dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5 stars

A few weeks ago I was at a writing retreat at a gorgeous estate in the mountains. I commented near the end of the week that I could understand how someone could forget that there are people struggling in the world if they experienced this kind of environment most of their life.

As I sat and devoured this newest novel by Rachel Hawkins (the first I’ve read by her), that is exactly what the McTavish family lives out at Ashby House, “A haunted house where the ghosts hadn’t had the courtesy to die yet.”

What a self centered, pathological, vicious family! And I could not stop turning page after page to untangle the lies and deceit (some I figured out sooner than others). This is a crazy family drama told from different perspectives including newspapers & tabloids, confessional letters from the now deceased family matriarch, and Jules and Cam who are determining their future with the house they have inherited in spite of other family members who seem like they will stop at nothing to claim this ancestral home. It’s hard to go into any detail without spoiling the ride, but if you’re looking for a good vacation read, I suggest picking up The Heiress. I read most if in a day at the beach.

While not the kind of book I usually care for, I loved the writing style so much and Hawkins can spin quite a tale. I could definitely see this made into a limited tv series.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC

Cam and his wife Jules are returning to his childhood home after the passing of his adoptive mother, Ruby. Cam’s memories of Ashby House are anything but pleasant, and he has worked hard to separate himself from the family and the estate that he grew up in. He has to return to the house and is confronted with the truth of who Ruby was and what she did. Not only was she kidnapped as a child and returned a year later, but she herself is suspected of wrongdoing. Mysteries and accusations surround Ruby after the deaths of her four husbands, and no one at Ashby House can be trusted.

I have read and enjoyed all of Rachel Hawkins’s books, but this one is by far my favorite! I loved the epistolary style of this book, and how the reader learns the truth about Ruby from Ruby herself. There are so many interwoven mysteries within a single family and no character can be trusted. This is a fast paced, twisty ride that will leave you breathless until the final pages. This book gives Murdaugh family vibes with the money and power and ability to get away with murder. I loved how the book was filled with shades of gray in terms of what defines right and wrong. The final chapters are full of twists and revelations that made my jaw drop. This was a refreshingly unique thriller, not a plot that I feel like I’ve read before. I’d highly recommend to any thriller reader- I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

Thank you to Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️

Ruby McTavish’s life was rife with intrigue and scandal. She went missing for several months as a three-year-old only to be found and returned to her wealthy parents unharmed. She grew up and married four times only to be widowed four times. Was she unlucky or was there something more sinister going on? After the loss of her last husband she decided not to marry again but adopts a little boy named Cam who, much to chagrin and indignation of her sister, nephew, and great-niece and great nephew, she decides to name as her sole heir. After her death, much to everyone’s surprise, Cam leaves the ancestral home and the money and strikes out on his own, cutting himself off from the fortune and his family. When his cousin reaches out to try to mend fences more than a decade later, Cam and his wife Jules head across the country to the McTavish estate, Ashby House. There, secrets are revealed and deceptions are brought to light.

I loved the multiple viewpoint storytelling in this book. I like how everyone thought they were so clever for unveiling each others’ secrets that they couldn’t possibly think anyone would discover their own.

Rachel Hawkins leads you through her story at her own pace and leaves enough breadcrumbs for her twists and turns to make sense without making them glaringly obvious.

Even though I didn’t actually like any of the characters, I couldn’t help but be impressed by their cunning.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair review. This review will appear on goodreads and opinions expressed are my own.
I have read four (or is it five?) Rachel Hawkins books now. I’ll be honest, I refer to them as beginner thrillers, because I am usually handing them to patrons who are looking for a thriller/mystery that isn’t gory or full of gratuitous language or triggers. That doesn’t mean they are less-than, but it’s a good way to describe the style of writing.
These books are page turners with twists and turns that keep the readers interested -with a propelling story that provides another bread crumb in the woods…making you go further.
These are my speed for sure. This is another quick read that you can figure out a tiny bit of what the ending might reveal but the fun is seeing how it all unfolds.I can’t really explain without giving spoilers, but I’ll say I read this in just a couple sittings as I always do with Hawkins, and will surely hand this one over to my patrons looking for this genre. They make great summer reads in my opinion.
4*

I love Rachel Hawkins’ books - this was a great read and kept me interested throughout - plenty of dark and twisty twists and turns; many of which I didn’t see coming which I always appreciate! Also was a quick read for me - something I constantly wanted to pick up and continue reading.

The Heiress has a bunch of twists that I didn’t see coming! What would you do if you were from a wealthy family that has all kinds of secrets? Walk away and not use any of the money? Or use it and not care where the money came from? I really enjoyed watching the whole story unfold!

I've only read one other book by this author, which I really liked. This book was ill defined. It began with a gothic vibe and gradually fell into a dysfunctional family drama.

There were times when I couldn't keel track of some of the female characters.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the chance to read this ARC. This is my honest review.

First off, how dare you write such a juicy mystery/thriller? How dare you? I started this book on the 4th of July, late at night when I realized I would not get any sleep from all the fireworks going off. I finished it yesterday, which is fast for me.
I loved the family drama and the setting of North Carolina mountains. I thought the comparisons to the Biltmore and that family were sensible. I loved how you would give reminders of the time period by linking Ruby to the president and other notable figures without it feeling like you were hand-holding the readers.
One gripe I have is that I did get confused at times when it came to the female characters, especially when the Darnell family was introduced. There were a lot of female names and people mentioned. The details about the setting and time period are superb.
Camden's reveal was hinted at early on so I was not all that surprised by the ending. Jules reveal was a little more shocking. However, Ben mentioned to Jules something about her doing what she was supposed to do, that I think never got answered. I thought there was a connection between those two (maybe I missed it) but it seemed like it never was followed up on.
I like the structure of the chapters. I can't believe I never asked myself who was reading the letters but I assumed they were there for the reader, who knew. The points of view are great. I was always looking forward to getting back to Ruby's letters.
Right when I was starting to ask why would Camden kill Ruby if she was so loving to him, you answered that question. So, the killing makes sense. I also knew something was up, early on when he would refer to her as Ruby and he alluded to there being foul play with her death.
I liked the ending but I can see some readers feeling like there were too many reveals and too many twists. It kind of felt like you were trying too hard--just a little.

Some edits/typos I noticed
p. 57 3rd paragraph should be, "Duke's voice was as low as mine now,"
the word "balm" was used numerous times (in my opinion because it sounds odd to me--in this context).
p. 190 towards the bottom of page, should say, "when I realized Jules is tugging at me, her feet planted."
p. 200 midway through the page, should say, "I didn't know what to say to that."
p. 218 1st paragraph should say, "Money, which you say you don't care about, but also freedom."
p. 219 towards the middle of page, this is a confusing sentence: "I don't even think, I don't let himself think."
p. 223 The word "Timbuktu" was used multiple times. I don't think this reference matches this group of people: White, educated, cultured, aristocrats. Of course that is my opinion though.

Great writing
p. 53 3rd paragraph really sets the tone and remind the reader the kind of woman Ruby is

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and if you have any extra copies lying around, please please think of me.

Here is my confession…

Rachel Hawkins is usually a hit or miss with me. I thought “Reckless Girls” was an excellent thriller. It lived up to its narrative. “The Villa” was less than entertaining, and the “Wife Upstairs,” albeit a solid story, one could see the twists coming from a mile away, or I could, but keep in mind , Thrillers, are my genre and I read an average of 4 a week.

So, I was excited to be offered an opportunity to read “The Heiress.” Truthfully, I’m not sure where this falls. It’s a gothic thriller, maybe. I’m not sure I’d describe it as a thriller? Personal opinion. It’s more or less about family drama and their secrets, and how all of those secrets come to the forefront. I just didn’t feel any thriller aspect. Then again, the twists were obvious, for me, and the ending, sadly, way too abrupt.

On a positive note, Ruby, is an incredible character; A strong, independent and somewhat devious individual. Camden, actually, a really nice guy and his wife Jules. Now Jules, she’s got secrets and she is no wallflower and her dialogue had me laughing out loud in spots.

There is no suspense really, but a whole Pandora’s box of secrets. The story is told through letters from the past, and Cam and Jules POV. In this case multiple POV’s keep the story moving and the reader is engaged.

In my opinion, the story could have been told just from Ruby’s POV as she was a strong and pretty cool character. Rachel Hawkins, is a really good writer, her books are fun, sometimes edgy, sometimes really predictable but overall an author who holds my attention, and I will continue to seek her novels out.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an ARC of The Heiress in exchange for an honest review.

As a boy, Camden was adopted by Ruby McTavish, a four-time widow who’s the wealthiest (and perhaps most scandalous) woman in North Carolina. But it was a difficult childhood, as every other member of her family hated that Cam represented a threat to their inheritance. So during college, he fled North Carolina and Ashby House, his ancestral home, for California. He stayed away even after Ruby died, and he inherited her entire fortune and estate. Ten years later, married to Jules and living a simple life in Colorado, he finally returns to Ashby House to settle matters with his extended family once and for all. But everyone has their secrets, and their own motivations for this reunion, maybe most of all Jules….

The Heiress is a story of mysteries and secrets. There are multiple mysteries about Ruby’s life—her kidnapping as a young girl, the deaths of each of her four husbands, why she chose to adopt Cam—told through a series of letters and newspaper articles that flesh out who she was as a person and the effect she had on those around her. And there are the secrets of the present-day characters, Cam, Jules, and the surviving McTavishes (Ben, Libby, and their mother Nelle). The storylines of the past and the present eventually all come together for a satisfying ending. The story is straightforward (unlike Ms. Hawkins’ last book, the much more complex The Villa), but it is a fast, fun, entertaining read. Recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Heiress.

This author's books are always hit or miss with me. I like the premises but the narratives always leaves me wanting.

The Heiress falls somewhere in the middle.

I like the premise; the adopted son of a wealthy heiress returns home after her death; entitled, privileged relatives fighting for their share of the dough, and a wife who isn't who she seems.

Told through through the heiress' Ruby's personal letters, and the POVs of Cam, the prodigal son, and his wife, Jules, we soon learn everyone has something to hide, but that isn't surprising.

There's no suspense, no urgency, but bucketloads of exposition as readers are offered a glimpse into Ruby's salacious past, her sordid marriages, and the secrets she didn't quite take to the grave with her.

Some of the twists you can see coming a mile away, or I could, since I read a lot of books in this genre.

Ruby's true identity, what really happened to her husbands, Cam's confession, and I knew Jules was up to something but I wasn't sure what until the end.

I did like how Ruby was sly and devious, not a damsel in distress or wilting flower, but a woman to be reckoned with.

It was nice to see a happy marriage between Cam and Jules.

In these books, the husband is usually a scumbag, but Cam is a genuinely nice guy

There was no excitement, some family drama but that was to be expected, and the ending was abrupt, rushed.

I liked this book better than the author's previous, but the narrative wasn't suspenseful.

So many amazing elements to this book that I love: It is set in my home state near my favorite city, shoutouts to UNC and UNC bball, the clear Bobby Dunbar parallels, a murderous heiress...but the book somehow fell flat for me. My favorite parts were the chapters from Ruby's POV and I would have read an entire book of just her story.
As with most books in the thriller genre, there's a lot of foreshadowing and buildup to the big "twist" ending and it seemed a little too obvious by the big reveal. Hawkins is a really fun writer though, and I finished this book fairly quickly.

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC!

I LOVED this! A smidge predictable in some ways but that did not take away from my enjoyment. This is definitely Hawkins best!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. I’ve been a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins and was excited to see this book. Without giving anything away this book revolves around a very affluential family with more secrets than you can imagine and their not the run of the mill secrets most fictional rich families have. The story has a domino effect. Each secret opens another secret. This book switches from letters from the past to current day. It sucks you in, making you want to turn the page. Murder, mystery, and a little comedy all mixed into one excellent book.. It was a fabulous read and one I would highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley & St. martins press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed The Heiress. Multiple times it went in a direction I did not anticipate in the slightest - and honestly, that’s what kept me so engaged. I did not particularly find myself attached to the main characters, Jules and Camden, but I was deeply interested in Ruby, and the story all together.

I was surprised by the ending. I do wish there were a tiny bit more clues dropped - I actually feel like some things weren’t hinted at ENOUGH, and would’ve liked to see some things fleshed out more. In the end, though, I very much enjoyed The Heiress, and I do recommend it for any thriller fans.

The Heiress is not your typical thriller. A missing child, a small fortune, murder, and an adopted son running from all his responsibilities.

This book was a page turner and it got me hooked very easily even though it tended to be predictable. The predictability was still written very well and did not take the enjoyment our of it for me. I do wish there were a few more surprises and I still had a few burning questions at the end. The style of writing here is very interesting, with news articles, letter and dual POV to give you an interesting perspective to everything.

I also actually really liked the characters and overall plot. I liked Jules and Camden and the rest of the family was typical rich folk, vain and expecting everything to be done for them. it was easy to be against them and want them to lose. the story also begged the question of, does having money truly bring you happiness?

Overall, loved the story even though it was a bit predictable and really enjoyed the writing style.
This is not my first Rachel Hawkins book and I know it wont be my last!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the E-arc in exchange for my honest review.

This novel was so good. Great characterization and dialogue, full of suspense and drama., entertaining and engaging. However, the last twenty percent was too far-fetched and the storyline was going in too many different directions. I still give it 5 stars though because the majority of the novel was extraordinary.

3.5. This book opens with a whopper. I couldn’t wait to dive in after the two-page introduction about missing persons. Sucked me right in.

A toddler goes missing while at a picnic and is missing for 8 months when she is found. This missing child is the sole heiress to a small fortune.

And then the plot begins to waiver a bit. I knew the characters weren’t who they said they were and there were a few surprises while reading it but I just wasn’t drawn in by any of them. The chapters are divided by characters and letters being written. I’m not a fan of books that address me as a reader and several chapters do that here and it just seems odd to address the reader. There were a few surprises which kept me reading the book to the end for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins and St Martins publishing.

Story about Cam and Jules. They are living a normal life in Colorado but then Cam is called home to North Carolina to deal with his family’s estate. He inherited everything 10 years ago when his mother died, but he walked away from the family and has not contacted them since. Jules thinks he should claim his inheritance and live on the property, but first they have to deal with his relatives.

I liked the start of the book. I was instantly intrigued to find out what secrets Cam and Jules were keeping. I also loved the descriptions of the remote house and North Carolina’s wilderness.

The story is told in the present day and also in newspaper articles about Cam’s mother, plus letters she wrote. I liked the use of these and thought it was a neat way to explain what happened in the past.

There are a lot of twists and turns in the story. I liked some of them but found others strained credulity. I also found the secondary characters a little one dimensional.

I loved The Wife Upstairs and Reckless Girls by the same author. I didn’t enjoy this one as much. The writing is still really good though and the plot has all the twists and turns you want in a thriller, so I’ll still be eagerly looking for her next book.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Just Finished this book and all I can say is WOW!!! If you’ve liked Rachel Hawkins other books, you will absolutely LOVE this one. It blew me away. Read it in 2 days. It was not your typical thriller but it worked and will immediately pull you in.
Ruby Mctavish is not your typical heiress. Born into a very well to do family, she’s kidnapped when she’s 3 years old and miraculously found 9 months later living with her kidnappers family. Now she’s not only rich but famous. She grows up and marries 4 different times, each marriage ending in each husbands death. This is her story of each of these marriages and her outlandish family. Her story will blow you away. Eventually she adopts a young boy, Camden (never having any of her own) and this too causes animosity among her family. In the end she leaves everything to Camden and he eventually is forced back to the famous Ashby House to settle the chaos.
The story is told in Rubys, Camdens and Jules (Camdens wife) POV’s. There is also snippets of newspaper articles about the many interesting aspects of Rubys famous life.