Excellent, Excellent, Excellent is all I can say! I found it hard to walk away from and I thought about it while I was not reading. Great story and wonderful descriptions of the area in Italy where it takes place. I could see this as a movie!

Julia loses her adoptive parents and then her husband is murdered. she receives a letter that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and she heads there to check it ou.

Thanks to NetGalley & Grand Central Publisjong for this ARC in exchange for my review. I’ve read one other book by this author (What happened to the Bennett’s) and Ii absolutely loved it. But this book just wasn’t as suspenseful like the other one. The premise of the book is intriguing but the book itself has a lot of slow parts & it’s just too long. It also read like a young adult book and I don’t think it’s supposed to be. I did like the ending because it didn’t leave you with lots of questions like some books do. I wanted to like Julia but she was just annoying and not likable for me. I own a few other Loss Scottoline books so I will give them a try since this author has so many books and great reviews.. But this one just didnt do it for me. The story just dragged on for most of the book. Maybe if some parts were cut out and it was shorter, it would flow better. But I’m still giving it 3 stars cause it was a good premise overall,

I recently picked up The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline, and as someone who always keeps an eye out for her new releases, I was super excited to dive into this suspenseful read. Scottoline has a knack for crafting compelling stories that grab your attention, so I couldn’t wait to see what this one had in store. However, I have to admit it fell a bit short for me.

The premise seemed really promising, and I was eager to get lost in Julia’s story. Unfortunately, I never really connected with her as a character. I found it hard to become invested in her experience, which was disappointing given how much I wanted to enjoy the book. Julia’s journey didn’t resonate with me the way I’d hoped, and that made it challenging to stay engaged with the plot.

Additionally, the use of astrology felt a bit heavy-handed, which turned me off from the narrative. While I appreciate when authors incorporate unique elements into their storytelling, in this case, it felt overdone to me. It distracted from the core of the story rather than enriching it.

This twisty psychological mystery kicks off strong—fast-paced, emotionally gripping, and anchored by a sympathetic lead in Julia. Her grief, confusion, and search for identity are easy to connect with, and the Tuscan setting adds charm and intrigue. But as the plot thickens, it veers into overly tangled territory, stretching believability and making it harder to stay grounded in the story. Still, for readers who enjoy suspense with a hint of the surreal (and a glass of wine in hand), this makes for a perfect beach read: engaging, escapist, and full of drama.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Lisa Scottoline’s "The Unraveling of Julia" is a psychological thriller which masterfully intertwines suspense, identity, and the allure of Tuscany’s enigmatic charm. The novel follows Julia Pritzker, a young widow grappling with the loss of her adoptive parents and the shocking murder of her husband. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits a Tuscan villa from a mysterious benefactor, Emilia Rossi—a stranger who might hold the key to Julia’s past.

Scottoline’s storytelling shines as she delves into Julia’s unraveling psyche. The narrative is rich with gothic undertones, from the eerie parallels between Julia and Rossi to the haunting obsession with astrology which binds them. The Tuscan setting, with its vineyards and Renaissance echoes, serves as a sanctuary and a labyrinth of secrets, amplifying the tension.

This story explores the concept of fate versus free will. Julia’s struggle to reclaim her agency amidst spiraling events is harrowing yet deeply human. Scottoline’s prose is evocative, painting vivid scenes while keeping readers on edge with unexpected twists.

While the plot occasionally leans into melodrama, it’s a testament to Scottoline’s skill that the story remains compelling. "The Unraveling of Julia" is a mysterious thriller, and it’s also a poignant journey of self-discovery and survival. Fans of psychological suspense and richly atmospheric tales will find this book hard to put down.

Julia is thinking she is the most unlucky person to ever exist. Within a short period of time she has lost her adoptive parents and her husband was brutally stabbed in front of her while they were on a date. She starts to become a recluse and doesnt leave her house in fear that the man who killed her husband is lurking around the corner. One day she get notice that she is going to inherit a large villa and property in Italy. She doesnt know this person and then starts to question if she is related to her since she was adopted. Julia makes the trip over to Italy and all of a sudden weird things start happening. But Julia is determined to get to the bottom of it. While doing so she and others lives are put at risk and things might not be so nice after all.

This was an incredible book and I loved it! My grandfather is from Italy and was born there so I have an Italian heritage and it was cool to be pulled into this story around Italy. I thought it was a fast paced novel that kept me on my toes and was a book I would read again. Between the suspense and the emotions surrounding loss there was a lot of feelings that came from this book. I really think this is one of her best books.

The Unraveling of Julia is the story of Julia Pritzker, a new widow whose husband was killed in front of her at the beginning of the story. Soon we are six months after the shocking crime and Julia has become nearly agoraphobic, choosing to stay in her apartment and have everything delivered to her door. When she receives an envelope telling her that she has inherited a few million and an Italian villa she immediately dismisses it as a scam, only to find that she is in fact the heir to this connection she has never met. Armed with encouragement from her best friend, she leaves Philadelphia to track down DNA at the villa to solve the mystery of why she was left this massive sum. Since she was an adoptee with no living relatives she is confounded on why the fortune was left to her. Can she uncover the answers or is she in danger if she gets too close?

My main quibble with this book is the over the top nature of Julia's many nightmares/waking dreams. It took me out of the story somewhat and was not enjoyable in an otherwise interesting and intriguing plot. I did also find at times that the writing strayed into the melodramatic and the leaps in logic by the protagonist often walked the fine line between believable and foolish and strayed toward the latter. There was also far too much dependence on astrology for this to be an enjoyable thriller or my type of book. 2.25 stars for a letdown of a read.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I received a free ARC ebook of <i>The Unraveling of Julia</i> from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
How does one survive the murder of a spouse? For Julia, the sudden, horrific death of her husband as they walk down a street is the beginning of her withdrawal from society. Crowds make her nervous, so it is just easier to stay at home, work from home, and order in. Her best friend, Courtney, attempts to get Julia to re-engage with life, but home is quieter and safer. Only the unexpected, huge inheritance of an Italian villa and a large sum of money forces Julia out of her comfort zone. As an adoptee, Julia's birth family is unknown. Perhaps this inheritance will fill that emotional hole.
Scottoline does a great job describing the rundown villa and the eerie atmosphere surrounding Julia's new home. Is it grief, fear, psychic abilities, or maliciousness that cause her nightmares? Is she safe? There are no quick or easy answers here as Julia must keep moving forward.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first read from this author and I'm hesitant about the next. This felt disjointed and read like a first draft. It was hard to believe some of the storyline and the characters weren't always likable.

Lisa Scottoline once again provides a suspenseful story line that keeps a reader guessing until the very end. Immediately, we experience a quick jump into the plot while meeting the story’s protagonist, Julia, and we slowly start to watch her “unravel”. Through international travel enveloped in mystery, spirits, and realism, the Unraveling of Julia is not quite what it seems. Highly recommend for those who like a variety of themes intertwined into plots and strong characters who overcome many obstacles, both physically and emotionally.

This is only the second title of Lisa Scottoline's that I have read and I found it riveting! It was nearly 2 am when I finished "The Unraveling of Julia" so, yes, I couldn't put it down. This novel is both a psychological thriller and an action-packed adventure that takes a grieving Julia from Philadelphia to Italy. She is in search of a family she does not know and finds many more mysteries await her, some even threaten to make her sorry she's looking for answers. Her best friend, Courtney, worries about the sanity and the safety of her friend as the puzzles and fear intensify. Who was the woman behind Julia's trip to Italy? Who would rather she get on the next plane home? Is she ready to find affection or love again or would she rather be back inside her Pennsylvania home and stay away from the rest of the world? Most of all, Julia needs to find out if she is losing her mind or finding the pieces that will make her life whole again. Exciting at every turn of the page!

Thanks to Netgalley for sending this eARC. I really enjoyed it! Having read a couple of Lisa Scottoline’s books, this one was a bit different. I loved the occult aspects in it, with the Astrology and Mediumship. I loved the descriptions of each place mentioned. It definitely has me wanting to visit Italy! A definite psychological thriller, borderline horror in my opinion. It kept me thinking and had me on the edge of my seat. Had me hooked from start to finish.

I haven’t read a book by this author in a while. So I was very excited to be approved. It wasn’t what I was expecting. But I really enjoyed it. I wish the ending hadn’t been so abrupt. I got whiplash when they switch from Italy to the US courtroom. However I love the ending and wasn’t left with many questions. Which I love.

This was such a good book. I was hooked from the very first page. Scottoline did such a wonderful job crafting a story line that was captivating and so detailed. I enjoyed getting to know Julia's character and felt like I knew her because Lisa did such a great job in describing her characters and all of her ups and downs that she faced. Really good book. I am going to recommend it to my book club.

Oh gee, this was an exercise in my new "what not to read" list. It was so slow, repetitive, and downright dumb.

Julia Pritzker, is a bona fide believer in all things woo woo. She latches onto the supernatural, the paranormal, and emotion-based beliefs and explanations. She is the walking encyclopedia of horoscopes and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. Perhaps these out there beliefs could be explained by the stabbing murder of her husband right in front of her.

She becomes a recluse bordering on agoraphobia, but then things change and this woman who is afraid of everything, inherits tons of money from an unknown person in Italy where Julia travels to pick up her money and a very run down Tuscan home.

As if things were not shaky for Julia, she finds herself being followed, falling in love with an Italian librarian, and dragging astrology along for a ride.

This story annoyed me as Julia never feels authentic and the whole book read as a YA story. The writing is sloppy and wandered about with no clear definition of where it was going trying to include so many genres in the telling.

So sad to say along with her book What Happened To The Bennetts, which I also awarded two stars, makes me wonder of this author is just not for me anymore. I was disappointed and let down.

This is described as a psychological thriller, but to me was more about astrology, fate, family secrets, and even a touch of romance. Julia’s journey is well written. I enjoyed this book as it’s different from most genres I read and I think readers will like this book as well. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read a delightful story!

I always enjoy books by this author and she once again delivers with a book full of thrills and historical fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I read all of Lisa's books and usually enjoy them a lot. This one missed it for me as it revolved around horoscopes

This is not my favorite of this author's books. 5 stars for setting and details of people, places and food on the Italian journey. I even liked the inexplicable feelings and connections that Julia made to her past. But the characters just didn't come through for me this time. Courtney was odd, Too many bizarre turns and moods from characters and the overly complicated plot tailed off as they all tried to fit back together.

I would recommend if you want to explore Italy through Julia's eyes and now I want to go!

Thank you for the ARC.