A Book A Week

Rachel Hawkins has firmly secured her place on my must-read list. Reading her latest popcorn thriller each January has become a cherished tradition. So, when her publisher offered me a copy of her newest book, The Heiress, I eagerly seized the opportunity. These days, it seems like many thriller authors are exploring the spooky house trope, and Hawkins has now added her unique take to the mix. The Heiress is another gripping page-turner, employing shifting perspectives, a chilling atmosphere, and numerous twists that are sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The story opens in the small town of Tavistock, North Carolina, in 1943. Young Ruby McTavish strays away from her parents while they enjoy a picnic amidst the forests of the Blue Ridge Mountains. In an instant, she disappears. Ruby isn't just any ordinary child; she is the heiress to an immense fortune amassed through her father's prosperous lumber enterprise. Her father spares no expense in enlisting the services of top-tier private detectives. Three years later, Ruby is located, living with a family not too far from her original location. It's revealed that she had been kidnapped, and the individual responsible for her abduction is incarcerated, destined to remain behind bars for the rest of his life. That is until he attempts to break free. 

As Ruby matures, she transforms into a prominent figure in high society. With her substantial wealth safely secured, she redirects her focus towards matters of the heart. Yet, the dark cloud of tragedy from her early years appears to cast its shadow over her adult life. In a series of unsettling events, each of Ruby's four husbands meets an unfortunate and premature demise, igniting suspicions among those in her circle about her potential involvement in these deaths. Driven by the need to confront the profound void left by their loss and perhaps even more motivated to safeguard her family's fortune from the grasp of her younger sister, Ruby takes the step of adopting a young child named Camden. 

As Camden grew into adulthood, he distanced himself from the McTavish clan. Following Ruby's passing almost a decade ago, he was the primary inheritor of her substantial wealth. However, he consciously chose to disentangle himself from that dysfunctional family. Instead, he departed from the ancestral residence, Ashby House, and crafted a life of relative normalcy, finding love and marrying his wife, Jules. The once-renowned family estate has fallen into disrepair, and his family is summoning him back to oversee its restoration. This means he must finally have an open conversation with Jules and reveal the substantial inheritance he's largely ignored. As the couple embarks on their journey back to Ashby House, they must confront the past that Camden has tried to evade for most of his life.

Rachel Hawkins again displays her talent for crafting captivating thrillers in The Heiress. The eerie ambiance of the run-down mansion nestled in the wooded mountains creates a thoroughly chilling atmosphere, arguably the most intricate setting among all of Hawkins' previous thrillers. This atmospheric backdrop adds a layer of foreboding to every page. The tale unfolds through the shifting perspectives of Camden, Jules, and the posthumous letters from Ruby. This narrative technique artfully dispenses information, winding up the suspense and providing ample opportunities for surprising twists. Each character in the story is predominantly driven by self-serving motivations. This makes it challenging to anticipate their next moves but hard to wholeheartedly root for them. While the plot's twists may not entirely startle, the craftsmanship of weaving the story together is commendable. The Heiress stands as another solid and entertaining read from Hawkins. 

For more information, visit the author's website, Amazon, and Goodreads. 

(2024, 3)