this was so good! the psychological suspense really got me hooked. I couldn’t wait to see how it all played out

This is different from all the Scottoline novels I have loved. It took me a bit of time to get into it, especially because there’s a bit of horror and the supernatural injected. I did become involved and I really enjoyed the book.

After the horror of seeing her beloved husband murdered in Philadelphia, Julia finds herself heir to a ruined villa and an impressive fortune. It is there that she finds herself having weird experiences, with ghostly figures.

She also meets another man, but as her heart begins to heal, he has a terrible accident.

Ultimately, Scottoline pulls all the threads together and gave me a more than satisfactory sense of closure.

For those of us who are big fans, this is a bit jarring at first, but well worth getting into this compelling Gothic.

Thank you Netgalley for broadening my Scottoline horizons!

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

Thank you Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my ARC!

Unfortunately this book could not keep my attention for more than a few lines. I did not finish it.

A gripping, emotionally charged thriller that masterfully explores trauma, justice, and resilience. Lisa Scottoline delivers a powerful story with unforgettable characters and heart-pounding twists. A must-read!

A mysterious murder, a surprise inheritance, and Julia. Oh and Italy, of course!

Julia’s life is literally spinning out of control. After the murder of her husband, Julia is just existing, a shell of who she once was, and starting to become a hermit. Until… a mysterious letter shows up. Julia seemingly inherited a few million euros and a villa?!??!

Julia arrives to uncover mysterious visions, sketchy people following her, feeling connected to places in the most unusual way, finding love when it wasn’t yet right, and the greatest mystery, who was her mother? Each new chapter in her life, she’s running into secrets, danger, tragedy, and why does it feel like someone is trying to kill her? Is Julia unraveling? Or is something more sinister at work here?

I could NOT put this book down. So many twists and turns, curveballs, plot twists, that were all intertwined like a bowl of fresh spaghetti. Scottoline has you questioning Julia’s sanity, and eventually your own.

Wine pairing: Chianti 🍷

THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA by Lisa Scottoline
This action-packed adventure might be a supernatural thriller, a psychological mystery, or a twisty tale of criminal conspiracy — or it could be all three. Tragedy is tempered by adventure as newly widowed Julia learns she is to inherit a fortune and an Italian villa, but then things get . . . interesting. I don’t want to give away surprises, so stockpile some food and wine and settle in to find out for yourself as you race along the highs and lows and curves of this exhilarating book.
It is a satisfying, emotional trip to beautiful Tuscany, with life lessons and lush descriptions, enhanced by photos and maps on the author’s website — I’m going to look for them now.

I feel badly about reviewing this book. I did take the time to finish it and had high hopes that it was going to be entertaining. It was not. Given that this is the first with this publishing house AND the style/quality of the writing, I am left feeling that Scottoline did not write this. It reads like a Lifetime movie and is full of lame, totally unbelievable plot fillers. The main character finds her way around Italy--never having been there and often traveling on her own, never shops for food, never comes across someone who does not speak perfect English for her. The people around her somehow believe her outrageous and ever-changing conspiracy theories. She is grieving the loss of her husband and is suddenly and deeply bound to a guy she met, literally on the street. The one that really made me laugh was how each school let her in and then entertained her quest for info--not knowing who she is nor if she is credible or devious. This would never happen; a school will not divulge information to someone who just pops into the main office. It was too much on nearly ever level. After being afraid to leave home, she goes to Italy alone and subsequently undertakes a quest to solve her husband's murder--with miraculous success. I have read a few other Scottoline books but will really have to think twice in the future; I just don't understand what happened here.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC of #TheUnravellingofJulia. I enjoyed this book, but not quite as much as some other Scottoline books that I have read. I had a portion of the conclusion figured out early on which made me read the end of the book differently. I enjoyed the ending and how the author left us with a little bit of happy in this crazy story.

This story pulled me in from the start. I’ve admired Lisa Scottoline’s writing for decades, and her vivid sense of place and eye for detail shine through here. The Italian setting added a rich, immersive backdrop, and one supporting character in particular completely won me over with his charm and literary flair.

That said, the inclusion of supernatural elements—particularly the main character’s recurring visions—took the story in a direction I didn’t fully connect with. While the evolving explanation behind the visions added intrigue, I personally would’ve preferred a more grounded mystery. Some of the dialogue between characters also felt a bit stiff at times, and the resolution leaned more on wishful thinking than realism.

Still, I respect Scottoline’s willingness to experiment with new themes, and her research and storytelling experience are evident throughout. Fans looking for a twist on the traditional thriller may enjoy the unique blend this one offers.

Julia and her husband are walking home, when he is murdered right in front of her. Months of agoraphobia follow, until she receives a letter stating that she has inherited a villa in Italy, along with millions of euros. When she gets there, she begins to have hallucinations/visions. Will she be able to unravel the mystery of the villa?
I was not crazy about this book. The writing was jerky and uneven, and it felt like more of a YA novel, instead of an adult thriller. Julia was unlikeable, and I didn't care for all the astrology and supernatural aspects. Disappointing and not recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the opportunity to read this thrilling story. Julie witnesses her husband’s murder. She soon after inherits a villa in Tuscany and small fortune. She travels to Italy to investigate and finds herself being followed, threatened, drugged and encouraged to sell the villa. She also finds love and her birth mother - what a story! All set in beautiful Italy with just enough Italian history thrown in to make us want to learn more!

Recently widowed Julia is still dealing with the shocking of her husbands death. When she inherits an estate in Tuscany by a mystery benefactor she realizes she’s thrust into a full on conspiracy. Let’s just say Julia’s life is a full on dumpster fire.

This was a good thriller but ultimately wasn’t for me.
A tad bit slow and hard for me to get into. And some of the twist were a tad bit far fetched. But was a quick read and I can see how this would be fun for most people!

Okay, so this one was a ride. I’ll give it a solid 3.5 stars rounded down — it was entertaining, a little wild, and totally extra in places, but hey, sometimes you need a book that leans hard into the drama.

First off: moody Tuscan villa? Yes, please. Secret inheritance from a stranger? Love that for us. A heroine who’s deep in her feels and obsessed with horoscopes? Kinda fun at first, but I swear if I had to hear one more mention of it, I was gonna scream into my gelato.

The mystery itself was juicy enough to keep me flipping pages — there’s murder, long-lost family secrets, paranoid eccentrics, and just enough weird happenings to make you question what’s real and what’s in Julia’s head. I liked the whole “is it a curse or is it trauma” angle, though some of the supernatural bits felt like a Real Housewives fever dream. Also… everyone in this tiny Italian town was suspiciously chill about ghostly premonitions and past-life drama, which made me laugh more than it spooked me.

The romance? Meh. Insta-connection alert. I didn’t hate it, but it gave me Hallmark movie energy, and I was way more invested in the creepy old house and its secrets than the hot Italian librarian.

Would I recommend it? If you like your thrillers with a side of woo-woo astrology, dramatic European settings, and heroines in constant emotional crisis — go for it. It’s a vibe. Not my fave from this author, but definitely not a waste of time either.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Super enjoyed this quick read. The relationships built/described felt genuine, the Italian setting added a gorgeous backdrop. The plot lines to tie in elements of a classic thriller were well done, wrapped into a satisfying and well-deserved end. The start dragged a bit for me, but overall, a great story.

I am a big fan of the author, and I have read so many of her books. This book is a departure from her previous books. A few months after Julia’s husband is murdered, she receives word that she has inherited a great deal of money and an Italian villa. It was a good book, but took awhile to get into it.

Lisa Scottoline captivates readers with The Unraveling of Julia. It has family, mystery, Italy, historical figures, astrology, and love.
Julia Pritzker has lost both of her adopted parents and now her husband. She feels like she might be cursed and turns to astrology for answers.
Julia finds out she has inherited a villa in Italy from Emilia Rossi, someone she doesn’t know but suspects is part of her biological family.
Once in Tuscany Julia learns about Emilia’s recluse life and obsession of Duchess Caterina Sforza, a Renaissance ruler. Feeling like something isn’t right as she tries to find out about her identity, Julia ends up in a struggle to keep not only safe but sane.
Wow, this book was a ride! Starting out I was unsure about the story as it contains a lot of astrology, which tends to stress me out a little. However, once the story developed, I was sucked in by Scottoline’s writing and wanting to know what happens next. The Unraveling of Julia deviated from Scottoline’s prior books so if you are expecting a book like her prior ones, go into it with an open mind so you can enjoy the journey to Tuscany!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

another absolutely excellent book from Lisa Scottoline!!! her books are always so captivating and hard to put down!!!! 5/5 stars

The Unraveling of Julia is another great book from Lisa Scottoline, although I'll admit, it was not what I expected based on the synopsis. I fully expected a twisty thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. Instead, the book was a powerful story on family, adoption, and finding out who you truly are, with some twists along the way. I loved how Scottoline built Julia's character and with every page turn, more depth is added, resulting in a wonderful story with an ending I was shocked by.

Another winning book by Scottoline!
Thank you Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
4.5 stars/5

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

This was a departure for Scottoline. A young widow inherits a Tuscan villa from someone she has never heard of. She was adopted as a baby and knows nothing about her birth family - could this be a link to them? Julia goes to Italy and tries to unravel the mystery, but strange things keep happening. Is Julia paranoid or is there something odd afoot?

I am usually a Scottoline fan but this one missed the mark for me. The setting was fabulous (I’m a sucker for anything set in Italy), but the plot was far-fetched and there were several leaps that I just couldn’t bring myself to make. It was fast-paced and I read it quickly, but that was in part bc I wanted to know how it ended - and wanted it to just end. I’d give it a 3/5.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Comes out July 15, 2025.