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.

Ruby McTavish went missing in the North Carolina woods while on a picnic with her family when she was three years old. Found eight months later and returned to her parent's mansion, her life goes right back to normal, but as she grows older, she doesn't feel quite right. Her notoriety begins when her first husband is murdered on their honeymoon and when her second husband dies in a home accident. By the time her fourth husband has died, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore knows the rumors about her part in all of the deaths, but ignores them and adopts a son, Camden.
In the wake of Ruby's death, Camden is set to inherit the McTavish estate and enough money to last multiple lifetimes. Camden and his wife Jules are called back to Ashby house, the dysfunctional family history comes out and family secrets are unearthed.

Rachel Hawkins is my go-to author, and The Heiress did not disappoint. This was a fast paced read for me and I loved the plot twist, the letters from the past, and the multiple POVs.
Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars

Solid thriller that kept me guessing until the end. I thought I had it all figured out as one twist was alluded to right at the beginning. I think this was a foil by the

Camden and Jules live a happy and ordinary married life in Colorado. But Camden's family history is anything but ordinary. His adopted mother Ruby is the notorious heiress of Ashby. Kidnapped as a child and widowed four times as an adult, her life has been full of drama and secrets. Ever since Ruby passed, Camden has kept as far away from Ashby as possible. But when he's called back to the manor by his cousin, the past comes back to haunt everyone, including his wife Jules.

My favourite part of the book were the letters from Ruby's perspective. Her character was so interesting and I loved delving into her personality and inner thoughts. I love to read how morally grey characters become who they are and the experiences that led down a darker path.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜: So, let me begin by saying that this is my very first Rachel Hawkin’s book and I was absolutely entertained the whole time. The McTavish family is absolutely twisted and everyone is keeping secrets.

This book caught my attention immediately. Let’s start with the cover - my brain went straight to The Seven Husband’s of Evelyn Hugo (woman in a green dress), as well because of her multiple marriages. Although a resemblance to TSHOEH, this book is original and has nothing to do with the latter.

Let’s talk about everything I enjoyed about this novel:

- I loved Ruby’s letters. This book is pretty much all about her - being found after getting kidnapped as a baby, her marriages, and her secrets, which she mentions all in her letters.

- The different POVs throughout the book. I typically prefer just one POV but for this particular book I found it to be entertaining and even necessary.

- The characters. I couldn’t trust anybody. Not one soul. I felt gaslighted for the majority of the book but in the bestest way.


Although this book was fun and fast paced, the vibes weren’t fully there for me. I feel like I was left wanting more answers and more details about the past. I also felt like I knew the main characters only at a surface level.

The dual timeline was rather confusing at times as well and I had to re-read certain pages in order to grasp where I was at. Okay read but not a memorable one.

A special thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for this ARC! ‘The Heiress’ will be available to everyone on January 9, 2024!

Find me on IG: coffeebreakwithrachel

Name of Book: The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Pub Date: January 9, 2024
My Rating: 3.7 rounded up
Pages: 394

Story told from the POV of Camden, Jules, and Ruby
~Camden: an orphan boy who was adopted by Ruby
~Jules: Camden's wife.
~ Ruby Anne McTavish: - who is the main character but died at the beginning of this story so her POV is done via letters.

Ruby had me curious we know she grew up in a mansion known as the Ashby House, we also know when Ruby was only three years old she was taken from a family picnic in the woods near her home in North Carolina. Her mother and her nanny both thought the other had little Ruby however when they discover that wasn’t the case, they start an immediate search as well as called for assistance. The authorities believe Ruby was kidnapped as Ruby’s father is very wealthy.

She was found eight months later living with the Darnells in Alabama. Mr. Darnell confessed that while he was working on a construction for Mr. McTavish. One Sunday afternoon he drank too much and saw little Ruby alone. She looked so much like his own daughter Doral who recently died; that he couldn't resist scooping her up and taking her home to his wife Helen.
Helen Darnell continues to insist that she IS Dora.
When Rudy was old enough to marry she married Duke Callahan who was shot on their Paris honeymoon. Her second husband died in an electrical accident, her third husband died due to an illness and her fourth and last husband Robby Kenmore died in a boating accident which earned her the title Mrs. Kill-more!.
Story alternates chapters with their POV – they all very interesting secrets; as we read on we learn more.

This is my fourth Rachel Hawkins thriller. I went back and check my reviews of other books I read. "The Villa]"is the most recent and I did like it ~ I made the comment that Ms. Hawkins seems to like ‘foul-mouthed unlikeable characters.’ - They seem to be her trademark.
Needless to say, these characters fit that description as well.
I struggled at first but hung in there and yes the secrets made it worth my while to continue.
Ended up liking this story.

Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for January 9, 2024.

The Heiress Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my first Rachel Hawkins novel, and I am very impressed. I loved this twisty, fast paced book. The whole book begs the question between nature vs nurture, and I couldn’t put it down.

The story follows the point of views of Camden McTavish and his wife Jules, with occasional letters from his adoptive mother Ruby McTavish pre death. Ruby McTavish was born into a wealthy east coast family in the great Ashby house. At only three years old, she went missing during a picnic with her parents. About 8 months later she was found and returned from the people who took her. Ruby then grew up to become a big sister, the sole inheritor of the family fortune, and a reputation for being unlucky in love. All four of her husbands died tragically, gaining her the name Mrs Killmore. She swore off marriages after that, and adopted her son Camden, who she left all the family’s money and inheritance to after her death. Camden, being adopted, was unliked by the rest of the family due to him being given the family inheritance when he wasn’t even blood. So what happens when Camden and his wife return to Ashby house to sort out the inheritance he doesn’t even want anything to do with? Now throw in letters from Ruby revealing the truth of her life, and her questioning if she is truly Ruby McTavish, or if the girl returned was someone else entirely.

I loved the family drama and identity crisis that every character was going through. Everyone has secrets, and family is only as strong as the trust between the members.

Thank you to NetGally for this advanced copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

The Heiress will be released on January 9th 2024!!

I read an ARC from NetGalley and St Martins in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a solid three stars until the ending for me. I didn’t find the characters as interesting or relatable as others in books by the same author. I did like how the end revealed all the connections between the characters in the book and one I’d forgotten to pay attention to.

The Heiress
By: Rachel Hawkins

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Camden has to go back to his family home that he left 10 years in the past, when his mom, Ruby, dies. Ruby left a great fortune and estate that needs to be handled. Her life was filled with lots of misfortune including being kidnapped when she was a young girl and deaths of all four of her husbands. When Camden and his wife, Jules, return to his childhood home, the secrets begin to unravel.

This was my first Rachel Hawkins book! What a whirlwind. The book is told not only from the two main characters POV but also letters, emails and news articles. I really enjoyed the different avenues of telling the story. This takes many twists and turns, some predictable and some not. Nonetheless, it was a great book that I will end up reading again

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC

This is not my first Rachel Hawkins book and I have loved every single one. I enjoyed the different POV from current time with Cam and Jules to the letters written by Ruby in the past . The twist were unexpected and made it hard to put the book down . Things did get a little confusing with so many characters involved and keeping the families straight. Still really enjoyed and recommend this book.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest revie

Oh my goodness! The Heiress was everything it purported to be. Cam, Jules and Ruby McTavish were the stars. The story was, when Ruby was 3 years old, she was kidnapped. And allegedly, a private investigator found her with a family in Alabama. The mother in that family swore it's a little girl was her daughter Dora. Anyway, the little girl came to live with the McTavish family in their home, the Ashby house.

Ruby grew up and married four times. And four times she lost her husband. Her first husband was shot, her second husband died in an accident in the garage, her third husband died involving an automobile, in her last husband drowned. After her last husband, she decided to adopt 3-year-old Camden.

When Cam grew up, he didn't like living in the Ashby house. He didn't like the McTavishes and decided to move away to go to college in San Bernardino, California. It was there that he met his wife Jules, short for Juliana.

When Ruby died she left her fortune to Cam, including Ashby house. 10 years later his cousin Ben sent him an email and asked him to come home because Ashby house is in dire need of repairs. Cam really doesn't want to go but Jules talks him into it.

When they arrive, three people are living in the house: his cousin Ben, his cousin Libby, and his aunt Nelle. Nelle is a bitter old woman and Ben and Libby are money hungry. One night at dinner. Ben is about to make an announcement but Cam beat some to the punch. Cam announces that Ruby wasn't actually Ruby, but she's actually Dora. Cam knew this because Ruby/Dora told him. Ben believes that this announcement will mean that the money will revert back to them. Cam tells him that they can have the money in the house, that he doesn't want either one. All along Jules was hoping Cam would reclaim the house and the money. Up until then Cam had not been spending the money.

The next day, are Jules shares with Cam letters that she found in Ruby's office, letters that she assumes Ruby has written to Cam. In the letters Ruby confesses the fact that she killed her husbands.

After reading the letters, Cam tells Jules that he's leaving and he'll be back by dark. While Cam is gone, Jules goes into Ruby's office looking for more secrets. Been sneaks up on her and asks what she's looking for. In his hands he has letters that he knows she was searching for. She knows exactly what those letters are and she snatches them from him and turns her back on him. At that point he hits her upside the head with a paper weight. She grabs a fire poker and hits him killing him. At that point she sets the house on fire. Unbeknownst to her Libby is in bed sleeping. It is then that Cam returns home. Oh, and Nelle was found dead in her bed that morning. It turned out that Ben had killed her.

With everyone dead, Cam claim the money and used it for good. There were so many secrets in this book. I'd love to reveal them, but that would ruin it. All in all, this was a story that was very well written with excellent character development. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I gave it five stars.