About This Book:
THERE’S NOTHING AS GOOD AS THE RICH GONE BAD.
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.
And as Ashby House tightens its grip on Jules and Camden, questions about the infamous heiress come to light. Was there any truth to the persistent rumors following her disappearance as a girl? What really happened to those four husbands, who all died under mysterious circumstances? And why did she adopt Cam in the first place? 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.
– From MacMillan Publishers Website
My Thoughts After Reading:
I should start by saying: I am a scaredy cat. I can’t watch “scary” movies without having nightmares so I always assumed the thriller/suspense genre was not for me.
The Heiress, dubbed a gothic thriller, proved me wrong! I could not put down this addictive page turner.
The story is told from three distinct viewpoints: Camden, adoptive son of Ruby McTavish; Jules, Camden’s wife; and letters from Ruby McTavish. The letters from Ruby stole the show for me. Ruby is one of those likeably unlikeable characters. If you liked The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, you’ll like this darker version as Ruby reveals the unfortunate fates of each of her four husbands.
This book has some classic thriller tropes: unreliable narrators, numerous twists, multiple deaths, greedy relatives, a creepy house, victim revenge and more. All kept me engaged and entertained in the mystery.
Will I be picking up a Stephen King novel any time soon? Probably not. But, I did read two more thrillers/mysteries: The Fury (Alex Michaelides) and Listen for the Lie (Amy Tintera), and had a great time with both! Lesson learned: don’t be afraid to read outside your comfort zone!
– Michelle
