I've enjoyed all of the thrillers I've read from this author so far, and this title was no exception. A propulsive storyline, fascinating characters, and plot twists I didn't see coming (although I found this book slightly more predictable than some of her past thrillers). Will continue reading her books forever.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is another solid mystery from Rachel Hawkins! I read this book in one sitting, fueled by its fast-paced mix of kidnap, murder, greed, and deceit. If you like Rachel Hawkins other books, you should definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to #Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Best suspense novel I've read in awhile. Rachel Hawkins is quickly becoming an auto-buy author for me.

Cam and Jules McTavish are headed back to Blue Ridge Mountains to tie up a few loose ends. Those ends? Just a massive estate with a family that despises them. Because Cam inherited everything - including Ashby House. A last dig from Ruby after she died, the matriarch - leaving the entire legacy to her adopted son. The surviving McTavish's aren't keen on giving up their unearned money and estate, and have several questions regarding Ruby's four very dead husbands.

I have read every book by Rachel Hawkins and this is far and away her best one. Cam and Jules head back to Cams childhood home. Both rife with secrets. The book changes view points as we see Cams perspective, Jules perspective, Ruby (Cams mom) letters, and history articles about the time in which Ruby lived.

Not often do authors write dual point of view with each side having their own voice, but she did. Cam as a poi t of view was generic typical book format. But Jules. I was cackling. You see her wit and humor and spunk. It was incredible. You also see a 3rd voice in ruby's letters and even then Hawkins mastered the voice of an old white rich lady. Brava.

I was curious about the twist and I got like 97% right.

It's hard as a mother to read some of this stuff because why are people so ridiculous sometimes. And if my husband ever treated my daughter the way dora dornells dad did (you'll see why when you read it). Well let's just say I'd probably turn into a Ruby mctavish myself :)


You should read it. It was great. And I'm always grateful for the opportunity to read Rachel Hawkins book a bit early.

A perennial library favorite Rachel Hawkins returns with yet another completely addicting mystery thriller. Heart-pounding suspense and unexpected twists abound in The Heiress, which would be enough to hook me in, but what kicked it up to next level was the southern gothic fiction elements of the story. Heck, Ashby House feels just as much a character as Camden, Jules, or Ruby. A must-read!

A very twisty thriller, but just a bit of a slow burn to start. I love the multiple POVs - really got to understand each character.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I love a good gothic murder mystery. This was a very well written story. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and the twists. Definitely recommend!

In my mind, Rachel Hawkins has her own mystery/thriller genre called “I support women’s rights and women’s wrongs”. Just another wonderful cast of characters, each with their own agenda. Personally I loved the Villa, but I cared more about Mari and Lara than Emily & Chess. However in this one I feel like I care about Ruby and her past as much as I care about what’s currently happening with Cam and Jules. Ruby is an iconic character, like I said I support women’s wrongs 😅 She’s feisty, she’s petty, she’s so much fun. It’s so nice to read an edge of your seat thriller that also feels fun, like genuinely so enjoyable to read. Cam and Jules were absolutely precious as well, and all 3 characters are now dear to my heart. There’s an emotional scene towards the end that had me crying purely because I was so moved by the characters’ and their feelings.
Sometimes thrillers, even twisty suspenseful ones, can get a bit heavy or dry. This thriller/mystery is so FUN! I was so excited to see what each character would do next.

Easily the best Rachel Hawkins book so far! I loved the way it was structured, almost like a scrap book. Although it was a fast read, it was packed with twists and turns. I will definitely recommend it to fellow readers!

Wow, where do I begin? I loved this story! This was my first book by this author, and now I’m excited to read more by her, though I have seen mixed reviews on her other novels. But I’m curious enough to check them out and decide for myself.

I love mystery/thrillers where rich people behave badly, have lots of family drama and deep family secrets, and stories that keep me guessing the entire time. This one hit the jackpot in all of those areas! There is so much betrayal, deceit, lies, and secrets. I devoured this book!

I also loved the setting in North Carolina. I really enjoy thrillers that take place in a mansion or large estate, especially if it’s remote or secluded, which this one, Ashby House, is, built in the Appalachian mountains. Set in a thick, dense forest area, it almost felt suffocating and very isolating, which offered more of a creepy, eerie feeling. Then, I loved the description of the inside of the mansion. It was enough details to be fully immersed in this house but not too much where I was bored reading about how each room looked and felt to the characters. I also got gothic vibes from this one, and loved it!

This story has dual POVs from Camden, the adopted son, and his wife, Jules. I loved getting to know each of these characters. Cam is reluctant to go home (and for good reason), but it’s obvious he knows things but doesn’t tell us until the end. Then, Jules was a fun character because she was sassy, snarky, and quick-witted. I found her very enjoyable and funny. She brought some humor and tenderness to this dark story. But she’s also keeping secrets. So both characters really intrigued me with the knowledge that they knew but kept hidden from their spouse.

This story is also told through newspaper articles, letters, and other forms of media, which I thought was clever storytelling. The mystery had me completely absorbed and turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. This is a very addicting book! It was nice that the chapters were short too. It’s past and present timelines, which I also enjoyed.

One thing that I didn’t care for was all the language. There is a ton of cursing in this book. In some instances, it was okay to use for emphasis and to drive home a big point, but I thought the crass language was too much and overly abundant. It could’ve cut most of those unnecessary words out and just used a couple where it felt appropriate.

But overall, I had a really great time! There is SO much tension, drama, and family dysfunction - and I loved it!! If you’re searching for a gripping, engaging, super twisty, and bingeable mystery/thriller, you should try this one. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. These are my own thoughts and opinions.

Rating 3.5 stars. "The Heiress" is certainly a twisted tale that is filled with surprises. Its characters all carry secrets and are determined to get things on their own terms.
Ruby is the heiress, a rich girl who was tragically lost as a toddler and amazingly rediscovered and returned to her family some months later after an alleged kidnapping. Her backstory is told after her death by letters that she wrote to an anonymous individual. One by one Ruby's letters share her tale interspersed with the present day story told by the narrators, her adopted son, Camden, and wife, Jules. Camden, Ruby's heir has essentially run from his inheritance leaving Ruby's sister and her grandchildren residents of the estate although not owners. Clearly there is no lost love to be found in this family who place their money and standing utmost to everything else. When Ben contacts Camden about settling the affairs of the estate after years of his ignoring his family, Camden and Jules begin the long trip from their simple life and rental home in Colorado to the mansion, Ashby House, in North Carolina. Clearly Camden is filled with dread, but encouraged by Jules who is more than a bit excited at the prospect of seeing and experiencing the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Things begin to go off the rails as past animosities and those buried secrets begin to surface.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title. I found it interesting and filled with surprises. I didn't appreciate the characters as much as I hoped. Perhaps they were too shallow or conniving for my comfort. This may have dampened some of my enjoyment of the book, but clearly it holds much potential for psychological thriller fams. For this reason, I would not hesitate to recommend this book to other readers to form their own opinions, and I will be checking out Rachel Hawkin's other titles for myself.

Quick Synopsis:
I don’t know where to begin with this whirlwind of a twisted plot. I guess the main thing to know is that the story starts with a young heiress who goes missing in the Blue Ridge Mountains and is eventually recovered from her kidnappers. The story fast forwards to her adopted son and his bequeathed inheritance. The dual timeline between the heiress’ wild backstory and her son’s fight for his inheritance adds to the intrigue.

Storyline/Pacing:
Although I had guessed the ending before the book’s conclusion, I felt it was incredibly satisfying. There were many twists I hadn’t expected, and I felt the way this one wrapped up made any qualms I had midway through reading thoroughly disappear. All I can say is keep reading.

Author:
I’ve read nearly all, if not all, of Rachel Hawkins’ stand-alone novels. Generally, I describe her novels as intriguing, slow burns. The pacing of The Heiress felt different at the start. The second-person narration in the first chapter, coupled with fictional newspaper clippings, immediately ratcheted up the intrigue and had me flipping pages early on. The momentum slows around 30% in and speeds back up halfway through the story.

Overall:
I recommend this to lovers of Ruth Ware or Lucy Foley. If you enjoy thought-provoking, slow burns, don’t sleep on this one. It’s been decades since I read Great Expectations, but for some reason, this gave me the same vibes. 4 ⭐️

Disclosure:
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Digital Review Copy of The Heiress. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC. I really enjoyed this book. The characters were unlikeable, but I never knew where the story was going. I couldn't put it down. That to me is a successful read.

The Heiress is the first book written by Rachel Hawkins I have read, and it was a. thoroughly enjoyable reading. experience. The novel is extremely well-written and deftly plotted.

The novel opens on Camden and Jules McTavish, who are squeaking by in a small rental home in Golden, Colorado. Camden teaches high school English at a boys’ prep school while Jules spends her time playing a farmer’s wife at a local living history museum.

In reality, Camden is a multimillionaire which he inherited, along with the family estate Ashby House, from his adopted mother Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. But why does Camden refuse to use his inheritance? Why does he change his mind about returning to Ashby House at the request of his cousin Ben? And who is Ruby McTavish? Is she actually who she says she is? What happened to all of her husbands?

The story is told in alternating chapters by Camden, Jules, and the letters written by Ruby. This plot structure increases the novel’s suspense, revealing the fact that everyone has something to hide.

The novel is a propulsive read due to numerous twists with shocking revelations at the end. 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a complimentary advanced readers’ copy of this book.

This is a tasty little morsel that was a quick read and action packed. Lots of family drama and morally gray characters. I loved the use of letter writing and articles that went along with the POVs narrative. This is a great book to read in one sitting on a cold day by the fire or a warm day at the beach.

Rachel Hawkins is becoming an instant-read author for me. I have enjoyed each of her titles, and I am certain this one will be a hit with readers and book clubs at our library.

I just read the Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. I had not previously read anything by her but her books looked intriguing to me so I was eager to read this book. If you’re looking for a fast paced intriguing plot with some twists and turns, truly despicable characters and a look into a dysfunctional family this is it. I especially found that giving the characters their own chapters was very effective in understanding their own psychological perspective. You don’t want to turn your back on any of these folks and be warned that there are multiple surprises throughout. Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book for an honest review.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

3.5-4 stars

This was definitely my favorite book by this author. I love some family drama, even if it starts a bit slow paced. This did pick up steam and had me flying through, although the twists were a bit predictable. The ending was a bit far fetched for my liking but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Crazy to think this beats The Fury, one of my most anticipated thrillers of 2024, by a mile.

The McTavish family lives in the Ashby house. The family matriarch Ruby has quite a background story herself. Gone missing as a 3 year old and found a year later kidnapped and living with another family. More popularity follows her throughout her life as she becomes a widow 4x over, by choice or just unlucky in love?Upon her passing she leaves the Ashby house to her adopted son. The 10 years following, her adopted son, Camden, wants nothing to do with the money, family or the Ashby house and only returning home after an email from his nephew begging him to come repair the Ashby home. Camden and his wife Jules go to the Ashby house. Can their marriage survive the secrets within the Ashby house, the secrets of the family still living within the walls?

This was a great thriller. It kept me guessing up to the very last few pages. I looked forward to picking it up and seeing where the story went.

I enjoyed this title, it was a nice page turner and didn't take much to get me engrossed in the story. Many thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.