The Unraveling of Julia by Lisa Scottoline (publication date 07/15/2025)

 

Lately, Julia Pritzker is beginning to think if she’s cursed. She’s lost her adoptive parents, then her husband is murdered. When she realizes that her horoscope essentially foretold his death, she begins to spiral. She fears her fate is written in the stars, not held in her own hands.

Then a letter arrives out of the blue, informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard – but her benefactor is a total stranger named Emilia Rossi. Julia has no information about her biological family, so she wonders if Rossi could be a blood relative. Bewildered, she heads to Tuscany for answers.

There, Julia is horrified to discover that Rossi was a paranoid recluse with delusions of grandeur, who believed herself to be a descendent of Duchess Caterina Sforza, a legendary Renaissance ruler. Julia is stunned by her uncanny resemblance to Rossi and even to Caterina, then she unearths eerie parallels between them, including an obsession with astrology.

Before long, Julia suspects she’s being followed, and strange things begin to happen. Not even a chance meeting with a handsome Florentine can ease her disturbed mind. When events turn deadly, she breaks with reality.

Julia’s harrowing struggle becomes a search for her identity, a race to save her sanity, and ultimately, a question of her very survival. - scottoline.com

 

This thriller starts slow but the then creepy factor really starts to build and gets under your skin.  I love when I can predict a few of the twists in a thriller along the way but still be surprised by some of them too and this book kept me guessing.  This book also has a lot of heart mixed into the mystery.  Julia's struggles with heartbreak and grief as she mourns the loss of her husband and works to rebuild a new life are relatable to anyone who has experienced loss.  However what really makes this book shine are Lisa's beautifully immersive descriptions of Italy and the food.  When this book wasn't giving me the chills from reading about the scary things Julia is witnessing at the vineyard, I was salivating over the delicious meals she was enjoying. the wine and finally understanding why my coworker runs off to Italy every summer for a long vacation - it's just gorgeous.  

The Unraveling of Julia is a great summer read.  It's got a little bit of everything; a thrilling mystery with a dash of romance, adventure and the supernatural.   

I was lucky enough to get an advanced reader copy of The Unraveling of Julia thanks to the publisher, Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  This book will be released on Tuesday, July 15th but it's available for pre-order now.  Visit Lisa's website for more information on pre-orders, her upcoming book tour and a "Behind the Book" video series.   

 

 

 

After Anna by Lisa Scottoline

Welcome to a TBT Throwback Thursday Review. I am working on reviving this blog and catching up on some long overdue book reviews.

After Anna is a stand-alone domestic thriller by Lisa Scottoline and was originally published in April 2018.

Dr. Noah Alderman, a widower and single father, has remarried a wonderful woman, Maggie Ippolitti, and for the first time in a long time, he and his young son are happy. Despite her longing for the daughter she hasn’t seen since she was a baby, Maggie is happy too, and she’s even more overjoyed when she unexpectedly gets another chance to be a mother to the child she thought she’d lost forever, her only daughter Anna.Maggie and Noah know that having Anna around will change their lives, but they would never have guessed that everything would go wrong, and so quickly. Anna turns out to be a gorgeous seventeen-year-old who balks at living under their rules, though Maggie, ecstatic to have her daughter back, ignores the red flags that hint at the trouble brewing in a once-perfect marriage and home.Events take a heartbreaking turn when Anna is murdered and Noah is accused and tried for the heinous crime. Maggie must face not only the devastation of losing her daughter, but the realization that Anna’s murder may have been at the hands of a husband she loves. In the wake of this tragedy, new information drives Maggie to search for the truth, leading her to discover something darker than she could have ever imagined. —lisascottoline.com

This was one of my favorite Scottoline novels. The story is told through Maggie and Nick’s POV before and after Anna’s murder. It was fun trying to discern the truth between the narratives.  I actually thought I had the mystery solved but then in the last act of the novel, there’s a twist that I didn’t see coming and made the story all the more heartbreaking. It’s been awhile since an ending truly surprised me.   I highly recommend you pick up this book.  

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

After Anna is now available in paperback. Look for it at your favorite local book store or visit the author’s website for more information. 

Special Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Exposed & Feared by Lisa Scottoline

Welcome to a TBT Throwback Thursday Review.  I am working on reviving this blog and catching up on some long overdue book reviews. Exposed and Feared by Lisa Scottoline are the most recent titles in her Rosato & DiNunzio series and were published in August 2017 and August 2018 respectively.

A BATTLE FOR JUSTICE PITS PARTNER AGAINST PARTNER…
Mary DiNunzio wants to represent her old friend Simon Pensiera, a sales rep who was wrongly fired by his company, but her partner Bennie Rosato represents the parent company. When she confronts Mary, explaining this is a conflict of interest, an epic battle of wills and legal strategy between the two ensues ripping the law firm apart, forcing everyone to take sides and turning friend against friend.
LOYALTY CAN BE LETHAL.  - lisascottoline.com

When three men announce that they are suing the Rosato & DiNunzio law firm for reverse sex discrimination—claiming that they were not hired because they were men—Mary DiNunzio and Bennie Rosato are outraged. To make matters worse, their one male employee, John Foxman, intends to resign, claiming that there is some truth to this case.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer is Nick Machiavelli, who has already lost to Mary once and is now back with a vengeance —determined not to not only win, but destroy the firm. It soon becomes clear that Machiavelli will do anything in his power to achieve this…even after the case turns deadly. The stakes have never been higher for Mary and her associates as they try to keep Machiavelli at bay, solve a murder, and save the law firm they love…or they could lose everything they’ve worked for. Told with Scottoline’s trademark gift for twists, turns, heart, and humanity, this latest thriller asks the question: is it better to be loved, or feared…​ - lisascottoline.com

I love all the Rosato & DiNunzio novels and the prior related series Rosato & Associates.  Exposed and Feared were no exception.  Although Feared was my favorite of the two and one of my favorite of the stories about the "all female law firm" precisely for the fact that the book centered on the possible discrimination issues arising from that very conceit.

Exposed was great in that it really showed some character growth for Mary who has always struggled with asserting herself outside the courtroom and this is further built upon in Feared.  Scottoline always does a fantastic job of balancing the personal dramas of the characters we loved throughout the series as well as providing a thought provoking legal dilemma.

While this series does not need to be read in order, I highly recommend it so that you can develop a relationship with Mary, Bennie and everyone working at the Rosato & DiNunzio firm.  I don't know if a follow-up to Feared is planned but it's still my hope that we get a new book soon featuring attorney Anne Murphy who hasn't carried a book on her own since Courting Trouble.

Final Verdict:  3.5/5 Stars for Exposed;  4/5 Stars for Feared

Special Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC in exchange for a honest review.
 

I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool by Lisa Scottoline & Francesca Serritella

The bestselling and “perennially hilarious” mother-daughter team is back with a new collection of stories from their real lives, guaranteed to make you laugh out loud. Join Lisa and Francesca as they regret drunk-shopping online, try smell-dating, and explore the freedom of a hiatus from men – a Guyatus. They offer a fresh and funny take on the triumphs and facepalm moments of modern life, showing that when it comes to navigating the crazy world we live in, you’re always your own best lifeguard. - scottoline.com

Lisa and Francesca are back with another great collection of humorous real life essays.  As a mother-daughter, best friend duo, I could easily relate to all of these stories as my mother is one of my best friends.  However, I think almost anyone could find something to relate to here.  My personal favorite was Lisa's piece on how she finds the 70MPH speed limit on the PA Turnpike absolutely terrifying.  I know that white knuckle grip on the steering wheel all to well from visiting friends in PA.  Lisa's take on that popular twisty fitness board also made me snort with laughter as mine is currently parked under a lounge chair in my living room.  Fortunately no one will experience any buyers remorse from purchasing "I Need a Lifeguard Everywhere but the Pool."  Pick up a copy at your local bookstore or favorite online retailer.

You may also wish to meet these lovely ladies on their book tour!

Also, because I love this book so much, I'd love to give a copy away to one of our lovely readers!! To enter, head on over to the Rafflecopter and kindly comment below by telling us your favorite "beach read."  Please note due to shipping costs, you must be a US resident and/or use a US mailing address to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Special Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC for review in exchange for a honest review and again to the publisher for providing this blog with a giveaway copy.

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline

A handsome stranger moves to the small Pennsylvania town of Central Valley, and his name is Chris Brennan. He’s applying for a job as a teacher and varsity baseball coach at the local high school, and he looks perfect, on paper. But his name is an alias, his resume is false, and everything about him is a lie. And he has a secret plan – for which he needs a pawn on the baseball team.
Susan Sematov loves her younger son Raz, the quirky and free-spirited pitcher of the team. But Raz’s adored father died only a few months ago, and the family is grief-stricken. Secretly, Raz is looking to fill the Daddy-shaped hole in his heart.
Heather Larkin is a struggling single mother who’s dedicated to her only son Justin, the quiet rookie on the team. But Justin’s shy and reserved nature renders him vulnerable to attention, including that of a new father-figure.
Mindy Kostis is the wife of a busy surgeon and the queen bee of the baseball boosters, where her super-popular son Evan is the star catcher. But she doesn’t realize that Evan’s sense of entitlement is becoming a full-blown case of affluenza, and after he gets his new BMW, it’s impossible to know where he’s going – or whom he’s spending time with.
The lives of these families revolve around the baseball team – and Chris Brennan. What does he really want? How far will he go to get it? Who among them will survive the lethal jeopardy threatening them, from the shadows?
Enthralling and suspenseful, One Perfect Lie is an emotional thriller and a suburban crime story that will keep readers riveted to the shocking end, with killer twists and characters you won’t soon forget. 

One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline is one perfect novel.  It weaves lots of little lies and story threads through a compelling tale that examines both the darkness of domestic terrorism as well as the ordinary struggles of suburban life. I've read nearly every book Lisa Scottoline has written and while they're all terrific, One Perfect Lie is outstanding and her best yet. Definitely pick up your copy today and come out and meet her on her book tour, not only is she a great author, she's a really great woman to meet!  Odds are you'll get a warm hug with your signed book.  Visit her website for tour dates and additional information on her books.

Special thanks to St, Martins Press and Netgalley for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for honest review.

Lisa & I at Book Expo circa 2013

Most Wanted by Lisa Scottoline

"Christine Nilsson and her husband, Marcus, are desperate for a baby. Unable to conceive, they find themselves facing a difficult choice they had never anticipated. After many appointments with specialists, endless research, and countless conversations, they make the decision to use a donor.

Two months pass, and Christine is happily pregnant. But one day, she is shocked to see a young blond man on the TV news being arrested for a series of brutal murders and the blond man bears an undeniable and uncanny resemblance to her donor.

Delving deeper to uncover the truth, Christine must confront a terrifying reality and face her worst fears. Riveting and fast-paced with the depth of emotionality that has garnered Lisa Scottoline legions of fans, "Most Wanted" poses an ethical and moral dilemma: What would you do if the biological father of your unborn child was a killer?" - indiebound.org

Having never wanted children of my own, I had a hard time identifying with Christine and Marcus' desire to have children but I could identify with their quest for the truth which is the crux of this novel.  Marcus wants to confirm the identity of their donor by suing the sperm bank they used while Christine takes matters into her own hands.  

Christine's quest for the truth takes her and the reader on a wild ride.  It's not quite clear if the donor actually is the killer and I was guessing all through as to if he was the killer and the donor or just the donor and not the killer and what that all meant for Christine, Marcus and the family they're trying to build.

I would've liked a little more detail into Marcus' efforts with the lawsuit he filed.  The lawyer he met with raised some very interesting questions about the whole business of sperm donation and the regulations it does and does not face.  

In addition to using different means to find the truth, Marcus and Christine also debated the nature vs. nurture argument of raising a child who may be the biological product of a serial killer which was interesting and leaves the reader to opine for themselves.

The secondary characters were fabulous, Griff who unwitting aids Christine in her quest to find the truth about her donor is an endearing curmudgeon who I really hope Scottoline finds a place for in a subsequent novel.  

Most Wanted was a thrilling, entertaining and thought provoking novel.  Look for it in your local bookstore or at online retailers, you won't be disappointed.  For more on Most Wanted and Lisa Scottoline, visit her website.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing me with a free digital galley in exchange for an honest review.