Thank you net gallery and Macmillan for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: camaden left his family years ago but now is called back to the family mansion in the blue ridge mountains. This family has years and years of family drama to unpack.

What I liked: Rachel Hawkins writes thrillers that are clever and smart. This one was a slow burn where you learn about the family history and drama while dealing with the current crises. The characters are all flawed and very questionable but you do get sucked into their drama. She presents such interesting characters and really writes about the wealthy in a way that makes you root against them. Ruby was the matriarch and she had a very sorted past. It was interesting to see her arc throughout the book. Jules was the newest addition to the family as Camaden’s wife. However she is not as innocent as she seems. Camaden starts out as the outsider and you feel sorry for him but then you learn more. That’s what I like about her writing style is that each of the characters have great arcs that you get to experience. The ending did surprise me especially with a slow burn book but was worth the wait.

This book was so interesting and fun. I loved the different perspectives, the hidden surprises around every corner, from the beginning until the end. Some of the book was written in letter form, the chapters were short and engaging. I loved the way the book was written. I really enjoyed the different characters - they were dynamic and they were all hard to trust. It was dramatic and engaging from the first page - the story telling switched between the past and present and it was done seamlessly and enjoyably. I was able to predict the ending, but it did not stop me from loving this book and continuing to read. I wanted to know how it would play out in the end. I really enjoyed the ever changing dynamics of the book!

Thank you Netgalley from my advanced reader copy.

My review as posted on Goodreads and Instagram:

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this book. This was another great twisty novel by Rachel Hawkins! Camden and his wife Jules return to his childhood estate after he has spent many years trying to put his past behind him. He grew up as the adoptive son of the infamous “Baby Ruby,” the richest woman in the county who had been abducted as a toddler from the woods around their property. As he returns to his childhood home, he is confronted by his money and power hungry cousins who have nursed a grudge for many years. What follows is a twisty story told through the viewpoints of Jules and Camden, as well as letters from Ruby, articles, and newsletters. It definitely kept me guessing all the way to the epilogue! I’d highly recommend this book if you enjoy psychological thrillers with lots of family secrets and bad guys you will totally root for

I have started each new year since 2022 with a Rachel Hawkins. And I have loved everyone that I have read.

Camden decides he finally should go back home when his cousin emails yet again about repairs that are needed to the family home. Camden hasn't wanted to come home since his adopted mothers passing..

While. I did love the book I felt like it took me forever to get into. I did figure out what happened with the husbands fairly quickly. It gave me the seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibes but twisty.

Thank you MacMillan for the advance copy

Well executed mystery. Rich people behaving badly, but not formulaic. The characters were complex, and the twists well-done. Loved the letter component.

Rachel Hawkin's The Heiress is an entertaining mystery full of suspense and all of the usual twists and turns one would expect. Told in the POV of three separate characters: Camden, an orphan plucked from obscurity to become the sole heir to the McTavish fortune, his wife Jules, and of course the infamous Ruby McTavish herself whose claim to fame was that she was kidnapped and subsequently returned as a toddler...oh, and all four of her husbands died under mysterious circumstances.

I particularly liked the character of Jules and thought her snarky attitude and witty comebacks was rather refreshing for a somewhat typical mystery novel While Camden was a bit cookie cutter and on the boring side, his adoped mother Ruby was a bit of a hoot in her POVs. Her calculating nature made the reader unsure of what cards she had up her sleeve at any given moment. Also at play also is the old family estate trope and discovering what secrets each family member is holding on to. The writing is sharp and kept the pages turning and the total plot line was believable enough that I was completely satisfied with the ending.

Recommended for fans of clean, suspenseful mysteries with sharp turns and hidden secrets. This was an entertaining read and I will gladly pick up another one of her novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Hawkins for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my fourth Rachel Hawkins' thriller and it did not disappoint! She writes such compulsively readable popcorn thrillers, perfect for getting out of a reading slump. The Heiress is a multi-perspective mystery about a wealthy, isolated North Carolina family with a complicated history. Ruby is the departed matriarch who oversaw a vast family property. Her adopted son, Cam, and his wife, Jules, return to the property ten years after her death to settle estate issues. The story focuses on Cam and Jules in the present day with letters written near the end of her life interspersed. I was so enthralled by Ruby's letters about her complicated life and many husbands. I listened to the audiobook, which was perfectly narrated by Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin. A fun, twisty thriller!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for providing this ebook and audiobook ARC. All thoughts are my own.

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins presents a captivating exploration of family secrets, inherited legacies, and the enigmatic figure of Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. The novel offers a blend of mystery, family drama, and a touch of Southern Gothic ambiance, creating a narrative that unfolds against the backdrop of the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains.

The strengths of the novel lie in its atmospheric setting and the author's ability to weave a compelling mystery. The descriptions of Ashby House, perched in the mountains, are vivid, immersing the reader in its grandeur and mysterious allure. The dual timelines, shifting between Ruby's past and the present-day experiences of Cam and Jules, add depth to the narrative, gradually revealing the layers of the McTavish family history.

The characters, particularly Cam and Jules, are well-crafted, each grappling with their own past and trying to make sense of the tangled web of family secrets. The complexities of their relationships, both with each other and with the other McTavishes, contribute to the emotional resonance of the story.

The central mystery surrounding Ruby McTavish is intriguing, with questions about her past, her marriages, and her motivations creating a sense of suspense. The author effectively builds tension, keeping the reader engaged in unraveling the enigma of Ruby.

"The Heiress" is a solid entry in the genre of Southern family sagas and mysteries, with Rachel Hawkins demonstrating her skill in crafting an atmospheric tale with intriguing characters. Fans of family dramas with a mystery at their core will likely enjoy the exploration of the McTavish family's hidden past and the secrets that linger within the walls of Ashby House.

I loved the writing style of this one, I felt the narrators were just telling me their story and I was fully immersed. For me, the wow factor is certainly there, lots going on and I certainly couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. Expect the unexpected while reading this book, I think it’s going to keep you on your toes!
**Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review. **

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore was not only the richest woman in North Carolina, but she was notorious for being kidnapped as a child and found nearly a year later - oh, and she’s been infamously nicknamed Mrs. Killmore. Cam inherited Ruby’s wealth, but has barely touched it in the decade since she passed. Cam is persuaded by his wife to return and finds the well-known home has been neglected and needs maintenance. Cam’s wife quickly understands why he left and never looked back, but the longer they’re in North Carolina, they find there were other ulterior motives the family had for requesting his return. We follow Cam’s and his wife’s perspectives as they navigate the situation as well as letters told by Ruby telling her truth of what truly happened all those years ago.

Full of twists and secrets, this was truly a book that I could not put down!
Rachel Hawkins does it again in this juicy suspense tale that is full of family drama, secrets, and the unruly rich. Told from multiple POVs, unreliable narrators are definitely present and done amazingly well. Jules Brewster is finally going to get a chance to see her husband Camden’s famous family home, Ashby House, which was left to him by his even more famous mother, Ruby McTavish. Camden and Jules have been happily married for ten years, but like all good married couples in this genre, they each have secrets and some level of mystery surrounding their respective pasts. This is all made more sinister by what - otherwise - really does appear to be a fairly healthy relationship. Ten years is a long time to fake it, so it's fascinating to find out what each is hiding, how they have changed over time, and whether or not they'll be able to grow and shift together, While Camden wants to leave the family drama–and the entire estate–far behind him, Jules realizes that she wants to fight for Camden’s inheritance–a fight that threatens to leave death and destruction in its wake

The Heiress is told from multiple point of views: letters from Ruth (the heiress) to her adopted son; Cam, the adopted son; Jules, wife of Cam; and various newspaper and magazine articles. I love unreliable narrators and they were certainly present here.

Enthusiastically recommend!

I enjoy the writing of Rachel Hawkins; her self-named works are gothic, dark books and The Heiress is no exception. I would not call the book a suspense novel or a thriller but more of a slow reveal of secrets. I enjoyed the characters of Cam and Jules and how they're both keeping secrets from each other. I thought that the chapters of Ruby's letters helped us understand how twisted the McTavish family is and to what lengths they'll go to protect their fortune and family home, but not each other. This was a quick, enjoyable read with a satisfying ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of the book.

I read Reckless Girls (5 ⭐️’s) and The Villa (4 ⭐️’s) by Rachel Hawkins last year and both were good, solid reads! But this one was far superior. I really enjoyed the entire book. The characters were mostly unlikable and no one was perfect but that’s how life is! This story is the epitome of power and money hungry.

The story is about a woman named Ruby McTavish and her dysfunctional, extremely rich family. When Ruby died she left her fortune to her adopted son, Cam. He moves away and gets married and wants nothing to do with the fortune. The blood relatives are taken care of and live in Ashby House. They are not happy. Cam’s uncle dies ten years later and he returns home with his wife to tie up loose ends. Every single character in this book has secrets abound. Most of them are extremely unlikable, but it all works and you will be shocked by the surprise twist!

Read this book! You will enjoy it! I especially liked the letters that Ruby wrote telling her story, it was a nice touch to the book! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Rachel Hawkins for providing me with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. It was an absolute pleasure!

This was my favorite Rachel Hawkins-book yet. Perfect for fans of The Only One Left (Safer).and Evelyn Hugo (Jenkins Reid), but with it's own unique twists and turns. So enjoyable!

My first read of the year didn’t disappoint! So so good. So many twists. Sometimes, family thrillers can be predictable but this one was anything but. I’ll be recommending this one all year.

I’ve always been a fan of Rachel Hawkins and this does not disappoint!

It did seem to be more of a family drama with suspense added in as opposed to a thriller but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This took longer than I hoped to become interesting.
I was nearly halfway through before I felt excited to get more.
The back half of the book is amazing and I wish the first half had matched.
I loved the letters slowly revealing the bits that don't really fit together till the end.
That was my favourite part.
Most of the characters were garbage examples of people, and while I usually love some hot garbage, they were not the fun kind.
Much love to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for my ARCs.

I loved this book! It kept me guessing the whole way through as to who to trust. I loved Jules and Ruby. The pace was great jumping from present day to past and newspaper articles. I blew through it because I needed to know everyone’s secrets! And I thought the ending was great.

Short synopsis: Ruby McTavish was the wealthiest woman in North Carolina, with quite a history. She was kidnapped while on a picnic as a young girl, and her four husbands have died strange deaths. Her large inheritance and estate is passed on to her adopted son Camden who wants nothing to do with her wealth, but his wife has other plans.

My thoughts: I’m going to keep this somewhat vague to not ruin any of the big plot points. This family drama mixed with secrets, misdeeds, and so many twists and turns kept me engaged and questioning throughout the whole story.

We get different points of view, and alternating timelines to piece together the real story of Ruby’s life. The letters written by Ruby to an anonymous person was such a fun addition as we were able to unravel her secrets as the story progressed.

I’d definitely recommend listening to the audio for this. I’m a huge fan of full cast narration and they worked so well together telling this story.

Read if you love:
- Unlikable characters
- Wealthy families and inheritance
- Multiple POV
- Family drama mixed with mystery
- Slow burn

The Heiress is a compelling book that I read in one sitting! It's about a wealthy family in North Carolina. There are many layers to this story and they are told from various POV's. I found most of the characters in the book unlikable and greedy, but that just makes it more fun to read! I kept hoping the worst ones would get theirs in the end! Rudy McTavish was kidnapped as a young girl and the police weren't hopeful that she'd be found. Luckily, Rudy was returned to her wealthy parents after several months. She seemed different though.

Ruby was married four times in her life and each husband died under suspicious circumstances. Did Ruby have something to do with the deaths or did she just have very bad luck? Ruby adopted a son, Cameron, because she needed something good in her life. She loved him with all her heart and he brought joy to a joyless home. The other McTavish clan all hated Cameron because he was an outsider. Ruby loved that. She had a plan. When Ruby dies, she leaves everything to Cameron. The rest of the McTavish family is furious as they don't consider him a true family member! Cam wants nothing to do with the mansion and inheritance. He has found happiness with his wife, Jules, and they live in Colorado. Cam is a teacher and they live a normal life. Jules has a past that will come to light as you get towards the end of the book. Is she who she says she is or someone with an agenda?

The Heiress is an awesome book that will keep you thinking long after it's over. You can't pick your family, but after reading this you'll wish you could! You will read The Heiress way too fast because you won't believe what you're reading!! I rate The Heiress 4 stars with a high recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for a fair review. #TheHeiress