After Julia's husband is murdered, she receives notice that she inherited a house and money. Once she moves to Italy to try to find her birth family, she thinks the house may be haunted. There is talk about horoscopes etc in this book. Overall, it seemed to flow well. It's one of those books you can listen to, not catch it all, and still ends up ok. It's not my favorite by Lisa, but it wasn't bad.

The Unraveling of Julia is an emotionally-charged, genre-blending mystery that swept me away—right to the hills of Tuscany.

After witnessing her husband’s shocking murder, Julia is shattered and reclusive. But when a mysterious inheritance surfaces—an Italian villa and millions of euros—she’s pulled into a world far stranger than she ever imagined. Between eerie visions, whispered town secrets, and an unsettling connection to the past, Julia finds herself questioning everything: her sanity, her family history, and who she can trust.

Astrology, ghosts, hidden lineage, and historical intrigue swirl through this story like a Tuscan storm. I was hooked from the start, flipping pages late into the night wondering: Is Julia cursed? Or is someone making sure she unravels?

The vivid setting, unforgettable characters (hello, Gianluca!), and the slow-burn tension made this one unputdownable. And the friendship between Julia and Courtney brought heart to the suspense.

It’s part thriller, part historical mystery, part supernatural puzzle—and entirely captivating.

If you’re craving a twisty, atmospheric read with secrets, stars, and a side of Chianti, don’t miss this one.

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a captivating rollercoaster of a mystery that keeps you guessing—and guessing wrong—until the very last page. Julia Pritzker’s life, already on the edge after losing her adoptive parents and her husband, takes a wild detour when she inherits a mysterious villa in Tuscany from a stranger named Emilia Rossi. And what a wild detour it is! From the moment Julia steps into the Italian countryside, the story pulls her—and us—into a labyrinth of eerie parallels, family secrets, and astrological obsessions that are as fun as they are creepy. Rossi’s eccentricities, Julia’s growing paranoia, and the surreal events make for a cocktail of suspense and humor that’s impossible to resist. Scottoline expertly ratchets up the tension with each twist, weaving historical intrigue with modern-day mystery. Just when you think you have the story figured out—bam!—a shocking revelation sends everything spinning into chaos. The characters, especially Julia, are wonderfully flawed and fascinating, making this journey both a thrill and a deeply personal puzzle. If you love a story that combines the allure of Tuscany, a splash of Renaissance history, and enough twists to make your head spin, The Unraveling of Julia is a must-read. Prepare for a wild ride—just don’t forget to look at the stars, because apparently, they hold the secrets to everything.

The Unraveling of Julia is a combination of psychological thriller, paranormal, historical fiction, and women's fiction. It has a little bit of everything and narrated remarkably well by Maria Marquis.

Julia witnesses her husband's brutal murder and then secludes herself in fear of being attacked herself. Both of her adoptive parents are no longer living and her only outlet is talking to her best friend, Courtney. Months after her husband's death, Julia finds out she has inherited a villa in Tuscany from a woman she has never heard of, Emilia Rossi. She wonders if Emilia could be her biological grandmother. She overcomes her fears and travels to Tuscany to search for answers. She has inherited a villa, 40 acres and millions of dollars. While there, it's apparent the people do not want her there and she does not know who to trust. She wonders if her husband's murder and her experiences in Tuscany are related. While reading, the paranormal was a miss for me, but after continuing it all unfolded and made sense. The ending comes together nicely and no question is left unanswered. Well done! 4.5 stars

This book made me want to pour a glass of Chianti and eat Italian cuisine.

I was really worried that this was going to be lame -- but it wrapped up well.



Review copy provided by publisher.

Julia is grieving her husband’s traumatic death when she learns she inherited a large sum of money and estate in Italy. Interested in possibly learning more about her biological family, she travels to Italy to piece everything together.

This book is includes international travel, adoption, grief, paranormal activity, and mystery.

Amazing narration, especially with a mix of American and Italian accents. Recently I’ve had a few audiobooks where the narrator was a miss for me. This was refreshing and I played the book every chance I could.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio
for this ALC. This review will be shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.

Pub Date Jul 15 2025

Having read Lisa Scottoline before, I was intrigued to see her take on something new, and the Tuscan setting made this feel especially timely after my own recent trip there! While the premise had promise, I found the rapid pacing and ultra-short chapters made it hard to connect with the story. From page one, you're dropped right into the action, and I struggled to find my footing.

I turned to the audiobook, and Maria Marquis was a real standout. This was my first time hearing her, and she nailed the Italian accents, differentiated characters with ease, and even handled the male voices convincingly. Her narration added warmth and depth.

That said, I still found it tough to fully engage, largely due to Julia’s deep reliance on astrology, which is something that didn’t quite resonate with me personally. Still, the story has interesting elements, and longtime Scottoline fans may appreciate seeing her experiment with a new tone and direction.

Thank you to Lisa Scottoline, Maria Marquis, Hachette Audio, and NetGalley for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this novel despite the fact that paranormal is not usually my favorite genre. The Tuscan setting is dreamy and there are many twists and turns to keep you guessing.

Julia’s husband dies in her arms after being stabbed on the street by an unknown assailant. Afterwards she withdraws and avoids the outdoors and people in general. Soon after she is notified she has inherited a Tuscan villa and a substantial amount of money from an unknown woman. She heads to Italy to learn more about her mysterious benefactor.

The narration by Maria Marquis is superb. Her accents and performance in general greatly enhance the story.
It’s a fun, quick summer read.

A gothic novel penned by Lisa Scottoline? One that takes place in ancestral palazzo with creepy characters, a family secret and a long unsolved mystery? It sounds like a winning combination, but this story fell flat for me. The narration, the characters, the dialogue, they all seemed forced and unnatural.