I love Rachel Hawkins. She’s become an auto-buy author for me and this one, I think, is her best one yet! I loved the alternating POV narration from Cam, Jules, Ruby’s letters, and the mixed media of newspaper articles, book excerpts, etc. The alternating formats and the short chapters really held my attention and made this an easy book to fly through. The McTavishes are one dysfunctional family and although it took a little bit for the drama to start, I was immediately sucked in once it happened. This is a slow burn without feeling like a slow burn. The plot held my attention throughout and I honestly was thinking about it a lot when I wasn’t reading. I highly recommend The Heiress to anyone who loves slow burn thrillers with messed up family dynamics!

Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

Money can’t buy you happiness, or a normal family, in The Heiress. As she’s done in some of her previous novels, Rachel Hawkins has created a domestic thriller with complicated characters that you’re not sure if you want to root for or completely hate, all set in a place that almost becomes its own character in the novel.

The book centers around the Ashby House and the estate of the infamous Ruby McTavish. After surviving four husbands, she leaves her fortune to her adopted son, Camden, much to the dismay of his surviving relatives who he hasn’t seen in 10 years after leaving town. After returning with his wife Jules, many family secrets are coming to the surface.

The Heiress would make a GREAT book club book—there is so much to discuss and explore. You could probably spend an hour just chatting about nature vs. nurture!

I loved the unique POVs included. There are chapters from Jules, Camden as well as letters from the late Ruby herself, plus chapter interludes that include snippets of articles that align with the story, which I found was an engaging add to the book.

While I was able to guess the plot a bit, there are more than enough twists and turns to make this an enjoyable ride!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this novel. There were twists and turns, most unpredictable. You wanted to hate the bad guys and love the good guys, but who was who? The plot was good, I felt that it moved along at a good speed and the ending was unexpected. Overall definitely recommend..

I recently had the pleasure of reading "The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins, courtesy of NetGalley, who provided me with an ebook version in exchange for an honest review. Let me start by saying this book is a rollercoaster of suspense that had me hooked from start to finish.

One of the unique elements of the story is Hawkins' choice to let each main character narrate their own perspective, creating a personal connection with the reader. The inclusion of "news articles" and letters from Ruby adds a layer of insight into the complexities of the family dynamics. The narrative revolves around an infamous heiress and the intricate inheritance left to her adopted son, Camden.

What struck me the most was the constant sense of mystery and uncertainty. Hawkins skillfully keeps the reader guessing, with revelations and twists unfolding throughout the narrative. The "letters" from Ruby to Cam gradually unveil the truth, adding a compelling layer to the storytelling.

The characters in "The Heiress" are haunted by their own demons, and Hawkins masterfully brings these struggles to light. Secrets are revealed, some remaining hidden, creating an engaging and unpredictable plot. The author drops subtle hints about each character, leaving readers on the edge until the moment of revelation.

Hawkins' descriptive writing immerses readers in the world of Ashby House, capturing the beauty and mystique that surrounds it. I felt like I was right there with the characters, experiencing the twists and turns of the story

"The Heiress" is a standout suspense novel, earning a well-deserved 5-star rating from me. It's one of the best reads in the genre that I've encountered this year, keeping me captivated until the very end. If you enjoy gripping mysteries with well-developed characters and a touch of family drama, this book is a must-read.

🎉 HAPPY PUB DAY! 🎉

Ｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ

Rachel Hawkins has done it again! AND I love each one of her books even more than the last!

This novel revolves around the wealthy heiress, Ruby McTavish (Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, aka Mrs. Killmore) starting from when she was kidnapped at the tender age of 3, to her 4 marriages (deaths of her 4 husbands), the adoption of her son, Camden, down to all of the secrets she kept until her death.

Camden, who inherits this massive estate once Ruby passes, wants nothing to do with the inheritance. He walks away from it for the past decade until he receives an email from his cousin that there are issues with the estate that need to be taken care of. So he and his wife, Jules pack up and return to North Carolina to the family mansion, the Ashby House.

This book is filled with crazy twists and turns. It’s loaded with family secrets and scandals. I was hooked from the very beginning! If I hadn’t been sick, I would have finished this in a day! I absolutely loved the letters from Ruby!

I loathed the living McTavish’s - Ben, Libby & Nelle. What hateful, deceiving people - even from the beginning when Camden was first adopted. I wasn’t a fan of the physical abuse but it was part of Ruby’s story (which is just a tragically amazing story). I thought that Jules was selfish for most of the book, especially knowing how Camden felt about the estate but I did change my feelings of her closer to the end of the book.

I absolutely adored the ending of the book when all the lingering questions were answered. The found article is the icing on the cake! Loved so much!!! Rachel Hawkins truly has a way with words and the way she slowly ties up all the loose ends of the plot is just an art. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers, suspense, mysteries that have a twisted darkness!

𝕋𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℍ𝕒𝕤:
Kidnapping
Murder
Romance
Family Scandals/Secrets
Dysfunctional Family
Multiple POV’s (Camden, Jules & Ruby)
Alternating Timelines

𝐂𝐖: physical abuse, alcoholism

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress & @ladyhawkins for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

So I liked this one. Didn’t love it.
The narration was great, the story itself was quick and easy to listen to. But my main issue was that nothing happened for 70% of the book. All we get is tons of backstory and history on Ruby’s husbands—which I thought added nothing to the plot. All we hear is she’s killer them and lives up to her nickname.

I feel like no one was truly likeable and everyone had secrets, so when it was revealed that everyone was holding onto something, it lacked the WOW factor I was hoping in a twist.

The narrators were great, the story itself was easy enough to follow, but it was missing drama and intrigue despite it being a family drama with arguments and squabbles.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin’s, and Rachel for an advance copy of The Heiress.

Title: The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Suspense
Standalone or Series: Standalone
Rating: 5 stars
Spoilers: Nothing in my review is a direct spoiler

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore is dead. Ruby was as rich as she was scandalous, having been the victim of a kidnapping as a toddler, widow to four men, and finally adopted mother to an orphan in her incredible life. Upon her passing she has left the mountain estate Ashby House to her adopted son Camden, who is of course * not * a McTavish which leaves the surviving family members in a rage.

Camden wants nothing to do with the inheritance, the legacy, or the McTavish’s. At his earliest chance he flees North Carolina and plans to make his own way without the money or any communication from his past life. He falls in love with Jules and they build a quiet life for themselves, both proud to be where they are considering their pasts.

Unfortunately, the past has resurfaced upon the passing of Cam’s uncle which brings him back to Ashby House, Jules in tow. Cam’s plans to get in and out as quickly as possible clash with Jules' idea that they should stay and make Ashby their home as Ruby declared it was his. As the families collide, questions mount, and secrets start to seep out, Cam & Jules are left questioning the motives of everyone living and dead.

Welcome to my first 5 star read of the year! I’ve been a Rachel Hawkins fan since I first read Hex Hall years and years ago, so when I saw she was branching into adult thrillers I was stoked. And I can say with confidence that she is killing the thriller game.

Ruby was enigmatic. I am obsessed with books where characters who never have a real true moment on a page can carry a story through letters or memories from other characters. I could so easily picture her and what she would’ve sounded like. That goes for all of the McTavish’s. There’s just something about old southern money that sucks me in. I just love a solid toxic cast of characters I guess! I liked Jules as well. Off the bat I got the feeling that there was more to her than initially meets the eye; she struck me as the type who likes to blend in but is always listening, always watching. The character I actually felt the least connected to (as well as the one I feel I got to know and understand the least) was surprisingly Camden, and maybe that’s partially because Camden still didn’t even really know who he was.

The setting - a small town setting that doesn’t feel small. The Blue Ridge Mountains. There’s SO much mystery & allure in that setting even without adding in a notoriously-rich-woman-who-maybe-murdered-her-husband piece of the puzzle. I think Rachel does a great job at selecting locations that are familiar enough for us to envision, but also isolated and unknown enough to give us a good mystery and creeping feeling.

I did see one of the big reveals coming, however it in no way deterred me from the excitement of getting to that point on the page. There are also several twists, up to and including the final page, so I highly encourage everyone to continue reading even if you think you’ve got it figured out. I can almost assure you - you don’t.

At this point, Rachel is an auto-buy for me. The Villa is the only thriller of hers that I rated lower than 4 stars (I gave it a 3.5 rounded down. I blame myself, I did the audio and I found myself confused a couple of times because like I said - lots of twists and turns). Cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

This is a great little novel! I really enjoyed Ruby and her letters. I thought that Cambden and Jules were fine characters but their POVs, at times, sounded similar. Otherwise, I couldn't put it down! Short chapters that leave you racing to get to the end. It's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with a thriller flare (and did not leave me sobbing at the end).

Thanks to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC.

I have enjoyed every Rachel Hawkins book I have read, but this is my new favorite! I binged it!

Ruby MacTavish was glamorous and infamous. The wealthiest woman in North Carolina, she was kidnapped as a child and recovered months later, widowed four times under odd circumstances, causing the gossip mill to nickname her "Mrs. Kill-more." She lived in stately Ashby House and owned most of the nearby town. Upon her death a decade ago, it all went to her adopted son, Camden, even though he had walked away from the family and money. After another death in the family necessitates some legal and financial matters be handled, Cam returns with his wife to face his resentful and plotting extended family.

Told in a multiple POV format, through letters, news stories, and narratives, the family drama you think you know at the start is wild enough. But once all the secrets, lies, and dysfunction start coming to light, it's one twist after another! Hawkins does a great job pacing this and building suspense by utilizing this mixed-media format to amp up the drama compellingly. I really enjoyed how this was written.

There are gothic vibes as isolated Ashby House looms large and sets a mood. It is inhabited by backstabbing, messy, greedy characters, all of whom are vivid and memorable. I was glued to the page to see what they would do next! We get to know Ruby through her old letters, where she reveals her secrets and scandals to the recipient. She is a fantastic character, looming larger-than-life over Ashby House and its inhabitants even a decade after her death. I don't want to say much more for fear of spoilers, but I highly recommend this addictive read. It's escapist and wildly entertaining!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the free book!

Tavistock, North Carolina, in the Blue Ridge Mountains - September 12, 1943

Ruby Anne McTavish, age 3, went missing when the wealthy McTavish family were having a picnic in the mountains nearby the family home, Ashby House. She was found and returned to her family 8 months after she went missing.

Years later, Ruby, at age 73, has died at her family home, Ashby House. She had been married and widowed 4 times in her life and each of her husbands died an unusual death. Her only child is Camden who was adopted and Ruby has left everything to him.

Today, Camden lives in Golden, Colorado with his wife of 10 years, Jules. He teaches English at an all boys school and Jules works at a replica of an old western farm. Now, he and Jules must return to Ashby House.

What an incredibly engrossing story that held me captive in my reading chair wanting to absorb every word. There are so many twists and turns that just when I thought I had this family figured out, I realized there was more yet to come. It’s amazing how money can make things go the way a rich family wants it to. Don’t miss this one!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy! This is my third Rachel Hawkins book and probably my favorite so far. Ruby is the heiress to a large fortune. She’s nicknamed Mrs. Kill more after her 4th husband dies. She adopts a son and makes sure to leave him her fortune so her rotten family won’t get their hands on it. This book took a couple of weird turns but all in all I liked it.

Hawkins just became an auto-buy author for me! I love how she drops little bits of information, drama and suspense through the book that come together perfectly in the end. Another thing I love about Hawkins’ books is how she paints a magical setting, that even though have secrets and murder, still make you want to be there. The character development is superb to many other thrillers I’ve read, making them feel like true, complex people. I can’t recommend The Heiress (and Hawkins’ other books) enough!!

I absolutely love multiple points of view in a thriller, especially one like this where one of the characters is "speaking" from behind the grave. Ruby McTavish wrote letters before she died and those are honestly my favorite part of this book. Sly and cunning, Ruby lived a life full of secrets and exposes each and every one throughout this novel. Faced with the possibility of a life with no worries, each character in this story has a reason for wanting Ruby's fortune after her death and only one is supposed to receive it, according to her will.
There are some quirky family members who want to lay claim to Ashby House but Camden, the heir, can't decide what he wants to do with it. As the story progresses and more secrets are exposed, no one is who you thought they were and the ending will truly shock you!

I highly recommend this to anyone who is a fan of domestic suspense, long-buried lies, and a climactic ending.

Imagine consistently having your life play out in the eye of the public. This is the reality that Ruby McTavish lives with. As a child, Ruby was the victim of a kidnapping. The media attention covering the kidnapping and return of young Ruby captivated the press for years. The attention continues to flourish as Ruby transitions through her adult years. With not one….not two….but FOUR husbands that have strange circumstances surrounding their deaths, Ruby stays at the center of gossip in the press.

After Ruby’s death, her entire McTavish fortune was left to her adopted son Camden. Surprisingly – Camden wants nothing to do with the McTavish money or estate. However – the recent death of an uncle brings Camden back to the estate and the mysteries that surround his family legacy.

The Heiress is the latest release from Rachel Hawkins to hit bookshelves. It is a tangled web of secrets, lies and handwritten letters from Ruby herself. I found myself curious about Ruby’s life and the revelations that she would come to release in each letter to Camden. As always – Rachel Hawkins never fails to give readers a thriller that keeps you second guessing yourself until the very end. I can’t wait to see what books are on the horizon for this author that keep a place in my ‘favorites’ list.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: January 9, 2024

PUBLICATION DAY
Rachell Hawkins is a personal favorite author for me with an extensive thriller book catalogue that is sure to please readers. The Heiress does not disappoint. What a premise when you have a wealthy heiress, Ruby, who went MISSING as a small child but was recovered and returned to her family. When Ruby dies, she has outlived four husbands and has left behind a large inheritance to her adopted son, who doesn’t want the money or North Carolina homestead. But others in the extended family want the inheritance, and ten years later, the adopted son and wife decide to visit the property from their Colorado home to investigate the family fortune. Shit gets real with lies, lies, and more lies and a ton of secrets thrown in for good measure. The ending of this book is really good, so DO NOT read ahead. What does it mean to feel like you don’t belong and can’t trust anyone? Woohoo, this book is yummy. Enjoy. #TheHeiress @ladyhawkins @netgalley @stmartinspress #thriller #mystery #death #inheritance #lies #secrets #suspense #arc #fiction #NorthCarolina #BlueRidgeMountains #dark #RachelHawkins
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I received a complimentary copy of this ARC. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this novel. Pub. Date: Jan. 9, 2024
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#book #books #bookAddict #BooksOfInstagram #bookstagram #bookstagramer #bookshelf #reader #booklove #bookreader #reader #reviewer

Oooh, this one was a fun and thrilling read! I was pulled in from the first chapter and the story just wouldn’t let me go. So many twists and turns, most of which I didn’t guess (hooray!) I think this is Rachel Hawkins’ best book yet. Rich people behaving badly is one of my favorites in fiction and this. book. DELIVERS. 👏
I received an advanced reading copy, receipt of which did not impact my review.

My new favorite Rachel Hawkins book! I could not put down The Heiress; it was a great mystery/thriller page-turner.

The story follows Ruby McTavish, who was lost in the woods as a young girl. Eight months later, she’s found and returned home.

Ruby wrote letters prior to her death depicting her life and her four tragic marriages. Now the heir to the famous Ashby house, Camden returns home with his wife (Jules) after the passing of his uncle.

The story is told through Ruby, Camden, and Jules POV. Whose story is the truth? Is Ruby really a cold-blooded killer? Secrets of the Ashby House and the infamous McTavish family unfurl…

While reading, I got Evelyn Hugo vibes from Ruby McTavish’s character. There are some twists and turns I didn’t see coming, and a few I guessed. Regardless, I really loved this book. It was the perfect way to end my 2023 reading goals.

Current rankings of Hawkins’ thrillers:
1. The Heiress
2. The Villa
3. Reckless Girls
4. The Wife Upstairs

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A heady concoction of charm, murder, manipulation and sophistication!

Thanks NetGalley St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Synopsis –

Camden McTavish and his wife Jules, are summoned to their ancestral home, the Ashby House, 10 years after the death of his mother, the infamous Ruby McTavish (‘Kill’more). While Cam wants nothing to do with this house, Jules, stunned by its elegance and grandeur, can’t help but be intrigued about this estranged family’s past and the secrets the house might be hiding. But Ruby might have had a plan of her own.

Review –

I think this is the best yet from the author! Everything is executed to perfection – the setting, story building, plot construction and amazing character development.

I could vividly picture the magnificence of the Ashby House – its picturesque surroundings , nestled in the Blueridge mountains and its foreboding presence.

Hawkins builds suspense, intrigue into her story, weaving it all with the history of the McTavishes, a certain ominous feeling about the house and a unique spell of mystery conveyed via Ruby’s voice.

Ruby steals the show with her notoriety and resplendence - as she spills her juicy secrets from her past. Oh how I loved her larger than life, classy persona - despite her questionable actions and behaviour! Her shrewdness, sass, masterful mind games, all balanced with great benevolence and magnanimity left me speechless.

With the narratives of Cam, Jules and Ruby, the present is inextricably linked to the past with revelations that are unimaginable and near impossible to guess. As everyone’s secrets slowly comes to light, I could only marvel at how smartly the plot lines come together. Simply genius!

At the end, I just shook my head in disbelief, laughed at my naivety and inability to see the traps. I bet you will fall for it all and repent just like me!

If you love mystery thriller with a strong female lead, who is morally grey, yet impossible to adore and cheer for, then don’t miss #TheHeiress.

An eerie, haunted, twisted tale of what ends people will go to, whether it's to cover a secret or protect their fortune. It's a dark fascinating world of the wealthy, and uncovering those secrets is a great mysterious adventure!

Rachel Hawkins is a great author who draws you in and throws twist after twist at you to keep you enticed and guessing. With the multiple POV, this gives you a full rounded story about the darkest corners of the McTavish family.

I loved this one. Possibly my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet. I listened on audio and the cast/narrators are amazing and give such life to the different stories and timelines of this book. I'd love a sequel to see how the McTavish bloodline continues. The ending blew me away and I did not see it coming at all!