Dancing Angels (A Mercy Allcutt Mystery, Book 10): Historical Cozy Mystery | An Intricate World of Dance, Deception, and Danger.

Mercy Allcutt Mystery #10

by Alice Duncan

Intrigue and Danger Dance Hand in Hand in Dancing Angels, a Historical Cozy Mystery from Alice Duncan

Los Angeles, California, 1927

The Murray Dance Studio becomes a hotspot for murder when one of its talented dancers, Lucille Murray, is found dead. The once vibrant and glamorous studio now lies under a cloud of suspicion and fear.

Private Investigator Ernie Templeton is quickly drawn into the case when Mercy Allcutt, his spirited and determined assistant, insists on uncovering the truth. Despite Ernie's objections, Mercy enlists the help of her friends Lulu and Sue, and together, the trio delves into an intricate world of dance, deception, and danger.

As Mercy, Ernie, Lulu, and Sue navigate a tangle of lies and secrets, they uncover rivalries, hidden agendas, and dangerous passions that threaten to consume them all. With each pirouette and paso doble, the stakes get higher, and the murderer is determined to keep the secrets buried at any cost.

Publisher Readers who enjoy cozy mysteries set in historical periods will find the Mercy Allcutt series, set in 1920s Los Angeles, California, to be a delightful escape. Expect a clean and wholesome read with no vulgarity or explicit content.

The Mercy Allcutt Mystery Series
Lost Among the Angels
Angels Flight
Fallen Angels
Angels of Mercy
Thanksgiving Angels
Angels Adrift
Christmas Angels
Hollywood Angels
Celluloid Angels
Dancing Angels

Genres: Historical Mystery, Mystery

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Also writes as Emma Craig, Rachel Wilson, Anne Robins and wrote two books under the name of Jon Sharpe (Pecos Belle Brigade and California Crusader).

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started with some tap classes

What a lovely story! I’m not sure if this is the last Mercy book, for the record I hope it’s not I really enjoy the series! If it is I don’t know that I could’ve wanted a better ending. A wild and wacky case filled with shenanigans from Mercy and Lulu, Ernie and some returning clients. Wonderful personal developments and a doozy of a performance from all involved! They caught the bad guys, the good guys won and there were a couple of hea. All the warm and fuzzies. Possibly the best line (I paraphrase to avoid spoilers) Mercy did her own thing, her mother was outraged, her father disapproved and she was not surprised. I think that sums things up quite nicely. Sad as I would be that this is the end I would still say read the books not just this one all of them. It’s a fun series, lighthearted while still showcasing some serious and still very relevant issues. Mercy and Ernie are a wonderful pair and they have some fabulous adventures including this one!

[Hari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely 5 stars! If that’s the last of the series it was a perfect way to end. If it’s the start of another chapter I’ll be delighted too. Please write more!

[Lonny Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always happy to drop in on Mercy Allcut. Mercy and her friends Sue and Lulu decide to take tap dancing lessons, while her boss Ernie Templeton and LAPD detective Phil Bigelow investigate the murder of another officer. Of course eventually it all becomes tangled together. Ms Duncan has the ability to combine serious mystery with humor that make her books a real treat for me. Unfortunately, the epilog tacked on to the end of the last chapter makes it seem this may be Mercy's last hurrah. If so I will miss her.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful cozy mystery!

Alice Duncan has a gift for creating likable characters and intriguing plots. Her 10-book Mercy Allcutt series is charming , witty and lots of fun. Mercy’s adventures as a secretary for a Los Angeles private detective are fun, clean reads, with lots of details about life in Los Angeles in the 1920’s. It’s refreshing to read something so carefully researched. I highly recommend this series!

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A satisfying ending to Mercy & Ernie’s story but I do feel their HEA was wrapped up a little quickly at the end after them coming together being drawn out over 9 or 10 books. Surely we should have got one more book out of it, revolving around planning a wedding and ending with a court house elopement to avoid Mother.

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another fun mystery in this series but, apparently, the last?! As always, good mystery, although in this one the culprits were fairly obvious. I felt that the murders were treated rather shallow-ly, especially considering one was a young and innocent woman. Also, if is the last in the series, the characters' lives were wrapped up rather abruptly with minimal explanation.

[Terri Borkgren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed each one of this series. Mercy and her friend Lulu grow into independent women in a time of history when women were looked down on and together these two friends both find happiness. A great end to this series by Alice Duncan.

[Martha L. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

I enjoy all of Alice Duncan's books, always factual and entertaining. The reader can really feel what life in that era was like.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t finish the book. I love the setting of the book - 1920’s Los Angeles is fascinating but Mercy is a petulant, annoying, grammar fanatic. I can’t get past her ridiculous behavior.