Astrology and supernatural stories are not of interest to me but, I’ve enjoyed Scottolini’s books so wanted to give this one a read. The plot was well written and interesting. It’s a fairly good psychological thriller.

I wasn't quite sure what to make of this book at first, but by the mid-way mark I was hooked!
Julia Pritzker is recently widowed and her adoptive parents have both passed away, so when she is informed that she has inherited an Italian villa and large sum of money, she travels to Tuscany in the hope of finding out more about her birth mother. What awaits her, however, is a crumbling estate, gothic nightmares that make her question her sanity, and more questions than answers. The story takes many unexpected turns, and Scottoline does a great job of building suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. Not going to lie that I was thoroughly confused for some of this book. However, all the twists and turns this book took me on a wild ride I didn’t want to get off. This wrapped up perfectly! I really enjoyed this!

This book was a lot… like it had everything from murder, adoption, inherited Italian villa, ghosts, plus the kitchen sink. I almost DNF but I got to about 80% I was hooked and wanted to find out how it was going to end. Overall I did enjoy this book but think a few parts could have been left out.

Thank you Hachette Audio, Grand Central Publishing, and Netgalley for the ARC!

This was a fun novel that combined haunted house, complex backstories, and murder mystery. I loved the character of Julia, her balance of smart and naive. The conspiracy that surrounds her and the house, the haunting of her ancestor, and the current killer out to end her allowed for an interesting plot. However, I had to suspend disbelief in the first few chapters of the book, as it was far too easy for her to just inherit that house and be located. I know that it later becomes relevant, but I almost put the book down from that. Otherwise, everything was fun and enjoyable in the way a thriller should be.

The Unraveling of Julia
By: Lisa Scottoline

5 Stars

This was such a god that starts off making you want more. I loved to finish this book, but I also hated to see it end. From the first page, I was hooked.

Julia knows something bad is going to happen, and when it does, she is shocked, but she knows. When an amazing inheritance comes her way, she is swept up in an Italian dream. Mystery follows her from her home in America to a small villa in Italy that leads Julia on a path steeped in secrets and danger.

This is a book with beautiful scenery and catching characters. They kept me wanting more.this story had it all. It was filled with danger and romance. It was sad and happy. It was a mystery and a thriller. By the end, I was shocked and pleased and sad and mad. I had all the feels while reading. This would make an amazing movie. :)

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Reviews

Julia had lots of heartbreak in her life. She has lost the people around her, but it seems the people far away have begun to take interest. After her husband's death, Julia was had no family. Well, none that she knew of at the time. When she inherits a Tuscan villa, things begin to look up, but at what cost? I enjoyed reading this romance, suspense, paranormal, thriller. Thanks to Ms. Scottoline, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline
Thriller.
Widow Julie Pritzker is alone in life after her husband is killed by a late night mugger. She receives a letter that she’s inherited a Tuscan villa from an Emilia Rossi. Julia doesn’t know anyone in Italy but decides to listen to the attorney and travels to the property, hoping she can find a connection with her birth mother. Julia finds out the woman who owned the villa was a paranoid recluse and all her personal items have been burned. So much for trying to obtain DNA for testing. Then she starts having usual nightmares and gets the feeling she’s being followed. As more strange things happen, Julia wants to talk to an investigator but doesn’t trust the referral. Why is she getting buy offers when she’s told the selling agent no? Why is she being followed? Julia doesn’t know what’s going on but she’s not going to walk away either. She’s found a connection.

🎧 I alternated between and ebook and an audiobook narrated by Maria Marquis who does an excellent performance. The nightmares are terrifying. The worry and fear is suspenseful. Julia’s longing for connection and family is heartbreaking and it all comes through clearly in the audiobook. I was actively listening to the recording and often following along with the print version. I did listen at 1.5 or higher to more closely match my reading speed.

Compelling and chilling. She meets someone she can talk to and he’s run off the road and in a coma. Who can she trust without putting anyone else in danger?

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of this book
I wasn’t sure if I was reading a supernatural thriller when I first started this book. After a slow burn beginning, the plot begin to open up I am glad that I stayed with this twisty psychological thriller.
The characters were very well developed in this cleverly plotted book that takes place in Italy.

I love Lisa Scottoline. While this book didn’t quite live up to my exceptions from past experience it was still enjoyable. Not being one that pays attention to horoscopes and things like that, I just never quite got into it like I have in the past with her books. I look forward to her next one!

Thank you to Novel Suspects and Grand Central Publishing for the copies and to Hachette Audio for the ALC to review.

I have loved Lisa’s past couple of books, and while this one was on the slower-paced side and different from those two, I was engrossed in the story and the Italy setting more than made up for it. I enjoyed the paranormal element worked in here; I thought it was additive to the story, and you always have to suspend belief a bit when these elements occur. This one had a bit of everything— romance, mystery, gothic atmosphere, found family, oh, and Chianti. I can’t forget one of my favorite wines lol. This was a little slow to build, but once it got going, I was hooked, and enjoyed it overall.

I did finish this book but cannot say it was one of my favorites! I am not a fan of the paranormal but chose this book on the author and title omitting the blurb about the story. If you can get past the paranormal overlay the story was filled with suspense and mystery to keep you turning pages!

Scottoline is a little too in love with astrology and Italian food to make this thriller...suspenseful? Her descriptions of how the stars know best, and super descriptive Italian meals brought me out of the story every time. The romance was too insta-love and did not feel earned.

The story wraps up in an interesting way but did not feel earned after the first 2/3rds of the book.

This book spoke to my heart. As an adoptee myself, I loved reading about Julia and how she went through and processed everything. The emotional side of the book was what appealed to me the most. There was also action and a lot of mystery, but the end was super satisfying. I will look into more books from this author.

When Julia’s husband lost his life to a senseless act of violence, Julia is fearful to leave her home. Now all alone, she receives notice that she has inherited a home in Italy. Julia doesn’t know anyone in Italy and can’t imagine who would leave her such a gift so she decides to check it out hoping for answers to her past. While staying in the dilapidated villa, she encounters paranormal activity, hidden rooms, and clues to a forgotten past. There was a lot going on with different storylines converging and I really enjoyed the atmospheric setting and the unraveling of secrets!

Italy is one of my most favorite places to visit, and when I read the location of the story, Milan, Tuscany and Florence I knew I had to read it.

Julia Pritzker is living in New York with her husband Mike, very much in love and enjoying their time together. Suddenly, tragedy occurs and Julia is racked with sorrow, alone, and living with the guilt of not saving Mike.
She retreats to her home, reluctant to go outside and grief becomes her only companion. Her best friend Courtney tries endlessly to get through to her.
She receives a letter from an attorney in Italy about an inheritance she has received. She doesn’t know the person whom she inherited from, and has no history of family in Italy. She was adopted, so maybe she needs to investigate. Courtney encourages her, and she flies to meet the lawyer. Julia finds out she has inherited 3 Million pounds, and a Villa. She immediately starts being followed by a man in a ball cap, and a Realtor contacts her relentlessly to sell the villa. She needs time to absorb all this news. She lives in the villa, with caretakers, but immediately has terrible visions/nightmares or apparitions, that she actually sees herself die in horrible ways.
By pure chance she literally runs into a man on a Vespa who helps her escape her stalker. He is Giancarlo Morretti, a librarian and a lover of history. He quickly becomes an important person to Julia, and his plan is to help her crack this mystery.

The twists and turns, danger and romantic suspense kept me from putting this book down! It is an amazing story, that will keep you guessing.
Highly recommend.

Julia Pritzker has been dealing with the trauma of watched her husband be murdered when she learns she’s inherited an Italian villa and a large sum of money from Emilia Rossi. A woman she’s never met. Julia decides to go to Tuscany to discover if she may be related to Emilia. What she finds is a sinister plot that has her questioning her identity and if she will survive.


This one kept me glued to the pages. I love a book with short chapters and lots of little bomb shells. There are two central mysteries to this story that will hold your interest. There is a paranormal aspect to the story that I enjoyed even if it was a bit far fetched at times. The romance aspect of the story was a cheesy for me. It’s giving Hallmarks.


Pick this one up if you’re looking for an easy read that’s a blend of psychological and paranormal thriller with a touch of cozy romance. Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my review copy.

Unfortunately this book just did not do it for me. I had high hopes with the family mystery, and the setting, but alas it was a DNF for me.

This was my first book but this author and it won’t be my last despite not loving it. This one is so heavily Horoscope based I had a hard time getting into it (call me a skeptic) but it was a fun read !

A richly atmospheric, emotional blend of thriller, gothic suspense, and mystical intrigue. Its setting and layers of mystery are its standout assets. Some elements may feel over the top or drawn-out.