Wow! What a wild ride. My head is still spinning with all the twists and turns. <i>The Heiress</i> starts off with the reader thinking that they are following a couple back home to clean up some estate issues but what we get is a drama steamy and vindictive enough for a soap opera storyline. The book follows multiple storylines - Camden, the adopted son and heir to the wealthy heiress, Ruby; Jules - Camden's wife; letters Ruby wrote days before she died with some serious confession; along with some news articles mixed in to fill in some blanks.
This family tree had some seriously rotted branches, and off-shoots entangled from other trees. If you love a family drama filled with old school wealth, do yourself a favor and read this one. It is a page turner that you will have a hard time putting down.

Could. Not. Put. This. Down. Seriously so good. This is a twisty mess of a domestic suspense thriller. Ruby adopted Camden when he was young. While Cam felt lucky to have Ruby, his adopted cousins made his life less than desirable. Once he left the family estate he vowed not to return. But with Ruby gone, Cam's wife Jules suggests that he return to the mansion he grew up in when his uncle dies to put behind all the family drama once and for all.

I could not get enough of this book. There are so many secrets and mysteries surrounding this family. Ruby, herself, is at the heart of it. She disappeared from the estate as a young girl and was found and returned months later. Her sister has always suspected that Ruby was not, in fact, her sister returned but another child altogether. This carries on through her children as they consistently question the legitimacy of Ruby and Cam to the estate and family money. In addition, Ruby has four dead husbands. Jules knows very little of the way in which Cam grew up. And Cam has secrets of his own.

The audio recording of this book is perfection. We get several points of view in the book and all are done really well. The pacing is just what the story needs. The cast of narrators each brings a unique aspect to the book. I particularly loved Ruby's sass as the narrator reads her letters in the book aloud.

This is Hawkins at her best and my favorite of hers. Fans of The Family Game and Everyone in My Family has Killed Someone would enjoy this. I continue to love what this author writes and look eagerly for her next work.

When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. But in the aftermath of her death, her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past. Ten years later, his uncle’s death pulls Cam and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but the legacy of Ruby is inescapable. Soon, Jules and Cam realize that an inheritance can entail far more than what’s written in a will––and that the bonds of family stretch far beyond the grave....

This was one of my favorite audiobooks to date! The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life and injecting true emotion into the story. Getting to here the story from Jules, Cam and Ruby's perspective brought much more color to the story and kept the work well-paced. Fans of "Succession," "Knives Out," and the "Inheritance Games" series will love this look into the emotional dynamics that wealth can create within a family. While some twists were predictable, others caught me completely off-guard, making this a truly enjoyable read!

Thank you to Netgalley and MacMillan audio for the ALC!

4+ stars

This book makes four consecutive novels from this author that I’ve really enjoyed, all for their own reasons. The stories are different, but even so, the writer’s style is consistent no matter what type of story she’s crafting. I was intrigued by the premise of this one; I’m a sucker for a story that promises to be suspenseful and that has a vaguely gothic setting. I actually enjoyed the back and forth of the chapters and letters that wove together to create the story, and the ending was compelling, satisfying, and still a bit unexpected. I know I say it about a lot of my favourites, but I truly can’t wait to see what this author brings into the world next.

Well what a jumbled up web to work through this book was.
The last one I read by Rachel Hawkins was Reckless Girls and I felt like The Heiress although having some similarities (multiple PoVs, multi-layered conspiracy reveal in the end) still faired better than Reckless Girls.

I have to first of all give it up for the cover art, as with all Rachel Hawkins books I've come across the title and cover art draw you in beautifully.

This story is about the McTavish family and their fight over the estate after the infamous Ruby McTavish passes away. The story is narrated from three POVs, Camden the now heir of the estate; Jules, Camden's wife and lastly by Ruby McTavish herself. each of them along with the other family members are hiding skeletons in their closets.

Ruby McTavish's plotline however the most intriguing is also a much common concept of a famous, rich, old lady clearing her conscience by describing all her misfortunes in love and marriage. Ruby's narrative of her four marriages gives off very strong Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (by Taylor Jenkins Reid) and Susanna's Seven Husbands (by Ruskin Bond) vibes.

The main plot twist feels quite in your face throughout the book ... however in true Rachel Hawkins style the ending is a multilayered revelation of underlying twists and turns.

I definitely enjoyed the fast pace of the book and it definitely is a gripping quick read. However, some major plot holes leave a lot to be desired from the narratives.

My rating is 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.

I would like to thank NetGalley, McMillan Audio, and St Martin's Press for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my review and thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book before it comes out.

This wasn’t a hit for me. The storyline was very confusing as there was so many povs and things going on at the same time it just reminded me of my ADHD brain where everything had to be written down at once or I’ll forget.. Nothing imo was surprising and it was a very slow storyline.

Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies North Carolina’s richest woman and most notorious. She survived a kidnapping and is four times a widow. When she died, everything was left to her adopted son Camden, but he doesn’t want anything to do with it. After rejecting his inheritance, he settles into a normal life, marrying Jules, who also wants to escape her past. Ten years later, his uncle passes and he is summoned back to the place he couldn’t wait to escape, the Ashby House, and questions about the infamous heiress come to light.

The Heiress had its grip on me as soon as I started listening to it! Completely engrossed in this story, it was ridiculously addictive for me. It’s a story about a dysfunctional family with a ton of secrets. This drama filled story is worth all the stars! I can’t tell you enough how much I enjoyed this book. I was fortunate enough to receive The Heiress as an ARC and ALC, and hybrid read/listened to the book (my favorite way to read) and I can tell you that I enjoyed them both equally and both experiences were exceptional. I absolutely love Rachel Hawkins’ writing style and the multiple narrators did a phenomenal job bringing this story to life! The Heiress is out 1/9/24 and it’s one you’ll definitely want to read. I know I will be getting myself a physical copy to keep in my personal library!

Thank you so much NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copies and the chance to read/listen and review it honestly.

Happy reading!

Camden McTavish returns to his home, Ashby House, with his wife, Jules, to sort out his inheritance. Camden’s adoptive mother, Ruby, is infamous for her kidnapping story when she was younger and the wake of rumors following her around in the years after. Cam long ago left behind his inheritance and wants nothing to do with Ashby House, but when he finds himself back after all these years, he’s forced to come face to face with his mother’s past.

The Heiress is full of twists and turns that kept surprising me with every turn. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going, I was surprised by the next twist. I really loved the main characters of Camden and Jules and after hearing her whole story I really liked Ruby too. I am a fan of Rachel Hawkins’ work in general by and I wasn’t surprised that I loved this book, but this one still surprised me. At the beginning, I did find the story a little slow and felt like I didn’t connect with it, but the more I read the more I got pulled in and loved the way everything played out. I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves twists, turns and mystery!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, I had the opportunity to read the Heiress earlier this year. I felt like the book missed the mark. But, I am glad I decided to listen to the book. I like the audio version much more!

Camden and Jules meet in California and later move to Colorado. After a death in the family, they head to North Carolina, to Camden’s family’s extravagant estate.

There were many alternating view points and not a whole lot of dialogue, which I didn’t love when reading the book. But the audio version - it worked, and I really enjoyed Jules’s narration.

I definitely recommend listening to the audio version over reading the book. 3.75 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listen of The Heiress in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A fantastic mystery that involves the notorious Heiress of an North Carolina estate. Born into wealth and luxury, Ruby McTavish went missing as a young girl only to be miraculously found in the arms of a family convinced she was one of their own. Reunited with her wealthy blood relatives in the North Carolina mountains, Ruby goes on to marry four different men over her life, only to have them all mysteriously die from accidents and illnesses. Considered incredibly unlucky in love, Ruby adopts a son, who she then leaves her entire estate to when she dies. What follows is her son Camden returning, along with his wife, to the home he ran away from to face family members he hates and a fortune he resents. A story of family drama, death, and twisted secrets, The Heiress is a slow burn mystery that smartly unravels the misdeeds and misfortunes of a famous family. Highly recommend for those who are fans of a southern gothic read with plenty of mystery and some thriller vibes thrown in.

I really enjoyed the back and forth perspectives from the different characters throughout this book. With Ruby reading the letters she wrote, and seeing the family from both Camden's and Jules views. However, this book did drag. A large portion of the book was just reading the letter and flipping back to current time where they were coming back to the family home and adjusting. I felt like I could of read just the letter chapters, the beginning and the end and had still understood the majority of this book. I did like the twist at the end, and finding out that Ruby and Jules knew each other from the past and were related. And that the mansion burned down. But I felt like that was rushed, along with the Jules and the cousin confronting each other in Ruby's office. I would of like that scene and leading up to and after the fire to have been longer. Overall, I liked this Rachel Hawkins book, but I did prefer Reckless Girls more.

Oh, this was so good! So much family drama and mystery! I was HOOKED right away and the audio is FANTASTIC! Like several different voices. I didn't wanna stop listening and it flew by!👏🏻 I absolutely loved the NC location since I used to live in that area. I really enjoyed the way the story unfolded and how you informed about things and the different characters tell their parts. It kept me so engaged and invested! It wasn't too dark either but still twisted at times. PLUS the romantic in me was happy to have a little romance to root for too!! I want even more of them. HIGHLY recommend adding this one to your list esp the audio!!

Per the title, this book is about big money and those who will inherit said money. Ruby McTavish dies in her old age. She is North Carolina's richest woman and notorious from her kidnapping as a young child and married 4 times because of the death of her four husbands. Already sounding interesting right?

She leaves all of her money and estate to her adopted son Cam, who is married to Jules. He wants nothing to do with the estate and lives far away on purpose. But because of Ruby's death, the truth of things start to come to the surface. There are other family members who feel that they should get a cut of the family money...

I loved the history of the family secrets and the the way it was told. It was easy to listen to and well narrated. Each of the twists that were revealed were so fun to finally get to in this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance ALC.

Title: The Heiress
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Narrators: Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, Patti Murin

"The Heiress" by Rachel Hawkins is a captivating novel that offers a delightful and intriguing peek into the world of the super wealthy, their complexities, and dysfunctions. The story, enhanced by the excellent narration of Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin, is a rich tapestry that weaves together elements of history, mystery, and drama.

One of the most striking aspects of this book is its character development, particularly the character of Ruby, who seems to draw inspiration from historical figures like Doris Duke. This subtle nod to real-life personalities adds depth and authenticity to the narrative. Hawkins' skillful portrayal of Ruby, coupled with the use of letters to dive into the past, is not only historically accurate but also adds a layer of richness to the story.

The multiple narrators bring a unique and dynamic element to the storytelling. Each narrator's voice lends a distinct flavor to different parts of the story, making the experience more immersive and engaging. This approach to narration adds to the book's unique structure and keeps the listener deeply involved in the unfolding drama.

Overall, "The Heiress" is a highly enjoyable read. It's a book that effectively captures the reader's imagination with its vivid characters, historical depth, and a well-structured narrative. The use of multiple narrators is a stroke of genius, enhancing the overall experience of the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels that offer a glimpse into the lives of the elite, wrapped in a beautifully narrated and historically rich package.

This is my favorite by Rachel Hawkins so far! I was so excited to get approved for the audiobook after reading.. The audio cast was fantastic. The story was fast paced and I did not see the twists coming! I can’t wait to recommend this one!

Okay - this sucked me in. I loved Ruby and hearing her letters/stories about all her husbands. The narration was PHENOMENAL, especially hers. That southern accent got me. I also really loved Camden and Jules storyline. The McTavish family is absolutely awful and I feel like Rachel did a great job of getting me to dislike them. I could think of so many rich and powerful families IRL that I can only assume are exactly like this.

The story tied together really nicely with a good little twist at the end. Technically there were a few twists, although I feel like one was fairly obvious. The others definitely caught me off guard and I love that.

Rachel Hawkins is just a fantastic author and I so appreciate getting the opportunity for getting to listen to this audio. And thank you to Macmillan Audio!

I will read pretty much anything about or taking place in North Carolina, so as soon as I found out this book existed, I pounced on it. The story follows the POV of the heir and adopted son to one of NC's most affluent families and the POV of his wife as they return to the ancestral home of his adopted mother to sort out her estate.
Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore is as notorious as she is rich with a line of not 2, not 3, but 4 deceased husbands in her wake. Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, high in the Blue Ridge mountains. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—pass to her adopted son, Camden. Follow along as we learn about each husband and his demise, Ruby and her life after her infamous childhood kidnapping, Cam's disdain for his family, and his wife's shocking connection to Ruby.
I'm not typically a murder mystery fan, but this mixes my favorite elements of historical fiction and psychological thriller as well as a touch of romance. For fans of Knives Out and Fiona Davis. A good twist in the end, well plotted out, good pacing, very dislikable antagonists, and a morally grey matriarch at the center of it all. I had a great time reading it.

4.5 stars! Pretty sure Rachel Hawkins gets better with every single book. The Heiress was fascinating and you'll kind of love to hate Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, or should we say "Kill-More?"
When Ruby dies she leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden, who wants nothing to do with Ruby or the rest of McTavish clan. But 10 years after her death, Cam can no longer ignore his familial responsibilities and must return to Ashby House, set in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains. He does so reluctantly but at the urging of his wife, Jules, who has her own motives for visiting Ashby House.
The twists and turns just keep coming in this one and you'll be surprised until the very last page.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

Not Hawkins best work, imo. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t deserving of more than 3 stars. Take Evelyn Hugo, make it a mystery and make every character shady and one dimensional. Tada! You’ve got The Heiress.

I know authors get pushed to churn out books once they’ve got a bestseller on their hands but cranking them out so fast means we get mediocre plot lines just ripped from other books. Here’s hoping the next novel comes out in 2026 and it’s fire cuz this one ain’t cutting it.

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review! (

This wasn't interesting mystery book more of a thriller than a closing the street it was very entertaining and the plot was very good I would read it another time because it is a good book and I think you could get more out of it the second time through