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aileron's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Classism, Death, Drug abuse, Kidnapping, Murder, and Suicide
Moderate: Blood, Incest, Violence, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Car accident and Addiction
emma_sky's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Blood
Minor: Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Cursing, Bullying, and Gaslighting
amanda_reads89's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Classism, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Blood, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: January 9, 2024
I received a complimentary ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad
T H R E E • W O R D S
Ominous • Entertaining • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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.
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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I have certainly seen all of the hype and love for Rachel Hawkins, yet I had never been inclined to pick one up for myself, until now. Why now? There was an intense discussion about her books at one of my in-person book club meetings that piqued my curiosity. Not really knowing where to start I decided to go with her most recent The Heiress.
Told in multiple POVs, this novel read like it was trying to be The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo's (a book I loved) suspenseful cousin. Because of this fact nothing felt original and it was easy to predict the twists and turns. The characters were all kind of icky and engaged in questionable behaviour.
My favourite aspect of the book were the letter from Ruby. This element allowed me to get a glimpse into Ruby's mind, despite her being dead. Additionally, the audiobook narrated by a full cast of Dan Bittner, Eliza Fossn John Pirhallan and Patti Murin, added so much personality to the characters. The standout in the narration was Ruby's voice. I will say the pacing of the narration is very slow and one that will likely need to be sped up.
In my opinion, The Heiress was yet another run-of-the-mill domestic suspense that was entertaining while reading, yet nothing really shocking happens and it's not something I will remember a week or two from now. I would definitely give this author another chance and can understand why there is so much love for her books.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• isolated settings
• gothic elements
• inheritance plot lines
⚠️ CW: kidnapping, toxic relationship, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, alcohol, death, death of parent, violence, gun violence, murder, fire/fire injury, adoption, cursing, suicide, classism, mental illness, alcoholism, drug abuse, injury/injury detail, pregnancy
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There should be some kind of warning when your life is about to change forever."
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, and Cursing
Minor: Drug abuse, Pregnancy, Suicide, Classism, Alcoholism, Mental illness, and Injury/Injury detail
adoptionamalauna's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Death, Death of parent, Bullying, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Car accident, and Classism
prairieraven's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Vomit, Death of parent, Abandonment, Ableism, Cursing, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Sexism, Stalking, Terminal illness, Miscarriage, Addiction, Blood, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Cancer, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion, Classism, Misogyny, Suicide attempt, Infertility, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Medical content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Car accident, and Child death
vereadsbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The book focuses on the story of heiress Ruby Mctavish, best known for her famous disappearance when she was a baby and the tragic deaths of her four husbands.
The heir to Ruby’s fortune and owner of Ashby House is Ruby’s adopted son, Camden. He doesn’t want to know anything about the McTavish, the house, or the substantial fortune Ruby left him.
Camden returns to Taviscoth with his wife Jules, after 10 years of being out of the scope of the McTavish. Cam and his family do not have a good relationship. As the story progresses, we discover the intentions of the other family members who want to secure the valuable inheritance.
The book is told from Cam and Jude’s perspective. Also, Ruby’s POV is told from letters that Ruby sends to someone. There are also articles about family.
Ashby House brings back unpleasant memories for Cam. The family made it evident that he was not a true McTavish and treated him like a charity case, always considering him an outsider.
I don’t like Jules. She is too ambitious. Her goal is to keep the house at any price without caring about the feelings or wishes of her husband.
The story’s pace is slow and far from thrilling, but the mystery surrounding Ruby’s husbands and childhood is intriguing. It reminds me of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
The story is far-fetched. The Mctavish’s darkest secrets come to light one by one. Ashby House brings out the worst in each member of the family. Reaching the end, we find several twists that may surprise distracted readers.
Overall, The Heiress tells a family drama of rich people. The pages of this book depict ambition, money, manipulation, domestic violence, and family drama.
Graphic: Murder, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Death, Classism, and Kidnapping
shesflippinpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Classism, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Suicide, Violence, Drug abuse, Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death of parent, Car accident, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Bullying
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
While I saw some twists coming, others surprised me. I like how the book was paced as it kept me engaged. As well as the mix of narrative POVs, letters, and articles.
The characters weren't particularly likable, but just likable enough for you to care about them.
Narrator(s) Rating: 5 stars
The narrators did an excellent job, and the constant change of narrators as you went from each part kept me engaged instead of my attention wandering.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Suicide, Cursing, Blood, Bullying, Classism, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Murder, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Grief, and Alcohol
Moderate: Child abuse, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, and Infertility
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Car accident, Self harm, and Sexual content
noladawnreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Kidnapping and Classism
Minor: Fire/Fire injury