The Heiress: A Novel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A January 2024 Indie Next Pick and LibraryReads Pick
"The reigning queen of the Gothic thriller." —Entertainment Weekly
THERE'S NOTHING AS GOOD AS THE RICH GONE BAD.
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.
But in the aftermath of her death, her adopted son, Camden, wants little to do with the house or the money—and even less to do with the surviving McTavishes. Instead, he rejects his inheritance, settling into a normal life as an English teacher in Colorado and marrying Jules, a woman just as eager to escape her own messy past.
Ten years later, his uncle’s death pulls Cam and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but the legacy of Ruby is inescapable.
And 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.
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Readers say *The Heiress* by Rachel Hawkins is a twisty, slow-burn family thriller lauded for its well-crafted, sensible mystery and richly atmospheri...
When Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodward Miller Kenmore dies, her adopted son, Camden, inherits her family mansion and nine-figure fortune. Surprisingly, he wants nothing to do with the house or the money and flees to start his life over in Colorado. Ten years later, he receives an email from his cousin stating his uncle has passed away and that he should come home to Ashby house.
Camden McTavish seems like just a normal guy who works as an English teacher and is happily married to his wife Jules. Cam knows if he were to go back to North Carolina, that dark hidden secrets are going to quickly come to light. The last thing that Cam want to do is what he and Jules do next. Pack their bags and head to North Carolina. Now the ride begins!!!
The Heiress was a fast paced and entertaining read, and, in my opinion, I think this is my favorite book from this Rachel Hawkins. This family drama is full of morally grey (My favorite color) characters who are full of secrets and backstabbing behaviors. The ending is filled with multiple plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat. I enjoyed this one and would recommend it.
The lore that this author has created around Ashby House is so intriguing. It gave m similar vibes to Clue and an Agatha Christie novel. I love an extravagant setting where each character is suspicious and each room seems to hold a mystery. If Rian Johnson ever wanted to create a Knives Out adaptation of this book, I would throw my money at him immediately!
Some other things I loved about this book are the use of letters to inform the reader of past events and the commentary on biological family versus chosen family.
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