ŷ

Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

The Inheritance

Rate this book
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

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2025

165 people are currently reading
845 people want to read

About the author

Kate Horan

1book36followers
Author | Domestic Suspense
I write stories about complicated families with dark secrets.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
228 (28%)
4 stars
355 (44%)
3 stars
187 (23%)
2 stars
22 (2%)
1 star
3 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews
Profile Image for Karren  Sandercock .
1,172 reviews335 followers
January 2, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Mandy White (mandylovestoread).
2,576 reviews760 followers
January 2, 2025
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.
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
1,981 reviews112 followers
January 5, 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.
Profile Image for Karen.
680 reviews
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.
Profile Image for Nicky Nacky.
63 reviews
January 22, 2025
8/10 Unputdownable. Family secrets and small-town, big-money intrigue at its finest.
Profile Image for EmG ReadsDaily.
624 reviews64 followers
February 26, 2025
4.5 stars
The Inheritance written by Kate Horan is 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.

Format: Paperback book, thanks to my local library
Page count: 366 pages
6 reviews
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!
Profile Image for Lara Murray.
58 reviews14 followers
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!
Profile Image for Delani Cruse.
30 reviews2 followers
January 10, 2025
This was excellent!!!!! I devoured it in a day and stayed up way too late to finish it!!
Profile Image for Kathy.
2,978 reviews45 followers
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.
Profile Image for Mercedes.
270 reviews
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!
Profile Image for Janelle Collins.
48 reviews5 followers
February 22, 2025
Great to read an Aussie book with an accurate representation of DNA & genetic genealogy at the heart of it.
Profile Image for Lisa (Insta: serenity.of.books).
205 reviews6 followers
January 11, 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.
49 reviews
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.
Profile Image for Iz Post.
44 reviews2 followers
April 13, 2025
It took me about 50% of the way through to really get into this book. It’s definitely one of those books where there are a lot of loose threads that all come together in the last few chapters. I did love the way everything was resolved and came together and found the last twist to be particularly good in keeping me on my toes!
I really enjoyed the discussions around the traits we inherit from our family and the theme of family throughout.
A solid debut novel and one I really enjoyed in the end!
Profile Image for Kerran Olson.
744 reviews16 followers
February 1, 2025
3.5*

I saw the reviews comparing this to Sally Hepworth, and I love a domestic thriller/mystery so I was very interested!

Love the Australian setting, and the way Isobel and Meg's stories played off one another.

I did find the beginning a bit slow, and found my mind wandering at a few points in the story as it didn't fully capture my attention, but enjoyed the storyline overall and think the writing is solid. I will definitely look out for more from this author as I was pretty impressed this is a debut novel.
Profile Image for Kellie Hoffman.
214 reviews2 followers
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.
Profile Image for Eliza Kinchington.
3 reviews
January 4, 2025
Reading this book was at times tricky, dealing with a parent who has dementia, there were moments that were a little too raw and real. Perhaps my favourite quote of the book dealt with this: ‘The books on the top shelf, the newest ones, will tumble first. The memories at the bottom will barely move. Once the books at the top have fallen, the ones on the lower shelves will feel more recent.� The onerous nature of delving into a family mystery without being able to tumble the books easily or willingly, without knowing who was or was not family was intriguing. The tension built nicely throughout the plot development as investigations progressed and the main character was self assured and confident in her actions. There was a marked contrast between the different female perspectives as they came into contact with each other more and more. Overall a very enjoyable read and lovely to read a book based in NSW.
Profile Image for Janine.
691 reviews53 followers
January 15, 2025
Absolutely loved it. Such a well paced page turning debut novel. DNA doesn’t lie, and you may find out more than you ever wished for. I could relate to this so much as I have had personal experience of finding half siblings through DNA testing.
Profile Image for Ashlie Mangiafico.
39 reviews2 followers
September 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ A very entertaining mystery and a quick read! I really enjoyed the Australian setting and the many relatable references! The writing was excellent, although the main plot did lack some oomph at times. I felt like there could have been a few more misdirects or suspense built throughout. Overall really enjoyed and looking forward to reading more from this author ☺️
Profile Image for Simon Newstead.
91 reviews2 followers
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.
Profile Image for Ellen.
1,065 reviews43 followers
Read
April 13, 2025
Fairly inoffensive, but boasting characters that felt more caricature than credible.
Profile Image for Christine  Le Tessier .
75 reviews5 followers
April 27, 2025
Audiobook: loved this!!! Very interesting, great pace, very well narrated, highly recommend.
1 review
January 10, 2025
I couldn’t put this book down. Such an engaging plot with great characters and twists.
1,466 reviews14 followers
February 8, 2025
Highly entertaining,as I had to keep reading. Nice to see the bullies get their comeuppance! A great debut novel.
Profile Image for Madylin Wilkinson.
60 reviews
April 10, 2025
Inhaled this one - loved the writing style and twists and turns to reveal the mystery of the protagonist’s identity and family ties
Profile Image for Greta Vanderham.
22 reviews2 followers
December 28, 2024
This was so good! I guessed a few plot points along the way but still had a couple of shock twists! I was quickly captivated by the characters and the story! Highly reccomend!
Profile Image for Caroline O'Sullivan.
850 reviews33 followers
November 17, 2024
What a debut!

I am very impressed with how great this book was and complete gutted that it’s over.

This book had me invested right from the start, and it kept me hooked until the very last page. It was definitely character heavy but it was done in a way that I was never confused about who was who.

I thought the storyline was very unique and something very exciting. It was intense in places but I still found it to be a very quick and easy read.

Corruption, lies, cheating, blackmail and DNA tests, without spoiling the storyline all I will say is go grab this fantastic book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 119 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.