The Unraveling of Julia is quite the perfect title of this book. It is a mystery and a thriller all in one with something for everyone! A crumbling Italian Villa, art, libraries, a dog, ghosts, some supernatural, a mystery and even some courtroom time! Julia a recent widow mysteriously inherits a villa. Julia has to unravel all the strange things happening to her and "Unravel" the mystery before she becomes unraveled herself. Lisa Scottoline is brilliant and she definitely put her heart in this book and it shines so bright. It think that it is her best work yet!

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline surprised me at first as it appeared to be the a “slow descent into madness” story, which having read one recently, I was really not interested. Oh, thee of little faith. When it all started unraveling I was pleased and not surprised. But soon, here was the Scottoline I knew and loved. Julia had suffered through the random stabbing and death of her husband on the street and was having trouble coping. When she saw the first email she thought it was along the lines of “stuck in Nigeria,” and ignored it. Eventually she got a letter. She had indeed inherited a great deal of money and a villa in Tuscany from a woman she had never heard of. She went, partially pushed into it by her best friend, Courtney, who had also pushed her to see a therapist. When she arrived she was amazed and not in a good way. The place had been allowed to deteriorate until it was little more than a ruin. Thankfully the caretakers, a couple, were friendly and helpful. She might have run screaming home.

Julia slowly came out of her funk, curious about what was happening to her as well as why this woman had left her so much money and why she hadn’t taken care of the place when she obviously could afford to. She was pestered by realtors. No one in town would speak of Rossi, the women from whom she had inherited. The lawyer put her in touch with a family investigator. She was an intelligent woman who was beginning to put two and two together. This was a well-thought-out plot, full of twists and turns, much like real life. She met people along the way who could help and some who hindered. Curious things happened but she hung on to her sanity and finally figured it out. She was not a stupid woman. She still missed her husband but was now open to a new relationship. Excellent characters; frightening nightmares; constant curious behavior from those around her. Scottoline has done it again!

I was invited to read The Unraveling of Julia by Grand Central Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #GrandCentralPublishing #LisaScottoline #TheUnravelingOfJulia

Lisa Scottoline is a must-read author. I will continue to pick up any book that she writes. The Unraveling of Julia is a little different than her other books. The book has a mystery thriller aspect, but it also has twists and turns that had a magical aspect.

I am still not sure how I feel about Julia. Her husband’s death and how it happened would affect anyone. Everything that happened in Italy forced her to come out of her grief and find a way to continue living. I was cheering her on, hoping that she would find all the answers that she was looking for.

The Unraveling of Julia is not my favorite books of Lisa Scottoline’s but it is still a book that I will recommend to my magical, mystery thriller readers.

THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA
BY: LISA SCOTTOLINE

I had first read two of this Author, LISA SCOTTOLINE'S BRILLIANT & STUNNING Historical Fiction novels which are called, "ETERNAL," and "LOYALTY," which surprised me how beautifully written they were. My highest recommendations go towards trying those because they were so breathtakingly, captivating, that enough time has gone by that I'm considering rereading both. Of course, I'd heard of her Mystery & Thriller books for years and I read only one which was well written, but not as quite as memorable, even though she is a Best selling Author mostly associated with that genre. It was called, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS," which was well received by her fans, but I didn't think it WOWED ME as much as "ETERNAL" and "LOYALTY," did. So I would wait and see what she did that was also a departure for her, and that's why I read, "THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA," which has some PARANORMAL elements to it, and also, ASTROLOGY. I was very intrigued by the fact that I could strike Gold again with her experimenting with a different trope. I must add that I don't normally read either genre hardly ever, maybe I should because I did enjoy this one, which depending on your interests in those areas will determine whether you need to suspend disbelief or not.

It's not often that I notice when I start a new novel, that it gets an introduction from the Vice President, Executive Editor. In this case, when I noticed that endorsement, from Lyssa Keusch, from Grand Central Publishing I knew that I would most likely love this. I knew that I had only seen that kind of circumstance happen two other times, and in this case it was a good omen for me to have seen it here because I really enjoyed it. I thought that there must have been a vast amount of research done to craft such an epic novel that she dedicated to her daughter, Francesca Serritella, who I noticed that she dedicated this book to at the start. I learned in the Author's Note which I always appreciate that and probably serendipity played it's role that I read this a few days after the Publication Date since I had a huge amount to read that published in July, and that rarely happens to me to submit my review after it publishes. August is another busy month so as much as I regret submitting this review a couple of days after it published, I was blessed with learning how humble Lisa Scottoline is and she also has a website to look up various elements regarding the writing of this Spectacular novel. I enjoyed the videos that are on her website that Lisa Scottoline took of the different locations she visited that are included in this novel. I'm frantic with learning that there have already been Book Club Discussions that have taken place, and how helpful they are as a companion that compliments this Exquisite novel. She is an Edgar Award winning Author with thirty-three novels. Also she included a reading list that I probably was fortunate that the timing wasn't way before the book publishes that I usually read my multi genre list of topics, but I look forward to reading the multitude of books since this was such an ELECTRIFYING, reading experience which when things slow down I want to read especially about the life of Duchess Caterina Sforza who is featured within these novel's narrative which I personally found fascinating to learn more about her life since she had read as a child about famous Women. There are a multitude of titles listed which that's one of the glorious benefits of reading that it leads me to want to explore some titles also about Astrology, which I am not going to spoil it but, there is so much to love about this novel. There's a certain coincidence that a bundle of joy happens to share my Astrological sign of which I've always known a few details about and my birthstone which I never liked, but now I feel was a perfect heartwarming coincidence that she used my zodiac sign for what is an uplifting event that takes place. Just as amazing that the author used her own zodiac sign for Julia, the Main Female Character. What a dazzling multifaceted reading experience this was that has so many attributes to have been rewarded with in this novel, but one thing that I definitely share with this author is that family means as much to her as it does me. It is the most meaningful part of my life, and as Lisa Scottoline shares it's what matters most!

Tuscany, Italy is rich and vibrant and gorgeously vibrantly atmospheric in the prose that Julia learns that she has inherited after the tragedy that happens in this suspenseful, fast paced novel that hooked me right in the beginning and held me captive throughout the entire novel. I'm quoting the author by saying how magnificent that region is that my eldest son always wanted to travel there and I've planned to remind him of that since it is an enticing, with gorgeous, and pleasing views, delicious food, wine and vineyards. This book says on its Title page that it's a psychological thriller It starts off with a bang with Julia and her husband walking home in a respectable neighborhood with Victorian homes. It's dark outside and Julia had a premonition just before tragedy struck.

An unidentified male walked towards her and her husband Mike, who they were close by their home as they strolled after an evening dinner. Julia had a designer bag, and this thief was prepared to murder as Julia's husband Mike put himself in between this male protecting Julia. The hooded man plunged a sharp blade into her husband's chest while removing it he got away since Julia watched her husband pour pools of blood as he died instantly. It's very emotionally upsetting since it happened so quickly, and Julia is now hardly able to function since she is grief stricken. It goes into how they met, and it describes her husband, Mike was just thirty two years old, and when she finally has the energy she pulls her horoscope from October, 11, and it mentions something bad could happen that day. Now she blames herself for not reading her horoscope since she would have cooked or ordered in.

One day she leaves her apartment surrounded by her husband's things which her best friend Courtney offers to come and help her pack up his stuff and is concerned that Julia hasn't left it. Julia has an interest in all things having to do with the topic of the zodiac. She reads something like she's going to be lucky that day, and she ventures to her mailbox which she notices International mail. She reads the letter from an Italian Estate attorney who tells her that Emilia Rossi has left her villa, in Tuscany with millions of euros which equates to dollars. She thinks it's a scam so he gives her the name of the law firm he is at. She learns that the woman who left her the money died of cancer at age seventy seven. She must travel to Italy which she's hesitant to do since she wants to keep in touch with the investigation for her husband. She ends up going and that proves to be a lot of questions that he doesn't have answers to, but since Julia was adopted and her beloved mother died while they were making her delicious cake. She is told by Courtney that she can gather the dead woman's DNA from her belongings, and find out more if she has a biological family.

The lawyer tells her in person that he never met Emilia Rossi, and he doesn't ask personal questions, but thinks it could be dementia since the woman believed she was related to Caterina Sforza, a daughter of Galeazzo Sforza, and Lucrezia Landriani. Julia asks can she meet them and the lawyer says they're long gone. That they were important figures that lived during the Renaissance, Galeazzo Maria Sforza was the Duke of Milan, and the most powerful nobleman in northern Italy. He had many lovers, and the best known was Lucrezia Landriani. She bore him several children, among them a daughter named Caterina, who would become Countess Caterina Sforza of Forli and Imola. The lawyer goes on to tell Julia that he treated his illegitimate the same as his children born to him through marriage. Caterina grew into a remarkable noblewoman, legendary in the history of Italian royalty. It's a historical fact that Caterina Sforza bore illegitimate children, and it's possible they went unrecorded by history. One of her illegitimate children could have been the beginning of a line that gave rise to Emilia Rossi. This meant that Julia could be related to the bravest Italian woman who ever lived. He tells her that she may want to educate herself about Caterina Sforza. He tells her in Milan there is no better place to learn. Specifically she should visit the Castello Sforzesco where Caterina grew up, that's only a few blocks away. He also tells her that she should also visit the Cathedral of Milan, which was built by the Duke, among others.

This is where I started to get interested since I've never heard of Caterina Sforza, which I am intrigued about learning about famous women in history. I've not given away spoilers. I will say that the food is absolutely delicious sounding in a mouth watering fashion. It is very easy reading which Lisa Scottoline brings her signature warmth to lighten up the mood considering Julia is not good with dealing with crowds. There was a caveat that an older couple are living in a sort of guest house that they were left 10,000 euros, and they are paid up until the end of the month. They plan on retiring and spending their lives with their grandchildren and family. This is as I said an intriguing fast paced novel with short chapters which always makes it seem like you're left with wanting what's going to happen next. Like I said this is easy to read content written and easy to understand with much to offer readers of all types that I enjoyed and am so grateful to have read this.
It was excellent, and it has many genres within it, With everything Julia has lost and as she navigates towards life exploring the Tuscan villa, Lisa Scottoline has written an enthralling new novel unlike any she has written before. It's rich in history, uncovering family secrets, at times an unsettling atmosphere, with a sprinkle of romance, atmospheric and thrilling. It makes an addictive reading experience that I highly, highly recommend!

Publication Date: July 15, 2025! AVAILABLE NOW TO PURCHASE!

Thank you to Net Galley, Lisa Scottoline, and Grand Central Publishing for generously providing me with my dazzling ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#TheUnravelingofJulia #LisaScottoline #GrandCentralPublishing #NetGalley




THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA
BY: LISA SCOTTOLINE

I had first read two of this Author, LISA SCOTTOLINE'S BRILLIANT & STUNNING Historical Fiction novels which are called, "ETERNAL," and "LOYALTY," which surprised me how beautifully written they were. My highest recommendations go towards trying those because they were so breathtakingly, captivating, that enough time has gone by that I'm considering rereading both. Of course, I'd heard of her Mystery & Thriller books for years and I read only one which was well written, but not as quite as memorable, even though she is a Best selling Author mostly associated with that genre. It was called, "WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BENNETTS," which was well received by her fans, but I didn't think it WOWED ME as much as "ETERNAL" and "LOYALTY," did. So I would wait and see what she did that was also a departure for her, and that's why I read, "THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA," which has some PARANORMAL elements to it, and also, ASTROLOGY. I was very intrigued by the fact that I could strike Gold again with her experimenting with a different trope. I must add that I don't normally read either genre hardly ever, maybe I should because I did enjoy this one, which depending on your interests in those areas will determine whether you need to suspend disbelief or not.

It's not often that I notice when I start a new novel, that it gets an introduction from the Vice President, Executive Editor. In this case, when I noticed that endorsement, from Lyssa Keusch, from Grand Central Publishing I knew that I would most likely love this. I knew that I had only seen that kind of circumstance happen two other times, and in this case it was a good omen for me to have seen it here because I really enjoyed it. I thought that there must have been a vast amount of research done to craft such an epic novel that she dedicated to her daughter, Francesca Serritella, who I noticed that she dedicated this book to at the start. I learned in the Author's Note which I always appreciate that and probably serendipity played it's role that I read this a few days after the Publication Date since I had a huge amount to read that published in July, and that rarely happens to me to submit my review after it publishes. August is another busy month so as much as I regret submitting this review a couple of days after it published, I was blessed with learning how humble Lisa Scottoline is and she also has a website to look up various elements regarding the writing of this Spectacular novel. I enjoyed the videos that are on her website that Lisa Scottoline took of the different locations she visited that are included in this novel. I'm frantic with learning that there have already been Book Club Discussions that have taken place, and how helpful they are as a companion that compliments this Exquisite novel. She is an Edgar Award winning Author with thirty-three novels. Also she included a reading list that I probably was fortunate that the timing wasn't way before the book publishes that I usually read my multi genre list of topics, but I look forward to reading the multitude of books since this was such an ELECTRIFYING, reading experience which when things slow down I want to read especially about the life of Duchess Caterina Sforza who is featured within these novel's narrative which I personally found fascinating to learn more about her life since she had read as a child about famous Women. There are a multitude of titles listed which that's one of the glorious benefits of reading that it leads me to want to explore some titles also about Astrology, which I am not going to spoil it but, there is so much to love about this novel. There's a certain coincidence that a bundle of joy happens to share my Astrological sign of which I've always known a few details about and my birthstone which I never liked, but now I feel was a perfect heartwarming coincidence that she used my zodiac sign for what is an uplifting event that takes place. Just as amazing that the author used her own zodiac sign for Julia, the Main Female Character. What a dazzling multifaceted reading experience this was that has so many attributes to have been rewarded with in this novel, but one thing that I definitely share with this author is that family means as much to her as it does me. It is the most meaningful part of my life, and as Lisa Scottoline shares it's what matters most!

Tuscany, Italy is rich and vibrant and gorgeously vibrantly atmospheric in the prose that Julia learns that she has inherited after the tragedy that happens in this suspenseful, fast paced novel that hooked me right in the beginning and held me captive throughout the entire novel. I'm quoting the author by saying how magnificent that region is that my eldest son always wanted to travel there and I've planned to remind him of that since it is an enticing, with gorgeous, and pleasing views, delicious food, wine and vineyards. This book says on its Title page that it's a psychological thriller It starts off with a bang with Julia and her husband walking home in a respectable neighborhood with Victorian homes. It's dark outside and Julia had a premonition just before tragedy struck.

An unidentified male walked towards her and her husband Mike, who they were close by their home as they strolled after an evening dinner. Julia had a designer bag, and this thief was prepared to murder as Julia's husband Mike put himself in between this male protecting Julia. The hooded man plunged a sharp blade into her husband's chest while removing it he got away since Julia watched her husband pour pools of blood as he died instantly. It's very emotionally upsetting since it happened so quickly, and Julia is now hardly able to function since she is grief stricken. It goes into how they met, and it describes her husband, Mike was just thirty two years old, and when she finally has the energy she pulls her horoscope from October, 11, and it mentions something bad could happen that day. Now she blames herself for not reading her horoscope since she would have cooked or ordered in.

One day she leaves her apartment surrounded by her husband's things which her best friend Courtney offers to come and help her pack up his stuff and is concerned that Julia hasn't left it. Julia has an interest in all things having to do with the topic of the zodiac. She reads something like she's going to be lucky that day, and she ventures to her mailbox which she notices International mail. She reads the letter from an Italian Estate attorney who tells her that Emilia Rossi has left her villa, in Tuscany with millions of euros which equates to dollars. She thinks it's a scam so he gives her the name of the law firm he is at. She learns that the woman who left her the money died of cancer at age seventy seven. She must travel to Italy which she's hesitant to do since she wants to keep in touch with the investigation for her husband. She ends up going and that proves to be a lot of questions that he doesn't have answers to, but since Julia was adopted and her beloved mother died while they were making her delicious cake. She is told by Courtney that she can gather the dead woman's DNA from her belongings, and find out more if she has a biological family.

The lawyer tells her in person that he never met Emilia Rossi, and he doesn't ask personal questions, but thinks it could be dementia since the woman believed she was related to Caterina Sforza, a daughter of Galeazzo Sforza, and Lucrezia Landriani. Julia asks can she meet them and the lawyer says they're long gone. That they were important figures that lived during the Renaissance, Galeazzo Maria Sforza was the Duke of Milan, and the most powerful nobleman in northern Italy. He had many lovers, and the best known was Lucrezia Landriani. She bore him several children, among them a daughter named Caterina, who would become Countess Caterina Sforza of Forli and Imola. The lawyer goes on to tell Julia that he treated his illegitimate the same as his children born to him through marriage. Caterina grew into a remarkable noblewoman, legendary in the history of Italian royalty. It's a historical fact that Caterina Sforza bore illegitimate children, and it's possible they went unrecorded by history. One of her illegitimate children could have been the beginning of a line that gave rise to Emilia Rossi. This meant that Julia could be related to the bravest Italian woman who ever lived. He tells her that she may want to educate herself about Caterina Sforza. He tells her in Milan there is no better place to learn. Specifically she should visit the Castello Sforzesco where Caterina grew up, that's only a few blocks away. He also tells her that she should also visit the Cathedral of Milan, which was built by the Duke, among others.

This is where I started to get interested since I've never heard of Caterina Sforza, which I am intrigued about learning about famous women in history. I've not given away spoilers. I will say that the food is absolutely delicious sounding in a mouth watering fashion. It is very easy reading which Lisa Scottoline brings her signature warmth to lighten up the mood considering Julia is not good with dealing with crowds. There was a caveat that an older couple are living in a sort of guest house that they were left 10,000 euros, and they are paid up until the end of the month. They plan on retiring and spending their lives with their grandchildren and family. This is as I said an intriguing fast paced novel with short chapters which always makes it seem like you're left with wanting what's going to happen next. Like I said this is easy to read content written and easy to understand with much to offer readers of all types that I enjoyed and am so grateful to have read this.
It was excellent, and it has many genres within it, With everything Julia has lost and as she navigates towards life exploring the Tuscan villa, Lisa Scottoline has written an enthralling new novel unlike any she has written before. It's rich in history, uncovering family secrets, at times an unsettling atmosphere, with a sprinkle of romance, atmospheric and thrilling. It makes an addictive reading experience that I highly, highly recommend!

Publication Date: July 15, 2025! AVAILABLE NOW TO PURCHASE!

Thank you to Net Galley, Lisa Scottoline, and Grand Central Publishing for generously providing me with my dazzling ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#TheUnravelingofJulia #LisaScottoline #GrandCentralPublishing #NetGalley

Julia Pritzer is deep in grief after the loss of her parents and the brutal murder of her husband. She leans heavily on astrology to go from day to day. When she gets a letter stating that she has an inheritance from a stranger in Italy she decides to take a trip to the country. As an adoptee, this is a very strange situation for her. Perhaps she can find some connection for herself and the mystery of who she is.
Once she is in the village where her Tuscan villa is located things are becoming more bizarre. Is she slowly unraveling or out and out losing her mind?

I want to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for my e-copy of Lisa Scottoline's new book. This is my own opinion of the book. I'm not into astrology at all but that part was kind of a skip-over. The main character is interesting enough. She has strange dreams and seems to have men following her. I liked the character of the librarian that she meets but even questioned if he was legit or someone tied into the mysterious things that were happening. The story was different for me but overall, I liked how the plot came together and the ending. I give it a 3.9 rating.

The Unraveling of Julia is the next hit thriller from bestselling author Lisa Scottoline! Set in picturesque Florence, Italy, Julia has just inherited a Tuscan villa and millions of Euros from a stranger. Still reeling from the murder of her husband, she flies off to Italy, eager for answers. However, she's in for the ride of her life in Italy and will only come up on more and more questions before she starts to get some answers. The novel got a little weird in the middle, but the last 1/3 I flew through and was really good! I was irritated with Julia for the first half but she redeemed herself. A good mystery/thriller with a heavy emphasis on astrology, adoption and some out of body experiences. 4 stars from me.

This was a decent thriller. It had most of the elements of a thriller that I would expect. The setting, atmosphere, and vibes were mysterious and had you questioning if the main character is reliable or not. Her questioning of her own sanity gave a nice creepy factor to the plot. The twists were a bit predictable and the pace a bit slow, but overall this was a good time.

I would recommend to anyone who likes a thriller.

When you open up the latest release from author, Lisa Scottoline, be prepared for a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Murder, an unexpected inheritance, stalking, drugging, attempted murder, romance, paranormal experiences ... a little bit of everything. The characters are well developed and the time you get to spend in Italy with Julie adds to the story. Lots of twist and turns and shocking discoveries will have you pulled in as you speed through the pages as quickly as possible. This is a dramatic page turner with a wonderful climax ending. Read it as soon as you can!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Fiction
Gothic
Italy
Mystery
Mystery Thriller
Suspense
Thriller

Such an enticing title! One wonders what it making Julia unravel? Will we see her put back together again?

Here is what I really appreciated about this new release from Lisa Scottoline:

🌅Tuscany! Who doesn't dream of going there or returning if they have been? A character in the book makes the comment on the perennial appeal of 'Under the Tuscan Sun.'😎
🫄The mother-daughter bond is explored in many ways. If you have followed Scottline as I have, you know she is very close to her own daughter. That relationship shines through in the narrative.
⚖ Justice is pursued in many ways. Most all of us have that drive for the good to prevail over the bad.
Wondering if justice will be served kept me on the edge of my seat.

I'm sorry to say this got a little too 'woo-woo' for me. My daily life does not include consulting my horoscope not do I look to mediums for advice. In my opinion, Julia was too open-minded in her pursuit of the metaphysical. Not my cup of tea.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for a DRC and to Grand Central and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a mystical thriller that does not disappoint from one of my favorite authors.
Julia Pritzker's husband was murdered in front of her in the US. Shortly afterward she receives a letter from a lawyer from Tuscany,Italy, who tells her she has inherited an estate and a winery from a complete stranger.
What ensues is a struggle to stay alive, search for her identity and answer the question "can you love 2 people at once.?" Julia meets a librarian who becomes her new love interest .
I loved the book and highly recommend it

Lisa Scottoline is a fantastic writer and this book is unlike anything she has written before. Julia is a young woman who witness her husband's murder. Steeped in grief, Julia turns to astrology to help her survive her loss. When Julia inherits a fortune and a villa, she begins to experience haunting dreams. Scottoline is known for writing thrillers and this novel combines mystery with the supernatural. The characters and settings are great. Scottoline does not disappoint.

The Unraveling of Julia was so different than I expected! I learned that Lisa Scottoline has not just written legal thrillers, but also historical fiction. She clearly loved writing this book and I really recommend visiting her website where she has videos explaining the different locations in this Italy-set suspense story.

The Unraveling of Julia is not historical fiction. The cover calls it psych suspense but I'd call it paranormal suspense. So if you are looking for books with paranormal elements, look no further! Paranormal is not really my thing, so this wasn't an ideal fit for me. But Julia reminded me of Scottoline's very first main character, Mary, in that both were young widows trying to figure out what to do next. Of course, Mary solved mysteries, and Julia is plunged into a heady mix of family secrets, disturbing dreams, and even a little romance!

Thanks to the publisher for letting me try this new book from a favorite author I've been reading since the 90s!

Since I'm not really into astrology and the supernatural, this was not one of my favorite books from Lisa Scottoline. I did enjoy learning more about Tuscany and Julia's search for her birth family. The author filmed videos of the various locations in the book which I plan to check out on her website. Thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and the author for an advance copy to read and review.

The Unraveling of Julia is a bit different from what I’ve come to expect from Lisa Scottoline. While there is a mystery at the heart of the story, there’s also a surprising element of the occult. If you have even a passing interest in horoscopes, psychics, or mediums, you’ll likely enjoy that unique twist in this book.

The Unraveling of Julia is the latest book by veteran thriller writer Lisa Scottoline. This book is a bit of a departure from her standard legal thrillers- it’s a paranormal mystery.

After the death of her husband, Julia Pritzker receives word from Italy that she has inherited a large estate in Tuscany as well as a sizeable monetary inheritance. Julia, having been adopted and knowing nothing of her birth family, assumes it is coming from her biological family and heads to Italy to find out. While there, she experiences crazy visions and paranoia, just like her benefactor has before her death. Is she losing it? Or is something else going on?

Admittedly it took me about 50% to get in to this book. For the first half, I found Julia to be exceedingly annoying and sometimes wanted to stop reading. I’m glad I stayed the course, though. The story really picks up in the usual Scottoline way.

Thanks to the authors in a, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What’s better than a mystery/thriller set in the heart of the Tuscan countryside? As someone who usually spots clues early and can predict the ending halfway through a book, I was genuinely surprised by how many unexpected twists this story delivered. If you’re in the mood for a summer read that’s perfect for lounging by the pool—with just the right mix of suspense and atmosphere—this one’s for you.

After the loss of her husband, Julia finds out she’s inherited a villa in Tuscan from a stranger. It’s a multi mystery because she must figure out who her family really is, what’s going on in Tuscan and hopefully, who killed her family. It has paranormal vibes, astrology vibes and tons of suspense.
There’s a lot going on in this book but I was definitely able to keep up and was kept guessing throughout the book.
As a Losa Scottoline fan I was not disappointed

Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for letting me and review an eARC of this book.

I’ve only ever read one other Lisa Scottoline book, and it was Eternal, her first historical fiction. I loved that one and gave it 4.5 stars (rounded up to 5). Given that Scottoline is known for her thrillers, I was thrilled (heh) to get the chance to read an ARC of her newest thriller! Unfortunately, this one didn’t work quite as well for me.

Let’s start with what I liked. The setting! I loved the setting so much. Scottoline did a fantastic job of taking us to the Tuscan villa, and the food descriptions had me absolutely salivating. I also found Julia to be a sympathetic character, and I was invested in her mystery even when I found her frustrating. I felt deeply for her and her loss, and how she was living after her husband’s murder felt believable. The mystery of who might be following her, who Rossi really was, and how Julia was connected to her had me excited to see how the story ended. I also really liked the epilogue! It was a satisfying chapter to show the aftermath of the story.

All that being said, I did end up guessing a lot of the twists before they were revealed. That isn’t a dealbreaker for a mystery, but I do wish the mystery had been a little bit harder for me to solve! I also didn’t love the paranormal aspect. Again, the way she reacted after her husband’s murder felt understandable and believable, but I wish that the possible supernatural element had been left out. I’m not opposed to it in books, but I didn’t like the addition in this specific one. I also didn't love some of the romance plot. I am a romance girlie through and through, but this one just didn’t work for me.

Lisa Scottoline is a beloved and highly recommended writer for a reason, and I am very curious to read another thriller from her! Even though this one didn't entirely work for me, it was still a 3-star read.

Thank you so much to Grand Central Publishing, NetGalley, and Lisa Scottoline for the free ARC in exchange for my review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lisa Scottoline for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Unraveling of Julia coming out July 15, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really love creepy psychological thrillers. The first half of the book was really suspenseful. I thought the beginning started with a bang. It was an attention getting. Things went a little south for me during the second half of the book. I was thinking it’d be something different. But I would check out other books by this author.

A harrowing, exciting, and mystifying story! The dynamic plot keeps the reader postulating what is in store next. From the first chapter, the reader is captivated as each conundrum tells more of what is to come, yet the reader is still oblivious as to what lies ahead.

Great psychological thriller with a strong lead character. Good overcomes evil. This narrative will keep you on the edge of your seat!

Thank you, NetGalley, and Grand Central Publishing for the advanced reader's copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #TheUnravelingOfJulia #GrandCentralPublishing #GeneralFiction #PsychologicalThriller #Romance #BFF