I have tinnitus and habitually listen to audiobooks to drown out the ringing in my ears, so I tend to zero in on everything associated with narration. Narrator Maria Marquis’s voice, tone, various accents for the characters, and clear pronunciation all deserve five stars! Read/listen to this book if you

1) are into astrology. The FMC becomes obsessed with astrology after her husband’s death
2) want to listen to excellent narration
3) are looking for your next thriller!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC, which I received in exchange for my honest review. Shout-out to the narrator too!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Unraveling of Julia
By: Lisa Scottoline
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Pub Date: 7/15/25
Julia has had enough tragedy for a lifetime. She lost her adoptive parents and witnessed her husband‘s violent murder. When suddenly she inherits a Tuscan Villa in the Vineyard from somebody she doesn’t know so she travels to Italy to find answers.
This had almost supernatural feel to it with lots of family secrets that Julia uncovers as she deals with her grief and severe anxiety while trying to hold on to her sanity.
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Lisa Scottoline's 'The Unraveling of Julia' is a haunting, slow-burn thriller. After witnessing her husband's sudden murder, Julia is thrust into a grief so profound it borders on unraveling her entirely. But when she inherits a decaying Tuscan villa from a stranger with a strange obsession - claiming descent from Renaissance noblewoman Caterina Sforza - Julia is drawn into a layered mystery that weaves family secrets, dark history, and unsettling visions of her own.

The plot moves between psychological suspense and gothic mystery, keeping a steady thread of dread as Julia questions her sanity, her lineage, and the eerie coincidences that seem to follow her across Italy. Scottoline leans into atmosphere here - lush descriptions of Florence and the crumbling villa mirror Julia's fraying mental state, making the setting almost a character of its own.

The audiobook, narrated by Maria Marquis, brings sharpness and emotional nuance to Julia's spiraling journey. Marquis handles both American and Italian characters convincingly, shifting tones from taut suspense to whispered paranoia with ease. Her pacing and delivery heighten the novel's eerie tension, making this a standout performance.

If you're looking for a twisty, atmospheric mystery with gothic undertones - and a heroine caught between history, fate, and her own doubts - this is a strong listen. Some parts unfold slowly, especially in the middle, but the payoff is a rich, unsettling story that lingers after the final chapter.

Lisa Scottoline is one of my favorite authors. With that being said, I found this book slow and a little boring. I put the book down and got the audio so I can speed/listen because I did want to finish it. It was ok but nothing spectacular. I did like the reader.

While it was a bit hard to get into and did meander at times, I enjoyed this gothic suspense novel. I thought the narrator did an excellent job as well.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hachette Publishing for this ARC. A fairly decent thriller beginning with the murder of the main character’s husband and then her transition to another country where more mystery’s began to unravel. The beginning of this book piqued my interest and moved quickly but about midway through I felt as though it slowed and I struggled to stay engaged. I think my biggest issue with this thriller was the “supernatural” element. I personally don’t like when thrillers employ that tactic as way to resolve plot lines. Overall an okay read that started off interesting and petered out.

I loved the sense of place and the beautiful Italian setting of this mystery. When Julia (who is adopted) is gifted a mysterious and generous inheritance, she comes to find that there are secrets and history attached to her Italian heritage. I love the way Lisa Scottoline writes, and this book has more culture, history, and flavor than the usual suspense novel. There are also some fun subplots involving astrology, art, and Italian villas. I learned a lot about Italy while enjoying the mystery. This is more of a character study with a sense of history than a traditional thriller, and I really enjoyed it. It was unique and full of heart.

Julia receives a large inheritance from someone she doesn’t know. So she travels to Tuscany to learn more about Emilia Rossi and wonders if Emilia is a relative. Julia finds that Emilia may be related to Duchess Caterina Sforza and Julia thinks she might be related to the Duchess as well.

Wow, this was a hard one to get in to. Just not the right book for me.

Thank you #NetGalley for the complimentary copy of #TheUnravelingofJulia in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I couldn’t put this book down! This is my first book by Lisa Scottoline, but definitely not my last. This story had my heart pounding and not knowing who to trust. Just when I thought I had it figured out something else happened to change my mind. This had everything that makes me love a psychological thriller. Julia was a wonderful main protagonist. I also loved all the other characters and that they all played a part in the plot and not just there for fluff.

When someone is looking for a great thriller, I usually recommend Lisa Scottoline. They are always a rollercoaster read. Her newest book, The Unraveling of Julia, is no exception.

Julia's husband dies in her arms after a mugging goes wrong. She has delved deeper into astrology since her husband's death, since she is convinced that her horoscope that day predicted his murder, and if she had paid more attention, he would still be alive. While still grieving, she learns that she has inherited a villa in Italy along with a good chunk of change. Though she has not left her home since her husband's death, the encouragement of her best friend (and her horoscope) convinces her that she must go to Italy. The mysterious inheritance is just the tip of the iceberg. Is Julia going crazy or is there something more nefarious happening?

Maria Marquis is an excellent narrator. Thrillers can sometimes be difficult to follow as an audiobook due to getting distracted. I have no problem keeping up with the story and the different characters.

This isn't a mystery that you can solve on your own; instead, it is a story where you buckle up and enjoy the ride.

I feel that Scottoline is trying to branch out and dabble in other genres and tropes. She did that with Loyalty, which has a bit of suspense but is solidly historical fiction. The Unraveling of Julia is definitely the thriller that she is known for, but with the inclusion of astrology and possibly some paranormal elements (I don't want to spoil anything, so I won't say more), this story has the feel of a gothic novel. I know Halloween is several months away, but it would be a great novel to put on a list of haunting reads.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/07/the-unraveling-of-julia-by-lisa.html

A great book with many layers of grief, mystery, suspense, romance, and a bit of paranormal.
Discloser: while not heavily on the latter Julia does try to contact loved ones that have passed on, so this is not for people who stay away from paranormal books or if you don't like sci-fi because there may be a couple of scenes that seem unrealistic.
However, it wasn't all about the supernatural. It was a capturing novel of how an adoptive female is widowed and finds herself in the mist of so many mysteries of her past, and present. If you love adventure, international stories, then travel along all the twists and turns in this unique masterpiece.
The narrators were outstanding making it a hard audiobook to put down.

The Unraveling of Julia gives you the full gothic package with haunted pasts, moody Tuscan villas, suspicious locals, and a protagonist who apparently skipped every “stranger danger” lesson ever taught. Julia, bless her heart, is remarkably easy to manipulate. If someone tells her the sky is green, she’s not just believing it, she’s painting her villa ceiling to match.

The atmosphere is lovely. Think candlelit dinners, shadowy corridors, and just enough tension to keep the pages turning. It’s moody, it’s dramatic, and it feels like a soap opera with a passport. If you enjoy watching someone slowly come undone while sipping wine in a centuries-old villa, this checks the box. I don't know if there is such a box, but if you wish there was one then here is your book!

Julia’s gullibility becomes the real mystery. For a character who's supposed to be intelligent and grieving, she accepts every lie, half-truth, and cryptic warning like she’s being paid by the plot twist. Meanwhile, readers with even a modest sense of suspicion will likely guess what’s happening by, oh, chapter four.

And then, just when you’re ready for the big reveal...boom! The motive arrives wearing a trench coat full of overly complicated logic. It's a twist, sure, but it’s the kind that seems designed to stretch believability rather than convince.

Overall, it's a scenic, twisty read that’s entertaining if you don’t mind suspending your disbelief higher than a Tuscan bell tower. Julia may unravel, but the real challenge is untangling the plot’s final explanation without needing a corkboard and string. Still, it’s a decent ride if you like your thrillers with a little melodrama and a lot of “wait, seriously?” moments.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by a favorite, Lisa Scottoline, with the audio wonderfully narrated by Maria Marquis. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Julia is mourning the murder of her husband when she receives notice that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard. But Julia doesn't know her benefactor, a stranger named Emilia Rossi. Because Julia is adopted, she thinks this could be a link to her past and heads to Italy. But the villa is in shambles and Rossi apparently was a paranoid recluse, although they both apparently shared a fascination with astrology. Before long, Julia also feels paranoid and suspects she's being followed. Is she in danger or is she losing her mind?

I'm a huge fan of Scottoline, although this book seems a bit of a departure from her normal books. It had slight gothic and supernatural vibes in addition to all the astrology mentions, There are multiple mysteries involved and while it seemed like it might veer off, I appreciated how the ending tied up the plots. There's a touch of romance as well and the Italian setting and food descriptions were definitely on point. I alternated between reading and listening for an immersive experience and enjoyed them both!

🌱| Is fate written in the stars… or buried in your bloodline? Atmospheric blend of suspense, ghostly past, and psychological unraveling vs awakening.

➜Gothic Suspense
➜Paranormal Activity
➜Thriller with Romance

The Unraveling Of Julia was so easy to devour. It's propulsive and I couldn't wait to get back to it. Lisa Scottoline is a fantastic writer and she does a great job developing a story.

I definitely enjoyed the audio version, it was very well done.

Mood: Tense, emotional, slightly chaotic
Genre: Domestic Thriller / Psychological Fiction
Pacing: Medium-fast with bursts of whiplash drama
:
Julia’s life is coming apart faster than a discount Botox treatment, and let me tell you—it’s juicy. Lisa Scottoline drops us into a psychological spiral where secrets leak like cheap wine at a family reunion. Julia’s got issues (don’t we all?), but hers come wrapped in trauma, deception, and a delightful serving of “ma’am, this is not how we handle emotions.” It’s intense, addictive, and just unhinged enough to keep you flipping pages like your Kindle owes you money.

Scottoline serves drama with a silver spoon and a side of courtroom thrill. The therapy scenes? Spicy. The marriage dynamic? Girl, run. And that twist? Let’s just say if you enjoy yelling “WHAT?!” at fictional people, you’re in for a treat.

Triggers:
Mental health struggles, domestic conflict, emotional trauma, medical themes

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 – One star off for stressing me out like it was my life unraveling)

Production – the book sounded great, no issues with the audio or narrator. I was able to immerse myself into the story very easily – Maria Marquis did an excellent job with each character – bringing not only their personalities to life, but also in a way that kept you guessing as to their true motives.

The story gave similar vibes to Mexican Gothic and Nightwatching. You couldn’t trust any character, pieces of each mystery (and there are several) led to only more questions. I love when a book is so unpredictable that you almost lose your place on what has been disproven and what is still unsolved. The ending was super satisfying and I wouldn’t mind following this story even more – feels like there is so much more to explore with these characters and the back drop of Tuscany.

Really enjoyed this! Thanks for the ARC!

Julia Pritzker thinks that her life is cursed. She has already lost her adoptive parents and then her husband is murdered. She begins to spiral when she realizes that her horoscope predicted her husband's death.

Then out of the blue she receives a letter informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard from a benefactor who is a total stranger. So she heads to Tuscany for answers.

Once there strange things are happening and some horrific discoveries are revealed.

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 shared 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.

3.75 stars! The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline is a haunting and suspenseful journey that transports readers from grief-stricken Pennsylvania to the shadowy elegance of the Tuscan countryside. With gothic undertones, a dash of romance, and a central mystery that ties past and present together, this novel is full of rich atmosphere and intriguing ideas.

Julia Pritzker is a compelling protagonist—a young widow plagued by loss and unraveling certainty. The premise of inheriting a mysterious estate from an unknown woman immediately pulled me in, and the setting is gorgeously described. The villa, the vineyard, and the history tied to Renaissance noblewoman Caterina Sforza all lend the book an eerie and immersive quality. The way astrology, legacy, and identity are woven into the narrative adds a unique, mystical layer that sets this thriller apart.

That said, the pacing is a bit inconsistent. Some sections dragged or felt unnecessarily convoluted, especially in the middle of the story, which occasionally dulled the suspense. Certain plot points required a bit more clarity or development to fully land, and at times I found myself as confused as Julia—but not always in a way that felt intentional.

Still, the final third of the novel picked up nicely with several strong twists, and the romantic subplot, while understated, brought some warmth to the otherwise moody tone. Julia’s journey of self-discovery and survival had me rooting for her by the end.

Overall, this is a solid read for those who enjoy thrillers with a gothic edge, a strong sense of place, and psychological depth. It isn’t perfect, but it’s memorable, and fans of suspenseful stories with historical threads will likely enjoy the ride.