Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Pam Lecky for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review will also be posted on NetGalley. What follows is my unbiased review of the book.

Books like this are why I enjoy reviewing. Much like the Wrexford & Sloane series that I find this similar to, this first book in Pam Lecky’s Lucy Lawrence series has grabbed me. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series that is currently at four books.

The tale begins with Lucy Lawrence, a young society wife of the late 1800s pondering her life. Her marriage has been less than satisfactory as of late. By marrying her beloved Charlie, her family turned its back on her. It seems to be no great loss, and yet she can’t help feeling that something is missing. Two pregnancies ended in miscarriage, and since then Charlie has been somewhat distant.

A police officer appears at her door and asks her to come to the mortuary to potentially identify her husband. Lucy doesn’t believe it’s him as he’s supposed to be away in Scotland, but there are several pieces of evidence that belong to him. The body is in rough shape, but Lucy identifies it as Charlie.

From there, she learns nothing in her life is as she thought it was. Her husband was involved in schemes related to a sapphire mine in India, which left her nearly destitute. Charlie also named Lucy’s estranged brother, Richard, as his executor. Although there is still some friction there, she decides to visit her family for Christmas and help heal the wounds. Her mother is surprisingly warm to Lucy, and she lets her guard down again with the family.

Lucy is quite the character for the late 1800s. It’s quite obvious she has been sheltered and a bit naive. However, she catches on quickly to what is going on. Befriended by Phineas Stone, an investigator for the insurance company, the two join forces to clear her name. With a marriage behind her that left her wanting, she finds it easy to start falling for Phineas, until it seems that he is betraying her as well, leading her to take matters into her own hands.

No Stone Unturned was a lot of fun. I couldn’t help but cheer Lucy on all the way through. Although I was pretty sure how things were going to turn out, I couldn’t wait to see how she got there. There were plenty of surprises along the way, along with numerous threats from the unsavory part of London. Lucy is written very well and is someone who is not afraid to stand on her own if she has to. Her maid, Mary, is supportive as well and becomes more of a friend than a servant. The two work well together. I loved how Lucy grew from the beginning of the book to the end as she rose above her circumstances and tried to do what was right.

Being in mourning, she is not supposed to have romantic intentions, but there is definitely something between her and Phineas. Phineas sees her as someone to protect, but Lucy is not happy being the wilting violet in society any longer. Their romance is set adrift, though, as circumstances force them not to really trust each other. Hopefully, that will pick up again in the future boos, which I will most assuredly be reading.

If you’re a reader of the Wrexford & Sloane series or enjoy Victorian-period mysteries, I think you’ll enjoy No Stone Unturned. The characters were well-written, and it felt authentic to a period when the upper-class society was about to be dealt a blow. Money problems abound for many of the old families and the times are about to change within the next few generations. Meanwhile, we have a woman who wants to go above and beyond the role society has set for her and does so with aplomb.

Next book in the series: