The Daisy Gumm Majesty Boxset

Daisy Gumm Majesty Mystery #1-3

by Alice Duncan

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." Booklist
It's the 1920s and Daisy Gum Majesty is doing her part to support her family as a medium by holding seances and interpreting tarot cards for the rich and famous.
STRONG 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 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 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.

Romantic Times Top Pick
Reviewer's Choice Awards, finalist
THE DAISY GUMM MAJESTY MYSTERIES, in series order
Strong Spirits
Fine Spirits
High Spirits
Hungry Spirits
Genteel Spirits
Ancient Spirits
Dark Spirits
Spirits Onstage
Unsettled Spirits
"

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Romance

800 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 11, 2015

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

[Bonnye Reed]

EBookDiscovery

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, I got this 3 book series as a dollar deal on Amazon. It's a cozy mystery series set in early 1920s Pasadena California. The mysteries are very tame & easily solved. There are 13 books in this series & it moves very slowly.

Daisy is a fake spiritualist in Pasadena & she has rich clients. Although she thinks she's a fake, her spirit guide Rolly seems to be more real than Daisy thinks. A lot of Daisy's "act" involves common sense & good people skills.
She lives with her parents, aunt & WW1 vet husband in a snug bungalow. They are a working class family, but Daisy brings in the big bucks with her tarot card readings, séances, ect. Billy, Daisy's husband, has been shot up & mustard gassed & is a wreck of his former self. He's angry that Daisy has to work at a job he feels is inappropriate for his wife. He can't work & he can't have a physical relationship with Daisy due to his injuries. He takes too much morphine to kill his pain (physical & probably emotional). Although he's still alive in the 3rd book, it's plain that he's not long for this world.
Sam, is a detective on the Pasadena police force that Daisy meets in the first book. He becomes best friends with Billy & is at the house frequently to play cards & bond with Billy & Daisy's dad.
Sam also disapproves of Daisy's profession. He also seems to dislike her, but I'm thinking it's an act. He's really attracted to her & trying to hide it. Looking ahead, Sam & Daisy do become engaged, but by the 13th book, it hasn't gone any further.

So, I liked the 3 books I read, but I probably won't go on with the series at this point. The history of the time period is interesting, Daisy is likeable. There's a lot of repetition though by the 3rd book. 13 books is a big investment of my time & money & I'm not up for it right now. Maybe I'll change my mind later.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cozy historical mystery..

Daisy "Desdemona" Majesty née Gumm is making a living as a medium amongst the rich and rather gullible matron's of Pasadena, California.

She lives with husband Billy, an invalid of Great War who was gassed and shot a few months after signing up, her parents and her Aunt Vi who works as a cook for Daisy's richest and most needy client Mrs Kincaid. Daisy is the main bread winner in the family and while she faces a lot of criticism from Billy, who is struggling to come to terms with life in a wheelchair, over her séances, tarot readings and the constant demands of her clients, she admits she's a fraud but that she only tries to comfort the bereaved and cannot find anything else that would bring in enough money to support the family. Her clients adore her and she does do her best to keep within her own moral code.

Daisy, in the first story, helps Mrs Kincaid when her husband goes missing along with bearer bonds from the bank he's the titular head of. Mr Kincaid married his wife for her money rather than love. When Daisy meets her son, Harold, and his boyfriend Del, she makes a great friend who is keen to ensure that the wrong person doesn't get put away.. even if it may mean that his mother and father have to face difficult times ahead. Daisy has less fun with Stacey, Harold's sister, who seems to spend her life getting into as much trouble as possible, drinking, smoking and wearing the most immodest outfits much to her mother's distress.

Book 2 covers another ditzy client Mrs Bissel, a daschund breeder who, along with her staff, believes that her basement is suddenly haunted by a malicious spirit or ghost. Even though Daisy "doesn't do exorcisms" Mrs Bissel begs for her help and Daisy with an eye on one of her patrons gorgeous puppies finds herself going along with it. Meanwhile Sam Rotondo the police detective she assisted in the last case is searching for a missing young woman (another mysterious disappearance) Marianne Wagner, the daughter of Dr and Mrs Wagner. The latter has attended séances before and Daisy finds herself in the middle of another case and under Sam's feet.

In the last book in the trio, Daisy finds herself up to her neck in trouble after she's pursuaded against her better judgement to hold a séance in a speakeasy for a friend of Mrs Kincaid's daughter Stacey. When a raid occurs mid séance, they fail to catch the hoodlums who run it. Sam Rotondo blackmails Daisy into tracking down the mole so she doesn't have to face court. Can she also save Stacey Kincaid and another young girl Flossie from the perils of life as a gangsters moll?

[Fredell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Daisy Gumm and her "spiritualist" practice. She is not a medium or fortune teller, but she manages to make a decent living reading tarot cards, guiding the Ouija board and counseling the paranoid elite of eee Pasadena, CA. Along the way she encounters mysteries, murder and mayhem. She uses her quick wit and powers of deduction to help solve these crimes.

In this box set of books #1 - 3, we meet our recurring cast of characters. Daisy and her invalid husband, Billy, a WWI vet, live with Daisy's Ma, Pa and Aunt Vi. Billy's best friend, Sgt Sam Rotundo, and Daisy's pal, Harold--a gay costume designer for the "pictures" also play a large part in these 3 wonderful stories. Daisy's dachshund, Spike, is a charming addition to the family and companion for Billy, who suffers mightily with his war injuries and excruciating pain.
I heartily recommend the series to anyone wanting a peek into the lives and loves of post WW I families.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great first person narration, great characters, and a great sense for time and place make these books thoroughly enjoyable light reading, perfect for vacations, relaxation, or long flights. The mysteries are moderately tangled, but the real joy for the reader is the people and the way they build and rebuild their lives in post-WWI Pasadena. Daisy’s honest regrets at her husband’s war injuries, her spirited determination to care for him and her family, and her wry humor at the job she has somehow acquired of “talking with spirits” while still singing in the church choir are all a delight, and I’m eagerly looking forward to reading more.

Disclosure: I’ve already bought the next set. I just need to find time to read them too – when’s my next trip?

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did read all three of these books, and I liked the plots quite a lot. However, I found Daisy Gumm Majesty to be tedious in her repetition of the same things constantly. The character even apologizes sometimes for repeating herself but that is not a good reason to continue along those lines. The cast of characters is charming and the stories, once they are allowed to progress, are interesting and unusual. But Daisy MUST stop telling the poor reader her every thought. Sigh.

Also, there are numerous typos in this Kindle volume, which is also part of my rating.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Enjoyable

I truly enjoyed this series of books about Daisy. I became enamored with her personality and life as time and events moved forward. The author did a great job of giving facts about the early 1900's of which I was unaware and weaving them into the plot. For example, the reason Daisy's job as a spiritualist was so popular was that worldwide influenza and WWI had taken so many lives. Daisy has a combination of reluctance and bravery, self-doubt and confidence, and emotion and logic. Any reader will be able to identify with her.

[Celest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy Gumm Majesty is a great set of stories

I really enjoyed reading this set of books . Daisy is a great character, but not as well adjusted to her husband's disability as I first thought. She has a lot of patience and love for her family and always seems to find some underdog to help. I love that about her, and I love trying to figure out how she is going to pull it off. Not as a Spiritualist though, as you might think. Great set and now I can start the next set. Don't miss Daisy's adventures.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy Gumm Majesty is an interesting character. I found the books to be very repetitive with many details of the family and her relationship with her husband as constant themes that could have been reduced considerably. The 3 books could have been one good book with 3 specific sections containing the 3 separate "adventures". Also, there was far too much use of the words scowl and sneer. Those words were not necessary to convey the feelings of the characters on a constant basis. Where was the editor when these books were published?

[Jennifer Lockett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very gentle set of books

Step back in time to the roaring 20s and the life of Daisy Majesty, a self proclaimed spiritualist who helps her wealthy clients when they need her and tries to stay out of trouble but not very successfully, join Daisy, her husband Billy and family as they meet new people and look forward to the future,

[Margaret Rosen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for beach or airplane reading, or if you're home sick with a cold. I love the time period and Pasadena setting and the characters are interesting, but I'd expect a teeny bit more plot and better writing even from a cozy.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great value! Three fantastic mysteries in one box set. I’ve been a fan of the series for a while but I started with later installments. Happy to be catching up with the beginning of Daisy’s story. Great reads!!

[Sondra Stark · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hoot!

Daisy grabs your heart at the beginning and never lets it go. The characters are delightful and the plots are so entertaining that you can't wait for the next episode.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Look Into Past

A story of young woman trying to take care of invalid WWI veteran husband and make her way in the early 1900's touching on spiritualism, prejudice, prohibition and principles.

[iainascot · Rating 1 out of 5]

Wotta lotta rubbish

Probably best as a serialisation in a women's
Periodical. But mysteries these are not.
The grammar 's good however o.k. if you like this sort of thing.

[Linda Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable

Not all of the mysteries are murders which makes for a nice change. Daisy is likeable and offsets, perfectly fitting the tone of the stories.

[Mary Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Way to repetitive on Billy's condition, the Model T, and the Kincaids. Stories a bit weak.

[Bonnie Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Very Happy Discovery


Loved these books that combined an interesting historical time, a lot of good laughs and a touch of family values.
Already ordered the next set.

[Lynne McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally liked the stories but reading three in succession got a bit repetitive. I would like to continue the series but will space them out more.

[Tatiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, Daisy left me a bit annoyed. However, as the series went on, she grew on me quite well. I've already obtained the second box set.

[Marya · Rating 4 out of 5]

But I agree there's too much repetition

[Sara Thompson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely would not call them mysteries, but they were very interesting and I enjoyed the characters immensely.

[Frances Gilbreath Wessel · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the quirkiness!

Daisy is a real character, silly yet serious. She handled real issues, struggled with them. Learned and endured. A fun read!

[Nancy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished the second book in this set. IT was truly good. Duncan is a good writer, very detailed. This series is a pleasant surprise the illustrator does it no service as to my mind it appeared to poke fun at Daisy. And the set up is a bit hokey--medium? But Daisy is a good person and tries to do the right thing. And the stories are detailed and interesting. I am enjoying them.

[moxieBK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Normally, I do a breakdown on box sets, reviewing each book out, but this book set, although is the first three books in the series, are a little bit different.

Yes, the books do progress along, but mostly, they each can be read as standalone. (So far, anyway.)

I'm going to briefly describe how the book generally progress.

This series is set in the early 1920's. Daisy is a spiritualist that gets herself entangled in cozy mysteries. So far, there has been no murder here. Only missing persons and money. In every single book, she has helped someone out (as a part of the sub-plot.)

I really enjoyed all three of these books. The downside is that Daisy (at least in book two,) spends quite a bit of time re-hashing her sad life. By book three, either I was use to this, or else the author toned this "woe-is-me," mantra down. I could have done without all that. I get it; don't need to plunk me over the head with it.

However, I really did enjoy these books because they are unique for taking a step back in time during an era that usually is depicted as crass, loud, and boozy. Ms. Duncan has done a commendable job highlighting normal folk. The books are written as though Daisy is reflecting back on this time. I wonder if we will ever get to step into her current time (or maybe that backstory was covered in book one, which I read and reviewed long ago.)

Still, I did purchase a few more books in this series while I was reading this one, so I do really enjoy this series. Probably more than I ought to.

It is kind of religious in some ways, but also very forward thinking. The third book was the most "religious" of the bunch, but I won't hold it against the author. I mean, belief in simpler times, and religion in general was pretty much common then.

However, I don't consider this serious "Christian" fiction. There are some topics in these books that I don't think fans of this genre would appreciate. (Though they would be good reads for that bunch.)

Taking a break from Daisy Gumm for now, but will pick her up again in the future.

Four stars.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very enjoyable little series of mysteries that focused on the time period around 1920 when women first got the right to vote and the few years afterwards. Daisy is the wife of a WWI soldier who returned from the war physically and emotionally damaged, and she must make the living for the family. She does that by "reading the cards," and providing séances for the wealthy believers of the day. The author did a great job of providing insight into what it was like to be living in that time period. I enjoyed "visiting" with these people and look forward to more visits by reading more of the Daisy Gumm mysteries.

[Maryanna Gabriel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful Characters

Wonderful stories set in post World War One, Pasadena, California. Interesting view of daily life and social issues during the 1920s. I read straight through the three book set and am planning to buy and read more right away. Great story line. Characters were easy to get to know and love. I loved it all.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful Cozy Mystery

"The Daisy Gumm Majesty Boxset" is a delightful cozy mystery with a charmingly funny heroine, set in post World War I Southern California.
As is rare in novels like these, the grammar police will not be busting the author, Mary Alice Duncan, any time soon!

[Erth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I tried my best to get "into" this story and read the first book half way through.. It seems it would have been a great plot and story but there was so much repetition i just could not finish it.

[Renee L. Courtois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Series

Refreshing style, light hearted but edge of your. Seat page Turner. Disney was a delight to read. Some laughs few tears heartfelt.