The Heiress

BY Rachel Hawkins

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In The Heiress, Camden and Jules face nothing but bitterness and spite when they pull up to Ashby House. The only person who seems to welcome them is Cecilia, the housekeeper, who leaves a comforting homemade casserole in the fridge for them. Jules describes the casserole as “something with chicken, cheese, [and] buttery crackers…maybe the most delicious casserole I’ve ever had.” We don’t know what Cecilia’s casserole tasted like, but we would like to think it’s similar to this recipe for Million Dollar Chicken Casserole, courtesy of Plain Chicken. Click here to view her recipe.

** Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read The Heiress in exchange for my honest review. **

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If you’re looking for a salacious tale of kidnapping and murder, then look no further than Rachel Hawkin’s newest book, The Heiress.  This one isn’t slated for release until January 2024, but it is worth the pre-order. 

Ruby Ann McTavish (Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore) was kidnapped when she was three years old while on a family picnic. Her dad, one of the wealthiest men in North Carolina, offered the highest reward ever offered for information on her disappearance. Eight months after she disappeared, she was found in Spanish Fort, Alabama, living with the Darnell family. Her kidnapper, Jimmy Darnell, died trying to escape from jail before the trial began.

Ruby’s chaotic childhood was a precursor to her tumultuous adulthood.  Ruby married four times, and each husband died a mysterious death.  On the surface, it appeared as if all of them had died tragically.  Her first husband was shot by intruders. Her second husband was electrocuted.  Her third husband battled a chronic illness before he finally passed away.  And, finally, her fourth husband drowned while out partying on a boat.  Even though each death had a plausible story, Ruby still earned the nickname, “Ms. Kill-More.” Were these deaths truly tragedies, or was something more sinister lurking in the shadows?

Ruby’s account of each death was recorded in a series of letters interspersed between the real story, which follows her adopted son, Camden. Ruby died ten years ago and left her estate, Ashby House, and everything she owns to Camden.  However, she also left a stipulation in her will that said that her sister, Nell, nephew, Howell, and great nephew and niece, Ben and Libby, could continue to live at Ashby House indefinitely.  The rest of the McTavishes are selfish, terrible people who made Camden’s life miserable, so he wanted nothing to do with Ashby House upon Ruby’s death.  Even his relationship with Ruby was interesting.  He had respect for her, but Ruby was never a warm, caring mother. 

Howell, Ruby’s nephew, is an alcoholic who finally wraps his car around a tree one night. When Howell dies, Ben writes Camden a letter begging him to come home and handle the estate once and for all.  His wife, Jules, is excited to see this legendary house in all of its glory.  Camden agrees to go and soon discovers that all of the McTavishes have hidden secrets…including Jules.

The Heiress is one of those books where the reader is constantly switching back and forth between different characters and storylines.  Even though a lot was going on, I never found myself bored or confused.  There wasn’t a single character that made me think, “Ugh, I’m so tired of this person’s story.”  The book brilliantly wove together in the end, and I love how every single storyline felt complete.  I hate when books containing multiple perspectives don’t wrap up each character’s tale and leave the reader hanging.

I’ve heard grumblings from other thriller lovers that Hawkin’s last two books, Reckless Girls and The Villa, weren’t as good as The Wife Upstairs. I liked The Villa, so I don’t agree with those opinions (you can read my review of The Villa here).  However, I believe that The Heiress might battle The Wife Upstairs for my favorite Rachel Hawkins book.  I’d love to hear what you think!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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My Rating System Explained

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:  This was an amazing book, and I can't stop thinking about it.   It impacted me emotionally or changed my perspective.  My thoughts keep flickering back to it at random times throughout the day.  I will absolutely recommend it to my friends or to one of my book clubs.

4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️:  This was a really good book.  Parts of it stuck with me, and I might mention it in a conversation.  There is a high likelihood that I will recommend it to my friends or to one of my book clubs.

3 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️:  I liked this book.  It allowed me to escape from reality for a while.  While I might tell somebody about it if I think it will interest them, I will probably not suggest it to one of my book clubs.

2 Stars ⭐️⭐️:  There's something about this book that I didn't like.  I wasn't willing to go all the way down to a one-star rating, but I'm definitely not digging it.  I may recognize that this book is not for me, but it might be for other people.  I will not recommend it to my friends or one of my book clubs.

1 Star ⭐️:  My rarest rating.  I really didn't like this book.  Something in the story line upset me, and I probably "hate-read" the majority of the book.  Not only will I not recommend it, but I will actively tell people that I did not like it.