This was not my usual book genre but I've enjoyed other books by this author in the past and was happy to get a chance to read another book by this author.

Taking place in both Philadelphia and Italy, this is a suspense/thriller about Julia, whose husband is murdered and she has to get over her own fears to travel to Italy to find out about a lady who left her an inheritance.

Overall, this was a really good story. I love how the story starts in Philadelphia, but the majority does take place in Italy and the setting is beautiful. There were a couple of times where the main character Julia annoyed me, because she always jumps to conclusions and the one I just didn't understand where it came from. But all of the different story lines that seemed parallel converged in a satisfactory way in the end.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and I'm glad I was able to read it

Julia realized she should have listened to her horoscope shortly after her husband's death. Reeling from that, she is shocked to learn she has inherited a villa in Italy from an elderly woman she has never heard of. From there, she starts a chain of events to find out why she was left the inheritance, who her birth parents are and who was her husband's murderer.

This one didn't hit well for me. It wasn't the worst book, plenty of twists and turns to keep one engaged, it just felt like a lot. A lot is happening in any given time and the end felt very rushed. The instant love felt a bit forced, I didn't really see the purpose of it in the terms of the book. It just fell flat for me.

Quick Review: The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

So, I just finished The Unraveling of Julia, and... I’m kind of on the fence. The book definitely held my interest, I didn’t struggle to get through it, but I also didn’t feel super invested. It’s one of those reads where, by the end, I wasn’t mad I read it, but I could’ve just as easily skipped it and not missed much.

Julia’s story has its intense and emotional moments, and there’s enough mystery to keep the plot moving. But overall, it didn’t hit that “wow” factor for me. I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it, but if you’re into emotional family dramas with a bit of suspense, it might land better for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Grand Central Publishing for this arc!

Julia is on a downward spiral after her husband is murdered while saving her life. Fearing to leave the safety of her home, the outside world is now a place to be feared rather than explored. When an inheritance deeds Julia a Tuscan villa, she decides to sell sight unseen until her friend convinces her that it may unlock secrets to Julia's past.

Adopted into a loving home, Julia was protected but didn't feel like she belonged. Is Italy the missing puzzle piece? Full of drama and suspense, readers are along for a rollercoaster ride filled with emotion, fear and uncertainty. Will this trip bring forth the answers she's seeking or deadly consequences?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheUnravelingofJulia in exchange for an honest review. I'm a fan of the author's courtroom dramas but while the book was filled with angst, I didn't feel connected to the characters. It felt like surface-level relationships rather than the bonds I've developed with Mary or Benny in previous novels. I empathized for Julia's plight but found her unlikeable until mid novel. By that point, I continued reading as I wanted to know how the story concluded rather than how she fared. I don't feel the novel warrants a 4 so I'm assigning a solid 3.5 for a suspenseful story that kept my interest.

3 stars. “The Unraveling of Julia” is a mystery-thriller with a touch of paranormal that puts Scottoline’s unmistakable suspense on full show. A mysterious benefactor wills a large sum of money, a Tuscan villa + vineyard to an unsuspecting woman, Julia Pritzker. She’s an American who’s in her mid-thirties that is coping with the loss of her adoptive parents, and just recently, her husband. With an unknown lineage Julia wonders if this benefactor could possibly be a blood relative?
After arriving in Italy, Julia not only notices her uncanny resemblance to her benefactor, but they share a strong interest in astrology. Soon enough, strange things begin to occur that turns deadly with Julia looking to find who her birth mother was and why her husband was brutally murdered trying to save her. The ending tied up most questions I had, although there is repetition and the need to suspend belief in places. As Scottoline is a favorite author for me, I’m thinking this must be a one off as I expected to like it more than I did. Pub. 7/15/25

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

After her husband’s murder and then coming into a surprise inheritance, Julia travels to Italy to find some answers. Once there she starts to experience unsettling things that makes one wonder if she’s having a mental breakdown. Then the mystery surrounding her inheritance is revealed and all the puzzle pieces started to fall into place. This story has a very atmospheric feel to it reminiscent of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. There were some spooky moments but nothing too distressing. Overall, this story was captivating and an enjoyable read.

I loved this book. It had the perfect mixture of thriller, romance and heart. I enjoyed the Italian setting and the peek into some of its quirks while also enjoying the mystical aspect.

The Unraveling of Julia was a solid, engaging read that held my attention throughout. While it didn’t completely blow me away, I found it entertaining and well-paced, with some especially strong elements that made it worth the read. I’d rate it 3.5 stars, for the intriguing premise.

The story leans heavily into astrology, which wasn’t personally my cup of tea, but I appreciated how it was woven into the character’s journey. Readers who enjoy that theme may find it even more compelling.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm not exactly sure why I didn't like this book wholeheartedly. The blurb seemed right up my alley. The paranormal vibes seemed interesting. Lots of astrological views. It was billed as a thriller. I should have loved it. I didn't.

It was OK, but just OK. The beginning seemed to drag and even when Julia got to Italy, I wasn't all that engaged. My main thoughts were...when will we get to the meat of the book...and...should I even finish this book. I finished just so I could see what happened.

This is only my opinion and I know many people will love this book. It seemed different that other books by this author that I have enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the early release ebook. All opinions are my own.

Oh, where to start. This was a serious disappointment for a Lisa Scottoline book. It was so slow and repetitive that I found it really hard to actually finish it.

The book actually read more like a YA novel with sloppy writing then a new mystery novel from a NY Times bestselling author. Julia never feels like an authentic character and you can never connect with her. It bounced around with no clear purpose and seemed like it was trying to be a little bit of every genre out there.

Sadly, I do not think that I will be venturing into any more of her books.

The Unraveling of Julia is a good mix of mystery, romance, magical realism, and travel fiction. The mystery is solid and the descriptions of Tuscany make me want to hop the next plane for an Italian vacation.

Turns out that I am a sucker for mysterious inheritances.  This was a deliciously gothic slow-burn with a modern twist! Julia's descent into paranoia and uncertainty had me invested, questioning everything right alongside her. From a murder and a mysterious inheritance to a crumbling Tuscan villa full of secrets and a legacy tied to Renaissance nobility—this book has all the eerie vibes I love. Astrology, family secrets, mental unraveling, and a whisper of romance made it haunting and immersive. A gripping, atmospheric read that fans of psychological suspense and historical intrigue won’t want to miss.

Thank you @lisascottoline , @hachetteaudio , and @netgalley for the advanced copy!

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This book was not at all what I had expected. I loved the horoscope reference and influence in this book, I can’t say I’ve ever read anything quite like it. I did find it a little slow to get into, but I’m glad I stuck with it.

This story starts off with a bang. Julia and her husband, Mike, are walking home after dinner. Someone comes around the corner and tries to take Julia’s purse. Mike gets in the middle and ends up stabbed. Sadly, he does not survive. Six months later, Julia receives a letter in the mail saying that she has inherited an Italian villa from a family member, Emilia Rossi. After determining that this is legitimate, Julia heads to Italy to learn more about her family. The villa is in the Tuscan valley, where she is able to experience the wonderful food, weather, and people. This book is now following two mysteries - one is who killed her husband and the second is who is Julia’s mother. I thought this book was very slow for the first half, but the pacing does pick up and I was flying through the last 30%. There is a mix of genres in this book - mystery, romance, and paranormal. Overall, an okay read, but not as exciting as I had hoped.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Through this story, we witness a woman who seems to slowly be losing her mind, or is she? When Julia suddenly comes into a large inheritance from a person in Italy, she must fly out and get her affairs settled. She is intrigued about why this stranger, whom she has never heard of before, could have something to do with her birth mother. Though her action frustrated at times especially when a certain character was hospitalized I understood where she was coming from.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for the eARC!

The author was right when she said she was moving in a different direction from her previous books.
The plot centers around a woman who is trying to comprehend her husband's murder. Unexpectedly, she is left an inheritance, and the story takes off. I love all the author's other books, so this was quite a departure for me. Yet, I enjoyed this thriller that was mixed with a bit of mysticism. Intriguing!

The Unraveling of Julia is about a woman who is grieving over her husband’s murder. While she is trying to find a way to move forward with life she discovers she has been left an inheritance in Tuscany and she decides to go check out the villa she was left. Things start to turn weird very suddenly after her arrival and she begins to realize she might be in danger.
There were a couple slow points but overall it was an interesting story. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

This was a hard book to get through and I almost DNF'd it towards the beginning but I stuck with it. I did enjoy the story after I got to a certain point I was sucked in. I think it was well written and I definitely enjoyed different aspects of the story. The characters were interesting. All in all, a solid thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I loved this book and read it in one sitting. I just had to know what was going to happen, I could not put this book down. Lisa Scottoline did not disappoint with this book! I loved the storyline and the characters. I thought the characters had great growth. I would definitely recommend this book.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
This book was a really slow burn for me. It had a little bit of everything, mystery, suspense, mystical and romance. The detailed description of the Tuscan village and surrounding areas that Julia visits make you feel like you are really seeing and feeling what she's experiencing. This whole book is very descriptive and helps you delve in to the mystery of the haunted manor.