Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was a woman with many secrets. From her early kidnapping and return to the mysterious deaths of all four of her husbands, she left her mark before her death ten years ago. Her adopted son Camden has managed to avoid confronting the fallout of her chaotic life, but upon the death of his uncle, he now has no choice but to return home and face the family who never welcomed him.

With his wife Jules in tow, he must now contend with his aunt and cousins who are very motivated to prevent him from receiving any of the inheritance left solely to him. As the family fights to prove he does not belong, secrets about all their messy lives start to unravel and drama ensues.

I enjoy a book told from multiple viewpoints, especially when the narrators are unreliable, and this book delivers on that front. Told from the perspectives of Camden and Jules, it is clear they are both hiding something. Add in letters from Ruby confessing her many sins and secrets, and the intrigue piles up. Of course, the downside with unreliable narrators is the characters usually are not the most likable people, and that rings true for most in this book. While the plot is interesting and over the top, it is hard to be invested in any of the individuals when no one seems to have any good motives.

This book is a good read for those wanting a mystery comprised of drama and untrustworthy characters, as well as fans of the author’s other works. The story does tend to veer off into soap opera territory, but it works well for the style of the book and offers a nice escape from reality. I would recommend it to any fans of familial drama.

Last night I dreamed of Manderly . . . oops, I mean Ashby House.

The Heiress is an intriguing domestic thriller. It is told in alternating chapters by Camden, the unwilling heir to the McTavish family fortune; by Jules, Camden's loving wife of ten years; and through letters that Ruby, Camden's adoptive mother, had written to someone before she died in 2013. Ruby was infamous for being kidnapped as a child and then found a year later and also for being widowed four times under suspicious circumstances.

While Ruby's father left all the money to her, he gave his other daughter, Nelle, a life estate in Ashby House, the family's imposing home in North Carolina. After Ruby's death when Camden was only 19, he left Ashby House and moved to California. Nelle, her son, and two grandchildren remained there. Nell's family had always despised Ruby, especially when she adopted Camden to keep them from inheriting anything further.

Camden and Jules met in California and quickly fell in love. They lived a simple life in a rented house in Colorado. That was until it became obvious that Camden needed to return to North Carolina to handle some maintenance issues. Once Camden reenters the gates, he is sucked back into the menacing world of Ashby House.

This is a story of wealth, greed, murder, hidden truths, and many lies. I really enjoyed it.

WOW!! You NEED to add this to your reading list NOW!! It is SO GOOD!!

Still puzzling after all these years are two things.

Was Ruby McTavish really kidnapped and found a year later and why did she adopt Cam and make him the sole heir to the family's fortune.

His siblings definitely were not happy about his inheriting everything.

The funny thing, though, is that he doesn't want the inheritance, but his wife wants to know more and continues to wonder why they live such a simple life while Cam has millions to his name.

When Cam's uncle passes, his wife Jules asks if they could visit the mansion and meet his family.

Cam complies, and off they go.

What a surprise - the mansion is something Jules definitely could get used to, but she can see why Cam never wanted any parts of his family or the inheritance.

Secrets, secrets, secrets - lies, lies, lies - they all have them and they all tell them in this juicy, difficult-to-put-down read that will have your jaw dropping when you find out everything.

And as the old saying goes: “money is the root of all evil.” 5/5

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This is my new favorite Rachel Hawkins book! I loved the suspense it built throughout the book and all the twists at the end! Beautifully written throughout and told from multiple perspectives. I will say I think it would be difficult to follow on an audiobook. This is a perfect cozy book read!

Thank you for the ARC St. Martin’s Press, Net Galley & Rachel Hawkins!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins pulls you in from the first page. After the death of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, North Carolina's most infamous and wealthy woman, she passes on her nine figure fortune and sprawling family estate in the Appalachians of North Carolina to her adopted son, Camden. Camden, however, wants nothing to do with the money or the toxic family.

He moves across the country and meets his wife, Jules. They move to Colorado. He is a teacher. He doesn't spend a dime of the money. After ten years of absence, Cam gets an email that there are things that must be dealt with in person after a family death. Jules is supportive of Cam--but she's curious. Wouldn't you be?

What I loved!
-It is told from three points of view. Jules, Cam and through his adoptive mother Ruby's confessional correspondence.
-Unreliable narrators. Gosh, there is nothing better in a thriller.
-Short chapters with switching POV made the story pace and build suspense quickly.
-Rich people behaving very badly. Cam's estranged family you will love to hate.
-The rich description of the Blue Ridge Mountains and wilderness surrounding the estate was another character. II loved this!

All in all, this is a wonderful, quickly paced thriller set in the American South. Hawkins does a wonderful job tying up multiple plot lines beautifully in 300 pages. Honestly, I am in awe of this alone! Definitely add this one to your TBR. It releases Jan 9, 2024.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.

For lovers of the unhinged female protagonist genre, this one is for you. (Or any Rachel Hawkins novel for that matter.)

This book felt like if TJR’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo had a baby with Riley Sager’s The Only One Left. I know that sounds absurd but, trust. I ate it up like an order of hot wings.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Basically, this book was like if Evelyn Hugo never got divorced and was recounting how her husbands all ~mysteriously~ died instead. The story is set in an old, gothic, southern mansion which she was the heiress to, as her grandson confronts the literal and figurative mess that is her estate.

I’m going to blame breastfeeding brain, but the twist really did take me a minute to understand. I had to map it out. 😂😂😭Either way, I absolutely recommend this to my thriller-loving book besties if you are looking for a fun, fast cozy-mystery.

Thank you Net Galley for the E-Book— I will definitely be buying a physical copy as a trophy for my shelf when it comes out in January!

Having been an avid reader of Rachel Hawkins, I was thrilled to get the chance to read her upcoming book The Heiress. Not only was I intrigued throughout the book, I was impressed with the authors writing style. This is a gothic suspense thriller I would highly recommend along with her other books, The Wife Upstairs, The Villa and Reckless Girls. I really enjoyed. This book and look forward to reading many more titles by Rachel Hawkins. Thank you for this opportunity Net Galley!

5⭐️oh man this was SO GOOD! Probably in my top thriller books of the year

I finished this in one day! I ate this up. This is my first book by this author and it won’t be my last! This story was so well written, and I was hooked. While I did suspect the big twist about 3/4 in and was right, it did not take away from me loving this! This is what a psychological thriller should be like. Giving you enough background info about characters, but still keeping it interesting the whole time.

This gives me 7 husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes but thriller version with one messed up family.

I’ll even buy a physical copy of this when it comes out!

First of all: this cover is GORGEOUS.
This book has excellent, creepy vibes with a huge, historic house full of family secrets.
I felt, at times, it was vague for the sake of mystery and I definitely predicted the twists, but it was a well-written book. I liked the flashbacks - a mixed-media letter form is always great - and I especially enjoyed the small town setting. This book will definitely be a hit.

I found this book to be a great read. Not a true mystery but quite enough to keep you going. Good vacation or beach read. Highly entertaining!

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins
Publisher: St Martins Press
Publication Date: January 9, 2024
Many thanks to Netgalley and St Martins Press for the ARC of this book. All opinions contained below are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story by Rachel Hawkins. It’s fast paced and hooks you immediately, so if that’s what you like read this book!

The story is told through the viewpoints of there’s different characters.
Camden: The ‘Luckiest Boy in North Carolina’ is adopted by Ruby McTavish, head of a well known and wealthy family in North Carolina. When Ruby passes her fortune, including Ashby House, is left to Cam. Despite the windfall he wants to leave his family behind and eventually gets his wish with a new life in Colorado.
Jules: Cam’s beloved wife. Jules knows a bit about Cam’s upbringing and his assets but seems to be happy living a quiet life in Colorado. However, when Cam is called home to Ashby House, Jules is only to eager to travel to North Carolina and see the estate her husband owns.
Ruby: Through a series of letters presumably wrote just before death, Ruby tells us the secrets and truths of her life. From falling in love with four different husbands to watching them die (earning her the name Ms. Kill-More.
I particularly enjoyed the letters of Ruby, revealing a little more and growing the mystery with each passing letter.

With the presence of the greedy, entitled McTavish family what will become of Cam and Jules? And can Ruby’s insight into the past help them to navigate the family dynamics and leave Ashby House once and for all.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. This is the tale of a very rich and very dysfunctional family. It is told over two time lines and from three points of view. First there is Ruby McTavish, determined and manipulative ,we hear her story through letters she wrote just before her death, Then there is her adopted son Camden who wants nothing to do with the McTavish family or their money. Finally there is Camden’s wife Jules, an orphan herself from a dirt poor past in Florida.

The twists and turns, the intertwined relationships, the money and greed, the secrets and lies, all come together to create an irresistible tale. The fast paced read took off from the first page and never slowed down. The characters are all so flawed but I often found myself on their side. You will not be able to put this one down. I will be watching for this author’s next book for sure. I would definitely recommend this one.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins weaves a mesmerizing tale of wealth, intrigue, and family secrets. Set against the backdrop of North Carolina's Blue Ridge Mountains, Hawkins skillfully unveils a suspenseful narrative that delves into the dark secrets of the McTavish family. This gothic suspense captivates with its rich storytelling and leaves readers enthralled by the complexities of family bonds that extend beyond the grave.

An heiress leaves behind her estate to her adopted son, Camden, who doesn’t want it and nothing to the family that does. This was a quick read and pieces were definitely gruesome but it was definitely interesting and loved how it was woven together. I did not see all the things coming that came to light at the end. I really loved the MMC and FMC characters Camden and Jules. I feel like this is one of my favorite thrillers that involve rich families and the tangles and secrets involved with them.

👑The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins AVAILABLE 1/9/24 👑


Rachel Hawkins novels are always an auto read for me- and this one is my FAV yet! If you liked the “Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo”-then this one is for you since it had a similar vibe!

The Heiress has 3 POV’s- Ruby, the most infamous and richest woman in North Carolina, Camden- her adopted son set to inherit her fortune and mansion, and Jules- Camdens wife who is trying to figure out all the family ties and secrets.

This one was a little slow at the beginning but still had an addictive quality to it that made me keep reading. I love anything about family geology and genetics, which this has a lot of. Halfway through is when it starts getting really good and there are about 5 or 6 twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely recommend it to anyone when it comes out in the new year! 4.5 out of 5✨

Nestled in the blue ridged mountains of North Carolina, the Ashby house has held tightly to dark secrets. Cam had always vowed to never go back to that property and his estranged family. But after the passing of his Uncle, he and his wife Jules travel back to the past where it unleashes the savageries of his family. Written in three perspectives, Cam, Jules and his deceased mother, the notorious Ruby MC Tavish, Rachel Hawkins weaves a page turning tale of privilege, deceit and murder. Brilliant and smart.

THIS BOOK. I love a Rachel Hawkins heroine, but man. This book. Every character is great. Every twist is fantastic (even when you see one coming, its so satisfying when the reveal happens). The setting is perfect for a story of rich, awful people. Every single thing hit perfectly. I could not put it down.

This was a fast paced story about the lives of the rich and protected of Ashby house in Tavistock North Carolina. The story starts in a boring rental in California with hard working and worn down Jules and Camden. Jules comes home from work one day to find her husband upset because his family has contacted him and wants him to come home to face his responsibilities. Jules encourages him to go home to his rich family estate that he owns and controls and is very eager to convince him to stay there and begin living a life of comfort, but she doesn’t realize what going back home might cost them all. This book was filled with so many delicious twists, turns, and surprises that kept me turning the pages faster and faster. The story is told from Camden, and Jules perspectives, as well as his late mother Ruby McTavish, through letters she left behind. This was a very interesting read, a look at what goes on in rich families, how they are protected, and what people can become when they grow bored from having no responsibilities or consequences for their actions. This was my first book by this author but now I want to go get all their previous books! I received an ARC, and this is my honest review.

ARC REVIEW

The Heiress
BY Rachel Hawkins

Publishing date: 1/9/24

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

I was super excited to read this one because the good reads ratings were over 4 stars! But this one fell into the "leanna disagrees with the masses" category. Was it bad? No not at all! But TO ME it was predictable.  I was able to put the clues together which meant I wasn't shocked when things were revealed.

3 stars for me means, it was okay but you might love it! Don't let me deter you from reading, we all have different palettes!

PS ...it has decently short chapters! 👍

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc! Always appreciative!

Loved this book. Also worth noting.. that cover! Beautiful. I was totally engrossed in this book and could not put it down. Recommended to anyone who wants a twisty thriller.