✨Book Review✨
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins
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This feels like quite the accomplishment because it is the first adult full length non-graphic novel that I have ever read in one day! That being said, that is definitely not the best way for me to read. I retain so little and it makes my brain feel like mush. lol.
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This book was a decent family drama based thriller. It wasn't super suspenseful, but I did like how the story unfolded. There were a few nice surprises but nothing gasp worthy. I would definitely recommend if you like a mysterious book filled with family dynamics. Would not recommend if you're looking for a super suspenseful page-turner. I listened to the audio and liked that there were different voices, but didn't love the voice actors.

This is a well written book with a lot of twists. I am thankful for the chance to have read this. Will recommend to others with a similar interest.

Loved this one! This is my first book by this author. This was more mystery than thriller. Not super fast paced but it kept my attention. A solid 4 star read!

Ruby McTavish is a very rich woman from North Carolina. She's lived an interesting life... childhood kidnapping... widowed four times over... Never having children of her own, Ruby adopts little Cam and when she dies, he's her heir. When she dies, Cam leaves to start a new life leaving his inheritance behind. Now, ten years later, his uncle has passed and his extended "family" has requested him to come back to Ashby House. Cam doesn't want to go, but his wife, Jules, convinces him that they should... Once at Ashby House, Cam is quickly and almost instantly reminded why he left... but now he must confront some deep, dark family secrets and Jules will learn a thing or two about his past as well.

This was actually a pretty good thriller. I felt like the ending was a little easy to guess. I liked the multiple POV and thought that was done really well. I really enjoyed the parts that were from Ruby's perspective. She was quite entertaining. This is probably my favorite title I've read by Rachel Hawkins. Would recommend if you enjoy domestic thrillers.

TW: Death/murder; domestic abuse/physical abuse; kidnapping/missing child; mentions of suicide.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Rachel Hawkins for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love Rachel! You absolutely can not go wrong with any of her books! She’s an amazing writer and her books are always different.

This was a pretty fast paced thriller and was similar in that sense to the author's other novels. However, unlike her other books, this one was a bit disappointing because I wasn't actually surprised by any of the "twists." I enjoyed the "rich people" aspect because they really are doing the most. I did not care for the characters and the book kind of read like a YA book to me.

From the very beginning excerpt from "Without a Trace" by Bill Naracott I was hooked. “It would probably shock the average American to learn just how little we know about those who go missing in the wilder part of this great nation of ours.”

Rachel Hawkins is an "auto-buy" author for me, but this may be my favorite of her titles. I loved the multiple POVs and overall pacing of the novel. She excels at flowing the story across multiple timelines, dropping clues and twists as the plot develops. In particular, I enjoyed her use of multi-media elements, such as Ruby's letters, newspaper articles and emails. There are multiple mysteries at play, all intricately woven to build on one another.

The family was perfectly dysfunctional, and the characters were complex and unlikable in all the right ways that only enhanced the mystery and drama. I would liken Ruby McTavish's character to a darker version of Taylor Jenkins Reid's Evelyn Hugo from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The imagery was spot on and I could easily envision the setting of Ashby House. Ashby House felt very gothic, making The Heiress an ideal autumn or winter read in my opinion.

I found this to be quite an enjoyable read. I have not read anything else from this author, but I will definitely keep my eye on her future books. It was well written, with lots of wonderful surprises to keep the reader engaged and turning the next page. There were some parts that were a bit "Schmaltzy" if you know what I mean, and one just has to roll their eyes. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I do recommend it.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily posting a review. Review previously withheld as part of the St. Martin’s Press reviewer boycott.

The Rachel Hawkins thrillers I’ve liked have all had a commonality in being inspired by a story I’m familiar with, and putting a cool twist on it, and The Heiress is no different. Pulling inspiration from the Bobby Dunbar and Walter Collins/Wineville Chicken Coop Murders cases, the latter of which was a true-crime rabbit hole for me thanks to the Angelina Jolie film. I loved the mystery surrounding the titular heiress, Ruby, who also gave me slight Evelyn Hugo vibes in the way she conveyed the secrets of her sometimes scandalous and often tragic life in a journal. While it’s pretty obvious from the premise she isn’t who she claims she is publicly, the exact circumstances are still murky, and I enjoyed unraveling it all.

Cam and Jules are both interesting POV characters to follow in the present. Cam is Ruby’s adopted son, and I was intrigued by him and what made him initially give up his claim to the McTavish fortune, only to have it thrust on him again. Growing up with Ruby wasn’t always the best, given the demons she lived with and the means she used to try to cope, eventually pushing him away.

Jules was a bit of a wildcard for me, because she and Cam seemed to have a great relationship, although I didn’t know what to expect. But there are some revelations about her own connection to Ruby, although she wasn’t previously aware of it, and how Ruby somewhat played a role, at least passively, in conspiring to bring the two together.

Between all the family drama and the engrossing atmosphere of Ashby Hall to the suspenseful twists and turns, I was engrossed the whole time, constantly flipping pages.

I enjoyed this book a lot, and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy Gothic thriller/suspense books.

I am honestly a little in awe. I knew it would have a crazy twist, but holy cow. Love can't solve everything but it can pull or push you.

Camden is rich because of his adoptive mother, but her family is absolutely vile. He escaped from this mansion called Ashby House but the remaining family still lives there, when Cam yields to go back he is forced to face his past.

Jules is from poor roots. She has never know a life of opulence. She met Cam and they married, she knew his family had money but he didn't want it. She is in awe when she accompanies Cam back to the mansion. But will it be the biggest mistake they ever made?

I really enjoy books by this author and this novel was no different. An enjoyable read that I would recommend,.

This book was just so so slow for me; I usually expect thrillers to be fast-paced and full of twists, but this one just dragged one slightly too long. I feel like it leaned in too heavily to the creepy mansion setting, and the plot let some to be desired. In part, it reminded me slightly of the movie with Angelina Jolie about the 1928 Wineville Chicken Coop murders (which I think were mentioned in the book), but without the shock and awe.

I do enjoy this author and will continue to read her books, but this one just wasn't for me.

The Heiress has it all: murder, secrets, Gothic vibes, and a twisted family. A wealthy woman's death reveals family secrets and a mysterious past, pulling her adopted son and his wife into a web of danger and intrigue. The story is more domestic suspense than thriller, but I found myself turning the page quickly and enjoyed the twist - I didn't see it coming. Highly recommend.

I loved this book! It was so twisted and messed up at times. There was so much going on and so many twists I didn’t see coming. It was such a quick read. I loved the structure of the chapters. So good! Sometimes a little confusing with how shocking things were, but really good!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a compelling read that blends family drama with suspense, though it may not fit neatly into the thriller category. I found the book engaging, with a well-woven narrative that reveals its layers slowly and deliberately.

One of the book’s standout features is its use of multiple points of view (POVs), which adds depth to the story but, at times, left me a bit disoriented. Despite this, the overall plot was captivating, especially as it built toward a shocking twist that I didn’t see coming. The different perspectives made the family dynamics feel rich and complex, and each character was well-developed, adding to the intrigue and tension throughout the book.

I experienced The Heiress as an audiobook, and the variety of narrators brought the characters to life in a way that truly enhanced my enjoyment of the story. The cast did an excellent job of distinguishing the voices and personalities, making it easy to immerse myself in the world Hawkins created.

While it may not deliver the heart-pounding suspense typical of thrillers, The Heiress is a thoughtfully crafted tale of secrets, relationships, and the weight of inheritance. If you enjoy slow-burn suspense with multi-dimensional characters and family drama at its core, this book is definitely worth a read.

A family saga where dark secrets see the light of day, and everyone has ulterior motives.

When the past and the present collide, there is a reckoning for a family who has waded in the shallow end of the ethical pond. I adored how much the late Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore played a role in the story. We get a glimpse of her past and how it plays into the current events of the book.

This book made me want to pick up more of Rachel Hawkins' works. The story was so compelling, and it is as fresh in my mind today as it was when I read the story weeks ago. I highly recommend this story to those who love a juicy tale of unlikeable characters and how family secrets come to roost after the death of the family matriarch.

Thank you to the publisher via NetGalley for the opportunity to respond to this book with my honest opinions.

What a book! Twists and turns and so engaging! I couldn't put it down. So glad I got to read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Rachel Hawkins!

Who doesn't love a story about a rich family that's full of secrets? This was a very addicting read. I loved how the book went back and forth between the present and the past. I enjoyed learning about the wealthy McTavish family and how money and rich status had ruined them all. There are some good twists and turns in this book as well which kept me wanting to read more after every chapter. The ending didn't shock me but still a very fun read.

Was a bit slow in the beginning. The last half was filled with twists and turns and I really enjoyed how the story wrapped up. I also really enjoyed the multiple POV’s and the letter’s from Ruby. Solid mystery and the first Rachel Hawkins book I’ve read. Will definitely be reading more of her books.

Huge fan of Rachel Hawkins. Definitely going on my top faves! Can’t wait to see what she does next. Thanks to publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this.