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!

**This book is out now!!!**
I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

The McTavish family has been a very wealthy family for years, all living in Ashby House. Ruby McTavish is the oldest of the two McTavish daughters and was the victim of a kidnapping when she was a little girl. When their father passed, Ruby was given the house and every single penny. Ruby winds up adopting a son, Camden, and will plan to pass down everything to him, instead of her sister. The thing is, Camden wants nothing to do with it. When Camden and his wife of 10 years, Jules, end up going back to Ashby House, a lot of McTavish secrets are revealed.

As I read this book, I devoured the pages! I was doing my best to find more time that I could spend reading it! Hawkins did a great job of painting the picture for us readers with her details and the characters came to life with their individual voices. I think this book would be a fabulous movie! I would definitely recommend it!!

This was my first book by Rachel Hawkins but it will not be the last! This is a twisty gothic thriller. I had no idea what I was getting into. The book was fast paced and easy to read. When I finished the book I immediately had to tell my husband about it because I needed someone to talk about the book with.

This one is Rachel Hawkins at her finest! There is so much drama and the use of past and present, twists and turns, all make this one extremely bingeable

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a gripping dive into the world of wealth, power, and family dynamics that kept me hooked from start to finish. While the beginning may have been a bit slow, the story picks up pace in the latter half with twists that are a combination of predictability and unexpected turns.

The portrayal of the dysfunctional McTavish family adds depth and intrigue to the plot. The multiple perspectives from characters like Camden, Jules, and Ruby provide depth to the narrative. The timeline, alternating between the present and Ruby's eventful past, adds complexity to the narrative. Ruby's four marriages are explored, shedding light on her troubled childhood and the mysteries surrounding the estate. The characters are convincingly portrayed as conniving, crass, and downright dysfunctional. Their unapologetic pursuit of victory and the lack of moral boundaries make them both captivating and controversial.

The estate's secrets and the intricate relationships between characters had me eagerly turning pages. While the surprises led to a satisfying climax, a quicker pace in the first half and a touch less predictability would have earned it a five-star rating. Nevertheless, "The Heiress" stands out as a gripping and engaging family drama thriller, appealing to those who enjoy a blend of suspense and social insight.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this book.

I’ve read 7 books so far this year that were all pretty lackluster, but ohhhhh my god this one took me right out of that meh state. It reminded me of a darker Evelyn Hugo, the fabulous old woman telling her story even if it was a little twisty. I didn’t expect anything that was coming. OBSESSED. I will think about this book all year.

I thought this was a solid book. Secrets? A rich entitled family? Murder? Sold! I have read multiple Hawkins books and have found them to be easy to read and interesting. My one complaint is a personal one, I didn't much care for any character besides Ruby because I felt that the characters didn't feel as rounded out.

This is a favorite from the author so far. It was a good mystery, though predictable, But easily consumed. It is a great beach read, with lots of family drama and secrets and a lot of rich people issues. People are despicable, and selfish, and I kind of couldn't wait for the follow out.

It is a good read.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a well written psychological thriller.

I really loved the characters and the story. This was a unique twist on a suspenseful novel.

Kept me guessing until the very end.

Welcome to Ashby House, where secrets are hidden within the walls and echoes of the past haunt the McTavish family. As the estranged family reunite after the death of matriarch Ruby McTavish (a woman with a notorious reputation for killing her husbands and a sordid childhood), secrets and lies begin to emerge. Camden, the heir to the McTavish fortune, decided long ago to reject the family money. But when his wife, Jules, finds about his inheritance, she sees a glimmer of hope... A way to escape her dead-in job and live the life she's always wanted. That's why she convinces Camden to finally return home. But she doesn't understand how deeply the disdain, jealousy and hatred is rooted in this family of liars. The longer Camden and Jules are a part of it, the harder it will be to escape.

This is top tier modern Gothic literature!
I loved Hawkins' debut novel 'The Wife Upstairs' and this book is even more darkly delicious than that one.
The McTavish clan is a twisted family, with Ruby McTavish being one of the most interesting characters I've read in years. However, all the characters are deeply complex and complicated. Ruthless and self righteous, but with hints of humanity and humility sprinkled in. Plus Ashby House is just the perfect setting if you love old crumbling manors as much as I do.

I absolutely recommend this book. In fact, I have a copy of the book plus got the audiobook when it came out. Read it. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this advanced copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the character development, the rich people problems, the secrets on secrets on secrets, the gothic type atmosphere and the multiple POV. I had heard this was reminiscent of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, but full of mystery and twists. I definitely could agree with that comparison.

I have read a couple of Rachel Hawkins previous books and I must say I will keep reading them. They’re always quick paced and engaging. I absolutely recommend this one!

Omg what do I say! I don't read many thrillers because I can typically guess the twists. There were a few I picked up on early but some I didn't. This was so well written. I loved all of the different point of views. Poor Cam for being bullied due to a situation out of his control and not his choice. Jules just trying to get redemption for her family. The rich trying to stay rich. Such a great southern story with Lifetime feels.

Wow! This is an amazing story with so many twists and turns. I was so invested in this family drama that I could not put it down. There is just the right amount of suspense in the book, it doesn't overwhelm you but keeps you wondering what is going to happen next.

Told through three distinctive points of view we easily get a picture that nothing is as it seems with the McTavish family. The hidden away family secrets are slowly revealed building the tension within the family itself, until the exciting ending when we find out nothing is as it seems in this family. Camden, Ruby and Jules each add their unique perspective to this dramatic family tale. I truly enjoyed how it was told through these three characters and the transitions we flawless.

Full of intriguing characters, secrets, murders, scheming family members this book is extremely satisfying and a quick read. Rachel Hawkins is a must read author for me and once again she did not disappoint!

I hope you enjoy this fast-paced, intriguing family drama as much as I did!

I am voluntarily leaving an honest review and am extremely grateful to St. Martin's Press and Netgally for the opportunity to read a digital copy of this fabulous book.

When the wealthiest woman in North Carolina dies and leaves her entire estate to her adopted son, cutting everyone else out of the will, there's bound to be a good story and some hurt feelings. Rachel Hawkins is well known for setting the atmosphere in her stories and letting the characters tell the story. In THE HEIRESS, the McTavish family estate is Ashby House. It has absorbed the memories and spirits of the many troubled souls who have lived and died there, including Ruby McTavish's four husbands.
The Heiress plays out like a chess game. Three POVs, Ruby, her heir Camden and his wife Jules, with each making their voice heard amongst those who would see Camden gone. The mystery of Ruby's life, with all of the sordid events, comes to life through her letters to an unknown pen pal. As events play out at Ashby House, the suspense builds towards a reveal that will surprise most readers. A great read by an author who seems to get better with each book.

Wowee, this totally floored me!! This was one of those books that I couldn't get back to fast enough, work was getting in the way( haha) luckily we had a major winter snowstorm and I was able to jump in bed while the wind blew and the snow piled up outside and cozily settle in and savor the rest of this! This intricately and superbly plotted storyline centers mainly around Ruby McTavish, a matriarch of sorts to the McTavish fortune and the mystery surrounding her famous "kidnapping" when she was 3-years old. Told from 3 POV'S which includes Ruby's adopted son Camden, his wife Jules and Ruby herself each adds their own voice to this story of betrayal, greed, murder and the lengths family members will go to get a piece of the family wealth. A Totally engrossing read, it was perfect for a snowy winter's night! Recommended.

Thanks to author Rachel Hawkins and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for my review

Can you really trust anyone?

This book will take you on a journey from the grave. Lots of twists and turns. Who is the true villain? or perhaps everyones hands are a little dirty.

Story about how wealth can change a family for years and years. Every action has a reaction.

This author is a very good story teller. I was expecting maybe just a little bit more suspense but still a great read.

I read the book and listened to the audiobook. Both great ways to enjoy this story.

I am finding that progressively, I like each Rachel hawkins book more and more.

The heiress, a great combination of lady Evelyn Hugo and Lenora Hope, takes you on this weaving and twisty ride of mystery and family dynamics, and how it's all impacted by having a LOT of money.

This is the fastest I have read a full length novel in a long time, but I couldn't seem to put it down. It was not exceptionally thrilling, but rather a very solid mystery to try and work out (and honestly, one that you probably can't). This definitely pushes the author into the auto-try category for me going forward.