Well this was an interesting, twisty book with a messed up family and an old house. There were times that I didn’t really care for any of the characters in the book….but the story of Ruby kept me checked into it. I do love some family drama. I saw a few twists coming, others I did not. I feel like overall it was lacking something that would make this book memorable for me. I tend to forget books after a month or so without that extra something….and I feel like that is going to happen with this one. I liked it better than some others of hers I have read though.

Bottom Line: Read it

**I received an ARC copy of The Heiress and am leaving a voluntary review. All opinions are my own.**

*2.5 stars rounded up*

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“And if you can’t tell the truth at the end of it all, then what, I ask, is the fucking point?”

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the copy of this eARC. I have been trying to break into Thrillers/Mysteries more as a genre, and for the many times I debated throughout this read whether to throw in the towel, the ending made me understand why readers love this genre so much.

Knives Out meets Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, The flipping narration gives you the perspective not only of Ruby and her son Camden, but also Jules, his wife. While the switches in POV had me very confused in the first quarter of the book, I was absolutely blown way by how the pieces came together in the end.

I spent the entire book thinking Ruby was writing these letters to her son, but to learn who they were actually directed to, the relation between those characters, and then also the fact that a certain someone knew about it all along was bonkers. I genuinely had a jaw drop moment which was a crazy turn of events from me not enjoying the beginning.

I know, that's vague and probably an obnoxious synopsis, but half the fun of mysteries is learning it for yourself. I mean, it's what saved the book for me? Genuinely I almost DNF'd at about 25%, but I struggle with being a quitter, and it made me keep going. That, and also the absolute insanity that is miss Ruby McTavish. This girl is absolutely delusional if she believes herself to be a good person, but honestly we all love a black widow--alleged or not.

If you are a fan of Thrillers and Mysteries, I think you will love this book. Please don't let my lack of genre interest be the reason you turn this down. The writing is superb and the way the threads are woven in this tapestry had me constantly on my toes. Of all the theories I had, I am proud to tell the author that only one was correct

Slam dunk. I couldn't put it down--loved the setting and the characters, as well as the twisty, surprising, and creepy vibes.

I have read and reviewed other books by this author. This one was no different - a fast paced plot with reveals I didn't see coming. Perfect for fans of kidnap, murder and greed. Muliple pov and some fun letters you are on a ride as the answers are revealed.

This wasn't my favorite book by Hawkins as i felt it drug on and there was lots of drama that wasn't needed. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

An incredible book with wonderful characters and a beautiful setting. It will keep you guessing until the end.

Rachel Hawkins knows how to write a thriller. This modern gothic tale explores family drama with a hint of murder. The ending left me wanting so much more from the many layers of this story.

There are so many twists and turns in this novel that it kept me reading late into the night! Everyone has secrets, from the fabulously rich Ruby, to her adopted son Cameron, to Cameron's wife Jules, and the rest of the family at the palatial mansion, Ashby House. You will enjoy uncovering the secrets as much as I did, and I expect be just as surprised by some of them. This was my first Rachel Hawkins book and will certainly not be my last.
Thanks to #netgalley, #rachelhawkins and #stmartinspress for the arc. All opinions are my own.

We love a Rachel Hawkins book! She writes quite a bit of similar books with a twist all the time. Shes amazing with her words and I throughly enjoyed being able to read this twisted ending!

The Heiress is about a young married couple, Cam and Jules, who come into an inheritance. Cam's adopted mother, Ruby, a wealthy heiress, leaves him all her money and her mansion when she passes. Throughout the book you learn more about Ruby's complex life - the fact that she was kidnapped at the age of 3 and that all 4 of her husbands died mysterious deaths. Cam initially wants nothing to do with this new fortune, but his family pulls him back to the mansion in order to try to convince him to sign their home over to them. Jules, however, is tired of their constant struggle to get by, and is really enjoying the mansion life. The family is toxic, and it's no wonder Jules wouldn't feel bad kicking them to the curb, and that Cam left them in the first place. This book has so many twists and turns right down to the last second. I never could've guessed the ending. This book is unputdownable and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a thriller.

After Ruby McTavish, North Carolina's richest woman and child victim of a kidnapping, dies at home, her adopted son Cam inherits millions. Unfortunately, Cam doesn't want it. He can't wait to get out of there. Ten years later, Cam is married to Jules and living in Colorado when he receives correspondence from his cousin, requesting that he return to the estate. Cam concedes and he and Jules pack up and head east. Their arrival is met with a less-than-warm reception and Cam focuses on getting his work done so they can leave ASAP. In addition to Cam and Jule's story, Ruby's letters detailing her life are read throughout the story so you can learn more about her. Focusing on the stories of the deaths of her four husbands, Ruby's letters are unapologetically scandalous.

I enjoyed reading this book. The premise sucked me in and the characters were just dysfunctional enough to keep me engaged. I was shocked multiple times while reading the story. There wasn't just one twist - there were tons! And they just kept coming to the end. It was a quick read and one that I would read again. The ending perfectly summed up the entire book and was exactly what I wanted.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley and am providing my honest review.

Part epistolary novel, part traditional novel focusing on two timelines, The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins follows Cam and Jules McTavish's reconnection with Ashby House, the McTavish legacy home that technially belongs to Cam. And this is where the story spins up: Cam is adopted and, therefore, not of the McTavish bloodline, which rankles the bloodline descendants (who feel he has no basis on which to claim the estate. This fact becomes further irksome with the dubious bloodline of Cam's adoptive mother, Ruby McTavish, who was stolen as a baby girl and then recovered. But some members of the family doubted Ruby's authenticity.

Cam, who really doesn't want to be attached to the family in any way, and Jules, who dreams of life in the family's legacy home, come to terms with the family's notorious past and jealous present as they slowly begin to unravel the secrets of the past. The twists and turns are fun and unexpected. I really enjoyed the story, especially Ruby's letters, whose recipient is part of the mystery.

The lavish descriptions of the North Carolina estate and town that the McTavishes helped develop and the inner desires of the characters reveal some uncomfortable core features of being human. I recommend this book for fans of historical fiction and a thriller vibe.

Enjoyed this one! Rachel Hawkins books sometimes feel pretty similar but I found this one to be unique compared to the other books I've read by the author.

I kind of expected some of the twists but there were others that took me by surprise and that will almost always earn an extra star for me!

A twisty thriller. It was a little disjointed and a little unbelievable at times. I really did like the ending... revenge is best served HOT!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this advance copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins!
This book has my favorite type of character-a rich and fabulous female killer. This was 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets Fall of the House of Usher meets Saltburn in the south. I always enjoy a wealthy family behaving badly. The story kept me gripped until the twisty end. Rachel Hawkins created a great dark world in which I would love to live. I can see this book translating to screen perfectly. It was a bit of a slow start, but about halfway through I was hooked. I will be recommending this book to friends who love thrillers and family dramas.

The premise of this book had me hooked but unfortunately it did not deliver. The twists were simplistic and the bad writing, or rather, the narration of the 3 POVs took me out of the story quite often. It felt like I was watching a badly produced TV show and I never found myself caring for any of the main characters. Ultimately,, the mysteries were not as compelling as they were made out to be.

The plot of "The Heiress" expertly unravels a web of mystery and suspense, centering on the enigmatic Ashby House and the dark legacy left by Ruby McTavish. Jules and Camden's return to this haunted estate brings to light long-buried truths about Ruby’s infamous life and the sinister events that surrounded her. I enjoyed the steady buildup of tension and the gradual unveiling of secrets, which kept the narrative engaging. However, some twists were somewhat predictable, and I wished for a more nuanced resolution to the mysteries.

The atmosphere of Ashby House was compelling, adding an eerie, suspenseful tone to the novel. Jules emerges as a complex and often unlikable character, whose motivations and actions can be difficult to sympathize with. Her eagerness to escape her past and fit into the affluent world of Ashby House reveals a selfish streak that contrasts sharply with her husband Camden’s reluctance. While her determination adds tension to the story, her manipulative tendencies and willingness to dig into the dark secrets of the McTavish family make her morally ambiguous. I found Jules intriguing but often frustrating, as her actions sometimes seemed driven more by personal gain than genuine concern. Camden's desire to distance himself from his inheritance and lead a normal life is juxtaposed with Jules’s determination to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

Overall, "The Heiress" blends family drama with haunting mystery, creating a gripping read that would benefit from deeper character exploration and less predictable plot twists.

The rich behaving badly sums this one up. I like the setup for this one. Ruby has passed away and her story is told through letters and newspaper articles, while the present is told through multiple POVs.

There is definitely disfunction in the family as they try and keep up with the work needed on the family estate. It seems as they all are together under one roof, everyone has their own secrets and lies. It is twisty, soapy and a little campy. Exactly what I've come to expect from the authors.

I always love listening to the author's books and I love they choose to have a full cast for this one since there are so many characters. Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin expertly bring all the family drama of this one to life. I never wanted to stop listening.

I’m ***I received an ARC from Netgalley and the Publisher in exchange for my honest review.***

Hawkins never ceases to amaze me with her twisted plotlines! Camden was adopted at a young age by an heiress who sets him up for both success, in money, and failure, in family - but in the end he might have been more her son than either of them had ever hoped. And she might not have been exactly who he thought she was…

What I loved about this book:
💛 Revenge at it’s finest, 100x over
💛 Grappling with right and wrong
💛 the news articles Ruby saved
💛 the 🤯 ending!

What I could have gone without:
🖤 Jules - although she was Camden’s support system, she was very up and down making it hard to tell who’s side she’s on
🖤 the “too close for comfort” family ties/ marriage between Cam and Jules
🖤 the reveal at the end of the story doesn’t reveal all making it both a great ending and one that leaves you hanging

Overall this is a great, quick read! 4.5 stars rounded UP!

Rachel Hawkins is such a fantastic thriller writer. I mean this in the best way - these are my favorite books for the beach or the airplane where I want something fast and compelling. The Heiress has many of my favorite things - complex family dynamics, gothic under and overtones, inherited wealth, and houses that are more than just a place. definitely recommend for anyone in need of a suspenseful read!