When socialite Lucy's husband Charlie is killed, she discovers he's been hiding lots of secrets - and they're broke. But when she goes back to her family for Christmas and to try to work out what to do next, she's accused of stealing her mother's pearl-and-emerald necklace and flung into jail. Insurance investigator Phineas Stone gets her released and tells her of a plot her husband was involved in... and that Charlie's death wasn't an accident. Can Lucy clear her name and get to the bottom of Charlie's involvement in a scandal and a theft? Can she trust Phineas? And who framed her?

A quick read with a rollicking pace and a good flavour of Victorian London. Lots of red herrings and puzzles to solve. I enjoyed the slow burn of the burgeouning romance between Phineas and Lucy, too (nicely paced). But I think my favourite character is Lucy's maid, Mary - I really hope we see lots of her in the next book!

I liked the main character, Lucy. She's a typical London socialite, letting her husband control her finances and living her life. However, once her husband dies she's thrust into an unstable situation, unable to trust her family or most of the people in her life. I think her relationship with the love interest is great, he shows that he listens to her and is trying to help her.

The mystery aspect of this isn't super compelling. I didn't find myself trying to guess where the sapphires were hidden or if Lucy could solve the mystery.

I think there is a great commentary made about women in the 1800s, unable to have control of their lives, finances, or anything due to the patriarchy. Even Lucy's brother and mother contribute to Lucy's hardship, all in the name of family.

Barbara’s rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars

Oh! What a happy little accident! I discovered this lovely book and author while browsing around looking for something to read, and I think I am hooked. The writing was excellent, the plot was layered, nuanced, and multifaceted, and the characters were fully formed and three-dimensional. My favorite character was Phineas Stone, the handsome, intelligent investigator who was investigating a theft of rare, valuable sapphires. I also liked Lucy Lawrence, but, for me, she didn’t quite live up to the expectations set forth in the book. She leapt to the wrong conclusions much too often and often trusted or mistrusted the wrong people regularly. I’ll be looking forward to seeing whether those flaws continue or if she will become the strong, intelligent, wise, and intuitive person she is touted to be. I also discovered this book had been previously published in June of 2019 by Avon (I think) and is now being published by Storm Publishing. Evidently, it was a four-book deal – but I don’t think four books will be nearly enough for me – there must be more.

Lucy Somerville eloped with Charlie Lawrence ten years earlier because her family was dead-set against the match. They loved each other, but one cannot live on love alone and when her father and family disowned her and refused to provide her dowry, things got tight and tough because Charlie didn’t have money either. Lucy was just happy to escape a vile family. However, lately, Charlie had been away more, moody, withdrawn, and his temper more volatile. Lucy wants them to grow closer again, but doesn’t know how to make it happen – and then – there will be no chance for it to happen because Charlie lies in the morgue and a very bad man has begun to accost Lucy. What in the world had Charlie gotten himself into? There is also another man who makes an appearance at Charlie’s death. He SAYS Charlie was his only lead in the case he is investigating – but can she trust him? Time will tell.

Phineas (Phin) Stone is from a successful gentry family and doesn’t want to go into one of the traditional roles for ‘lesser’ sons. No military or clergy for him – so he read law – but found he liked investigating and was really good at it. With insurance companies paying large rewards for discovering the whereabouts of items they’ve insured and paid claims on – or for investigating and keeping them from paying out for fraudulent claims – Phin is quite a wealthy fellow.

For me, Lucy was all over the place in the book and I had to question her judgment. I know she came from a family that made her distrustful – I can see that – but – after all of the gosh-awful things they did to her, she trusts them again and begins to distrust Phin. Anyway, Phin is searching for 3 stolen sapphires and Charlie was his lead to finding them. As Phin and Lucy work together to find out what happened and where the sapphires might be, they draw closer – until Lucy, again, hares off on her own. Can they solve the case and find the sapphires? What will happen with that nasty villain who keeps cropping up? Is Phin trustworthy? Is her family trustworthy? You’ll just have to read this nail-biting book to find out.

I enjoyed the book and will tell you I am looking forward to the next one. I will also mention one thing that bothered me about Lucy and it probably didn’t bother anyone else, so take it for what it is worth. This may be a tad of a spoiler, so, if you don’t want to see it, stop reading here. I liked that Lucy wanted to share the reward with the investors – she didn’t have to and it was a nice gesture. However, she didn’t offer any part of the reward to Mary – who was with her every step of the way, and she delighted in beating Phin to the reward and didn’t share with him either. So, for me, that detracts from her character.

This was a very enjoyable read and I would read it again. BTW – I loved the play on Phileas’s name in the title

In the mid 1880’s in London, Lucy Lawrence is called by the police to identify her husband’s body. He’s been run over by a carriage and it seems he is involved in some sort of mystery. Lucy is estranged from her family and her husband’s and the attorney says money is short so she dismisses all her help. In addition, her estranged brother is involved with handling the estate. Lucy goes to spend the holidays with her mother and brother at their estate. The night after the party, Lucy is charged with stealing her mother’s pearl and emerald necklace. A strange man shows up at the jailhouse and gets her released. But who is he and can Lucy trust him? This begins an exciting mystery where Lucy tries to prove her innocence in stealing her mother’s necklace as well as not being involved in her deceased husband’s troubles. The characters are well-developed and likeable or not in some occasions. The storyline is often dangerous and has a touch of romance. I truly enjoyed this book.

No Stone Unturned was one of the first historical mysteries I've read and I enjoyed it! I liked reading about Lucy who, with the help of her maid Mary, was trying to solve the mystery around her husband. Mr Stone was also investigating Lucy's husband's death and I liked the interaction between him and Lucy. However, I wasn't a fan of the (very small) romance subplot. I felt like this was underdeveloped, but maybe this will improve in the later books. If you're looking for a lighthearted historical mystery, I would recommend this one!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the eARC.

There are characters who make stories happen, and there are characters to whom stories happen. Lucy Lawrence is unfortunately one of the latter. The events of this mystery happen around her, and she stumbles through while she is continually saved from her own poor decisions by other people. If the author had re-written this story from the POV of Lucy's maid Mary, it would have been more entertaining.

The amount of Victorian historical detail is good, but there are some modern turns of phrase that jolt the reader out of the time period.

NetGalley and the publisher generously provided the next two books in this series along with this one, but I do not plan to continue the series.

Fans of Deanna Raybourn and Tasha Alexander will enjoy this new (to me!) series.

When Lucy Lawrence is summoned to the mortuary to identify her husband’s body, she has no choice but to face her fears head on — specifically the niggling realization that not only had her marriage been on shaky ground, but her husband was not the man she thought he was. Confronted by an unscrupulous business associate of her husband’s and by his mounting debts, Lucy has no choice but to work closely with insurance investigator Phineas Stone to unravel the truth. Accompanied by her loyal maid Mary and finding an unexpected ally in Phineas, Lucy realizes her life actually depends on getting to the root of her husband’s secrets before thug Marsh fulfills his threats against her.

A bit slow at times in the beginning, but with an overall good pace and enjoyable characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Wow this author is new to me and it was a rollercoaster ride nonstop!
We have Lucy Lawrence married for 10 years and suddenly a widow! Her husband kept secrets that led not only to his death but put her in danger!
Lucy is in terrible danger from unscrupulous men who believe as his wife she knows far more than she’s telling!
Lucy was kept in the dark about his affairs ( literally) but there is very few people she can trust!
When she turns to her family to escape the men who ransacked her home she is again betrayed!
At some point my heart went out to her after so much betrayal from people who should have protected you but exploited you!
Enter one Phineas Stone a very handsome and wealthy investigator and also working for an insurance company!
Mr Lawrence the deceased had scammed investors with a fictitious company! Of course this made believing Lucy’s innocence harder!
There is chemistry between them but no trust! Lucy is beautiful somewhat brave and resourceful! She doesn’t know her own strength or intelligence after years of lies told to her! She had shock after shock in discovery of all the lies!
When the clues actually make sense and arrive at a conclusion that will literally make or break Lucy! It is a race against thugs and the police as she races to the reward that can make her a very wealthy woman! If she isn’t caught by the very man who killed her husband!
Is Phineas friend or foe is he working against her or for her? Suspense, drama and nonstop action! Bravo definitely will read more!

I really enjoyed this new entry into the Victorian mystery genre. We follow Lucy Lawrence as her husband dies suddenly through her finding out more about her husband and her family. The mysteries keep developing, but she has the help of the enigmatic Phineas Stone who is clearly set up to be her romantic interest, but it’s going to be a slow burn which is what happens in the genre of historical mysteries that have an element of romance. This is my jam so I’m totally there for it.

After a bit, the story becomes a bit less of a mystery and little more of a thriller as Lucy strikes out on her own with the help of her loyal maid to figure out the dangerous mess that her husband left her in.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This was my first time reading a novel by Pam Lecky. I really enjoyed No Stone Unturned. The suspense drew me in right away. Eager to find out what would happen next, I finished the whole book within a day. I really enjoyed the main character and her transition from a damsel in distress to an empowered, clever detective. I look forward to reading the next novel in the series.

A slow burn Victorian romance full of intrigue and adventure - I think you’ll love the strong female MC, the broody but gentle male MC, and the twisty plot.

Unfortunately, I had issues with the pacing of the novel and felt that the first half especially was incredibly slow. It could have been trimmed by at least a third and lost nothing while moving things along.

Thank you to Storm Publishing for my digital copy. These opinions are my own.

NOTE: I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla. I had some issues with the voice acting, specifically the high London. I would recommend eye reading this if you can.

I love this first book in Pam Lecky’s new series! I was immediately sucked in and read in one sitting. Lucy Lawrence’s life crumbles throughout the book and she manages to keep picking herself up and figuring out what to do next. Her husband’s mysterious death, her estranged family turning against her even more, framed for crimes, finding out about her husband’s secret past, betrayal after betrayal, and she is never sure who she can trust and who will disappoint her. She begins a tentative trust in Phineas Stone but is never quite sure whether she should rely on him or if he could be one among many who hurt her again. Having been thrown into several crime investigations, she decides to try to solve what she can with help from a couple of true friends. I look forward to immediately reading the next book in this series to find out what she decides to do next with her new life.

I truly enjoyed this book. Lucy is left in a precarious situation after the death of her husband. She turns to her family, who had once turned their backs on her, only to discover they shouldn't be trusted. Before she knows it, Lucy and her maid, Mary, have groups of criminals after her, thinking she has knowledge of the crimes her husband had committed
The characters were great, personable and. a lot of fun. The plot moved quickly with a lot of action, adventure, friendship, and some self discovery. Looking forward to reading more!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Book 1 of 4 - A historical mystery starting with a murder of her husband. Be sure to read all 4 books in order.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I kept turning the pages in the beginning but the pacing fell apart and my interest petered out. I wish Lucy was cleverer. I don’t need her to be a super sleuth but you can’t paint her as capable and then make her simply be an observer to events happening around her for half the book. The description led me to think we’d get Stone’s POV. Plus they aren’t really a team, which was disappointing after that blurb and long set up. He’s working the case and she’s just… there for more than half the book. I see he’s not even in book 2 and only reappears in book 3. Scene and chapter headings were distracting and unnecessary too.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

This was an easy and fun read. While I did guess some parts of the mystery, there were some added elements I was not expecting and what I did guess didn't take away from my enjoyment. Looking forward to the next one!

Loved this one! Great and fun read. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for my ARC.

My Thoughts /

First and foremost, a huge THANK YOU to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Pam Lecky, for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review. Publication date is currently set for July 25, 2024.

No Stone Unturned is the first book in the Lucy Lawrence Mysteries series and my first read by author, Pam Lecky. Set in London in 1886, this historical-mystery series follows the adventures of our charismatic protagonist, Lucy Lawrence, as she tries to navigate her love of adventure and her unexpected talent for mystery solving against the often-unrealistic expectations of women in society in the Victorian era.

The Victorian era can be attributed to the forming of strict gender ideals and stereotypes. Men and women were allocated specific roles which led men to hold more power over women, and therefore women were significantly disadvantaged both financially and sexually, enduring inequalities within their marriages and society.

Women in the Victorian society had one main role in life, which was to marry and take part in their husband's interests and business. In the eyes of the law (prior to 1882), once a woman married, she basically ceased to exist. On her wedding day, she became one person with her husband and thereafter everything she did was under his direction. Before marriage, ladies would learn housewife skills such as weaving, cooking, washing, and cleaning, except for those women that heralded from a wealthy family. Those women did not always learn these skills because their maids primarily took care of the household chores.

So where did that leave those women who came from financially affluent backgrounds and wanted to defy the stereotype? Or women who, through no fault of their own, found themselves widowed or unwed. Those with strong personalities and high intelligence, or those women who just wanted to do more, defying the societal stereotypes could result in social ruin - and once marked, it was hard to escape.

And so we come back to the story. Lucy Lawrence hasn't been happy in her marriage. Truth be told, she suspects her husband may be looking elsewhere for affection. But with no access to money and estranged from her family, she couldn't just walk away. That all changes one morning when the police knock on her door and inform her that her husband, Charlie, has been found dead in what is said to be a tragic accident. It was thought he slipped and fell under the wheels of a coach and his body was severely disfigured. The police request she come to the mortuary and identify the body, as there was no other way to confirm whether it was indeed her husband.

With the identification confirmed, Lucy begins to realise what her life might look like now she's a widow. She's lost her husband; she has no means of income support and has to move out of her house, and she's estranged from her family. When times are bleak, sometimes life just hands you lemons. Lucy knew her late husband was not perfect, but finding out Charlie was part of an investment scam that promised returns on a sapphire mine in Kashmir was very surprising. Her late husband stealing gems from a maharaja and involved with organized crime? What had her husband been involved in? Lucy sets out on a dangerous adventure to uncover the truth about her late husband.

Also investigating Charlie's death is Phineas Stone. Originally working in law, Phin now works as an investigator for an insurance company. He has been keeping tabs on Charlie and his nefarious activities and thinks Lucy might be part of her late husband's scheme.

As the pair begin to investigate, a web of secrets and lies starts to unfold.

Bookish Yays
🌟Atmosphere - ✅ - authentic and realistic depiction of 1886 Victorian Era.
🌟Characters - ✅ - well-written and likeable.
🌟Writing - ✅ - on point - there are no wasted words.
🌟Plot - ✅ - believable and true to theme.

Bookish Hmms
🌟Lucy - ? - for an intelligent and capable woman, there were occasions where I found her decision making a little reckless and far too spontaneous.

Looking forward to book #2, Footprints in the Sand.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Storm Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

#NoStoneUnturned #PamLecky

No Stone Unturned is the first book in the Lucy Lawrence Mysteries series and it's a great introduction to the characters and Lucy's story. I've been on a historical mysteries kick lately and this book fit right into what I was looking for.

Lucy Lawrence is our fmc and as we are introduced to her we find out she lead a bit of a lonely life. She is estranged from her family due to eloping with her husband (Charlie 10 years ago) and he has over the years become distant which she thinks is due to the fact that she hasn't given him a child. It doesn't help too that they struggle to get by with funds either but as the story opens, Lucy is contemplating ways she and Charlie and can find that spark again but unfortunately Lucy quickly finds out that Charlie happens to be the murder victim of this story.

When Lucy is brought in to identify Charlie, she is introduced to Phineus Stone, our mmc, but he only tells her he has some questions for her and she is quickly put off and does everything she can to avoid his calls. What she doesn't expect is for one of Charlie's "associates" to come to her home and threaten her and her staff. So much so that she does something she never thought she would, she takes her brother up on his offer to spend Christmas with her family. Not only does that get her out of danger, but she doesn't have to speak to Stone either.

Unfortunately for Lucy, her family really isn't that much better for her. I won't give anything away here but there is an underlying plot that she is the scapegoat for and she is truly lucky Phineus didn't give up on her. When he is brought in to investigate, she is released but Lucy uses this as a catalyst to follow her own path. While she does lean on Phineus for assistance, she is determined to figure out what Charlie was up to. She's had enough of putting her trust in men.

I thought this was a solid first book of the series. It did a great job of introducing the characters and setting up the backstories as well as giving a good story/plot. There were times where I thought Lucy was making a mistake and I just wanted her to talk to Phineus versus jumping to conclusions. I also get that she had been burned by Charlie and her level of trust was about zero but either way, I thought the book was great and I'll definitely be checking out the next book in the series.

4.5 Stars

This was my first read of Ms. Lecky's; I found it to be entertaining and atmospheric in a very good way. Mrs. Lawrence (Lucy) is quite the spunky heroine after she recovers from a number of increasingly disturbing shocks, not the least of which is getting framed for a robbery she didn't commit. The mysteriously alluring Mr. Stone factors in to nearly every scene once the story gets going, and Lucy is not quite sure what to make of him.

I do hope in the next books of this series that Mary (the maid) is able to play a larger part. She was someone who turned out to be invaluable to Lucy's adventures and is a reliable confidant for her. I enjoyed the portrayal of their relationship as it moves from employer to more of a friend or companion.

Trying to categorize this book is a bit challenging: murder mystery, Victorian romance, romantic suspense... it had a bit of it all and was an enjoyable read.

I received an ARC; this is my honest review.