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.

This book was a bit slow and the characters weren't very interesting. I could not wait for it to be over.

I have loved reading Rachel Hawkins' works and this was no exception! The gothic backdrop added to the secrets that were uncovered through this thrilling book.

Review of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

I was so excited to get approved for this thriller on that galley. I love this authors work, and I had read such good reviews about this book. Fortunately it did live up to its hype me and I really enjoyed it from start to finish. It flowed nicely with action throughout and held my interest the entire book. I loved the present day mixed with the letters that helped explain the past. I loved the interconnection between the characters and the level of mystery. This may be my favorite by this author and it is out now.

Quick synopsis:

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.

But in the aftermath of her death, her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do with the house or the money―and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, his uncle’s death pulls Cam and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but the legacy of Ruby is inescapable.

And as Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will––and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave