A review by madisonwfairbanks
The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline

Thriller. 

Widow Julie Pritzker is alone in life after her husband is killed by a late night mugger. She receives a letter that she’s inherited a Tuscan villa from an Emilia Rossi. Julia doesn’t know anyone in Italy but decides to listen to the attorney and travels to the property, hoping she can find a connection with her birth mother. Julia finds out the woman who owned the villa was a paranoid recluse and all her personal items have been burned. So much for trying to obtain DNA for testing. Then she starts having usual nightmares and gets the feeling she’s being followed. As more strange things happen, Julia wants to talk to an investigator but doesn’t trust the referral. Why is she getting buy offers when she’s told the selling agent no? Why is she being followed? Julia doesn’t know what’s going on but she’s not going to walk away either. She’s found a connection. 

🎧 I alternated between and ebook and an audiobook narrated by Maria Marquis who does an excellent performance. The nightmares are terrifying. The worry and fear is suspenseful. Julia’s longing for connection and family is heartbreaking and it all comes through clearly in the audiobook. I was actively listening to the recording and often following along with the print version. I did listen at 1.5 or higher to more closely match my reading speed. 

Compelling and chilling. She meets someone she can talk to and he’s run off the road and in a coma. Who can she trust without putting anyone else in danger? 

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Hachette Audio.