I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. Review previously withheld as part of the St. Martin’s Press reviewer boycott.

The Rachel Hawkins thrillers I’ve liked have all had a commonality in being inspired by a story I’m familiar with, and putting a cool twist on it, and The Heiress is no different. Pulling inspiration from the Bobby Dunbar and Walter Collins/Wineville Chicken Coop Murders cases, the latter of which was a true-crime rabbit hole for me thanks to the Angelina Jolie film. I loved the mystery surrounding the titular heiress, Ruby, who also gave me slight Evelyn Hugo vibes in the way she conveyed the secrets of her sometimes scandalous and often tragic life in a journal. While it’s pretty obvious from the premise she isn’t who she claims she is publicly, the exact circumstances are still murky, and I enjoyed unraveling it all.

Cam and Jules are both interesting POV characters to follow in the present. Cam is Ruby’s adopted son, and I was intrigued by him and what made him initially give up his claim to the McTavish fortune, only to have it thrust on him again. Growing up with Ruby wasn’t always the best, given the demons she lived with and the means she used to try to cope, eventually pushing him away.

Jules was a bit of a wildcard for me, because she and Cam seemed to have a great relationship, although I didn’t know what to expect. But there are some revelations about her own connection to Ruby, although she wasn’t previously aware of it, and how Ruby somewhat played a role, at least passively, in conspiring to bring the two together.

Between all the family drama and the engrossing atmosphere of Ashby Hall to the suspenseful twists and turns, I was engrossed the whole time, constantly flipping pages.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy Gothic thriller/suspense books.

I am honestly a little in awe. I knew it would have a crazy twist, but holy cow. Love can't solve everything but it can pull or push you.

Camden is rich because of his adoptive mother, but her family is absolutely vile. He escaped from this mansion called Ashby House but the remaining family still lives there, when Cam yields to go back he is forced to face his past.

Jules is from poor roots. She has never know a life of opulence. She met Cam and they married, she knew his family had money but he didn't want it. She is in awe when she accompanies Cam back to the mansion. But will it be the biggest mistake they ever made?

I really enjoy books by this author and this novel was no different. An enjoyable read that I would recommend,.

This book was just so so slow for me; I usually expect thrillers to be fast-paced and full of twists, but this one just dragged one slightly too long. I feel like it leaned in too heavily to the creepy mansion setting, and the plot let some to be desired. In part, it reminded me slightly of the movie with Angelina Jolie about the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop murders (which I think were mentioned in the book), but without the shock and awe.

I do enjoy this author and will continue to read her books, but this one just wasn't for me.

The Heiress has it all: murder, secrets, Gothic vibes, and a twisted family. A wealthy woman's death reveals family secrets and a mysterious past, pulling her adopted son and his wife into a web of danger and intrigue. The story is more domestic suspense than thriller, but I found myself turning the page quickly and enjoyed the twist - I didn't see it coming. Highly recommend.

I loved this book! It was so twisted and messed up at times. There was so much going on and so many twists I didn’t see coming. It was such a quick read. I loved the structure of the chapters. So good! Sometimes a little confusing with how shocking things were, but really good!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a compelling read that blends family drama with suspense, though it may not fit neatly into the thriller category. I found the book engaging, with a well-woven narrative that reveals its layers slowly and deliberately.

One of the book’s standout features is its use of multiple points of view (POVs), which adds depth to the story but, at times, left me a bit disoriented. Despite this, the overall plot was captivating, especially as it built toward a shocking twist that I didn’t see coming. The different perspectives made the family dynamics feel rich and complex, and each character was well-developed, adding to the intrigue and tension throughout the book.

I experienced The Heiress as an audiobook, and the variety of narrators brought the characters to life in a way that truly enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The cast did an excellent job of distinguishing the voices and personalities, making it easy to immerse myself in the world Hawkins created.

While it may not deliver the heart-pounding suspense typical of thrillers, The Heiress is a thoughtfully crafted tale of secrets, relationships, and the weight of inheritance. If you enjoy slow-burn suspense with multi-dimensional characters and family drama at its core, this book is definitely worth a read.

A family saga where dark secrets see the light of day, and everyone has ulterior motives.

When the past and the present collide, there is a reckoning for a family who has waded in the shallow end of the ethical pond. I adored how much the late Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore played a role in the story. We get a glimpse of her past and how it plays into the current events of the book.

This book made me want to pick up more of Rachel Hawkins' works. The story was so compelling, and it is as fresh in my mind today as it was when I read the story weeks ago. I highly recommend this story to those who love a juicy tale of unlikeable characters and how family secrets come to roost after the death of the family matriarch.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to respond to this book with my honest opinions.

What a book! Twists and turns and so engaging! I couldn't put it down. So glad I got to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Rachel Hawkins!

Who doesn't love a story about a rich family that's full of secrets? This was a very addicting read. I loved how the book went back and forth between the present and the past. I enjoyed learning about the wealthy McTavish family and how money and rich status had ruined them all. There are some good twists and turns in this book as well which kept me wanting to read more after every chapter. The ending didn't shock me but still a very fun read.

Was a bit slow in the beginning. The last half was filled with twists and turns and I really enjoyed how the story wrapped up. I also really enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the letter’s from Ruby. Solid mystery and the first Rachel Hawkins book I’ve read. Will definitely be reading more of her books.

Huge fan of Rachel Hawkins. Definitely going on my top faves! Can’t wait to see what she does next. Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.

Thank you to the author Rachel Hawkins, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of THE HEIRESS. All views are mine.

I got away with it. That was all I cared about. It feels good to write that down, I must say. The clear, pure truth of it, no excuses, no explanations. I had gotten away with murder, and I was glad for it. p96

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I love the conversational narrative voice. Experts always tell writers to strive for sounding like they're talking to a friend over coffee, but most of them don't achieve it. *This* is it.

2. Ask him about what he’s reading (the Roman history book I gave him for Christmas), ask him his thoughts on the hierarchy of fast-food chains (Burger King is overrated, Arby’s deserves more love, he can’t fuck with Taco Bell after some drunken incident in college), ask him about politics (a conversation that lasted for nearly all of Missouri), and he has plenty to say. When it comes to his family? Nothing. This scene contains excellent development of both main characters and their relationship, as well as plot development–they're driving into a Hazy present composed only of his memories. That is one unsafe situation for everyone! Such good friction, too.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This contains a great many characters, but they don't often interact. More often, the author describes one or more characters describing yet other characters. But it's all dialogue and summary, essentially.

2. This book is hard to follow. Multiple perspectives in multiple time periods, but they're all in first person, and there's nothing stylistically to distinguish them from each other.

3. The ending is neither well-plotted or memorable.

Rating: 🏰🏰.5 /5 mountain castles
Recommend? Maybe
Finished: Sep 3 '24
Format: Digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🏚 creep houses
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 family stories, family drama
🩸 sibling rivalry
💇‍♂️ boys coming of age
🔪 murder mystery

The Heiress tells the story of Ruby McTavish and her extraordinary life, beginning as a child when she was kidnapped. The story jumps between the retelling of parts of her life, i.e. her four marriages that all ended up with her becoming a widow. She adopts a child and when she passes, he is to become the Heir to her large estate and fortune in North Carolina.

I loved the pace of this book, it kept me drawn in and I wanted to know what was next. Naturally, as the story progresses one tries to piece the mystery together, and it wasn’t until maybe 2/3 through the story that it comes together. It was intriguing and a great read, would definitely recommend.

Rating: 3.5

This was the perfect gothic 'mystery' to get me in the Fall mood. While I guessed all of the twists from the beginning, this did not dampen my enjoyment of the book. I think if you like the Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo but also want a bit more mystery and gothic vibes then this is a good choice. There were definitely parallels between the 2 stories and both the woman were equally interesting to follow.
I also enjoyed how this was written. It was quick paced and nothing came out of left field which I tend to hate in these types of stories. Overall, a solid read.

This gave major Evelyn Hugo vibes in my opinion, and I enjoyed it very much! I wasn’t expecting the ending, but I knew SOMETHING was coming with regards to Jules. I don’t feel like I can share too much without spoiling things, but I really did enjoy the read!

I am a fan of Rachel Hawkins and have loved her books. I this one is going to be on my favs list.
I don't like to go into all the details with the plot of the book, because I don't want to give anything away, but this story had me hooked.

Little Ruby disappeared at 3 years old in the woods (why is it always woods?) and then eight months later she was found in a different state.

So fast forward in time. Ruby has passed away. Now Ruby 's family has money. I mean like nine-figure money. .She has been married a number of times, but the only child she has is Cam who is adopted. Now that Ruby has passed, he stands to inherit a LOT of money.

Ruby's story is told via letters that she wrote before she died. Its a little bit of a twisty road and at the end of the day, Cam desperately does not want to be a part of any of the money, but there are a lot of secrets in that family!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

My only regret with this thriller is not picking it up sooner! The Heiress is a thrilling story of the McTavish family and the inheritance of Ruby McTavish and her estate-the Ashby House. It is also a story about Cam and his wife, Jules, who return to Ashby House after years of staying away because he wanted nothing to do with the inheritance. I enjoyed the story as told from the present time, and then also the letters that shared Ruby's retelling of her life. I had not idea where the twists and turns were going to take me.

I liked the premise of the multiple timelines and the specific points of view from different generations, however, there were quite a few things I couldn’t get past personally,
unfortunately.

At first I was really enjoying this book. The different point of views between the characters was a lot of fun and kept me intrigued. However, towards the middle of it I started losing interest and the rest of the book just started to drag. I will say, the twists at the end were exciting and made me glad that I did finish.