I absolutely loved Rachel Hawkins newest book The Heiress! So many twist to explore in this one. Legacy, family dynamics, and the lasting impact of a matriarch's influence. The return to Ashby house by Camden and his wife Jules after a decade, sets the stage for unfolding stories with complicated relationships.

This was such an interesting domestic thriller because there were so many layers to the suspense and it wasn’t straight-forward as far as a crime having been committed.

If you love atmospheric thrillers with a gothic feel, this is definitely one to check out! Available now.

Thanks to NetGalley , Macmillian Audio and St. Martin's Press for my ALC.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5!
Fast-paced family drama set in a creepy gothic mansion with many unexpected twists! Sign me up! I was hooked from the first page! And when I wasn’t reading about Ruby McTavish, the wealthy and notorious widow who buried four husbands, and her adopted son, Cam, I was thinking about them! ! Will definitely be checking out Rachel Hawkins' back list! Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin Press for the advanced reader copy!

Solid 4 star read. Don’t give up with this super slow build read. I loved the letters from Ruby and hearing her stories. I kept thinking who next? Will she be caught? She was making me so nervous I loved the twist at the end, also. This family was insane!!!

Camden McTavish has been called home to Ashby House, and is bringing his wife, Jules, with him to deal with the family he left behind. Hidden in the Appalachian Mountains, the house is full of mysteries, including the ones surrounding Camden's adoptive mother, Ruby. Letters from Ruby exposing all of her secrets are intertwined with the present-day story, leading to a conclusion no one could have seen coming.

This was an interesting story that I didn't want to put down. I'm not sure I'd deem it a true "thriller," as it never really came to an actual life-or-death point, but I did enjoy figuring out all of the the little mysteries and piecing together how everything was connected. The side characters could have used a little more fleshing-out, especially Ben and Libby, but Ruby's story definitely made up for that.

Wow what an incredible, twisty thriller. This book kept me guessing and intrigued from the very beginning.

The setting in the North Carolina mountains, a mysterious heiress, her childhood kidnapping and her four marriages, her adopted son and his wife, plus the relatives who remained in the family manor, Ashby House, provide the makings of this story.

The reader is brought along to learn the story of Ruby McTavish in her own words through a series of letters and articles interspersed between the perspectives of her adopted son, Camden, and his wife, Jules.

Ruby has been deceased for over 10 years, having willed her home and fortune to Cam. Ruby’s hateful sister, Nelle, and her grandchildren, Ben and Libby, remain as residents in Ashby House in accordance with the will left by Ruby’s late father. Cam, meanwhile, has built a new life in Colorado with Jules and has not been back to Ashby house since Ruby’s death, with little to no contact with the other McTavish family members.

The book begins with a letter from Ben to Cam notifying him that that the home is in desperate need of repairs. He and Jules decide, reluctantly on Cam’s part, to make the trip to NC to assess the needs and bring the home back to working order.

As events unfold during Cam’s and Jules’ visit, we learn nothing is as it seems, and the story comes to a fever pitch that kept me up late finishing this book.

Highly recommend this to lovers of thrillers and mysteries. Rachel Hawkins has once again delivered a masterpiece. There are so many layers to this story, and Hawkins is masterful in weaving the mystery through to the end.

This book follows Camden and his wife, Jules, as they return to Camden's childhood estate at Ashby House. Camden was adopted into wealth by the infamous Ruby McTavish (...Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore) and has inherited Ashby House, the "Luckiest Boy in North Carolina." About a decade after leaving, he is heading back to help with the estate and face his insufferable relatives with Jules.

I have always liked Hawkins' writing, but this is by far my favorite. I am always so skeptical of thrillers and constantly trying to predict the ending, but this book was so different in the best way. I felt so engrossed by the story, the characters, and the writing. I'm going to be really cheesy here, but the book made me focus on the story and not trying to predict the ending like I always do. The ending was done so well and I thought that my feedback was going to be shorten the end to be more precise, like an exclamation point on the book itself, but Hawkins keeps us invested until the last sentence. I absolutely loved this, 5 stars, I cannot wait to read what Hawkins comes out with next.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a slower burn compared to her usual pace,. If you'’ve read her other books and are familiar with her formula, you might see the twist coming. Personally, I preferred it over "The Villa" and "The Wife Upstairs." The increased tension and build-up before the action added depth. I thought there was a missed opportunity to add to the tension by making the house a bit creepier and haunted, but overall, it was an enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the gifted copy.

I finished this book the same day I watched Saltburn and found it to be an interesting but unintentional pairing. Both are stories of how wealth and the desire for it messes people up. The Heiress tells the story of a man who was adopted into a wealthy North Carolina family as a boy, returning to the family estate with his wife after years away. It’s twisty and cleverly put together - the second half is very much worth the slower first half.

The homicidal nonchalance of characters in both the book and Saltburn reminded me of Arsenic and Old Lace, especially in the dark comedy of Saltburn. Having enough money is good, but chasing fortune can be a wild ride.

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advance copy of The Heiress! All opinions are my own.

I was really looking forward to reading this book. I've read other books by this author and enjoyed them. This was one of my least favorites.

The book started off well with the story of the missing child, Ruby. It was just so slow. I found myself putting it down often because it was dragging. The characters were ALL unlikable. I don't know which one I liked the least.

The part that actually intrigued me were Ruby’s letters. This was one twisted family but Ruby laid out the history perfectly. The last half of the book was the best. The story kicked up when the big reveal came.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC.

Rachel Hawkins The Heiress was such a good story. There were twists and turns that were completely unexpected and left me guessing until the very end. I was really rooting for the MMC and was a little shocked that it seems like the entire family was not what they seemed. All in all it was an entertaining, kept me on my toes kind of read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Hawkins is able to weave the of the dysfunctional, wealthy family with the secrets those families hold to create this excellent suspense thriller! We see Camden as he struggles with being adopted into the McTavish family and their ‘old money,’ better than everyone mindset. They frequently remind him that he is not one of them. After his mother’s death he takes off-content to never see them again. Ten years later, they drag him back home, and the skeletons start falling out of the closet. This is an excellent book! I was quickly hooked in and couldn’t put it down. There were so many surprises and twist I felt dizzy!

Thank you @NetGalley and @LadyHaekins for the opportunity to read this copy for an honest review!

#TheHeiress #RachelHawkins #NetGalley #mystery #suspense #thriller #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #TheMidNOCBookClub

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. This book was so good! I've read The Wife Upstairs by this author too & this one did not disappoint at all! You get the gothic suspense the whole time that keeps you flipping pages to know what happens next. Loved it!

Dark and twisty with an appropriately ambivalent ending. The characters are well written and the plot is fast-paced, making it hard to put down. I was able to predict a few of the twists, so that was satisfying.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel.

I could not put this book down! Truly an addictive read. The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a gothic thriller that includes mystery, suspense, and family secrets. What more could you ask for? This was the first book of hers that I have read and definitely will be checking out more. I was truly in the edge of my seat and didn’t know what was coming next.

This book explores themes of inheritance, hidden pasts, and the consequences of unearthing long-hidden truths. Definitely a must read!

Thank you to the publisher and author for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review. Looking forward to reading other works by this author.

Have read and loved all of Rachel Hawkins' books, and I loved this one as well. There's plenty of mystery, murder, family drama, and unexpected twists. Loved the different points of view and the letters portion of the story. Would definitely recommend.

I’ve only read one other book from Rachel Hawkins before but loved it so much that I just knew I had to read The Heiress, and I’m so glad that I did! Rachel Hawkins has a writing style all of her own with how she’s telling the story and then showing you all the things you thought you knew and all the things you didn’t.
The Heiress is a story, told from multiple points of view, mostly centered around Ruby McTavish and her family’s estate and how even in death, the family estate still haunts her adopted son, Cam, to this day. Cam receives a letter from his estranged cousin Ben and decides to go back home with his wife Jules, to try to make amends and help take care of business regarding the estate. While Jules is completely enchanted with the home, Cam despises it and cannot wait to leave. The big question though, is why does he hate it so much?
All the different points of view may tell different stories but they all come together in the end. If I’ve learned anything from reading this book, it’s that all the little details matter in this story, so be sure to pay attention. There are many secrets that come to light, some more surprising than others.
The Heiress was such an enjoyable book. I really enjoyed the small tribute to Rachel Hawkins’ book The Villa, with the Aestas album reference too. I can’t wait to see what book Rachel Hawkins comes out with next. Thank you Netgalley and St Martin’s Press publishing for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review. 5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A wealthy daughter of a mega famous man goes missing as a child, a hint towards changelings, and when she passes the adopted son comes home with his wife to settle up the score. This just didn't quite work for me. I did appreciate the different perspectives told and the tiny twists leading to the ending, but I just wanted more about the motivations behind the actions, and I personally would have liked more about the changeling idea than we got. I liked it well enough, but fear I will forget it over tiA wealthy daughter of a mega famous man goes missing as a child, a hint towards changelings, and when she passes the adopted son comes home with his wife to settle up the score. This just didn't quite work for me. I did appreciate the different perspectives told and the tiny twists leading to the ending, but I just wanted more about the motivations behind the actions, and I personally would have liked more about the changeling idea than we got. I liked it well enough, but fear I will forget it over time.

I have grown to love my annual read of the latest Rachel Hawkins book. This one is no exception to her page-turning works. The Heiress is told from the perspective of a married couple, independently of each other. Cam, who has inherited his adoptive mother’s estate, including the massive property it sits on, Ashby House, and plenty of money and his wife, Jules, who knows that her husband has severed all ties with his family but she is personally wanting him to reconsider. They finally decide to make the trip back to North Carolina in order to work out the details of the estate and have a cross country road trip to get there. As they climb the mountain to the home, the tension for Cam rises while the excitement for Jules also rises. You can feel the sense of dread that Cam is experiencing while Jules is in awe of the property.
Hawkins creates brilliant gothic vibes with all the years of historically awful things that have surrounded the family and Ashby House. Each character that you meet has a reason to be sufficiently appalling as a human which adds to the mystery and intrigue. In addition, the voice of Ruby, well known for her trail of dead husbands, who is the deceased mother and matriarch of the property, is heard through letters revealing many of her deepest secrets. This gives us a steady stream of twists and turns. In addition to this, all of the characters have secrets of their own to reveal.
Although nothing about the weather in this story implies a wintery atmosphere, this is a deliciously sinister and gothic story to start the new year.
#TheHeiress #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. That's quite a name and the lady herself has quite a story. In The Heiress, you get a front row seat to all her drama. Buckle up, baby, you're in for a bumpy ride.

In Rachel Hawkins latest novel, she treats us to the complicated life story of Ruby McTavish and the fractious family she left behind. At the time of her death, Ruby was the wealthiest woman in North Carolina. She was also its most notorious resident.

Her notoriety started early when she was kidnapped as a child, a very wealthy child. Her face and story were everywhere. The talk of the town, you could say. Unlike the tragic case of the Lindbergh baby though, Ruby was found alive and returned into the arms of her family. A seemingly happy ending.

Ruby lived an eventful life from that time forward. Widowed four times over, with marriages the stuff of gossip columns, her early infamy never really had the chance to wear off. After her death, the family estate, Ashby House, set high in the Blue Ridge mountains, along with Ruby's nine-figure fortune is left to her adopted son, Camden, much to the chagrin of the other surviving McTavish family members.

Camden doesn't want anything to do with the estate, or the inheritance. He rejects it and moves to Colorado. He marries, becomes an English teacher and lives a fairly normal life.

10-years later, after the death of his Uncle, a summons for his presence brings Camden, along with his wife, Jules, back to North Carolina and into the fold of the McTavish family. Cam may be displeased about their stay in North Carolina, but Jules has other thoughts. She loves the property and is enamored by the idea of it being all theirs.

The more she learns about Cam's estranged family, the more determined she becomes for him to claim everything Ruby intended for him to have. The more they learn about Ruby though, the more tainted her legacy seems to become. What exactly is her story?

I found this to be absolutely addictive. I listened to the audiobook and loved how it was formatted, as well as the multi-cast narration. We get both Cam and Jules perspectives, as well as Ruby's story through a series of letters she has written to an unknown recipient. Cam and Jules are both providing the present timeline, as they travel to Ashby House and stay there with Cam's family for their first time.

Ruby's letters provide us with a glimpse of her life from the start. We go through her various romances and learn of the events that shaped her into the woman she becomes.

I loved the set-up and Hawkins was successful in capturing and holding my attention. I wouldn't say there was a ton of action, but as a character study, it's definitely intriguing. If you love deep-held family secrets and drama, you will most likely enjoy this one. It's seriously the most twisted Family Drama, and I love twisted!!

As the past catches up with the present, the truth of who Ruby was writing to is revealed and thus, the truth of her life becomes clear. OMG, what a crazy life!

Overall, I had a lot of fun with this. It's great storytelling. There's varied layers of deceit and backstabbing, which we love to see. My only wish is that it could have been a little longer and that there could have been more suspense. Nevertheless though, a really enjoyable read.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I always get excited for the newest Rachel Hawkins, and am already anticipating whatever she writes next!

This is Rachel Hawkins’ best book yet! I’ll admit, I found some of her other books, like Reckless Girls, to be fluffy but easily digestible reads. However, she has set a new bar for herself with The Heiress. This book really has legs and is a solid twisty gothic thriller. I was constantly guessing and let myself get pulled into the story, trying to figure out Ruby’s storied life. Rachel Hawkins has just become an auto-read author for me!