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, … 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
more
What a delightful book! I enjoyed the humor, the mystery, and most of all the characters. Mercy is just so lovable and amazingly independent for the 1920’s. Her nemesis, and boss, Ernie, is so opposed to everything Mercy does, but it is becoming obvious that it comes from his concern for Mercy. I am so looking forward to the next book.
Darlene Allen does a phenomenal job with the narration! The characters come alive and her use of different voices is one of the best I’ve ever heard.
I requested this audio book from Audiobooks Unleashed and have voluntarily left this review.
I’ve read the whole series! Lots of fun. Well created Pasadena following WW I.
Set in 1925 it is historical fiction. The main character is of money but wants to be part of the proletariat. She gets a job with a PI and the education of working in the real world begins. It’s a fun read although the author repeats the characters thoughts a bit too often
Very interesting time in California.
Good characters development and not too many characters.
Lost Among the Angels is the first in Alice Duncan’s Mercy Allcutt cozy mystery series. I picked it up because it’s set in Los Angeles in 1926, a setting and time period that I always find entertaining. Mercy, the naive but enthusiastic narrator, has moved from her sheltered (and wealthy) life in Boston to live with her sister (married to a movie executive), experience Real Life, get a job, and someday write a novel. She manages to land a position as secretary (her big adventures back in Boston involved taking typing and shorthand classes, a secret from her family) to a private investigator named Ernie Templeton.
Secretary, heck, Mercy wants to be an apprentice P.I., and she throws herself into helping her boss with his cases. And help she does, although sometimes it’s more by accident than intent.
Lost Among the Angels gets off to a bit of a slow start, with Mercy trying to figure out Los Angeles, perhaps a bit too silly and naive, but she grew on me, the cases piled up, and Ernie turned out to be a peach of an employer (and perhaps something more in the following volumes?), alternately amused and aggravated by Mercy’s impulsive behavior, and Mercy’s East Coast elite upbringing actually stands her in good stead from time to time. A fun book, and I’ve downloaded the next one, Angels Flight.
Never a fan of the “old fashioned” detective stories, I found this to be a spoof of the old Mickey Spillane books. . .without the really developed hunt for the criminal. The emphasis here is on the inexperienced, wealthy, young woman who wants to work for a living. The setting is about 75 or more years ago when women were supposed to stay at home, keep the house and rear the children. Our little lady wants to work. So she leaves her home and goes to Los Angeles where she seeks a job as a secretary. Stumbling into the office of a Private Investigator who hires her withut realizing what he is doing. Her subsequent actions as she claims to be his assistant leave him in wonder and in danger as well as his clients no longer sure of what is happening. I did not like this girl. As a young woman who had to go out and get into the world of work and make a success of it, I found her to be scatter-brained and out-of-touch with reality. But, here again, this is a spoof and not to be taken seriously. So, the theme of all’s well that ends well is played out.
It was interesting reading about the life style differences and vocabulary between the East coast and the West coast. Good period mystery.
Enjoyable quirky story. Look forward to more in series.
I am a huge fan of the Daisy Gumm mysteries so I was very excited to read this new series by Alice Duncan. While both are historical mysteries set in California in the generally same time period they found not be more different. And that is excellent. Mercy is a transplant to LA from an old monied family in Boston. Longing for a bit of freedom and independence she moves to LA to live with her sister who is married to a movie mogul. She longs to write novels but doesn’t have the life experience she can draw on coming from such a sheltered background. She gets a job as a secretary to a PI and shenanigans ensue. She struggles to overcome her oh so proper upbringing and soft hearted nature to better fit in to the more relaxed atmosphere of LA. Ernie Templeton the ex-cop now PI who gives her a job struggles to overcome her naivety and eagerness to be more than just a secretary. Yet working together they are able to solve not only the case he is hired for but so much more. A great beginning to a new series. If you’re a fan of Daisy Gumm you will love Mercy Allcutt!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
Entertaining and fun read set in the roaring 1920’s! Murder, mystery, intrigue…this book has it all including lots of chuckles and twists! Looking forward to the next in the series!