So.... once again, Lisa Scottoline has blown this one right out of the water!!

We OPEN up with a young couple out on the town, when her husband is brutally murdered right in front of her. ** No, this is not a spoiler** it is clearly noted in the books description on Goodreads!! But wow!!! What an opener!
Distraught, the wife is literally falling apart. She has NO family. She was adopted as a baby, and her Mom died when she was very young... and her Dad... well, he was a whole other story.
So, she returns to work (from home), but is having a very hard time. She has one good friend, Courtney, who she keeps in touch with religiously... and she reaches out to her often. And, she seems to keep her on track too.

So, when she gets a call that says it's from ITALY, well, she figures it's a spam call trying to sell her something. When she finds out that she is inheriting something big, well, she just doesn't believe it! So, she does some investigating, and finds out it's for real. And then she starts to wonder... could this be related to her Birth Parents??

And so, off she goes to Florence, Italy to investigate further... (funny thing, we just came back from there a few weeks ago!!) =0
And what a ride it is!!! The place is huge, but in total disrepair... but the more she explores, the more uneasy she begins to feel...

And then, it all just goes OFF THE RAILS!!!

Lots of hidden agendas... Lots of things that should NOT be happening... Feeling like she's being followed... And just when she thinks she might have met a really nice guy.... well, the sh*t hits the fan.... again!

All the 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫 for me!!! This one just had it all!!!
And, gave me all the feels!!! And, added just a dusting of supernatural to the mix!!!

#TheUnravelingOfJulia by @LisaScottoline and narrated beautifully by @MariaMarquis.

*** THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! PLEASE LOOK 👀 FOR IT ON JULY 15, 2025!!! ***

Thanks so much to #NetGalley, #HachetteAudio and #GrandCentralPublishing for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.

You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
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A psychological thriller with astrology interwoven. Julia's husband was murdered, she becomes somewhat of a recluse until she gets word that she has inherited an estate in Italy. With the encouragement from her best friend, she decides to visit. There was a touch of paranormal, a very eerie atmospheric setting. Is her new inheritance haunted? This was more of a slow burn, but for me it worked well. This is my first Lisa Scottoline novel, it will definitely not be my last.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing, Hachette Audio for the ALC.

This book was a WILD ride. Absolutely NOTHING is as it seems in this book and has twists you'll NEVER see coming. GO BIRDS.

This is unlike any other Lisa Scottoline book I’ve read. It’s more mystery than thriller, and is heavy on the paranormal and astrology, with a side of creepy Tuscan villa. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did.

I both read the e-book and listened to the audiobook. Maria Marquis is a great narrator.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a solid four-star read—layered, thrilling, and utterly engaging! I absolutely recommend thriller lovers check it out when it releases on July 15th. I was hooked by the mix of grief, secrets, and danger…and I couldn’t stop listening once the twists started rolling in.

Julia is unexpectedly widowed when her husband heroically throws himself in front of a knife-wielding, hooded figure during a late-night stroll. With the trauma still raw and the police offering no answers, Julia understandably becomes afraid to leave the house—especially after dark. Thankfully, her best friend Courtney is there to help her through the stages of grief.

Months later, everything changes when Julia receives shocking news: she’s inherited a luxurious Italian villa and millions of euros…from a woman she’s never heard of. Adopted as a child, Julia is both confused and intrigued—especially since her adoptive parents have passed and she’s desperate to find where she truly belongs. But when she flies first class to Italy, she unwittingly steps into a web of danger and deception that links directly to her past.

I was gifted both the ebook and audiobook—and while both were fantastic, I stand by my belief that a talented voice actor can elevate the suspense to a whole new level. Maria Marquis did a phenomenal job bringing this gripping story to life!

Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Scottoline, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for the engrossing early copies in exchange for my honest review!

This was an ARC from NetGalley.com, but the sentiment of this narrated book is all mine.

This book held my attention, and I listened to it in less than a week. It encouraged me to go to the gym so that I could find out what happened next. The storyline itself was exciting and entertaining, and while it was deemed a "psychological thriller," it was just on the exciting side--not the graphic or violent side. There were some parts of this that were a little far-fetched, but for the most part, it was a believable story, with very likable characters. The narrator did a phenomenal job narrating. Her voice was very easy to listen to, and she does a very good Italian accent! I am not sure if it was the author, or if it was the narrator, but throughout the book, she reads, "awwww" and after a while, that gets a little bit annoying! But other than that, it was a great book, held my attention, and it was a quick "read". Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This audiobook offers a captivating listening experience, thanks in large part to its outstanding narrator. Her performance kept me utterly engrossed, consistently pulling me deeper into the story and making me eager to find out what would happen next, even though I struggled with the characters and their development.

Julia, the protagonist, has a strong and unwavering personality, and her resolute nature drives much of the narrative. However, her interactions, particularly with her best friend, Courtney, felt odd at times. While they were presented as close, I couldn’t tell if their bond stemmed from a pre-Mike connection, or if it was merely a byproduct of shared grief after Mike’s death. Their dialogue occasionally came across as snippy and flighty, especially during the scene where the police stop them.

The central mystery revolves around Julia’s inherited Italian villa, her husband's death, and the secrets the villa holds, especially the previous owner, Emilia Rossi. Being set in Italy, I had hoped it would have served as a compelling backdrop but it didn't.

Plot: 3/5
Audio Narrator: 5/5
Characters: 2/5

I listened to the audio narrated by Maria Marquis and very well done. I enjoy Lisa’s writing and of course the Italian setting. This mystery was set in Tuscany, after a young widow inherits a dilapidated villa from a women she has never met. There is a mystery to solve, family secrets to uncover, and unexplained accidents. Perfect summer read. Thank you NetGalley for me free copy.

I was disappointed in Lisa Scottoline's newest book. I have really enjoyed many of her books in the past. This book was too slow moving for me. I felt like the storyline was all over the place and I didn't want to stick with it to figure out what was going on. I hopeful for better books from her in the future!

Thank you @NetGalley and @Grand Central Publishing and @Hatchette Audio for providing me with this pre release audiobook!

I was intrigued by the premise of the main character, Julia, having been freshly widowed and longing to know her biological parents, finding out that she is to inherit an Italian Villa and millions of dollars from a complete stranger. However, I feel like this book could have been summed up just fine if it was 1/3 shorter. I found it hard to get into, slow to get through and the characters were hard to like. It just felt deadpan the whole way through.

Plugged as a thriller, this was more of a family mystery with a paranormal twist. I didn’t completely love the book, but it was enjoyable enough.

Julia is caught in the madness of grief, her beloved husband has been murdered and she’s become reclusive. Julia has also always known she’s adopted but knows nothing of her biological family, so it comes as a huge shock when she receives correspondence relating to an inheritance in Julia’s name, the large sum not only pries Julia outdoors, but all the way to Tuscany.

Dong read this if you’re hungry, my tummy rumbled a lot, there’s lots of food talk and it all sounds delicious. The story has a tendency to run full speed towards being a bit out there and you certainly need to suspend belief.

there were lots of little annoyances like aww and urg being said often. Too often.

The audio narration by Maria Marquis 🎧

Huge thanks to Hachette audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧

Lisa Scottoline writes a really great thriller and in The Unraveling of Julia, there is the mystery of what is going on in the villa that Julie inherits but also, how does this tie into the mother who gave her up at birth.
Julie, having just lost her husband to a violent murder whilst he was defending her, is surprised to learn she has inherited a large sum and a villa in Italy. Julie has a ton of questions and the locals are not thrilled to have an American show up and take over the villa. The groundskeeper and cook are sus at best and Julie is immediately convinced she's being followed. Cue a brief tragic love interest, some mild poisoning and hallucinations and TOO MANY questions.
While some of the plot sections were a bit far fetched and the heavy leaning on astrology is a miss for me, it does all come together.
Great narration and pacing throughout the audiobook.

To be published July 15, 2025- Thanks Netgalley for the early ARC.

I love the authors portrayal of strong, intelligent women. The mystery elements were done well and I found the characters engaging.

3.5 stars

This was my first time reading (and listening to) anything by Lisa Scottoline, I was intrigued from the start. Splitting my time between the audiobook and the Kindle edition, both formats worked really well - the narration added an extra layer of intensity, especially during the more suspenseful moments.
The story follows Julia, who's grieving the sudden loss of her husband when she unexpectedly inherits a villa in Italy. Sounds dreamy, right? But of course, it’s not that simple. From the moment Julia arrives the atmosphere shifts, there's a heavy moody vibe with a setting that is vivid and at times spooky.

Things take a turn toward the paranormal pretty quickly, and nothing is quite what it seems. There are some unreliable characters, strange events, and twists that kept me guessing the whole way through. Just when I thought I had things figured out, something else would unravel (pun totally intended).

The Unraveling of Julia is a mix of grief, mystery with just enough supernatural weirdness that keep me wondering what was real. If you're into books with a haunting setting, emotional depth, and plenty of twists, this one’s worth a read.

I’ll be checking out more from Lisa Scottoline after this.

My thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

Absolutely loved this!! Storyline and narration was amazing! Only good things to say! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc

3.5 stars!

Thank you Hatchet Audio for the arc of this book.

Oh like the creepiness when it happened. And the mystery, when revealed was slightly disappointing on how…usual it is. 3 scope though, was wide - From Tuscany to Pittsburgh. Wanted more….ghosts.

I enjoyed how it felt like Julia was really unraveling and I appreciate the epilogue.

I honestly don’t think I’ve read much of this author’s works. Maybe time to check the older titles.

Thank you Grand central pub and hatchette audio for the gifted, advanced copies of this book! The premise of this one was intriguing and I love the cover! Unfortunately, I found it hard to get invested in the story and connect with the characters. The astrology jargon was so overdone and it became bothersome to me. I liked the mystery aspect and thought the ending was good, but I was ready for the story to be over. I wanted more out of this as far as characters and plot and less on the astrology. I think this definitely has an audience though!

I typically love books from Scottoline. This started off great and quickly turned a little to weird for me, thanks for the arc,

Julia Pritzker’s adoptive parents have passed and now her husband has been murdered. After his death she’s headed for a downward spiral but when she receives a letter informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan Villa and the benefactor is a total stranger name Emilia Rossi, she decides to take a trip to Italy to figure out who this stranger is and possibly uncover information about her birth family. However, what she finds might be more than she expected.

This book had me hooked from page 1. I finished it in one day. The twists and turns kept me guessing. With a slight touch of the paranormal, this book was everything I wanted it to be.

I always enjoy this author and I found this book to be much different than her usual writing - but just as good. It was interesting how she combined the usual mystery and suspense along with some supernatural, some romance, just a little bit of everything. The characters were well defined, the plot complex and interesting. I enjoyed the book!