Ugh--I never want to say anything negative about something Lisa Scottoline wrote because I think she is an amazingly gifted author, but this book was really hard for me to read. I wanted to like the MFC, Juliet, but I just kept finding her annoying. I am a person who likes a touch of magical realism in a novel, but the "medium" stuff Juliet experienced did not feel good or fun. I really liked Bianco, the villa dog, being how one important element of what was super not fun for me at the earlier part of the book--good job, Bianco! I also loved Gianluca and his mission to redeem his city for a visiting American. Very sweet. I was happy that many things tied all together and the ending was satisfying.

So grateful to #NetGalley and #GrandCentralPublishing for an ARC e-copy of this book and I will always love Lisa Scottoline and her love of family.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

I'd love to write out a well-detailed review of my issues with this, but I think I'm more just annoyed that I spent time from my summer break to read this and be disappointed the whole freaking time. I thought it was such a predictable plot, predictable twist, unlikable main character, and nothing going for it except the cool setting.

No thanks.

I thought this was okay.
The book started off strong, but I’m not sure what happened about midway that had me starting to lose my interest. By two-thirds of the way through, I felt things slowing for me. I knew I needed to finish in order to see if I was right, but otherwise I didn’t really care what happened at that point, and it was kind of a slog to get to the end. I am glad I finished, but this one won’t really be memorable for me.

𝑾𝒉𝒐 𝑰'𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐:
I’d probably still recommend to others that like atmospheric suspense and mystery/ thrillers, but it’s not one I’d push on others to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

I was excited to read this novel as it was billed as a psychological thriller. At first I felt that the story was more Gothic/Suspense and decided to keep reading with an open mind. However, I struggled to retain enthusiam for the storyline as I felt the plot started to go in many directions and the paranormal aspect was a little overdone. I did finish the novel although I wasn't totaly absorbed by it.

I will leave a review on Amazon once the novel publishes.

Wahoo! A psychological thriller from Lisa Scottoline! Julia witnesses the brutal murder of her husband, and even after 6 months, the police have no leads on the killer. Julia sinks into anxiety and depression and cannot leave her apartment. Suddenly, Julia learns that she has been bequeathed millions of dollars and a Tuscan villa from a woman she has never met. Could this woman be a distant relative? Could she be sending Julia a message from the grave? When Julia begins to investigate, she begins having visions and feels that she is being followed. Could the mysterious inheritance be related to Julia's husband's death?
Lisa Scottoline brilliantly weaves murder mystery with the historical context of the Tuscan countryside. I felt like I was zipping through Florence on a vespa. She even weaves in some magical realism to keep the reader guessing. I could not tell truth from perception and compulsively had to turn the page.
As the book progresses, Julia begins to deal with her grief and learns about herself and her priorities. It was fascinating to see the character have to prioritize during times of chaos. The novel ends with Julia having a much greater sense of self and direction.
I really enjoyed the added context about Renaissance noblewoman Caterina Sforza. She was an influential military leader and a prolific patron of the arts. Reading about Sforza in this book sent me down an internet research black hole, and I loved every minute of it.
The atmospheric writing and historical context creates un-put-down-able suspense. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy psychological thrillers, history, or magical realism.

“The Unraveling of Julia” is a bit of departure for Lisa Scottoline fans who are looking for a legal thriller. Nevertheless, this compelling novel will satisfy current fans and perhaps introduce her writing to a new group of readers.

Julia Pritzker is reeling from the aftermath of her husband’s sudden stabbing when she discovers she has inherited property from a mysterious benefactor in Italy. Julia knew she was adopted but knows nothing about her birth parents and hence, travels to Italy to seek out a possible connection. However, the novel turns on Julia’s obsession with astrology and her spiritual connection to Duchess Caterina Sforza, who may or may not be related to her mysterious benefactor (and Julia herself). At the same time, a grieving Julia connects to a hunky librarian who assists her in the quest to find answers.

I felt this novel could have been so many different things but the gothic twist added an unexpected layer to a novel already dealing with a woman seeking her husband’s killer, discovering her birth family, and moving forward after suffering such a loss. I had trouble getting into the more supernatural aspects of the story, yet, the setting of Tuscany and Scottoline’s crisp, heart-thumping writing still make this an evocative read.

Four out of five stars.

Thanks to Net Galley, Lisa Scottoline and the publisher for a chance to read this novel.

I am. big Lisa Scottoline fan! I was excited to get this arc from Netgalley. This mystery takes the reader to Italy with an unusual inheritance. There is love, mystery, murder and so much more in this book. I would classify it more of a mystery than thriller.

The Unraveling of Julia promises a sweeping gothic tale set in the evocative landscape of Tuscany, but while it starts with intriguing threads, the narrative ultimately becomes tangled.
Julia Pritzker's string of tragedies—the loss of her adoptive parents and the shocking murder of her husband—sets a somber and compelling tone. Her subsequent spiral into astrological fatalism, believing her husband's death was foretold, is a fascinating psychological hook. The arrival of an unexpected inheritance in Tuscany from a complete stranger, Emilia Rossi, then propels Julia into a mystery with the potential for rich exploration of identity and destiny.
However, the execution doesn't quite live up to this promising setup. The reveal of Emilia Rossi as a paranoid recluse obsessed with a Renaissance duchess, combined with Julia's uncanny resemblance to both women, stretches credulity a bit too thin. While the parallels and the astrological thread are meant to create an atmosphere of eerie suspense, they sometimes feel more coincidental than genuinely chilling. The "dangerous conspiracy" mentioned in the synopsis struggles to fully materialize into a truly gripping threat, and the convenient appearance of a "handsome Florentine" feels more like a plot device than a natural development.
Ultimately, Julia's descent into a fragile mental state, while understandable given her circumstances, occasionally verges on repetitive, making her "break with reality" feel less like a harrowing journey and more like a prolonged state of confusion. The Unraveling of Julia has all the ingredients for a captivating gothic thriller—a troubled heroine, a mysterious inheritance, a historical enigma, and a beautiful, isolated setting—but it struggles to weave them into a consistently cohesive and suspenseful whole. It’s a read that offers moments of intrigue but ultimately leaves the reader feeling a bit unfulfilled.

I was entertained by this, but calling it a psychological thriller is a stretch. A murder mystery with history and stunning Italian countrysides. The wrap up seemed too clean and without big enough motives.

“Arg” was used way too much.

4 stars for The Unraveling of Julia. Loved the Tuscan setting, the mentions of food, the use of Italian language, etc. I was engaged throughout this book and the twists kept coming throughout. A lot of discussion of horoscopes and astrology, which felt excessive at a few points. That was my only qualm with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing. The Unraveling of Julia is available on July 15, 2025.

This book starts with the murder of Julia’s husband and continues on a roller coaster ride from there.
Julia receives an inheritance and a villa from someone she doesn’t know, although she she’s adopted, she thinks this is a chance to find her family.
This book is different from this author’s previous books, but was extremely well done proving that anything this author writes is a huge success!

THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA
By Lisa Scottoline

3.5 stars
This is a psychological/gothic/paranormal read, set in the beautiful countryside of Tuscany. We follow Julia Pritzker—a grieving young widow—whose search for answers about a mysterious inheritance draws her into a maze of buried secrets and mistrust. Scottoline crafts a narrative where nothing is as it seems.

I found the premise intriguing, and was drawn to the air of mystery surrounding certain characters. The atmospheric setting—the Tuscan villa and vineyard—combined with the haunting pull of the past, added to the story for me. I did find some character interactions to be stilted, with dialogue that occasionally felt unnatural. Additionally, the paranormal aspects were over the top at times for me. It was a decent, fast, and easy read for summer. I do like Lisa Scottoline’s writing and have enjoyed many of her books, and I always look forward to what she writes next.

Themes explored are identity and self-discovery, grief and trauma, fate vs free will, legacy and ancestry, madness and paranoia, and family secrets.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC ebook.

Lots of twists, lots of turns, super dark and gothic and twisty in all the right ways. Scottoline delivers another winner!

My first Lisa Scottoline book! Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC to read and review.
This book was very enjoyable to me primarily due to the setting in my beloved Tuscany. I loved the descriptions of Florence and surrounding countryside. I did feel the portrayal of the Italian characters was a bit “type cast” however.
There is definitely a very eerie and Gothic feel to this book. The author did a great job of conveying Julia’s fear and emotionality.
Julia has recently witnessed her husband’s murder and is devastated. She then learns she has inherited a villa in Tuscany from a woman she has no knowledge of. She goes to the villa and is surprised by all she sees. The dead woman has an uncanny resemblance to Julia. There is a strange couple caretaking the villa which is quite rundown,
In her quest to learn more about her benefactor Julia encounters ghostly visions, some strange locals and a love interest in Florence who tries to help her unravel the situation.
Astrology figures strongly in Julia’s life - something I found distractingly irritating, I am sure other readers may really enjoy this feature. The voice of reason, her friend Courtney from the US who eventually appears on the scene helps mitigate some of this for me.
Although melodramatic I was definitely captivated by this story and thought the author did a great job of revealing it.
Very satisfying Gothic thriller!

I was blessed to get an advance reader copy from NetGalley & Grand Central Publishing.
This book twisted in ways I was thinking it would. It was an easy read and definitely hooked me from the beginning.
The audio book narrator was also fantastic. The pacing was great and when accents needed to be portrayed, it was done perfectly.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley to read and review. This book is different than others I have read from this author. It was just ok for me. I didn't expect the ending to be what it was, so that was a good twist. The book felt long to me and I kept reading to see what would happen in the conclusion, but it just didn't suck me in.

I was fortunate to have the audiobook along with the digital copy of this story. I enjoyed it more because of this.

The audio presentation of The Unraveling of Julia was fantastic. Maria Marquis did a great job narrating all of the characters. I especially loved all of her accents for the different characters. She brought the story to life.

Lisa Scottoline’s story was definitely intriguing. It was like a winding road that kept changing and pulled me along for the ride. I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and was very pleased with the ending.

NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing, thank you for this advanced copy of this story.

The Unraveling of Julia is different than other Scottoline novels, and I really enjoyed it!
This book starts off by pulling the reader in immediately, witnessing the murder of Julia's husband, right in front of her. In the midst of her grief, she finds out that she inherited a property and money in Italy, so she decides to go. She's adopted, so she hopes this will give her some insight into her birth family.
The book follows her as she is followed, haunted, and haunted. It keeps you guessing at what is coming next, and I couldn't put the pieces together in advance, so I always enjoy a good twist. The book did have a lot of moving pieces - so pay attention - but it was a fun ride!
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a thriller and believes in the supernatural.

I have read several books of Lisa Scottoline's but this one dips into the paranormal. Julia was adopted and knows nothing about her birth parents. Not long after the tragic death of her husband, she is notified that she inherited a villa and money in the Chianti region of Tuscany. Julia has no idea who the woman who bequeathed the estate to her is. There are twists and turns along with good and nefarious people along the way.. This book was a little too far fetched and implausible for me. Luckily, it was a quick read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy.

I have read several books of Lisa Scottoline's but this one was a little bit quirky. It is depicted as a thriller but id say its more suspense than thriller. It does leave you guessing and questioning what is going to happen, keeping you drawn in until the end. Lots of twists & turns. There was a little hidden catch, which was almost just too weird for me but some may find it fascinating. Overall it was an interesting story.
*note there is some language in the book*