The Heiress

 

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.