"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a captivating psychological thriller that blends elements of family drama, mystery, and gothic suspense. The novel follows Camden, the adopted son of the wealthy and notorious Ruby McTavish, as he reluctantly returns to his family's estate, Ashby House, after years of estrangement.

Hawkins masterfully weaves together past and present narratives, using multiple perspectives and epistolary elements to unravel the complex history of the McTavish family. The story is particularly engaging through Ruby's posthumous letters, which reveal her wickedly clever and somewhat villainous nature, making her a compelling character even after her death.

The novel explores themes of greed, power, family dynamics, and moral ambiguity, keeping readers guessing about the true motivations of each character. While some plot twists may be predictable for seasoned thriller readers, the sharp writing and intriguing character development maintain interest throughout.

Hawkins' writing style is praised for its wit, humor, and ability to create a suspenseful atmosphere reminiscent of Daphne du Maurier's gothic works. The pacing is well-executed, balancing the unfolding of family secrets with moments of tension and revelation.

While the novel could have potentially benefited from a stronger emphasis on the atmospheric elements of Ashby House, "The Heiress" remains a highly entertaining read that successfully combines mystery, family drama, and psychological suspense. It's particularly recommended for fans of Rachel Hawkins' previous works and those who enjoy thrillers with complex family dynamics and morally ambiguous characters.

Super fast read! Hard to put down. Really liked the Appalachia/blue ridge setting. There’s something lovely and creepy about the mountains of NC.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

Rachel Hawkins once again keeps you on the edge of your seat. This was another enjoyable read!

I kind of enjoyed this book, especially reading about Ruby’s life and loves. A few twists were interesting though I didn’t like the character of the young wife and her machinations.

This book was amazing. It had all the things you would expect from Rachel Hawkins, with an Evelyn Hugo vibe. An easy 5 stars for me. I don't want to risk giving away too much, but I loved the feel of this book. I loved that many characters were good and evil in equal measure. I also love the old house/wilderness/isolation aspect. I would recommend this book to any one that likes a mystery, a good twist and shocker ending.

Not my favorite but it was an enjoyable read. It just didn’t draw me in like I was hoping, it may have been more me than the writing but the format didn’t grab me. The story was clever though and I would read more by this author

This was more of a slow burn with heaps of family drama thrown in than an action-packed thriller. It took me a little longer to get into this one, but once the drama hit, I moved through it a little more quickly! The characters are conniving, crass, dysfunctional, devious, and determined to win. I did enjoy the multiple POVS, and the mix of past, present, newspaper clippings, and letters.

While not a favorite for me, I would still recommend The Heiress if you’re looking for a domestic family drama with a little suspense.

This was the only book by Rachel Hawkins that I can whole heartedly recommend so far. I'm not sure what she did differently, usually she does a great job with settings but the writing and characters fall flat for me. I liked the characters in this story and she always nails the setting.

Hawkins expertly crafts a chilling atmosphere, weaving a tapestry of suspense with the help of a brooding, mysterious protagonist and a cast of intriguing characters with hidden agendas. The pacing is masterful, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. While the plot may be familiar to fans of the gothic genre, Hawkins breathes new life into the formula with a clever twist that will keep readers guessing until the very end. This is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a good old-fashioned gothic thriller.

This was such a good twisty read! Being from NC it was fun to read a book that was set right outside of Asheville, NC. I do love reading about rich people and their problems. A fun thriller!

I’m pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book! The audiobook was a real treat with the cast of narrators- so well done! I enjoyed the intrigue of this story and that it had a few twists. I felt the characters were well developed and I enjoyed the multiple perspective storytelling. Would recommend!

Not my favorite of Hawkins, but still a great book discussion book. A quick read with a pace that sets the stage for what’s to come.

The Heiress is a gothic mystery set against the perfect backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. When famed and notorious (kidnap victim and 4 dead husbands) heiress Ruby McTavish dies her incredible fortune and home are passed along to her son Camden, whom she adopted later in life. After growing up in that toxic family, Cam wants very little to do with Ruby's money, home or town. He leaves North Carolina and begins a modest life teaching in Colorado, marrying Jules and settling into a life far away from the grip of the McTavish's. Nearly ten years later, Camden's uncle passes away and his family begs him to return home to help settle the estate. Jules is in awe of the views and Ashby House but soon the couple realizes the demons of the past are awake and Cam loathes the idea of staying. Jules, however, learning more and more about this twisted family and their secrets becomes determined for Cam to take everything he's entitled to and more. That is easier than it sounds as Ruby's will and reasons are as complicated as she was-and still is-beyond the grave. Rachel Hawkins weaves a a chilling story about family, money and the lengths people go to to protect what they perceive as theirs. Pick this up today and settle in for a fun ride!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I don't know what I was expecting from this book, but it was definitely more than what I got. I know she is a popular author, and I've heard so many good things about her work, but this one didn't hit the mark for me (and this is the first book I've read of hers.)

The idea behind the plot made me want to read this book. Once I got started, I really had a hard time caring about the characters or what happened. I wasn't invested enough in any of the characters to really want to know what happened or why, but I trudged on.

Overall, the book was okay, but I don't know that I would specifically recommend this book to anyone. There wasn't anything that I loved about it, but I also didn't hate it. It was the epitome of "just okay" to me.

3 stars.

This book completely sucked me in and I could not put it down. I have loved many of Hawkins' books in the past and this one did not disappoint. The build up of the setting was so good and eerie, and the writing completely swept me into the world and away from the busyness of a life in university. I particularly enjoyed the various point of views and how they were interwoven and kept the pace going and the book constantly turning. I would completely recommend this to readers of all types!

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins brings another story about a woman and house. This was an inventive mystery in concept but fell a little short in execution. Hawkins continues to be an auto buy author for me as I love her ability to use setting.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC!

I have enjoyed several of Rachel Hawkin's books now. I loved the cover and description of 'The Heiress' so I've been looking forward to diving in.

Ultimately I enjoyed this book, the author has a unique writing style that keeps me engaged. The pacing was ok, and I enjoyed the multiple POV and the eerie atmosphere. The mystery was somewhat predictable, which is ok because it was well pieced together. Would recommend!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

5⭐️

Family drama? A fabulous heiress recounting her darkest secrets via letter? What’s not to love? This book was really great, twisty, dramatic, funny, and a thrill to read. I loved every minute of it. I loved being able to get to know Ruby through her own words and from her family, and I enjoyed the way this was written. It somehow gave us so much information while still maintaining the mystery. Just when you think you know what’s about to happen, the author surprised you yet again.

Oh, I loved reading this book! I just love Rachel Hawkins' mysteries, and how they come together is really great! And this latest one, man, it was so great! The whole set up with an estranged family and family fortune...yeah, I loved seeing it unfold!

I really enjoyed the way that this story was told, between the present with Jules and Cam in the present, and then of Ruby's letters that she was writing, that documented her past, and her husbands, and why she killed all 4 of them. It was so great to read!

This was a story about the bad side of inherited wealth-so many of these characters do some pretty horrible things that they don't get punished for, because they have money, they have connections. And it's a pretty big part of the plot!

The mystery of what happened to Ruby's husbands, as well as her disappearance as a child, I really enjoyed how all of those pieces came together! Like the fact that Cam knew the truth about Jules the whole time. All those twists and reveals worked out so well, including that last final one! It was fantastic to read!

Loved reading this book and I can't wait for whatever is next by Rachel Hawkins!

Fabulous! I simply loved this book. The story was original and interesting as told from different characters perspectives. Lots of twists…some that I guessed and others which were a surprise. Highly recommend this book!