Title: The Unraveling of Julia
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Maria Marques
Publisher: Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing
Genre: Psychological Thriller, with some Romance
Pub Date : July 15, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pages 400

Julia Pritzker’s husband Mike was recently murdered when a would-be robber tried to grab Julia’s designer shoulder bag. Mike tried to protect Julia and got in the way of a knife. The funeral has come and gone but Julia has nightmares and still sees the hooded robber and knife

Julia had lost both her adopted parents – her mother – her best friend died of a brain aneurysm on Julia’s tenth birthday while they were baking. Her father died of heart attack when she was in college. However, he was a changed man after his wife Melanie died.
Now Julia has no family and it is a deep hurt. She believes she must be cursed as her horoscope actually predicted the deaths.
Do not be alarmed but do be aware today
You or a loved one may be in jeopardy

Times goes by but Julia checks her horoscope on StrongSign offer. One day she reads ~
Your luck is going to change today.
You are stronger than you know.
Trust yourself. It is only the beginning.
Sure enough a very strange thing happened. She gets a DHL envelope from Milan, Italy.
It is from an estate lawyer asked her to contact their office as Signora Emilia Rossi left her an inheritance.
At first she thinks it is a scam but remembers the horoscope using the words Luck and Trust. She contacts the office in Italy and is informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and property. Julia has little to no information about her biological family, so perhaps Emilia is a blood relative. Julia heads to Tuscany to find out.

The lawyer doesn’t know Julia’s connection to Emilia but tells her a family investigator can help her. It appears Emilia Rossi did not have children but there is connection to Catherina Sforza, a daughter of to a legendary Renaissance ruler an important historical figure.

Although the villa is in need of a lot of repairs, actually major renovation; many of the ceiling frescos are in good shape. There is one of Duchess Caterina Sforza, and Julia is stunned as she resembles Caterina,

I am a big author, Lisa Scottoline fan -this is my twenty-ninth story. I read and enjoyed the galley however; I do love a good audiobook so was delighted to listen to it as well. Narrator Maria Marquis did a fabulous job in performing the characters. Her Italian accent was ‘spot on’ and made the story even more enjoyable.

My first Scottoline read started back in the 90's with the “Rosoto & Associates “before changing to Rosato & DiNunzio.
Lisa Scottoline continues to be one of my favorite authors. She and her daughter Francesca Serritella have hosted an annual Big Book Club Party at her Pennsylvania farm, for the past twelve years. (I wanna go!!!!)
She and Francesca write a weekly column for the Philadelphia Inquirer entitled <i>”Chick Wit”</i>, a witty take on life from a woman’s perspective. It is also available via their email newsletter.
Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. in English, and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice and Fiction. She lives in the Philadelphia area with an array of disobedient pets and loves it!
Additionally she is a big fan of the Eagles and Brady Cooper. However, if you follow her you already know THAT!

I have been enjoying Ms. Scottoline’s stories for many years and as Italian (well half but I love to call myself Italian) I love her ‘Acknowledgements’ – she tells us she believes in research and once again traveled to Italy for research. In this case Milan, Florence and visited the places served as settings for this story.
She also stares that she has been writing about family all her life as she believes it is what matters the MOST.

Want to thank NetGalley and Hachette Audio/Grand Central Publishing for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 15, 2025.

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

I was really excited to start this one as I’m always in the mood for a good mystery. But even though the setup was intriguing, I struggled to stay invested in the story. It felt a bit slow for me, and I didn’t find the plot as gripping or suspenseful as I expected. That said, I know this will hit differently for other readers who connect more with the themes and pacing.

The highlight for me was definitely the audiobook performance. Maria Marquis is a fantastic narrator and truly carried the experience. She brought a lot of warmth and personality to the main character and had a great range when it came to differentiating voices. One of my favorite parts of her performance was the Italian accent she used throughout the book—it felt natural and added a richness to the scenes that involved Julie’s family and cultural background. Even when the story wasn’t fully clicking for me, Maria’s voice kept me engaged and made me want to keep listening.

If you’re someone who really appreciates a strong narrator and character-driven narration, this is one to consider picking up on audio. While the plot wasn’t a personal favorite, the performance made it a worthwhile listen.

This was a great story!! I really enjoyed it and it has some turns I didn’t expect. However the emphasis on astrology was a bit over the top.

Gothic thriller with supernatural elements.

I should have read the synopsis more closely. A grief stricken widow whose husband was killed in front of her (she had a premonition) inherits a huge Tuscan estate from a woman she's never heard of. Julia goes to Italy to check out the villa and vineyard, both worth millions. Once there, Julia, who was adopted as an infant, begins to suspect that the owner of this estate, Emilia Rossi, must be related to her. While ensconced in the villa and thinking about selling, Julia starts to experience visions, hallucinations, and crazy dreams.

This was a psychological thriller that never quite created any suspense or uneasiness for me especially when the paranormal events escalated and Julia started to believe she had special gifts in connecting with the dead and being guided by them. Most of what Julia did and thought defied credulity and I got bored very quickly. I am not a fan of anything metaphysical, paranormal, otherworldy etc. I do enjoy historical fiction and would definitely have liked more of those details, especially from the Renaissance period. The meet cute and instant romance (her husband had only been dead 6 months) was really off putting and pushed me over the edge. The whole conspiracy set up and explanation also didn't really even make that much sense as being the reason for all the persecution.

I have read most all of this author's legal procedurals and definitely prefer those to this kind of departure. I'm definitely not the intended audience for this type of mystery.

I was able to listen to the audio book while also following along in the e-book ARC, both provided by the publishers. The narrator, Maria Marquis, did a fine job of voicing the characters but her talent was not enough to overcome what I perceived as shortcomings with the plot and storyline.

The inclusion of astrology & medium capabilities was a unique spin but I will say the middle of the book kind of dragged on. The thing everything up at the very end did kind of drive me nuts. I wanted a major twist that would have left my jaw on the floor, you don’t really get that with this one. It was an enjoyable mystery.

Lisa Scottoline is an that has been recommended to me many times, and while I’ve purchased a number of her books up until now I don’t believe I’d actually ever read one of her books. And now not only did I read The Unraveling of Julia, I also has the opportunity to listen to the audio version as well. I have to say I was hooked from the start. Julie, our heroine, witnesses the death of her husband when a robber stabs hims right in front of her eyes. Some time later she receives a letter from an Italian lawyer informing her she’s inherited a villa in Italy from a women she’s never heard of. When Julie goes over to check things out that’s when the mystery really kicks into high gear. She doesn’t get a warmest reception and digging into the past only offers more questions not answers. Having now finally read one of Scottline’s novel, I can see why her work has been recommended to me so often. I now have quite the backlog to dig into. Now as for the audio version, Maria Marquis does a very good job with the narration. You can’t go wrong reading or listening to this one. I’d like to thank Grand Central Publishing for the eARC, and Hachette Audio for a copy of the audio version.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-unraveling-of-julia-lisa-scottoline/1146511135?ean=9781538769997&bvnotificationId=402f624b-6145-11f0-a3d1-0affc096e97b&bvmessageType=REVIEW_APPROVED&bvrecipientDomain=gmail.com#review/351939818

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HachetteAudio for the book #TheUnravelingOfJulia by #LisaScottoline. Julia believes that her husband’s murder was foretold by her horoscope and that she is cursed. While still mourning, she receives a letter stating that she has inherited a a villa in Tuscany. Confused and curious she travels there to find out what is going on. While there, she discovers that Rossi, the woman who left everything for her, could possibly be a blood relative. As she digs into the past, she finds herself in danger. Can she survive long enough to do out the truth?

This is my first time reading one of Lisa Scottoline’s books and I would definitely read more. The Unravelling of Julia pulled me in straight away. The Italian setting is gorgeous and so vividly written. You can almost feel the heat and picture the vineyard.

There is plenty going on in the plot as well, which kept me interested throughout. Between the grief and trauma Julia is carrying, the mystery of the unexpected inheritance, and the slowly unravelling secrets tied to the past, there is a real sense of tension building as the story moves along. I liked how it weaved together personal drama, historical elements, and a bit of psychological suspense.

That being said, I must admit that the paranormal aspects of the story are not usually my cup of tea. While they add an extra dimension to the unfolding drama, it took me a little while to settle into that part of the story. That said, I still found myself wanting to keep going to see how it would all unfold.

I listened to the audiobook and found the production to be very good, with clear narration and a steady pace that suited the story well.

Overall, I enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone who likes a layered mystery with a strong sense of place.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an advance copy of this book.

Julia is unraveling well before she arrives at the Tuscan estate she inherited from a complete stranger. Secrets, conspiracies, and some haunting moments are more than enough to unravel her completely, but they don’t quite.
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The Unraveling of Julia by an old favorite author of mine, Lisa Scottoline, celebrates hitting the shelves today. Full of uncanny twists and memorable chapters, this was an enjoyable read.
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Julia goes through a lot, guided by her belief in astrology and what she believes is a curse or fate that lead her to a possible relative she never knew and a fascinating ancestry. Everyone is not too happy with her inheritance and she faces some harrowing times as well.
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This tale is wrapped up quite satisfactorily in a timely manor. I never felt anything was rushed and didn’t feel any plot points were missing, that was so refreshing.
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The narrator was great and kept me engaged in the story.

I think the quality of writing is what kept me going. I found myself wondering when the twist was going to happen but it all felt so predictable and while I sometimes enjoy and find comfort in that, I am not in the mood currently. I think anyone who is a serial thriller reader will enjoy this book well enough. I did find the pacing a bit slow at times and the main character quit unlikeable. I did enjoy the setting though and the family history mystery.

This book is a combo of romance, thriller, crime, and a little paranormal. I don’t know if it really knows what it is but it was an okay book. It started out great with the FMC Julia who inherits a Tuscan villa and a lot of money. She was adopted and doesn’t know her birth parents and thinks this inheritance might be tied to that. She flies to Italy to find answers and along the way finds love and lots of trouble. Long story short, people wanted this land the villa was on and were killing people close to her to try and get it. The plot line had a good start but ended kinda all over the place. I do think it was wrapped up well though, leaving few to no plot holes which is rare for a book that’s all over the place. I didn’t hate it and definitely wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next but it’s not my favorite book by any means. Do with that what you will. As for the narrator, she did a great job at pronouncing the Italian words so that was great.

The Unraveling of Julia is the perfect title for the book since Julia literally begins to unravel as we follow her journey. The story begins with Julia losing her Adoptive parents and then witnessing her husband get murdered. As Julia is grieving she receives a letter informing her of a Villa in Tuscany that was left to her by Emilia Rossi. Hoping to get answers regarding who Emailia Rossi is and why she is inheriting the Villa Julia begins to unravel or so that what it seems. The story includes a paranormal element, astrology and a cheesy love affair. Would definitley recommend it for someone with an astrological background as it centers around it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Lisa Scottoline for an advance audio copy. The narrator did a great job bringing this book to life and transporting us to the Tuscan Countryside.

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.
#lisascottoline
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #netgalley #booksofinstagram #netgalleyreader #netgalleyarc #netgalleyreviewer #bookworm #bookish #bookaddict #bookreviewer #bibliophile #ireadromance #instabooks #booknerd #arcopies #romancereads #advancereaderscopy #booklover #readersofinsta #igbooks #bookclub #fiction #womensfiction #historicalfiction #contemporaryromance #read #readers #bookaholic

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.