REVIEWS FOR ANCIENT SPIRITS

Five Star/Cengage

February 2012

ISBN 978-1-4328-2570-6

“Ever since her husband Billy’s death, spiritualist Daisy Gumm Majesty can’t seem to summon the energy to eat, let alone summon spirits. When Mrs. Pinkerton, her best and wealthiest client, needs her help, however, Daisy can’t refuse. Mrs. Pinkerton’s spoiled rotten daughter, Stacy Kincaid, has once again run afoul of the law, and this time Daisy’s advice to her client proves to be exactly the medicine Stacy needs. As a result, not only does a very grateful Mrs. Pinkerton provide Daisy with a lavish reward, but Mrs. Pinkerton’s son, Harold, insists on taking Daisy with him on a trip to Egypt. Daisy’s adventurous trip to the Middle East not only turns out to be just the tonic she needs, it also marks a turning point in her relationship with Pasadena police detective and family friend Sam Rotondo. Duncan excels at integrating an abundance of fascinating historical details into the latest Daisy Gumm Majesty novel, and Ancient Spirits’ humor and colorful characters make it an excellent suggestion for fans of K. K. Beck’s Iris Cooper mysteries and Carola Dunn’s Daisy Dalrymple books.” John Charles, Booklist

“Endearing spiritualist Daisy is off to Egypt in her sixth outing (after Genteel Spirits).”  Library Journal

“This truly enjoyable series is really a little-known ‘gift’ to the literary world, that truly deserves to be way better known in this reviewer’s opinion. Daisy Gumm Majesty is a sparkling wit, charming, intelligent, and truly devoted to her husband and her friends. Unfortunately, in this new novel, her husband Billy has passed away. He eventually just couldn’t take it anymore. Ever since WWI ended, his life was turned upside-down. He lived with pain, and felt abysmal that his own young wife had to bring in the money because he was unable to do so after getting home from the War. Daisy is so strong; she actually is a fake-psychic, but many believe her and pay her for her supposed ‘gifts.’ Her most lucrative client, Mrs. Pinkerton, is in need of Daisy’s help. But Daisy hasn’t done much of anything since Billy died. She finds herself in a deep depression - unable to eat - and unable to find her smile, now that her beloved is gone. This is, yet again, another wonderful mystery full of humor, love and some of the greatest characters to be given to literature in quite some time. Enjoy!” Amy Lignor, Once Upon a Romance Reviews

“A widow takes a trip to raise her spirits, only to walk into danger. Daisy Majesty is a good-hearted fake Pasadena spiritualist who lost her beloved husband Billy to suicide caused by the pain of his World War I wounds and gassing. Now she’s so depressed that she hardly eats and restricts her visits to her wealthy longtime customer Mrs. Pinkerton. Her whole family, along with Billy’s best friend, grumpy policeman Sam Rotondo, are very worried. But then her pal, Mrs. Pinkerton’s son Harold, offers to take her on a trip to Egypt. After her family prods her to accept, the pair, posing as brother and sister, start off on the long, difficult journey. When they arrive in Egypt, they realize that it’s too hot to do much sightseeing. So after a camel ride, a pyramid visit and a shopping expedition, they decide to leave for Turkey, much to the dismay of the Englishman who’s attached himself to them. Daisy dislikes him and is not sorry to leave, but unfortunately she arrives in Turkey just in time to suffer a bad case of dysentery. In the meantime, Sam, who knows her predilection for getting into trouble (Hungry Spirits, 2010, etc.), has been writing to her, warning her of criminal activity in the area. He arrives in Istanbul just in time to see his fears come true. A pleasant read that’s more romantic travelogue than mystery.” Kirkus

“In Duncan’s sixth 1920s mystery featuring Pasadena, Calif., spiritualist medium Daisy Gumm Majesty (after 2011’s Genteel Spirits), Daisy’s wealthy pal, Harold Kinkaid, invites her on a Middle Eastern tour. Billy’s best friend, policeman Sam Rotondo, who feels responsible for Daisy, follows the two friends to Egypt, to protect them from villains who prey on tourists. While Duncan delivers little more than a fluffy colonialist travelogue with some clumsy bad guys thrown in for excitement, she does have a gift for creating character. Through grief, illness, and worry, unsophisticated Daisy displays abundant wit while wryly commenting on social mores between classes and between cultures. Cozy fans will find her simple, sweet, budding relationship with Sam refreshingly free of artifice.” Publisher’s Weekly

"Duncan pens a mystery peppered with intriguing historical details.  It's well plotted with a band of whimsical characters and genuine humor and is as comforting as a warm mug of cocoa on a blustery day." Diane Morasco, RT Book Reviews

Alice Duncan

P.O. Box 4316

Roswell, NM 88202-4316

alice@aliceduncan.net