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. In the aftermath of her death, that estate—along with a nine-figure fortune and the complicated legacy of being a McTavish—passed to her adopted son, Camden.

But to everyone’s surprise, Cam 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, Camden is a McTavish in name only, but a summons in the wake of his uncle’s death brings him and Jules back into the family fold at Ashby House. Its views are just as stunning as ever, its rooms just as elegant, but coming home reminds Cam why he was so quick to leave in the first place.

Jules, however, has other ideas, and the more she learns about Cam’s estranged family—and the twisted secrets they keep—the more determined she is for her husband to claim everything Ruby once intended for him to have.

But Ruby’s plans were always more complicated than they appeared. 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.

Wow, where do I begin? I loved this story! This was my first book by this author, and now I’m excited to read more by her, though I have seen mixed reviews on her other novels. But I’m curious enough to check them out and decide for myself. 

I love mystery/thrillers where rich people behave badly, have lots of family drama and deep family secrets, and stories that keep me guessing the entire time. This one hit the jackpot in all of those areas! There is so much betrayal, deceit, lies, and secrets. I devoured this book! 

I also loved the setting in North Carolina. I really enjoy thrillers that take place in a mansion or large estate, especially if it’s remote or secluded, which this one, Ashby House, is, built in the Appalachian mountains. Set in a thick, dense forest area, it almost felt suffocating and very isolating, which offered more of a creepy, eerie feeling. Then, I loved the description of the inside of the mansion. It was enough details to be fully immersed in this house, but not too many that I was bored reading about how each room looked and felt to the characters. I also got gothic vibes from this one, and loved it! 

This story has dual POVs from Camden, the adopted son, and his wife, Jules. I loved getting to know each of these characters. Cam is reluctant to go home (and for good reason), but it’s obvious he knows things but doesn’t tell us until the end. Then, Jules was a fun character because she was sassy, snarky, and quick-witted. I found her very enjoyable and funny. She brought some humor and tenderness to this dark story. But she’s also keeping secrets. So both characters really intrigued me with the knowledge that they knew but kept hidden from their spouse. 

This story is also told through newspaper articles, letters, and other forms of media, which I thought was clever storytelling. The mystery had me completely absorbed and turning the pages to find out what was going to happen next. This is a very addictive book! It was nice that the chapters were short, too. It’s past and present timelines, which I also enjoyed. 

One thing that I didn’t care for was all the language. There is a ton of cursing in this book. In some instances, it was okay to use for emphasis and to drive home a big point, but I thought the crass language was too much and overly abundant. It could’ve cut most of those unnecessary words out and just used a couple where it felt appropriate. 

But overall, I had a really great time! There is SO much tension, drama, and family dysfunction – and I loved it!! If you’re searching for a gripping, engaging, super twisty, and bingeable mystery/thriller, you should try this one. Highly recommend!!