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The Heiress
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate 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.
But to everyone’s surprise, Cam 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, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.
Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.
But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? 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.
But to everyone’s surprise, Cam 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, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.
Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.
But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? 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.
294 pages, Hardcover
First published January 9, 2024
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June 19, 2024
Oh my goodness! This book is a brilliantly smart and extremely addictive read that you won't be able to put down. With unexpected twists and heart-throbbing pacing, it draws you into a captivating mystery set within the claustrophobic Ashby House. The secrets hidden behind its closed doors, along with its notorious and heartless inhabitants, add to the intrigue. And let's not forget Ruby McTavish, also known as "Lady Kill-more," whose unreliable, sarcastic, and intimidating personality seals the deal.
I must admit, after reading the author's previous work, "Wife Upstairs," I didn't enjoy their subsequent releases as much. However, with this ominous and engaging thriller, they have made a triumphant return. The story is filled with intertwined mysteries that fit together like puzzle pieces, making you want to read faster to uncover the big secrets.
The narrative unfolds through three distinct points of view. First, there's Camden, an orphan boy who unexpectedly inherits a nine-figure fortune from the McTavish family. His decision to reject the family's money and sever ties with his living relatives may be scandalous or considered a foolish move. He moves to Colorado, becomes a teacher, lives in a small rental with his wife, and never looks back. That is until his cousin Ben, his childhood tormentor and a pretentious bully, contacts him after his father's death to deal with the family's problems.
Our second point of view is Jules, Camden's beautiful and supportive wife. She finally sees a glimmer of hope when her husband decides to return to Ashby House. Having grown up in poverty and working a dead-end job at a museum, where she portrays historical figures by churning butter for tourists, Jules yearns for the wealth and lifestyle they deserve.
The third perspective connects with readers through the letters left behind by Ruby McTavish, the infamous heiress and presumed husband killer. Ruby's four husbands mysteriously died under suspicious circumstances, but her family's money silenced any further investigations.
The story introduces us to other estranged family members, including cousin Ben, an estate lawyer who wears fake smiles and has unnaturally white teeth, and his sister Libby, a spoiled and cunning woman willing to go to great lengths to claim her share of the inheritance. We also meet great aunt Nelle, Ruby's resentful sister, who has harbored jealousy towards Ruby for years and doesn't hide her disdain for Camden's existence.
Behind the closed doors of Ashby House, numerous secrets lurk. Is Ruby truly a cold-blooded killer? Or is she a miracle child who was kidnapped at the age of three, only to be found living with another family who insisted she was their daughter?
But these aren't the only secrets that will upend the delicate balance between family members. Each character hides larger truths that have the power to change their entire lives, including Camden and Jules, who may seem better than the McTavish clan but have their own skeletons in the closet.
Expect the unexpected as you dive into this gripping read. It will keep you on your toes, and you'll find yourself wanting to devour it in one sitting, even if it means staying up all night. In my opinion, this is the author's best work yet.
I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this brilliant read in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I must admit, after reading the author's previous work, "Wife Upstairs," I didn't enjoy their subsequent releases as much. However, with this ominous and engaging thriller, they have made a triumphant return. The story is filled with intertwined mysteries that fit together like puzzle pieces, making you want to read faster to uncover the big secrets.
The narrative unfolds through three distinct points of view. First, there's Camden, an orphan boy who unexpectedly inherits a nine-figure fortune from the McTavish family. His decision to reject the family's money and sever ties with his living relatives may be scandalous or considered a foolish move. He moves to Colorado, becomes a teacher, lives in a small rental with his wife, and never looks back. That is until his cousin Ben, his childhood tormentor and a pretentious bully, contacts him after his father's death to deal with the family's problems.
Our second point of view is Jules, Camden's beautiful and supportive wife. She finally sees a glimmer of hope when her husband decides to return to Ashby House. Having grown up in poverty and working a dead-end job at a museum, where she portrays historical figures by churning butter for tourists, Jules yearns for the wealth and lifestyle they deserve.
The third perspective connects with readers through the letters left behind by Ruby McTavish, the infamous heiress and presumed husband killer. Ruby's four husbands mysteriously died under suspicious circumstances, but her family's money silenced any further investigations.
The story introduces us to other estranged family members, including cousin Ben, an estate lawyer who wears fake smiles and has unnaturally white teeth, and his sister Libby, a spoiled and cunning woman willing to go to great lengths to claim her share of the inheritance. We also meet great aunt Nelle, Ruby's resentful sister, who has harbored jealousy towards Ruby for years and doesn't hide her disdain for Camden's existence.
Behind the closed doors of Ashby House, numerous secrets lurk. Is Ruby truly a cold-blooded killer? Or is she a miracle child who was kidnapped at the age of three, only to be found living with another family who insisted she was their daughter?
But these aren't the only secrets that will upend the delicate balance between family members. Each character hides larger truths that have the power to change their entire lives, including Camden and Jules, who may seem better than the McTavish clan but have their own skeletons in the closet.
Expect the unexpected as you dive into this gripping read. It will keep you on your toes, and you'll find yourself wanting to devour it in one sitting, even if it means staying up all night. In my opinion, this is the author's best work yet.
I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this brilliant read in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
March 29, 2024
saltburn if oliver were a conniving woman
June 20, 2023
Loved this book!! In fact, I can’t remember the last time I read a book so fast! I love a book that can keep me turning the pages, and not worry about anything else but the book! This storyline was fast-paced, and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!
This story is about Ruby McTavish, a wealthy little girl who was lost in the woods near her home in North Carolina at only three years old. Ruby was found eight months later in another state and returned home. As Ruby grows up in her mansion known as the Ashby House, she often feels that some things about her aren’t quite right.
Ruby writes letters prior to her death at an elderly age, and through these letters we see what transpired during her years growing up and her four marriages. Ruby also had an adopted son named Camden, who is set to inherit all of the McTavish fortune. Camden wants nothing to do with the family money and he has stayed away from his cold and unkind family members for years. However, he gets notified by his cousin that he should come to Ashby House after the passing of his uncle, and Camden’s wife Jules thinks it would be a great idea to visit.
When Camden and Jules arrive at Ashby House, the fun really begins! This was a very dysfunctional family. I loved getting the different POV’s from Camden, Jules, and Ruby. And while getting all these different viewpoints, we can question what really makes a family?
I highly recommend this book! As I’ve mentioned before I read for entertainment and enjoyment - and that’s what this book gave me! This book also had short chapters (my favorite), which made for a quick read. Add this book to your list- you can thank me later! 😉
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this copy, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: January 9, 2024.
This story is about Ruby McTavish, a wealthy little girl who was lost in the woods near her home in North Carolina at only three years old. Ruby was found eight months later in another state and returned home. As Ruby grows up in her mansion known as the Ashby House, she often feels that some things about her aren’t quite right.
Ruby writes letters prior to her death at an elderly age, and through these letters we see what transpired during her years growing up and her four marriages. Ruby also had an adopted son named Camden, who is set to inherit all of the McTavish fortune. Camden wants nothing to do with the family money and he has stayed away from his cold and unkind family members for years. However, he gets notified by his cousin that he should come to Ashby House after the passing of his uncle, and Camden’s wife Jules thinks it would be a great idea to visit.
When Camden and Jules arrive at Ashby House, the fun really begins! This was a very dysfunctional family. I loved getting the different POV’s from Camden, Jules, and Ruby. And while getting all these different viewpoints, we can question what really makes a family?
I highly recommend this book! As I’ve mentioned before I read for entertainment and enjoyment - and that’s what this book gave me! This book also had short chapters (my favorite), which made for a quick read. Add this book to your list- you can thank me later! 😉
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for an ARC of this copy, which I had the pleasure of reading. Publication date: January 9, 2024.
September 10, 2023
An Engrossing Page-Turner
3.75 stars
"I had gotten away with murder, and I was glad for it."
The Heiress is a thriller about the wealthiest woman in North Carolina, her heir, and the cutthroat battle for her estate.
Ruby McTavish, the richest woman in North Carolina, died 10 years ago and left her estate to her adopted son Camden (Cam). Upon Ruby’s death, Cam fled to California and started a new life, cutting off the only family he had ever known. Forced to return, Cam, along with his wife Jules, must confront deep, dark, and demented family secrets to claim what is rightfully theirs.
There are three main POVs: Ruby’s, which is shared through letters to an unknown author, Cam’s, and Jules. Ruby’s narrative is the most compelling as she reveals her true self. Her controversial marriages and scandalous childhood are captivating. In contrast, Jules and Cam’s voices felt interchangeable. All three are hiding dirty secrets from each other.
The timeline alternates from the present to the past, which covers Ruby’s childhood and her four tumultuous marriages.
The characters are conviving, crass, and dysfunctional. They don’t shy away from controversy--they are devious and determined to win.
If you are offended by profanity, don’t read this. F*ck seems to be the characters' favorite word --one even comments on how much they enjoy using it. I wish they could have at least mixed up the choice of profanity, as it made all three voices sound similar. The characters are connected in other ways, so this was not necessary.
The Heiress is a combination of Megan Miranda's The Last to Vanish (for the setting) and Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for the letters and recounting of the many marriages of Ruby, but the writing is very different from both. I didn't love Hawkin's last book, The Villa, but there is a reference to one of the characters, which was fun.
The mystery behind the estate, Ruby’s childhood, and the surprising ways in which the characters are connected kept me glued to the pages. There are many twists and turns which culminate in a surprising showdown.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
3.75 stars
"I had gotten away with murder, and I was glad for it."
The Heiress is a thriller about the wealthiest woman in North Carolina, her heir, and the cutthroat battle for her estate.
Ruby McTavish, the richest woman in North Carolina, died 10 years ago and left her estate to her adopted son Camden (Cam). Upon Ruby’s death, Cam fled to California and started a new life, cutting off the only family he had ever known. Forced to return, Cam, along with his wife Jules, must confront deep, dark, and demented family secrets to claim what is rightfully theirs.
There are three main POVs: Ruby’s, which is shared through letters to an unknown author, Cam’s, and Jules. Ruby’s narrative is the most compelling as she reveals her true self. Her controversial marriages and scandalous childhood are captivating. In contrast, Jules and Cam’s voices felt interchangeable. All three are hiding dirty secrets from each other.
The timeline alternates from the present to the past, which covers Ruby’s childhood and her four tumultuous marriages.
The characters are conviving, crass, and dysfunctional. They don’t shy away from controversy--they are devious and determined to win.
If you are offended by profanity, don’t read this. F*ck seems to be the characters' favorite word --one even comments on how much they enjoy using it. I wish they could have at least mixed up the choice of profanity, as it made all three voices sound similar. The characters are connected in other ways, so this was not necessary.
The Heiress is a combination of Megan Miranda's The Last to Vanish (for the setting) and Taylor Jenkins Reid's The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo for the letters and recounting of the many marriages of Ruby, but the writing is very different from both. I didn't love Hawkin's last book, The Villa, but there is a reference to one of the characters, which was fun.
The mystery behind the estate, Ruby’s childhood, and the surprising ways in which the characters are connected kept me glued to the pages. There are many twists and turns which culminate in a surprising showdown.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
November 29, 2023
Messy Mash-Up of Unoriginal Plot Lines
The three other Rachel Hawkins novels that I read were gripping and captivating. This was not.
The Heiress is told in three varying perspectives: 1) husband Camden, 2) wife Jules, 3) a collection of letters by Camden’s adopted mother, Ruby.
This seemed to be a mash-up of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. What is the basis for this conclusion?
So glad you asked.
Ruby has four dead husbands in her wake. Like in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Ruby reveals what happened to each one.
In Home Before Dark, the main character, Maggie, returns to this creepy haunted house and reads excerpts from her father’s book. In the case of The Heiress, this technique didn’t work because there were too many narrative voices. Personally, I would have cut Jules’s section.
In addition, The Heiress has some plot holes. I still want to know more about Cecilia, the housekeeper, and what happened to all of the missing hikers. And what was the purpose of Libby and Cam’s confrontation about the gate? At the very end, the author tried to pull off a little twist, but it didn’t really pack a punch. The ending needed to be much stronger—in a month, I will completely forget what happened.
A decent read but not Hawkins’s best work.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
How much I spent:
Electronic text – Free through NetGalley
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The three other Rachel Hawkins novels that I read were gripping and captivating. This was not.
The Heiress is told in three varying perspectives: 1) husband Camden, 2) wife Jules, 3) a collection of letters by Camden’s adopted mother, Ruby.
This seemed to be a mash-up of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and Home Before Dark by Riley Sager. What is the basis for this conclusion?
So glad you asked.
Ruby has four dead husbands in her wake. Like in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Ruby reveals what happened to each one.
In Home Before Dark, the main character, Maggie, returns to this creepy haunted house and reads excerpts from her father’s book. In the case of The Heiress, this technique didn’t work because there were too many narrative voices. Personally, I would have cut Jules’s section.
In addition, The Heiress has some plot holes. I still want to know more about Cecilia, the housekeeper, and what happened to all of the missing hikers. And what was the purpose of Libby and Cam’s confrontation about the gate? At the very end, the author tried to pull off a little twist, but it didn’t really pack a punch. The ending needed to be much stronger—in a month, I will completely forget what happened.
A decent read but not Hawkins’s best work.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.
How much I spent:
Electronic text – Free through NetGalley
Connect With Me!
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February 28, 2024
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family’s estate 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.
But to everyone’s surprise, Cam 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, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.
Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.
But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? 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.
Well I did like this one but I didn't love it. It was more of a domestic family drama with some suspense. I always feel different when a book isn't really a thriller. I am more in for the thrill and this one didn't thrill me.
There are lots of letters in the book and I did enjoy reading those. There are also lots of secrets along with unlikable characters. I did enjoy the first half more than the second half. The second half was just too depressing and left me with an unsettling feeling that stayed with me for awhile. I did enjoy the ending along with the twists.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
But to everyone’s surprise, Cam 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, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.
Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.
But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. As Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? 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.
Well I did like this one but I didn't love it. It was more of a domestic family drama with some suspense. I always feel different when a book isn't really a thriller. I am more in for the thrill and this one didn't thrill me.
There are lots of letters in the book and I did enjoy reading those. There are also lots of secrets along with unlikable characters. I did enjoy the first half more than the second half. The second half was just too depressing and left me with an unsettling feeling that stayed with me for awhile. I did enjoy the ending along with the twists.
I want to thank St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2023
Just look at that cover! 💚
I loved this author's, The Wife Upstairs, but didn't care for Reckless Girls. I was a little nervous, but this one grabbed my attention early and pulled me deeper into the mystery with every page, every chapter.
Ruby McTavish is quite the intriguing character! That is a peek at her portrait on the gorgeous cover. She may have more skeletons in her closet than ANY other character I've read about. Her home is a fifteen-bedroom mansion called Ashby House. Some may refer to it as a "lion's den" and with good reason! 🦁 They needed a Enter At Your Own Risk sign!
Ashby House created a creepy atmosphere that really set the mood. If those walls could speak, they would have a story to tell and in a way they do. The portrait that hung at the top of the stairs gave me major chills and I almost expected it to come alive. I'd be sleeping with one eye open in that house! 👁️
Nelle reminded me of a Ms. Danvers ( the housekeeper in Rebecca, with her mean spirited stunts). Rebecca is my favorite gothic classic novel and this one had some strong vibes that I loved.
Expect rumors, whispers, secrets/scheming and a truly twisted house of unexpected happenings!
A favorite for the year!
Thanks NG for my ARC. OUT on January 23, 2024
I loved this author's, The Wife Upstairs, but didn't care for Reckless Girls. I was a little nervous, but this one grabbed my attention early and pulled me deeper into the mystery with every page, every chapter.
Ruby McTavish is quite the intriguing character! That is a peek at her portrait on the gorgeous cover. She may have more skeletons in her closet than ANY other character I've read about. Her home is a fifteen-bedroom mansion called Ashby House. Some may refer to it as a "lion's den" and with good reason! 🦁 They needed a Enter At Your Own Risk sign!
Ashby House created a creepy atmosphere that really set the mood. If those walls could speak, they would have a story to tell and in a way they do. The portrait that hung at the top of the stairs gave me major chills and I almost expected it to come alive. I'd be sleeping with one eye open in that house! 👁️
Nelle reminded me of a Ms. Danvers ( the housekeeper in Rebecca, with her mean spirited stunts). Rebecca is my favorite gothic classic novel and this one had some strong vibes that I loved.
Expect rumors, whispers, secrets/scheming and a truly twisted house of unexpected happenings!
A favorite for the year!
Thanks NG for my ARC. OUT on January 23, 2024
January 4, 2024
This may be my first time ending one year with a five star read and beginning the next with another, but I’ll take it! Rachel Hawkins has delivered a compelling start to my 2024 reads!
The uber wealthy McTavish family has controlled their namesake town Tavistock, NC, for decades, and none has played a more prominent role in that than Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. Her notoriety began early with her kidnapping and eventual return at age three and later with a succession of four very “unlucky” dead husbands!
When Ruby dies unexpectedly, her adopted son Camden is summoned by his nephew, Ben, to come help with the upkeep of the McTavish family estate, Ashby House. If Cam had his say, he’d never go back there. His aunt Nelle, Ben and niece Libby certainly don’t want him there. In their minds, he’s not a REAL McTavish, and now that Ruby has left the entire estate and fortune to him, his presence is just salt in their wounds.
What happens when Cam and his wife Jules return to Ashby house and the ghosts of Ruby’s past? Let’s just say that Ruby isn’t the only one with skeletons in her closet. The secrets and lies are as plentiful as Rachel Hawkins’ use of colorful language! Nah, she wins on that count. I’d hate to see her swear jar at home. ANYWAYS … secrets can be costly!
The story is relayed in alternating chapters by Cam, Jules and letters Ruby wrote before her passing in which she’s speaking to an unknown listener. Interjected are occasional newspaper accounts of Ruby’s kidnapping and her marriages. What took this whole story to the next level for me, though, was the audiobook. It was so good! Narrated by Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla and Patti Murin, the whole story came alive, showcasing a twisty, turny plot with humor, snark, and some great soapy drama! I loved all the characters … even the rotten ones.
This is my first book by Hawkins and she made a great first impression. I did an immersion read with the audio and Kindle and can recommend either format, but do try the audio if you love that format!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5 for the excellent audio)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Rachel Hawkins for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s published on January 9, 2024.
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Note: I'm WAY behind on commenting, etc. due to work demands, holidays, etc. Please be patient with me as I work to catch up. I appreciate all your support so much!
The uber wealthy McTavish family has controlled their namesake town Tavistock, NC, for decades, and none has played a more prominent role in that than Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. Her notoriety began early with her kidnapping and eventual return at age three and later with a succession of four very “unlucky” dead husbands!
When Ruby dies unexpectedly, her adopted son Camden is summoned by his nephew, Ben, to come help with the upkeep of the McTavish family estate, Ashby House. If Cam had his say, he’d never go back there. His aunt Nelle, Ben and niece Libby certainly don’t want him there. In their minds, he’s not a REAL McTavish, and now that Ruby has left the entire estate and fortune to him, his presence is just salt in their wounds.
What happens when Cam and his wife Jules return to Ashby house and the ghosts of Ruby’s past? Let’s just say that Ruby isn’t the only one with skeletons in her closet. The secrets and lies are as plentiful as Rachel Hawkins’ use of colorful language! Nah, she wins on that count. I’d hate to see her swear jar at home. ANYWAYS … secrets can be costly!
The story is relayed in alternating chapters by Cam, Jules and letters Ruby wrote before her passing in which she’s speaking to an unknown listener. Interjected are occasional newspaper accounts of Ruby’s kidnapping and her marriages. What took this whole story to the next level for me, though, was the audiobook. It was so good! Narrated by Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla and Patti Murin, the whole story came alive, showcasing a twisty, turny plot with humor, snark, and some great soapy drama! I loved all the characters … even the rotten ones.
This is my first book by Hawkins and she made a great first impression. I did an immersion read with the audio and Kindle and can recommend either format, but do try the audio if you love that format!
★★★★ ½ (rounded to 5 for the excellent audio)
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and author Rachel Hawkins for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC to honestly review. It’s published on January 9, 2024.
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Note: I'm WAY behind on commenting, etc. due to work demands, holidays, etc. Please be patient with me as I work to catch up. I appreciate all your support so much!
July 11, 2024
Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore. That's quite a name and the lady herself has quite a story. In The Heiress, you get a front row seat to all her drama.
Buckle up, baby, you're in for a bumpy ride.
In Rachel Hawkins latest novel, she treats us to the complicated life story of Ruby McTavish and the fractious family she left behind.
At the time of her death, Ruby was the wealthiest woman in North Carolina. She was also its most notorious resident.
Her notoriety started early when she was kidnapped as a child, a very wealthy child. Her face and story were everywhere. The talk of the town, you could say.
Unlike the tragic case of the Lindbergh baby though, Ruby was found alive and returned into the arms of her family. A seemingly happy ending.
Ruby lived an eventful life from that time forward. Widowed four times over, with marriages the stuff of gossip columns, her early infamy never really had the chance to wear off.
After her death, the family estate, Ashby House, set high in the Blue Ridge mountains, along with Ruby's nine-figure fortune is left to her adopted son, Camden, much to the chagrin of the other surviving McTavish family members.
Camden doesn't want anything to do with the estate, or the inheritance. He rejects it and moves to Colorado. He marries, becomes an English teacher and lives a fairly normal life.
10-years later, after the death of his Uncle, a summons for his presence brings Camden, along with his wife, Jules, back to North Carolina and into the fold of the McTavish family.
Cam may be displeased about their stay in North Carolina, but Jules has other thoughts. She loves the property and is enamored by the idea of it being all theirs.
The more she learns about Cam's estranged family, the more determined she becomes for him to claim everything Ruby intended for him to have. The more they learn about Ruby though, the more tainted her legacy seems to become. What exactly is her story?
I found this to be absolutely addictive. I listened to the audiobook and loved how it was formatted, as well as the multi-cast narration.
We get both Cam and Jules perspectives, as well as Ruby's story through a series of letters she has written to an unknown recipient. Cam and Jules are both providing the present timeline, as they travel to Ashby House and stay there with Cam's family for their first time.
Ruby's letters provide us with a glimpse of her life from the start. We go through her various romances and learn of the events that shaped her into the woman she becomes.
I loved the set-up and Hawkins was successful in capturing and holding my attention. I wouldn't say there was a ton of action, but as a character study, it's definitely intriguing.
If you love deep-held family secrets and drama, you will most likely enjoy this one. It's seriously the most twisted Family Drama, and I love twisted!!
As the past catches up with the present, the truth of who Ruby was writing to is revealed and thus, the truth of her life becomes clear. OMG, what a crazy life!
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this. It's great storytelling. There's varied layers of deceit and backstabbing, which we love to see. My only wish is that it could have been a little longer and that there could have been more suspense.
Nevertheless though, a really enjoyable read.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I always get excited for the newest Rachel Hawkins, and am already anticipating whatever she writes next!
Buckle up, baby, you're in for a bumpy ride.
In Rachel Hawkins latest novel, she treats us to the complicated life story of Ruby McTavish and the fractious family she left behind.
At the time of her death, Ruby was the wealthiest woman in North Carolina. She was also its most notorious resident.
Her notoriety started early when she was kidnapped as a child, a very wealthy child. Her face and story were everywhere. The talk of the town, you could say.
Unlike the tragic case of the Lindbergh baby though, Ruby was found alive and returned into the arms of her family. A seemingly happy ending.
Ruby lived an eventful life from that time forward. Widowed four times over, with marriages the stuff of gossip columns, her early infamy never really had the chance to wear off.
After her death, the family estate, Ashby House, set high in the Blue Ridge mountains, along with Ruby's nine-figure fortune is left to her adopted son, Camden, much to the chagrin of the other surviving McTavish family members.
Camden doesn't want anything to do with the estate, or the inheritance. He rejects it and moves to Colorado. He marries, becomes an English teacher and lives a fairly normal life.
10-years later, after the death of his Uncle, a summons for his presence brings Camden, along with his wife, Jules, back to North Carolina and into the fold of the McTavish family.
Cam may be displeased about their stay in North Carolina, but Jules has other thoughts. She loves the property and is enamored by the idea of it being all theirs.
The more she learns about Cam's estranged family, the more determined she becomes for him to claim everything Ruby intended for him to have. The more they learn about Ruby though, the more tainted her legacy seems to become. What exactly is her story?
I found this to be absolutely addictive. I listened to the audiobook and loved how it was formatted, as well as the multi-cast narration.
We get both Cam and Jules perspectives, as well as Ruby's story through a series of letters she has written to an unknown recipient. Cam and Jules are both providing the present timeline, as they travel to Ashby House and stay there with Cam's family for their first time.
Ruby's letters provide us with a glimpse of her life from the start. We go through her various romances and learn of the events that shaped her into the woman she becomes.
I loved the set-up and Hawkins was successful in capturing and holding my attention. I wouldn't say there was a ton of action, but as a character study, it's definitely intriguing.
If you love deep-held family secrets and drama, you will most likely enjoy this one. It's seriously the most twisted Family Drama, and I love twisted!!
As the past catches up with the present, the truth of who Ruby was writing to is revealed and thus, the truth of her life becomes clear. OMG, what a crazy life!
Overall, I had a lot of fun with this. It's great storytelling. There's varied layers of deceit and backstabbing, which we love to see. My only wish is that it could have been a little longer and that there could have been more suspense.
Nevertheless though, a really enjoyable read.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I always get excited for the newest Rachel Hawkins, and am already anticipating whatever she writes next!
February 9, 2024
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins is a Mystery-Suspense and Family Fiction Story!
"HEIRESS, PHILANTHROPIST, ONETIME KIDNAP VICTIM, RUBY MCTAVISH CALLAHAN WOODWARD MILLER KENMORE DIES AT 73." ~ The Asheville Citizen-Times, April 2, 2013
Ten years ago when Ruby's entire estate, immense fortune, and newsworthy family history, were passed to her adopted son, Camden McTavish, he turned his nose up at his inheritance and the entire McTavish Family.
Until now...
Now the home and family Camden ran from after Ruby's death are calling him back. The fifteen-bedroom mansion, Ashby House, is in serious disrepair and the tangled mess of Ruby's will makes it next to impossible for the family to request funds for maintenance without Camden's help.
Camden and his wife, Jules, decide together to travel from their home in Colorado to Tavistock, North Carolina, to see the condition of their estate for themselves...
The Heiress was a twisty ride and the first book I've read by Rachel Hawkins. I fully understood Camden's desire to flee the old homestead ten years ago. The McTavish clan was a despicable, disturbing, and dysfunctional family that resulted in a barrel of nasty fun for this reader.
Without a doubt, the most entertaining part of this tale was Ruby's story told through letters written to an unknown recipient. Jules' folksy point-of-view was interesting and enlightening, too, but poor Camden was a major stress case making his narrative no fun at all.
This was an immersion reading experience through the gifted Digital Reading Copy and Advanced Listening Copy. The audiobook has four narrators: Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin. Either format will deliver a great experience but if you have a choice, pick the audiobook. The voices of Ruby and Jules should NOT be missed.
The Heiress was a fun read/listen that I recommend to readers who enjoy mystery-suspense stories about complicated, messed-up families!
4.25⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Rachel Hawkins for a DRC and an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
"HEIRESS, PHILANTHROPIST, ONETIME KIDNAP VICTIM, RUBY MCTAVISH CALLAHAN WOODWARD MILLER KENMORE DIES AT 73." ~ The Asheville Citizen-Times, April 2, 2013
Ten years ago when Ruby's entire estate, immense fortune, and newsworthy family history, were passed to her adopted son, Camden McTavish, he turned his nose up at his inheritance and the entire McTavish Family.
Until now...
Now the home and family Camden ran from after Ruby's death are calling him back. The fifteen-bedroom mansion, Ashby House, is in serious disrepair and the tangled mess of Ruby's will makes it next to impossible for the family to request funds for maintenance without Camden's help.
Camden and his wife, Jules, decide together to travel from their home in Colorado to Tavistock, North Carolina, to see the condition of their estate for themselves...
The Heiress was a twisty ride and the first book I've read by Rachel Hawkins. I fully understood Camden's desire to flee the old homestead ten years ago. The McTavish clan was a despicable, disturbing, and dysfunctional family that resulted in a barrel of nasty fun for this reader.
Without a doubt, the most entertaining part of this tale was Ruby's story told through letters written to an unknown recipient. Jules' folksy point-of-view was interesting and enlightening, too, but poor Camden was a major stress case making his narrative no fun at all.
This was an immersion reading experience through the gifted Digital Reading Copy and Advanced Listening Copy. The audiobook has four narrators: Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin. Either format will deliver a great experience but if you have a choice, pick the audiobook. The voices of Ruby and Jules should NOT be missed.
The Heiress was a fun read/listen that I recommend to readers who enjoy mystery-suspense stories about complicated, messed-up families!
4.25⭐
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Rachel Hawkins for a DRC and an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
August 21, 2023
4.5 Stars
Oh, what a tangled web we weave! This was such a clever, well thought out and executed book! There are secrets and then there are the McTavish secrets!!! The beginning of the book drew me in, and the second half of the book blew me away.
The McTavish family is one of the richest families in North Carolina. They live in Ashby House, their beautiful estate, with sprawling grounds and woods with hiking trails.
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, the richest woman in North Carolina, died she left everything to her adopted son, Camden (Cam). Cam, the sole heir, doesn't want the money. He wants to be free of the dysfunctional McTavish family and live happily with his wife, Jules.
But when he is summoned to return, Cam goes back to Ashby house, and the rest as they say is history...…
This was such a well thought out book. The first half of the book had me wanting more. I was intrigued by Ruby's letters and what they revealed. Rachel Hawkins had my attention from the very beginning and the book kept getting more interesting, more addictive, and more shocking as more was revealed. There is drama, secrets, and twists galore! Just when I thought this book could not get any better, it did! I enjoyed both Cam and Jules POV's in addition to reading about Ruby through her journal entries.
Gripping, shocking, well written and dramatic. I can't wait to read what Rachel Hawkins writes next!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 9, 2024
IS MONEY THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL?
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious.
When just a child, she was the victim of a famous kidnapping, and as an adult she has become a widow four times over, earning herself the nickname of “Mrs. Killmore”.
In the aftermath of her death, her estate-the Ashby house, along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish―was passed down to her adopted son, Camden, who wants no part of it.
But his wife, Jules, does….
The story unfolds from the alternating perspectives of Jules, Camden and Ruby (through a series of TELL ALL letters) along with some clippings from various magazine and newspaper articles over the years, after Camden is called home to deal with the estate.
This sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun to read, BUT it was probably my least favorite book by this author, and I wasn’t captivated by the story at all.
But, I must give credit where credit is due.
Many authors can write an entertaining book that is ruined by a terrible ending, but this time, an average story was somewhat redeemed by a CLEVER denouement, which earned it the extra .5 ⭐️
3.5 ⭐️ rounded down
NOW AVAILABLE
A buddy read which ended up with two of us giving it a 👍🏻and two of us giving it a 👎🏻
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, she’s not only North Carolina’s richest woman, she’s also its most notorious.
When just a child, she was the victim of a famous kidnapping, and as an adult she has become a widow four times over, earning herself the nickname of “Mrs. Killmore”.
In the aftermath of her death, her estate-the Ashby house, along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish―was passed down to her adopted son, Camden, who wants no part of it.
But his wife, Jules, does….
The story unfolds from the alternating perspectives of Jules, Camden and Ruby (through a series of TELL ALL letters) along with some clippings from various magazine and newspaper articles over the years, after Camden is called home to deal with the estate.
This sounded like it was going to be a lot of fun to read, BUT it was probably my least favorite book by this author, and I wasn’t captivated by the story at all.
But, I must give credit where credit is due.
Many authors can write an entertaining book that is ruined by a terrible ending, but this time, an average story was somewhat redeemed by a CLEVER denouement, which earned it the extra .5 ⭐️
3.5 ⭐️ rounded down
NOW AVAILABLE
A buddy read which ended up with two of us giving it a 👍🏻and two of us giving it a 👎🏻
Thank You to St. Martin’s Press for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
August 14, 2023
4.5
There’s nothing like a death to bring out the worst in a family. Especially when the deceased was uber wealthy, the family isn’t happy with the will, and they are all a vile bunch to start with.
When Ruby McTavish dies, she leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden. But he cares little about the inheritance and fled this vile family many years ago. He’s a decent man despite his family, and now lives a quiet life with his wife, Jules.
10 years later, he reluctantly returns to the house to settle some matters and is drawn into the family’s many secrets, betrayals, and lies.
We are given the background into the past through a series of letters written by Ruby, and what explosive secrets they contained! Let’s just say Ruthless Ruby knew what she wanted and wouldn’t let anything or anyone get in her way. Just ask her four deceased husbands.
Also narrated by Cam and Jules, I particularly enjoyed Jules’s narration, with her snappy, snarky retorts to the den of snakes that made up the McTavish family
Is everyone who they seem to be? No. Does everyone have secrets? Oh yes, and plenty of them!
The drama, and the wild twists and turns kept me glued to the pages. This is a fun read for fans of the genre!
· I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
· This was a buddy read with my friend, Marialyce, be sure to check out her review
· Publication date 1/9/24 by St Martin’s Press
There’s nothing like a death to bring out the worst in a family. Especially when the deceased was uber wealthy, the family isn’t happy with the will, and they are all a vile bunch to start with.
When Ruby McTavish dies, she leaves everything to her adopted son, Camden. But he cares little about the inheritance and fled this vile family many years ago. He’s a decent man despite his family, and now lives a quiet life with his wife, Jules.
10 years later, he reluctantly returns to the house to settle some matters and is drawn into the family’s many secrets, betrayals, and lies.
We are given the background into the past through a series of letters written by Ruby, and what explosive secrets they contained! Let’s just say Ruthless Ruby knew what she wanted and wouldn’t let anything or anyone get in her way. Just ask her four deceased husbands.
Also narrated by Cam and Jules, I particularly enjoyed Jules’s narration, with her snappy, snarky retorts to the den of snakes that made up the McTavish family
Is everyone who they seem to be? No. Does everyone have secrets? Oh yes, and plenty of them!
The drama, and the wild twists and turns kept me glued to the pages. This is a fun read for fans of the genre!
· I received a digital copy of the book via NetGalley. All opinions are my own
· This was a buddy read with my friend, Marialyce, be sure to check out her review
· Publication date 1/9/24 by St Martin’s Press
November 18, 2023
This is the latest release by Rachel Hawkins! While most readers are loving it and can’t say enough about it, for me it just missed the Wow factor A case of like not love!
Ruby McTavish was one of the wealthiest women in the Carolinas! Upon her passing she left the family home and her fortune to her son, Cam. Safe to say, the rest of the family were none too pleased with that decision!
Cam put as much distance between him and his dysfunctional family as possible. But now, maybe it’s time to return home, face his demons and take care of the family estate once and for all.
We learn about matriarch Ruby through letters she’d penned discussing her past marriages and the demise of all her husbands. Ya… there were more than a few!
Truth be told, his family had plenty of deeply buried secrets between them all. So don’t get too comfortable! These secrets are about to bubble up out of the ooze. And they are explosive! With aftershocks all the way to the end!
Personally, I had trouble connecting to the storyline until about 30% when it finally began clicking! And though I enjoyed the read and all the creatively placed twists, something prevented me from completely loving it. (Truthfully, I find that with most the books from this author).
Still a solid four-star read for me! But there are plenty of five-star reviews to be found. So be sure to peruse those as well!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
Ruby McTavish was one of the wealthiest women in the Carolinas! Upon her passing she left the family home and her fortune to her son, Cam. Safe to say, the rest of the family were none too pleased with that decision!
Cam put as much distance between him and his dysfunctional family as possible. But now, maybe it’s time to return home, face his demons and take care of the family estate once and for all.
We learn about matriarch Ruby through letters she’d penned discussing her past marriages and the demise of all her husbands. Ya… there were more than a few!
Truth be told, his family had plenty of deeply buried secrets between them all. So don’t get too comfortable! These secrets are about to bubble up out of the ooze. And they are explosive! With aftershocks all the way to the end!
Personally, I had trouble connecting to the storyline until about 30% when it finally began clicking! And though I enjoyed the read and all the creatively placed twists, something prevented me from completely loving it. (Truthfully, I find that with most the books from this author).
Still a solid four-star read for me! But there are plenty of five-star reviews to be found. So be sure to peruse those as well!
A buddy read with Susanne!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press
February 4, 2024
Ooooh boy, the McTavish family sure puts the FUN in dysfunctional!
What a crew.
Let’s see… there’s Ruby, the titular Heiress, who’s been widowed four times — yes, four — with each of her husbands meeting an, ahem, untimely death under rather mysterious circumstances.
Then there is Camden, Ruby’s adopted son and sole heir of her nine-figure fortune.
Rounding out the McTavish clan, we have Ruby’s sister Nelle, who seems to have a permanent scowl affixed to her face, and Cam’s cousins Ben and Libby, neither of whom are going to win any random acts of kindness awards.
After 10 years since his mother’s death, Cam reluctantly heads home to Ashby House, his family estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, to finally deal with the inheritance he never wanted and introduce his wife to his lovely estranged family.
Each of the surviving McTavish make Cam feel like an interloper, both in the family and in the house, an old rambling mansion that has fallen into disrepair, surrounded by thick forest and sheer cliffs.
Interspersed throughout the narrative are letters from Ruby written just prior to her death — to whom the letters are addressed is, of course, part of the mystery that unfolds — and news articles about her kidnapping that rocked the nation when she was just three-years-old.
Chapters alternate between Cam and his wife Jules, who have very different agendas when it comes to Cam’s inheritance and Ashby House.
Each character has something to hide and as the story progresses, their web of secrets and lies starts to unravel.
The Heiress, the latest release by acclaimed author Rachel Hawkins, will have you rapidly turning the pages long into the night.
What a crew.
Let’s see… there’s Ruby, the titular Heiress, who’s been widowed four times — yes, four — with each of her husbands meeting an, ahem, untimely death under rather mysterious circumstances.
Then there is Camden, Ruby’s adopted son and sole heir of her nine-figure fortune.
Rounding out the McTavish clan, we have Ruby’s sister Nelle, who seems to have a permanent scowl affixed to her face, and Cam’s cousins Ben and Libby, neither of whom are going to win any random acts of kindness awards.
After 10 years since his mother’s death, Cam reluctantly heads home to Ashby House, his family estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, to finally deal with the inheritance he never wanted and introduce his wife to his lovely estranged family.
Each of the surviving McTavish make Cam feel like an interloper, both in the family and in the house, an old rambling mansion that has fallen into disrepair, surrounded by thick forest and sheer cliffs.
Interspersed throughout the narrative are letters from Ruby written just prior to her death — to whom the letters are addressed is, of course, part of the mystery that unfolds — and news articles about her kidnapping that rocked the nation when she was just three-years-old.
Chapters alternate between Cam and his wife Jules, who have very different agendas when it comes to Cam’s inheritance and Ashby House.
Each character has something to hide and as the story progresses, their web of secrets and lies starts to unravel.
The Heiress, the latest release by acclaimed author Rachel Hawkins, will have you rapidly turning the pages long into the night.
January 9, 2024
This was a MASTERPIECE: I was completely invested and drawn in by the main characters in this most excellent novel.
RUBY, RUBY, RUBY! What a crackpot! I won't say too much because you truly have to go into this one blind, but she is unrepentantly focused on getting exactly what she wants out of life - and KEEPING IT!
Utterly ruthless - but charming with it.
CAMDEN, Ruby's adopted son, turned his back on all that Ruby could give him. He wanted to be that impossible thing in this materialistic world: a good, decent man. All that money and power had made selfish, abusive monsters of the remaining McTavish family - each of them working to undermine and cut each other out in the race to the honeypot that was the McTavish family inheritance.
JULES, Camden's zany, irrepressible wife was the real treasure in this story. I laughed so many times at her witty retorts to the McTavish family's sly barbs: I was rooting for her, even if you did suspect that she wasn't at all what she seemed to be...... that she, too, had SECRETS!
Well, in the end, didn't they all?
So many secrets! So many ruthless decisions and unforgivable betrayals down the years that have made Jules and Camden the people they are today. Was it Nature or Nurture? Hmmm...
As I made my way through this highly entertaining thriller, all kinds of possible scenarios teased the edge of my brain. The story is told from several points of view - which was so skillfully done that I began to look forward to the switch-overs: it was like watching a ping pong match! Just when you thought the game was over, another character stepped in with a shocking twist and lobbed the ball back into play!
Highly recommended: I was truly entertained and I miss Camden and Jules so much! I hope that the audiobook comes out soon so that I can revisit this crazy couple!
Five out of 5 glowing stars for this great read: my appreciative thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel (due out in January of 2024) in exchange for an honest review.
Well done!!!
RUBY, RUBY, RUBY! What a crackpot! I won't say too much because you truly have to go into this one blind, but she is unrepentantly focused on getting exactly what she wants out of life - and KEEPING IT!
Utterly ruthless - but charming with it.
CAMDEN, Ruby's adopted son, turned his back on all that Ruby could give him. He wanted to be that impossible thing in this materialistic world: a good, decent man. All that money and power had made selfish, abusive monsters of the remaining McTavish family - each of them working to undermine and cut each other out in the race to the honeypot that was the McTavish family inheritance.
JULES, Camden's zany, irrepressible wife was the real treasure in this story. I laughed so many times at her witty retorts to the McTavish family's sly barbs: I was rooting for her, even if you did suspect that she wasn't at all what she seemed to be...... that she, too, had SECRETS!
Well, in the end, didn't they all?
So many secrets! So many ruthless decisions and unforgivable betrayals down the years that have made Jules and Camden the people they are today. Was it Nature or Nurture? Hmmm...
As I made my way through this highly entertaining thriller, all kinds of possible scenarios teased the edge of my brain. The story is told from several points of view - which was so skillfully done that I began to look forward to the switch-overs: it was like watching a ping pong match! Just when you thought the game was over, another character stepped in with a shocking twist and lobbed the ball back into play!
Highly recommended: I was truly entertained and I miss Camden and Jules so much! I hope that the audiobook comes out soon so that I can revisit this crazy couple!
Five out of 5 glowing stars for this great read: my appreciative thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for an ARC of this novel (due out in January of 2024) in exchange for an honest review.
Well done!!!
November 12, 2023
Last night I dreamed of Manderly . . . oops, I mean Ashby House.
The Heiress is an intriguing domestic thriller. It is told in alternating chapters by Camden, the unwilling heir to the McTavish family fortune; by Jules, Camden's loving wife of ten years; and through letters that Ruby, Camden's adoptive mother, had written to someone before she died in 2013. Ruby was infamous for being kidnapped as a child and then found a year later and also for being widowed four times under suspicious circumstances.
While Ruby's father left all the money to her, he gave his other daughter, Nelle, a life estate in Ashby House, the family's imposing home in North Carolina. After Ruby's death when Camden was only 19, he left Ashby House and moved to California. Nelle, her son, and two grandchildren remained there. Nell's family had always despised Ruby, especially when she adopted Camden to keep them from inheriting anything further.
Camden and Jules met in California and quickly fell in love. They lived a simple life in a rented house in Colorado. That was until it became obvious that Camden needed to return to Ashby House to handle some maintenance issues. Once Camden reenters the gates, he is sucked back into the menacing world of Ashby House.
This is a story of wealth, greed, murder, hidden truths, and many lies. I really enjoyed it.
The Heiress is an intriguing domestic thriller. It is told in alternating chapters by Camden, the unwilling heir to the McTavish family fortune; by Jules, Camden's loving wife of ten years; and through letters that Ruby, Camden's adoptive mother, had written to someone before she died in 2013. Ruby was infamous for being kidnapped as a child and then found a year later and also for being widowed four times under suspicious circumstances.
While Ruby's father left all the money to her, he gave his other daughter, Nelle, a life estate in Ashby House, the family's imposing home in North Carolina. After Ruby's death when Camden was only 19, he left Ashby House and moved to California. Nelle, her son, and two grandchildren remained there. Nell's family had always despised Ruby, especially when she adopted Camden to keep them from inheriting anything further.
Camden and Jules met in California and quickly fell in love. They lived a simple life in a rented house in Colorado. That was until it became obvious that Camden needed to return to Ashby House to handle some maintenance issues. Once Camden reenters the gates, he is sucked back into the menacing world of Ashby House.
This is a story of wealth, greed, murder, hidden truths, and many lies. I really enjoyed it.
February 2, 2024
After the demise of a family member, Camden McTavish reluctantly returns to Ashby House, the family mansion in the Blue Ridge Mountains he had left over a decade ago to tend to certain family matters. Adopted by the late Ruby McTavish, Camden never quite felt a part of the McTavish family, though Ruby doted over him. Kidnapped as a child, found after eight months and returned to her family, married and widowed multiple times, Ruby led an eventful life but her secrets and her manipulativeness drove a wedge between her and her adopted son. Though Camden left North Carolina after Ruby’s demise over a decade ago, Ruby’s sister Nelle and her grandchildren stayed on to live in Ashby House and resent the fact that Camden inherited the home and the family fortune. While Camden isn’t too thrilled to be back, Jules is more than impressed with the family mansion, the grandeur, and the promise of a life very different from the one they share in Colorado and wouldn’t mind making Ashby House their permanent home. But there is a lot about the family and Camden that Jules does not know and similarly, Camden is unaware of Jules’ intentions. What follows is a tangled web of secrets and more secrets, lies, and manipulation.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins! The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Camden and Jules with letters written by Ruby interspersed throughout the novel through which she shares all the juicy details about her life! Ruby McTavish is one of the most interesting (fictional) characters I have come across in recent times. Intriguing plot (though not entirely original), consistent pacing, twists and turns, and surprises galore, this novel is an entertaining page-turner. While certain aspects of the story were not entirely unpredictable, there were enough surprises to hold my interest and I really liked the ending. Overall, this was a fun read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to fans of this genre!
This was my first Rachel Hawkins novel and I hope to explore more of her work.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 09, 2024.
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I thoroughly enjoyed The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins! The narrative is shared from the perspectives of Camden and Jules with letters written by Ruby interspersed throughout the novel through which she shares all the juicy details about her life! Ruby McTavish is one of the most interesting (fictional) characters I have come across in recent times. Intriguing plot (though not entirely original), consistent pacing, twists and turns, and surprises galore, this novel is an entertaining page-turner. While certain aspects of the story were not entirely unpredictable, there were enough surprises to hold my interest and I really liked the ending. Overall, this was a fun read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to fans of this genre!
This was my first Rachel Hawkins novel and I hope to explore more of her work.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on January 09, 2024.
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August 14, 2023
4.5 stars
I was glued to this book. An amazingly addictive tale!
Wow! and Wow again! This book kept me enthralled reading every single page. What a family! What a story!
The MacTavishes are quite a group. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore (yes she was the bearer of that many names having been married four times!) and the matriarch of the family. She knows what she wants and gets it too! Ruby had initially been kidnapped as a young child, but is eventually found a year later and returned to her loving (?) home.
Ruby has just passed in the story and her adopted son, Camden, much to the ire of the rest of the family, is to inherit her massive fortune, and the gorgeous Ashby House, palatial home to the family.
Camden and his wife live in Colorado in a rental home, he being a teacher and she, Jules, is a care giver. Camden wants nothing to do with the family, the house, or the fortune, but is convinced to make a trip home. In this trip and when they reach Ashby House, the times of both Ruby and Camden are revealed and we fully realize why Camden wants to stay far away from this family of vipers. What a bunch of sleaze!
However, the story is one that twists and turns in the turmoil of a life that has seen death and murder. It is one that makes the reader wonder, it is nature or nurture that propels a person.
It was an addictive read and one that kept me so involved in the story that hours passed like they were minutes. If you enjoy the thriller genre, then this book is right up you lane. Jan and I loved this one and I think you will as well.
Thanks so much to Rachel Hawkins who flawlessly put together all the strings of this tale, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this seductive tale, due out in January of 2024.
I was glued to this book. An amazingly addictive tale!
Wow! and Wow again! This book kept me enthralled reading every single page. What a family! What a story!
The MacTavishes are quite a group. Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore (yes she was the bearer of that many names having been married four times!) and the matriarch of the family. She knows what she wants and gets it too! Ruby had initially been kidnapped as a young child, but is eventually found a year later and returned to her loving (?) home.
Ruby has just passed in the story and her adopted son, Camden, much to the ire of the rest of the family, is to inherit her massive fortune, and the gorgeous Ashby House, palatial home to the family.
Camden and his wife live in Colorado in a rental home, he being a teacher and she, Jules, is a care giver. Camden wants nothing to do with the family, the house, or the fortune, but is convinced to make a trip home. In this trip and when they reach Ashby House, the times of both Ruby and Camden are revealed and we fully realize why Camden wants to stay far away from this family of vipers. What a bunch of sleaze!
However, the story is one that twists and turns in the turmoil of a life that has seen death and murder. It is one that makes the reader wonder, it is nature or nurture that propels a person.
It was an addictive read and one that kept me so involved in the story that hours passed like they were minutes. If you enjoy the thriller genre, then this book is right up you lane. Jan and I loved this one and I think you will as well.
Thanks so much to Rachel Hawkins who flawlessly put together all the strings of this tale, St Martin's Press, and NetGalley for a copy of this seductive tale, due out in January of 2024.
March 7, 2024
A twisty family drama! 🤯
I loved this book. I thought it was wildly creative and fun. Rachel Hawkins is a force to be reckoned with. The Wife Upstairs was a pretty good book and this was downright awesome and I think after reading The Heiress, Hawkins may be a go-to author for me now.
I adored the ending and even though I had suspicions on how it would end, it proved me wrong and gave an ending that packed a big punch. An epilogue done right! 👏🏼
Didn’t quite hit a 5 for me but came pretty damn close.
Stop reading my review and pick up this book already. ❤️
4.5⭐️ rounding down.
I loved this book. I thought it was wildly creative and fun. Rachel Hawkins is a force to be reckoned with. The Wife Upstairs was a pretty good book and this was downright awesome and I think after reading The Heiress, Hawkins may be a go-to author for me now.
I adored the ending and even though I had suspicions on how it would end, it proved me wrong and gave an ending that packed a big punch. An epilogue done right! 👏🏼
Didn’t quite hit a 5 for me but came pretty damn close.
Stop reading my review and pick up this book already. ❤️
4.5⭐️ rounding down.
January 9, 2024
Ten years ago, the enigmatic yet notorious widow (times four), Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, died at her palatial mansion in Tavistock, North Carolina. Kidnapped at the young age of three, her life had been one mixed with intrigue and heartbreak. Unless the rumors and gossip are to be believed. Could it be possible that one of the richest women in the Blue Ridge Mountains was actually a murderess? Some mysteries just might be too scandalous to be true.
When Ruby died, however, the money—rumored to be in the high eight figures—passed down to her adopted son, Camden. But sick of the McTavishes and their spoiled ways, he decided to walk away from the money and his surviving family members to forge his own way out west. There he met the down-on-her-luck Jules and, quick as can be, he fell head over heels. The two soon married and settled down far from the McTavishes and their greedy ways.
Ten years later, Camden is living a happy if not spartan life in Colorado with Jules. Until he learns of his Uncle Howell’s passing, that is. Once again, the McTavishes aim to pull him—and his rather large bank account—back into the fold. Taken by the idea of a twenty thousand square foot home in the mountains of North Carolina, Jules convinces him to visit the grand estate once more. After all, there’s always been a piece of him that seemed out of reach. Maybe visiting his past will release the ghosts that follow him even now.
Setting foot on the grounds, Jules is overcome with Ashby House and its breathtaking vistas. Once inside, however, the McTavishes are hardly welcoming and she starts to see why Camden ran away all of those years ago. Even more worrisome are the rumors about the former matriarch that still haunt its halls. Was Ruby’s abduction and eventually return really as straightforward as everyone claimed? Did her four husbands truly die by accidental or natural causes? Or could the rumors about “Mrs. Kill-more” really be true? Most puzzling of all, why did the widow adopt Camden out of the blue? One thing is for sure, however—now that Camden is back within Ashby House’s walls, leaving won’t be nearly as easy as it was the first time around.
Holy guacamole! I always knew that Rachel Hawkins was the queen of suspense, but, after finishing The Heiress, I was stunned into silence by what I’d just read. Deftly combining dual POVs, letters, and various news articles into one twisted, twisted tale, I was totally floored. Let me just tell you, Hawkins has reached a new level of awe-inspiring writing, in my opinion, with this domestic thriller being a downright masterpiece of the written word.
Starting from the top, the characters were simply sublime. Mildly eccentric in an Agatha Christie-esque way, they still felt wholly believable to this avid reader. With dark motives and equally disturbing behaviors, every twist and turn revealed a new secret waiting to be exposed. And while none of the characters were exactly innocent (and quite a few rather unlikeable), I still connected with one or two, which made me hope they came out on top. Just the same, my loyalties flip-flopped throughout the richly layered plot until its stunning conclusion managed to shock even this veteran thriller lover.
The plot itself was oh so devious, but only in the best possible way. With all of the various revelations about both the past and the present, it was impossible to see where it was all heading before the immaculate twists were laid bare. Just the same, the ever ratcheting suspense and foreboding meant my fingers simply flew through the pages while I lost track of time. Quite frankly, this just might be Hawkins’s best novel yet as I was thoroughly addicted to these characters and their altogether crazy antics.
With short chapters, a puzzle of a plot, and a brilliant gothic mystery at its core, I was thoroughly spellbound by this fast-paced winner of a book. Of course, I mustn’t forget about the dysfunctional family and perfectly drawn setting as I continue to rave about this hole in one. Just know that you shouldn’t trust anyone in what was a devilish, unputdownable good time. Now I’m just going to cross my fingers and pray that The Heiress makes its way onto a screen near me someday soon. Perfect for adaptation, I’d wager it would be a sellout for sure. So if you haven’t already, be sure to add this book to your 2024 TBR ASAP. After all, it’s not one to be missed. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 9, 2024
Trigger warning: spousal abuse, fatal shooting, house fire
When Ruby died, however, the money—rumored to be in the high eight figures—passed down to her adopted son, Camden. But sick of the McTavishes and their spoiled ways, he decided to walk away from the money and his surviving family members to forge his own way out west. There he met the down-on-her-luck Jules and, quick as can be, he fell head over heels. The two soon married and settled down far from the McTavishes and their greedy ways.
Ten years later, Camden is living a happy if not spartan life in Colorado with Jules. Until he learns of his Uncle Howell’s passing, that is. Once again, the McTavishes aim to pull him—and his rather large bank account—back into the fold. Taken by the idea of a twenty thousand square foot home in the mountains of North Carolina, Jules convinces him to visit the grand estate once more. After all, there’s always been a piece of him that seemed out of reach. Maybe visiting his past will release the ghosts that follow him even now.
Setting foot on the grounds, Jules is overcome with Ashby House and its breathtaking vistas. Once inside, however, the McTavishes are hardly welcoming and she starts to see why Camden ran away all of those years ago. Even more worrisome are the rumors about the former matriarch that still haunt its halls. Was Ruby’s abduction and eventually return really as straightforward as everyone claimed? Did her four husbands truly die by accidental or natural causes? Or could the rumors about “Mrs. Kill-more” really be true? Most puzzling of all, why did the widow adopt Camden out of the blue? One thing is for sure, however—now that Camden is back within Ashby House’s walls, leaving won’t be nearly as easy as it was the first time around.
Holy guacamole! I always knew that Rachel Hawkins was the queen of suspense, but, after finishing The Heiress, I was stunned into silence by what I’d just read. Deftly combining dual POVs, letters, and various news articles into one twisted, twisted tale, I was totally floored. Let me just tell you, Hawkins has reached a new level of awe-inspiring writing, in my opinion, with this domestic thriller being a downright masterpiece of the written word.
Starting from the top, the characters were simply sublime. Mildly eccentric in an Agatha Christie-esque way, they still felt wholly believable to this avid reader. With dark motives and equally disturbing behaviors, every twist and turn revealed a new secret waiting to be exposed. And while none of the characters were exactly innocent (and quite a few rather unlikeable), I still connected with one or two, which made me hope they came out on top. Just the same, my loyalties flip-flopped throughout the richly layered plot until its stunning conclusion managed to shock even this veteran thriller lover.
The plot itself was oh so devious, but only in the best possible way. With all of the various revelations about both the past and the present, it was impossible to see where it was all heading before the immaculate twists were laid bare. Just the same, the ever ratcheting suspense and foreboding meant my fingers simply flew through the pages while I lost track of time. Quite frankly, this just might be Hawkins’s best novel yet as I was thoroughly addicted to these characters and their altogether crazy antics.
With short chapters, a puzzle of a plot, and a brilliant gothic mystery at its core, I was thoroughly spellbound by this fast-paced winner of a book. Of course, I mustn’t forget about the dysfunctional family and perfectly drawn setting as I continue to rave about this hole in one. Just know that you shouldn’t trust anyone in what was a devilish, unputdownable good time. Now I’m just going to cross my fingers and pray that The Heiress makes its way onto a screen near me someday soon. Perfect for adaptation, I’d wager it would be a sellout for sure. So if you haven’t already, be sure to add this book to your 2024 TBR ASAP. After all, it’s not one to be missed. Rating of 5+ stars.
Thank you to Rachel Hawkins, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 9, 2024
Trigger warning: spousal abuse, fatal shooting, house fire
December 7, 2023
With a name like, Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore, you just know this lady has some skeletons in her closet. And lucky for me they are all begging to escape. These skeletons don't just fall from the closet, though, they come out like a marching band banging drums and blowing horns. 🥁🎺
And I was all in. 😍
Pop that popcorn, sip that drink, and let the various troubles of the wealthy elite sweep you away.
Unlikeable characters ✔
Gossip and lies galore ✔
Secrets ✔
Past and Present timeline ✔
Twists and turns ✔
Page-turnability ✔
Murder ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔
I really enjoyed this book for exactly what it was, a soap opera in book form. A book that was easy to get into and that didn't require very much brain power on my end which I appreciate during the holiday hoopla heading into Christmas. If you are already a fan of this author or you like a good domestic drama about a seriously dysfunctional family then this one is worth picking up. Fun stuff! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
And I was all in. 😍
Pop that popcorn, sip that drink, and let the various troubles of the wealthy elite sweep you away.
Unlikeable characters ✔
Gossip and lies galore ✔
Secrets ✔
Past and Present timeline ✔
Twists and turns ✔
Page-turnability ✔
Murder ✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔✔
I really enjoyed this book for exactly what it was, a soap opera in book form. A book that was easy to get into and that didn't require very much brain power on my end which I appreciate during the holiday hoopla heading into Christmas. If you are already a fan of this author or you like a good domestic drama about a seriously dysfunctional family then this one is worth picking up. Fun stuff! 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
January 17, 2024
4⭐
Genre ~ mystery
Setting ~ Colorado, North Carolina
Publication date ~ January 9, 2024
Est page Count ~ 281 (p+ 17 chapters + letters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 20 minutes
Narrators ~ Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, Patti Murin
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ family drama, greed, domestic abuse, secrets, revenge, slow burn
Cam wants nothing to do with his inheritance or the infamous Ashby House. His wife, Jules, convinces him to visit the estate after another death in the family 10 years later.
Ruby tells us her life story ~ the good, the bad and the ugly ~ through letters. These were my favorite parts of the book.
A juicy plot where secrets are plenty and family drama is high. It was a bit of a slow burn, but it kept me engaged and entertained and had a few nice zingers.
Side note ~ I don't know if I noticed this more because I listened to it with my daughter, but holy moly there is an abundance of swearing. F bombing to the max.
I was fortunate enough to have both a kindle and an audio copy, both were equally enjoyable.
Narration notes:
Yay for 4! They all did a lovely job. I don't have any complaints.
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
Genre ~ mystery
Setting ~ Colorado, North Carolina
Publication date ~ January 9, 2024
Est page Count ~ 281 (p+ 17 chapters + letters +e)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 20 minutes
Narrators ~ Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, Patti Murin
POV ~ multiple 1st
Featuring ~ family drama, greed, domestic abuse, secrets, revenge, slow burn
Cam wants nothing to do with his inheritance or the infamous Ashby House. His wife, Jules, convinces him to visit the estate after another death in the family 10 years later.
Ruby tells us her life story ~ the good, the bad and the ugly ~ through letters. These were my favorite parts of the book.
A juicy plot where secrets are plenty and family drama is high. It was a bit of a slow burn, but it kept me engaged and entertained and had a few nice zingers.
Side note ~ I don't know if I noticed this more because I listened to it with my daughter, but holy moly there is an abundance of swearing. F bombing to the max.
I was fortunate enough to have both a kindle and an audio copy, both were equally enjoyable.
Narration notes:
Yay for 4! They all did a lovely job. I don't have any complaints.
*Thanks to the author, St Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Connect with me ➡ Blog ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
February 18, 2024
The Heiress is a gripping, atmospheric, domestic gothic mystery full of dark family secrets of a complex, mysterious heiress and the inheritance she left behind.
1943 Tavistock, North Carolina. On September 12th, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, a three-year-old daughter (Ruby) of Mr. Mason McTavish and his wife Anna seemingly vanished into thin air while on a picnic. Mr. McTavish is among the wealthiest men in the state of NC.
Ruby disappeared for almost a year. Manson McTavish hired a Private Investigator and found the child alive and well, living in Spanish Fort, Alabama, eight months after she first disappeared with a family by the name of Darnell, who called her Dora—reunited with her family.
When Heiress, philanthropist, and one-time kidnap victim Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies at age 73, she is NC's wealthiest and most notorious woman. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family's stunning estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains.
Ruby also had a string of bad luck and mishaps with her husband's death. The last husband gave her a nickname in NC, Mrs. Kill-more. She reverted to her maiden name, Ruby McTavish, afterward.
After her death, her adopted son, Camden, will inherit the estate and the nine-figure fortune stipulated in her will. Cam wants little to do with the house or the money. He rejects his inheritance and leads an everyday life as an English teacher in Colorado. He marries Jules, a woman who also escapes her past.
Ten years later, Camden is summoned upon his uncle's death and returns to the Ashby House with his wife, Jules. His cousin, Ben, his childhood tormentor and bully, contacts him after his father's death to deal with the family's problems.
The more Jules learns about Cam's estranged, twisted family, the more she is to claim everything that he is entitled to.
Was there any truth to the persistent rumours following her disappearance as a girl? What happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place?
In addition to the POV, there are other estranged family members: the Nanny, Ben, the cousin, an estate lawyer, his sister Libby, and great aunt Nelle, Ruby's sister. Behind closed doors, this family has so many dark secrets hidden from their public personas.
Who are these people? The people they were born to be or the people they became— by their fate. Are we made up of different types of people?
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.
Told alternating in the past and present, there are different POVs from Jules, Camden, and Ruby (letters from the desk of Ruby A. McTavish). Who was she writing to?
These POVs teach us about childhoods, scandals, secrets, and marriages. All three are hiding secrets from one another. Nothing was simple with Ruby. From past to present, the complex past unfolds, and Ruby's mysterious childhood and letters, all the unlikeable characters and their lies and dark secrets and scheming within the family, kept me frantically swiping the pages on my Kindle late into the night. I was anxious to see how it would all turn out.
If you enjoy unlikeable dark characters, lies, secrets buried in the past, deception, murder mysteries, dysfunctional families with drama, past & present timelines, twists, gothic vibes, manipulation, ambiguous morals, and stories of the wealthy behaving immorally, I highly recommend The Heiress. Money truly is the root of all evil—The Rich Gone Bad.
Dark, sinister, wickedly addictive, riveting! It is my first time reading Rachel Hawkins, and it won't be my last—
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ADC in exchange for an honest opinion
1943 Tavistock, North Carolina. On September 12th, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of NC, a three-year-old daughter (Ruby) of Mr. Mason McTavish and his wife Anna seemingly vanished into thin air while on a picnic. Mr. McTavish is among the wealthiest men in the state of NC.
Ruby disappeared for almost a year. Manson McTavish hired a Private Investigator and found the child alive and well, living in Spanish Fort, Alabama, eight months after she first disappeared with a family by the name of Darnell, who called her Dora—reunited with her family.
When Heiress, philanthropist, and one-time kidnap victim Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies at age 73, she is NC's wealthiest and most notorious woman. The victim of a famous kidnapping as a child and a widow four times over, Ruby ruled the tiny town of Tavistock from Ashby House, her family's stunning estate high in the Blue Ridge mountains.
Ruby also had a string of bad luck and mishaps with her husband's death. The last husband gave her a nickname in NC, Mrs. Kill-more. She reverted to her maiden name, Ruby McTavish, afterward.
After her death, her adopted son, Camden, will inherit the estate and the nine-figure fortune stipulated in her will. Cam wants little to do with the house or the money. He rejects his inheritance and leads an everyday life as an English teacher in Colorado. He marries Jules, a woman who also escapes her past.
Ten years later, Camden is summoned upon his uncle's death and returns to the Ashby House with his wife, Jules. His cousin, Ben, his childhood tormentor and bully, contacts him after his father's death to deal with the family's problems.
The more Jules learns about Cam's estranged, twisted family, the more she is to claim everything that he is entitled to.
Was there any truth to the persistent rumours following her disappearance as a girl? What happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place?
In addition to the POV, there are other estranged family members: the Nanny, Ben, the cousin, an estate lawyer, his sister Libby, and great aunt Nelle, Ruby's sister. Behind closed doors, this family has so many dark secrets hidden from their public personas.
Who are these people? The people they were born to be or the people they became— by their fate. Are we made up of different types of people?
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.
Told alternating in the past and present, there are different POVs from Jules, Camden, and Ruby (letters from the desk of Ruby A. McTavish). Who was she writing to?
These POVs teach us about childhoods, scandals, secrets, and marriages. All three are hiding secrets from one another. Nothing was simple with Ruby. From past to present, the complex past unfolds, and Ruby's mysterious childhood and letters, all the unlikeable characters and their lies and dark secrets and scheming within the family, kept me frantically swiping the pages on my Kindle late into the night. I was anxious to see how it would all turn out.
If you enjoy unlikeable dark characters, lies, secrets buried in the past, deception, murder mysteries, dysfunctional families with drama, past & present timelines, twists, gothic vibes, manipulation, ambiguous morals, and stories of the wealthy behaving immorally, I highly recommend The Heiress. Money truly is the root of all evil—The Rich Gone Bad.
Dark, sinister, wickedly addictive, riveting! It is my first time reading Rachel Hawkins, and it won't be my last—
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ADC in exchange for an honest opinion
January 10, 2024
4.5 escapist stars
*now available
I first met this author with her book “The Wife Upstairs” and I followed that with three more of her books, so she works for me! I enjoy how she brings her characters to life, many of them quite despicable and her writing makes for a few hours of escapist fun for me.
This book is set up with a few narrators and I like that approach, especially when the different views advance the story and don’t retread the narrative from a different perspective.
We have Jules, married for 10 years to Camden, living in Colorado (love that setting!), and working at an historical home. I enjoyed her snarky narration.
Camden is a teacher and has firmly put his past and adoptive family in North Carolina behind me. Or has he? He happens to be the sole heir to the richest family in North Carolina and now the estate and family demand his presence.
The other viewpoint is done through the letters of Ruby McTavish, and this might be my favorite one. I wish we could have met her while alive, but the letters were a terrific addition. Kidnapped as a child, Ruby had quite a life. She’s a widow times four and there’s a whole other story there.
When Jules and Camden arrived at Ashby House in North Carolina, I knew that we were in for a fun ride with this story. Filled with other shady family members and the town of Tavistock, we learn a lot about the legacy of the McTavish family.
As secrets swirled throughout the book, I started to wonder more about this family and the effects of money. Jules falls in love with the house and wants to stay, while Camden resists being pulled back in. Anything goes in this one and that includes the wild ending!
This one made for an interesting buddy read and I think I liked it the most. It must have fit my reading for an escape mode!
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
*now available
I first met this author with her book “The Wife Upstairs” and I followed that with three more of her books, so she works for me! I enjoy how she brings her characters to life, many of them quite despicable and her writing makes for a few hours of escapist fun for me.
This book is set up with a few narrators and I like that approach, especially when the different views advance the story and don’t retread the narrative from a different perspective.
We have Jules, married for 10 years to Camden, living in Colorado (love that setting!), and working at an historical home. I enjoyed her snarky narration.
Camden is a teacher and has firmly put his past and adoptive family in North Carolina behind me. Or has he? He happens to be the sole heir to the richest family in North Carolina and now the estate and family demand his presence.
The other viewpoint is done through the letters of Ruby McTavish, and this might be my favorite one. I wish we could have met her while alive, but the letters were a terrific addition. Kidnapped as a child, Ruby had quite a life. She’s a widow times four and there’s a whole other story there.
When Jules and Camden arrived at Ashby House in North Carolina, I knew that we were in for a fun ride with this story. Filled with other shady family members and the town of Tavistock, we learn a lot about the legacy of the McTavish family.
As secrets swirled throughout the book, I started to wonder more about this family and the effects of money. Jules falls in love with the house and wants to stay, while Camden resists being pulled back in. Anything goes in this one and that includes the wild ending!
This one made for an interesting buddy read and I think I liked it the most. It must have fit my reading for an escape mode!
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press.
August 7, 2023
My thanks to St. Martin's Press, Rachel Hawkins and Netgalley.
Short review. I loved and hated it!
While this was my least favorite book from this author, it was still good. I'll confess that the twists and turns just didn't work for me. Also, so much freaking drama. Ugh!
Eagerly awaiting the next book!
Short review. I loved and hated it!
While this was my least favorite book from this author, it was still good. I'll confess that the twists and turns just didn't work for me. Also, so much freaking drama. Ugh!
Eagerly awaiting the next book!
June 2, 2024
Rich people being rich and behaving seriously unhinged sums this book up
The Heiress is pretty much about a man named Camden who was adopted by the wealthy Ruby McTavish, but let’s just say life in the Ashby house was not all peaches and cream. Ruby 10 years prior passed away and left all her wealth and property to Cam but he is not interested. When another death arises which forces Cam and his wife Jules to go back to Ashby House. We start to find out why Cam is so reluctant to not to be there, why his wife Jules is adamant to stay there and what life was really like for the notorious and famous Ruby.
๋࣭ ⭑ WHAT I LIKED ๋࣭ ⭑
➽ Rich people doing the MOST
➽ Easy to read and evenly paced
➽ Unlikeable characters
➽ Dual POVS
➽ Mixed media
➽ Ruby’s chapters were my favourite
➽ Some of the reveals were cheekyyyy
๋࣭ ⭑ WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ๋࣭ ⭑
➽ The present chapters from Cam and Jules was just meh
➽ Plot is extremely unbelievable
➽ Pretty much all of the characters felt like caricatures
➽ Not memorable
➽ The book read like YA in most parts
➽ triggering topics for such an unserious book
➽ The ending was TRASH!!
This IMO is not a book to be taken seriously. It’s very OTT and melodramatic. Ruby's chapters were my only saving grace in this book as I was interested to read about her past life and understand why she became a widow four times over.
If you are looking for a quick mindless read/listen then this one will suffice enough.
There’s nothing new or innovative that you haven’t probably read before. But it did deliver a couple laugh out loud, “WTF”and severe eye roll moments from myself.
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⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ pre read ⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆
Hoping to finish May and go into June with a 5⭐ read!
Please please please let this deliver! 🤞🏾💚💛
The Heiress is pretty much about a man named Camden who was adopted by the wealthy Ruby McTavish, but let’s just say life in the Ashby house was not all peaches and cream. Ruby 10 years prior passed away and left all her wealth and property to Cam but he is not interested. When another death arises which forces Cam and his wife Jules to go back to Ashby House. We start to find out why Cam is so reluctant to not to be there, why his wife Jules is adamant to stay there and what life was really like for the notorious and famous Ruby.
๋࣭ ⭑ WHAT I LIKED ๋࣭ ⭑
➽ Rich people doing the MOST
➽ Easy to read and evenly paced
➽ Unlikeable characters
➽ Dual POVS
➽ Mixed media
➽ Ruby’s chapters were my favourite
➽ Some of the reveals were cheekyyyy
๋࣭ ⭑ WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ๋࣭ ⭑
➽ The present chapters from Cam and Jules was just meh
➽ Plot is extremely unbelievable
➽ Pretty much all of the characters felt like caricatures
➽ Not memorable
➽ The book read like YA in most parts
➽ triggering topics for such an unserious book
➽ The ending was TRASH!!
This IMO is not a book to be taken seriously. It’s very OTT and melodramatic. Ruby's chapters were my only saving grace in this book as I was interested to read about her past life and understand why she became a widow four times over.
If you are looking for a quick mindless read/listen then this one will suffice enough.
There’s nothing new or innovative that you haven’t probably read before. But it did deliver a couple laugh out loud, “WTF”and severe eye roll moments from myself.
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⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆ pre read ⋆｡𖦹°⭒˚｡⋆
Hoping to finish May and go into June with a 5⭐ read!
Please please please let this deliver! 🤞🏾💚💛
February 23, 2024
Wow! Buckle up for this wild and exciting ride!
Ruby McTavish is one of the wealthiest women in North Carolina. She was abducted for eight months when she was a young child. Ruby has been married four times and each husband has met an untimely, yet different, death. Her whispered name in the community is Mrs. Killmore. Ruby has a grown son, Cam, who is married to Jules. Cam and Jules have their own secrets as well.
I listened to this on audiobook and it is fabulously narrated by Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin.
Highly recommend!
Ruby McTavish is one of the wealthiest women in North Carolina. She was abducted for eight months when she was a young child. Ruby has been married four times and each husband has met an untimely, yet different, death. Her whispered name in the community is Mrs. Killmore. Ruby has a grown son, Cam, who is married to Jules. Cam and Jules have their own secrets as well.
I listened to this on audiobook and it is fabulously narrated by Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin.
Highly recommend!
April 1, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
Fantastic read, multiple twists and turns, loved it!
Fantastic read, multiple twists and turns, loved it!
January 11, 2024
There are so many reviews of this book that I'm going to keep mine short. I would rate it a 4.5 rounded down.
When Ruby McTavish died she was the richest woman in North Carolina and her estate passed to her adopted son, Camden, but he wants little to do with Ashby House, the family home, or the money. Ten years later Cam and his wife Jules return to Ashby House in the wake of his uncle's death.
The story is told from the points of view of the main characters including letters written by Ruby to an unknown someone before her death. It flips back and forth between past and present and also includes some newspaper clippings from past events. The characters are well developed and there are some amazing twists and revelations in the story and I was totally engrossed in it. This is the third book by Rachel Hawkins that I've read and I think it's safe to say it's my favourite so far.
TW: The f-bomb is dropped quite a bit although not as often as in one of the author's previous books. Personally I didn't find it offensive and in some cases the use of it was quite amusing.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: January 9, 2024
When Ruby McTavish died she was the richest woman in North Carolina and her estate passed to her adopted son, Camden, but he wants little to do with Ashby House, the family home, or the money. Ten years later Cam and his wife Jules return to Ashby House in the wake of his uncle's death.
The story is told from the points of view of the main characters including letters written by Ruby to an unknown someone before her death. It flips back and forth between past and present and also includes some newspaper clippings from past events. The characters are well developed and there are some amazing twists and revelations in the story and I was totally engrossed in it. This is the third book by Rachel Hawkins that I've read and I think it's safe to say it's my favourite so far.
TW: The f-bomb is dropped quite a bit although not as often as in one of the author's previous books. Personally I didn't find it offensive and in some cases the use of it was quite amusing.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication: January 9, 2024
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