A Pocketful of Diamonds by Pam Lecky is book four of the Lucy Lawrence mysteries and I suppose you could probably pick this one up and read it as a standalone if you wanted to but you'd be missing out on all of the early history so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.

Lucy and Phin are now newlyweds and on their way to Lake Como, Italy...but not for their honeymoon. Unfortunately, Phin received a letter from his sister asking for help. It appears that his brother-in-law, Luca, has disappeared without a trace and no one seems to be doing anything about it.

When Lucy and Phin arrive, they find Elvira struggling to keep everything together and it's clear she needs their help. As they jump in to try to figure out what happened, they run into a familiar face and realize there is more to this story than expected, and when the danger increases for everyone involved, Lucy and Phin realize they need to solve this one before it's too late.

This was another great installment of the series. I loved seeing the relationship progress between Lucy and Phin. It was great to see them engaging with Phin's sister (and brother) as well to see those relationships progress too. Lucy and Phin still have their challenges as he, of course, wants to protect her and she wants to be as involved as she possibly can in the investigation and it is definitely a challenging balance for them.

I'm not going to say much about the mystery in this one only because I don't want to give anything away but I though Lecky did a great job of bringing all the parts together. From the relationships between Luca and everyone around him (his brother, uncle, etc.) and how it all ties back to the hotel and even the diamonds. If you're looking for a great historical mystery series to start, I recommend picking this one up. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment.

The book deals with an investigation conducted by Mrs. Lucy Stone and her husband, Mr. Phineas Stone. The story starts in mid-1888 and finishes in 1889. Lucy and Phineas travel to Italy to help in the investigation of Phineas's brother-in-law's disappearance; they travel with their servants, Mary (Lucy's maid) and George (Phineas's valet), as was usual at that time. There is family drama due to the differences in Italian and English traditions. In the end, after some unexpected twists, Lucy, Phineas, Mary and George return to London.

Lucy and Phin’s honeymoon in Italy takes a dramatic turn when Phin’s aristocratic brother-in-law disappears. Their investigation leads them to missing diamonds and a smuggling ring. Danger lurks around every corner as they race against time to save themselves and those they love.

This is a suspenseful, engrossing, and emotional mystery. The story hooked me immediately. I enjoyed meeting Phin’s family and seeing some of their family dynamics.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

To the rescue of Phineas’ family!

Lucy has married Phineas. They’re on their way to honeymoon in Paris when they’re urgently contacted by Phineas’ sister Elvira. She wants them to come immediately to Italy, to Villa Carmosino, at Bellagio on Lake Como. Elvira is frantic Her husband Luca, Conte Carmosino has disappeared.
He’d gone to Milan on business and left earlier than anticipated. Supposedly he’d caught a steamboat across the lake to Bellagio. He never made it home.
The local police led by Commissario Marinelli seem to feel like there’s nothing to see here.
Cosmo’s brother Matteo managed the family hotel in Milan. There had been problems. Diamonds stolen from a guest’s rooms rings alarm bells.
That scoundrel and private investigator Malcolm Kincaid appears in Milan to investigate the diamonds. This causes some concern for the Max and Phineas.
Lucy’s life is threatened.
Phineas and Lucy will prove them wrong after a few scares and misdirection.
The palpable feelings between Lucy and Phineas continues to spark its own magic.
An exacting storyline, although somewhat different to others in the series.

A Storm invite ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Loved this one. A great mystery story full of twists and red herrings. This is a good series and well written. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

It was 1888 when Phineas Stone and his new wife, Lucy Lawrence, received a message from Phin's sister that her husband, Conte Luca Carmosino, had gone missing, so they immediately changed their honeymoon plans and headed for Italy. Lake Como was where their villa was, and while the journey there was long, Elvira and her children needed Phin and Lucy. As Phin traced Luca's journey from Milan to Lake Como a few days prior, they came to the conclusion that he had probably met with foul play. The local police weren't taking them seriously which made both Lucy and Phin angry - they would continue with their own investigation in hopes Luca would be found safe and well.

With diamonds stolen from a local hotel, smuggling going on without concerns of the police, and a local gang in control of everyone, making many fear for their lives, Lucy and Phin continued. But there was danger out there, and as they were observed digging into something they shouldn't be doing, Lucy found herself in great peril. Would she and Phin survive?

A Pocketful of Diamonds is the 4th in The Lucy Lawrence Mysteries by Pam Lecky and I loved it! Such a great series, and I'm really looking forward to the next. I enjoy Lucy's character - feisty, determined and full of spirit. And Phin is equal to Lucy - they fit well together. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for my digital ARC to read and review.

This book was the perfect ending for the series. The mystery was multi-faceted, nuanced, and filled with red herrings and the personal relationships were absolutely lovely. I read the first book of the series and loved the characters and the mystery, but then I didn’t get a chance to read the other two books before this current one was here. Goodness! A lot has happened to/with Lucy and Phin since that first book and now I have to go back and read the missing books.

Lucy Lawrence and Phineas (Phin) Stone have just married and are ready to set off on their wedding trip when they get word from Phin’s sister, Elvira, Contessa Carmosina, that her husband, Luca, is missing. Luca has been missing several days and everyone fears the worst for the beloved young Conte.

Lucy and Phin will face their greatest dangers yet in the beautiful, idyllic setting of Lake Como. They quickly discover that they cannot rely on anyone because none, other than Elvira and their personal servants, can be trusted. There are dark undercurrents in the Lake Como area and some very ugly people who don’t want the Conte to survive and they’ll do anything to keep anyone else from learning those dark secrets. You will find yourself suspecting everyone and picturing all the scenarios to see if it was this person or that person. Then, you rapidly read to see where the author chose to take the tale. It is a book that involves all of you, body, mind, and heart in the story and it will not turn loose of any of those very quickly.

A beautifully written epilogue perfectly closes out the series for Lucy and Phin. It is a lovely, poignant, caring piece of the story and you will find yourself letting out a very satisfied sigh. My only problem with the book was that it painted too vivid a picture of Luca and made the reader come to really care for him, Elvira, and their family. It was hard to concentrate on solving the mystery when so much heartache was involved. So, in the end, when Lucy and Phin were celebrating all of their joys, I was thinking of Elvira, Luca, and the children whose lives were forever changed.

This was an excellently written story. If you love a complicated mystery and deeply involved emotional and romantic interests, then you will enjoy this book—and the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Lucy Lawrence and Phineas Stone break short their honeymoon in Paris to travel to Lake Como as Phin’s sister, Elvira, husband has gone missing. When they arrive, they find the police uninvolved, a great uncle who is overbearing, and a brother-in-law who cares too much. This is a tough case as the two have no local connections and other than Elvira no one seems to care. But there is a lot going on in the background. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more.

Lucy and Phin are just leaving on their honeymoon when they receive a message from Phin's sister in Italy that her husband is missing. They decide to put off their trip and help her. When they arrive nothing is as it seems. When the local police won't investigate, Phin and Lucy must find out the truth on their own. This series just gets better with each book. I love that Lucy is not willing to sit back and behave as the women of that time were expected to. There is a totally surprise ending that does make me wonder where things will go from here, but I am eagerly looking forward to more.

"Lucy Lawrence smoothed her silk travelling gown and watched as darkness fell over the shimmering waters of Lake Como - her honeymoon bliss shattered in an instant by a telegram carrying deadly tidings...

Newlyweds Lucy Lawrence and Phineas Stone arrive at the glittering shores of Lake Como, Italy, not to enjoy a romantic honeymoon but to answer a frantic plea for help. Phin's brother-in-law - the charismatic Count Luca Carmosino - has vanished without a trace from his Belle Époque villa, and the couple find themselves thrust into a world of stolen diamonds and smuggling rings.

From the opulent Grand Hotel Bellagio with its crystal chandeliers to the misty mountain passes of the Swiss border, Lucy must solve the mystery of the Count's disappearance and navigate the treacherous waters of Italian high society, all while maintaining the decorum expected of a proper Victorian lady... But as Lucy edges closer to the truth about what happened to Count Carmosino, the stakes rise dramatically. When an attempt is made on her life while Phin is out of town, Lucy realizes they're both in grave danger. Can she unravel this conspiracy and save those she loves before it's too late?

The fourth in the beloved Lucy Lawrence mystery series! A gripping tale of stolen diamonds, family intrigue, and hard-won redemption set against the stunning backdrop of glamorous Italy."

I'm just saying, Lucy needs to embrace the ability to see things from both sides, sure, there may be danger, but at least their honeymoon is still in a beautiful locale...

Thank you so much to NetGalley Storm Publishing and Pam Lecky for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Pocketful of Diamonds coming out September 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’m obsessed with this series! Lucy is a strong character and I was surprised she remarried so soon, but I love Phin’s character as well. They’re awesome together! I loved that they went off on a beautiful honeymoon to Italy. They make a really great team and I love the mysteries in this series! Of course there was a lot of plot and danger going on. I loved it! I’m excited to check out more books.

I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Victorian mysteries!

A cosy mystery in the Victorian era - there’s action, romance and drama here with plenty of pace and possibilities.

Our main characters are amateur sleuth Lucy and new husband Phineas, an insurance agent. This is the fourth book in the series and Phin and Lucy head off on their honeymoon, only to experience something of a busman’s holiday when Phin’s brother-in-law goes missing. The settings are glorious - who doesn’t want intrigue and drama on the shores of Lake Como?

Author Pam lays out the mystery with clues and breadcrumbs. It’s quite wordy though as she doesn’t leave much unsaid or undescribed. There’s danger as they investigate, with uncooperative police, secrets, the obligatory kidnapping and tense moments for both Phin and Lucy. Set in the 1880s and although there's period detail, including a trusty maid and a valet, it feels very modern.

The epilogue is delightful and cements the HEA for Phin and Lucy.

Rounded up to four stars. Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing and Pam Lecky for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Dnf 30% read just didnt like the novel and couldnt concentrate on story. Only 3 stars from me but as dnf could be worth more.

I’m really enjoying this series. Our heroine, Lucy, is finally married to her hunky love interest, the insurance detective, Phineas, and they’re off detecting the mysterious disappearance of Phineas’s brother-in-law. They’ve interrupted their honeymoon to help out Phineas’s sister. Mysteries abound in scenic Lake Como, and the dangers seem to creep in on Lucy and Phineas.

This is a great series and I enjoyed the interplay between Lucy and Phineas as they go sleuthing for clues.

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.

Pam Lecky has done it again! She has crafted such a masterpiece, with an intricate plot and great characters. Also, the location for this book is Italy!

I love how much Lucy and Stone have grown through the series, and how well Stone has accepted that Lucy is not a regular woman.

This book has a lot more at stake than the rest and with Stone's family involved, the emotions run rampant.

Pam has written the book in a way that the reader feels grief on the death of the character, someone who was never part of the stories and yet, it feels personal and solving the mystery becomes paramount.

I am hoping that we are nowhere near the end of the series, and I am so thankful to have found this series.

I received an advance copy of the book and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Lucy and Phin are leaving for their honeymoon when Phin receives a desperate message from his sister Elvira. Her devoted husband has gone missing. The couple rushes to Elvira’s side and set to unraveling the mystery of Luca’s disappearance. Phin and Lucy soon realize that this disappearance is much more complicated than it first seemed and no one is off the suspect list.

Set in Italy, Pam Lecky’s fourth installment in the Lucy Lawrence series, “A Pocketful of Diamonds” is a page-turner that features twists and turns in a family drama that includes connections to a local smuggler. The dialogue is witty and the descriptions of the area surrounding Lake Como are lush. Lucy and Phin’s humanity was on center stage as they sometimes struggled with the language and customs of Italy. It was really nice to see characters who don’t know everything about the places they visit.

This book is great for historical mystery fans and fans of the Lucy Lawrence series.

I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley and Storm Publishing, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you netgalley and Storm Publishing for this arc.

The fourth and final (?) Of the Lucy and Stone novels. It was fun to see Phin and Lucy's relationship continue after marriage. The setting being on Lake Como in Italy was beautiful and brought back my fond memories of visiting there. I will say my biggest complaint of this book is that in the late 1880s in Italy the local Italians were absolutely not speaking fluent English. Italian wasn't even the national language until the 1860s- before then everyone spoke their local dialect. So the thought of the local policeman speaking fluent English was a bit laughable. Outside of the major cities that see the most tourists English speaking locals are minimal even now. *I'm married to an Italian and we go to Italy every year to see his family/friends he left behind and I still speak minimal Italian so rely on him to do all the speaking.

Anyways off my side bar, I thought this one had a better plot then the 2nd book. It did have you guessing a bit more, but I did still figure out who it was before the reveal.

I am super grateful for Lucy and Phin's happy ending, hopefully she'll learn to keep out of danger now.

Historical murder mystery,part of the Lucy Lawrence series. Set in Italy Lucy and Phin must solve the murder of his brother in law.

I enjoy the characters and that they move forward in their lives in each book. I liked the setting (a visit to Italy). The mystery kept me guessing.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Three and a half stars.

This is the fourth book in a series, I haven't read the others but I didn't find that an issue.

Lucy Lawrence, now Lucy Stone, and her new husband Phineas Stone were supposed to be on their honeymoon in Paris, but Phin's sister Elvira has sent a message that her husband Conte Luca Carmosino has disappeared, the police have dismissed it as a domestic disagreement but she is beside herself with worry.

Phin is an insurance investigator, it's how he met Lucy, so the two of them rush to Lake Como in Italy to help Elvira search for Luca. Luca and Elvira were a love match, something his starchy Italian family disapproved of.

Why did Luca travel to Milan at the height of the August heat when his hotel empire was at its busiest? Who did he meet? Why did he leave his valet without a word to return to Lake Como? What was the contract he wanted to discuss with his lawyer? Why did he keep his intentions secret from his brother, and business partner, Matteo.

This was a perfectly pleasant historical cosy romance. There were certain suspects highlighted from the start and honestly, much like the stage play The Mousetrap, it could have easily been any one of them as the explanation/motive could have worked for all. I would be happy to read others in the series.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.