Note: Thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and author Pam Lecjky 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.

From the first book, I felt that Pam Lecky’s Lucy Lawrence Mystery series reminded me a lot of the Wrexford & Sloane series by Andrea Penrose. The main difference is that Lucy’s adventures take place later in the 19th century than the other books. With that, we have much after communication by telegram as well as the start of widespread tourism as people travel by train to places that would have been much more difficult to visit without them.

In the previous book, The Art of Deception, Lucy and Phineas Stone were married. Just as they were departing on their honeymoon, they received an urgent telegram from Phineas’ sister Elvira in Italy. It seems her husband, Count Luca Carmosino, has gone missing. Lucy and Phineas set aside their plans and head off quickly for Lake Como, Italy. A few years before this would have been a difficult undertaking, but with trains traveling all over Europe now, their journey takes less than 48 hours.

They arrive at the palatial home on Lake Como to find Elvira frantic. Her husband set off for a quick business to Milan almost two weeks before and hasn’t been seen since. His valet returned without him, saying that Luca left before he did. Phineas and Lucy begin investigating and find the local police to be useless, stating that the Count is probably off with another woman. Could Luca’s disappearance have something to do with a string of burglaries at the Grand Hotel he owns, including some very unique diamonds stolen from one of the guests?

Lucy must navigate Italian high society here. Her determination to be a woman who uses her brain is challenging enough in England, and in Italy, it would seem that women are marginalized all the more. She clashes endlessly with Luca’s uncle, Giuseppe, who seems to have little regard for women at all and is perched to take control of the family if the Count is not found. The young son of Luca and Elvira will be the next head of the family, but it will be many years before that can happen.

Is this the result of family conflict? Does Luca’s disappearance have something to do with the diamonds? Could it be his younger brother, Matteo, who has feelings for Elvira as well?

There is plenty of mystery in A Pocketful of Diamonds. The story has so many possibilities that it takes a long time to unravel. At times, I felt as frustrated as Lucy did. There are clues and possibilities all over the place. I had different suspects in mind at different times. One thing the author did well was have Lucy’s observations often miss the mark because of her cultural bias. Things are different in Italy than in England. There are a number of times when she makes an assessment of someone only to have Elvira tell her she’s gotten it wrong. Is that the case, or has Elvira missed important clues as to who might be involved in her husband’s disappearance? It’s all very well crafted.

The setting is absolutely beautiful. I’ve never been to Lake Como, but I have seen many pictures and can imagine the area at the beginning of its boom catering to the rich and famous of European high society. The ease with which Phineas and Lucy move about as they are investigating is a constant reminder of the differences from just a few decades before. Their relationship has changed and yet it’s still the same. Lucy is still independent and impetuous, although she does consult Phineas at times, rather than just plunging ahead.

I recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Historical Fiction Mysteries. A Pocketful of Diamonds is an excellent addition to the series and builds on the characters and setting. I wish there had been more time in Lucy and Phineas’ relationship buildup, but now that we’re here the story manages to keep them true to who they have been up until this point in the series. I’m looking forward to the next offering in the series!

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