Couldn’t wait to read this one and I wasn’t disappointed. I flew through the short, very intriguing chapters. I would’ve loved to have known Ruby- what a firecracker of a woman! A great weekend read! I did not see the end coming.
Thank You to NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Rachel Hawkins for the opportunity to read and enjoy this ARC

I love the way this novel was constructed: narratives about Camden and Jules, letters from Ruby, local articles. It all really worked well together to tell the story and what an interesting story it was! Rich, entitled people gone bad. Great lead up to the final twist. So complicated, yet a really engrossing, fun read. Thank you NetGalley for providing the ARC.

This took me a long time to finish. I just could not get fully invested into the book primarily because it is a very slow burn and more of a family drama than a thriller. The writing is well done, and the storyline sounded like it was going to be exciting but, for me, it was a tough sell to get me invested.

The story is told in three POV’s:

Ruby: Ruby was North Carolina’s richest woman with a salacious past. We learn about her past life through letters she has written. These letters were the best part of the book for me and are what kept me reading. Ruby was once kidnapped as a child and was widowed four times. She had quite the life.

Camden: Cam is Ruby’s adopted son. After her death, her adopted son Camden left the estate and never looked back, starting a new life as a teacher, and marrying his wife, Jules. He left behind a huge inheritance he wanted nothing to do with. Cam is now summoned back to the estate 10 years later after his Uncle passes away.

Jules: Cam’s wife. Jules is in awe of the estate and envisions herself not worrying about money and living in the grand mansion. She wants Cam to have the inheritance Ruby left for him. Are her intentions good? We shall find out.

I really enjoyed the letters from Ruby the most and it was those letters which kept me going. The last quarter of the book picked up and I while I had my suspicions what was happening, there were some twists in there I must give kudos to.

Overall, a good family drama read but slow off the gate. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I received a digital advance copy of The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins via NetGalley. The Heiress is scheduled for release on January 9, 2023.

Ruby is The Heiress to a massive North Carolina fortune. As a child, she was kidnapped, then returned to her family eight months later. As the heiress, she grew the family fortune and place in society despite rumors around her disappearance and the later deaths of four husbands. While she had no children of her own, she did adopt a son, Cam, who she leaves everything to when she dies. Ten years after Ruby’s death, Cam is forced to return to the fortune and home he has little interest in to deal with the family that considers him an interloper and the estate that is his responsibility. He brings his wife Jules with him, forcing the two to deal with what Ruby has left them.

This novel is told in alternating perspectives, with both Jules and Cam narrating. There are also clips of newspaper articles and other media reporting on the events around Ruby’s disappearance and life, as well as a set of letters written by Ruby to explain her past. While we hear from Jules, Cam, and Ruby, there is a certain distance in all of them, a sense that they are only giving us part of the story. This does serve the story in the end, but it creates a feeling of not really knowing the characters. We also see the other characters through their perspective, which sometimes leads to a lack of nuance, as they generally don’t like the family they are stuck with, and make little attempt to understand their motivations or desires.

The plot of this novel is layered with mysteries and questions. While I did predict a couple of the reveals, there were others that did surprise me. All of the twists and connections made sense, and wove together in a way that created a rich, believable storyline.

Overall, The Heiress delivers the promised mystery elements in an enjoyable story package.

The very rich and well known, Ruby McTavish passes away and a little while later her son is called back to the estate to take care of some issues needing attention. Ruby was the victim of a kidnapping as a toddler, 8 months later reunited with her family. She married 4 times and every one of those times, her husband had died – talk about bad luck!! Cam, Ruby’s son has avoided returning to the estate, ignoring the wealth and money preferring to live a simple life with his wife Jules while his aunt and cousins lived in the mansion. Now, he knows the time has come to return – what awaits Cam upon his return? What does envy and jealousy do to a person? Are people born with a little darkness in them? You will have to read to find out!

I really enjoyed the format of the book, I love the mix of past and present, learning about a character’s past through written passages – Ruby’s letters were my favorite part and thankfully they represented a fair portion of the book.

I didn’t really care for the present day characters as much as I hoped. Just when I thought I was siding with one, they proved to be just as shallow as the rest. They each had some secret side, and at times I just wasn’t invested in their actions, but it was entertaining.

If you are looking for a quick thriller read that has wealthy family drama with plenty of secrets and reveals, this is the book for you!

Thank-you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really loved this novel! The wealthiest woman in North Carolina has passed away and left everything to her adopted son. But she has quite the past and things may not be as black and white as it seems.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC.

Every single book that Rachel Hawkins is a must read for me! This one was no different. her stories are immediately compelling and entertaining.

The Heiress
Rachel Hawkins
4⭐️

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden.

But to everyone’s surprise, Cam wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes.

My Thoughts:

The Heiress was a slowww-burn, twisty tale. Filled to the brim with secrets and family drama. Hawkins definitely has a craft of weaving one heck of a suspenseful and gothic tale. The mystery behind the estate and the secrets hidden behind its closed doors had me turning the pages to find out how everything unraveled.

What I enjoyed:
✨ Creepy/Gothic Setting
✨ Family Drama
✨ Quick Read
✨ Alternating POV

Pub Date 1/23/24. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

4.5 stars, rounded up because of how well it all comes together.

It's hard to imagine all the lies these people told themselves and others!
The story of Cam and Jules drawn back to North Carolina to the family home after Cam's uncle's death started as a young couple dealing with family but ended up so much more! Told in three voices: Cam, Jules and in letters written by Cam's mother Ruby, we learn about Cam's adoption, Ruby's 4 husbands, and eventually Jules history.

To say there are a lot of twists would be an understatement and Hawkins does a magnificent job bringing all the history together and explaining the reasons why these people make the decisions they make.

You can read synopsis of the book, I won't go into all that, suffice to say it is quite a ride and one I recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Heiress is one of those books that give you just enough information throughout while you’re reading to keep you interested but you’re also feeling pretty neutral. I was anticipating giving 3 stars. Then! The ending made this a solid 4.5 stars making the slower buildup totally worth it! Such a great story that had me flying through at the end. I loved the way this was written through some old letters and discovering bits and pieces about each character and having it all tie up into a pretty yet mysterious bow at the end. Loved it!

Nothing is what is seems in the quest for the McTavish fortune. Succession meets murder mystery in this story of greed, privilege and control in a small North Carolina town. Set at the epic Ashby House, the atmosphere draws you in. Unravel the family history in this twisty thriller that leaves you wondering what the hell is going on. This could be Hawkins best book yet!

I think this is my favorite Rachel Hawkins book so far. I loved everything about the story and her writing, as always, is amazing. Full of family drama and so so many secrets. The twists kept coming right up until the end. Told through the perspective of Camden and Jules, as well as several letters written by Ruby, we learn their inner thoughts.

Camden and wife Jules have returned to Ashby house, Camden's family estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains, to oversee repairs that need to be completed. As the adoptive child of Ruby, the other remaining family take every opportunity to let Camden know that he should not have inherited her vast family estate. As the story progresses, we learn about Ruby's storied life and the secrets that she too held close. She is a fascinating character and I looked forward to getting her story as each letter was revealed.
I was also impressed with Cam's wife Jules. While we learn early on that she too has a secret, we also see that she really loves Cam. I like that this is never called into question. She can stand up for herself and is an impressive character in the story all on her own.

I can't recommend this one enough if you enjoy family drama. It kept we hooked up until the last page.

Camden McTavish and his wife Jules are living a simple life until Cam gets an email from his cousin saying he needs to come back home. Cam's adoptive mother, Ruby, was North Carolina’s richest woman and left it all to her adoptive son. Not only was Ruby incredibly wealthy but she was notoriously famous; when she was 3 years old she was kidnapped yet reunited with her family almost a year later; as she grew up she followed her father's footsteps and became a very wealthy, successful business women and also a widow 4 times.

Things start to go bad at the estate that was left to Cam where his Aunt and cousins still live but is going back the best option? Does he want to get his wife involved in everything he has tried to leave behind the 10 years that he has been gone? Jules insists they go but things start to go array when they get there and buried secrets and truths come out; including some that Jules is holding on to.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and author for my ARC!

Rachel Hawkins's latest thriller does not disappoint and is her best offering to date.
Ruby McTavish is North Carolina's richest and most infamous woman. Ruby was kidnapped as a toddler and then grew up to become a widow four times over. When she passes away, she leaves her vast fortune to her adopted son Camden.
But Camden wants nothing to do with the money or with the remaining McTavishes, and has been living quietly and within his own means with his wife, Jules.
Camden is summoned to the McTavish residence ten years after Ruby's death and is forced to deal with his family and past.

Rachel Hawkins consistently delivers amazing "popcorn" thrillers and this is my favorite of hers so far. The Heiress is told in alternating viewpoints in present day (Camden and Jules) and details from the past are revealed through Ruby's letters. There are tons of twists and turns, family secrets, and surprises with fast pacing. There are themes of toxic wealth, and found family vs.the one you are born into. I loved this book and it is easily one of my favorites of the year.

Such a fun and page turner read! I definitely enjoyed this book more than The Villa, which was still pretty fun. Rachel Hawkins knows how to write an addicting thriller that you cannot put down. I really liked the multiple POVs and how the story flowed. I know I’m always going to be entertained with a Rachel Hawkins book. Thank you NetGalley, Rachel Hawkins and St. Martin’s Press for this digital arc.

This book was SO good, I could not put it down... just like all Rachel Hawkins books that I have read, but this was by far my favorite! I loved all the different character developments, the switching of perspectives with each chapter, especially with Ruby's letters from the past.. it was a page turner and such a great read. The theme of money with generational wealth was so intriguing, I loved the examples of things that have happened in the past that were solved with the families money and that was the only thing I wish there was more of. With her detailing all of her ex husbands deaths, it was very Glass Onion, meets Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo meets The Murdoch family! I loved every page and can't wait for more Rachel Hawkins books = will be recommending to all my friends!

Going into books blind is the only way I read apparently, and I’m always so glad that I do. I enjoyed this thriller, as it’s fast paced, short chapters for the most part, dual timeline, and keeps you on your toes. Lots of secrets going on here, and each character unfolds more as you read. I really liked the “letter” aspect. Overall, would recommend and am looking forward to reading more from Hawkins as this was a first for me!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press!

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

Publication: January 9, 2024

Rating: 2.5 stars

Hawkins books have been a wild care author for me. I loved Reckless Girls but didn't care for The Villa. Unfortunately, this book fell into the camp of "didn't care for". This book ended up confusing me with all the mixed media and dual POVs. There was also such a slow burn that ultimately left me bored. I'm not sure what to classify this book: thriller? Mystery? Family drama?

Perfect for fans:
- Slow burn plot line
- Mixed media (letters, emails, etc)
- Multiple POVs
- Hawkin's previous books
- Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes
- Daisy Darker family vibes

This was Hawkins best work yet. In vein of Riley sager with dual timelines I couldn’t stop reading this. Propulsive book.

Rating: 4.0

I found this story on Net Galley and was so excited to find the newest Rachel Hawkins book on the "Read Now" section. I always find that Hawkins has a way to pull me into her stories and they are always a good thill-ish read and this new story was another example of this.

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore died, she left everything to her adopted son, Camden. But even as the sole heir to not only her fortune but also the Ashby House / Este, Camden wants nothing to do with the money or the crazy family that comes with it all. Instead, he homesteads in Colorado with his wife Jules and loves his life away from the dysfunction and chaos. But a recent death in the family changes all that and with some encouragement from Jules, Cam finds himself back in the family drama and all that comes with the Ashby House and "Ms. Killmore's" legacy.

Told through the perspective of Jules, Cam and Ms. Ruby's letters we get to experience the hunting vibes of the Ashby House (spooky and gothic), learn about Ruby's history / secrets / husbands (She does have 5 last names after all), and better understand what it is about his past that made Camden never want to come back home and part with millions. Wealthy families always have drama and the McTavish family certainly has their own.

I love the way that Hawkins pulls together all of her stories by leading you one way and then...surprise! While I wouldn't call this book a thriller per say, this story definitely had it's own unique twists. I also enjoyed the various ways of how the story was told - historical letters, newspaper articles etc. It really varied up the story for me and allowed me to step into the vibes that the Ashby house, massive inheritances, family tension and Ms. Ruby truly embodied. This was a quick read and I just wanted to know what happened next (or what happened in the past - Ms. Ruby had quiet the story!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Rachel Hawkins who, in collaboration with St. Martin's Press, provided me a copy so that I could provide an honest review prior to publish date!