For fans of: The Lady Darby mysteries, The Wrexford & Sloan books
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Genre: 🔎 Historical Mystery
Violence: 🔪
Spice: 🔥

Synopsis: A trip to Lake Como is far from a honeymoon for newlyweds Lucy & Phin. Phin’s brother-in-law, Luca, is missing. When their worst fears are confirmed, Phin promises to do his best to find the killer. But with roadblocks at every turn—uncooperative police, elusive witnesses, difficult relative—can they succeed?

Thoughts: Lecky’s words sail me across Lake Como and whisk me through the halls of exquisite Italian villas, while characters like the curmudgeonly Uncle Giuseppe & the hot-tempered Matteo jump from the page. I appreciate how the author establishes Lucy as an amateur sleuth—intelligent, curious, & audacious with a penchant for recklessness—yet grounds her in the 19th century realities of gender & class. Likewise, Phin’s struggles with protectiveness reflect a Victorian sensibility. I did identify the culprit fairly early (I tend to apply the Dwight Schrute rule: It’s usually the person you most medium expect), but Lecky kept me guessing about the why until the final reveal. Seemingly throw-away clues hint at the solution if one picks them up, but the way the puzzle pieces fit is likely to stump even the most intrepid armchair detective.

New to the Lucy Lecky mysteries? Check out me reviews for the first 3 books:
No Stone Unturned: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9dLxA7hyIl/
Footprints in the Sand: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9k-iOsh3ig/
The Art of Deception: https://www.instagram.com/p/C9r47gsuOBh/

Thank you to Storm Books and NetGalley for the gifted copy of this book..

Another wonderful addition to this series. This time Lucy and Phin find themselves diverted from their trip to Paris for their honeymoon, and going to Lake Como in Italy instead. Phin's brother-in-law, Luca, has gone missing and Elvira, Phin's sister, begs them to help find him. This case was more intricate than the previous ones, with plenty of red herrings thrown into the mix. Murder, smuggling, and corrupt police aplenty to make for a complicated case. Mary and George also play their part. They've become almost as important in these stories as Lucy and Phin and are wonderful characters as well. As usual, there's plenty of armchair travelling for the reader with beautiful descriptions of Lake Como and the surrounding areas. A delightful read!
Thanks to Netgalley, Sorm Publishing and Pam Lecky for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book I have read in the Lucy Lawrence mystery series and it is absolutely brilliant.
It is a stand alone book and a joy to read.
Lovers of historical fiction as well as an absorbing mystery will love it.
Lovely characters with a murder mystery to solve what more could you ask for
Can’t recommend it enough

This book is the fourth in the Lucy Lawrence mysteries series, I have read the previous installments and find it is strongly advised to have the past books read before diving into this one.

I thought this story was a little bit gloomier than expected given the previous ones and I kept hoping for a turn in it.

Either way, the well loved characters we came to know are fully featured and the story is well developed with several twists and turns.

An array of suspects is put forward but the real culprit is the less likely of all.

I really hope there is a new book coming in this series as the ending left me wanting for more!
I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.

What an absolute delight this book was! Lucy and Phineas are newlyweds diverted on their honeymoon trip to help Phineas’s sister, Elvira, in Bellagio, Italy. Elvira’s husband, who runs a family-owned luxury hotel on Lake Como, is missing and there’s been a jewelry theft at the hotel as well.

Lucy is adamant that she remain Phineas’s partner in investigations after marriage and they must navigate the new state of their relationship. There are a few moments of tension, but Phin is a supportive, protective partner throughout. Their maid and valet continue to have prominent, secondary roles in investigations.

The conclusion to the mystery storyline includes some suspenseful scenes in which Lucy’s life is in danger and Phin helps save the day.

The book continues with a bit of a time jump that had me smiling. No spoilers here, but the epilogue is fully of sweetness and joy.

Is this the very satisfying conclusion to the story or the start of a new phase?

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 September 19, 2024.

A Pocketful of Diamonds is the fourth book in author Pam Lecky’s, Lucy Lawrence Mysteries, and I have to say, that for this reader at least, the series has been getting better and better with each book. I will confess that I had some reservations with our protagonist by the end of the first book, but the setting, the writing and the narrative were enough to convince me to continue the series, and I’m glad I did.

For those following along, you might remember that in book #3, Phineas declared his love for Lucy together with a proposal of marriage, Lucy accepted, and the couple celebrated their engagement with a lavish party.

When our current story begins, it’s the morning after the wedding. Phin and Lucy are heading to Paris later that day to start their honeymoon. But when Phin takes receipt of an urgent telegram their honeymoon plans are immediately put on hold. The telegram, sent from Phin’s sister, Elvira, contains worrying news - her husband Luca has gone missing and it appears that the local carabinieri are not taking her concerns for Luca’s unexplained disappearance seriously. So Phin and Lucy, together with Mary and George, their most valued employees, immediately travel to Italy to assist in the search for Luca Carmosino.

Arriving at Lake Como, Italy, both Phin and Lucy are immediately struck by how frantic Elvira is by her husband’s disappearance; it’s totally out of character for the charismatic and likeable Conte, and it appears as though he has vanished without a trace. Phin’s visit with the local carabinieri has only raised more questions than answers; claiming that there wasn’t much they could do, but the whole atmosphere was tenebrous and sinister. A secondary story running parallel to the Conte’s disappearance is a string of high end jewellery thefts occurring in the hotels surrounding Lake Como, the thieves seem to be targeting wealthy tourists. On an evening stroll out along the waterfront, Phin and Lucy discover a body lying face down washed up on the shore; beaten and bloated. As they came closer to the body they were hit with a feeling of dread. Gently turning the body over, Phin realised that he knew that face - it was the face of his brother-in-law. Searching the body for any signs of formal identification, Phin came up empty. But if things seemed bad now, they were about to get a whole lot worse when Phin discovered a stolen diamond necklace in one of Luca’s pockets.

Bookish Yays:

🌟Location, Location, Location - Lake Como, Italy set during the Victorian era. Lake Como has a rich history and remarkable significance dating back to Roman times. A coveted retreat for the wealthy and powerful throughout history. Its idyllic setting surrounded by lush mountains and dotted with picturesque villages has captivated artists, writers, and aristocrats alike. The lake’s fame skyrocketed during the Renaissance, as it became a favourite escape for Milanese nobility, who built stunning villas along its shores. Notably, the enchanting town of Bellagio, known as the “Pearl of the Lake,” gained popularity as a resort in the 19th century.

🌟Characters - What is pleasing is that since the series beginning, this reader is acutely aware of how much the characters have grown and matured, and to that end, I’m really enjoying how the author has written and portrayed our female protagonist in this latest book. And on the subject of characters, in book #4 I was blown away by how masterful the author’s writing, to be able to make this old unfeeling reader, feel so many emotions about a character she’d never met and who died basically in the opening scene!

🌟Plot threads - All through this series I have enjoyed each and every one of the original and fresh storylines and unique settings. Each of the main storylines intersect seamlessly at some point with the secondary threads running throughout the book, coming to a (usually) dramatic conclusion. Book 4 was no different.

🌟Short chapters - what can I say - these are always a win for me.

I’m hoping this is not the end for Phin and Lucy and there will be another book coming soon!

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

#APocketfulofDiamonds #NetGalley #PamLecky

jewelry-theft, Italy, family-drama, family-dynamics, family-history, historic-site, historical-figures, historical-mystery, historical-research, historical-novel, series, unpleasant-in-laws, unpleasant-relative, investigations, intrigue, local-law-enforcement, secrets, lies, honeymoon, missing-persons, families, family-business, hotelier, arson, framed*****

British investigator Phineas Stone's sister is happily married to a wealthy Italian Comte with devoted children and a prosperous business as well as some obnoxious relatives and missing rare diamonds. When the Comte goes missing everyone except the local carabinieri are worried and want to help. A former rival in the investigation shows up to make known his claim on the diamonds, but shortly thereafter is found beaten and near death. Then the worst happens and Lucy and Phineas get the investigation sped into high gear. Some of the twists nearly blindsided me and those sneaky red herrings! Great read
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Storm Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you
#LucyLawrenceMysteriesBk4 #Historical #CozyMysteries

I always enjoy the books in this excellent series, and this one is no exception. Lucy and new husband Phineas travel to Italy to help Phin’s sister with a family tragedy which quickly turns into an investigation into murder, smuggling, and corruption. As always, the supporting characters are well-developed, and series readers will enjoy seeing the relationship between Lucy and Phin deepen. The mystery is well-done, and the Italian setting is a nice change for this series. This could be read alone but will be more enjoyable if you’ve read earlier books. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered freely.

Book 4 of this delightful series. This time Lucy and Phin are on honeymoon, although Paris some becomes Italy and the hunt for Phin’s brother in law. Once more, there is murder,and mayhem and all done in a l royal bouncy manner that is so nice to read. Lucy gets all mixed up in the investigation and her character stands out in challenging the locals as well as her in-laws. The same great characters from the previous books in the series and a very lovely, and deserved, epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Storm Publishing for the ARC of A Pocketful of Diamonds by Pam Lecky.

I had been a bit disappointed with the third book in the series, so I was tentative going into this one. Luckily, this book did help to remove most of my concerns around Lucy and Phin's relationship, especially with them now being married and official partners.

The book picks up the day after Lucy and Phin have been married. They are headed to Paris for their honeymoon when they receive an urgent telegram from Elvira, Phin's sister, that her husband, Luca, has gone missing. She asks for their help in finding him, as it seems the police are not taking the matter seriously, even though Luca employs many of the townspeople in his family's hotel chain, and he is well known and well liked. Upon arrival at Lake Como, Finn and Lucy are immediately on the case, and trying to determine where Luca is and who may have wished him harm. Was it his brother? His uncle? A thief from his hotel? Is something more sinister at play?

The description makes it sound like Lucy is trying to fit in as an aristocrat throughout the tale, but I don't think any part of the book really spends time in that space -- there is one very formal/traditional uncle, but past that, Lucy and Mary are off on their own investigations while Phin and George handle other clues. Lucy and Phin also spend quite a bit of time investigating together and as equals, which was such a positive difference from the last book. There is very little time spent with "society" and instead there's more urgency and dismissal of rules because family is involved. While Lucy may recognize now the places where a woman's voice is dismissed, she has also really learned when her voice is heard or has more effect than a man's. I think this book had the best pacing and the best Lucy/Phin interactions since the first book. Their level of trust in each other was much higher, and their better understanding of each other helped them to figure out clues or understand the other's interpretations of the case in a much faster fashion, which allowed the story to have more action than the previous two. It was less wondering about feelings and formality and society and more about helping family at all costs.

The way this one ended felt like it could be the end of the series - and if it is, the characters are in a good place with a strong ending. If it were possible to continue on, I would still be an interested reader, especially with how much the characters have grown and matured.

#4 in the Lucy Lawrence series, we find ourselves back to sleuthing with our favorite Victorian era amateur detective. This time we are following Lucy and Phin in Italy when Phin's brother in law goes missing.
The landscape again plays it's own part in the story, and I always find myself wanting to travel the setting of these books.
I LOVE this series and recommend to anyone who loves Agatha Christie or Colleen Cambridge.

The new adventure for Phineas and Lucy Stone takes the to Lake Como Italy. Phin and Lucy are married but Lake Como wasn’t their honeymoon destination. Phil’s sister Elvira has sent a telegram telling them that her husband Luca is missing . She needs their help so off they go.once there they run into many obstacles . The police aren’t even looking for Luca and no one can understand why he was traveling alone. Phil and Lucy are getting frustrated with not getting help from anyone. Then Luca's body is found and things really start getting messy. Was Luca s death an accident or was it murder.? Lucy is also hiding a secret. A secret she must keep because as usual she gets into a bit of trouble.

This is the fourth book in the series. I enjoyed this one as the first one. I enjoy the bond that Lucy has with Phin. Not only do they love each other they trust one another. Considering the era this book was written Lucy is a strong woman who speaks her mind and gets the job done. Even if the men around her do not like it.

I so enjoy Lucy and Phin’s adventures and hope there are more. Thank you NetGalley and Storm for the ARC. Will highly recommend this series to my fellow readers. Hoping Ms. Lecky continues writing these wonderful mysteries.

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. This was a really great book if you would like some armchair travel. Lucy and Phineas, newly wed, arrive in Lake Como, Italy during the Victorian era in order to figure out why Phineas' brother, a Count, has disappeared and to essentially solve this mystery. What ensues is a fun quest through this beautiful region in order to figure out his whereabouts. Lucy must navigate not only high society, but Italian high society. Eventually, Lucy's own life becomes threatened and things just become more dangerous. She ultimately figures things out about the Count, and it was fun to get to the finish. This was an enjoyable read, and I enjoyed the trip back into history and the trip into a wonderful region. This is part of an established series, and I think I may read the others because I enjoyed this book so much (one does not need to have read the other books to be able to follow along in this book).

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

England 1888: Lucy and Phin are about to embark on their honeymoon when they receive news that Phin's brother-in-law Luca is missing. They go immediately to Lake Como to investigate the mystery of the disappearance. Embroiled within the family of the missing man are secrets and strange happenings. Straight talking Lucy manages to make an enemy of the self-appointed head of the family and, against the insistence of her husband Phin, determines to investigate with him wherever she can. This leads both of them and other family members into danger. As they get close to solving the mystery of the death of Luca and while Phin is away from town, Lucy's life is threatened.

I loved this story and my only regret is that this is book #4 of 4 and I haven't yet read the other three books! So I will now go back to Book #1 and the beginning of this delightful detective duo, Lucy and Phin.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story prior to release. Thank you Pam Lecky for the wonderful characters of Lucy and Phin.

I was pleased to see a new book in this series. The familiarity of the main characters and their English background transported to Lake Como and Italian culture made for an entertaining and suspenseful read. An excellent historical cozy!