his was a pretty enjoyable tale of dark family secrets taking place in a musty old Southern mansion! So much that I'm still thinking about it days later. When Ruby McTavish passes away, she's well-known for many things: being a McTavish, a wealthy family that lives in the Ashby house in North Carolina; being kidnapped as a child and then found nearly a year later; marrying four times--and losing all four husbands in strange circumstances; and adopting her son, Cameron and leaving the entire McTavish fortune to him.

We find Cam estranged from the family for nearly 10 years, but finally returning to Ashby House at the urge of his wife, Jules. THE HEIRESS is an engaging page turner, filled with shifty characters hiding secrets and tidbits and lots of weird Southern charm and horrifying terrors. It's interspersed with fascinating letters from Ruby along with articles and Internet pieces on the McTavish family. This is a great technique--interesting, informative, but surprisingly suspenseful.

I don't want to say much to give things away, but this is a quick read filled with lots of twists and turns. A few are predictable, but some are quite unexpected. The family dynamics are excellent (albeit terrifying) and I quite enjoyed all the dark goings on in Ashby House.

Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed reading this! I'm a sucker for flawed characters, and this book delivered messy, flawed characters ten-fold.

The story was told in 3 points of view, spanning the present and past and was done beautifully. This thriller by Rachel Hawkins was eerie and a definite page turner. I couldn't wait to get to the end to see if my inner ramblings about what was going on were correct.

If you want a page turning, character driven thriller, then grab this novel!

Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's press for this ARC.

This book was just the thing I was looking for; quick, engaging, dramatic, and so much more! It follows a couple who travels back to one of their hometowns where the past, and a fortune, awaits them. As good as it may seem, a mansion and piles of money may not be a high enough price for Camden, the adopted son of a heiress, to reenter he family he so desperately ran away from 10 years earlier.

This book tackles a lot of complex topics such as complicated family dynamics, wealth, and adoption, without ever feeling like it has bite off more than it can chew. Hawkins does a superb job at winding and weaving these complex characters in and out of the timelines she presents.

This book by no means reinvents the 'modern thriller' wheel, but it stands as one of the more well executed in the genre in recent memory.

I really enjoyed 'The Heiress' and look forward to future work by Hawkins. I would recommend it to anyone looking for an easy and enjoyable read.

*Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital ARC.

4/5

With the death of North Carolina's richest (and most notorious) woman, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, the McTavish estate falls into the hands of her adopted son Camden. However, Camden is happy to turn his back on the fortune and live a quiet life as a teacher in Colorado. 10 years later, Camden and his wife Jules are summoned back to North Carolina, to Ashby House, and to everything that being a McTavish entails. While Camden would be content to return to his regular life, as Jules learns more about his family, she becomes more eager for him to take his place as the rightful McTavish heir.

The longer that Jules and Camden spend at Ashby House, the tighter the house's grip becomes around the two of them and the more questions come to light. Just who was Ruby McTavish, what really happened to each of her dead husbands, and what other kinds of secrets are hidden in the walls of Ashby House?

Rachel Hawkins has kind of become the queen (if only in my mind) of twisty-turny modern Gothic style stories and this one is no different. It's full of mystery and each reveal seems to only dredge up more questions on behalf of the characters in the story and for the reader. There are even some easter eggs for her regular readers that are kind of fun little nods to her other books.

However, I felt that this book tried a little too hard to have SO MANY twists. At times it felt a little like the author couldn't decide what the big twist would be so she just put all of the twists that could potentially happen into the book. I also felt like some of the plot twists were things that I have seen in a number of other books that are in the genre.

It was an enjoyable read, but I didn't love it as much as I loved Hawkins' other books.

My head is SPINNING. I could not turn the pages fast enough.

The Heiress tells the story of ridiculously wealthy McTavish family of North Carolina. When the heiress to the family fortune, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore (yes, that’s all her), dies at age 73, she left behind a real mess. Her life was dramatic from the start, being kidnapped at age 3 and eventually rescued.

Camden McTavish, heir to his mother’s fortune wants NOTHING to do with the McTavish family, his mother’s money, her NC home, Ashby House, which has fallen into disrepair, or the leftover vulture family members who reside there, all desperate for the 9 figure inheritance.

This story had more twists and turns than a spiral staircase. It was like a dark Evelyn Hugo. I really enjoyed it all; it kept me guessing and I LOVED the ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

You can discover the fate of the McTavishes on January 9, 2024!

"The Heiress" unfolds as a blend of mystery and family drama and takes readers on a journey through the family secrets. The narrative centers around the life and legacy of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, a woman whose wealth and notoriety define her, even beyond the grave.

The character development in "The Heiress" is skillfully executed, with Camden struggling to escape his notorious family and Jules determined to become one of the family. As the couple delves deeper into the family's history, the reader is drawn into the mystery surrounding Ruby's kidnapping as a child, the deaths of her four husbands, and Camden's adoption.

I enjoyed the pacing of the story - balancing suspense and revelation. Twists and turns kept me engaged as Hawkins gradually unveiled the family secrets. This book had a clever mix of mystery and family drama and plenty of psychological aspects of family ties.

“The Heiress" is a compelling read that skillfully navigates the nuances of family relationships, inheritance, and the lasting impact of the past. The author's storytelling, coupled with intriguing characters, made this novel a standout in the genre of mystery and family drama.

This was my last book of 2023 and it was a good way to close it out! I really liked the suspense in this story and how interconnected everyone in this book was. The deviousness of the main characters made this a fast read and the setting was perfect. I felt that the writing really pulled you into the environment and made you connect with the characters.

I had not looked at the blurb in a while, so I went in blind to this story and what an amazing, twisting and addictive read it was!

The blurb and various reviews mention the various characters, crimes, etc., so I won’t go into all of that here and just note how I felt about the story. It seems like every few pages, I was going in a different direction. I was just thrilled to have this puzzle to figure out and at the end, I was still surprised at some reveals. I loved the letters that Ruby wrote to an unknown person, and they were entertaining and revealed interesting and dark parts of her life.

EVERYONE has at least a secret or two. I loved the way this was written so that I didn’t figure out everything along the way. There are characters you love, dislike, hate and then see them in a different light and it changes how you feel about them.

I enjoyed the POVs from Ruby, Camden, and Jules along with moving between past and present and everything flowed without taking you out of the moment. I highly recommend this book as it was a thrill ride from the beginning to the end!

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this new work. I look forward to reading more from Rachel Hawkins.

4.5 stars? This is my first time reading Hawkins and it did not disappoint!

Maybe it was just a case of right book right time, but this was a perfect, fast paced, secret revealing thriller.

It features a lot of unsavory characters doing unsavory things, but still manages to give you someone to root for. It doesn’t waste any effort or page time. It’s my ideal length for a thriller without feeling like there were opportunities missed to build suspense.

I don’t think this is going to be super surprising if you frequently read thrillers and mysteries? But it was one of those situations where the destination didn’t matter, you took a certain pleasure in getting there.

I guess in retrospect maybe the ending was a little rushed? But overall I found this to be a really satisfying read. Highly recommend. This was a great way to start out the year.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Didn't love, but didn't hate this one. While it was a decent thriller/mystery, I didn't find it super captivating. The story was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I wasn't truly shocked by any of the twists, hence the 3 star review.

Wow! Rachel Hawkins has done it again. I say this every time, but there hasn't been a book that I haven't loved. The vibe of this book felt different than the other books that I've read by Rachel and I was here for it! I love how the book covers are all coming together! I am excited to read the next one!

I received a complimentary electronic ARC of this thought-provoking novel from Netgalley, author Rachel Hawkins, and publisher St. Martin's Press. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read The Heiress of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I will add Rachel Hawkins to my preferred author lists, and am pleased to recommend her to friends and family. She writes a fine tale.

I did thoroughly enjoy this introduction to the McTavish family and admired the location of Ashley House and the Blue Ridge Mountains. Early on, this story brought to my mind the nature vs. nurture question, as it will for you, as well. That question still remains in my thoughts, but I have to say Jules still caught me unaware and presented more of an answer than did the story of Ruby and her long and busy life. Altogether an intriguing read. It is one I'll want to think about and read again.

Let me save you the time, pain, trouble and money…

First and Foremost, Don't go in expecting edge of your seat suspense. This most certainly is NOT a Thriller.

Secondly, The Heiress was SLOW and PREDICTABLE. I saw the"twists" a million miles away. And that ending, so not gratifying.

Thirdly, there are ZERO likable characters, not even the protagonists. Don't get me started on the "heroine," Jules. I found her to be a manipulative, money hungry, selfish b*tch; who supposedly did it all for the good of her husband. For me, there was nothing redeeming about her, even in the end. I didn't mind Camden, he was the only one who was likable, but that's not saying much.

About the only part I enjoyed were the letters and the end-as in it was finally over.

Let's hope 2024 brings me some better reads, because The Heiress was definitely NOT even close.

This is the fourth book I've read by Rachel Hawkins and by far the one I've enjoyed the most.

The book is split between two first person narratives, letters, news articles, and emails. Jules and Cam are headed back to Cam's family's estate after he's been gone for a decade. Jules has never been there before, and Cam has intentionally stayed away.

I loved the way the story was told in so many different formats - it made it very engaging and left me wanting to get back to the other points of view. Ruby's perspective, as told through letters, was my favorite.

I can't say I really liked any of the characters -- but I was compelled to find out about their history and what motivated all of them.

I really enjoyed all the twists, even if I had a hunch about them, I still loved seeing how they played out, and I wasn't able to guess everything.

Overall I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys atmospheric thriller-esque books with good twists and unreliable narrators.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This was a book that once I started, I really couldn't put it down. I know there are so many books labeled as "bingeable" on the market today, but The Heiress really fits the bill. Brimming with suspense, family drama, and glaring wealth, and a gothic Mansion setting, the Heiress offers so much for any reader.

Following multiple storylines across numerous generations, the story of Ruby McTavish and her dynastic hold over Ashby House (more like a mansion) is told. Though Ruby is deceased, her story is told through a series of letters, while the present day story is offered from the dual perspectives of her adopted son Camden and his wife, Jules. While Camden lacks any enthusiasm to return to Ashby, and his family that still reside in the home, Jules craves nothing more than to take up her spot as the rightful Mrs. McTavish. The story Hawkins constructs between the present and the past is something that kept me hooked until the very end.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, and Rachel Hawkins for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third book by this author and it has to be my favorite. My favorite thrillers are the ones that are fast paced and this book delivers. I couldn't believe the plot twist at the end. I have been thinking about it ever since I finished this book. If you love thrillers like me, you need to check this book out. Thank you Net Galley and the publisher for the arc. I cannot wait to add the physical copy to my bookshelf.

The Heiress is by far Rachel Hawkins best book yet! This book had me gripped from the very first chapter. What a delicious book filled with secrets. I seriously couldn’t put this book down. The Heiress can have all the stars to be honest. My first 5 Star read of 2024 and what a good one it was!
5/5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sending me an arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: January 9th, 2024
Thank you to

I’ll be honest, one of the first things that drew me to this book was the cover - the colors and the design immediately caught my eye. Then, when I saw the author, I knew I wanted to read this as I had heard many great things about her writing.

Jules and Cam have been married for years, but Jules had never met Cam’s family, and it’s for a very specific reason: Cam is the heir to an enormous fortune and he refuses to accept it. Cam is the adopted son of one of the most famous and notorious heiresses in America, Ruby McTavish, and her mysterious past and legacy loom large over Cam’s life. However, when circumstances force the couple to return to Cam’s childhood home, Ashby House, soon Jules and Cam find themselves uncovering decades long secrets and discovering truths that might be better left alone.

I knew there was a reason why Rachel Hawkins had been recommended to me many times, and this novel did not disappoint. The story and writing format kept me compelled to keep reading, and it was a fast pasted mystery. I got all the answers I was seeking and definitely didn’t see the full ending coming. Some of the characters were not likable and all have questionable morals, but that is why I loved this book. I wasn’t meant to like most of them, and it kept me guessing as to all of their motives. If you are a mystery fan, I highly recommend this book!

This was exactly what I expect from Rachel Hawkins, a story with twist and turns that leaves me with questions even after I have finished it.

Camden has left behind his family in North Carolina and does not want anything to do with them or their money. The problem is they want him to come back and his wife Jules wants to go. Camden wants to make his wife happy even if it means returning to a family that wants nothing to do with him, except to take back his inheritance. As family secrets are revealed the visit turns ugly. Jules seems to have secrets of her own. What will happen when secrets are revealed? Will the family survive?

My favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet! I loved the setting, thought the multiple POV was very well done and easy to follow and also found the twists/ending to be quite satisfying. I also laughed out loud multiple times at the sense of humor of both Jules and Ruby. Overall I loved this one - great start to my reading year!