This was a good one!

The way the story wove together was brilliant. I loved the letters slowly releasing details. The intricate web of how the characters were tied together was perfection. There were definitely relationships that left me wondering until the end.

The characters were well developed and I enjoyed how the layers to each relationship were carefully revealed throughout the story. Enjoyed the multiple POV’s

The audio cast was great! Loved the narration and how the characters came to life. Especially Ruby McTavish so confident, mischievous and revengeful.

I will be honest. I haven't had much luck with this author. The Villa was okay, and the Ex Hex and I did not work out. So, I didn't go into this book expecting to like it. Which, I know, sounds stupid. Why read a book when you don't expect to like it? First off, have you seen this cover? GORGEOUS!! STUNNING!! BRILLANT!!! Secondly, I will give an author three chances before I assume they are not for me. You know what they say, "the third time is a charm."

The Heiress hooked me from page one. I love the mixed media, all the terribly deceitful characters, the family drama, the secrets, the murders, the money, and the lies. I loved that there were twists, but not so many that I got whiplash. Most of all, I loved Ruby!! She is a new favorite character of mine. I just had so much fun reading this book.

I highly recommend this on audio. There are several narrators, and they all did a great job. Each one added so much to the story.

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

OH. MY. 5 ⭐️

I am still at a loss for words and trying to process everything that took place. This family, these characters, this story...OH MY! It's going to take me a hot minute to digest this one, but what a ride it was and I promise you will want to grab a copy for yourself!

Happy Launch Day Jan. 9, 2024!

This book was outstanding.....

The characters kept pulling me in and the plot of the book kept me guessing till the very last page of the book, there were so many twists and turns that I never saw coming.

This is my first must read recommendation of 2024

This latest is what I’ve come to expect from Rachel Hawkins - a page turning, twisty mystery with interesting characters that I just don’t want to put down until I’ve reached the end!

I don’t want to say a lot about the plot - I went into this one knowing nothing and it was fantastic. The narrative switches between Camden and his wife Jules in the present and Ruby in the past. This format really lends itself in building suspense and creating twists and surprises along the way for the reader.

I listened to this one, and really liked that there are multiple narrators to tell the story. I recommend listening to this if you can!

This is a fun ride from start to finish. Highly recommend starting 2024 off with this book, it’s just such a fun read. Don’t miss this one if you enjoy a twisty mystery with strong characters.

As a long time fan Rachel Hawkins' thrillers, The Heiress did not disappoint! Just when I thought I had it all figured out, she threw a twist in that I wasn't expecting. I flew through the audiobook in three days!

It is a story about family secrets, murder, love and every rich people problem that you can imagine. Even though every character was pretty unlikable, I enjoyed the duel POVs. It helped move the story along and sprinkled little breadcrumbs along the way.

As an audiobook I loved it! The multiple voice actors where fantastic and brought the charters to life.

*Thank you NetGalley, MacMillian Audio and Rachel Hawkins for the ARC!*

Many thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC. The Heiress is available January 9th, 2024.

3.5/5 Stars

Synopsis –

Ruby McTavish is well known across the state of North Carolina for myriad reasons; as the victim of a kidnapping in her childhood, as a widow with four deceased husbands, and as the wealthiest woman in the state. Her estate, Ashby House, is filled with her family history and some deeply hidden secrets.

Camden McTavish - Ruby's adopted son - and his wife Jules live a very modest life in Colorado, but all of that could change when Cam is summoned to Ashby House years after Ruby's death. Told in dual timelines via letters written by Ruby that provide insight into her past, this novel explores the means that people will use to maintain their wealth and and keep secrets from being discovered.

Review –

I really enjoyed the performances of the full cast for the audiobook. I do think it added to my experience, and I particularly liked the actor who narrated Ruby.

Overall, this book was a pretty slow burn for me. I had read one of Rachel Hawkins' previous books, The Villa, and found that one to be more gripping. While I did enjoy this book, it wasn't one that I necessarily felt compelled to keep reading and overall the pacing seemed a bit slow to me.

I did enjoy the descriptions of Ashby House and felt like I could really envision the estate and the town. I definitely found myself more drawn to the past timeline with Ruby's letters than I did to the present. Ruby's character was complex and flawed and it was interesting to hear her story unravel.

If you're interested in a slower paced thriller, this one could be for you. But if you're more looking for a book that really pulls you in and compels you to keep reading, this might not be the one.

There was a lot going on in "The Heiress." With alternating timelines, between present day, Camden and Jules POVs and via letter Ruby, Camden adoptive mother, Hawkins weaves together a familial story of murder, betrayal, and twisted love.
With the death of Cam's uncle, he and his wife, Jules are drawn back to Ashby House in the small town of Tavistock, ostensibly to aid in fixing up the house and grounds, as Cam has control of the family money. The rest of the family has only been granted the right to live there, with no access to Ruby's fortune. Those poor fools must live off whatever monies they can make on their own. Their bitterness that all this wealth is going to an ADOPTED son has not faded with time, and is on full display from the moment Cam and Jules arrive.
The most interesting parts are the letters Ruby has left behind, though we don't find out who she was writing to until the very end, detailing her life, and her husbands.
Overall, a good fun, twisty read. I thing I would have enjoyed alot more about Ruby's life and how she lived, especially between husbands!, than the modern day spite between spoiled "it should have been mine" relations, but still an overall enjoyable read.

There were a few minor plot points that seemed to go no where- the mention of missing hikers and the dangerous trails alongside the waterfall? Was that just red herring thrown out there? Or just a cut off story possibility?

So many twists and turns with this one! You’ll think you know what’s up only to be proven wrong again and again. The narrators were excellent and really brought the story to life.

I am reviewing the audio version of this book, and really enjoyed the narrator. Upon Ruby's demise, she bequeaths her entire estate to Cam. Despite the mysterious deaths surrounding her four husbands, Ruby, once a famous kidnapped child, leaves a legacy that Cam initially rejects. However, a family email prompts him and his wife, Jules, to reconsider, leading them to embark on a journey to rehabilitate the house and address Cam's reservations. The book seamlessly grabbed my attention from the first page and held it until the final page turned. The unraveling mystery of Ruby's husbands and Cam's reluctance to embrace the lavish inheritance fascinated me. I was eager to discover the untold stories behind both the enigmatic deaths and Cam's disinterest in the splendid house and considerable wealth left by Ruby. While I made some educated guesses during my reading, the narrative took unexpected turns that added delightful twists to the plot. If you're a fan of Rachel Hawkins, this book promises an equally enthralling experience, maintaining the author's consistent appeal seen in her previous works.

I just reviewed The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins. #NetGalley

This audiobook was really well done with four different characters alternating chapters. My biggest issue was the slow plot that felt disconnected at times between the characters. Based on the plot only, this would have been 3 stars but the excellent audiobook elevated the my overall rating to 4.

I thought this was a good book! If I could give half stars I would have given it 3 and a half stars. So Camden McTavish has lived his adult life away from Ashby House, the house he grew up in once adopted by Ruby McTavish, a very wealthy woman with an interesting life and collection of dead husbands. When a death in the family takes place, Camden must go back to Ashby house and face the demons of his past, along with his wife Jules who would love nothing more than to live in the luxury of the sprawling mansion. The story is told from multiple points of view, Camden, Jules, and Ruby through letters to a mystery person. My favorite storyline and narrator was Ruby's. She was entertaining and not necessarily likable but you could empathize with her somewhat. She reminded me of Doris Duke who may or may not have killed a friend of hers at her estate named Rough Point I believe it was called. Camden and Jules storylines though entertaining were not nearly as entertaining and captivating as Ruby's. I'd recommend this book to mystery lovers if they are looking for something fun to read with multiple points of view.

So I liked this one. Didn’t love it.
The narration was great, the story itself was quick and easy to listen to. But my main issue was that nothing happened for 70% of the book. All we get is tons of backstory and history on Ruby’s husbands—which I thought added nothing to the plot. All we hear is she’s killer them and lives up to her nickname.

I feel like no one was truly likeable and everyone had secrets, so when it was revealed that everyone was holding onto something, it lacked the WOW factor I was hoping in a twist.

The narrators were great, the story itself was easy enough to follow, but it was missing drama and intrigue despite it being a family drama with arguments and squabbles.

I sadly could not listen to the narrator in this book. I am excited to read it when it comes out in print but cannot suggest the audio version as it just did not appeal to me. :(

For me this was an audiobook. It may have been better suited to have been a book. I struggle with time jumps and dual time lines and I find they are even harder to listen to, keeping the story straight. This was also a very slow burn book until closer to the end. I’d definitely read this author again I’d just prefer a book vs audiobook. This was a crazy story of a missing girl who was found and then returned to her family. A rich one at that. But was it really her? An adopted child left everything in death but from a family he wanted nothing to do with. And the murders did I mention them? It’s a wild ride if you can keep up!

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were great. I struggled to get into this one. And I struggled to stay focused on it. There were interesting twists and it was well written but it just wasn’t the book for me.

A heady concoction of charm, murder, manipulation and sophistication!

Thanks NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC.

Synopsis –

Camden McTavish and his wife Jules, are summoned to their ancestral home, the Ashby House, 10 years after the death of his mother, the infamous Ruby McTavish (‘Kill’more). While Cam wants nothing to do with this house, Jules, stunned by its elegance and grandeur, can’t help but be intrigued about this estranged family’s past and the secrets the house might be hiding. But Ruby might have had a plan of her own.

Review –

The audiobook had a great cast of narrators and they did a brilliant job of bringing these characters to life, especially with Ruby!

I think this is the best yet from the author! Everything is executed to perfection – the setting, story building, plot construction and amazing character development.

I could vividly picture the magnificence of the Ashby House – its picturesque surroundings , nestled in the Blueridge mountains and its foreboding presence.

Hawkins builds suspense, intrigue into her story, weaving it all with the history of the McTavishes, a certain ominous feeling about the house and a unique spell of mystery conveyed via Ruby’s voice.

Ruby steals the show with her notoriety and resplendence - as she spills her juicy secrets from her past. Oh how I loved her larger than life, classy persona - despite her questionable actions and behaviour! Her shrewdness, sass, masterful mind games, all balanced with great benevolence and magnanimity left me speechless.

With the narratives of Cam, Jules and Ruby, the present is inextricably linked to the past with revelations that are unimaginable and near impossible to guess. As everyone’s secrets slowly comes to light, I could only marvel at how smartly the plot lines come together. Simply genius!

At the end, I just shook my head in disbelief, laughed at my naivety and inability to see the traps. I bet you will fall for it all and repent just like me!

If you love mystery thriller with a strong female lead, who is morally grey, yet impossible to adore and cheer for, then don’t miss #TheHeiress.

An eerie, haunted, twisted tale of what ends people will go to, whether it's to cover a secret or protect their fortune. It's a dark fascinating world of the wealthy, and uncovering those secrets is a great mysterious adventure!

Rachel Hawkins is a great author who draws you in and throws twist after twist at you to keep you enticed and guessing. With the multiple POV, this gives you a full rounded story about the darkest corners of the McTavish family.

Gripping from the very beginning! Murder, mystery, money, greed, lies, all the juicy things that keep a great story going. It loved the twists and turns of this book. I highly recommend.

I loved this one. Possibly my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet. I listened on audio and the cast/narrators are amazing and give such life to the different stories and timelines of this book. I'd love a sequel to see how the McTavish bloodline continues. The ending blew me away and I did not see it coming at all!