A Fraying of Schemes

The Dickinson Sisters Mysteries #3

by Blythe Baker

Forced to stay at a local hotel while their home undergoes repairs, Iris and Lily Dickinson find themselves uncomfortably close to a violent crime. Risking a potential stain upon their reputations, the sisters delve into the deadly secrets of the hotel’s inhabitants.

With the guilty party determined to evade capture, will the Dickinson sisters uncover the truth – or be buried with it?

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Mystery Thriller, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Historical Mystery

166 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 30, 2020

About the author

Blythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.

Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.

Reviews

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Lorraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grangehurst, Yorkshire, England. Blythe Baker’s A Fraying of Schemes (The Dickinson Sisters Mystery, #3) finds the Dickinson sisters at the mercy of there chimney. In Book 2 the sisters had hired someone to clean and fix the chimney, but the job was never even started. Now, in Book 3, Lily, the older sister, cries out for everyone in their shop to “Get back!” as the chimney wall begins to crack. Captain Seymour, a neighbor, quickly tells all to withdraw from the shop as he inspects the wall. When questioned by the others what were the cracks they heard, he states, “The integrity of the chimney split. “. Lily and Iris have no alternative but to check into The Shield and Thistle Inn until their shop/home is fixed. Though expensive, the sisters have no other choice. The Shield and Thistle, with a lovely view of the river, also is beautifully decorated with many pieces of mahogany furniture. Iris is viewing this stay as an adventure, and it begins when they register! One surprise and then another and another. Then a piercing scream practically shakes the entire inn. A corpse is found in the parlor, but the real question becomes apparent when the sisters move back to their home. Lily wakens Iris later in the night, and when Iris smells smoke, they both must leave the house, but Lily will not move. She must retrieve something. Finally both sisters are outside, and a trunk is positioned next to Lily. Iris asks to see what is inside. Lily refuses. What does this trunk hold? 4 stars.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was delightful, short mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. This is the second mystery I have read by Blythe Baker. Will look forward to reading more from time to time.

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cozy mystery that you won't want to put down once you start reading. So be prepared, you may lose sleep over this one. The story line keeps you guessing who did it and just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don't. The characters are intriguing, engaging and like always, fun to get to know.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Nicole Normand · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from BookSprout; this is my honest review.
-The crime in itself is solved at the end. The romances with both ladies and the mystery with Lily going on behind the crime scene are another matter. We’re not getting close to anything at all; it’s really slow and confusing.
-This time the POV is Iris’ not Lily’s. The author might be doing back and forth. Not sure yet.
-The “what will people say/think” is getting really, really old. I’m so tired of Lily presuming how people will see them. Also about the fact that she won’t accept ANY gifts at all. I kept exclaiming in my head “OMG, is she for real?!”
-Really nice: There was an abundance of descriptions for the outside views: “The rich green seemed comforting and I could very nearly smell the fragrant needles upon their branches.”
-The fact that both Lily and Iris followed Nash out the door to find where the screams came from, even if they had to part through people to get there just shows how nosy they are. They wanted to know. At this point, I didn’t think they were better than Mrs. Milford.
-I was curious to know why no one thought it could be someone outside the tearoom since patrons were everywhere around the hotel and in town, not just in the tearoom.
-I was shocked how Wendy responded to Constable Brown because of her age and position. I was also shocked that Captain Seymour would bring his parrot outside in the winter with no protection.
-Better written than the other books in the series, it was still easy to solve before the end. This time it was almost predictable with all the clues.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I presume this is a historical mystery set in England, but no date is given for the time period. There were no cars (so probably pre-1900) and one sister said that they'd have to send a letter to the repair man, who lived in a nearby village, and that the letter would take several days to arrive, so maybe pre-1784? In any case, the time period was so vague that it played no role in the story.

The sisters weren't stupid, but they weren't exactly brilliant, either. They could spot a clue when it hit them over the head (which they all did, figuratively), yet they never followed up on the one clue that was Clearly Significant. Whodunit is not hard for a reader to guess. Time passed weirdly, with them missing breakfast to briefly question two people, then heading in for dinner only to have a brief Event happen, then finishing dinner and going to bed because it's nighttime. Huh?

The Point-Of-View sister couldn't sleep at the inn as the idea that the murderer was at the inn and could even be roaming around at night upset her, yet her solution was to take a walk, alone, at night, in the inn halls. Hmm. The characters were very stilted in their interactions, and it seemed like this was the author's writing style. The book ended with a cliff hanger than made no sense. Among other things, the sisters could have overseen the repairs and surely their male friends would have kept an eye on things, yet not one noticed the repair wasn't done correctly until the man was gone. However, I appreciate that there was no sex or bad language.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iris woke up and could hardly breathe, her eyes were burning and she started coughing. She ran and got Lilly up and they got out of the house. They looked to see where the fire was, but there was no fire. The smoke was all coming out of the chimney. Earlier in the evening there had been a bad snowstorm and was very windy. And they did hear a loud crack. They were not going to be able to live in the house until repairs had been made. They would stay at the Shield and Thistle. Nash and Constable Brown went and stayed there also. They didn't like the two ladies staying there for two weeks on their own. It wasn't long before they heard a scream, a man had been found dead in the parlor. Nobody heard or saw anything. Who was this man? Why was he killed in the parlor? And who did it? The four of them rushed over to the scene. The local police were glad to have Constanable Brown there. Everybody, staff, and guests were suspects. Nobody was allowed to leave until the killer was caught. They uncovered some secrets about the hotel. Get a copy of this book and come along on this ride. This was enjoyable to read. I loved it!
I voluntarily received a copy of the ARC for this book from the author and I'm voluntarily posting a review.
My opinion is entirely my own.

[Disney14604 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to put down cozy mystery. I need my sleep!! This is definitely one of Baker's great series!!

I love reading this series because I have yet yo figure out the 'who done it' till the last moment. There is so much going on that sometimes it is hard to remember it all or I miss a clue. Let's no mention the rabbit trails that are included.

I want to know what is in the trunk. I like the way the Captain works. I just hope that I have the right guess for which sister, and she opens her eyes soon.

If you have not read previous books, please go back and get caught up. There are nuances that will make this so much better ( just wish my old memory worked better, lol). If not, okay to start here because you will still get drawn in and want to finish story immediately. I always feel like I am part of it.

Mystery for all. Easy to read. Can be done as a standalone, but will miss some nuances, enough tidbits to get through.

This is my honest and freely given review. I did receive an ARC book.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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. The Dickinson sisters, Iris and Lily, find themselves temporarily staying at a hotel while their home is under repair—but a shocking murder involving Mr. Igram quickly turns their quiet visit into a puzzle they must solve.

The historical setting adds charm and authenticity, grounding the sisters’ investigations in social expectations and daily life of the era. What I loved most was the character interaction—the sisters’ dynamic, and their exchanges with the hotel guests, are both warm and engaging. Baker drops just enough clues to keep you guessing, making the reveal satisfying without being predictable.

Perfect for fans of clean, sweet fiction, A Fraying of Schemes combines likable characters, historical flavor, and a cleverly plotted mystery.

[Rosalyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not read the earlier books in this series so I was a little hard-pressed to figure out the backstory of these sisters. It would have been nice to have a few reminders of where the story takes place, the relative ages of the sisters, who some of the (obvious) recurring characters were, what the timeframe was...

I was jarred by two things in the story: First, it seemed illogical that the women had apparently lived and worked in this town for many years, but for some reason had no idea there was a thriving tea shop within the town's largest hotel/resort. Second, one of the key characters was named "Wendy" - and the story apparently takes place in early Victorian times, while the name "Wendy" was invented by James Barrie for the story Peter Pan, which was written in 1904.

Other than that, it was a mildy entertaining piece of fiction that didn't take too long to read.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a delightful cozy murder mystery set in a small hotel where a guest is murdered during supper shortly after the arrival of the Dickinson sisters after their home is damaged in a storm. This is the third in the series but I didn't feel that I had missed out on anything not having read the first two as it is quickly established that the sisters have experience in getting involved in such investigations. They quickly offer their assistance and find themselves in the middle of several intrigues from both the regular guests and the hotel staff. Baker keeps you guessing throughout the story with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings while keeping a nice cozy feel that Agatha Christie would be proud of. I'm certainly going to treat myself to the rest of the series that's for sure.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A FRAYING OF SCHEMES. Blythe.Baker
The terms one using coming to see the seamstress bring a chuckle. The winter dresses had gotten quite tired, or the Captain.three buttons on his uniform the threads had lost there strength, The integrity of her chimney had split, and the damage to the back wall because of the storm and high winds. What will Lily do without her shop and her dwelling The captain offered for them to stay, he was a bachelor and the inn people might think they were pretentious, but felt they had no other choice. Their reputation is at stake when a violent crime is committed. Enjoyable, the settings of another era was well done.
Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

[Brangela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery Hotel

This installment takes place at a luxury hotel since the sisters were displaced due to a fire at their shop/home. Of course there's a murder. The sisters are asked to help by the Constable. The bigger mystery for me was finding out what happened to Lady Wilson? Fire Chief Nate ,his aunt ( Lady W.), and the sisters were having tea at the hotel (don't ask), when the murder happened. All guests were ordered to stay until the culprit was found. Days go by and Lady Wilson is not heard from again. I kept expecting her to be integrated into the story or at least mentioned. What happened to her? Not until near the end was it shown that indeed she was still in the hotel. The murder was solved. End of story. A final chapter is the set up for the book.

[monacia williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Lily and Miss Iris.

It was difficult to keep up with the story at first because Book #3 was my first encounter with the Dickinson Sisters and the first chapters in #3 assumed that I was acquainted with #s1 and 2. Having resolved that with some degree of acceptance, I went on to read the story. It was not very exciting, the most "exciting" bits were the encounters between Nash and Iris, and even these of themselves were not exciting. It seems as if the best parts of the story are yet to be written.
Nevertheless, I did finish the book, it served to help the hours pass by. If you like books that deal with police procedure then go ahead and have a read.

[Elizabeth Felt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the characters of Iris and Lily Dickinson, their sisterly love and their distinct and interesting personalities. I like the slow-moving romance of Iris and Nash as well, a good, clean Victorian wooing. The solving of the murder, though, was rather inept. The characters jump to conclusions on the smallest of evidence (gossip) and ignore examining the most important clues (opportunity, murder weapon, etc.) When the murder is solved, you realize there is no good reason for the victim to have been at the inn. I might give other books in the series a chance, because I really d0 like the main characters.

[Mererid Evanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy the eccentricity of these early Victorian investigations. Here the constable declares that no one can leave the hotel until he has solved the murder! Yes, even locals who have just popped in for tea. And yet the investigation is rather cursory and casual and relies a great deal on gossip. I didn't like the concentration on infidelity and found the solution when it came to be at the same time both improbable and pedestrian. It raised several questions, mostly beginning with "why on earth..." So the plot left something to be desired, but the characters are engaging.

[F M Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

One book is enough

I am afraid that I could not manage more than a few pages before finding this just too saccharin for me. I like historical mysteries, but with substance. While ill I read one book in this series because it was not taxing, some very light reading. But I did have to overlook the annoying characteristics of the two main characters; one consistently curmudgeonly older sister and one younger airhead sister whose spinelessness was nauseating. There are enough holes in the storyline to use as a sieve.

[Catherine Stratman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another worthy addition to the series!

The Dickinson sisters find themselves staying in the local hotel while their store and apartment are under repair. A scream from the parlor draws everyone's attention away from their tea. When a body is found, the Constable declares that everyone must stay until it is solved. Another enjoyable read. We are learning a little more about our main characters too.

I received an ARC. This is my honest review.

[J Shu · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Golden Spool, the business owned by the Dickinson sisters and which also provides living quarters on the second floor, suffers from a major structural problem, forcing the ladies to live in the town's grand hotel. After a man is murdered there, the sisters become involved in solving the mystery. Iris tells the story. I'm still having problems with some of the stilted writing and the ever-present threat of tension and secrets between the sisters. Fortunately, these are quick reads.

[Barbara Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled to decide whether to give this book three or four stars and settled on three and a half.

This tale is part of a mystery series focusing on two sisters, Lily and Iris. They are sympathetic but slightly annoying characters. The editing and grammar need some improvement. Its storyline moves along but not always smoothly. The setting of a 100-year-old hotel and a murder mystery is interesting.

If you like murder mysteries and are looking for a quick read, pick up a copy.

[Nina · Rating 1 out of 5]

An insipid, immature novel that made me think of a Nancy Drew for adults. There wasn't much story to begin with, and the author padded it out with repetitive, inane conversations among the characters. Neither the sisters nor the constables they were ostensibly helping would recognize a clue if it smacked them in the face.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Cozy mystery worth reading

The character's are well written and interesting. The settings sound like some place I would like to go and see. The mystery is not very twisted and even though you can guess who did it. I still enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next one.

[Erika P. Lapham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Good Mystery

The Dickinson sisters' stories are always clever mysteries. I wish they were a bit less foolish and naive though. As in previous books, Iris is charming and immature and Lily is old maid like and grumpy. I am sure as this series continues we will learn more about Lily's backstory which leads to her behavior. Definitely worth the read.

[Kasturi Vaska · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice cozy mystery but not very thrilling and long conversations and actions just praising the sisters when their part was really neither believable nor making an effort to untangle the mystery ! I gave it 3 stars for some of the content and the ending which stimulated an interest to read the next book in line .

[Debbie Trammell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

This is the best one yet! And it sounds like the next on will be a Lulu. Can't wait to find out the secret. The sisters are getting better at their PI work. They just need to be more observant of people. This series is very good to have happened in the Victorian Era to two women no less.

[Carlos Delgado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good

This was an Amazon First Reads selection that I had been reading off and on for some time. Usually my "palate cleanser" between heavier novels. I was pleasantly surprised by the story. It had a good pace and a resolution to the mystery that I was not disappointed with. I may seek out the rest of the series at some point as well.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really hate reading a book that doesn't end but leaves the reader forced to read the next book. The wriring was mediocre and had the book ended properly, I would have given it a 3. But a 2 is a pretty high mark for such chicanery, especially since reading the next book involves a purchase as it is not in any of the libraries I have access to.

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspense and intrigue surround these sisters. They are wonderful characters to follow. Lots of twists and turns. Good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kathy Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fraying of Schemes...Book 3

Another book of pleasure to read..the characters are perfect for this story...and the story is a fast
Read for evening or two....Enjoy, with a cup of tea💖

[Marilyn G. Ticknor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Fraying of Schemes

I enjoyed this book. I wonder at the ages of the Dickenson sisters. They seem both elderly and very young. The plot kept me guessing, though I think I surmised correctly early on. Probably will not read the next in the series.