Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme)'s Reviews > The Heiress

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