This thriller starts slow but the then creepy factor really starts to build and gets under your skin. I love when I can predict a few of the twists in a thriller along the way but still be surprised by some of them too and this book kept me guessing. This book also has a lot of heart mixed into the mystery. Julia's struggles with heartbreak and grief as she mourns the loss of her husband and works to rebuild a new life are relatable to anyone who has experienced loss. However what really makes this book shine are Lisa's beautifully immersive descriptions of Italy and the food. When this book wasn't giving me the chills from reading about the scary things Julia is witnessing at the vineyard, I was salivating over the delicious meals she was enjoying. the wine and finally understanding why my coworker runs off to Italy every summer for a long vacation - it's just gorgeous.

The Unraveling of Julia is a great summer read. It's got a little bit of everything; a thrilling mystery with a dash of romance, adventure and the supernatural.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of The Unraveling of Julia thanks to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released on Tuesday, July 15th but it's available for pre-order now. Visit Lisa's website for more information on pre-orders, her upcoming book tour and a "Behind the Book" video series.

First of all, thank you for this ARC. I haven't read a Lisa Scottoline book in a while so I was super excited to get this book.

The Unraveling of Julia offers some suspense (who is Emilia Rossi), some romance (Gianluca), a murder conspiracy, and of course a touch of mystic. In other words, it has it all. This one was a quick read for me...very entertaining.

thank you

This was a solid four-star read—layered, thrilling, and utterly engaging! I absolutely recommend thriller lovers check it out when it releases on July 15th. I was hooked by the mix of grief, secrets, and danger…and I couldn’t stop listening once the twists started rolling in.

Julia is unexpectedly widowed when her husband heroically throws himself in front of a knife-wielding, hooded figure during a late-night stroll. With the trauma still raw and the police offering no answers, Julia understandably becomes afraid to leave the house—especially after dark. Thankfully, her best friend Courtney is there to help her through the stages of grief.

Months later, everything changes when Julia receives shocking news: she’s inherited a luxurious Italian villa and millions of euros…from a woman she’s never heard of. Adopted as a child, Julia is both confused and intrigued—especially since her adoptive parents have passed and she’s desperate to find where she truly belongs. But when she flies first class to Italy, she unwittingly steps into a web of danger and deception that links directly to her past.

I was gifted both the ebook and audiobook—and while both were fantastic, I stand by my belief that a talented voice actor can elevate the suspense to a whole new level. Maria Marquis did a phenomenal job bringing this gripping story to life!

Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Scottoline, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for the engrossing early copies in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨ (3.75/5)

“Kill him, I can make more.” 😂😂😂

“Grieving heals you.”

The audio narration was excellent for this book. They nailed it on the narrator for sure.

The book itself was giving Nancy Drew & Theresa Caputo.

This was more mystery than thriller although it’s classified as a thriller. It’s also very slow burn. A tad bit longer than I think it needed to be. It felt like it was dragging a bit in the middle. I think the beginning 25% and at like the 70-90% mark it part of the book were my favs and when I was the most invested. I didn’t think it needed to go on for as long as it did.

Memorable moments in the book that will stick with me…

🇮🇹Omg the “pay the fine now” experience I’ve heard of but never realized that was an actual thing. I’d be terrified.

🤕 The abuse / go bag / photos

🤪The clever title (unreliable narrator)

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for my review. This was definitely a different kind of book for me. I would definitely put this book in the paranormal category. Julia has suffered a lot of loss in her life but the hardest was being the witness to the murder of her husband. As she is grieving, she receives a letter stating that she has inherited a Villa in Italy from someone she has never heard of. So, she travels to check out the property and gets way more than she ever imagined. While the book was interesting, it just wasn’t for me. But if you are in to paranormal books, you will probably love this story.

I had to suspend some of my beliefs in reality to enjoy this book, but enjoy it I did. There is romance, mystery, and a touch of the spirit world. She is an auto-read author for me, but this is not my favorite of hers. I loved the setting and some of the characters, but there were times I just felt it unrealistic and frustrating in that an area was not investigated that to me, would have been one of the 1st places I would have gone at the time (can’t say more to avoid spoilers). Overall, it was a good read and kept me very entertained, just not as believable as some of her other stories.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book. As always, the opinions expressed within this review are completely my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I love reading Lisa Scottoline books and was so happy to be approved for this one. I enjoyed the story took place in a Tuscan Villa and the added paranormal element was enjoyable. this book is women's fiction, paranormal fiction, and thriller/mystery all in one. The main character Julia has her husband murdered right in front of her and then later receives a letter stating she has inherited a villa in Italy. The book has a few twists and turns and I enjoyed it overall. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a psychological thriller that follows Julia from the horrific murder of her husband to an unexpected inheritance of money and property in Italy. While Julia is visiting the property, strange things begin to happen that make Julia question everything.

I have read several of Lisa Scottoline books and this is definitely one of my favorites. The setting made for a unique premise and I love all the unexpected turns throughout the book. Definitely a book to add to summer TBR lists!

I always look forward to Lisa Scottoline’s new books. She writes strong, intelligent women well! This new novel does not disappoint and I love the mystery elements in the book

35 stars

This was my first time reading (and listening to) anything by Lisa Scottoline, I was intrigued from the start. Splitting my time between the audiobook and the Kindle edition, both formats worked really well - the narration added an extra layer of intensity, especially during the more suspenseful moments.
The story follows Julia, who's grieving the sudden loss of her husband when she unexpectedly inherits a villa in Italy. Sounds dreamy, right? But of course, it’s not that simple. From the moment Julia arrives the atmosphere shifts, there's a heavy moody vibe with a setting that is vivid and at times spooky.

Things take a turn toward the paranormal pretty quickly, and nothing is quite what it seems. There are some unreliable characters, strange events, and twists that kept me guessing the whole way through. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something else would unravel (pun totally intended).

The Unraveling of Julia is a mix of grief, mystery with just enough supernatural weirdness that keep me wondering what was real. If you're into books with a haunting setting, emotional depth, and plenty of twists, this one’s worth a read.

I’ll be checking out more from Lisa Scottoline after this.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

Teresa Brock <fullybookedinkentucky@gmail.com>

2:11 PM (8 hours ago)

to me

The Unraveling of Julia

Lisa Scottoline

Grand Central Publishing

07/15/2025

Hachett Audio | Maria Marquis Narrator

As someone who never misses a Lisa Scottoline book—whether I’m reading or listening—I found The Unraveling of Julia to be a standout. This novel isn’t just a tightly-wound psychological thriller; it’s layered with a supernatural thread that pulled me in deeper than I expected. Julia’s grief, confusion, and self-doubt felt real and raw, and as she unraveled the secrets left behind by a woman who was completely unknown to her, and by the untimely death of her husband. These events were not a coincidence. I felt like I was right there with her—haunted by the past, unsure of what was real, but unable to look away.

I really enjoyed how this book moved beyond traditional thriller framework. There’s mystery, yes, but also mysticism, ancestral echoes, and the beautiful, eerie pull of Tuscany itself. The supernatural elements aren’t overdone—they blend in just enough to keep you questioning fate, identity, and the things we carry without even realizing it.

Well, I'm not exactly sure what was going on here. There are a lot of supernatural elements to the story, but not with any real purpose. I feel like this one lost me and it rambled a bit too much to win me back. Julia was a little too whiny for me to care much about. And her conversations with her best friend over the phone were unbelievable and trite. There was a lack of believability to the everyday things so that the super natural stuff was way over the top. The whole thing lacked a cohesiveness.

I am extremely grateful to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this new-to-me author.

After witnessing her husband's murder in Philadelphia, Julia Pritzker spirals into grief and paranoia, believing her horoscope predicted the tragedy. Soon, she inherits a haunted Tuscan villa and a mysterious fortune from Emilia Rossi-perhaps her biological grandmother- which sends her on a journey in search of identity, truth, and maybe her own sanity.

Her journey is gripping, unsettling, and full of twists that could never be predicted. This book is a bit different and will keep the reader guessing.

Emotional, Psychological Suspense and a Tightly Paced Crime Fiction! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 7/15/25.

Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite writers. However, I can only rate this book 3.5. Julia husband is murdered on the streets of New York and six months later she inherits an Italian villa. Julia is adopted and wonders if the inheritance is from some relative in Italy. She travels to Italy to find out. Once there strange things start to happen. Strange dreams plague her and someone is following her. I didn't know if Julia was crazy, paranoid, or something else was going on. This left me unsure if the book was magical realism or part science fiction. The story does come together in the end and it will all make sense. You should enter this book with an open mind and not let the distracting elements derail you.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #LisaScottoline, and #GrandCentralPublishing for a copy of this book.
#TheUnravelingofJulia

Lisa Scottoline absolutely NEVER disappoints and this was just another example of how amazing of an author she truly is.

The Unraveling of Julia was a beautifully written psychological thriller with an intriguing plot line. The addition of how astrology can play a part in predictors for one’s life was a great ode to all of the astrology girlies everywhere! This had suspense, mystery, grief, budding romance, and a tid bit of the supernatural.

As my best friend would say “the ending was wrapped with a bow”

*I received a free ARC from NetGalley*

The Unraveling of Julia was a bit outside my usual genre, but I found it surprisingly engaging. I’m not typically a fan of astrological elements or dream sequences, but the story had enough depth and intrigue to keep me interested despite those aspects.

The main character, Julia Pritzker, is grappling with the sudden, violent death of her husband—a tragedy that leaves her feeling responsible, especially after reading a horoscope that seemed to predict it. Already mourning the loss of her adoptive parents, Julia’s world is further shaken when she receives a letter informing her that she’s inherited a Tuscan estate from a woman she’s never heard of—Emilia Rossi.

From there, the story becomes a journey of self-discovery as Julia seeks to uncover the truth about her past, including the identity of her birth mother and the reasons behind her adoption. The plot is filled with twists, danger, and even a touch of unexpected romance. Julia comes across as a brave and resilient character, willing to face uncertainty and risk finding answers. The supporting characters are also well-developed and supportive, adding additional depth to the narrative. The story also has an underlying element of evil that adds tension to the story.

I’m giving it 3 stars, not because it wasn’t well-written, but simply because the genre isn’t my usual preference. That said, I can absolutely appreciate the story’s structure, character development, and how everything ties together in the end. If you enjoy astrology, dream symbolism, and a well-crafted mystery with emotional depth, this book is worth a read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

#TheUnravelingOfJulia, #LisaScottoline, #NetGalley

The Unraveling Of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a mystery. I have always enjoyed Scottoline's legal thrillers but this one is so very different from others she has written. The main character, Julia, is walking one night when out of no where a man comes along and stabs her husband to death. Much later she receives a letter that she is a beneficiary of money and a house in Italy. She has no knowledge of this woman who has left her these things but Julia is adopted but knows nothing about her background. The story continues as Julia flies to Italy and the mystery begins. Who was this woman and why did she leave her this falling down house and the money?
At times the story becomes bogged down and moves slow but eventually it does pick up as it comes to a conclusion. Scottoline has done her research and you can picture all the sites in Italy as Julia travels around the area. I could do without the horoscope readings; I thought they were a little far fetched.

I love Lisa Scottoline's legal thrillers. She writes with humor that often makes me laugh out loud.

But I did not love this book. I admire Scottoline for venturing out from her usual genre and exploring something new, but I found The Unraveling of Julia to be plodding, formulaic and not at all thriller-like.

So sorry, but could not even finish the book.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is an excellent novel I really enjoyed reading.

I have read and enjoyed almost all of the author's novels and have enjoyed them, I would say this isn't really a thriller but quite good.

Julia's husband was murdered, and she is having a really hard time. She receives a letter that states that she inherited a Villa in Tuscany.
She was hesitant to go but went regardless.

I absolutely loved the location and the mysterious events. The locals were not kind to Julia.

I really enjoy the paranormal and conspiracy events. Kept me guessing.

Highly recommend!

It is so clear that Lisa Scottoline does so much research and pours her heart into her works. Thank you for the advanced copy, I enjoyed the book. With a variety of different topics such as adoption, murder, horoscopes/astrology, love, life and death, this book will appeal to many. 

While around 30% to 45% through the book it felt slow and slightly repetitive, it finished strong with a gripping end.