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.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I was happy that I was home on a snow day so I could just read. Who doesn't love a book about family drama and secrets and this book was full of them. Even right up until the very end.

This was a little different in that it had 3 POV's. Ruby through her letters, her adopted son, Cam, and his wife Jules. I think I liked Ruby's the most because she is where most of all the secrets are revealed. There is not a thing that gets past her and she's truly the master manipulator.

Overall great thriller, and fast paced. It's a page turner for sure.
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𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤: The Heiress sucked me in! It was entertaining and kept me wanting to find out what would happen. I low-key really like unreliable narrators in thrillers because it keeps me guessing even more. There were so many twists and linked stories in Ashby house I wasn’t sure what actually was happening. There were 3 POVs, Camden, his wife Jules and Ruby’s POV told through her letters she left behind. Ruby was my favorite character she was captivating and her intentions multi-layered. Overall enjoyed and would recommend if you want a quick thriller!

I enjoyed The Wife Upstairs and its spin on Jane Eyre but found Rachel Dawkins’ two subsequent thrillers to be lacking in pacing and character consistency. Personally, The Heiress was a step up in quality from the last two. The reveals of the twists were paced well, although I wasn’t surprised by all of them (some I was). I appreciated that there wasn’t an ending where a whole slew of unbelievable twists were thrown in every other page. I feel like that’s been a pattern lately with thrillers, and I find it incredibly annoying. More crazy twists do not necessarily improve a book. I also enjoyed the letters from Ruby interspersed with chapters from both Jules and Camden; it made the story more interesting and well-rounded. I’m always a sucker for a book where the family estate or house and family drama play a big role, and I wasn’t disappointed by those aspects although I did find a few of the characters to be somewhat caricatured. If you’re looking for a good toxic family thriller, definitely give this one a shot!

Yet another favorite read from Rachel Hawkins!

This book had me staying up late more than once to read "just one more chapter", and waking up early to dive back into the story!

If you're looking for a good mystery full of rich family drama, this is the book for you!

This is my favorite Rachel Hawkins novel to date (I've also read The Villa and The Wife Upstairs). It's a domestic thriller about Camden and his wife Jules who return to Ashby House to settle Cam's estate left to him by his adoptive mother, Ruby.

It is told in 3 POVs - Cam, Jules, and letters written by Ruby. The thriller slowly builds as we read Ruby's letters and Camden clashes with the cousins and Aunt. Cam was hands down my favorite character. I liked the conclusion and the twist around Jules. I could have done without the epilogue.

4.5⭐ (I really liked it)

This is my first book by Rachel Hawkins even though I have seen so many recommended over the years.

I really liked this one for a few reasons-
🏠 old house and family with money and secrets
🏠 the title and who it truly refers to
🏠 how the backstory was revealed through letters

Jules and Cam live a simple life in Colorado. They have been married a full decade now and rent a sweet little house while working jobs they are content with. When Camden is called home to North Carolina to take care of family affairs, he dreads it and Jules can’t wait. Cam is the heir to a fortune and the esteemed Ashby House. The problem is he doesn’t want any of it. There is too much pain and too many secrets tied up with his family. When they return to Ashby the secrets start pouring out and not everyone will make it out alive.

Hawkins is always hit or miss with me. Some of her book I absolutely love and others have been just ok. This was a hit! I was super invested in the story of Cam’s family and I loved all the secrets everyone was keeping! Fantastic book!

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than a lot of stuff I have read, but once I got into the meat of the story it really captured my attention and I couldn’t wait to know it what happened next. Due to the slower start I’m giving it four stars, but I really enjoyed it and can’t wait for her next book!

I felt like nothing really happened in this book. I wanted more of Ruby’s perspectives. Her letters were the most interesting part of the book.

This one is slow burn that drags a little at the beginning but gets so much better if you stick with it! At 30% of the way in, I finally got hooked! At the center of the story is Ruby McTavish, the young daughter of a rich couple. As a child she vanished in the Blue Ridge mountains and after a massive manhunt she was found living with a family in Alabama.
Decades later, after Ruby’s death and the death of her son, her only living heir, Cam McTavish, is summoned back to the mansion, His wife, Jules, is really excited to see Ashby Manor. She has a plan to make it their own.
Jealousy, secrets, lies, and murder- Who is entitled to the McTavish fortune and what will they do to get it? I enjoyed and appreciated how all the loose ends got tied up at the end of the book. But overall I feel like too many secrets were revealed on the last few pages.

This is my third book by Rachel Hawkins and my favorite. This book has dual POVs, letters from Ruby and newspaper article clippings. I really enjoyed all of this and I felt like it make the story a fun and easy read. Overall, an enjoyable book if you want someone just fun and easy.

Thank you to publisher for giving my an ARC through netgalley in return for my honest review.

The Heiress was the first book I have read by Rachel Hawkins. Its twist and turns keep the reader guessing. It was a book that I didn't enjoy as much as other thrillers similar in style. While I am not a prude, I didn't enjoy the amount of strong language that was frequent, and I struggled to relate to any characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.