5 Stars

Rachel does it again; she takes a general idea from a classic (this time it’s Great Expectations) and makes it so unique and twisted and fast paced, brand new for a modern audience.

As this story of generational wealth and twisted family trees and greed and tragedy unfold through past timelines and letters mixed with present day reconnections, we are taken on a wild ride of who the heiress really is and if she was never even the main character we thought she might be.

I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say I absolutely loved this audiobook and listened to it in one sitting. Its full cast made it refreshing and I swear the writing almost felt like a diabolical podcast playing out in my ears.

In Rachel Hawkins' captivating novel, The Heiress, readers are taken on a thrilling journey into the heart of a family mystery that's as dark as it is enthralling. Set against the backdrop of North Carolina's scenic Blue Ridge Mountains, the story unfolds in the hauntingly elegant Ashby House, where the past's grip is as tangible as the mist that rolls over the hills.

At the center of this twisted tale is Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, a character who posthumously dominates every page with her enigmatic legacy. A kidnapping victim, a widow four times over, and the matriarch of the McTavish dynasty, Ruby's life and death cast long shadows over the lives of those she left behind, particularly her adopted son, Camden, and his wife, Jules.

Camden's rejection of his inheritance and subsequent return to Ashby House a decade later sets the stage for a story rich in family secrets, unexplained deaths, and rumors that refuse to die. Hawkins expertly weaves a narrative that feels like a dark version of The 7 Husbands of Evelyn Hugo yet stands firmly on its own with its unique blend of suspense and Southern Gothic charm.

The brilliance of The Heiress lies in its ability to keep readers guessing. The mysteries surrounding Ruby and the eerie Ashby House keep the pages turning. Hawkins masterfully crafts a story where the house itself feels like a character, haunted not by ghosts but by the memories and secrets of its inhabitants.

The Heiress is a perfect choice for those who love a family saga with a twist. Its exploration of how the past can shape and sometimes warp the present is compelling and thought-provoking. The characters, especially Camden and Jules, are well-developed, with their struggles and motivations adding depth to the mystery at the story's heart.

In summary, Rachel Hawkins' The Heiress is a gripping tale that combines the intrigue of a family drama with the suspense of a mystery novel. Its setting is as atmospheric as its plot is captivating, making it a must-read for fans of dark, suspenseful narratives. The legacy of Ruby McTavish and the haunting allure of Ashby House will linger with readers long after the last page is turned.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an e-Arc of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins for my review.

3.5-4 Stars!
Thank you for the ARC Copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. I thought this story was pretty good and very fast paced. I liked the alternate ways of writing with this one which was with different timelines as well aswith the different characters Camden, Jules and Ruby. and the use of Ruby's letters and what it was like for her growing up. Also the setting with the Ashby House made this story great and had that creepy spooky vibe feeling.
If you are looking for a good thriller with some mystery thrown in then this would be a great way to start the year of right this one!

This book is all about secrets, lies, and how far a family will go to keep their wealth and notoriety. The multi POV & dual timeline kept me on the edge of my seat and I loved how the letters and news articles were incorporated to support the storyline of the characters. I was completely enthralled by the life of Ruby, and the experience Camden and Jules have when returning to Ashby House.

I have been waiting for a book by Rachel Hawkins to hold my interest the way The Wife Upstairs did. While The Villa came close, it still fell short.

The Heiress has surpassed The Villa on my list of favorite Rachel Hawkins books. The only thing that kept this book from being five stars and being right up there with The Wife Upstairs is the fact that the characters occasionally slipped into second person narrative. I don't like when stories are written when characters appear to be speaking to the reader. I don't want to be apart of the story. The way a character talks to me throughout the story won't change the outcome of the story. I don't have a specific example from the story, but here is something that is similar to what's in this story:

"You've got to believe me..." A line like that could have simply been written in a different way, such as, "I didn't intend to..." or something along those lines. It could have been written in such a way the character could have explained his/her actions without trying to make their argument to the reader.

Overall, the mystery part of the story was great. There was a variety of characters that I loved and hated. I give this book four stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. You can get your copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins out tomorrow, January 9th, 2024.

Since Tuesday is a monster pub day, I am trying to get all of my reading crammed in and posts done. The Heiress is one of the books coming out and I loved it. It is a thriller about a couple who returns to the husband’s childhood home only to discover so many secrets and deceptions about his wealthy childhood. There are old letters and newspaper articles woven in to set the scene and add to the suspense. I loved the slow burn and the little red herrings thrown out. It was clever, addictive, atmospheric with the old southern estate, so twisted and just a fun read to start the year.

I've enjoyed several books by Rachel Hawkins like [book:The Wife Upstairs|53137893], [book:The Villa|60784641], and [book:Reckless Girls|57693168] so I was glad to see a new one to read.

Description:
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.

But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.

Ten years later, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.

Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.

But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will––and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave.

My Thoughts:
Such a wealthy family - how did things go so wrong? At first I couldn't understand why Camden turned his back on his family fortune, but as the story unfolded it was obvious. What an evil group of people! The story goes back and forth in time to delve into the past that created the present day issues and why an entire town hated the McTavish family. Camden's wife, Jules has a secret too she's been keeping from her husband and she seems much more open to reclaiming that family fortune than Camden does. Such an interesting book. The plot moved quickly and was suspenseful. The story unfolded in a satisfying way that revealed all. I would recommend this to anyone who likes to delve into a family's history and uncover skeletons.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy. Expected publication is January 9, 2024.

I really loved this book! This is a dark, gothic thriller with a unique writing style that includes newspaper articles and written letters to establish the background or past while also following a present timeline. It is told from multiple POV with more than one unreliable character when truly kept me on the edge of my seat!

It reminds me so much of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo bit with a super dark, murdery twyst! I highly recommend!

Maybe it was because I read this book while sick, but this book just didn't do it for me like I expected it to. It was well-written and included some interesting twists, but I just didn't find it as suspenseful or thrilling as I expected to. I actually had a hard time staying interested in the story until about 3/4 of the in.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for this E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Heiress" is a captivating blend of mystery, family drama, and suspense, with Rachel Hawkins' writing capturing the essence of each character's struggle and the weight of the past. The novel keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth as it skillfully navigates the intricate web of family secrets and the enduring impact of Ruby McTavish's legacy. Hawkins delivers a gripping and emotionally resonant tale that will leave readers contemplating the complexities of family ties long after the final page.

The Heiress is a quickly immersive tale that thrives on the stories of a deceased heiress and the many secrets of her own heir. This mystery/thriller novel has a fast-paced plot that quickly pulls readers in by creating an atmosphere of mystery and unease. The constantly changing narration style makes it nearly impossible to stop reading. The narration flows from first person, to newspaper articles, to letters written in a fascinating style that is captivating because there is always something new to learn about the mysterious McTavish family.

The book doles out fun and interesting secrets at a fairly fast clip, making each character as interesting as the last. The story follows the life of a young married couple who find themselves drawn once again into a dramatic family that thrives on their secrets. As the story moves on, it is thrilling to try to figure out which characters hold the most interesting secrets.

One of the most interesting parts of the novel was that the Heiress herself, who had the most well rounded life stories of the cast, was in fact, already deceased. Her story was told through a series of letters written with wit and a whole lot of truth. These letters laid out her life in vibrant detail and she quickly became my favorite part of the novel. The narration style during these moments really helped develop her as a character. Not only was her story told, but her personality shone through as well.

The only part of this book that I struggled with was the ending. For a book that was so detailed and full of life, the ending fell flat. The biggest reveals and twists were revealed too early and it was difficult to care about what happened next. Once the perspective fully shifted back to present day and our Heiress’s heirs, the drama in the finale was not nearly as interesting as the Heriess herself and her associated experiences. It was almost as if the earlier drama was lessened by the lack of a great resolution and thrilling climax.

This book is a wonderful read for anyone who loves to get into the depths of a character and why they make the choices that they do. It was fun to make guesses and that really kept me going!

⅘ stars

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#TheHeiress:⁣
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Thank you @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for my gifted copies [partner]⁣
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“My home and my name closed around me, protecting me, shielding me, their queen in her castle who was secretly the dragon.“⁣
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This was a juicy, fun, family secret galore read that I zipped through. The audio is phenomenal with alternating POVs, and it might be my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet.⁣
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First, let me say the twists and turns are pretty predictable. The first kinda know what’s about to get revealed. However, the execution was top notch, and I couldn’t get enough of this dysfunctional family. ⁣
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The audio was amazing. I’ll be honest, my favorite chapters were Ruby’s because she was so darn entertaining. She was set up perfectly, and her letters were so juicy. I loved how they were presented, almost as if she was writing for me to see.⁣
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Overall, this was a solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you love family drama with lots of secrets on top of secrets, this is the one you need to check out.⁣
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Out tomorrow, January 9th!⁣
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QOTD: What was your first book of 2024?

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

So happy to receive the new Rachel Hawkins and true to form, The Heiress follows Hawkins typical fast-paced, suspenseful, and thrillingly-fun writing style. I found myself quickly falling into Ruby McTavish's world and all of her mysterious life twists. I truly enjoyed the element of mystery, multiple narrators, and switching from chapter to letter to news article format. If I could give any criticism it would just be that everyone had a secret or multiple, which leads to being a little questionable, but all in all I couldn't stop reading.

This beautifully written multi-generational saga kept me engrossed all the way with its mix of family discord, murder, and unanswered questions about the past. Another winner from the reliably entertaining Rachel Hawkins.

3.5 stars

Camden never thought he’d go back to his childhood home, Ashby House, in North Carolina.

Adopted by the richest woman in Tavistock, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, and heir to a nine figure fortune, Camden left home and fled to California where he met his wife, Jules, and they moved to Colorado where he became an English teacher.

But now his uncle has died, and Camden finds himself traveling back to the Blue Ridge Mountains with Jules to take care of family business. But soon all the reasons he fled come rushing back. His plan? To leave as soon as possible.

But Jules wants answers. Who was Ruby? Why did everyone think she murdered her husbands? What happened to Ruby when she was three years old and disappeared into the mountainside, only to be brought back home months later? Why did she adopt Camden in the first place?

The Heiress is very much a domestic drama. Lots of rich people problems, lots of deeply flawed people. There are some twists, but they’re not anything a seasoned thriller reader won’t pick up on. You have to go into this read for the drama.

Camden and Jules were ok as main characters. It was hard to get behind their motivations for many of the things they did, though. I wished we would have dug in deeper into their back story, especially Jules.

My two favorite things about this novel were the setting and structure. Hawkins always does a great job of creating a vivid setting for her readers. I could easily picture this beautiful mansion on top of a mountain, surrounded by misty forest, with criss-crossed trails and dangerous drop-offs.

If you liked the structure of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you’ll love the way Ruby’s letters tell her story about how she met each of her husbands and how they died. These letters, along with different newspaper and magazine articles, are scattered among POV chapters from Camden and Jules. It kept the narrative interesting and fresh.

If you’ve liked Rachel Hawkins novels in the past, if you like rich people drama, and if you like stories within stories, I’d recommend picking up The Heiress!

*Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press for the digital arc. All opinions are my own.

I loved The Villa so when I had the opportunity to read The Heiress last year I was so excited!! While I did enjoy my time with this one, I found the pacing was a bit slow and I was just, wanting for more from some of the characters. It was definitely an intriguing read, it just didn't live up to my expectations from The Villa.

While we've found Rachel Hawkins' previous novels gripping and utterly captivating, "The Heiress" took a different turn.

Set through the lens of three different perspectives —Camden, the husband; Jules, the wife; and letters written by acclaimed Heiress Ruby — the novel hints at greatness but struggles to deliver.

The narrative lacked depth, yearning for more insights into the characters' backgrounds. It all felt very surface level. Unfortunately, none of the characters had any redeeming qualities, hindering our ability to root for any one of them. On the other hand, the flashback chapters detailing Ruby's past and her handful of husbands were the highlight of the novel. If you mixed The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo with murder, you’d get these chapters. Still, there was too many unanswered questions, and the ending fell short - failing to deliver the impactful punch we had hoped for.

That being said, there are a lot of positive reviews on Goodreads and an overall rating of 4.17 - so maybe give this a try or read one Hawkins backlist books that we enjoyed: The Wife Upstairs or Reckless Girls.

I really liked this book because it's basically a telenovelas in written form. It's an easy read that doesn't require too much brainpower. If you're into this author or enjoy stories about seriously messed-up families, then give this one a shot. It's a fun ride!

Rachel Hawkins is always a good author when you are looking for a popcorn thriller that you can fly through and not have to use much critical thinking. The Heiress was just that: easy and entertaining. I liked the format of the book, which alternated between letters from Ruth about her messy and murderous life and present-day character perspectives. Ruth reminded me of a sociopathic version of Evelyn Huge. All the husbands, but more devious plotting and death. I liked her story the most and felt like the present-day story with her adopted son and his wife and cousins was a little boring.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was one of North Carolina's most well known women. Born to one of the most wealthy families in the state at just three years old she was kidnapped from the woods outside of her home and for a year no one knew her whereabouts. Miraculously she was rescued from the family that was claiming her as their own and brought back to Ashby House, the McTavish's lavish home nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Now a widower four times over, Ruby's entire estate has been left to her adopted son, Camden. The remaining members of Ruby's family would do anything to get their hands on the McTavish fortune but Camden wants nothing to do with it, them or the memories he left behind when he fled North Carolina a decade ago. But the disrepair of the home his mother loved so much finally calls him back home this time with his new wife, Jules, at his side. The secrets Ashby House has hidden, the past Camden was so eager to leave behind and the family he never wanted to see again are all now before him ready to tip everything he has so carefully put together over the edge. To say this book was hard to put down is an understatement. Is some of the plot fairly predictable? Yes. Does that mean I loved it any less? Absolutely not. This is the second book I've read by Hawkins and now I need to go seek out other titles for my TBR list. Thank you to @NetGalley and @stmartinspress for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.