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!

Rachel Hawkins has written another winner. It's a slow boil (but don't worry you won't stop turning the pages!) of a novel that captivates you from page one. It's got all the juicy stuff that makes her thrillers so great. Family legacies, adoption, murder, and a black widow storyline that is just crazy. The story unfolds with a letter from someone Ruby who is the matriach of the family and she talks about her dead husbands and the her life. You have Camden who is the adopted son of Ruby who wants nothing to do with the family. His wife Jules who has an interesting past. You also have Ruby's sister Libby and her son Ben. They are all up to no good and it comes down to as the letters are revealed who is who and what is happening. You'll never guess how it all goes down and I'm usually good at figuring things out. I failed here!!! Thank you to St Martin's Press for the ARC as well as NetGalley. This is going to be the book that people will be talking about in Janaury and I'm sure it will be turned into a movie. READ IT!!!!!

✨ The Heiress ✨⁣
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⁣Genre- Mystery Thriller. ⁣
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⁣Length- 304 pages. ⁣
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⁣@ladyhawkins has done it again! I adored The Heiress! I read this entire book in a few hours while home alone with my three children. I was supposed to be packing for our vacation and I just ignored my chores and read this addicting book… #perfectthriller⁣
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⁣The Heiress is full of mysteries that fit together like a perfect puzzle. As a young child, heiress Ruby was abducted from the woods near her house and found with another family eight months later. Growing up, Ruby often felt like something wasn’t quite right about herself. Ruby’s story is exposed through a series of letters written after her death. Her adopted son, Camden, wants absolutely nothing to do with Ruby’s fortune, but returns to the family home after a family death. Add in a bunch of secrets and family distinction and you have this wickedly entertaining book! ⁣
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⁣Five stars! I highly recommend this thriller. It comes out on January 9, 2023. Thank you to @netgalley for my complimentary ARC.

Here I go again dipping my toes into another mystery book. The Heiress is a wild ride with a lot of pieces to the puzzle. It may be wild, but the pace of the story is very slow and suspenseful. Giving you plenty of time to be uncertain about every new discovery.

This story follows Cam and his wife Jules as Cam returns to his Appalachian home to deal with his inheritance and family. It may follow them but the main focus would be Ruby, his adoptive mother.

I liked how we discovered more and more about Ruby through her letters and newspaper clippings about her life. Each chapter jumping from Cam's to Jules' to Ruby's POV. I found myself throughout reading, thinking I figured everything out about a character before realizing that what I thought was wrong with each new perspective.

Another love for me was the location! As an Appalachian myself, I absolutely loved the setting in the mountains. The references to how old the landscape was and the Ashby house.

Definitely a good slow read mystery to start the year out with!

I have read all of Rachel Hawkins' books at this point, and while they are all good, The Heiress: A Novel is by far the best. This book takes you on a wild and interesting ride. We initially follow one of the characters, Cam, and his wife Jules, as he returns home after a long absence to deal with his inheritance and his family. The story is told from the alternating viewpoints of at least three characters, revealing the secrets of a complex family.

As the story unfolds and progresses, each unexpected revelation left me in absolute shock and awe. I constantly found myself in a state of uncertainty, thinking that I had finally unravelled the story's secrets, only to be pleasantly surprised that I was completely mistaken. Every subsequent revelation brought an even greater sense of disbelief, causing my jaw to drop in sheer astonishment and amazement.

Although the story starts with Cam, it is not solely about him. The true main character is Ruby, Cam's deceased adoptive mother. Her story, character, and life are incredibly fascinating. We not only get glimpses of how others perceived her, but we also hear her story through her own words in the form of letters. Ruby is the character who connects everyone and everything in this story, tying everything together tightly.

Rachel Hawkins has crafted The Heiress: A Novel with great care, making it impossible to put down. I want to express my gratitude to St. Martin's Press, MacMillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with advanced review copies of both the digital and audiobook versions. The book is amazing in any format, but if you truly want to be blown away, I highly recommend picking up the audiobook for its outstanding performance and production.

Rachel Hawkins has become a must read for me. I was turning the pages so fast. Rachel did an amazing job plotting the mystery. Highly recommended!

I honestly couldn’t tell you much that happened in this book because I didn’t care? It seemed all over the place. It switched POVs but also has news articles and letters in it. It’s essentially about a woman who dies rich and notorious - a former kidnapping victim and widowed multiple times. Her adoptive son and his wife must now go to her house to settle the estate. It would appear that in the minority based on the Goodreads reviews so take it for what it’s worth and try it if you’d like! I’ve loved all of Hawkin’s previous books but this one didn’t do it for me.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Thank you for to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was fantastic…from the very first chapter I was completely hooked! It has everything you could want. Shady characters with screwed up families. Wealth, power, family drama, and enough secrets and lies to last decades.

The story is told from different points of view and gets more twisted by the minute. I loved the letters from Ruby…slowly building more and more suspense, through backstories, before the big reveal. But, there’s more going on than what you may think and bam…out of nowhere another surprise. I think it might just be the plot twist of the year!

So good…run to pick this one up! You won’t regret it. Hits shelves January 9th.

5/5⭐️

As much as I love thrillers, I couldn’t get into this one and had to DNF. It was m first book by Rachel Hawkins but I have put her backlist on my TBR as I have heard nothing but great things about the author.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first I have read of Rachel Hawkins' books, but it won't be the last! I have seen her books recommended and heard the buzz so was interested in reading her newest. This one was easy for me to visualize the setting, having been to that part of the country and rich people problem books are always fun. She took us through the story with news stories, letters, and chapters told from the two main character POVs that propelled the story forward. It was an easy and fast read, though predictable at times. I would definitely read more of hers in the future.

It's safe to say this will be a top read of 2024 for me! This book was FLIPPING FANTASTIC! Literal jaw dropping moments, stellar writing, an exceptional plot, and such fun and nasty characters that I absolutely loved to hate. This book truly had it all!

I listened to this novel on audio and it was exceptional. There were multiple narrators in the novel and the audio did a great job using several people to keep them separate. I loved the different uses of media - letters, newspaper clippings, and multiple narrators on top of all that. Sometimes this can feel like too much, but wow, it worked perfectly for The Heiress. The story unfolded in such a fun and unique way and I was completely enthralled.

Hawkins slammed us with not one, not two, but MANY surprises - most of which weren't anywhere near my radar! As a thriller lover, it's easy to read the same plot lines, twists, and hooks over and over again. Hawkins made sure she shattered those well-loved tropes and brought us something fresh and utterly fantastic.

Ruby is one of my favorite characters from a novel in a long time. She will absolutely stick with me. Her ruthlessness, cunning wit, and her entire backstory was just perfection.

I can't say I've ever read a book like this and weeks later, it's still sticking with me. It's one I'll be recommending over and over!

Thank you to MacMillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the copy. Get this book NOW!!!

QUICK THOUGHTS: I loved! It’s quick, somehow fast paced & slow burn, opulent, twisty, and super suspenseful

IF YOU LIKE: The Villa, The Only One Left, Evelyn Hugo vibes, less scary thrillers, suspense
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I’ve read a most of Rachel Hawkins recent thrillers and in my opinion this is her best yet! I loved how the two main plots of the story were unraveled together. We learn all about Ruby’s crazy history through letters she’s written just days before her death, while at the same time trying to figure out the family dynamic and all of their intentions & motives.

While my typical preferred thriller is fast paced, action packed, and twisty turny… Rachel Hawkins doesn’t really do that, and for whatever reason it still works for me! They’re definitely more slow burn suspense, but she’s sooo good at sprinkling in little intense moments that make you go “what the F*CK, this is going to get crazy.” AND IT DOES!

Oh. My. Goodness. This book. I could not put it down. This was my first Rachel Hawkins book, but certainly won't be my last.

I loved everything from this one...the story, the characters, the format...it was all perfect. I loved how the author interspersed news articles and Ruby's letters with the current day timeline. It was a really interesting way to break up the story a little and provide necessary background information.

I enjoyed the overall plotline of the prodigal son returning to the family but with some murderous twists. From the moment I opened the book, I was gripped and wanted to know what was going to happen. The twists weren't overly surprising to me, but I enjoyed them anyway.

I felt the characters were also all well written. I kept picturing Liddy as Alexis from Schitt's Creek, though I'm not sure that's fair to Alexis as Libby, Ben, and Nelle were literally the worst. The family dynamics in this story were over-the-top, and I loved it. I really appreciated that Ruby was included as a character we got to know even though she died prior to the start of the book.

Overall, this book felt a little like a cross between Evelyn Hugo and The Only One Left, which seems like a weird way to describe this book, but it totally worked for me.