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Daisy Gumm Majesty Mystery #10
Bruised Spirits
It's 1924 and spiritualist-medium Daisy Gumm bands with friends Flossie and Harold to help Lily Bannister, whose abusive husband nearly killed her.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Pinkerton—Daisy's best client—is in a tizzy, insisting Daisy use her spiritualist talent to end the engagement between her daughter and a most unsuitable man.
To Daisy's surprise, the two cases collide, catching her in the middle. Can she prove Lily's husband and Mrs. P's soon-to-be-son-in-law are in cahoots with nefarious human traffickers... before it's too late?
Meanwhile, Mrs. Pinkerton—Daisy's best client—is in a tizzy, insisting Daisy use her spiritualist talent to end the engagement between her daughter and a most unsuitable man.
To Daisy's surprise, the two cases collide, catching her in the middle. Can she prove Lily's husband and Mrs. P's soon-to-be-son-in-law are in cahoots with nefarious human traffickers... before it's too late?
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First published January 1, 2016
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About the author
Alice Duncan
103 books112 followersAlso writes as Emma Craig, Rachel Wilson, Anne Robins and wrote two books under the name of Jon Sharpe (Pecos Belle Brigade and California Crusader).
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 15, 2016
I have read all of the Daisy Gumm series. It is a story of spiritual beliefs, violence, aid, murder, greed in the 1920's. Daisy has difficulties again, this time, it is not of her making. Flossie brings a battered woman to Daisy for help. Daisy is shocked to learn that those helping her are breaking the law. Daisy asked Harold to help. Daisy is forced to lie to her Dad and Sam in order to keep the woman safe. Matters become worse when the woman's husband is murdered. Thanks to the author for a free copy.
April 12, 2020
I like this series, generally. Pasadena, food, fashion, wealth, it's great. I hate that Daisy is engaged to Sam. Knew that would happen, except there is no attraction or romance between them. He has anger problems 24/7. That is so tiring!! He doesn't value her and only wants her out of investigations. When do they ever have a conversation? When do they ever date? Or do something for fun? Do they have any mutual interests? Being jealous of her male acquaintances is not love. He's a companion to her father, not her. Ick, she's going from one tragic relationship to another
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2017
This mystery occurs in Pasadena, California right after World War I; a time when it was legal for a man to beat his wife as long as he didn't actually kill her. Daisy Gumm and her friend Flossie find this unacceptable and collude with Daisy's friend Harold to hide Lily Bannister, a rich woman who has been beaten nearly to death by her husband. They are sure that if Leo Bannister finds Lily, this time he will kill her. Despite their excellent intensions they discover they may be hiding a killer after Leo is found shot to death and Lilly is a suspect. The topic is indeed dire, especially since Leo is suspected of heinous crimes involving child sexual trafficking, but Daisy's personality,her wonderful family, and her loyal police detective fiance, Sam, serve as a welcome counterbalance to all of this evil. Warning - reading about her Aunt Vi's wonderful cooking may result in weight gain!
July 9, 2017
2.5 stars Another Daisy Gumm Majesty mystery. In this one Daisy, Flossie & Harold are hiding an abused wife from everyone so she wont be forced back to her abusive husband. And she can’t tell Sam cause by doing so she is breaking the law. Then his body is discovered. Did his wife do it? Was it someone else. Daisy needs to find out quick so she & her friends don’t become accessories to murder by hiding a killer. It was fine but nothing special and I still don’t get Daisy & Sam’s relationship. They are slightly less acrimonious than usual but still don’t seem to actually get much pleasure out of each other’s company (honestly Sam seems to like her family more, maybe that is why he is marrying her to be part of the family). Nor do they ever really talk to each other about anything important. And Daisy cries too much. She bursts into tears every other scene. That is in between describing in copious detail what she is wearing or thinking about wearing or what she is eating or thinking about eating. I mean if you took out all the overly detailed descriptions about minutia of her day, bouts of tears and details about what she is wearing or eating then these stories would actually be novellas rather than full length story.
September 6, 2016
Light humor, easy reading, light entertainment, and more story, food, and descriptions of what Daisy Gumm Majesty wears than mystery.
Characters Harold and Daisy well developed. Duncan's characters were believable and it was an interesting plot that kept me reading.
Characters Harold and Daisy well developed. Duncan's characters were believable and it was an interesting plot that kept me reading.
November 26, 2020
Battered wife and batty daughters..
.. create a sorry mess for Daisy.
Flossie appears on Daisy's doorstep with a horrifically battered woman at her side, poor Mrs Lily Bannister can't speak, is barely conscious and has nowhere to go as her husband beat her and neither her family nor church will step in to save her. The laws, set by men, mean that she's got no recourse to the law either being her husband's chattel to do with what he may the only exception being murder.
Desperate to hide her Daisy ropes in Harold and stashes Mrs Bannister with a nurse at his home.. but more revelations are to come and it appears that Mr Bannister was involved in some evil attacks on abducted children.
Meanwhile Mrs Pinkerton's in another tizzy about Stacey who's eloped with the fortune hunting Percival Petrie and the money from the children's fund at the Sally Army.
As Sam is handed another murder case Daisy's shocked to find that the victim is Leo Bannister poor Lily's violent husband. If Daisy could just find out what time Leo died she'd know if Lily was innocent or guilty but Sam suspects that Daisy is keeping secrets and won't reveal the information.
With Lily unable to speak and in a desperate state of health, Mrs Pinkerton in a state of high anxiety over the missing Stacey, Harold's worries about being caught harbouring a fugitive and Flossie feeling guilty about hiding Lily and keeping secrets from her own husband Daisy's going to have to solve it herself.. but can she do it without anyone else getting hurt?
.. create a sorry mess for Daisy.
Flossie appears on Daisy's doorstep with a horrifically battered woman at her side, poor Mrs Lily Bannister can't speak, is barely conscious and has nowhere to go as her husband beat her and neither her family nor church will step in to save her. The laws, set by men, mean that she's got no recourse to the law either being her husband's chattel to do with what he may the only exception being murder.
Desperate to hide her Daisy ropes in Harold and stashes Mrs Bannister with a nurse at his home.. but more revelations are to come and it appears that Mr Bannister was involved in some evil attacks on abducted children.
Meanwhile Mrs Pinkerton's in another tizzy about Stacey who's eloped with the fortune hunting Percival Petrie and the money from the children's fund at the Sally Army.
As Sam is handed another murder case Daisy's shocked to find that the victim is Leo Bannister poor Lily's violent husband. If Daisy could just find out what time Leo died she'd know if Lily was innocent or guilty but Sam suspects that Daisy is keeping secrets and won't reveal the information.
With Lily unable to speak and in a desperate state of health, Mrs Pinkerton in a state of high anxiety over the missing Stacey, Harold's worries about being caught harbouring a fugitive and Flossie feeling guilty about hiding Lily and keeping secrets from her own husband Daisy's going to have to solve it herself.. but can she do it without anyone else getting hurt?
July 3, 2018
Delightfully recreating Los Angeles in the 20s, Alice Duncan’s Bruised Spirits takes protagonist Daisy Gumm Majesty on another wild adventure as she helps to shelter a battered wife, tries to solve a murder, and struggles to placate a rich woman whose daughter has run off with a most unsuitable friend. Daisy’s awe at the wonders of rich people’s homes, together with her delight in her own living situation with family and dog, and her reluctance to take off the wedding ring of her deceased husband all make her a thoroughly believable and relatable character. But she’s also a phony spiritualist endowed with a large dose of common sense, and an ally of friends from previous stories who work with the Salvation Army. She’s a woman of lowkey, often conflicted beliefs; she’d like to trust that all things will work out in the end; and she’d like to trust the law—especially the good man whose ring she hides under her shirt. But she also trusts her own instincts, sometimes just a little too much, with complex consequences.
Great dialog, wonderful narration, fascinating details and good humor make this a smooth, fun read. Add a plot that smoothly combines serious issues with intriguing mystery, and Daisy Gumm Majesty rides again. A really fun book!
Disclosure: I won a copy! I’m so lucky!
Great dialog, wonderful narration, fascinating details and good humor make this a smooth, fun read. Add a plot that smoothly combines serious issues with intriguing mystery, and Daisy Gumm Majesty rides again. A really fun book!
Disclosure: I won a copy! I’m so lucky!
July 8, 2017
a woman battered by her husband is brought to daisys house. she cant harbor her there but finds someone else who will. the wife is catholic and is considered her husbands property so she is stuck.
the drs sister is taking care of the lady who is so beaten she cant even talk. daisy is telling lies to her boyfriend. she has told a few other people about her engagement but not her family. she is eating well and trying to figure out who killed the battered womans husband. she is hoping its not the wife even tho he deserved it.
daisy had to testify in court about the evil man that tried to kill her in church after she had the flu from the last book. he got sent to the elect chair!
she took flossie to the house where the battered woman lived to get her bible and rosary and found stacy and her evil boyfriend holding children in the basement there. sam had followed her, he knew she was lying about something and a fight ensued. the evil man fell down the stairs and died, sam got shot in the leg. the ambulance came and took him to the hospital where daisy announced her engagement so she could go see him. he recovered tho limping, at her house. stacy was arrested. they all went to dinner to be thanked and the battered woman was able to go to the hospital without anyone getting in trouble for harboring her
the drs sister is taking care of the lady who is so beaten she cant even talk. daisy is telling lies to her boyfriend. she has told a few other people about her engagement but not her family. she is eating well and trying to figure out who killed the battered womans husband. she is hoping its not the wife even tho he deserved it.
daisy had to testify in court about the evil man that tried to kill her in church after she had the flu from the last book. he got sent to the elect chair!
she took flossie to the house where the battered woman lived to get her bible and rosary and found stacy and her evil boyfriend holding children in the basement there. sam had followed her, he knew she was lying about something and a fight ensued. the evil man fell down the stairs and died, sam got shot in the leg. the ambulance came and took him to the hospital where daisy announced her engagement so she could go see him. he recovered tho limping, at her house. stacy was arrested. they all went to dinner to be thanked and the battered woman was able to go to the hospital without anyone getting in trouble for harboring her
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2021
Bruised Spirits (A Daisy Gumm Majesty Mystery, Book 10) (31 chapters) — Alice Duncan July 21-27, 2021
Book ten in the series, starts off almost immediately and what a good story it is. I’m very appreciative of an author that tells stories of acceptance (Daisy’s best bud is gay,) and criticizing the laws that applied during the 1920’s concerning male and females. (Obviously women were treated like property of husbands and abuse of that was widespread.)
So, here we have Flossie bringing Daisy a woman so battered that she can barely stand and then helping to conceal her so that her husband can’t find her. Then, what happens when her husband is found shot to death and the evidence points to said battered woman?
Daisy has to walk a tightrope between Sam questioning her about the missing woman; and figuring out who actually killed him.
Meanwhile, Stacy has eloped with a very bad punk, which ultimately jeopardizes not only Daisy, but Flossie and Sam as well.
A very good read. Still some extras that could have been edited out, and editing that needs done here and there.
Still, worthy of….
Four stars.
Book ten in the series, starts off almost immediately and what a good story it is. I’m very appreciative of an author that tells stories of acceptance (Daisy’s best bud is gay,) and criticizing the laws that applied during the 1920’s concerning male and females. (Obviously women were treated like property of husbands and abuse of that was widespread.)
So, here we have Flossie bringing Daisy a woman so battered that she can barely stand and then helping to conceal her so that her husband can’t find her. Then, what happens when her husband is found shot to death and the evidence points to said battered woman?
Daisy has to walk a tightrope between Sam questioning her about the missing woman; and figuring out who actually killed him.
Meanwhile, Stacy has eloped with a very bad punk, which ultimately jeopardizes not only Daisy, but Flossie and Sam as well.
A very good read. Still some extras that could have been edited out, and editing that needs done here and there.
Still, worthy of….
Four stars.
May 4, 2017
Ah, Daisy. How I love your high spirits. You always come out on top. This is not to say you don't have your challenges, but your attitude is always positive. I love the details of your wardrobe, glimpses of Pasadena in the 20s, and your love relationship with Det. Sam Rotondo. In spite of yourself you seem to become entangled in mysteries. This time, it's the problem of a woman brought to you when she is badly beaten by her husband. When can you do but call on your friend, the wealthy Harold, to harbor this woman. Her family won't help her and neither will her church. The law is not going to interfere between a man and his wife. That means Daisy is her only hope. Then her husband is discovered murdered. Daisy has her hands full trying to keep her family and her beloved Sam Rotondo from finding out.
I'm sorry to have run out of the Daisy Gumm mysteries. This is the final book until Alice Duncan finishes the next one, which I will buy as soon as it becomes available. Write faster, Alice!
I'm sorry to have run out of the Daisy Gumm mysteries. This is the final book until Alice Duncan finishes the next one, which I will buy as soon as it becomes available. Write faster, Alice!
June 21, 2021
Another wonderful trip into Daisy's world. I wonder if you remember your parents saying "Things like this never happened in my day. What is this world coming to" or words to that effect. This time, in helping protect a woman who was found on the street by Flossie and Johnny Daisy finds out just how depraved some of her fellow citizens of her fair city were. I feel that a possible trigger warning needs to be given due to points that, while necessary and pertinent, could be too much for some. These bits could be skipped by readers who might have a problem but they do add to the overall story and it's definately worth reading as there are some very special bits in this story that tie it into the series as a whole.
I received a free copy of this ebook from ebook discovery. This is my honest and freely given review.
I received a free copy of this ebook from ebook discovery. This is my honest and freely given review.
October 8, 2021
Duncan did her usual fine expose of the foibles and vagaries of the rich and troubled matrons of Pasadena, California. Daisy Gumm Majesty, the main character, a spiritualist-medium, has been engaged by one of her clients to find her errant daughter.
Along the way, Daisy and her friend Flossie end up hiding a young woman who had been beaten almost to death by her husband. She was in a coma and couldn't speak. Fearing for her life, the young woman refused to go to the hospital or notify the authorities. Daisy, Flossie, her friend Harold and a local doctor tend to the young woman and aid in the apprehension of the husband, several of his heinous cronies and the errant daughter of her client.
A wonderful way to spend a few hours and be entertained by the lovely Daisy,her family and friends, her fiance, Sgt Sam Rotundo, one of Pasadena's finest and Spike her wonderful dachshund.
Along the way, Daisy and her friend Flossie end up hiding a young woman who had been beaten almost to death by her husband. She was in a coma and couldn't speak. Fearing for her life, the young woman refused to go to the hospital or notify the authorities. Daisy, Flossie, her friend Harold and a local doctor tend to the young woman and aid in the apprehension of the husband, several of his heinous cronies and the errant daughter of her client.
A wonderful way to spend a few hours and be entertained by the lovely Daisy,her family and friends, her fiance, Sgt Sam Rotundo, one of Pasadena's finest and Spike her wonderful dachshund.
June 7, 2021
Another great Daisy Gumm Majesty mystery solved! I find it very funny that Daisy tries to mind her business, but is inevitably roped into something. I’m glad that she finally and publicly acknowledged her relationship with Sam and was finally able to wear her engagement ring. while I loved her and Billy, I do love her chemistry with Sam.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
August 15, 2017
This was an excellent read. Daisy as usual has gotten herself mixed up in a tangle that includes murder. I love the interaction of the characters in the series and the way the author has them develop their personalities and relationships over the course of the books. I also love the setting and era of the books.
August 14, 2019
Sorry but the topic really put me off
Okay it was a good plot and everything but battered wives and abused children really put me off. Plus the fact that even today this still gets brushed under the carpet by the people that should but don't help. Yes good triumphed in the end but frankly I prefer other plots to this one.
Okay it was a good plot and everything but battered wives and abused children really put me off. Plus the fact that even today this still gets brushed under the carpet by the people that should but don't help. Yes good triumphed in the end but frankly I prefer other plots to this one.
April 30, 2020
Really liked the ending
I really like your books, or I would not continue reading them, but please less about the clothes and the food. I love both clothes and food, but there is just so much of it in here, and can we please give Sam a larger vocabulary.Love love love the scene at the house with the chair. Trying not to leave any spoilers here.
I really like your books, or I would not continue reading them, but please less about the clothes and the food. I love both clothes and food, but there is just so much of it in here, and can we please give Sam a larger vocabulary.Love love love the scene at the house with the chair. Trying not to leave any spoilers here.
September 21, 2020
I'm not sure why I enjoy this series so much. A lot of it is repetitious: Aunt Vi is a great cook, Daisy can't cook a lick, Ma has no imagination and is shy explore new dishes. Daisy is a great seamstress and has worlds of clothes (very stylish and she made them herself.) But my Daisy does have some stunning adventures. And she has a heart of gold. Great fun!!!
December 22, 2020
Normally the books in this series are a bit light hearted for all they deal with murder and mayhem because Daisy Majesty is such a perky, flighty character. This book, however, deals with pretty deviant and violent behavior so the perkiness didn’t do as good a job of lightening things. Still, it’s a good mystery with interesting characters.
March 26, 2022
A Very Exciting Adventure
Book eleven is a great adventure and kept me guessing throughout the entire story. Some of the storyline was a little disturbing, but some of life is a little disturbing. There were a lot of surprises in this story that keep coming up making the book hard to put down. I love this series.
Book eleven is a great adventure and kept me guessing throughout the entire story. Some of the storyline was a little disturbing, but some of life is a little disturbing. There were a lot of surprises in this story that keep coming up making the book hard to put down. I love this series.
July 31, 2018
Enjoyed the book
Daisy Majesty gets up to more mischief in this latest instalment from Alice Duncan set in the roaring 20s, join her as she drags her friends Harold and Flossie along for the ride .
Daisy Majesty gets up to more mischief in this latest instalment from Alice Duncan set in the roaring 20s, join her as she drags her friends Harold and Flossie along for the ride .
January 7, 2020
First time I’ve read this series and didn’t like it too well...I could hardly believe Daisey’s job is a spirialist which she readily admits she’s a fake....I’m not particularly fond of women being battered by husbands and children used for horrible things....don’t know if I’ll read another one ???
December 20, 2020
Love this series and characters.
November 8, 2025
Very dark subject matter for a cozy mystery. Maybe these aren’t considered cozies?
October 13, 2016
Great book series
Her books have a great plot they are interesting and love the accuracy of the time period I learn a lot it's fun
Her books have a great plot they are interesting and love the accuracy of the time period I learn a lot it's fun
May 16, 2017
When a friend seeks Daisy's help hiding a woman bruised and battered by her husband, Daisy convinces her friend Harold to lend his assistance. Harold calls upon a doctor friend and his sister, a nurse, to tend to the woman's wounds. If the injured lady is treated at a hospital, they run the risk of her being returned to the very man who beat her. The current law cannot meddle in issues between a husband and wife, and the entire group risk criminal charges if caught sheltering the woman.
Tension mounts when the woman's husband is later found murdered. Daisy, a fake spirtualist-medium, tries her best to find the woman innocent of any crime and soon discovers a connection to one of her client's relatives. It is hard to do without alerting her detective fiance learn of her involvement.
I loved this story! Although Bruised Spirits is book ten in the series, it is my first DGM mystery. The plot was very interesting and the story engaging. The characters were very likable and of varied temperaments. I especially enjoyed the fashion and culinary descriptions that depicted life in the 1920's, and Daisy's struggle to finally announce her engagement.
Highly recommend.
Tension mounts when the woman's husband is later found murdered. Daisy, a fake spirtualist-medium, tries her best to find the woman innocent of any crime and soon discovers a connection to one of her client's relatives. It is hard to do without alerting her detective fiance learn of her involvement.
I loved this story! Although Bruised Spirits is book ten in the series, it is my first DGM mystery. The plot was very interesting and the story engaging. The characters were very likable and of varied temperaments. I especially enjoyed the fashion and culinary descriptions that depicted life in the 1920's, and Daisy's struggle to finally announce her engagement.
Highly recommend.
June 26, 2021
Wonderful read!
Poor Daisy is in quite the quandary when Flossie shows up at her door with a severely injured woman trying to find safe haven from her abusive husband. Daisy enlists Harold Kincaid along with a few others to keep her safe and help her recover. When the woman’s abusive husband is murdered the saviors are in quite a pickle. They don’t know if she did him in in self defense, they don’t know who if anyone they can turn to for help. When Sam is assigned the case Daisy is in between a rock and a hard place trying to help and yet not lie to Sam.
Meanwhile Mrs. Pinkerton is in a tizzy as Stacy has run off and married an unfit man. Another exciting adventure in the life of Daisy Gumm Majesty spiritualist medium.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
Poor Daisy is in quite the quandary when Flossie shows up at her door with a severely injured woman trying to find safe haven from her abusive husband. Daisy enlists Harold Kincaid along with a few others to keep her safe and help her recover. When the woman’s abusive husband is murdered the saviors are in quite a pickle. They don’t know if she did him in in self defense, they don’t know who if anyone they can turn to for help. When Sam is assigned the case Daisy is in between a rock and a hard place trying to help and yet not lie to Sam.
Meanwhile Mrs. Pinkerton is in a tizzy as Stacy has run off and married an unfit man. Another exciting adventure in the life of Daisy Gumm Majesty spiritualist medium.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
October 7, 2021
I have found 3 book series since joining Goodreads that have totally captured me. The October Daye fantasy series; the Violet Parker/Deadwood paranormal series; and this one, the Daisy Majesty mysteries. Interestingly, all 3 are narrated in the first person, but with Daisy I always feel I'm sitting in her living room after one of Aunt Vi's fabulous dinners while Daisy tells me about her adventures. It's a good feeling. Not all of her tales involve murder, nor do all of them place her in danger. They all involve life in Pasadena in the 1920's. They all have quick little asides about Daisy's opinions on fashion, automobiles, and the people she knows and loves. They all still connect to the issues you see in the news every day. If you give her a chance, Daisy will make you part of her family; it is a good feeling. Highly recommended.
October 6, 2016
This book, like most of the series is a light-hearted mystery in a realistic and not always light setting.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews