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" A haunted house where the ghosts hadn't had the courtesy to die yet"

Ruby McTavish was kidnapped as a child and returned to her family months later. She has also been a widow four times over. When Ruby died, she passed her estate to her only son, Camden, who was adopted. Despite all the wealth, the manor, the clout that comes with living in Tavistock, Camden flees to the West Coast and lives a quiet life with his wife Jules, who he meets there.
A decade later, Camden's uncle dies and he is called back to the manor to deal with the manor. Jules, who secretly digitally followed Camden's family for years is excited, and wants Camden to reclaim everything left to him. However as more secrets keep crawling out of the woodwork, Cam and Jules will have to decide if the cost is too high.

I loved this book. It is faced paced and exciting. The book is told with multiple narrators to give perspective, interspersed with old letters of Ruby's. The heart of this book is really "what makes a family". There are so many secrets and layers to the characters that the reader is made aware of, but the characters don't know about each other that add to the tension. Hawkins did a phenomenal job here and I definitely recommend this. Though classified as a "psychological thriller" I would consider it more suspenseful fiction, meaning that those who don't generally like to be scared would still enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the advance copy of this book.

"we can never discount that most dangerous of animals, our fellow man"

Rachel Hawkins does it again! She expertly captures the beauty of the Blue Ridge mountains and enthralls readers with the mystery of Cam and Jules. Will be purchasing a hard copy!

Normally I love Rachel Hawkins books but this one fell a bit flat for me. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

This was probably my favorite of Rachel Hawkins' books thus far. There were twists I did NOT see coming and the plot was well-thought out. It's usually harder for me when the narrator's viewpoint changes from past to present and from character to character but this book flowed fairly seamlessly from chapter to chapter. I was never lost and was able to easily keep track of who was important in the story and why.

Aaaaaaah!!!!! Just finished The Heiress! Loved all the twists and turns. Although there are many surprises in store, you are not actually super surprised the way things unfold because this book is all about taking things to a new level. There are so many clues dropped like breadcrumbs, so the possibilities are endless and not implausible. It's all about family history and secrets, past and present. This was just a good, fun read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of The Heiress in exchange for an honest review.
I would consider this more of a family drama than a thriller, which I was happy about, as that's more my style. The beginning of this story moved quite slowly, but if you can hang on, it gets more interesting. I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I LOVE Rachel Hawkins books. She has created a beautiful mystery surrounding a family that have come together because a matriarch has passed away. Most importantly her adopted son who had moved across the country to get away from his family. There are so many twists and turns, red herrings galore that I ended up reading this book on one very long sitting. The things that money does to families.

Hawkins has done it again and crafted a beautiful mystery surrounding some pretty messed up people. I devoured this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

I was immediately pulled into Ruby’s rich lifestyle. She’s married the wealthiest, but did not rely on these men for their money. She is such a #girlboss! She adopts Camden when she was older and had given him a life full of luxury. Or so she thought…Sometimes what you think is the best for someone, it is not the case. Camden grows up to inherit everything, but was all his suffering worth it? The twists and turns in this book kept me wanting to know the truth!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. I wasn’t sure what to expect because every Hawkins book I have read has been completely different. I was drawn in right away because I loved the writing. The characters were interesting, but not very likable or very sympathetic, so that was a little tough. The story was addictive and full of reveals and twists so if you love twists, this book is perfect for you.

I recently read The Villa by Hawkins which I really enjoyed. This novel was not quite as good. It tells the tale of a wealthy women and her family but it never really feels complete. It is told in various ways, different characters, letters, newspaper and magazine articles. It felt as though none of the characters were every really developed, just a little bit here and there. There was some tension but the pacing felt slow.

What was so bad in the McTavish Ashby house to make Camden walk away from wealth and leave a substantial inheritance basically untouched?!?!

Ruby McTavish disappeared as a young girl and was found months later but went on to lead the family and control their home and wealth. Ruby adopted Camden and many in the family are angry that he, who wasn't a McTavish by blood, inherited all the wealth and home upon her death. And, Cam was present when Ruby died, can he be held accountable?

Many years after Ruby's death, Camden gets notice that he's needed at Ashby house to assist with repairs and his wife, Jules, convinces him to return. Jules has dreams of being the new "lady" of the esteemed Ashby house but she carries secrets of her own! Does she know more about Cam's family and wealth than she has let on?

The McTavish's have always gotten what they wanted no matter the cost and Cam and Jules quickly realize that little has changed with the remaining McTavish family and their manipulative ways! Can they escape before it's too late? What secrets will be exposed in the story of The Heiress??

The Heiress is told from the point of view of Jules, Camden, and through letters from Ruby. Hawkins does a good job of quickly building a suspenseful story by giving indications toward secrets that each family member is hiding! I can't say that I was overly surprised by each reveal but it was still, overall, an interesting, engaging story. A good summer thriller!

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The evil Ms Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore does lives on after her, leaving it for her adopted son to sort out as much as he doesn’t want to.

Rachel Hawkins this is the best one yet! I love that there is drama in the present and drama in the past! I was intrigued by Ruby’s story and even though she was kind of awful I found myself rooting for her! Also, the cover is awesome.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ REVIEW
RACHEL HAWKINS DOES IT AGAIN! She is such a dynamic writer and The Heiress, like all her other books, did not disappoint. Out in January 2024, The Heiress in question, Ruby, is North Carolina royalty with an infamous and scandalous past from victim of a childhood kidnapping to a 4 time widower. But with fame and status come vulture-esque family ties, an adopted son who wants nothing to do with the cut throat inheritance and Ruby who still reigns as matriarch well beyond the grave.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book and thoughts/review are all my own.

This was a great thriller. There was twists and turns. The story kept me guessing till the end! It was a slow burn but I loved the story line from each point of view. Rachel Hawkins’ books don’t disappoint

I was totally shocked to see Rachel Hawkins newest book, AVAILABLE to immediately download and review!!

I have enjoyed her past novels. I know The Wife Upstairs gets mixed reviews, but I thought it was a wonderful retelling of Jane Eyre! (Anyone who rated that one low probably didn't realize that 🤣). In addition to her other works, including ones under a pen name, I also recently enjoyed the audio version of The Villa - almost a little too much! ☺️🫢

So back to The Heiress!

I absolutely loved this one! Fast paced! Very interesting, unlikeable characters all around 🤣.

I really enjoy her style of writing, and I love the shock value in her thrillers!

Another well done book!! I would recommend this one.

I was excited to read Rachel Hawkins’ upcoming thriller, The Heiress, which I received from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

This story is told from the perspectives of Ruby McTavish’s adopted son Camden and his wife Jules, alternating with excerpts from news articles surrounding the kidnapping of Ruby who was missing for 8 months as a child, before being returned to her family. There is also a whole story line with letters written by Ruby to an unknown person which contain very dark confessions about her life.

The story begins with Camden being called back to the family home, which has been willed to him, to deal with some family problems. We hit all the high points of books I enjoy including a seriously creepy house, problematic family members, and so many secrets and lies you will think your head can’t take any more of it.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one, it’s a fun, quick read that keeps you guessing. The expected release date for this is January of 2024 and I think it will be successful. 4 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I’ve read a few of Rachel Hawkins books but this one is by far my favourite. It was extremely addictive and kept me wanting more. I couldn’t guess the twists and it was such a fast paced and brilliantly written novel. Can’t wait to read more by Rachel Hawkins!

I love Rachel Hawkins! She’s done it again. I read this book so quickly, it immediately draws you in and makes you not want to put it down.

Ruby McTavish has a whirlwind past everyone in the town of Tavistock can’t help but whisper about, starting at 3 years old when she went missing from her family home, Ashby House’s treacherous mountains, leading through 4 perished husbands, and ending leaving the enormous McTavish family fortune to a young son she adopted at 3 years old, Camden. Ruby McTavish has secrets she needs to confide in someone though, her life has never been what it seemed.

Camden is married to Jules, having walked away from the McTavish family, fortune, and home, a decade ago, despite owning it all. They live a modest life in Colorado until Camden receives an email from his cousin, pleading with him to come home. The McTavishes have dwindled down to just four, and they need him, Tavistock and Ashby House need him. We quickly learn this dysfunctional family, has secrets, all of them.

Camden and Jules have no idea what they have walked into at Ashby House, and the remaining McTavishes have no idea what they have invited to their home upon their arrival, but all secrets come out eventually. Whether everyone survives the secrets is a different story.

The multiple POVs from Camden, Jules, and Ruby via handwritten letters to her confidant really work in telling this twisty, turning, secretive story over and over! It draws you in and keeps you immersed until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Hawkins for this thoroughly enjoyed ARC!
Publication date January 9, 2024