Thank you to St Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Wild, twisty, and dysfunctional in all of the best ways. It was an amazing suspense book and I think it really carried itself well! I loved all of the letters and the reveals throughout the book.

I have read Rachel Hawkins's other books but... OMG, this has to be her best yet!!! What a great plot! Full of lies tangled with truths, a house, a rich family - than more than a family it was an infestation of hungry money snakes and a heiress that would do anything to keep it a secret.

Welcome to Ashby House, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore house, and in a way her prison. She's not only known for being kidnapped at age three and later rescued but also for being married four times, and each time, her husbands died in a terrible accident.

When her adoptive son and his wife Jules decide to go back to Ashby House they enter Ruby's deepest secrets and uncover how she died.

A must-read!!

Thank you St. Martin's Publishing Group and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.

So good! I loved this story and the mystery surrounding it. I knew from the start that I would love this book and as I kept reading, the book just kept getting better!

This was a good one!

The way the story wove together was brilliant. I loved the letters slowly releasing details. The intricate web of how the characters were tied together was perfection. There were definitely relationships that left me wondering until the end.

The characters were well developed and I enjoyed how the layers to each relationship were carefully revealed throughout the story. Enjoyed the multiple POV’s. Ruby McTavish was especially well done. I enjoyed the letters they portrayed her power, determination for revenge, and how she navigated her reality

Title: The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Source: DRC via NetGalley (St. Martin’s Press) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: January 9, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

Other books by this author
As Rachel Hawkins:
The Villa
The Wife Upstairs
As Erin Sterling:
The Ex Hex (The Ex Hex #1)
The Kiss Curse (The Ex Hex #2)

Why did I choose to read this book?

When I read the synopsis of this book I was drawn in by the dark secrets and whispers, and I needed to know why the adopted son Camden would reject his sizeable, life-changing inheritance. I’m not usually a gossip hound but the description of this book made me sniff at the air like a cartoon lady floating towards a freshly made pie.

What is this book about?

Ruby McTavish is kidnapped and returned to her family when she was just a child. Her family has the kind of money that controls towns, buys judges, moves mountains – and Ruby was the heir to all of it. The story centers around her past told side by side with her adopted son Camden’s present to show how he came to inherit the McTavish riches and why he might have wanted to reject that legacy. It’s about what family is, what right and wrong might be, and when the ends might justify the means.

What is notable about this story?

I did not see the twist coming. Rachel Hawkins had me the entire way through this book and even made me think I had experienced the twist, when the true one was waiting to slap me across the face when I was looking the other way. This is always something I find notable because I am very difficult to trick or string along. And not only was the twist well disguised, but it made the entire story even more fucked up than it already was, and it’s pretty messed up.

There is a LOT of murder in this story. I mean, I don’t mind a story with murder but my goodness. Money really can buy anything if it was able to hide all this goddamned murder. Woof.

Was anything not so great?

I found it difficult to believe that no one in the direct McTavish family was remotely normal. Not a single human with a conscience in the bunch? It took the adopted kid to bring normalcy?

One of the murders made me so mad I wanted to stop reading the book. Hawkins does not shy away from illustrating the cruelty of the main character Ruby and it is showcased abundantly, almost to the point of disbelief. It was difficult to believe that one person could be so manipulative and cruel; it took me out of the story quite a few times.

There were several moments where the book got a little bit soap opera-ey and made me roll my eyes, but it got dark again quick so I didn’t have to deal with it very long.

What’s the verdict?

4 stars on Goodreads, but it would be 3.5 stars if I could. You’ll read the entire thing, there aren’t any places where the narrative drags or gets bogged down, but the story is dark, manipulative, and murderous so read with the lights on! Go get it!

Wooooooooo! Rachel Hawkins does it AGAIN and AGAIN you know what I love best about her books? They’re a great size for a thriller, great cast of characters, and the thrill keeps on thrilling.
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Be prepared, this is a cast of very unlikeable characters. Each one had ulterior motives for wanting the Ashby House and the money. I COULD NOT BELIEVE the amount of lies that each one was telling. All the secrets that reveal themselves at the right time.
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I wish we would’ve gotten more Ruby. I loved her POV the best. Her storyline was interesting forrrrrr sure. She had the best story to tell and also best ending.
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Overall, another great thriller from Hawkins!
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𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 @𝘴𝘵𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 @𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔 | 𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘📱
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Pub Date: TODAY (January 9, 2024)

𝑴𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔:
This is by far my favourite from the author! There was so much going on with the multiple characters. Each character had their own storyline, which all eventually tied into each other in the end.

What I really loved about this book was learning about all of the past husbands heiress Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore had - if that 5 name surname doesn’t intrigue you enough, the stories about how each husband dies will.

Thank goodness I read this book on a long flight, because I could not stop reading! The format of this book was perfect for the plot, and was extremely captivating. There were so many unexpected twists and turns, to the point where every time I thought I had things figured out, something would happen to completely change the course of my thought process.

In my opinion, this is the authors best work yet! I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who likes a good twisty/darkish family drama.

𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒇 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝑳𝒊𝒌𝒆:
- 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Complex family dynamics & drama
- 🕰️ Dual timelines
- 💭 Multiple POV
- 👑 Dynasty and Succession

𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒆 𝑷𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈: 2021 Cabernet Franc - Amos Wines🍷

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my digital Advanced Reader Copy in return for an honest review.

If you're in the mood for a gripping mystery filled with twist after twist, look no further than The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. This book had me hooked from the very beginning and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

The story revolves around an estranged family reuniting at their sprawling family estate in the mountains of North Carolina. From the start, it's clear that every member of this family has deep and dark secrets that they're desperate to keep hidden. Money doesn't buy happiness, and the characters in The Heiress are living proof of this. Their wealth and privilege only seem to lead them further into despair and unfulfilling greed.

What I loved most about The Heiress is that it feels like a modern-day gothic mystery, complete with a grand family estate and a sense of foreboding that lingers throughout. This was my first time reading a Rachel Hawkins novel, and I can confidently say that I'll be picking up more in the future. Her writing style is engaging and keeps you guessing at every turn.

The Heiress is a page-turner that will keep you up late into the night, and you won't want to put it down until you've uncovered every secret hidden within its pages. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good mystery with a touch of twisted family drama.

“The Heiress” by Rachel Hawkins is a real page turner, and in nearly every chapter, something new about the twisted McTavish family was revealed. At the heart of the story is Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore (referred to by enemies by Ruby Killmore since all her husband suffered untimely deaths). But that isn’t her only notoriety: she had been kidnapped as a child and returned to her wealthy family three years later. Not everyone was happy to have her return, especially since she was the heiress to the family fortune. As an adult, she adopts Camden and leaves him the McTavish fortune. He wants nothing to do with it. Due to circumstances with a family he wishes to ignore, he returns to the estate with his wife Jules. Then little by little, we learn that nothing is as it seems.
Many thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this incredible book, one which I plan to read again and again.

#happypubday to @ladyhawkins & her newest book! this scandalous suspense story depicts a tale of old southern money & the deception that comes with power and greed.

notorious southern belle and 4-time-widow Ruby McTavish has passed away, leaving the Ashby House estate & its accompanying riches to her adopted son, Camden. this results in much bitterness & turmoil amongst the surviving McTavish family members, even though Cam wants nothing to do with his inheritance—instead, choosing to live in a modest home as an English teacher in Colorado with his wife, Jules.

it’s only when another McTavish passes away 10 years later that Cam is summoned to return back to the North Carolina estate. after years of avoiding his past, he returns with Jules, where they both uncover twisted secrets about the infamous heiress, the estranged McTavish family, and even what darkness lies within themselves.

this was such an entertaining read! at just over 300 pages, it’s a quick read with short, engaging chapters that alternate between the perspective of Camden, Jules, and the tell-all letters of Ruby McTavish. this is a must-read for lovers of scandals, suspense, and historical wealth & notoriety. Hawkins expertly foreshadows events throughout the book to give us that feeling of being one step ahead of the characters, while still executing a few surprising twists and turns for readers. the suspense of the family’s estrangement in addition to the flashbacks from the past to present made this book super binge-worthy.

thank you to @netgalley & @stmartinspress for my #advancedreaderscopy of this book!

Ruby McTavish is the wealthiest woman in North Carolina. She is also one of the most interesting, with being the "toddler that was kidnapped, and then returned" as well as multiple Widow. So when Ruby McTavish passes away, it creates quite the stir in the North Carolina social scene. But really the only one who is affected, and the last person who wants to be involved, is her adopted son, Cam. Per her will, Cam inherits all of the wealth, leaving out the rest of the McTavish family. As Cam and his wife return to North Carolina, and the family mansion, they must navigate the family dynamics, and along the way discover that Ruby had more to her than they initially thought.

-Fast paced read
-Tons of surprises and twists
-Strong Female characters
-Morally grey characters
-Abundant amount of family drama and betrayal

Overall, I would recommend this for anyone interested in surprising mysteries, and stories of family betrayals.

I feverishly read this one in a day. Rachel Hawkins never lets me down and is 💯 an auto buy author.

I was immediately drug into this one. After seeing reviews comparing it to Seven Husbands, I was even more enthralled. I really did enjoy this one. The plot twists were not super shocking as I saw the foreshadowing for them in the pages, but they were unique. This whole plot line was unique. I especially loved the mixed media Hawkins uses to tell the story. I would agree that it has a Seven Husbands vibe but that isn’t the essence of the story. It’s almost Seven Husbands mixed with something else and new I cannot mention without giving spoilers.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Rachel Hawkins is always a must read for me. I was a little hesitant because The Villa wasn’t everything I had hoped but she has redeemed herself with The Heiress. The Heiress was everything I wanted and more. I adore Rachel’s writing - it’s so easy to read, so captivating, and so well planned out. There was just the right amount of characters and moving parts. I love a multiple POV book and this one always kept you suspicious of everyone’s motives. My most favorite part is when all the many puzzles pieces of the books finally all click together. Bonus points for a plot twist I did not anticipate.
Highly, highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read such an amazing book in exchange for writing an honest review.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for an advance copy of THE HEIRESS in return for my honest review.

Tucked away in the Blue Ridge mountains lies the sprawling Ashby House - home to the McTavish family… and their secrets.

Estranged from his adopted family, Camden McTavish reluctantly returns to the “haunted house where the ghosts hadn’t had the courtesy to die yet.”

This psychological thriller has all the deep dark, well-to-do southern gothic family secrets vibes. I loved the multiple points of view and alternating timelines via letters from a ghost!

As always, I recommend going into this one blind. It’s a slow burn suspense with a few twists that I 😲 didn’t see coming! You got me @ladyhawkins 👏

Just think of it as Evelyn Hugo with a dark and gritty twist 🤗

Read this book if you like…
⛰️ Atmospheric Southern gothic settings
🔍 Generational mysteries
🕷️ Black widows
🌪️ Unexpected twists
🤫 Rich families with dark secrets
👥 Multiple POVs (one in letter format)

i usually buck against thrillers that make far too liberal use of a dual timeline but i found this one surprisingly effective. this is my first rachel hawkins book since i read her young adult series rebel belle around eight years ago. glad she's doing well!

The Heiress is the 2nd novel I have read by Rachel Hawkins after The Villa which was a great story.

The Heiress of the title is Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, quite the mouthful that. Ruby is famous or perhaps one should say infamous for being kidnapped as a child and for the mysterious deaths of her 4 husbands. She is the heiress to not only her father’s fortune, but also to the beautiful Ashby house in the North Carolina mountains. She also has a truly horrid family with the exception of her adopted son Camden. Camden ran from the family 10 years ago and has now been persuaded by his wife Jules to return to Ashby house and his unclaimed inheritance, sadly the surviving members of Ruby’s family, Nelle, Ben and Libby are also there. As with any true Southern Gothic novel, there are secrets, confessions and murder.

I enjoyed the book though none of the characters were totally fleshed out except for maybe Ruby. I enjoyed the contrasting chapters from Camden and Jules’ point of views and the epistolary confessions of Ruby. Definitely worth a read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher St. Martins Press and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

Ooh I just love a Rachel Hawkins book, and this was exactly the book I was in the mood for, and I wish I could read it again for the first time.

When his adopted mother (and also the richest woman in North Carolina) dies, Camden takes off, wanting nothing to do with his inheritance or the family who never really accepted him. He's built a quiet life for himself as an English teacher in Colorado, with his wife Jules. Cam is forced to return to Ashby House after the death of his uncle, and that's when the secrets start to come out. Secrets about his mother, and her four dead husbands...secrets about why she adopted Cam in the first place, and so much more.

This book is delightfully dark and twisty, and I adored the letters from Ruby (Cam's mother) spilling all her secrets from beyond the grave. Ashby House is basically it's own character, and I was 100% here for it. Plus, The Heiress starts out in Colorado, just down the road from me!

Thanking NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and author, Rachel Hawkins for advance copy for honest review.

Happy Pub Day to this gem and one of the main characters Ruby. Ruby McTavish was an heiress. Old money from her family as well as her husbands, fours husbands to be exact. She sure led the life! Main home in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains as well as traveling the world. Ruby tells us her stories and secrets through letters, recalling what she remembers and now telling the truth. Not everything is as it was perceived. Money can cover up a lot. Her adopted son and now heir, Camden, just wanted to get away from it all. He crossed the country, met is wife and has been living a quiet life in Colorado when he is contacted to come back to Ashby House to tie up loose ends after ten years. Being nudged by his wife Jules, who has her own agenda, they head back to North Carolina. With no spoilers…Everyone has secrets. Everyone is deceiving. Money truly can be the root of all evil. 4 STARS, highly recommend for a fast paced, page turner!

“And of course, we can never discount that most dangerous of animals, our fellow man.”

Overall, I really enjoyed this one! It was a quick read - I managed to read it within a couple of sittings while on vacation. It was intriguing, and I was invested in the outcome. I was able to see some twists and turns coming, while remaining surprised with others - exactly what I want out of my mystery/thrillers.

Plot Thoughts:
I love a white collar crime/thriller/heist/anything, and this was no different. The concept was a relevant guilty pleasure (rich family drama); and I really enjoyed the variety of formats throughout the book. There were letters, emails, flashbacks, and “regular” storytelling. Also, the pacing was perfect - I truly was never bored.

Character Thoughts:
OOf there were so many unlikeable characters and unreliable narrators. It was fascinating to explore the idea of people consisting of both their best and worst parts; I ended up rooting for characters that may not have been the most morally sound, but they had so many layers to them. These complex characters really elevated the story.

👍🏻 Would recommend!

Thank you @netgalley & @stmartinspress for the eARC!

3.5 ⭐️

Author: Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub date: January 9, 2024

"When you're young, there's nothing but possibility, just an endless line of tomorrows..."

Read if you like:

Mystery/Thriller
︎︎Multiple POV
The rich gone bad
︎︎Dual Timeline

This novel sets the stage for intense twists and turns with elements such as family rivalries, profound secrets, rumors, kidnapping, and murder, all wrapped up in a notorious family estate perched high in North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains.

I enjoyed reading parts of this book! When delving into a mystery/thriller, I appreciate the element of unpredictability, and this story successfully kept me guessing what would happen next. The storyline did seem somewhat scattered initially, but around the halfway point, the narrative became easier to follow.

The introduction and development of the characters were a bit confusing for me, although it might just be a personal perception. Each character had certain unlikeable qualities, but that doesn't define the overall appeal or value of the book. My favorite aspect was the inclusion of Ruby's letters scattered throughout. Her personal writing style and the scandalous yet entertaining revelations added a captivating dimension to the story.

The ending and epilogue were well-written and helped clinch the storyline!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for my gifted copy.