The premise of this book was intriguing. I liked the idea of a new widow inheriting an Italian villa and heading off across the sea to check it out, but her actions while there just struck me as terribly unbelievable, from the experience in the house itself to all the endless astrology bits and even the new friends she made along the way. The story just didn't ring true. I did enjoy some of the descriptions of sites in Italy.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reading copy! This was my first Lisa Scottoline novel but it won't be the last.

The Unraveling of Julia follows Julia as she experiences tremendous loss and how she weaponizes her horoscope in her grief. She becomes embroiled in a mystery and I dare say a haunting after inheriting an estate in Italy. We travel along beside her overseas and then through the mystery of her relatives and past.

I thought the writing and the plot was great and I was really intrigued from the beginning. However, as the story moved further and we met more characters, I lost interest very fast. I found myself not wanting to read or my mind wandering. Unfortunately this was not engaging enough for me. I found Julia insufferable and the reliance on the horoscope was repetitive and annoying. For me, the mystery also fell flat.

I'm giving this novel 2 stars because ultimately I think I wasn't the right audience for this one. I think other people will enjoy it and my experience will not keep me from picking up more titles for this author.

This is a very generous 2 stars only because I normally like Lisa Scottoline books. But this was not good - the writing was very YA and unpolished. The story itself was unbelievable and repetitive. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

I have read a couple books by Lisa Scottoline over the years, and have enjoyed them so I was excited to read this one. However, for me, The Unraveling of Julia was okay. I really liked the idea of this story and thought that the paranormal aspect would be a fun twist. Julia was not my favorite character and I just really annoyed with her throughout the book. I love a good twisty story, but this one fell flat at times and tended to drag at times. Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a digital arc to review.

Sometimes you just need a good thriller.

This is one of those. I thoroughly enjoyed the paranormal element with the thriller aspect. I think it adds depth to the storyline and helps to make it more engaging.

Julia is the star. Her growth from seeing her husband murdered to figuring out who murdered him is ten fold. Talk about a character that goes through it. She goes through a roller coaster of emotions and I really appreciate her strength to keep going despite what the outcomes may be.

The writing overall is strong and engaging. I think the pacing is excellent between action points and I definitely had moments where the pages couldn't turn fast enough. There are many surprises, even the small nuanced ones that connect to the larger picture of who am I and who dun it?

This is great thriller read and I'm super impressed by this author.

Thanks so much to Grand Central Pub for the eARC of this book! It's a great thriller read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read “The Unraveling of Julia” by Lisa Scottoline, with a publication date of July 15, 2025. I have read many novels by Ms. Scottoline, and I must admit I did not enjoy this novel as much as her earlier works.

“The Unraveling of Julia” tells the story of Julia Pritzer, an adoptee facing the tragedies or perceived curses in her life. The convoluted and far-fetched plot features elements of murder, mayhem, and mysteries with an overemphasis on astrology. 

At the beginning of the story, Julia, an agoraphobic, fears the outside world because of a tragedy. She inherits money and a Tuscan villa and vineyard from an unknown benefactor, Emilia Rossi. As the story unfolds, Julia leaves home, travels to Tuscany, and attempts to discover why Ms. Rossi left her money. Were they related? Or was she a descendant of Duchess Caterina Sforza, a legendary Renaissance woman? Why was Ms. Rossi a recluse? The author answers these questions by revealing one revelation after another, leading to an implausible conclusion. Unfortunately, many of the revelations lacked impact, and the revelations and discussions of events between characters that could have been powerful were lukewarm. 

I must say Julia matures throughout the narrative. The dishes the maid made for Julia and the wine served at the Tuscany villa were visually appealing and savory. Astrology and supernatural events played an important role in Julia’s journey as she embraced/accepted, or rejected her intuitive feelings and visions.

“The Unraveling of Julia” is a fast-paced novel with a tidy conclusion that requires readers to suspend their belief in reality.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a taut, atmospheric mystery that keeps readers questioning what’s real and what’s hidden beneath the surface. With expertly layered twists and a haunting sense of suspense, Scottoline crafts a psychological puzzle that grips you from the first page to the last. It’s a chilling and thought-provoking read that doesn’t let go.

This was definitely a twisty thriller, but I found some areas lagged on and I had a tough time feeling motivated to pick this story up. I enjoy fast paced and captivating thrillers, and this was a bit slower for me.

This was a great distraction when I needed one. It grabs a hold of you and doesn't let go. For a bit, I was afraid it was going to be too "out there" for me, but that passed and I finished it in a matter of hours.

When conspiracies, search of identity and a side of horoscopes collide.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC! Arc meaning Advanced Reader Copy.

Plot follows Julia Pritzker with lots on her plate: dealing with the murder of her husband Mike, seeking her blood family and discovering the dark secrets within an inheritance from someone she’s never met.

Her main two supporters, Gianluca and Courtney were the best back-up she could’ve ever asked for; from providing mental and emotional support to ensuring she had some kind of help against the mysterious people after her.

Scottoline’s description of food made me hungry a few times, and locations were neat. At the end, she mentions how she used real places that she visited which demonstrates the lengths of research she went for in this book.

I liked how after a certain point Julia stops focusing on the horoscopes and consistently takes action and the emotional investment has its eventual payoff for the mysteries she’s trying to uncover. She didn’t start the fight, but she sure as hell would finish it.

There’s a certain character that gives a speech in relation to art and coping with their past, and another character that gives their thoughts about love and the heart which I thought Scottoline did a great job with. Even if that art character is one we meet near the end, they feel already fleshed out and makes you want to see them in action once more.

I’m not too much of a fan about her ‘ability’ even if it’s been foreshadowed throughout. The 3rd act tied any loose ends and questions left. It does feel like both Julia and you, the reader, get closure and a happy ending.

It’s a good thriller, you’ll have to hold onto your disbelief a few times but it works.

This book's publication date is 15th July, 2025.

The readers with an interest in thrillers and mysteries should check this one out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Grand Central Publishing, for this book.

I loved the mystery with a touch of the paranormal built into the storyline.

Julia is a well developed character and the storyline is creatively developed.

The twists and turns were not predictable and the ending was exciting.

The book kept me thoroughly engrossed. I found myself reading on and on to see what would happen next.

Recommend.

This was my first book by this author, so I didn't know what to expect. The writing was all over the place and I found the story a little draggy and boring. Julia was frustrating and I found myself rushing through the pages to finish so I could be done. I've heard this is story is a little "out of the box" for Ms. Scottoline, so I would be willing to try other books of theirs but this one just didn't hit for me.

**Features:**

- A newly widowed woman working through her grief
- A spooky Italian Villa
- A second chance at finding love
- Gothic style story

**Synopsis:**

If only she had read her horoscope, her husband would still be alive. That’s what Julia tells herself as both depression and the fear of leaving the safety of her apartment. Just as she reaches her lowest, Julia receives a letter informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan Villa complete with vineyard from a person she has never met. Being adopted, Julia thinks this might be a chance to finally discover where she comes from.

**Thoughts:**

Haunted or not, a villa in Tuscany is my dream! But in all seriousness, this book manages to bring the chills and thrills of a gothic tale to this idyllic location. I thought this was a fun read with a great atmosphere and some interesting twists. However, for better and worse, a lot of moments feel a little brief in order to keep the story moving. If you are a reader who likes the presence of deeper ideas and themes but can easily feel bogged down by stories that explore them in great detail, this book will be a great option for you. For me, there were definitely elements that I felt could have been more impactful had the story lingered a little longer and developed them more fully.

I think what will make this story truly divisive among readers is how much astrology plays a role in this story. Before I say more, know that I am someone who knows absolutely nothing about it but I am also not a complete non-believer. The main character Julia is clearly interested in astrology before we enter the story, but we get to see the moment that this interest becomes a borderline unhealthy fixation and I thought that was actually really intriguing. However, I think the brevity issues mentioned earlier lead to the “why” becoming less important than the insight it provides as we get further into the story. I could see someone who is interested in astrology being able to connect to it beyond what is explained on the page really enjoying how it is used. As someone who knows nothing, there was enough explanation to follow along, but I was ultimately indifferent to its use beyond what it showed about Julia. However, if having a character whose interest in astrology is a core tenant of their being sounds annoying to you, you may want to avoid this one.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was my first from Scottoline and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. This one just didn't grab for me. I felt the storyline and the characters lacked a depth needed to truly engage the reader. It would probably suit the YA genre better. There was a lot of building tension that seemed to dull out in the end. I did enjoy the setting aspect among the vineyards in Tuscany. #theunravelingofjulia #lisascottoline #netgalley #goodreads

Always enjoy Lisa Scottoline books. This one is little slow. Did enjoy the characters and the fact it takes place In Italy.
Not her best, just ok.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy

This was a great page turner. It was a quick and short read. The story moved fast, a little too fast and convenient at times, and wrapped up nicely with a happy ending. This was super nostalgic because…as you may know… I DID study abroad in Florence (ten years ago but who’s keeping track??). Lisa Scottoline paints such a beautiful, and if memory serves me well, accurate portrayal of Tuscany. As someone who dabbles in astrology, all of the reliance on her daily horoscope was a bit like… ok girl grow up and think for yourself. Personally, I like reading horoscopes at the end of the day so I can reflect rather than have that impact my day, as Julia FREQUENTLY falls victim to. I thought there was going to be a deeper story with the scarily specific horoscopes but we got something I don’t love… magical realism. I love mediums and witchcraft and ghosts… all of it. But this story didn’t need it imo. I think that it was unnecessary when the story could’ve been developed to be resolved without that aspect. I also didn’t fully loooove how fast the love sub-plot moved but maybe it’s because I blew through this book. All in all. It would be a great book club pick!
#TheUnravelingOfJulia #Netgalley

I so appreciate being able to read this #arc! Look out for this book’s release next month! All opinions are my own!

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

I could not finish this book. I just did not like the story and the supernatural elements. I like supernatural elements, but for me in this book it just did not work. I am sorry that I DNF'd the book, but I just could not go on. This is my honest opinion. I like Lisa Scottoline and I will read her other books, but this one just did not work for me.

Lisa Scottoline delivers another interesting and family drama with some mystery and a thrillery touch, with great character development and quite atmospheric, amost gothic, I'd say.
The narrative is fluid and easy to follow. It's quite a slow burn mystery, but once it picks up, it's amazing. The writing, as usual, is excellent and the conclusion...even though it probably won't please every one, it makes sense, in my opinon. Regardless your personal taste in endings, it makes sense.
I can easily recommend this book to anyone who has read a book by this author and enjoyed it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC.

Another great suspenseful tale by this author. This combines the beautiful scenery of Tuscany with some supernatural elements blended with some nefarious characters who do some devious deeds. The protagonist, Julia, endures horrible personal losses to begin the book, but then inherits money and a villa in Tuscany from someone she doesn't know. She goes to Tuscany to figure out the mystery. On this journey, she meets gorgeous librarian who goes out of his way to help her track down her history. This is were events happen quickly. Julia finds out she is stronger than she thought and in the end, all of her questions are answered.
I enjoyed the character development, some who I liked and some who I didn't, and the setting can't be beat. The visions Julia experiences helps lead her to answers and were well done-enough a reader could believe they were true.
If you want a page turning mystery, I recommend this book!!
#TheUnravelingofJulia #NetGalley
Thank you Net Galley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Death wasn’t necessarily far away, on the distant horizon or at the end of some actuarial table. Sometimes it was right in front of you, in your very next step. Waiting around the corner."

(Gave 3.25 on Storygraph) This book stressed me out in both good ways and not so good ways. It's interesting and unique enough that I gobbled it up on one night!

It almost feels like the book's story is broken into two parts. The beginning was not the strongest. I found some of the inner dialogue juvenile, especially MC describing the moment her husband was murdered - what should've been tense backstory ended up feeling super cheesy. Relatedly, I became very bored of the dream sequences very quickly; they did not feel very integral to the mystery and felt rather same-y.

However, eventually it all really picks up! The mini adventures are pretty fun, and the unraveling of the mysteries had me enthralled. I felt the story found its groove around halfway through. While there weren't any huge twists, I was still glued to my ereader in curiosity of how everything would unfold. Plus, LOVED Courtney - easily the best character!

Worth a read if you enjoy light mysteries.