A Fraying of Schemes - Perfect for fans of clean, sweet fiction

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Blythe Baker’s A Fraying of Schemes is a delightful historical cozy mystery that’s both easy to read and sweet in tone, even while centering on a murder. This third installment of the Dickinson Sisters Mysteries finds Iris and Lily staying at a hotel while their home is under repair—a temporary inconvenience that quickly turns into something far more sinister when a guest is found dead.

 

 

About the Book: A Fraying of Schemes

The historical setting adds an extra layer of charm and atmosphere. Social expectations, reputation, and the rhythms of the time period all shape how the sisters approach their investigation, grounding the mystery in a believable past. I enjoyed the way Baker wove these details into the story without making it feel heavy-handed, the history enhances the plot rather than slowing it down.

BookHookup Review: A Fraying of Schemes 

One of the strongest parts of the book is the interaction between the characters. The bond between the Dickinson sisters is warm and engaging, and their exchanges with the other hotel guests provide both humor and tension. The mystery itself is well-paced, with enough clues dropped along the way to keep me guessing. I found myself actively piecing things together, trying to determine who killed Mr. Igram, and the eventual reveal was satisfying without feeling too predictable.

Overall, A Fraying of Schemes is an enjoyable and accessible read. With its mix of historical flavor, likable characters, and a solid puzzle at its core, it’s a perfect choice for fans of cozy mysteries who enjoy a touch of history alongside their sleuthing.

Fireson Bay delivers a mind twisting crime mystery

Fireson Bay: Resurrection (volume 2 in the series) follows Detective Fireson Bay as he moves on with life following an assassination attempt by the woman he once loved. While hunting for her, he gets involved in a case with a new string of baffling deaths across multiple states. For this case, he teams up with North Carolina SBI Agent Rose Clayton and Lt. George Bird of the Cherokee Indian Police Department who advises some locals think the killer could be a Raven Mocker from Cherokee folklore. Could supernatural powers be responsible for these deaths? The clues they come across suggest he might be right.

 

Stoke’s well-developed, complex characters come across as genuine. Detective Bay is a flawed, good-guy sleuth and one you’ll find yourself rooting for in love and life, even when he bends the rules. In terms of the setting, the attention to detail is spot on, and in my opinion, Stokes makes masterful use of setting to help create a mood of mystery that adds to the intrigue. I'm always happy to find an unpredictable plot and Fireson Bay: Resurrection did not disappoint. The suspense and tension are palpable and kept me on the edge of my seat. 

I had the pleasure of reading book 1 in this series Fireson Bay, and recommend reading it before book two, but Resurrection can stand on its own as a captivating detective crime suspense novel. I’m happy to give this book five out of five stars and recommend it to readers who enjoy noir, crime mysteries, and gumshoe/Private Detective crime mysteries like But Not Forgotten: A Clint Wolf Novel. If you are looking to solve a mind twisting murder mystery, this one is for you.  

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I received a review copy of this book from the author and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites.

 

The Broken Man: A Fantasy Novel by Hawkings Austin - Unpredicatable fantasy with a who-dun-it

 

The Broken Man: A Fantasy Novel (The Rise of the Fisher King Book 1) by Hawkings Austin unfolds slowly. The first three chapters, while interesting, on the first read seemed disjointed. Turns out that wasn’t the case. Within these foundational chapters lay the introduction to this world of Pywer with perspectives from three cultures that converge into an epic fantasy when Ruad children show up murdered with their eyes burned from the inside out.

Unlikely allies from divergent cultures are thrust together to catch the murderer of these children and solve the mystery of how they were killed. Each character carries enough baggage and backstory to make them unique, interesting, and cared about by the reader. Their strengths and weaknesses come into play to save the day. My favorite characters include the giant Fomor ex-sorcerer/prince, Waylaid, his orphaned Bolg apprentice who lost his family to the sea when very young, and the widowed Daen Judge and warrior, Brea, equipped with her sword Answerer.

Farmers want something done about the death of their children Some report seeing a ghost or evil spirit known as Shadow Man. Legends say sorcerers have sent out such spirits to kill their enemies. When a handful of children witness the headless Shadow Man, and little Ella is killed, her mother believes the ex-sorcerer, Waylaid, is the monster who killed her baby. When he is brought in to help solve the mystery of the girl’s death, it ratchets up the conflict and breeds a multitude of questions.

Austin’s characters are complex and flawed making them believable and relatable. He does a great job making me care about each one. While an unlikely hero, I found myself cheering for the physically and emotionally broken Fomor giant, Waylaid.

This fantasy/mystery is well crafted and I’m happy to give it five stars. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy with a who-dun-it feel. I wasn’t able to figure it out until the last details unfolded. The end is  totally satisfying and answers all the questions and leaves things wide open for the continued growth of the characters on their next adventure. The one word of caution I offer is that the book does have some violent scenes and the Shadow Man may be a little too scary for 

younger readers. I recommend parents read the book first if they have any questions in this regard.

As BookHookup I am a longtime book reviewer and I received The Broken Man: A Fantasy Novel as a free review copy and have not been compensated for reviewing or recommending it. This review is posted in collaboration with #BookTasters. Some links in this post are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliate sites. 

 

About Author Hawkings Austin

Hawk’s current supervillain title is “Director of Radiation Effects.” In his quest to take over the world, Hawk has landed a series of jobs with NASA, DoD, and Missile Defense. Currently, he’s testing spacecraft for the rigors of the natural (and unnatural) environments that only he can conquer. The recent loss of his sidekick, Vlad (to a paying job) has been painful, but he’s managed to work through the loss to conquer large swaths of Colorado.

Hawk has a number of professional publications in engineering, science, history, and fantasy. He has been performing as a Mad Scientist for many years and is very close, at this point, to taking over (or destroying) the Earth. He can be found blogging on Urban-Fantasy.com, Madsci.us, and tweeting as @Sablehawk. He loves to speak at Science Fiction Conventions, such as Dragon Con, and will be happy – over a beer - to talk about any of these things for hours.

Hawk currently lives in Denver CO and is enjoying the heck out of spoiling his wife and current baby girl with all of his ill-gotten gains.

Old Schoolhouse Road by Sarah Vail an enthralling who dun it

Old Schoolhouse Road by Sarah Vail is an enthralling who dun it set in small-town America. Vail’s protagonist, Tim McAndrews is part of a new profiling unit sent to investigate a school shooting. He picks up on clues others overlook that point to an older suspect with military or law enforcement experience. His insights hit the mark, but what he and his team discover carries them into the world of abuse, illicit drug use, and a sinister motive for murder.

Vail’s writing, storytelling skills, and attention to detail are remarkable. She offers a perfect cast of stimulating characters with protagonist Tim McAndrews at the center. He’s a good-looking, smart, capable agent with a law background. The school shooting is his first case, and as part of the FBI’s profiling team, McAndrews spearheads the story. He navigates the evidence while fighting the emotional aspect of innocent lives taken in this horrific way. Local law enforcement proves to be allies, but a self-important Politian nosing his way into the case to help pass his gun control legislation and a brash reporter trying to position herself to get the story first add challenges to the mix. On top of that, amid the throes of crime-solving riddled with danger, McAndrew's female partner harbors some personal hangups against him. The closer he gets to the truth, the more the lives of his team are at risk.

 

I liked everything about this book, and I recommend it highly to those who enjoy murder mysteries riddled with suspense, compelling characters, and plenty of action. Vail’s writing hooked me within the first three pages and never let me go. She is skilled at dropping clever clues for the reader to follow that generate suspicions and theories; sometimes misleading, but always relevant. I happily give it five stars, and if the scale went higher, I’d give it more. This review is posted in collaboration with BookTasters.

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