Thank you, St. Martin’s Press, for the advanced reader copy of The Heiress! It was giving The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes but with murder, which makes it even more exciting than the former (in my humble opinion)!

I was hooked right from the first page- I really enjoy when authors incorporate media snippets in their writing- and Rachel Hawkins does this very well (I noticed this in The Villa, too). I live for the “this house is spooky, isolated, and possibly haunted” trope, so that drew me in, too. Though I read it, I think this book will definitely be dope as an audiobook.

I would definitely recommend this book! I’ve read three books by Rachel Hawkins this past year, and she is quickly becoming one of my must read authors. I’m excited to see what she comes up with next!

Rachel Hawkins has such a knack for creating believable worlds...this one is very gothic and full of lots and lots (and lots) of money. There are multiple characters and two timelines, mostly following the life and loves of a wealthy heiress named Ruby. A perfect read for anyone who loves stories filled with Gothic-y homes, small mountain towns, and good-old-fashioned family backstabbing.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a fast paced suspense that was so enjoyable to read. The different POVs jumping back and forth between timelines slowly revealed secrets and twists. And I loved how flawed all the characters were so much more interesting to read.

I loved this book! If I could give it 4.5 stars I would! The only reason I didn't rate it 5 is because one of the twists at the end... I wanted to know more about that! But also wouldn't be surprised if maybe there's a follow up story there.
This reads like a juicy movie and was so addictive. The different characters were written quite well. It was a little bit Evelyn Hugo meets Knives Out in the best way. Another hit from Rachel Hawkins that I'll be recommending!
Thank you for the advanced read NetGalley!

4.5 stars. This book was great! Loved the history of the characters and the suspense was great! I have read this authors other books as well and loved most of them. I will definitely be recommending this one to my book friends. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of this book.

3.5 rating
Camden McTavish wasn’t born with the infamous name McTavish. That name came after he was adopted by Ruby McTavish, a wealthy woman who survived four husbands. Ruby was the heir of the Ashby estate leaving everything to Camden her adopted son which is ruffling a few feathers with the remaining McTavish family.
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When Ruby passed away she left her estate to Camden. According to Ben, Libby, and Nelle Camden shouldn’t be the one inherit the estate since he’s not blood. Camden was never interested in Ruby’s money because it came with expectations. His wife Jules is ecstatic to finally be inside the famous house of the notorious Ruby McTavish. Everyone knows her story how she disappeared from a family picnic when she was three years old and found eight months later living with another family who claimed she was their three year old daughter Dora.
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Nelle, Ben, and Libby want to keep the Ashby House for themselves. Jules wants to keep the Ashby House for her and Cam. It’s a fight until the bitter end to see which of these family members can destroy the other with secrets and truths.
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Rachel Hawkins writes with an originality that surpasses most other writers. The Heiress is about Ruby McTavish’s life before her death. Readers learn the truth about each husband in letters Ruby wrote to someone. It’s in these confession letters where Camden learns who his mother was. That mystery gets out to rest fairly early in the story. The true mystery lies within Jules the woman Camden married ten years ago. Her fascination with the Ashby House and his family members brings forth a curiosity that is itching to be shared.
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Definitely an interesting concept and quite unique. I commend Rachel Hawkins for writing an original story. While I wasn’t completely invested in this story I still appreciate the way it all came together in the end. It had a subtle twist that worked. I wish I had liked it more because the writing was flawless. It was an easy short read perfect for a day on the beach.

Rachel Hawkins is an auto buy for me, espcially with her new focus on true crime thrillers. This one was a perfect mix of gothic drama and mystery. It felt like Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Knives Out. Enough flashbacks/letters balanced with current storyline to leave you constantly learning more about the story but wanting to keep going and figure it out.

I always look forward to Rachel Hawkins’ books and this one was no exception. The story goes back and forth from present day to the past when little Ruby went missing from her family’s estate. Thankfully, she was found and returned to her family, and now the family is dealing with the estate as dark secrets come to light. This is a fast-paced thriller that I enjoyed so much! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Thank you to netgalley for this free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

I think The Heiress may have been my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet! This story is about a wealthy heiress named Ruby Mctavish who was lost as a child and then “found” months later and returned to her family. As an adult, Ruby was married 4 times over and after that, eventually adopted a son named Cam, who would become the heir to her fortune when she passes.

Then enter our two other main characters Cam and Jules who head back to the Mctavish mansion when another family member passed away, to take care of some family business. That’s when things really start to get wild and the family secrets unfold.

This was a quick enjoyable read for me. As we learned the truth about Ruby’s husbands through her letters I was getting “7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo” vibes, which is a favorite of mine and I throughly enjoyed the ending. -official publication is set for Jan 2024

Cam and Jules live a quiet life in Colorado on a teachers salary. However, Camden McTavish is a secret. Over a decade before, after his adoptive mother, Ruby, dies leaving him heir to the McTavish fortune, he turns his back on all of it, the money, family, and the monstrous family mansion. Now he is drawn back only to find the family is still bitter and toxic and the house in disrepair. Secrets are spilled and discovered. Who will be left standing? The story starts a little slow, but as webs are woven, the reader is the fly getting wound up in the deceit of this family’s story.

The Heiress is a story full of wicked family secrets. Greed, murder, and lies. The way Rachel weaved the story together so seamlessly was genius. Perfection to the very last page! Thank you so much, St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. It is safe to say I enjoyed every minute.

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my third book I’ve read by Rachel and it’s probably my favorite! The book is told in a dual POV and I loved the unreliable narrators. There were so many twists and turns and I couldn’t get enough of the secrets, lies and family drama! The letters mixed in throughout the book added to the mystery of the story and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to see what was going to happen next. Well done!

Is the McTavish estate worth killing over?

Ruby McTavish's life has never been easy. At three years old, she was kidnapped by the Darnells, being returned to her family less than a year later. Her life was full of love and losses when she became a widow four times over. Was everything as it seemed? Or was there something behind her nickname of Mrs. Kill-more?

Camden, the sole heir of the estate Ruby's adopted child, caused havoc with the McTavish family since he was not blood-related. However, Camden wanted nothing to do with all that was left to him. He found happiness as an English teacher at a boy's school in Colorado living alongside his wife Jules. However, his plan of not returning to the McTavish estate changes when he receives an email from his cousin after the death of his uncle.

Jules is eager for the trip to finally get to know Camden's family although she didn't know what she was in for or, did she? Once they reach the McTavish estate, known as the Ashby House, the truth comes to light when everyone has a secret or motive they are trying to keep.

I loved this book from the start! This is a solid 4 star rating! Outside of a few instances of predictability it was captivating all the way to the last page. I enjoyed the style it was written; from the character perspectives of Camden and Jules mixed with letters from Ruby of her past.

If you are in search for a fast-paced family psychological thriller and suspense, this book is for you!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

this was my first Rachel Hawkins and it was good but it dragged a lot for me. I think it was marketed as a thriller but felt more like a family drama to me which wasn't what I expected.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. all thoughts are my own.

The Heiress is an example of a low-stakes gothic that packs a big punch. It is compulsively readable. Rachel Hawkins is the queen of modern contemporary-themed Gothics. Short, strange, and often fast-paced, this author can take you on a whirlwind journey in under 300 pages; her latest is no different.

The book follows three different POVs, a married couple (Cam and Jules) and Cam's wealthy adopted mother, Ruby, as she tells her life story in a long letter. In the present day, Cam and Jules navigate the treacherous world of the ultra-rich, as Cam's family will do anything to prevent him from inheriting his mother's fortune. Think Evelyn Hugo meets Knives Out.

The twists and turns that connect Ruby and the couple's lives are nothing short of the over-dramatic and bizarre flair that any passionate fan of the gothic has come to expect from them, but casual readers may find themselves scoffing at the soap opera nature of The Heiress. If you like juicy drama, spiteful rich people, and twists stacked on twists, this very short and strange little story is for you.

An incredible thriller and it’s totally worth being called a page-turner. The characters are fantastic and when the author goes into detail about scenes it’s the perfect amount.

Always a fan of Rachel Hawkins, however, this was my least favorite of all her books. While it wasn't a bad book, I just felt like there was a little too much that seemed far-fetched. Also, none of the characters were very likable.

Is Ruby really Ruby?
When I started reading, I wasn’t so gung ho, but I kept turning the pages. Boy oh boy am I glad, learning about the upstanding, murderous, baby stealing, back stabbing McTavish family pulled me in.
Is everyone really who they say they are?
In many ways this book made me think of the VC Andrews series of children in the attic, the secrets and lies can be hard to keep up with.
Money is the root of a lot of evils, but there’s much, much more. Big houses have lots of room for a lot of secrets and lies. Is there an honest character in this story?
All of these questions have answers, and out of the ashes you’ll find yourself fully satisfied.

I absolutely adored this book! I was immediately engaged with the characters and the story is well thought out. I noticed that when i had to put the book down i would think about it during the day waiting to get back to it after work. Thats pretty rare! I 100% recommend this book and author!Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy!

Absolutely amazing and one of the best books I've read this year!

Rachel Hawkins is one of the best mystery/thriller authors. She knows how to captivate you from the very start and throw in twists that you never see coming (even the ones you can guess still throw you for a loop). Just do yourself a favor and read this as soon as possible, don't let this one sit on your tbr pile for long.