This is the second book I’ve read by Rachel Hawkins. I loved her first book, The Villa, which centered around an Italian villa which was the site of a mysterious death in the seventies. This second book centers around heiress Ruby McTavish Callahan Woodwar Miller Kenmore. Ruby first became famous when she was just a toddler after being the victim of a famous kidnapping (think Lindbergh baby with a happier ending). She’s been married and widowed four times which only adds to her notoriety. When she dies, she leaves her vast fortune, who wants nothing to do with it or the McTavish family and abandons it all to live a normal life. Ten years later, Camden is pressured to go back to the sprawling Ashby House estate after the death of his uncle, thinking he will clear up some lingering financial issues. But his wife, Jules has other ideas and his late mother’s machinations continue even after her death.
Is this book bonkers? Yes. Does everyone involved have need big hair to hold all their secrets? Yes. Is there twist upon twist upon twist that will force you to suspend your disbelief in the heavens? Yes. But I enjoyed the heck out of it. If the writing is good enough, I will go on whatever crazy ride you want me to. The book alternate’s chapters between Camden’s POV, Jules’ POV and letters from Ruby herself talking about her life growing up until right before her death. The other characters are the rest of Ruby’s family who are each nasty in their own special way.
I burned through the audiobook version of this as fast as humanly possible. I put off listening to my beloved podcasts in order to find out what happened next. This would be a great book to take on vacation if you want a big page turner of a mystery suspense novel to read on the plane or listen to on a long drive.