The Heirloom is a fun and interesting multigenerational read, a wonderful mix of romance, drama, and mystery.

Mia’s experience is the fantasy of every family historian as she unravels the mysteries of a her family tree, uncovering murder, witchcraft, secrets, vendettas and intrigue. There were a few threads I would have loved to see tied off at the end, but overall this was an interesting and absorbing read.

I loved the exploration of the cultural elements of witchcraft, and the various experiences of Mia’s maternal ancestors. The story is a slow burn, but feels fast paced due to the richness of detail, in past, present, and across continents.

The audio narration was engaging and lively, lifting the broad cast of characters off the page and creating an immersive experience.

Thank you Headline Audio for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Now this is what I wanted to happen with ancestry DNA 🧬 😆

What a lovely novel.

Modern day Australia, Mia is shocked to receive notice of an inheritance from England, particularly as she’s been told by her mother that they have no family. In a bid to claim the inheritance Mia travels to the U.K. With the assistance of a genealogist and heir hunter, we are swept back in time to 1821 to meet Philadelphia Boadle.

As always the historical chapters are where I really was able to disappear into the story, we discover that Philadelphia finds herself on trial for witchcraft following the death of her husband. Known to be from a family of apothecaries and herbalists - witches, it seems Philadelphia doesn’t stand a chance of surviving trial.

The modern day chapters were equally lovely, especially when Mia feels the pull of her heritage.

So hard not to spoiler this, but it was right up my street! Perfect for the 2025 reading list if you have the slightest interest in ancestry and history, and of course alternatives to modern medicine, and a little potion here and there.

The audio narration by Vivien Carter was fantastic, however there was a little issue with some accents, and I had to play around a bit with speed to find the correct fit (1.25 if you’re interested) it didn’t hamper my enjoyment of the story, but accents are my bug bare.

Easy 4 🌟

My thanks to Headline Audio via NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧