Book Reviews: The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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.