Books with author Alice Faye Duncan

Local Secretary Foils Murderer in Lost Among the Angels, a Historical Cozy Mystery from Alice Duncan1920s, Los Angeles, CAMercy Allcutt is ecstatic to move to California where she knows she’ll learn all about life and–to her Boston blue-blood family's horror--get a JOB; no woman in the Allcutt family has ever actually held a JOB.Mercy lands employment as secretary to Ernie Templeton, Private Investigator. Mercy’s thrilled, and she’s sure, with time and help, she’ll become an invaluable asset to Ernie’s business.Ernie doesn't yet share Mercy's sunny optimism, but nothing tests the resolve of a new employee quite like murder.Publisher Note: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries in historical settings are sure to appreciate the Mercy Allcutt series set in 1920s Los Angeles, California. No vulgarity or explicit sex for those who appreciate a clean and wholesome read."Mercy is a pip. I laughed all through this book and stayed up until 4:00 in the morning to finish it. I was still laughing when I turned out the light. Not a bad way to end one day and start another." ~Patricia Browning"This gem reminded me of the old Dick Tracy comic strips (that I avidly read as a child), as well as of the black and white PI movies we all recall with glee. The story takes place in 1926, Los Angeles. I found myself immersed in the first few pages. Author Alice Duncan either did a lot of research or grew up on stories of the era. Each character has a unique personality. The characters all dress the parts, all the way down to the bobbed hairstyle, and speak slang. Don't worry; you won't be lost. This book is headed directly to my "KEEPER" shelf. Highly recommended!" ~ Detra Fitch (Huntress Reviews)"I read Lost Among the Angels in one sitting and found it wonderful and so enjoyable. It is a fast-paced, exciting story and Mercy Allcutt is a terrific sleuth. I can't wait to spend more time with Mercy!" ~ Rob WalkerThe Mercy Allcutt Mystery SeriesLost Among the AngelsAngels FlightFallen AngelsAngels of MercyThanksgiving Angels

In 1920s Pasadena, CA, Daisy Gumm Majesty Matches Wits With Three Villains in this Box Set Filled With Light Humor and Period CharmSPIRITS REVIVED: Pasadena's beloved spiritualist to people with more money than sense, gets her man when a real spirit seeks Daisy's help in catching his murderer.DARK SPIRITS: When the Ku Klux Klan opens a chapter in Pasadena, California, Sam Rotundo, Daisy's new leading man, must keep Daisy from doing in the Klan with a zinc bucket and a baseball bat.SPIRITS ONSTAGE: Daisy is talked into playing a role in her church's production of Mikado. But when the producer's wife experiences a mysterious illness and another cast member is murdered, it looks like someone doesn't want the show to go on.AWARDS:Romantic Times Top PickReviewer's Choice Awards, finalistTHE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES, in series orderStrong SpiritsFine SpiritsHigh SpiritsHungry SpiritsGenteel SpiritsAncient SpiritsSpirits RevivedDark SpiritsSpirits OnstageUnsettled SpiritsBruised SpiritsSpirits UnitedSpirits UnearthedShaken SpiritsScarlet Spirits

When a Former Madame Bilks Bounty Hunter, Lou Prophet, Out of Money to Start a New Life, Daisy and Sam Intervene to Save Her Life in SCARLET SPIRITS, a Cozy Historical Mystery by Alice Duncan--1925, Pasadena, California--Angie Mainwaring moves to Pasadena to start a new life and atone for her past by rescuing former "sporting" girls and housing them in a mansion in her orange grove just down the street from Daisy and her folks.Unfortunately, one of the people Angie bilked to fund her new life is notorious bounty hunter, Lou Prophet. Daisy tries to make peace between Angie and Lou but Lou's not happy.Even worse, it seems that everyone from Angie's past is coming to Pasadena to avenge their grievances against her and things get out of hand when Lou shoots one of the aggrieved out of an orange tree.Now Daisy and Sam are doing a merry dance to keep Angie alive and themselves out of trouble.Get ready for the next installment in the Daisy Gumm Majesty Mystery Series. A series which RT Book Reviews described as "Well plotted with a band of whimsical characters and genuine humor..."From the Publisher: The Daisy Gumm Majesty Cozy Mystery Series is a light-hearted mystery in a historical setting. There are no explicit sexual scenes and minimal cursing and will be enjoyed by readers who appreciate clean and wholesome reads. Fans of Peter Brandvold's, Lou Prophet, Bounty Hunter Series will enjoy meeting Lou in his later years. Readers who enjoy Carola Dunn, Amanda Quick, Elizabeth Peters, Rhys Bowen and M. Louisa Locke will not want to miss this series."The characters come alive on the page. . . " ~Andie Senji, Verified Reviewer"Each one seems as fresh and entertaining as the first." ~Kilian, Verified Reviewer"Got the first in the series and couldn't wait to get the next. I have read them all . . ." ~Joann, Verified Reviewer"Daisy is great, I love the feel of 1920s Pasadena . . ." ~Yafa Crane Luria, Verified Reviewer"Each book gets better and better and better." ~Doobs, Verified ReviewerYou can start anywhere, but you'll want to read all of the Daisy Gumm Majesty Mysteries:Strong SpiritsFine SpiritsHigh SpiritsHungry SpiritsGenteel SpiritsAncient SpiritsDark SpiritsSpirits OnstageUnsettled SpiritsSpirits UnitedSpirits UnearthedShaken SpiritsScarlet SpiritsABOUT ALICE DUNCAN:In an effort to avoid what she knew she should be doing, Alice folk-danced professionally until her writing muse finally had its way. Now a resident of Roswell, New Mexico, Alice enjoys saying no smog, no crowds, and yes to loving her herd of wild Dachshunds.

From award-winning, bestselling author Alice Duncan comes the second Daisy Gumm Majesty Cozy Mystery Boxset filled to the brim with "intriguing plots with ample twists. A perfect 10, by gum!" ~RT Book ReviewsIt's the 1920s and Daisy Gum Majesty is doing her part to support her family as a spiritualist to people with more money than sense... and she's training her dachshund, Spike, too.HUNGRY SPIRITS: Tapped to teach a cooking class for immigrant German ladies, Daisy steps up and forces herself to confront her own prejudices about those she blames for her veteran-husband's war illness. But when a student disappears and Daisy discovers that the help needed has nothing to do with cooking—there's an anarchist's scheme about to boil over.GENTEEL SPIRITS: The movie biz is coming to Pasadena and Daisy and Spike are up to their ears in trouble. A spoiled actress wants Daisy as her very own spiritualist, someone is sending poison-pen letters to the Leading Man, and Spike is butting heads with Detective Sam Rotondo, assigned to the movie-set as security.ANCIENT SPIRITS: When Mrs. Pinkerton's daughter is arrested, Daisy picks up her Ouija board for the first time since her husband's death, and is rewarded with information that sends her to Cairo, Egypt where she lands in the middle of a smuggling ring.AWARDS:Romantic Times Top PickReviewer's Choice Awards, finalistTHE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES, in series orderStrong SpiritsFine SpiritsHigh SpiritsHungry SpiritsGenteel SpiritsAncient SpiritsDark SpiritsSpirits OnstageUnsettled SpiritsBruised SpiritsSpirits UnitedSpirits UnearthedShaken Spirits

The first novel in the lighthearted, cozy mystery series – Pecos Valley.It's the "Roaring Twenties," but you wouldn't know the era was roaring if you lived in Roswell, New Mexico…before the aliens crashed.When young Annabelle Blue's eccentric aunt Minnie begins complaining about ghosts in her home, Annabelle is sent out to Minnie's isolated ranch house to aunt-sit. She's not happy about it, but she's even less happy when she finds a dead body beside her aunt's chicken coop and a mysterious grave in the garden of Minnie's only close neighbor, the sullen and scarred Olin Burgess. And why is Mr. Burgess, who avoids people on general principle, suddenly lurking about, spying on her?With the reluctant help of her best pal Phil Gunderson, Annabelle sets out to solve the mystery. While they're at it, maybe they can also discover what happened to little Julia Gilbert, who disappeared off the face of the earth several years earlier . . . if Annabelle and Phil don't disappear themselves, that is.

From award-winning, bestselling author Alice Duncan comes the very first Daisy Gumm Majesty Cozy Mystery Boxset that "teems with period detail and characters who make it so enjoyable... especially effervescent Daisy." ~BooklistIt's the 1920s and Daisy Gum Majesty is doing her part to support her family as a medium by holding séances and interpreting tarot cards for the rich and famous.STRONG SPIRITS: When the wealthy Mrs. Kincaid comes to Daisy to help solve her husband's disappearance, Detective Sam Rotondo isn't fooled by Daisy's choice of "vocation". Then Daisy reads Sam's cards... and the tables turn on them both.FINE SPIRITS: When Daisy is approached by Mrs. Bissel about exorcizing a ghost from her basement, Daisy is tempted to back out until Mrs. B puts up one of her famous dachshund puppies as payment. Hoping Mrs. Bissel’s basement ghost is not a skunk, Daisy begins snooping only to discover the matter is much larger than anyone imagined.HIGH SPIRITS: Daisy’s talent as a "medium" has caught the attention of dangerous mobster Vicenzo Maggiori, who wants to get in touch with his dead godfather. Then Daisy’s troubles are doubled when Detective Sam Rotondo tells her she must channel the spirits for Maggiori and pass the information to him in exchange for his silence.AWARDS:Romantic Times Top PickReviewer's Choice Awards, finalistTHE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES, in series orderStrong SpiritsFine SpiritsHigh SpiritsHungry SpiritsGenteel SpiritsAncient SpiritsDark SpiritsSpirits OnstageUnsettled SpiritsBruised SpiritsSpirits UnitedSpirits UnearthedShaken Spirits

When a Former Madame Bilks Bounty Hunter, Lou Prophet, Out of Money to Start a New Life, Daisy and Sam Intervene to Save Her Life in SCARLET SPIRITS, a Cozy Historical Mystery by Alice Duncan --1925, Pasadena, California-- Angie Mainwaring moves to Pasadena to start a new life and atone for her past by rescuing former "sporting" girls and housing them in a mansion in her orange grove just down the street from Daisy and her folks. Unfortunately, one of the people Angie bilked to fund her new life is notorious bounty hunter, Lou Prophet. Daisy tries to make peace between Angie and Lou but Lou's not happy. Even worse, it seems that everyone from Angie's past is coming to Pasadena to avenge their grievances against her and things get out of hand when Lou shoots one of the aggrieved out of an orange tree. Now Daisy and Sam are doing a merry dance to keep Angie alive and themselves out of trouble. Get ready for the next installment in the Daisy Gumm Majesty Mystery Series. A series which RT Book Reviews described as "Well plotted with a band of whimsical characters and genuine humor..." From the Publisher: The Daisy Gumm Majesty Cozy Mystery Series is a light-hearted mystery in a historical setting. There are no explicit sexual scenes and minimal cursing and will be enjoyed by readers who appreciate clean and wholesome reads. Fans of Peter Brandvold's, Lou Prophet, Bounty Hunter Series will enjoy meeting Lou in his later years. Readers who enjoy Carola Dunn, Amanda Quick, Elizabeth Peters, Rhys Bowen and M. Louisa Locke will not want to miss this series. "The characters come alive on the page. . . " Andie Senji, Verified Reviewer "Each one seems as fresh and entertaining as the first." Kilian, Verified Reviewer "Got the first in the series and couldn't wait to get the next. I have read them all . . ." Joann, Verified Reviewer "Daisy is great, I love the feel of 1920s Pasadena . . ." Yafa Crane Luria, Verified Reviewer "Each book gets better and better and better." Doobs, Verified Reviewer You can start anywhere, but you'll want to read all of the Daisy Gumm Majesty Mysteries: Strong Spirits Fine Spirits High Spirits Hungry Spirits Genteel Spirits Ancient Spirits Dark Spirits Spirits Onstage Unsettled Spirits Spirits United Spirits Unearthed Shaken Spirits Scarlet Spirits ABOUT ALICE DUNCAN: In an effort to avoid what she knew she should be doing, Alice folk-danced professionally until her writing muse finally had its way. Now a resident of Roswell, New Mexico, Alice enjoys saying no smog, no crowds, and yes to loving her herd of wild Dachshunds.

Historical cozy mystery set in Los Angeles, CA, in 1926.Mercy Allcutt, Boston Brahmin, wants to experience life in all its grittiness. How better than by working for a down-on-his luck PI in Hollywood? Once she discovers what PI actually stands for, she knows Mr. Ernest Templeton is the boss for her.Raised in the ivory tower of proper Boston, when well-bred Mercy gets a job with Ernest Templeton, Private Investigator, she's ecstatic. Ernie, a jaded ex-cop, is incredulous. Together, they must cope with a stray child, kidnapping, blackmail, murder, a toy poodle, a vamp, a stalker, Mercy's overactive imagination and Ernie's strong protective streak. Throw in a speakeasy, Chinatown, and a couple of down-and-dirty criminals, and Mercy and Ernie are in for a drama that will put the motion picture industry to shame . . . if they can survive long enough to tell the story.

“A stirring, accessible introduction to Gwendolyn Brooks and a must-have for all elementary collections.” —School Library Journal (Starred review)“The combination of biography and Brooks' own poems makes for a strong, useful, and beautiful text . . . A solid introduction to a brilliant writer”—Kirkus.Acclaimed writer Alice Faye Duncan tells the story of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize.SING a song for Gwendolyn Brooks.Sing it loud—a Chicago blues. With a voice both wise and witty, Gwendolyn Brooks crafted poems that captured the urban Black experience and the role of women in society. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, reading and writing constantly from a young age, her talent lovingly nurtured by her parents. Brooks ultimately published 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies, and one novel. Alice Faye Duncan has created her own song to celebrate Gwendolyn’s life and work, illuminating the tireless struggle of revision and the sweet reward of success.Included on the Chicago Public Libraries list of Best Informational Books for Young Readers.

“A stirring, accessible introduction to Gwendolyn Brooks and a must-have for all elementary collections.” —School Library Journal (Starred review)“The combination of biography and Brooks' own poems makes for a strong, useful, and beautiful text . . . A solid introduction to a brilliant writer”—Kirkus.Acclaimed writer Alice Faye Duncan tells the story of poet Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize.SING a song for Gwendolyn Brooks.Sing it loud—a Chicago blues. With a voice both wise and witty, Gwendolyn Brooks crafted poems that captured the urban Black experience and the role of women in society. She grew up on the South Side of Chicago, reading and writing constantly from a young age, her talent lovingly nurtured by her parents. Brooks ultimately published 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies, and one novel. Alice Faye Duncan has created her own song to celebrate Gwendolyn’s life and work, illuminating the tireless struggle of revision and the sweet reward of success.

Local Secretary Foils Murderer in Lost Among the Angels, a Historical Cozy Mystery from Alice Duncan 1920s, Los Angeles, CA Mercy Allcutt is ecstatic to move to California where she knows she'll learn all about life and-to her Boston blue-blood family's horror--get a JOB; no woman in the Allcutt family has ever actually held a JOB. Mercy lands employment as secretary to Ernie Templeton, Private Investigator. Mercy's thrilled, and she's sure, with time and help, she'll become an invaluable asset to Ernie's business. Ernie doesn't yet share Mercy's sunny optimism, but nothing tests the resolve of a new employee quite like murder. Publisher Note: Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries in historical settings are sure to appreciate the Mercy Allcutt series set in 1920s Los Angeles, California. No vulgarity or explicit sex for those who appreciate a clean and wholesome read. "Mercy is a pip. I laughed all through this book and stayed up until 4:00 in the morning to finish it. I was still laughing when I turned out the light. Not a bad way to end one day and start another." Patricia Browning "This gem reminded me of the old Dick Tracy comic strips (that I avidly read as a child), as well as of the black and white PI movies we all recall with glee. The story takes place in 1926, Los Angeles. I found myself immersed in the first few pages. Author Alice Duncan either did a lot of research or grew up on stories of the era. Each character has a unique personality. The characters all dress the parts, all the way down to the bobbed hairstyle, and speak slang. Don't worry; you won't be lost. This book is headed directly to my "KEEPER" shelf. Highly recommended!" Detra Fitch (Huntress Reviews) "I read Lost Among the Angels in one sitting and found it wonderful and so enjoyable. It is a fast-paced, exciting story and Mercy Allcutt is a terrific sleuth. I can't wait to spend more time with Mercy!" Rob Walker The Mercy Allcutt Mystery Series Lost Among the Angels Angels Flight Fallen Angels Angels of Mercy Thanksgiving Angels