Review of "The Heiress: A Novel of Suspense" by Rachel Hawkins

When Camden is a young boy, he's adopted by much-married heiress Ruby McTavish Callan Woodward Miller Kenmore, who lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Tavistock, North Carolina.



Ruby has a very notorious history, having been kidnapped as a toddler, and then being repeatedly widowed in tragic circumstances. Ruby becomes infamous in Tavistock, and the local people gossip and call her Ruby Kilmore (instead of Kenmore).



After Ruby's fourth husband dies, she adopts little Camden, who grows up with the extended McTavish family in their luxurious North Carolina mansion, which is called Ashby House. Camden is a bright amiable boy who goes to school, goes to camp, and calls his mom Ruby.



It isn't easy for Camden at home, though, because - aside from Ruby - the McTavishes are selfish, manipulative, entitled, bullying snobs.



Moreover, the family resents Ruby because the McTavish patriarch made her sole heir to the estate, which includes the house as well as HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. The one caveat is the extended McTavish family is allowed to remain in Ashby House.



When Ruby dies, she leaves the whole kit and caboodle to her adopted son Camden. However Camden wants nothing to do with the family, the mansion, or the money, and he leaves town.



It's now a decade later, and Camden is married and living in Colorado. Camden is an English teacher, his wife Jules works in a historical village tourist attraction, and they're both very happy.







Then an email arrives from Camden's cousin Ben in North Carolina, who's now an estate attorney. Ben implores Camden to come back for a visit. It seems the McTavish mansion is in need of costly repairs, and Camden is needed to oversee, and release funds for, the renovations.



Camden VERY reluctantly agrees to return to Tavistock, but his wife Jules is thrilled. Jules grew up poor, and the idea of an opulent mansion - not to mention all that money - is very enticing to her.



The story is told in the rotating voices of Ruby (via letters she wrote), Camden, and Jules. Ruby's letters are about her history, her family, and her husbands;



Camden's sections include memories of growing up in Ashby House and his current interactions with his McTavish relatives;



and Jules' chapters describe her upbringing in deprived circumstances, meeting and marrying Camden a decade ago, and her current interactions with the McTavish clan.



It turns out the three main characters are all hiding secrets, which are revealed little by little.

The novel is engaging and suspenseful, with plenty of twists and surprises.



I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Dan Bittner; Eliza Foss; John Pirhalla; and Patti Murin, who do an excellent job.

Thanks to Netgalley, Rachel Hawkins, and Macmillan Audio for a copy of the book.

Rating: 3.5 stars