3.5 stars/5 stars. I've read and dnfed a few of Hawkins thrillers. I ended up enjoying this one, it was an easy read but it did not amaze me or keep me glued to the page. However, I do recommend checking it out, the plot and characters were well crafted. Thank you for the early copy!

I have read several of Rachel Hawkins' books and this is by far my favorite. A modern Gothic tale, with flashbacks into the past of a wealthy family full of characters we love to hate. The tension between all the family members is palpable and leaps off the page. The plot has twists, secrets, unreliable, and reliable narrators, all revolving around the theme that money is the root of all evil.
The book is very well written and has a quick pace. The different flashbacks are well-placed and serve to inform the plot without getting in the way.
Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Heiress is a book set in North Carolina at the mysterious McTavish Estate. The story unfolds through the POV of three of the central characters: Jules, Camden, and through the letters of the ten years deceased Ruby McTavish. On the outset, I’ll say that this book is laced with profanity and on occasion, some of the descriptions are vulgar and crass. For all that though, it didn’t spend a lot of time or waste pages with flowery descriptions of sexual relations. For all the profanity and less than polite descriptions, The Heiress was a very enjoyable and well written book. Reading it was like driving headlong in the dark up winding and twisty mountain roads where you can’t quite be certain of what’s around the bend. And the view from the top has a fireworks display that I never saw coming.

Jules and Camden live together in a small town in Colorado when one day, Camden’s family calls him home to accept responsibility for an inheritance he never wanted. Jules is excited to see the estate she’s only seen on Google Maps but Camden is seriously shaken by the summons. Nevertheless, they rearrange their lives and hop in their car driving to North Carolina to accept responsibility for an estate falling into disrepair and the three estranged family members who inhabit it. The mystery of all the family members and how Jules and Camden play into it begins unraveling quickly and will keep you guessing until the very end.

This book reads quickly and is satisfying in the way it leaves very few mysteries remaining at its close.

I’d like to thank St Martins Press and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Yes! This has got to be Hawkins best book so far! Starts off with a kidnapping, moves to murder and secrets, hidden letters, throw in more wealth than most of us can imagine and a house that I can only picture as the Biltmore and you have The Heiress! I could not put it down!

i DNFed this. I have enjoyed Rachel Hawkin's past books, but this one I was just not interested or invested in. It's a no from me

This is more of a family drama than a thriller. I loved the multiple points of view; it kept the story interesting. Overall, a little slow but I really enjoyed the writing and storyline.

Rachel Hawkins is back, and this might be her best yet. Full of the twist and turns we’ve come to love about Rachel’s storytelling, The Heiress had me gripped from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down.

After inheriting his late adopted zillionaire mother’s estate, Cam left it all behind. Ten years later, he and his wife Jules are finally going back to settle things with his estranged remaining family and the darkness that he left behind.

It is told from 3 perspectives: Cam, Jules, and his mother Ruby. Ruby’s parts are told through letters she wrote about her life and are very reminiscent of TJR’s Evelyn Hugo. I couldn’t get enough of them. The book is a perfect mix of modern-day time along with the gilded age of old money royalty in the mid-20th century.

The Heiress comes out January 4th.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this one. I’ll be getting a physical copy to put into the LFL when it comes out!

I loved this book! It was a wild, twisty, addictive book that you could easily devour in a day. The motives of all involved were well-hidden and I could never quite guess what each person ultimately wanted or where the story was headed. This is my favorite Rachel Hawkins novel to date!

I’ve heard good things about this author so I wanted to check out this book. It started off strong, but it felt like nothing was happening until the last few chapters of the book. I wish there had been more suspense or anticipation built into the story.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

Ok, where do I start? I LOVED it. The story itself was refreshing and fun, and I haven't read anything with a similar story line. Even though it was told via multiple views, it was easy to follow and keep the characters straight. Great twists and a satisfying ending. 5 Stars.

Having read "The Villa" by Rachel Hawking I was interested to see what her other books were like. It wasn't my favorite book of the year, but it was solid and I enjoyed the plot twists that author manages to pack in so I went into this book with an open mind.

I'm glad to say that "The Heiress" was another solid book, and did not disappoint. I really liked how you start this book knowing what happened, and then spend the whole book trying to figure out the why and how. It was different from most mystery books I read, and definitely a format I would like to see more. I also really like the way the author goes between past and present, and interweaves letters from the deceased Ruby and newspaper clippings that further highlight her stories. It broke the story up nicely, and made it easier to digest at a reader.

This book keeps you on your toes to the very end (and I do mean to the very end). I look forward to reading other works from this author in the future!

Twisty and suspenseful, but not in an urgent way -- it was made obvious very early in the story that neither of the narrating characters (Camden and his wife Jules) had been fully honest with each other about who they were, and as the story rolled on it became clear that their histories were the central mystery of the book, as everything about Ruby (the titular heiress) had been telegraphed pretty clearly from jump. Still, a very enjoyable read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this in advance of publication!

Loved this one!

The Heiress is told from three different POV’s alternating between past and present. It started off a teeny bit slow but quickly caught my attention and held it until the end. I really enjoyed hearing Ruby's story through letters and newspaper clippings, etc. We glean more insight into this family and all of the secrets that they hold. Each character has their own secrets to share which adds to the overall suspense and mystery of the story.

Family drama, secrets, betrayals and twists along the way made for a very enjoyable and quick read. I can't wait to see what Rachel Hawkins comes up with next! 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book, greatly appreciated!

I had a lot of fun with this one! I’m a huge fan of Rachel Hawkins and I think this is one of her best. I loved Ruby, weirdly enough. She was so unlikeable that she somehow became likable? And the twist at the end was pretty fun/shocking but tbh was confusing to follow at first. It was a bit confusing how some characters didn’t catch on to each other… overall it was excellent

All of Rachel Hawkins books are great! I love her story telling and writing style, it keeps me extremely engaged! This story is about Ruby, her death, and her adopted son, Cam. He looks to get her inheritance. He is living in Colorado and married to Jules. Upon returning to the Ashby house, things begin to fall into place. The epilogue is where the reader finds out the whole story! Told in POV of Jules, Camden, and Ruby A. McTavish.
Unexpected Twists, Page- Turning, and Family Drama! 4 stars

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC! This one will be a huge winner, released in January 2024.

Driven by obsession, violence and revenge, Rachel Hawkins has delivered a cast of characters that are dark, twisted and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Ruby McTavish is one of the wealthiest women in North Carolina and the matriarch of Ashby House, a magnificent estate passed down through the generations of her family. The victim of a kidnapping when she was a toddler, Ruby grew up the apple of her father’s eye and much to the dismay of her older sister she became the heir to the family fortune when their father died. Though married four times, Ruby never had children until she adopted Camden as a young boy and who only wanted to cut ties with the family as soon as he was of age. But when Camden and his wife finds themselves back at Ashby House many years later, unresolved family issues prevail and mysteries surrounding the family surface. Rachel Hawkins is a masterful storyteller of psychological thrillers and I can’t imagine living with a mind that continuously conjures up characters and plot lines that are twisted and creepy!

Thank you Net Galley, St. Martin’s Press and Ms Hawkins for giving me the great opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Expected publication January 9, 2024

Thank you netgalley, author and publisher for an advanced copy in an exchange for an honest review.



"In the enchanting world of 'The Heiress' by Rachel Hawkins, secrets and drama swirl around Ashby House like a tantalizing mystery waiting to be solved.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, a name dripping with wealth and intrigue, leaves behind a legacy that's as mysterious as it is opulent. Camden, her adopted son who once walked away from her fortune, is suddenly thrust back into the heart of family secrets.



This book is a rollercoaster of family drama, suspense, and a dash of gothic allure that grabs you right from page one. The story is a puzzle with alternating perspectives, newspaper clippings, old letters, and emails that keep you guessing.

As the layers of the past are peeled back, you'll uncover the truth behind Ruby's adoption of Camden and the puzzling deaths of her four husbands. The characters are brilliantly written, and their journeys and transformations are nothing short of mesmerizing. You'll empathize with their pasts, shaped by childhood scars and life-altering choices.

Even when they act a bit selfish and self-serving, it only makes them feel more relatable and real. And the enchanting Ashby House, with its breathtaking views and elegant rooms, adds the perfect touch to a story that's about more than just an inheritance.

'The Heiress' is a literary gem that combines family dynamics with an unrelenting quest for the truth. It's a tale of inheritance that goes beyond money, delving into the
enduring ties of family that go beyond the grave.

Rachel Hawkins weaves a spellbinding story that will keep you hooked from start to finish. If you're up for a read that mixes history, suspense, and the timeless allure of family secrets, 'The Heiress' is a must-read that'll leave you eagerly anticipating more from this talented author."

Thank you so much to Rachel Hawkins, Macmillan Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC of The Heiress. After reading and loving The Villa, I knew I had to give this book a try. I loved the dual POVs that you get from husband and wife Camden and Jules as well as the letters that Ruby has written about her life. The beginning of this book was a bit of a slow burn but once I got halfway through I was so invested. The chapters were short and easy to digest, the plot was crazy yet discernible, and overall it was a great read. 4/5 stars! I cannot wait to read what Hawkins writes next.

This is my favorite by Rachel Hawkins so far! It was fast paced and I did not see the twists coming! I can’t wait to recommend this one!

Hawkins creates such a believable village, just outside of Asheville, NC, that I had to Google to see if it was real. The family has a hold on the town, living just out of bounds of the regular people in a mansion that reminds one of the Biltmore Estate. However, secrets and mysteries abound in this family where no body is exactly who you think they are. Hawkins executes a series of twist and turns they makes the reader change their minds about characters over and over again. The diary entries of Ruby McTavish (or is she?) are written with precisely the language I would expect of an extravagant old gal who was married numerous times and lost her husbands in ghastly manners. This was an exciting read, but a cozy one as well. I will definitely be back for more from Ms. Hawkins.