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The Inheritance
What if everyone in your family was given a DNA test at would there be any surprise results? For two women the answers are shocking, and dangerous. Perfect for readers of Liane Moriarty and Sally Hepworth.
Families lie. DNA doesn't.
Isobel Ashworth breezes through life, blissfully accustomed to the privilege which comes with her family name. But that changes when she arrives in the exclusive town of Hartwell. Sent there by her father to complete a controversial property development - and prove herself a serious player in the succession plan - her perfect life is unravelling. Isobel's fiance is telling lies, the project is a disaster and the locals hate her; could her father be setting her up to fail?
Buzzing with the promise of a big story, journalist Meg Hunter arrives in Hartwell to expose the Ashworth family dealings, and transform her faltering career. As she follows the trail of corruption, she uncovers clues about her mother's mysterious past.
When the next-gen Ashworths each receive an anonymous Christmas gift of a DNA testing kit, Isobel questions everything she knows about her family. Isobel is drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth ... but someone out there will stop at nothing to hide the secrets of both families.
'The Inheritance is a smart debut tackling the seductive issues of wealth, succession and family secrets. Taut, propulsive and with enticing Succession-meets-Jane Harper vibes, this novel is perfect for suburban noir superfans. I whizzed through it.' - Ali Lowe, author of The School Run
'Secrets, power and corruption - The Inheritance is an intriguing mystery and family drama.' -Vanessa McCausland, author of The Last Illusion of Paige White
'Books about families are my catnip and The Inheritance didn't disappoint. Take one establishment family with the money to hide anything then throw in a DNA test that never lies and sit back and enjoy the ride that Kate Horan takes you on. A fabulous debut!' - Fiona Lowe, author of The Accident
'The Inheritance is an incredibly strong debut from Kate Horan, full of all the things I love in a novel - family secrets, small-town intrigue and rich people behaving badly. I ripped through it faster than you can say the words 'DNA test'.' - Cassie Hamer, author of The Truth About Faking It
'A gripping story about wealth, entitlement, corruption and, most of all, family. Kate Horan's debut novel is sophisticated and un-put-down-able.' - B.M. Carroll, author of One of Us is Missing
Families lie. DNA doesn't.
Isobel Ashworth breezes through life, blissfully accustomed to the privilege which comes with her family name. But that changes when she arrives in the exclusive town of Hartwell. Sent there by her father to complete a controversial property development - and prove herself a serious player in the succession plan - her perfect life is unravelling. Isobel's fiance is telling lies, the project is a disaster and the locals hate her; could her father be setting her up to fail?
Buzzing with the promise of a big story, journalist Meg Hunter arrives in Hartwell to expose the Ashworth family dealings, and transform her faltering career. As she follows the trail of corruption, she uncovers clues about her mother's mysterious past.
When the next-gen Ashworths each receive an anonymous Christmas gift of a DNA testing kit, Isobel questions everything she knows about her family. Isobel is drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth ... but someone out there will stop at nothing to hide the secrets of both families.
'The Inheritance is a smart debut tackling the seductive issues of wealth, succession and family secrets. Taut, propulsive and with enticing Succession-meets-Jane Harper vibes, this novel is perfect for suburban noir superfans. I whizzed through it.' - Ali Lowe, author of The School Run
'Secrets, power and corruption - The Inheritance is an intriguing mystery and family drama.' -Vanessa McCausland, author of The Last Illusion of Paige White
'Books about families are my catnip and The Inheritance didn't disappoint. Take one establishment family with the money to hide anything then throw in a DNA test that never lies and sit back and enjoy the ride that Kate Horan takes you on. A fabulous debut!' - Fiona Lowe, author of The Accident
'The Inheritance is an incredibly strong debut from Kate Horan, full of all the things I love in a novel - family secrets, small-town intrigue and rich people behaving badly. I ripped through it faster than you can say the words 'DNA test'.' - Cassie Hamer, author of The Truth About Faking It
'A gripping story about wealth, entitlement, corruption and, most of all, family. Kate Horan's debut novel is sophisticated and un-put-down-able.' - B.M. Carroll, author of One of Us is Missing
Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
About the author
Kate Horan
2 books106 followersBestselling author of crime and suspense
Kate’s debut novel, The Inheritance, was an instant Australian Bestseller, and was chosen as QBD’s Fiction Book of the Month in January 2025. Her second novel, On the Edge, will be published by HQ HarperCollins in January 2026.
When she’s not dreaming up twisty stories about people with dark secrets, she’s chauffeuring her teenage boys to and from social engagements, listening to true crime podcasts and walking her golden lab on Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches.
Kate’s debut novel, The Inheritance, was an instant Australian Bestseller, and was chosen as QBD’s Fiction Book of the Month in January 2025. Her second novel, On the Edge, will be published by HQ HarperCollins in January 2026.
When she’s not dreaming up twisty stories about people with dark secrets, she’s chauffeuring her teenage boys to and from social engagements, listening to true crime podcasts and walking her golden lab on Sydney’s beautiful Northern Beaches.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
November 27, 2024
Isobel Ashworth is the youngest child of Malcom and Heather and she has two older brothers. Her family are rich and her dad is a property developer, and she lives in an apartment in Sydney and with her fiancé Hugh Thorburn a lawyer. Isobel can’t believe it when she’s sent to Hartwell, one of the oldest towns in New South Wales and where her father’s company is renovating the old goal and it’s running behind schedule. Issy has no idea the locals are not happy about the way the historical building is being developed and they think it should have been a museum.
Meg Hunter is a free-lance journalist, she needs to find a good story and to save her career. Meg’s mother has dementia and recently she’s mentioned the town of Hartwell and someone called Tina? Meg has no idea who her mum is talking about, she’s an only child and her mother told her years ago she has no relatives and she’s never heard of Hartwell. Meg arrives in town, the cheapest place to stay is the pub and it doesn’t take long for her to notice two things, the locals hate the Ashworth family and are very reluctant to talk about them and she wonders why?
The Ashworth’s celebrate Christmas in style and of course it's catered for at their property called Kilmore and it’s not far from the country town, when they gather around the tree to give out the presents and Isobel and her brothers Spencer and Felix are given DNA testing kits by an anonymous person and their parents think it's a prank and a very tacky one.
By this stage Isobel has met Meg and she’s starting to question why she was sent to Hartwell, did her dad have an ulterior motive and she decides to take the test and she has no idea Meg has also taken one.
I received a copy of The Inheritance by Kate Horan from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel, I was hooked by the end of the first chapter and I have always found stories based on DNA testing interesting and this one didn’t disappoint. A narrative about a wealthy and powerful family, entitlement and succession, greed and corruption, secrets and lies, shocks and cover ups and Isobel and Meg’s quest to discover the truth and it gets dangerous.
I highly recommend The Inheritance, the story is full of lots of twists and turns and most I didn’t see coming.
Meg Hunter is a free-lance journalist, she needs to find a good story and to save her career. Meg’s mother has dementia and recently she’s mentioned the town of Hartwell and someone called Tina? Meg has no idea who her mum is talking about, she’s an only child and her mother told her years ago she has no relatives and she’s never heard of Hartwell. Meg arrives in town, the cheapest place to stay is the pub and it doesn’t take long for her to notice two things, the locals hate the Ashworth family and are very reluctant to talk about them and she wonders why?
The Ashworth’s celebrate Christmas in style and of course it's catered for at their property called Kilmore and it’s not far from the country town, when they gather around the tree to give out the presents and Isobel and her brothers Spencer and Felix are given DNA testing kits by an anonymous person and their parents think it's a prank and a very tacky one.
By this stage Isobel has met Meg and she’s starting to question why she was sent to Hartwell, did her dad have an ulterior motive and she decides to take the test and she has no idea Meg has also taken one.
I received a copy of The Inheritance by Kate Horan from Harlequin Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I can’t believe this is the author’s debut novel, I was hooked by the end of the first chapter and I have always found stories based on DNA testing interesting and this one didn’t disappoint. A narrative about a wealthy and powerful family, entitlement and succession, greed and corruption, secrets and lies, shocks and cover ups and Isobel and Meg’s quest to discover the truth and it gets dangerous.
I highly recommend The Inheritance, the story is full of lots of twists and turns and most I didn’t see coming.
December 23, 2024
It's a fantastic debut from Kate Horan. A page turning mystery/family drama that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will be looking out for more from this author in the future.
The Ashworth family is rich and powerful. They own everything and have their fingers in many many pies. Meg, a freelance journalist, is confused when her elderly mother, who is in a nursing home suffering dementia starts asking about a Tina and a town called Hartwell. She sniffs a story and gets a whole lot more than she bargains for.
I loved the setting of this story, in Sydney, and 90 minutes south. This family was ruthless! The DNA part of the story was intriguing and twisty, which I really enjoyed. There are a lot of talking points and it would make a great book club or buddy read choice.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my copy of this book as part of the thrillerfluencer BOTM. Out on January 1st, a great way to start your new year.
The Ashworth family is rich and powerful. They own everything and have their fingers in many many pies. Meg, a freelance journalist, is confused when her elderly mother, who is in a nursing home suffering dementia starts asking about a Tina and a town called Hartwell. She sniffs a story and gets a whole lot more than she bargains for.
I loved the setting of this story, in Sydney, and 90 minutes south. This family was ruthless! The DNA part of the story was intriguing and twisty, which I really enjoyed. There are a lot of talking points and it would make a great book club or buddy read choice.
Thanks to Harlequin Australia for my copy of this book as part of the thrillerfluencer BOTM. Out on January 1st, a great way to start your new year.
January 4, 2025
Big thanks to Harlequin for sending us a copy to read and review.
A debut that will create conversation….
The talk of the town will be in full force as The Inheritance, a superb, melodramatic and highly entertaining read and will be on everyone’s reading pile now.
The year has literally started off with a bang of a read.
Isobel Ashworth comes from privilege and money.
Everything that luxury gets her from the family name.
Wanting to impress her father, she accepts a decision from him to take a trip to investigate a property development in small town Hartwell.
But everything begins to fall apart…..
Journalist Meg Hunter arrives in town to uncover the truth and explore her mother’s past.
Then at Christmas an ancestry present creates chaos and brings to life more than anyone bargained for.
Both Isobel and Meg are drawn together to seek answers and expose family secrets.
A definite Aussie family saga that goes into the effects of a DNA test when gifted as a surprise.
Wealth, secrets, entitlement, power, extortion, greed, lies, deception, danger, family dynamics and sibling rivalry, it’s all here to get the reading mind working overtime.
A wicked plot, a fantastic cast, tense atmosphere and a whole lot of surprises, this is the book you have been waiting for.
A debut that will create conversation….
The talk of the town will be in full force as The Inheritance, a superb, melodramatic and highly entertaining read and will be on everyone’s reading pile now.
The year has literally started off with a bang of a read.
Isobel Ashworth comes from privilege and money.
Everything that luxury gets her from the family name.
Wanting to impress her father, she accepts a decision from him to take a trip to investigate a property development in small town Hartwell.
But everything begins to fall apart…..
Journalist Meg Hunter arrives in town to uncover the truth and explore her mother’s past.
Then at Christmas an ancestry present creates chaos and brings to life more than anyone bargained for.
Both Isobel and Meg are drawn together to seek answers and expose family secrets.
A definite Aussie family saga that goes into the effects of a DNA test when gifted as a surprise.
Wealth, secrets, entitlement, power, extortion, greed, lies, deception, danger, family dynamics and sibling rivalry, it’s all here to get the reading mind working overtime.
A wicked plot, a fantastic cast, tense atmosphere and a whole lot of surprises, this is the book you have been waiting for.
January 2, 2026
A quick convincing fun read from a new Aussie writer. Already downloaded her newest. Great respite from ‘A Little Life’ which is amazing but dark, and Andrew Miller’s ‘The Land in Winter’ which is also dark and I am not sure I will finish.
February 17, 2025
Based on the current trend for DNA testing this novel considers the secrets that a kit as a gift under the Christmas tree can explode within a family.
I quite enjoyed this book but overall grew a little frustrated by it as it went on. I think the problem for me was that it tried to wrap the mystery of the genetics and that of the dubious family together so that neither reached their full potential. For a mystery or a suspense novel it was just not up to scratch - not enough twists so it was quite predictable from an early stage. This also meant that the issues around DNA testing and the potential destruction of family relationships also turned out to be a bit underexplored and felt a little like an after thought, especially in the way the book ended. That might be a personal thing as I am not a fan of the "lets cut to one year later" scenario!
An easy read and it will be interesting to see what Horan does with a second book.
I quite enjoyed this book but overall grew a little frustrated by it as it went on. I think the problem for me was that it tried to wrap the mystery of the genetics and that of the dubious family together so that neither reached their full potential. For a mystery or a suspense novel it was just not up to scratch - not enough twists so it was quite predictable from an early stage. This also meant that the issues around DNA testing and the potential destruction of family relationships also turned out to be a bit underexplored and felt a little like an after thought, especially in the way the book ended. That might be a personal thing as I am not a fan of the "lets cut to one year later" scenario!
An easy read and it will be interesting to see what Horan does with a second book.
April 19, 2025
This is a book about dysfunctional families, dementia, wealth, entitlement, corruption and connections.
What I loved about this book was the DNA trope. The stories were intertwined and I loved every minute of it. The ending was absolutely brilliant, hence my 5 stars.
This was a debut and Kate smashed it out of the ballpark !!
What I loved about this book was the DNA trope. The stories were intertwined and I loved every minute of it. The ending was absolutely brilliant, hence my 5 stars.
This was a debut and Kate smashed it out of the ballpark !!
January 20, 2025
8/10 Unputdownable. Family secrets and small-town, big-money intrigue at its finest.
February 20, 2025
An incredibly thought-provoking and intriguing mystery, exploring complex family dynamics, entitlement, corruption and cover-ups.
The Ashworth family are accustomed to their wealthy and privileged lifestyle. Isobel Ashworth is the youngest child of the family, with two very different older brothers, Spencer and Felix. When she is sent to the town of Hartwell, in New South Wales, to manage a controversial property development – as requested by her father, to prove as a serious player in the family succession plan – her perfect life starts to unravel.
Meg Hunter is a freelance journalist, excited with the promise of a big story, arrives in Hartwell planning to expose the Ashworth family dealings. As she follows the trail of corruption, she uncovers clues about her mother’s mysterious past.
During the elaborate and stylish Ashworth family Christmas, the three Ashworth children receive an anonymous DNA testing kit. Their parents believe this is a distasteful prank. Isobel, starts to question all that she knows about her family and is drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth…
I was fully absorbed in this story and appreciated the wide range of characters depicted in this mysterious family drama. I enjoyed the addition of the DNA sleuths facebook community to explore the mystery of DNA and varying implications of testing.
This would make a great book club story, and there is even the helpful addition of book club questions at the end of the book.
The Inheritance is such a brilliantly powerful debut novel! I am very excited to read what comes next from Australian author Kate Horan.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
The Ashworth family are accustomed to their wealthy and privileged lifestyle. Isobel Ashworth is the youngest child of the family, with two very different older brothers, Spencer and Felix. When she is sent to the town of Hartwell, in New South Wales, to manage a controversial property development – as requested by her father, to prove as a serious player in the family succession plan – her perfect life starts to unravel.
Meg Hunter is a freelance journalist, excited with the promise of a big story, arrives in Hartwell planning to expose the Ashworth family dealings. As she follows the trail of corruption, she uncovers clues about her mother’s mysterious past.
During the elaborate and stylish Ashworth family Christmas, the three Ashworth children receive an anonymous DNA testing kit. Their parents believe this is a distasteful prank. Isobel, starts to question all that she knows about her family and is drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth…
I was fully absorbed in this story and appreciated the wide range of characters depicted in this mysterious family drama. I enjoyed the addition of the DNA sleuths facebook community to explore the mystery of DNA and varying implications of testing.
This would make a great book club story, and there is even the helpful addition of book club questions at the end of the book.
The Inheritance is such a brilliantly powerful debut novel! I am very excited to read what comes next from Australian author Kate Horan.
4.5 stars (rounded up)
February 22, 2025
Great to read an Aussie book with an accurate representation of DNA & genetic genealogy at the heart of it.
March 7, 2025
An intriguing pacey read that had me speeding through the book in four days. A family mystery set in modern Australia that touches on classism and the back door deals suspected in the property world. Excited to see what is next for Kate Horan!
December 30, 2024
Loved this book! I never knew where it was going which is exactly what I want in a mystery. Plot twists left right and centre and I really enjoyed the characters as well. I can see anyone who loves a mystery enjoying this book!
January 10, 2025
This was excellent!!!!! I devoured it in a day and stayed up way too late to finish it!!
October 25, 2026
Set partly in Sydney, Australia and told from the perspectives of two characters, journalist Meg and Ashworth daughter Isobel, this story of privilege, wealth and power had me gripped from the beginning.
Meg’s mother Jenny has dementia and is in a care home. She has always been secretive about her life and had moved around continually during Meg’s childhood. It is when, in a confused state, she mentions a name and Hartwell, Meg’s investigative curiosity is piqued and she decides to follow up when she discovers that Hartwell is only 90 minutes away.
Isobel (Issy) is the only daughter of the powerful Ashworth family. Their name and influence has spread far comprising of a chain of hotels and numerous other developments, the latest being in Hartwell, on the site of the old gaol. This development has not been without controversy and protest and Issy is sent there by her father to ensure it is completed on time.
Meg and Issy are worlds apart but both have their own issues with families and careers. Despite the privilege her name gives her, Issy feels undervalued and sidelined by her father and older brother whilst Meg has a strained relationship with her mother and feels the lack of any other family. Her dreams of a more fulfilling career in journalism have hit the buffers and she is struggling to get her work published.
There are many themes here to make the story interesting. Familial tensions, drama, secrets and lies, corruption, and it gets worse when an unexpected DNA test is thrown into the mix.
Kate’s writing definitely hit the spot for me. she is an author I’d love to read more from. The Inheritance is a compelling mystery, well paced with intrigue, a dysfunctional family and a dangerous undercurrent, I couldn’t wait for the next discovery to be revealed. One to be recommended.
Meg’s mother Jenny has dementia and is in a care home. She has always been secretive about her life and had moved around continually during Meg’s childhood. It is when, in a confused state, she mentions a name and Hartwell, Meg’s investigative curiosity is piqued and she decides to follow up when she discovers that Hartwell is only 90 minutes away.
Isobel (Issy) is the only daughter of the powerful Ashworth family. Their name and influence has spread far comprising of a chain of hotels and numerous other developments, the latest being in Hartwell, on the site of the old gaol. This development has not been without controversy and protest and Issy is sent there by her father to ensure it is completed on time.
Meg and Issy are worlds apart but both have their own issues with families and careers. Despite the privilege her name gives her, Issy feels undervalued and sidelined by her father and older brother whilst Meg has a strained relationship with her mother and feels the lack of any other family. Her dreams of a more fulfilling career in journalism have hit the buffers and she is struggling to get her work published.
There are many themes here to make the story interesting. Familial tensions, drama, secrets and lies, corruption, and it gets worse when an unexpected DNA test is thrown into the mix.
Kate’s writing definitely hit the spot for me. she is an author I’d love to read more from. The Inheritance is a compelling mystery, well paced with intrigue, a dysfunctional family and a dangerous undercurrent, I couldn’t wait for the next discovery to be revealed. One to be recommended.
March 6, 2026
Struggled to stay with this book. I listened to it on audiobooks and found myself drifting off as it didn’t hold my attention. However this also made it difficult for me to pick up the story again.
The phone conversations I found hard to follow.
I also found it difficult to listen too without defined voices. The calls were weird as it was the same voice but made to sound like it was down a phone line.
Tbh the blur sold it me but I felt the story was different. It took so long to get to the DNA bit and I was losing interest.
The phone conversations I found hard to follow.
I also found it difficult to listen too without defined voices. The calls were weird as it was the same voice but made to sound like it was down a phone line.
Tbh the blur sold it me but I felt the story was different. It took so long to get to the DNA bit and I was losing interest.
February 27, 2025
Imagine the drama at family holidays in the future! Great idea for a story. I'm not a fan of some of the characters but I loved the story.
July 31, 2025
Super boring. Weak plot line, unlikeable two dimensional characters and the lynchpin of the story was… the billionaire family famous for real estate developments are dodgy and corrupt? Shocker
January 4, 2025
I’m excited about two things as we enter 2025: that I got to start the year with a five-star read and that I had the spare time to really indulge in long hours of reading. I’m astounded that this book - so cleverly plotted and filled with love-em-and-hate-em characters - is a debut.
It is told from the perspective of two female characters. We have Meg, a freelance journalist (I was feeling her anxiety!!) who grew up alone with just her single mother, who is now in a home suffering from dementia. But when her mother starts talking about someone called Tina and the village of Hartwell, just outside of Sydney, Meg’s news instincts kick in and she starts to investigate.
Then we have Isobel “Issy” Ashworth, who grew up with the money’s-no-issue affluence of her hotel and property developer family. While she works in the marketing department of the family business, she feels she can offer much more, if only her father would trust her.
The women face off in Hartwell as Meg tries to uncover why there is so much opposition to the latest Ashworth property development and Issy fights to prove herself to her father by getting the development complete by the looming launch deadline. In the midst of it all, someone places three DNA test kits under the Ashworth Christmas tree, the results of which could throw Meg and Issy’s world upside down.
There is so much going on in this book, but in a good way. Kate writes so believably about family interactions and those good and bad nuances that exist in every family. She has a real gift for building great characters, something that gives this book real depth and authenticity. And that ending was just perfection!
I’m excited by what she will do next!
It is told from the perspective of two female characters. We have Meg, a freelance journalist (I was feeling her anxiety!!) who grew up alone with just her single mother, who is now in a home suffering from dementia. But when her mother starts talking about someone called Tina and the village of Hartwell, just outside of Sydney, Meg’s news instincts kick in and she starts to investigate.
Then we have Isobel “Issy” Ashworth, who grew up with the money’s-no-issue affluence of her hotel and property developer family. While she works in the marketing department of the family business, she feels she can offer much more, if only her father would trust her.
The women face off in Hartwell as Meg tries to uncover why there is so much opposition to the latest Ashworth property development and Issy fights to prove herself to her father by getting the development complete by the looming launch deadline. In the midst of it all, someone places three DNA test kits under the Ashworth Christmas tree, the results of which could throw Meg and Issy’s world upside down.
There is so much going on in this book, but in a good way. Kate writes so believably about family interactions and those good and bad nuances that exist in every family. She has a real gift for building great characters, something that gives this book real depth and authenticity. And that ending was just perfection!
I’m excited by what she will do next!
March 9, 2025
Easy fun read, a tale of family dynasty, power, corruption and family secrets.
Page turning and a satisfying conclusion after some twists and turns, if a little simplistic and contrived.
Page turning and a satisfying conclusion after some twists and turns, if a little simplistic and contrived.
August 10, 2025
3.5 🌟 Started out very slow with the duel point of view changing with each chapter. The gradual build up did provided opportunities to develop each protagonist character - personality, position and purpose within the story - and how they each interpreted the information that comes to light throughout.
It wasn’t till 50% in however, when they finally received, did and subsequently got the results back from the DNA test, that it got interesting leading me to read the last 40% in a day (Though I thought the results came through a little too quick. It takes longer than a few weeks, especially between Christmas and new year, to get DNA results).
Not sure about the random DNA Facebook forum throughout, didn’t really seam to add anything to the story line till the end, an answer to a riddle we could have found out another way I’m sure.
Did enjoy it in the end. A few little twist and surprises thrown in to keep us on our toes. The end did made up for the sluggish beginning bumping the rating the extra half star.
It wasn’t till 50% in however, when they finally received, did and subsequently got the results back from the DNA test, that it got interesting leading me to read the last 40% in a day (Though I thought the results came through a little too quick. It takes longer than a few weeks, especially between Christmas and new year, to get DNA results).
Not sure about the random DNA Facebook forum throughout, didn’t really seam to add anything to the story line till the end, an answer to a riddle we could have found out another way I’m sure.
Did enjoy it in the end. A few little twist and surprises thrown in to keep us on our toes. The end did made up for the sluggish beginning bumping the rating the extra half star.
October 12, 2025
wait its so funny bc i was supposed to read another book w the same title for my book club but ended up w this one because i downloaded the wrong epub and only realized once i was 100 pages in 😭😭 BYE
but wait what the heck!!! i enjoyed this one + its actually very timely with everything that’s going on in the country right now. the book follows a journalist (megan) investigating about a corrupt contractor that her mother (w/ dementia) mentioned in passing. don’t wanna give away too much but if you’re into mysteries and the lost family trope, i would def reco this!! :D
but wait what the heck!!! i enjoyed this one + its actually very timely with everything that’s going on in the country right now. the book follows a journalist (megan) investigating about a corrupt contractor that her mother (w/ dementia) mentioned in passing. don’t wanna give away too much but if you’re into mysteries and the lost family trope, i would def reco this!! :D
August 24, 2025
Best book for this year so far!
July 9, 2025
I really enjoyed reading this book it’s her first and l I’ll definitely be reading others of hers hopping that will be the case
August 22, 2025
Parallel stories of family intrigue and secrets made for an interesting read.
March 17, 2025
An Australian family drama with a mystery at its heart centred on ‘where do I belong’ - why did Meg’s mother move them constantly and why was it just the two of them, who is her father and why were they never connected to any extended family? Given her mother’s descent into dementia there is no way of finding these answers, so Meg decides to find out.
The story is told from two POVs: Meg, a journalist, who is investigating a story and finds a link to a town that her mother has mentioned and a real estate development that looks suspicious, and Issy the daughter of the wealthy developer who is trying to carve out her place in the family dynasty. Meg and Issy’s worlds converge due to Meg’s investigation and DNA testing.
The story was a little predictable from early on and the character exploration was a little shallow. There was no exploration of the impact of the complexity involved in the destruction of family relationships and also in this case a family dynasty. Issy’s family is destroyed: at the end her fiancée is dead, her brother is in prison deemed a rapist and murderer, a family business is mired in corruption charges, and an inheritance lost.
Issy starts as spoilt, naive and superficial, she is bent on a career in the family dynasty but then changes quite swiftly and dramatically to be a supporter of Meg in exposing the crimes of her own family. It appears she is accepting of the destruction of her family and its wealth as necessary, but we don’t get much insight into her feelings or the real impact of this on her.
The ending seemed to wrap everything up rather too neatly, all set around a ‘Merry Christmas’, which seemed to me a tad unrealistic. We all know that Christmas is more likely to fuel the complex emotions and connections in families, so the harmonious ending seemed a bit of a lost opportunity - it could have provided an opportunity for more real interaction and a sense of more authenticity and depth in the characters.
The story is told from two POVs: Meg, a journalist, who is investigating a story and finds a link to a town that her mother has mentioned and a real estate development that looks suspicious, and Issy the daughter of the wealthy developer who is trying to carve out her place in the family dynasty. Meg and Issy’s worlds converge due to Meg’s investigation and DNA testing.
The story was a little predictable from early on and the character exploration was a little shallow. There was no exploration of the impact of the complexity involved in the destruction of family relationships and also in this case a family dynasty. Issy’s family is destroyed: at the end her fiancée is dead, her brother is in prison deemed a rapist and murderer, a family business is mired in corruption charges, and an inheritance lost.
Issy starts as spoilt, naive and superficial, she is bent on a career in the family dynasty but then changes quite swiftly and dramatically to be a supporter of Meg in exposing the crimes of her own family. It appears she is accepting of the destruction of her family and its wealth as necessary, but we don’t get much insight into her feelings or the real impact of this on her.
The ending seemed to wrap everything up rather too neatly, all set around a ‘Merry Christmas’, which seemed to me a tad unrealistic. We all know that Christmas is more likely to fuel the complex emotions and connections in families, so the harmonious ending seemed a bit of a lost opportunity - it could have provided an opportunity for more real interaction and a sense of more authenticity and depth in the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2025
Kate Horan's The Inheritance is an impressive debut that hooked me from the start and has left me eagerly anticipating her next book. This Aussie author has crafted a compelling story that perfectly balances family drama, secrets, and suspense.
Isobel Ashworth has lived a life of privilege and wealth as the only daughter in a successful and powerful family. Recently engaged, she believes it’s time to prove to her father that she deserves serious consideration in the family company’s succession plan. But when he sends her to the small town of Hartwell to oversee a controversial development project, cracks begin to form in her perfect life. Meanwhile, journalist Meg Hunter arrives in Hartwell chasing a big story. However, her mission takes a personal turn when her mother, who has dementia, reveals cryptic details about her mysterious past—details that may link her to the town.
Fellow author Cassie Hammer’s endorsement on the cover says, “…if you love Sally Hepworth’s novels, you’ll love this,” and I couldn’t agree more. The Inheritance delivers the perfect blend of family secrets, power dynamics, and the lingering impact of past mysteries. The pages seemed to turn themselves as the story gained momentum, culminating in a clever and satisfying ending.
This was an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
Isobel Ashworth has lived a life of privilege and wealth as the only daughter in a successful and powerful family. Recently engaged, she believes it’s time to prove to her father that she deserves serious consideration in the family company’s succession plan. But when he sends her to the small town of Hartwell to oversee a controversial development project, cracks begin to form in her perfect life. Meanwhile, journalist Meg Hunter arrives in Hartwell chasing a big story. However, her mission takes a personal turn when her mother, who has dementia, reveals cryptic details about her mysterious past—details that may link her to the town.
Fellow author Cassie Hammer’s endorsement on the cover says, “…if you love Sally Hepworth’s novels, you’ll love this,” and I couldn’t agree more. The Inheritance delivers the perfect blend of family secrets, power dynamics, and the lingering impact of past mysteries. The pages seemed to turn themselves as the story gained momentum, culminating in a clever and satisfying ending.
This was an entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read, and I highly recommend checking it out.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for providing me with an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2024
I got an ARC of this and I really enjoyed it. I thought I knew where it was going when it started - I was in the ballpark, but not quite there. It’s a good cosy read where you think you know what’s going to happen, but there is enough other things happening that it does not matter.
Honestly, it was a rainy day and I was exhausted, and it was the perfect read for my mood. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Honestly, it was a rainy day and I was exhausted, and it was the perfect read for my mood. I look forward to reading more of her work.
January 18, 2025
So good! I was engrossed from start to finish. I didn’t want to put this down. A little bit family drama, a little bit mystery with a side of action to keep you reading. This was a fantastic first novel examining class, corruption, family and secrets. The novel is carefully crafted, well paced and thoroughly engaging throughout.
October 7, 2026
Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for the invitation to participate in this blog tour.
The Inheritance introduces me to another new-to-me author, and I was curious about the DNA angle. Once I started reading, I quickly found myself caught up in the story and racing through the pages. I wanted to know what secrets were hiding in the Ashworth family history and how everything would eventually come together.
At its heart, this is a story about family, secrets and the lengths parents will go to protect their children. Sometimes, the things we hide from the people we love are meant to protect them, but what happens when those secrets eventually come to light? And how much of our lives can be shaped by the things we are never told?
Isobel has always relied on her family name to get what she wants. Being an Ashworth has opened doors for her, and she has never really had to question the privileges that come with it. However, when she arrives in Hartwell and discovers that the locals are not particularly impressed by the Ashworth name, she is forced to take a closer look at her life, her family and the choices she has made. It is not always easy to face the truth, especially when it challenges everything you have believed about yourself and the people closest to you.
Meg, on the other hand, has always longed for a family of her own, having grown up with only her mother. Now, with her mother suffering from dementia, Meg begins to hear hints about a past that was previously off-limits. For the first time, it seems that the answers to questions she has carried for years might finally be within reach.
When Meg heads to Hartwell to investigate the Ashworth family for a story that could potentially save her career, she has two goals in mind: uncover a story worth telling and learn more about her mother's past. Initially, the people she interviews are simply sources for her investigation, but things soon become much more personal. As she develops new friendships, she finds herself surrounded by people who help her uncover long-buried secrets and discover family connections she never knew existed.
I really enjoyed the characters and watching them change as the truth gradually emerged. Both Isobel and Meg have their own journeys to make, and I liked seeing how the revelations forced them to reconsider their lives and what they wanted from the future.
The DNA discussion group was a particularly nice touch. It added an interesting dimension to the story, offering insight into how DNA testing works and the unexpected discoveries it can bring. DNA results can reveal far more than a person's ancestry; they can also uncover family connections and secrets that have remained hidden for generations. It was fascinating to see how this aspect of the story played into the bigger picture.
I especially enjoyed watching Isobel confront the truth about her fiancé and her family. It would have been easy for her to remain trapped in the life she had always known, but I loved seeing her begin to accept what had happened and find a way forward. Her journey towards becoming a better version of herself was one of the highlights for me.
Meg also undergoes a wonderful transformation. She starts out as an insecure woman who is struggling to find her place, both personally and professionally, but as the story progresses, she learns to stand up for herself and fight for what she deserves. It was satisfying to watch her find her strength and become more confident in her own decisions.
Overall, The Inheritance was a highly enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages. With its intriguing DNA angle, complicated family relationships, long-buried secrets and characters who grow as the truth unfolds, this was a story that held my attention from beginning to end.
This was a great introduction to Kate Horan's writing, and I would happily read more from her in the future. A thoroughly enjoyable four-star read!
https://featzreviews.com/the-inherita...
The Inheritance introduces me to another new-to-me author, and I was curious about the DNA angle. Once I started reading, I quickly found myself caught up in the story and racing through the pages. I wanted to know what secrets were hiding in the Ashworth family history and how everything would eventually come together.
At its heart, this is a story about family, secrets and the lengths parents will go to protect their children. Sometimes, the things we hide from the people we love are meant to protect them, but what happens when those secrets eventually come to light? And how much of our lives can be shaped by the things we are never told?
Isobel has always relied on her family name to get what she wants. Being an Ashworth has opened doors for her, and she has never really had to question the privileges that come with it. However, when she arrives in Hartwell and discovers that the locals are not particularly impressed by the Ashworth name, she is forced to take a closer look at her life, her family and the choices she has made. It is not always easy to face the truth, especially when it challenges everything you have believed about yourself and the people closest to you.
Meg, on the other hand, has always longed for a family of her own, having grown up with only her mother. Now, with her mother suffering from dementia, Meg begins to hear hints about a past that was previously off-limits. For the first time, it seems that the answers to questions she has carried for years might finally be within reach.
When Meg heads to Hartwell to investigate the Ashworth family for a story that could potentially save her career, she has two goals in mind: uncover a story worth telling and learn more about her mother's past. Initially, the people she interviews are simply sources for her investigation, but things soon become much more personal. As she develops new friendships, she finds herself surrounded by people who help her uncover long-buried secrets and discover family connections she never knew existed.
I really enjoyed the characters and watching them change as the truth gradually emerged. Both Isobel and Meg have their own journeys to make, and I liked seeing how the revelations forced them to reconsider their lives and what they wanted from the future.
The DNA discussion group was a particularly nice touch. It added an interesting dimension to the story, offering insight into how DNA testing works and the unexpected discoveries it can bring. DNA results can reveal far more than a person's ancestry; they can also uncover family connections and secrets that have remained hidden for generations. It was fascinating to see how this aspect of the story played into the bigger picture.
I especially enjoyed watching Isobel confront the truth about her fiancé and her family. It would have been easy for her to remain trapped in the life she had always known, but I loved seeing her begin to accept what had happened and find a way forward. Her journey towards becoming a better version of herself was one of the highlights for me.
Meg also undergoes a wonderful transformation. She starts out as an insecure woman who is struggling to find her place, both personally and professionally, but as the story progresses, she learns to stand up for herself and fight for what she deserves. It was satisfying to watch her find her strength and become more confident in her own decisions.
Overall, The Inheritance was a highly enjoyable read that kept me turning the pages. With its intriguing DNA angle, complicated family relationships, long-buried secrets and characters who grow as the truth unfolds, this was a story that held my attention from beginning to end.
This was a great introduction to Kate Horan's writing, and I would happily read more from her in the future. A thoroughly enjoyable four-star read!
https://featzreviews.com/the-inherita...
October 23, 2026
A good debut novel set in Sydney, Australia and a small exclusive town called Hartwell, south of Sydney. Centred around the wealthy Ashworth family, in particular the youngest daughter of the family Isobel ‘Issy’. She has led a privileged life and lives in a swish apartment with her lawyer partner, Hugh. Told from dual perspective of Issy and freelance journalist Megan ‘Meg’ Hunter and whilst I found the first half quite slow it picked up dramatically in the second half.
Briefly, Issy’s father sends her to Hartwell to oversee a new building project he has planned for the town. At the same time Meg has also arrived in Hartwell after her mother, who is living with dementia, mentioned the town and Meg felt that there is a story to root out. At Christmas Isobel and her two brothers receive an anonymous gift of a DNA testing kit…
The Ashworth family are ruthless in protecting their family secrets. A gripping story about family and how wealth can corrupt. The author has written some interesting characters but it was heaped to feel fully invested with either of the two main protagonists. I enjoyed the plot and the book was entertaining. A satisfying debut.
Briefly, Issy’s father sends her to Hartwell to oversee a new building project he has planned for the town. At the same time Meg has also arrived in Hartwell after her mother, who is living with dementia, mentioned the town and Meg felt that there is a story to root out. At Christmas Isobel and her two brothers receive an anonymous gift of a DNA testing kit…
The Ashworth family are ruthless in protecting their family secrets. A gripping story about family and how wealth can corrupt. The author has written some interesting characters but it was heaped to feel fully invested with either of the two main protagonists. I enjoyed the plot and the book was entertaining. A satisfying debut.
August 17, 2025
Two women from very different backgrounds. Isobel Ashworth, the youngest in a very privileged family who is trying to move up in her family's business dealings. Meg Hunter has grown up with just her mother and is now trying to make a break in her journalism career. Her mother now with dementia brings up the name Tina and a placename Hartwell. What are the connections? The Ashworth family have many business dealings there and in a bid to get a scoop story on possible corruption Meg goes there to investigate. For Xmas the Ashworth offspring all get a Xmas gift of a DNA kit. Who is the giver and are they trying to expose old secrets within the family. A great read.
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