Take a photo of a barcode or cover
artemangie 's review for:
The Unraveling of Julia
by Lisa Scottoline
This is a review of The Unraveling of Julia audiobook. Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC!
When troubled widow Julia Pritzker inherits a Tuscan villa from a mysterious stranger, our protagonist becomes tangled in a web of secrets, astrology, and ancestry that ties her to a paranoid recluse— and possibly to a legendary Renaissance duchess. The Unraveling of Julia promises thrilling suspense and self-discovery in a gothic Italian setting.
Admittedly, it took me a while to become fully invested in this story, as the synopsis that initially drew me in doesn’t quite reflect the book’s actual substance. Though marketed as a thriller-mystery, I never felt the heightened tension and anxiety (or the fast pacing and high stakes) that define a thriller. It ended up being more mystery (non-thrilling) with some elements of conspiracy and emotional drama. Nonetheless, Lisa Scottoline’s writing is strong and engaging. I really enjoyed the dialogue and narration by Maria Marquis. Her Italian accents added a wonderful texture that brought the story to life.
Like many other readers, I struggled to appreciate the story's unique emphasis on horoscopes and paranormal events. Perhaps these elements would have resonated better with someone interested in astrology and the metaphysical. I also did not connect with the romantic subplot, which felt a bit rushed. Given how much of the story's beginning focuses on Julia’s grief over her late husband, her rather quick transition into a new relationship with the “handsome Florentine” felt unconvincing and underdeveloped to me.
Despite these points, I truly found myself enjoying the book by its end. The gradual unraveling of the plot was satisfying and well-crafted, and I was pleasantly surprised by the heartfelt themes of motherhood and family that added an emotional depth I hadn’t anticipated. While The Unraveling of Julia didn’t quite align with my initial expectations, this was an entertaining, well-written story. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries with a spiritual twist and are open to genre-blending narratives that explore grief, identity, and family bonds.
When troubled widow Julia Pritzker inherits a Tuscan villa from a mysterious stranger, our protagonist becomes tangled in a web of secrets, astrology, and ancestry that ties her to a paranoid recluse— and possibly to a legendary Renaissance duchess. The Unraveling of Julia promises thrilling suspense and self-discovery in a gothic Italian setting.
Admittedly, it took me a while to become fully invested in this story, as the synopsis that initially drew me in doesn’t quite reflect the book’s actual substance. Though marketed as a thriller-mystery, I never felt the heightened tension and anxiety (or the fast pacing and high stakes) that define a thriller. It ended up being more mystery (non-thrilling) with some elements of conspiracy and emotional drama. Nonetheless, Lisa Scottoline’s writing is strong and engaging. I really enjoyed the dialogue and narration by Maria Marquis. Her Italian accents added a wonderful texture that brought the story to life.
Like many other readers, I struggled to appreciate the story's unique emphasis on horoscopes and paranormal events. Perhaps these elements would have resonated better with someone interested in astrology and the metaphysical. I also did not connect with the romantic subplot, which felt a bit rushed. Given how much of the story's beginning focuses on Julia’s grief over her late husband, her rather quick transition into a new relationship with the “handsome Florentine” felt unconvincing and underdeveloped to me.
Despite these points, I truly found myself enjoying the book by its end. The gradual unraveling of the plot was satisfying and well-crafted, and I was pleasantly surprised by the heartfelt themes of motherhood and family that added an emotional depth I hadn’t anticipated. While The Unraveling of Julia didn’t quite align with my initial expectations, this was an entertaining, well-written story. I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy mysteries with a spiritual twist and are open to genre-blending narratives that explore grief, identity, and family bonds.