I didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. I went in thinking it would be a typical (albeit enjoyable) mainstream thriller that I may or may not remember a couple of weeks later. Not so. This book had depth and heart and an addictive and interesting plot. With toxic family dynamics, a family dynasty shrouded in scandal and a very sweet love story all tied-up in a house, this one isn't short on drama. I enjoyed the characters and was especially fond of Jules and Ruby. This is definitely a thriller, but there is an air of mystery as the plot unfolds as well. Hawkins also throws in enough twists and curveballs to keep you guessing and second-guessing your assumptions. Enjoyed this one a lot.

I requested this novel so long ago and am embarrassed to admit that I let it sit on my shelf. If you were to look up the definition of a fast paced, roller coaster of emotion, kind of thriller with a little romance, this book would be the poster child. I loved how it was reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but make it murder-y. This was the perfect rainy weekend read and I'm so thankful I had the chance to dive into it!

1 star.. DNF
I was not able to finish this one due to lack of interest. I found myself bored while also being confused. I love Rachel Hawkins, but this one was not for me....

A very bingeable popcorn 'thriller' (more family drama)! This is a perfect book to pull you out of a slump. I enjoyed Rachel Hawkins' newest book! I have read all of her thrillers since The Wife Upstairs, and I'm happy to report that I think each book gets better and better! All of them, The Heiress included, are some of my most recommended for all types of readers. They are easy to binge and digest with just the right amount of suspense and spook.

I enjoy Rachel Hawkins' mysteries, but had a bit of trouble getting into this one as much as her past books. It was interesting the way bits of information were revealed about the characters in alternating chapters/years, but I struggled a bit with not really liking or connecting with the characters involved. I did not figure out the twists heiress Ruby had up her sleeve, but I was still entertained trying to!

An intriguing plot which I very much enjoyed. Great descriptions of the region and a riveting analysis of how dysfunctional this family really is

There’s nothing better then finding a book you can’t put down that you will literally carry it around from room to room just get a few more words in, you stay up way too late because you can’t stop flipping the pages. This book is that. I absolutely loved the suspense of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for the eARC! The Heiress was very entertaining and held my interest. There were many twists and turns which make for an excellent thriller. Some of the twists I somewhat predicted- just not fully predicted. By the end of the book, there were so many twists that I ended up being confused and wanting the turns to be done already. It seemed a little forced. I still enjoyed the plot and the characters tho! Overall would definitely recommend for those who like family thrillers! You can find my review on my bookstagram account- @bookofthemeg (published on Feb 2nd)

The Heiress centers on a rich and prestigious NC family, the McTavish's. When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. Her adopted son, Cam wants nothing to do with the estate left to him, so his uncle runs things and his family lives there. When he dies, Cam and his wife Jules head to North Carolina to deal with the estate. They are met by family that not only don't want him there, but don't think he belongs. With secrets and mysteries, the story unfolds about Ruby and her life, letting us in on secrets that have long been buried.

The story is told from 3 POVs: the matriarch, Ruby (through letters), Ruby’s son Cam, and his wife Jules. The book weaves past and present timeframes together to create a twisty and captivating story about greed, power, and wealth within a family over multiple generations. I found myself intrigued by Ruby's story and all that she experienced and got away with. We meet the family that was involved in her kidnapping, Ruby's many husbands and others. I did not like the present day McTavish family at all! With all that going on, I had to pay attention not to get confused, but I enjoyed this story. With the final twists coming at me in the last part of the book, I was left smiling as I closed the cover. This was not a thriller, but a messy family drama with lots of twists.

The best Rachel Hawkins novel since the wife upstairs. Absolutely loved it and didn’t see the twists coming! Would absolutely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This was my second Rachel Hawkins book and I'm happy to say that it did not disappoint.

The "Heiress" is a gothic mystery novel with a ton of twists and suspense. It kept me intrigued throughout the entire time and eager to find out what was going to happen next.

Solid 4 stars!

This book gave me a little bit of an Evelyn Hugo feel, which is one of my favorite books. I loved learning Ruby's secrets through the letters she had written. She is no Evelyn, but I still liked her. Although I knew something was up with one of the characters (I won't say who), I couldn't place what that was. I would have never guessed it, either. I'm not sure if that's because I was reading so quickly that I didn't pay close enough attention, or if that's how he author wanted me to feel. It's a tad bit of a reach, but it worked. (But that reveal is the reason this is 4 stars instead of 5. It seemed a bit muddled. )

This book was un-put-downable and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Ben, Libby, and Nelle were positively awful human beings with no redeeming qualities. You will love to hate them! It goes without saying that it was super fun to learn everyone's secrets, especially of the character you'd think wouldn't have any! Note that this is more of a family drama than what many would consider a typical thriller, but it was thrilling nevertheless.

The ending was a bit confusing for me to follow, but again, I don't know if that was a "me" issue because I was reading so fast to find out what happened that I glossed over some information, or if the "twist" was intended to feel like it came out of left field.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third novel I've read by Rachel Hawkins. I struggle to classify this one's genre: it is definitely not a thriller, perhaps more of a mystery tangled in with a few murders. The Heiress is a story of the rich, famous, and powerful McTavish family. None of the characters are particularly likeable nor trustworthy. This is a story about how money can give one the power to do ugly things and get away with it. This was a quick read, yet I did find it a bit dull at first and it took me some time to understand the complicated relationships between all the characters. I did eventually get into the story a bit more, but strangely, for a mystery, this one is actually kind of slow-paced.

I am a big fan of Rachel Hawkins’, so I was very excited to read her latest book “The Heiress”. I read this book over the course of a day, completely engrossed in the story. Not only was the plot original, it was well written, and had twists until the very end. This would make an excellent tv series or movie. This will likely be one of my favourite books this year.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!
4.5/5

📖My Thoughts📖


This is one of those books in which I’m not entirely sure where to start. A tale of the life of a very intriguing and merciless woman who died being known as the richest and devious woman in North Carolina, intricately laced with heaps of family drama, mystery and twists and turns like you wouldn’t believe, offering us with a storyline that will just completely consumes the reader. The story is told from multiple points of view and alternates between the past and present day, giving us a glimpse of how everything came to be. The pacing was perfect in my opinion. It didn’t drag on forever, but it also didn’t include a rushed ending either (which is something that drives me bonkers). Some of the twists were a little anticipated, but for the most part, they were well thought out and executed perfectly. I’m kind of a sucker for the whole ‘family drama’ trope, more so in the thriller/mystery genres. I have read other work by Rachel Hawkins and they never cease to amaze me. At this point, I think it’s safe to say that I’ll be adding this author to my automatic buy list. If you’re into mystery/thrillers and are looking for your next adventure, scoop this up and dive right in!
Thank you Netgalley, Rachel Hawkins and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This one had a lot of twists and turns and I honestly thought I had it figured out, but it surprised me! Would highly recommend for a fast thriller!

Rachel Hawkins does it again with another addictive thriller! Ruby McTavish's reputation precedes her, the victim of a infamous kidnapping, the heiress to a family fortune, and a widow shockingly four times, everyone knows her name. Ruby's fortune is left to her adopted son Cameron upon her death, Cameron rejects his inheritance and lives a simple life on the other side of the county with his wife Jules. Cameron returns home to Ashby House in North Carolina for the first time in a decade when his uncles dies. Seeing his estranged family who has always viewed Cameron as an outsider, willing to do anything to get their hands on Ruby's fortune. Long buried family secrets, twisted tales and painful memories haunt the halls of the estate. Jules may play the role of a supportive wife but is keeping her eye on her husband's intended fortune. The novel is told in letters from Ruby, and alternating chapters between Cameron and Jules. What happened the day young Ruby was kidnapped? How could Ruby be so unlucky to be widowed four times in her life? Rachel Hawkins is the queen of Southern thrillers, with her wonderfully descriptive settings. I loved reading Ruby's letters literally loosing myself in her story. Every time I guessed where the story was going, the story would twist in a whole new direction. Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for this digital ARC, all opinions are my own.

As a young child, Ruby disappeared while on a picnic with her parents. A year later she is returned. When she grows up, she marries...four times. Each time, the husband dies of an accident. Through with men, she adopts a child, Camden. Camden, after Ruby dies, becomes the sole heir to the family estate but chooses instead to leave and go off to California. When his uncle dies, Camden returns with his wife to his highly dysfunctional family.
Opinion
I LOVED this book. From the style to the tale, there is nothing I did not like. I was completely invested in the letters Ruby wrote explaining what happened to each husband. I really wanted to know more. As more was unleashed, I was floored. This book will not end how you expect, which makes it the ultimate read.
Many thanks to Net Galley and to St. Martins Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book was great! So atmospheric and twisty! My attention was grabbed immediately, and I devoured this book in one day. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This was a very quick read for me. I liked how the author tied in the letters written by Ruby so we were getting little bits of her story throughout, building up to the climax. The characters were so over the top, it made for a fun, ridiculous story.