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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Unraveling of Julia
by Lisa Scottoline
Expected publication date: July 15, 2025
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you to #NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a free copy of #TheUnravelingofJulia in exchange for my honest review.
When Julia's husband is murdered, then she inherits a villa in Tuscany, she begins to wonder if the two events are related.
I really appreciated the narrator on the audio version of this book. She brought the characters to life in many ways, especially pronouncing Italian words that I would have stumbled over while reading. I also liked her various accents that differentiated characters. The narrator also knew exactly where to pause to bring suspense to a scene.
As far as the story, this is a typical Lisa Scottoline book, meaning she has a great balance of elements, including suspense, supernatural, and romantic parts. I could actually picture many of the action scenes being played out in a movie. Right about the time that I was ready for a break, though, the author moved forward with the plot.
There were a couple of places in the book that were a little rushed or a little too convenient for plot points to come together, but it didn't detract from the story in a major way.
I would recommend this book to fans of Lisa Scottoline and those who enjoy a good psychological thriller.
by Lisa Scottoline
Expected publication date: July 15, 2025
4 out of 5 stars
Thank you to #NetGalley and Hachette Audio for a free copy of #TheUnravelingofJulia in exchange for my honest review.
When Julia's husband is murdered, then she inherits a villa in Tuscany, she begins to wonder if the two events are related.
I really appreciated the narrator on the audio version of this book. She brought the characters to life in many ways, especially pronouncing Italian words that I would have stumbled over while reading. I also liked her various accents that differentiated characters. The narrator also knew exactly where to pause to bring suspense to a scene.
As far as the story, this is a typical Lisa Scottoline book, meaning she has a great balance of elements, including suspense, supernatural, and romantic parts. I could actually picture many of the action scenes being played out in a movie. Right about the time that I was ready for a break, though, the author moved forward with the plot.
There were a couple of places in the book that were a little rushed or a little too convenient for plot points to come together, but it didn't detract from the story in a major way.
I would recommend this book to fans of Lisa Scottoline and those who enjoy a good psychological thriller.
#TheUnravelingOfJulia by Lisa Scottoline had everything I look for in an engaging gothic thriller - a relatable heroine, a mystery, romance, a surprise inheritance, and, as a bonus, a touch of the supernatural. Julia’s husband is killed by an apparent mugger as she watches helplessly, and, soon after, she learns she has been left an inheritance by a stranger which included a villa in Italy. Thus begins the mystery which only deepens as Julia, still grieving, goes to Italy to settle the affairs.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated excellently by Maria Marquis.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the review copy.
I listened to the audiobook version, narrated excellently by Maria Marquis.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the review copy.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Well that was… weird…. There was a ton of astrological stuff, psychics and mediums, and spirits in this that it was just strange. Maybe my expectations were that this would just be a regular thriller in another country but it was just strange and obsessive in the spiritualism.
The main character, Julia, came across as really melodramatic, constantly jumping to conclusions and worst case scenarios, and was incredulous when almost no one believed her. Honestly, she was annoying. Her best friend swung from being kind of mean and uncaring, to the complete opposite, so she felt super inconsistent. A lot of what really was going on was pretty obvious from the start, but was written to try to make it seem more dramatic and conspiracy-theory steeped than it was.
Also, what is with all the “Argh” statements??
On a positive note, I liked the landscape and detail about Italy.
Not a huge fan. Just really dramatic and overdone and just strange with all the weird Astro/psychic stuff out of left field.
Thanks to Netgalley for advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
The main character, Julia, came across as really melodramatic, constantly jumping to conclusions and worst case scenarios, and was incredulous when almost no one believed her. Honestly, she was annoying. Her best friend swung from being kind of mean and uncaring, to the complete opposite, so she felt super inconsistent. A lot of what really was going on was pretty obvious from the start, but was written to try to make it seem more dramatic and conspiracy-theory steeped than it was.
Also, what is with all the “Argh” statements??
On a positive note, I liked the landscape and detail about Italy.
Not a huge fan. Just really dramatic and overdone and just strange with all the weird Astro/psychic stuff out of left field.
Thanks to Netgalley for advanced copy of this audiobook. All opinions are mine.
I’ve had a hard audiobook week it seems with books not meeting expectations.
To be frank, several times I returned to the books description to see if I had the write book as it just wasn’t jiving.
The book over all is fine, it’s just not what was promised and I feel awful for saying that.
Maybe it was the narration? I’m not sure because Maria Marquis did a great job. She spoke at a swift pace for the 1x speed that fit the prose but I didn’t get a gothic nor “sweeping tale” quality from it at all. Instead it seems disjointed and whiny. (Not the narrator but the prose)
I liked the astrology tie in except it just wasn’t as effective as it should have been. Despite the narrators swift speaking pace the book seemed very slow and repetitive.
However, I did what to know what happens so it hooked me enough to forge on to the end.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Hachette Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
To be frank, several times I returned to the books description to see if I had the write book as it just wasn’t jiving.
The book over all is fine, it’s just not what was promised and I feel awful for saying that.
Maybe it was the narration? I’m not sure because Maria Marquis did a great job. She spoke at a swift pace for the 1x speed that fit the prose but I didn’t get a gothic nor “sweeping tale” quality from it at all. Instead it seems disjointed and whiny. (Not the narrator but the prose)
I liked the astrology tie in except it just wasn’t as effective as it should have been. Despite the narrators swift speaking pace the book seemed very slow and repetitive.
However, I did what to know what happens so it hooked me enough to forge on to the end.
I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary audio ALC from Hachette Audio through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I quite enjoyed this one! It came across as a well layered, interwoven thriller. Great delivery. I called one of the reveals early but it didn’t affect my enjoyment, being part of something much bigger.
Enjoyed the audio. Maria Marquis did a fantastic job with the numerous characters. It easily sounded like multiple narrators.
The paranormal elements added depth to the story and fit well for me.
Recommend-yes.
This was my first Scottoline book so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I’ll definitely read more!
This will make a great read for ‘U’ for the Alphabet Challenge readers!
With thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the advance listening copy.
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Friends, this book was a complete mess. It wasn’t awful, but I wouldn’t recommend it beyond a one-time “oh, you’re looking for something somewhat silly and nonsensical” recommendation. The main character’s erratic behavior makes sense given her past experiences, but it just comes across as amusing/frustrating depending on the situation. Despite this, I managed to finish the entire book.
I also find it challenging to write reviews, so I’m unsure how to criticize someone who writes entire books. 😂
The narrator was excellent, but the story itself was a bit too much and too little for my taste.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance audiobook copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
I also find it challenging to write reviews, so I’m unsure how to criticize someone who writes entire books. 😂
The narrator was excellent, but the story itself was a bit too much and too little for my taste.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance audiobook copy. All opinions expressed are my own.