“Promises are like piecrusts, made to be broken.”

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the advanced e-copy of The Heiress. I thoroughly enjoyed the Evelyn Hugo mixed with Verity vibes.

Ruby McTavish is kidnapped as a child and reunited with her family a few months later. Ruby lives a bizarre life as the richest woman in North Carolina having married 4 times and widowed 4 times. She is the sole heiress to the McTavish fortune and mansion known as “Ashby House.” She adopts a son named Camden later in life, who becomes the sole heir of the McTavish fortune. However, Camden wants nothing to do with any of it or any of them.

The Heiress is told in multiple point of views - Camden, Jules (Camden’s wife), and Ruby through letters she has written. Though the twists weren’t extremely unexpected, the plot was shocking and engaging. I couldn’t put it down. And boy oh boy! The McTavis family are truly monsters… every single one of them.

🖤Genre: Thriller/Gothic Fiction
❣️Steamy rating: Mild
🤬 Profanity: High
🎧Method: Advanced e-book copy
✍️ Pub day: January 9th

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller lived a tabloid front page life, starting with a high profile kidnapping as a child and continuing on through the deaths of four husbands. When she died, she left everything to her adopted son Camden, much to the chagrin of the rest of the McTavish clan. Everyone wants a piece of the fortune, and secrets and lies abound as Camden and his wife Jules arrive at Ashby House to unravel the secrets wrapped up in the family fortune.

Wow I loved this! It may be one of my all time favorite thriller/mysteries. I had only read one Rachel Hawkins previously and it wasn’t for me, so I had low expectations going in. The Heiress totally captivated me from the start and I didn’t even begin to try to guess at the twists.

Recommended for all mystery readers but especially those that enjoy: 💍 The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo 📪 letters 🗣️ multiple povs 💸 inheritances and intrigue over them ✨ nobody is what they seem to be 🔪 Knives Out

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced copy to read and review. All opinions are my own.

This book was incredibly clever and a delight to read. It is worth picking up simply for the sheer pleasure of tracing all the Easter eggs and discovering all the mysteries nestling in its pages. The book at its core is the story of Ruby McTavish, a multimillionaire and a rumored husband murderess several times over. The book switches perspectives between Ruby, her adopted son and heir Cam and Cam’s wife Jules. None of the characters are what they seem to be when we first see them. They all have secrets. You have to keep reading to uncover all the truths. I also really enjoyed the role Ashby House plays in this book. It is a gothic mansion in the blue ridge mountains and the ancestral seat of the McTavishes. It is a presence in itself and almost a character in the novel. Rachel Hawkins is a masterful writer. I always enjoy her novels. This one by far is my favorite of hers.

Rachel Hawkins has created a masterpiece! For the past few years I have looked forward to the beginning of the year when her books release and The Heiress did not disappoint. This is Hawkins best work yet. If you are in a book slump, PICK THIS BOOK as your next read. You won't be able to put it down.

The McTavish family is full of money and SECRETS. Follow along as these secrets unravel through the point of view of the three main characters; Ruby. Cam, and Jules.

Ruby's story begins to unfold with her kidnapping as a baby and her eventual return to the the infamous and sprawling McTavish home. Ruby has lived quite the fabulous life and also has had four husbands. You will learn Ruby's secrets through a series of letters that she has written. She will take you on an interesting adventure with each husband and their eventual demise.

Cam is Ruby's adopted child who has lived his whole life being bullied by the rest of his family for not being a "true" McTavish. Cam has lived his entire life waiting to escape the McTavish name and home. Enter Jules who meets Cam while he is attending college. They fall for each other seemingly both needing a fresh start away from their families. Jules and Cam marry and live a very normal life far from the mountains of North Carolina ( and it's secrets) until a family death brings him back to his childhood home to sort out the family money-and family secrets. This is a thriller full of greed, money, lies, and murder. You will not be able to put it down wanting to uncover the truths and the true heir of the McTavish family fortune!

This book reminded me of The Seven Husband's of Evelyn Hugo which to me was not a bad thing!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martin Press for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Rachel Hawkins does it again!! This thriller has many twists and turns and has you thinking until the very end!

The story is about the McTavish family; Ruby, her son Camden, his wife Jules and their extended family. The story begins when Cam is requested to come back to Ashby House, the family home of the McTavish family. He and Jules make the trip from Colorado and we soon learn about the many secrets surrounding the family members.

The book is written in multiple voices; Ruby’s voice are the letters she has written at the end of her life, and Cam and Jules also narrate.

The book definitely keeps the reader’s interest and leaves you thinking about what you read!

An enjoyable read! Don’t miss it!!

Mind blown!!! What a twisty turny series of events! I love it. A tale of wealth and scandal, and the lengths to which these selfish rich people will go to “get a bigger piece of the pie”.

At first I was frustrated that the author didn’t develop more of the Ruby marriages, but as the story unfolded I understood why. Very well written and great character development as well.

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. The ended is extremely satisfying! I found a new author to explore!

Oh WOW! 3.75⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
I enjoyed this slow burn thriller. I loved the crazy family drama. I loved the multiple POV. What happens when the wealthiest woman in North Carolina dies ??? Her insane past is revealed, her son who is estranged from the family comes home and the rest of the family is coming with claws out to get the house and the money. The atmosphere and setting of the house gave a creepy feel but definitely could have been darker. The last half of the book really picks up and draws you all the way in.

Thank you St. Martins Press and Net Galley for the ARC. The Heiress comes out on Jan 9th, 2024.

✨ 𝐏𝐔𝐁 𝐃𝐀𝐘 + 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 ✨

I won’t lie… I went in to THE HEIRESS with low expectations based on Hawkins previous few books that I didn’t care for (highly recommend her debut THE WIFE UPSTAIRS though) and was pleasantly surprised that I absolutely LOVED this one! 👏🏻👏🏻

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝:
-slow burn, but captivating
-past unfolds in letter format
-mansion in the mountains setting
-rich family drama
-bingeable AF

THE HEIRESS is by far my favorite of Hawkins books! I found myself picking it up and devouring it every chance I got 🤓 Pick this one up! I don’t think you’ll be sorry 🙌🏻

Thank you St. Martins Press for the arc ☺️

I absolutely loved this book! The storyline was so fast paced, it was so hard to put this book down and get anything done. I was so devoted to this read. This book had short chapters which made for a quick read.

A story about Ruby McTavish kidnapped as a young child and later widow of a few husbands.. This book is full of family secrets and family rivalries. The storylines of the past and present eventually all come together for a satisfying ending.

Thank you St. Martins Press and NetGalley for an arc of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Wow, what a fun, juicy, suspenseful, family drama. If you enjoy rich people behaving badly, this book is for you! I love that this story was told in multiple perspectives and through some mixed media.

Was it over the top, unrealistic and at times predictable? Absolutely. Was it also entertaining as heck, really well executed and an absolute page turner?? 100%. I devoured this one and enjoyed it the whole time.

Highly recommend picking up this one.

4.5 ⭐️ My first Rachel Hawkins book and it did not disappoint! This book is full of family drama and suspense. I loved the setting located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. A place I’ve been to several times and I could put myself at Ashby House, the estate in these beautiful mountains where most of the story takes place.

The Heiress is Ruby McTavish who has been married 4 times and each of her husbands have died all under different circumstances. Ruby leaves her inheritance to her adopted son Cam who wants nothing to do with the money or Ashby House. Cam’s wife Jules feels differently though and falls in love with the house. There is much more to the story though and I’ll leave that to the reader to enjoy this book.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for a digital copy of The Heiress in exchange for my honest thoughts and review. Publication date is January 9th, 2024. #NetGalley #TheHeiress

Ten years ago, the notorious Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore died leaving her estate and fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Cam wants nothing to do with his inheritance or the remaining McTavish’s living at Ashby House. After his uncle passes away, Cam is summoned back home and his wife Jules talks him into going. While Can still wants nothing to do with his family, their secrets, or the money, Jules is set on Cam getting all that was left to him.

Wow! This book was not what I was expecting, and I loved every twisty minute of it! I highly recommend going in as blind as possible! Hawkins wrote a compulsive novel that I couldn’t put down. Most of the characters were unlikeable, and I loved to hate them.

This book is told from multiple points of view, and it worked perfectly. The audiobook has a full cast, and all of the narrators did an amazing job bringing this story to life. I adored Ruby, and the way her parts were written as letters worked perfectly in my opinion.

This book was full of twists and will keep you guessing with all of the reveals right up to the very end. Hawkins is an auto buy author for me, and this one is probably my favorite of all of her books. It was my first 5-star read of 2024!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rachel Hawkins for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Heiress coming out January 9, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I read a couple books by this author before, and I really enjoy her writing. I think it’s fun and twisty. This book definitely didn’t disappoint. I wasn’t quite sure where it was going in the beginning. It definitely had a lot of twists and turns. A few parts of it were a little predictable. I thought some of the characters felt a little flatter, but I was really interested in the history of the heiress, and how it related to the present time with Camden and Jules. There were definitely a lot of surprises near the end, but I really loved the plot and the main characters.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and family dramas!

Just know that while our book hums along with the nonchalance of fiction, it takes many twist at the halfway point and forward. To say anything else would spoil it. Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Rachel Hawkins has quickly become an auto read author for me. I love how her stories are unpredictable and full of twists and turns. This one was no exception.

This page-turner follows the story of Cam and Jules, a married couple, as Cam returns to the estate where he grew up for the first time in 10 years. To say more would risk offering spoilers but at the heart of it this is a story about what defines us as good and evil, as well as how we define family.

I believe this is a story that's best approached with as little information as possible so ignore the book jacket and jump right in.

I gave this read 4.5 stars. Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing an early reader copy in exchange for my feedback.

I really enjoyed reading The Heiress. The story centers around Cam McTavish and his wife, Jules, returning to Cam's childhood home Ashby House. Cam is reluctant to go back while Jules is thrilled and immediately falls in love with Ashby House. What I really loved about this book was that it kept me guessing, even the secrets had deeper secrets. So if you're like me and enjoy rich people and their secrets, this book is for you.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Synopsis

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies leaving behind a fortune and a trail of suspiciously dead husbands. Her only heir, her adopted son, Camden, wants nothing to do with her estate and the entanglements it involves, but his wife of ten years has other thoughts. In this web of competing agendas, it is never clear who Camden can trust.

My Overall Thoughts

Twisty is an understatement. This mystery is a continuously-morphing beast. I don’t actually like any of the characters, but I think I love Ruby. She is just so deliciously diabolical. She’s one harpee you don’t turn your back on.

What I Didn't Love

The pacing was a little inconsistent. The book kept me guessing, but so much happened in the last 15% of the book that the ending just felt pretty rushed.

Potentially Offensive Content

Violence
Domestic violence
Child endangerment

What I Loved

This was so twisty. It kept me so off-balance I was never quite sure who the protagonist really was. Honestly, it kept bouncing between different characters. It was a real ride. I love the not knowing. I could not put this book down.

I Would Recommend This Book To

mystery lovers who don’t necessarily need a “good guy” to root for

CONTENT WARNING: alcoholism, death of a parent, parental abandonment, kidnapping, murder, blood, domestic violence, violence, suicide

This is my fourth Rachel Hawkins book, and I was lucky enough to have been able to buddy read this with the incredible Leslie @ Books Are the New Black. We had a great time buddy reading this one, and predicting what was going to happen next.

The first thing I noticed was that the book had typical chapters, but there was other material between the chapters. It piqued my interest, especially when I noticed that between the Jules and Cam POV chapters are snippets from newspapers and magazines, as well as letters that were written by Ruby herself, telling her own story. It was fascinating, keeping my attention focused equally on all parts of the story.

It’s easy to fall in love with Camden. He’s just a genuinely good dude, through and through, despite what he was exposed to. He consistently views Ashby House as toxic, and he isn’t wrong. Yet somehow, he escaped without it poisoning him. More about his upbringing is revealed as we read.

Jules, on the other hand, comes across as his opposite in so many ways. Where Cam is quiet and reserved, Jules is ebullient and outspoken, not afraid to say exactly what she’s thinking. Her outlook on life is dramatically different from Cam’s and we learn why as we keep reading, but I don’t want to give anything away. She leans more towards the morally gray side, personality-wise, but she’s still likable.

Ruby comes across as a sweet and charming, if a little risqué, old lady, through her letters. At least, she did at first. My opinion of Ruby changed a few times over the course of the book, especially as circumstances changed in her life. She was another morally gray character, making statements like:

“Promises are like piecrust, made to be broken.”

It was difficult to like the other characters in the book. While we get to know them superficially, there honestly isn’t too much more to them. We all know people like that, and it isn’t a shortcoming of the author, since all of the other characters are so detailed and thoroughly created. What it really comes down to is that the McTavish family seems to be vapid and horrible. It does allow the author to throw in a little shoutout to The Villa with:

“The unassuming heiress is wearing jeans with a vintage T-shirt showcasing the cover of Lara Larchmont’s Aestas album…”

Overall, this was a fantastic story, and the perfect buddy read. Hawkins keeps things slow at first, but gradually drops little twists that has the reader wondering what is actually going on. And every time I thought I had something figured out, another twist got thrown into the works and I realized I didn’t know what was going on at all. But I started to put things together little by little, and there was one plot twist that I saw coming, but a big one that I didn’t see coming at all, even if my buddy predicted it and didn’t tell me. As usual, a Hawkins book is always a safe bet for an exciting and interesting read.

I was afraid I wouldn't enjoy this book because of the rich family estate story line. I mainly wanted to read the book because of others I have read from this author. Based on the book description alone I wouldn't have ever picked this one to read. I had a little hard time with keeping up with the story line from multiple POV's. I did enjoy it but not as well as some of her other books. I would give this book 3.5 stars but since I have to go with 3 or 4, I will have to round this one down. I do appreciate the opportunity to read this one through netgalley for my honest review.

This is my second novel by Rachel Hawkins, and I loved it. The unraveling story is presented by 3 of the main characters, and it gets more and more complicated as each person has something to confess. This story will make you question your morals on what's considered good/bad or the grey areas in life. I truly believe these characters lived in the grey areas. Were the things that happened justice or a kindness to mankind? Did the chain of events stem from the first sin committed? If you love thrillers, then this one is a good way to start your year.