I have long been a fan of Hawkins and this book did not disappoint. It was not my favorite of hers but was a solid read that kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next!

The Heiress was good, but not great. It was easy to read and kept my interest. There were a few twists and turns, but no major surprises. I usually enjoy Rachel Hawkins books, and the Heiress did not disappoint.

“Family is a complicated word – more complicated for me than a lot of people…I’ve spent so much of my life trying to figure out what that word even means to me,” says one of the book’s main characters.
But every character in this twisty, plotted novel from a master of contemporary thrillers is figuring out family, partly due to a character who always feels “this darkness that seemed tocling to me... .” The suspense is intensified by a secluded, mountainous setting in North Carolina.
I’ve read a lot of books by Rachel Hawkins, and I think this one is my favorite to date. There are enough characters to keep it interesting and unpredictable most of the time without so many that a reader needs a running list of names. I also liked the realistic plot basis, opening with the disappearance of an extremely wealthy family’s 3-year-old daughter, Ruby. As the story unfolds with alternating first-person narration, it is very clear that the power struggle for control of the wealth has created a toxic environment of dangerous animosity. An environment so unsettling that one character wants out and seems willing to forgo all connections to the family fortune to live an unspectacular but calm life. However, just like in real life, a death in the family forces people to come together to settle legal matters. All the local people know about this family and the miasma that makes up their family tree, and a warning goes out to a returning family member to sleep with one eye open. There is lots of despicable behavior, but we have all seen news reports with equally shocking details, so readers do not have to suspend belief to enjoy this mystery.
The only time I paused and temporarily felt removed from the story was when a description of the family’s emerald earrings included the name of a historical, world-famous previous owner; this North Carolina family’s extreme wealth and power over the regions police force, newspaper reporters, etc. had been clearly established already. That is a small, probably-too-picky detail that others may not even notice. Read and enjoy. For this genre (contemporary family-drama thriller), it was an enjoyable 4.5 for me and rounded to 5 for this star system.

Damn, this was good. I truly was kept guessing until the last few pages. Rachel Hawkins truly as a gift of writing morally ambiguous characters you end up rooting for either way. After a family trip to Asheville, the setting of this book was perfect- it immediately made me think of the Vanderbilts and Biltmore, and I wonder how much inspiration Hawkins took from that setting.

I received this Arc from NetGalley and I am so happy I did. This is my first book by this author but it definitely won't be my last. I really love her writing style and the differing perspectives of the main characters. This was a very engrossing story with surprises around every corner. It really kept me guessing until the shocking final page. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend it to anyone who is a fan of pychological suspense. I can honestly say Rachel Hawkins is one of my new favorite authors. I can't wait to read her next one.

I appreciated getting an ARC for this book. Rachel Hawkins never lets me down on a fun and interesting story!

This one features am heiress who went missing when she was three and then was found. She also has a bunch of rumors about her and how she killed her four husbands.

Then there's her adopted son who she had inherit all of the money, but he doesn't really want it.

All of these things seem random, but they work in this new book. I personally loved the letters from Ruby about her perspective on the events of her life. I liked the articles and news reports thrown in as well.

Camden and Jules were the other perspectives. I liked them, but I wished they had a little more umph with them. Camden could have been anyone in my opinion. Jules was a little more intriguing, but I still needed more.

The story wraps up well with some fun twists and turns.

I haven’t read a book this quickly in years. The Heiress was fast paced and kept me second guessing everything I thought I knew until the end. I HIGHLY recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the early copy!

What an amazing book. Just when you think it is over you get more twists and turns. Cam travels back to his family home in the mountains of North Carolina. He is forced to reunite with his very dysfunctional and wealthy family. Every time I thought I had everything figured out I was shocked with how wrong I had it.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is the best book I’ve read so far this year. It kept me entertained through the novel and always on the edge of my seat. The story reminded me of Knives Out meets Evelyn Hugo. It has family drama, flashbacks, mystery and even more on every page. I loved how the story was told through multiple points of view to give the reader a greater understanding of all the characters and their histories that brought them together.

This book will keep you guessing until the very end. Absolute amazing novel and couldn’t recommend it more!

Rachel Hawkins writes great, classic Southern gothic, and this is no exception. I have previously read The Wife Upstairs and was hopeful to have the same suspense in the pages of The Heiress, and I was not disappointed. Who gets the money when the head of the family dies? How many secrets have to be unraveled before the truth comes out---- or stays hidden? And most of all, who is worthy of the prize?

This book is great for readers of Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie, along with any fans of the movie Knives Out.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a riveting page-turner filled with complex characters and plot twists that will keep you wondering who - and what- to believe.

Camden is the heir to Ashby House and the millions that have been left to him by his cunning, brilliant adoptive mother Ruby. She refused to allow any members of the manipulative Tavish clan to take her fortune and did everything- and I mean EVERYTHING- to make sure that Camden would inherit her riches. When Camden's wife Jules convinces him to return to Ashby to settle the affairs that have long been unresolved, decades of lies and deception are uncovered... and staying alive may be more of a challenge than they bargained for....

This book started out slow, but picked up around the half way point. The letters from Ruby give me 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes.

Overall thought the plot was good, most of the twists you could see coming, but felt there were too many of the secrets were revealed in the epilogue.

3.5 stars from me

4 and a half stars

I’m a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins and this did not disappoint! It was an incredibly fast paced read that I didn’t want to put down. With its dual POV, short chapters, family wealth & secrets, complicated relationships, letters from the past, and murder, I’m sure you’ll love the book as well! This would be the perfect book to binge in one sitting, although I’m certain you’ll have a book hangover when it’s over. I’m still thinking about the characters and the plot almost a week after finishing it!

This may be my favorite Rachel Hawkins to date. I love the ways she writes her scenes to make you feel so creeper out but unable to not find out what happens next. This is more family drama than thriller but it was so good. Twist on a twist. Thank you Netgalley!

I actually didn’t enjoy this book at all. I felt the plot was extremely far fetched and the whole “ruby” part seemed. Ridiculius.

Fantastic story! I loved this book. I was hanging onto the vibe of every single character from page one. The twists and turns were awesome, definitely my favorite Rachel Hawkins book so far!

Rachel Hawkins has rapidly become one of my “must read” authors. Her thrillers are excellent and The Heiress is no exception. The characters in this one are all suspicious with unknown motives, and there are twists within twists throughout. Overall, this was another wonderful read from Rachel Hawkins and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

The Heiress is a gripping mystery by Rachel Hawkins set in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. Between the author and the setting, I was confident this one would be a success for me and it very much was. This was my fifth book from the author but my first time that wasn't an audiobook and I can say the writing was just right for an easy to consume mystery with just enough detail and depth.

Camden and Jules have been married for ten years living in Colorado. He's a teacher and she does historical reenactments that leave her feeling exhausted and demoralized. But as it turns out, Camden has rejected a massive inheritance and a huge family estate nestled in the mountains of WNC. When he receives several manipulative emails from his relatives, Jules and Camden begin a road trip to Ashby House.

Interspersed with letters from Ruby McTavish, the former heiress of the family who gained fame when she was lost on a picnic at three years old and then found nearly a year later. Later in life, she gain notoriety for the mysterious deaths of four husbands.

The synopsis of this book will give you WAY TOO MUCH INFORMATION. Do NOT read it. Here are the vibes: cozy but tense, rich people behaving badly, isolated castle like home, married couple keeping secrets from each other, letters and news articles along with dual POVs, nothing gory or scary.

This is a solid mystery and another great book from Rachel Hawkins. I hope you'll add it to your TBR!

Wow! This is Rachel Hawkins’ best book yet! You essentially had two stories going on. Ruby, the deceased heiress, telling her story via letters to someone undisclosed, and the present day story, which centered around her surviving family and the fight over the money and house she left her adopted son after her death. This was such a juicy read that kept me on the edge of my seat! Every time I thought I had things figured out, I was thrown a curveball! I devoured this book in less than a day and will definitely be recommending it to friends and family!!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me for a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review

This was so, so, good! I could stop there because that is all you really need to know. However; a word of advice- when you think you have this figured out, you do not.

The story is told primarily form Jules and Camden’s POV but includes interesting breaks to add some newspaper articles. And of course the letters from Ruby. Jules is the most amazing character, she is funny and glib and totally in control. You can feel the anxiety that Camden feels as he faces his past and going back to Ashby House.

Rachel Hawkins is an amazing writer and story teller and I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC from the publisher St. Martin’s Press, through NetGalley and while I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, it did not influence my opinion.