I loved this one. Possibly my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet. I listened on audio and the cast/narrators are amazing and give such life to the different stories and timelines of this book. I'd love a sequel to see how the McTavish bloodline continues. The ending blew me away and I did not see it coming at all!

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"...and of course, we can never discount that most dangerous of animals, our fellow man."

After listening/reading The Heiress, about a killer dysfunctional family, by renowned thriller author Rachel Hawkins, I couldn't stop smiling at how cleverly written this story was and it's easily my favorite book by this constantly surprising me writer.

Ruby McTavish's life is the definition of eccentric. Born into North Carolina's wealthiest family she is lost in the woods at age four. There's a national manhunt and fortunately, she's eventually found safe. Ruby grows to be a dynamic woman the sole heir to her family's fortune. Her first marriage ends on her wedding night with a gunshot. Three more marriages end leaving her a widow each time. Her only joy is her adopted son Camden.

Now Camden wants nothing to do with his adopted family. He prefers a quiet life as a teacher with his lovely wife Jules. You can't blame him. His Aunt Nelle, Ruby's sister, is a bitter hurtful woman and his cousins are cruel bullies. They all live in the family mansion, hoping each other leaves and they will have all the wealth for themselves. There is nothing redeeming about any of them.

Eventually Camden comes home to deal with Ruby's passing finding the letters she left him explaining, with great sarcastic humor, her life, her dead husbands and the possible truth about getting lost in the woods.

Listening to voice actors Patti Murin, Dan Bittner, John Pirhalla, and Eliza Foss bring this dysfunctional family to it's shocking conclusion is a pure delight. I was actually giddy as each crazy twist after another was revealed up to the very last page. The Heiress is a wealth of sharp writing, love to hate characters, and just a perfect suspense thriller ready for the big screen.

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Heiress centers on Ruby McTavish, the richest woman in North Carolina, after inheriting her father’s fortune. A widow herself, Ruby adopts Camden and makes him the sole heir of her fortune. As Camden becomes an adult, he wants nothing to do with the estate but when his uncle dies, Camden is forced to deal with the greedy family that wants their share and the secrets that everyone is hiding.

Ok this one sucked me in from the beginning. I binged this in less than 24 hours but know that this is less of a fast paced thriller and more of a twisty family drama. The North Carolina mountains and the creepy old mansion made for a great setting and I loved getting into the minds of Camden, his wife Jules and of course Ruby (through letters) who was my favorite of them all! None of the characters were likable but that was the fun for me!

Wow! If you read a lot of thrillers, you tend to see the twists coming and while they are still interesting reads, it never quite lives up to the first few you read. This one caught me completely off-guard. It’s been awhile since I’ve listened to one but this one really threw me for a loop. I had guessed the first one but the twists kept coming and had me so happy I found this book, especially since the last one by this author was not my favorite. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a book that keeps them on their toes.

Additional thoughts: received the audio version of this book and absolutely loved it. Reading it was great, but I feel like listening to it really captured the characters. This would make an extremely entertaining movie. (Crosses fingers)
I’ve caught up with Rachel Hawkin’s writing, and I have to say I love all of her books. I have finished them all in the span of 24 hours, and The Heiress is no exception. This one might be my favorite of all.
This story was intense and intertwined. I felt like it was a thriller version of Evelyn Hugo, and it made me so happy. Hawkins is so good at creating complicated relationships and deep complex characters.
Ruby was stolen as a toddler, and luckily brought back to her family. The twists and turns from there are page burning, and you will love how it all ends tied up in a dysfunctional bow.
I will be recommending this book to everyone.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Absolutely loved this book!! Everyone is up to some kind of bad intentions and they each have a different tale to tell. There were so many unexpected twists and turns that it kept the story interesting . This book is perfect for those who enjoy thrillers and are looking for a new mystery to figure out! Definitely my favorite Rachel Hawkins book!

The narrator, Dan Bittner, did a wonderful telling of The Heiress. He was able to keep the story going and interesting. I would definitely listen to other audiobooks narrated by him.

I really enjoyed The Heiress. I was surprised by some of the twists it turned. Didn’t know the motives of some of the characters. A great read.

Another twisty book from Rachel Hawkin! I’m a sucker for multiple perspectives, especially over the course of different timelines. This book delivers. The McTavish family is full of conceited spoiled brats who have tons of secrets. One of the family members, Cam, has worked hard to stay away from them until he no longer can. This page turner will keep you on your toes.

Fun fact: Over the past few years, my first read of each New Year has been a mystery/thriller by author Rachel Hawkins and I wanted to do the same this year to ring in 2024, to keep this tradition going. There’s just something about her books that capture me from the start, making them the perfect binge reads, and The Heiress was no exception.

I loved the multiple POVs, the twists I didn’t see coming, and the various formats that include articles and letters. Each chapter is told in first person POV, and I loved getting insight this way.

🎧I paired the physical book with the audiobook, and completely immersed myself in my happy reading bubble. I thought the narration with a multiple cast was great, and really added to each character with plenty of family drama.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧
💚multiple POVs
👑unlikeable characters
✨ dark and twisted
💚family drama
👑full of twists

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ⭐️
THE HEIRESS 🎧
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 281 pages
𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 💰🏡😱🚔🔥🔫☠️💊
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 1/9/2024

💚𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💚

Thank you @netgalley @macmillian.audio for the #gifted copy!

What an easy, bingeable read! THE HEIRESS hooked me from the start with its quick pace & compelling plot. The short chapters & engaging storyline made it a binge-worthy read, & the audio version enhanced the experience with distinct narrators for each character.

The tale of Ruby McTavish, kidnapped as a child & returned to her wealthy family, unfolds seamlessly, leaving a trail of mystery surrounding her multiple marriages & untimely widowings. As her adopted son, Camden, returns to Ashby House, with his wife Jules, secrets & unexpected twists keep the narrative intense. The book's brevity was a strength, ensuring a tight plot without unnecessary dragging.

I enjoyed its seamless storytelling & unexpected turns, making it a satisfying & enjoyable thriller!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ THE SEVEN HUSBANDS OF EVELYN HUGO meets THE DEATH OF MRS WESTAWAY
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ flashback letters
◽️ newspaper headlines

I was intrigued from the beginning and that continued through to the end. I did predict several plot twists, but still enjoyed the process of each reveal. It had The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo vibe, which I loved, so that was a plus. The audio was performed impressively.

Just when I think I know what’s going on, Rachel Hawkins throws in her plot twists and surprises me once again. Socialite Ruby McTavish is known for her famous childhood kidnapping. After her death, her adopted son Camden wants nothing to do with the family or their money. Family secrets are revealed after another family death years later draws him back to the famous Ashby House where he grew up. Questions are raised about Ruby’s kidnapping, Camden’s adoption and surprises involving others in the family .

With a tagline like “THERE’S NOTHING AS GOOD AS THE RICH GONE BAD,” how could I not pick this one up?

Ten years after his adopted mother’s death, Camden and his wife, Jules, head back to Ashby House, the family estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, to deal with his inheritance, but the welcome they receive is far from warm.

The family itself has quite the long history, and Camden’s mother Ruby was one of its more colorful characters. Between her disappearance as a young child to her being widowed four times, there’s plenty of speculation surrounding Ruby’s story, and the remaining family members waiting at the house seem driven by their avarice and animosity towards Cam.

How are they all connected? Are Cam and Jules safe at Ashby House? And what is the true story behind Ruby McTavish and her legacy?

If you enjoy morally grey characters, dual timelines, multiple points-of-view, and mixed media in your mysteries and thrillers, this book is for you. I liked guessing what would happen next and trying to predict the twists as I learned more about the past from Ruby’s letters and the various newspaper and magazine articles and as the characters in the present revealed more about their own stories and motivations.

Rachel Hawkins excels at capturing the sense of entitlement and less-than-flattering underbelly of her wealthy characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading her portrayal of a family ingrained in old Southern wealth here. I also enjoyed experiencing the different decades through Ruby’s descriptions of her marriages.

The audiobook is an immersive experience with four narrators: one for the mixed media (articles, newsletters, emails), one for Ruby’s letters, one for Jules’s point-of-view, and one for Cam’s. All of the narrators are excellent here, but I especially enjoyed Eliza Foss’s portrayal of Ruby. She captures the the accent and intonation of the upperclass South with just the right touch of North Carolinian mixed in.

I received an advance copy of the audiobook from Macmillan Audio and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. This book was well thought out and the story line flowed well. I wasn't invested in the characters but did enjoy the plot. I also enjoyed how this was told from multiple viewpoints and the southern influence and setting. The narrators were great and really brought the characters to life. This is one of the more well written books from this author.

Rachel Hawkins is a solid thriller writer and this one is at the top of her list. Nothing was incredibly shocking, but the story was woven nicely. There were Evelyn Hugo vibes at first as the millionaire rich heiress narrated how each of her husbands happened to die.

Millionaiee Ruby McTavish had a rough start at life when she was lost in the woods and kidnapped at the age of 3. She is eventually found, but bad luck seems to follow her as she loses 4 husbands each to mysterious circumstances. Upon her death, she leaves her entire fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Blood relatives are not too happy and secrets begin to be revealed as Cam revisits the mansion.

I was never really endeared to any of the characters. I was annoyed, confused, and sometimes horrified by character actions, but I never felt like I was fully invested in their stories. Camden’s fiancé Jules was the only one I really cared about. That being said, I loved to hate a few of them, so it was still a fun ride.

The alternating perspectives and narrators for the audiobook were impeccably done. As the narrators change, new details are shared that change the story completely. The secrets run deep among the family.

There are twists and reveals, but in a way that was more drama-focused than suspenseful or shocking. I enjoyed this one a lot, but it’s more of a slow burn than a thriller.

This was my favorite of Hawkins books! I listened to the audiobook and was not able to put it down. I loved the multiple narrators and thought it really added to the story. Ruby McTavish, a very wealthy woman from North Carolina, passes away and leaves her entire fortune to her adopted son, Camden. Ruby inherited her entire fortune, including the family estate, Ashby House from her father. Years later, Camden returns to Ashby House with his wife to reclaim what is his. Ruby was also known as Ruby Kilmore as she had multiple husbands that died in mysterious ways. The story is told in alternating timelines in present day and in the past through Ruby’s letters where secrets and hidden truths are uncovered. The fast-paced short chapters made it a quick read with tons of drama, twists, and turns. This would be a fantastic book club read!

5 Stars

Rachel does it again; she takes a general idea from a classic (this time it’s Great Expectations) and makes it so unique and twisted and fast paced, brand new for a modern audience.

As this story of generational wealth and twisted family trees and greed and tragedy unfold through past timelines and letters mixed with present day reconnections, we are taken on a wild ride of who the heiress really is and if she was never even the main character we thought she might be.

I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say I absolutely loved this audiobook and listened to it in one sitting. Its full cast made it refreshing and I swear the writing almost felt like a diabolical podcast playing out in my ears.

Since Tuesday is a monster pub day, I am trying to get all of my reading crammed in and posts done. The Heiress is one of the books coming out and I loved it. It is a thriller about a couple who returns to the husband’s childhood home only to discover so many secrets and deceptions about his wealthy childhood. There are old letters and newspaper articles woven in to set the scene and add to the suspense. I loved the slow burn and the little red herrings thrown out. It was clever, addictive, atmospheric with the old southern estate, so twisted and just a fun read to start the year.

If you like gothic, atmospheric suspense, a host of unlikable characters, and rich people behaving badly, then The Heiress is for you. Ruby McTavish is the doyenne of the fabled McTavish family in rural North Carolina. She governs over Ashby House and her family with an iron grip. But who was she really?

When Ruby dies, she leaves everything to her adopted son Cameron, who wants nothing to do with the family, the money or the legendary estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains. But now Cameron has been summoned home by his cousin Ben following the death of Ben's father. What happens from there is a roller coaster ride of unraveling secrets, betrayals and even murder.

The story is told from multiple POVs. We have Cameron, his wife Jules, an unnamed narrator who offers news-like coverage of Ruby's complicated life, and Ruby herself. While Cameron's and Jules' sections are narrated in the present, Ruby's sections unspool over time in the form of letters to an unknown recipient. Is Ruby both likable and unlikable? Yes. Has she done things - many things - she regrets? Perhaps.

Cameron and Jules are bit more likable although they too have secrets upon secrets. And the remaining family members, Aunt Nell and cousins Libby and Ben, are arrogant, possessive, greedy and nearly every derogatory adjective you can name. But that's what makes it all the more fun.

While I figured who Ruby was writing to, it did not diminish my enjoyment of this swirling mystery and the startling conclusion.

I read this on audiobook, which was narrated by a full cast that was outstanding.

#TheHeiress:⁣
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Thank you @macmillan.audio and @stmartinspress for my gifted copies [partner]⁣
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“My home and my name closed around me, protecting me, shielding me, their queen in her castle who was secretly the dragon.“⁣
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This was a juicy, fun, family secret galore read that I zipped through. The audio is phenomenal with alternating POVs, and it might be my favorite Rachel Hawkins book yet.⁣
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First, let me say the twists and turns are pretty predictable. The first kinda know what’s about to get revealed. However, the execution was top notch, and I couldn’t get enough of this dysfunctional family. ⁣
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The audio was amazing. I’ll be honest, my favorite chapters were Ruby’s because she was so darn entertaining. She was set up perfectly, and her letters were so juicy. I loved how they were presented, almost as if she was writing for me to see.⁣
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Overall, this was a solid read that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you love family drama with lots of secrets on top of secrets, this is the one you need to check out.⁣
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Out tomorrow, January 9th!⁣
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QOTD: What was your first book of 2024?