The Heiress

Hawkins's (The Wife Upstairs; “Hex Hall” series) latest contemporary novel centers on North Carolina’s wealthy McTavish family. Ruby McTavish was a famous woman born into money, but she was also infamous for having been married and widowed four times. Rumors have circulated about her from childhood and even after her death, as she left her entire multimillion-dollar estate to her adopted son, Camden. Camden wanted nothing to do with the McTavish money or name and moved away after Ruby’s death, but now he and his wife, Jules, have been summoned back to North Carolina to work out issues with the estate after his late uncle’s death. Disturbing family secrets and answers to long-awaited questions are revealed, while familial bonds are put to the test. Although the plot twists are mostly predictable, Hawkins still creates remarkable characters with drama-filled family dynamics that keep the story fast-paced and unstoppable. Narrators Dan Bittner, Eliza Foss, John Pirhalla, and Patti Murin provide outstanding performances, creating such believable characters that listeners might wonder if the story is based in fact.