The Heiress was a great read by Rachel Hawkins. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies and is North Carolina’s richest woman as well as the most notorious. She was the victim of a famous kidnapping as a child from her families estate in the Blue Ridge mountains. Ruby has been widowed four times and ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Asby House, her family's estate. After she died, her estate and fortune was passed to her adopted son, Camden. Everyone was surprised to find out that Cam wanted nothing to do with any of it. He rejects his inheritance and wants to go back to his normal life with his wife Jules. Ten years later, Cam is summoned to the Ashby House after his uncle's death. He quickly remembers why he left in the before. Jules has other plans, she is determined for her husband to claim everything Ruby left for him. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

This was just okay. There were certainly some twists and turns along the way I hadn’t guessed at and I’m not someone who needs characters to all be likeable, but I need to at least find redeeming qualities or be more entertained by them.

I really enjoyed this audiobook! While nothing that happens or is revealed was outright shocking, there were still plenty of twists and turns to keep me engaged and wanting to know more. I like the interspersed letters that gave us a glimpse into Ruby's mind and actions. While none of these characters should have been likeable considering some of their actions, I did find myself rooting for Cam & Jules at the end.

Fast paced and great twists. I did not see a few of them coming. Have come to really enjoy this author. While this one was not my favorite, it was pretty high up there. I loved Ruby's letters (and her narrator in and die was fantastic!). Cam was annoying in his whole ungrateful attitude. Even in the end, I don't get why he didn't want the money to at the very least do something great with it even anonymously. That just seems so stupid. Alas, definitely entertaining, solid read.

My Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the audiobook of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Heiress? It's a seriously creepy tale about secrets and lies within a wealthy family from the Appalachian mountains. It's all about the black sheep of the family who returns home with a plain-Jane new partner. I was hooked from the get-go.

The characters, Jules and Cam, are a fascinating pair because they're the ones who can unravel the truth about the McTavish family, despite their crazy rich and enigmatic vibe. Then there's Ruby, who's intriguing because she writes letters revealing the family's past and her personal life. Even though Ruby, Cam, and Jules seem like your everyday folks, they've got one massive issue - they're all pretty self-centered. It's kind of cool to see how this flaw affects their lives.

The narrators who tell the story? They nail it. They helped me visualize the McTavish house and all the spine-chilling events that occur within it.

Sure, I guessed a major secret in the story before it was revealed, but I still enjoyed how it twisted the ending. The ending was a win because it tied up the story's loose ends but still left me pondering over some unsolved mysteries. The Heiress is hands down one of the most thought-provoking scary stories I've ever read. It really got me thinking - are people born a certain way or do they turn out that way because of their upbringing?

Fantastic story about what people will do for money. Great narrators , well written plot, and great characters.

| Book Review |

Rachel Hawkins’ The Heiress brings us to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, home of the infamous MacTavish family. None so infamous as Ruby MacTavish, whose history includes a titillating story of a child kidnapped and later found. And did I mention her dead husbands? That got my attention, too. 

This story is told in the present from her son and daughter-in-laws point of view, spliced with snippets of letters from a now deceased Ruby as she shares the events of her past. Ruby’s letters were a highlight of the book for me. They were so interesting, and the way she was so matter of fact about relaying every juice detail was fascinating.

The Heiress had me in its thrall from page one. Ruby’s son, Ben, and his wife, Jules, are living a very modest lifestyle when he gets news that brings him back to his childhood stomping grounds, Ashby House. Once we’re introduced to his family, it quickly becomes clear why he left in the first place. From the beginning, Cam and Jules are obviously keeping secrets from each other. And while this often doesn’t work for me in Thrillers, it worked so well here. They were a messy couple who loved each other as they were, and I couldn’t help but like them despite my better judgment. The only criticism I have of the story is in regards to Ashby House. Building the house up until it was almost its own character could have really pushed this story over the top. The atmospheric hints were there, they just weren’t played up enough to make this book a prominent character, and I would have loved for this to be on par with other books I’ve read where the setting is such a focal point in the story. 

Parts of this book were predictable, though not enough to hinder my enjoyment. And while I was able to figure out some of the events of the story in advance, the title of the book threw me when it came to the end. It fit; it just didn’t play out the way I thought it was going to. But the ending was satisfying, and I can’t wait to read the next book Rachel Hakwins releases. If you’re a fan of the author’s previous works, especially The Wife Upstairs, I think you’ll enjoy The Heiress.

| Audiobook Review |

The Heiress was narrated by Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin. This is a fantastic cast of audiobook narrators. They all did a fantastic job capturing the personalities and little hints of the characters, but I will say the highlight of the cast was the narrator for Ruby. The way she so nonchalantly conveyed the salacious details of Ruby's past was so accurate, and I loved every second of it. Having said that, I would recommend listening to any of them, or even better, all of them right here in The Heiress!

This was great! I enjoyed it from start to finish on audio. The plot, characters and narrators were all fantastic.

This book was so good! Great plot, creepy characters, spooky atmosphere. Really fun to read. Thoroughly enjoyed!

Another great read from Hawkins! I have already told many friends about this novel. Fascinating characters and a thrilling story comes with this novel. It will not disappoint!

I read this author before and she never disappoints me.I really enjoyed this book and couldn’t put it down. The structure with alternating chapters about Jules and Camden is great with Ruby’s letters woven in between so easy to follow and the plot is brilliant. Loved the twist at the end!

Wow this was so much fun, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I thought the characters were interesting and I like that the story bounced around from present to past through letters. Usually I'm not a big fan of this but it really worked in this book. Even though the characters were doing bad things they were justified and I was cheering them on. There were so many twists and turns that I kept reading to see how everything was going to work out in the end. I'll definitely be recommending this one to people!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.
"The Heiress" is a captivating mystery thriller perfect for fans of Liv Constantine and Lisa Jewell. It follows a greedy character's quest for wealth, weaving a suspenseful tale filled with twists and betrayals. If you enjoy dramatic thrillers that keep you guessing until the very end, this book is for you.

I enjoyed this one! I had so many theories of what was actually going on and none of them were correct I like that!! This one had a few different storylines and I liked how they all converged in the end.

Narrated by Dan Bittner; Eliza Foss; John Pirhalla; Patti Murin all did a great job at bringing this story to life!

I thought this was a good story and would highly recommend this one!

4 stars

I received this audiobook from the publisher Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

4.5⭐

If you like messy rich people drama - this is 100% the book to binge. The Heiress centers around the life and death of the famous (or infamous) Ruby McTavish. Between being the victim of kidnapping as a child and outliving all 4 of her husbands, who died under peculiar circumstances, Ruby lived a long, interesting life.

In the aftermath of her death, her adoptive son Camden and his wife Jules, arrive at Ashby House to manage the estate and legacy left to him. Between the remaining estranged McTavish family and Ruby's legacy, Cam and Jules find out more about the family than expected.

This was a fantastic time and honestly I am so mad I put off reading this. The Heiress is a fun, twisty ride that felt like reality TV in the best way possible. I have always liked Rachel Hawkins and this release was no exception. I binged this audio in a day - the multi-cast narration was a treat.
[Narrated by Dan Bittner; Eliza Foss; John Pirhalla; Patti Murin] Truly a great performance and it made every character feel different and have the charm I expected. I listened to this at 1.75x speed and everyone was extremely clear and understandable - a major plus.

Multi POV - Ruby, Camden & Jules
Family Drama & Secrets
Messy Rich People
Unhinged secrets

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin's Press & Macmillan Audio for the ARC & ALC of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins.

I loved this! The twists were👌🏼I got in to it expecting a Seven Husbands twist and I was so wrong! Uhhh I love being wrong, about books at least 🫣. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to review!

Once again, Rachel Hawkins doesn’t disappoint! This mystery/thriller kept me intrigued until the very end. Get ready for twist after twist after twist, and be careful who you trust. I love the setting of Ashby House, too. Super eerie!

Do you know how long I have been trying to write a review for The Heiress? I finished reading it on January 11th! I signed up to read this in January for #NotYoMamasBookClub and I sped through it. It was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. I had the audiobook ALC from NetGalley which was narrated by a cast, and it was excellent.

Some of my buddy readers compared this book to Evelyn Hugo, and I can see the similarities. Ruby McTavish is famous for having been kidnapped as a child and for surviving four husbands. After her death, her adoptive son returns to his childhood home under mysterious circumstances. The chapters alternate between Cam and his wife reuniting with his family, and Ruby’s letters confessing secrets from her past. The novel is full of suspense and kept me up late reading to find out the truth about Ruby and her family.

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced copy of this audiobook to enjoy and review.

I am a very big fan of Rachel Hawkins’ novels and a sucker for (Southern) Gothic Thrillers, so I was VERY excited to read The Heiress. It is set in a big creepy mansion, with a whole bunch of family drama! The family tree elements in this book were very complicated and at times confusing, but well worth the read for sure.

I enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. The tone and pacing were goo and it kept me engaged and interested in the story. There are alternating viewpoints from Cam and Jules interspersed with secret letters from the main character Ruby about her husbands; and those letters reveal a lot of secrets! This book is a slow burn, but well played.

We start out with an opening quote/definition of a changeling, which is obviously deliberate, so we already know someone isn’t who they say they are (looking at you Ruby). Ruby, the daughter of a rich couple went missing in the 40s, then later found and returned to her family. Decades later, Ruby (who had been married 4 times) has died, along with her son, and the remaining heir, Cam, and his wife Jules arrive at the family home to help sort out the fortune. The rest of the family, Libby, Ben & Nelle, give them an icy welcome, as they want the money for themselves, and will do ANYTHING to get it.

We also learn that Cam was adopted (important!) and that Ruby actually killed all 4 of her husbands. We also learn who Ruby really is (was) and who the secret letters Ruby wrote were TO. There is a whole lot of murder and backstabbing and family animosity in this book and it all weaves together into a perfect plot. I seriously loved it! So good!

I will definitely be recommending this book to my book club and my friends, and to all lovers of Southern Gothic mystery thrillers. And if you’re a fan of Rachel Hawkins, you definitely need to read this one! You won’t be disappointed.

I adored The Villa, so I was going to read the next Rachel Hawkins book. When I read the description, my brain melted. This book is A LOT. There are so many characters and SO MUCH plot. And it WORKS. I loved every minute of this audiobook and WILD RIDE. the twists kept coming. I'm determined to be a Hawkins completist.