen. I loved the family rivalry, murder, and secrets. Just when you think you got a grip on what was going on, it got flipped a little. Very happy to have read this one before its published!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!

I couldn't wait until January to read this after going over the synopsis and absolutely loving it. I have read each of Rachel Hawkins' thrillers every year, and each time they're such a good time. I loved this book because it was set in North Carolina, a place I am very familiar with, and it had the absolute best atmosphere. I liked how the book would alternate between Cam, Jules, and Ruby's letters. I read this book lightning fast because I needed to see what was going to happen, and although I read a lot of thrillers, there was enough unpredictability that I was hooked and entertained. I feel like this is a book that I will come back and reread, and I can't wait to see what Rachel Hawkins writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Heiress is Rachel Hawkins's latest twisty novel and it does not disappoint! She has become one of my favorite authors and as soon as I hear about a new book, I immediately have to get my hands on it. Cam and Jules were great main characters, morally gray yet I could still understand their motivations based on their pasts and who they came from. I also loved the setting of the Ashby House in the NC mountains. There is something so beautiful but dangerous about the Appalachians and I understand that feeling of wanting the peace that comes from those mountains, but recognizing that it can be dangerous. Overall, I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of Southern Gothic fiction.

Solid 'twistery' genre novel (mysteries you know will have multiple twists). I've read several Rachel Hawkins books so I knew what the feel of the book was likely to be and it didn't disappoint. This one kept my attention better than some of her others that were a bit whacky (although still enjoyable). For some reason this one felt slightly more realistic than others? Perhaps in light of real world current events with uber rich families it felt like this could all actually happen. That said, I got Evelyn Hugo vibes (intentional or not) with Ruby's character, which felt a bit meh, especially since I adored that book and Evelyn's character (and I did not love Ruby). I'm rounding my review up to a 4 because this story really did keep me captivated, even if it felt slightly uninspired at points.

THE HEIRESS
BY: RACHEL HAWKINS

About 4.5 Stars!

This latest mystery called, "The Heiress," is Rachel Hawkins latest novel and is being marketed as a thriller and mystery, but I would categorize it more as a dysfunctional family drama. Most of this family is really despicable and I ended up liking one character. I ended up loving it a lot more towards the ending than I did in the beginning. So overall when the last portion was read it elevated the entire reading experience to 4.5 stars. I almost passed on this even though I have loved this author's previous works, especially "Reckless Girls," because the synopsis didn't sound appealing to me. I'll admit it that I thought the pacing was uneven.

It was slow going in the beginning and I was saying to myself that I have to force myself to read this since I requested it, but having finished it, the payoff overall was worth it. Nothing is as it seems so there are wonderful twists that deliver revealing things that promise to make this a must read especially if you enjoy a good mystery. This is one of those rare gems that after you finish it you appreciate it all the more.

Ruby McTavish has been married four times and she has become a widow four times. What really happened to each of her husbands? Did they die of natural causes or was there foul play involved? Was Ruby kidnapped when she was three years old? Did she get safely returned to her family?

Camden is called home by his cousin after his uncle died. Camden has been happily married to Jules for ten years and living in Colorado. He is an English teacher about to become a multimillionaire, but he doesn't want anything to do with his family home in North Carolina or the money. His wife Jules doesn't understand why he is so dead set against claiming the life where they both would be financially better off. Camden is the adopted son of Ruby. The story comes from letters written from Ruby, and also from Camden's and Jules point of views in alternating chapters. The chapters are short which make this story read very fast.

I'm so glad that I read this which is a favorite of 2023! I highly recommend this to those who enjoy mysteries.

Publication Date: January 9, 2024

Thank you to Net Galley, Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin's Press for generously providing me with my eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#TheHeiress #RachelHawkins #StMartinsPress #NetGalley

Cam returns to Ashby House, the place where he grew up, with his wife Jules. Cam wants nothing to do with Ashby House, his relatives, or his inheritance. As Jules learns some of his family’s secrets, she is even more determined for her husband to claim everything his notorious mother, Ruby “Kill-more” McTavish, left him.
The Heiress is a new thriller written by Rachel Hawkins, which will be coming out in January 2024. This book is full of scandals, secrets, and money. This is the second book that I have read by Rachel Hawkins and I really liked it. The setting and the plot was good. The plot twists and reveals were really good s well. I didn’t even see them coming. This book also had dual POV’s and featured various letters from Ruby scattered throughout it. This book would be good for fans of Daisy Darker. I would recommend this to other people. I really enjoyed it and gave it 4/5 stars. I didn’t give it 5 because it didn’t have a creepy aspect to it, which is something I like in thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I didn't want to stop reading this book. In fact, I'm writing this at 1:30 a.m. because I settled into bed, expecting to read a chapter before going to sleep...but I ended up reading the whole final third of the book.

I'm a sucker for any story with a spooky house full of secrets. One thing that bothered me initially is that we get the story from three perspectives, and all of them withhold information while also heavy hinting that they have information the reader would want to know.

There are a lot of leading lines like, "But im getting ahead of myself, well get to that later." Or, "But that's a secret I'll never tell..."

I got over that around halfway through when more information starts flowing. But towards the beginning, it annoyed me because, yeah, of course there's more. Thats kind of the point of the book?

I like how many of the characters understand each other, recognizing their xomplexities because they are themselves complex people with different faces. I'm not sure if I like any of the characters, but I like the relationships and how the characters play off each other.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins captivated me from the beginning to the end. I enjoyed the intricate web of mystery, romance and intrigue that kept me turning the pages. I love a book with short chapters and found myself continually saying, "Just one more chapter," only to have read many more before finally setting it aside to complete other things in my daily life. I also liked the book having three different points of view and wish I had been able to learn more about Ruby while she was alive.

I have read other books by Hawkins and will continue to read more. Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this advanced copy for review.

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this arc. Rachel Hawkins is one of my favorite suspense/mystery authors and fully enjoyed this. I loved the vibes and the twist was so good!