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Viv Fraser #1
Beyond Cutting: A Viv Fraser Mystery
Scottish "Eat your heart out Rankin."
If you ever thought the life of a hairdresser was tranquil, then think again. This is no ordinary hairdresser. Viv Fraser, PhD, and stylist to the Edinburgh establishment, has a double life as an investigative journalist and finds herself involved in some hair-raising, not to mention explosive scenes, as she trawls the seamier side of her city.
In this fast-paced mystery, Viv investigates the case of a missing teenage boy, but her efforts are hampered by people trying to save their own skin. Always top of his class, Andrew’s school blazer turns up on a river path without him. As she picks at the veneer of the Capital’s gay scene, Viv discovers an unsavory mix of lies, jealousy, and sexual deceit. Determined to find Andrew, she ignores threats on her life and continues to dig in places that even Detective Marconi has yet to explore.
If you ever thought the life of a hairdresser was tranquil, then think again. This is no ordinary hairdresser. Viv Fraser, PhD, and stylist to the Edinburgh establishment, has a double life as an investigative journalist and finds herself involved in some hair-raising, not to mention explosive scenes, as she trawls the seamier side of her city.
In this fast-paced mystery, Viv investigates the case of a missing teenage boy, but her efforts are hampered by people trying to save their own skin. Always top of his class, Andrew’s school blazer turns up on a river path without him. As she picks at the veneer of the Capital’s gay scene, Viv discovers an unsavory mix of lies, jealousy, and sexual deceit. Determined to find Andrew, she ignores threats on her life and continues to dig in places that even Detective Marconi has yet to explore.
- GenresMystery
Audible Audio
First published September 27, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 19, 2019
Series: Viv Fraser #1
Publication Date: 2/20/14
Number of Pages: 242
** 3.5 Rounded Up **
This was my first book by a new-to-me author. It is a very diverting mystery, but, in my view, it isn’t a cozy mystery which is more what I was looking for – it is darker and grittier. Be aware that the book is written in third person/present tense – and it took me a while to become accustomed – however, once I did it wasn’t a problem. I do understand that all of the other books in the series are written in third person/past tense – which is more what most of us are accustomed to.
Vivian (Viv) Fraser is a hairdresser/journalist/Dr. of Anthropology and she’s extremely sensitive when anyone refers to her as ‘just’ a hairdresser. She very quickly takes offense. She’s alone and finally beginning to come to grips with the death of her lover, Dawn. She’s finally begun to feel pangs of attraction again, but I can’t decide whether she’s more attracted to Sal Chapman (she’s a profiler at the police headquarters) or DI Marcus (Mac) Marconi (he’s the inspector investigating the case). At any rate, I had a hard time warming up to Viv – she was a little too ‘in your face’ and didn’t appear to be a very caring type of person. Perhaps I’ll find her to be different in the next book I read, but, in this one, I didn’t particularly care for her.
Juliet (Jules) Muir, editor at a national newspaper, and an old friend of Viv’s calls to ask Viv to take on a writing/investigative assignment. The task is to investigate the circumstances around a missing young man, Andrew Douglas, to find him if possible and to write an article for the newspaper. Jules asked Viv to take the assignment because she was familiar with the after-hours gay scene in Edinburgh and would be able to move freely in that environment.
As Viv investigates, she finds herself investigating more than just a missing young man. There are drug dens, murders, sex trafficking – pretty much everything on the darker side of life. People are not who they seem to be and it reaches right up into the affluent sections of society. There were many villains involved with many different parts of the crime and I didn’t feel ‘finished’ with a couple of them. The murderer came out of left field – you definitely won’t guess who it is because you don’t really meet them until they are revealed.
The bottom line for me is that it is a good mystery, well written, well-plotted, but it wasn’t my normal cup-of-tea. I will try another book or two in the series to see how things progress and whether I can come to like Viv.
Publication Date: 2/20/14
Number of Pages: 242
** 3.5 Rounded Up **
This was my first book by a new-to-me author. It is a very diverting mystery, but, in my view, it isn’t a cozy mystery which is more what I was looking for – it is darker and grittier. Be aware that the book is written in third person/present tense – and it took me a while to become accustomed – however, once I did it wasn’t a problem. I do understand that all of the other books in the series are written in third person/past tense – which is more what most of us are accustomed to.
Vivian (Viv) Fraser is a hairdresser/journalist/Dr. of Anthropology and she’s extremely sensitive when anyone refers to her as ‘just’ a hairdresser. She very quickly takes offense. She’s alone and finally beginning to come to grips with the death of her lover, Dawn. She’s finally begun to feel pangs of attraction again, but I can’t decide whether she’s more attracted to Sal Chapman (she’s a profiler at the police headquarters) or DI Marcus (Mac) Marconi (he’s the inspector investigating the case). At any rate, I had a hard time warming up to Viv – she was a little too ‘in your face’ and didn’t appear to be a very caring type of person. Perhaps I’ll find her to be different in the next book I read, but, in this one, I didn’t particularly care for her.
Juliet (Jules) Muir, editor at a national newspaper, and an old friend of Viv’s calls to ask Viv to take on a writing/investigative assignment. The task is to investigate the circumstances around a missing young man, Andrew Douglas, to find him if possible and to write an article for the newspaper. Jules asked Viv to take the assignment because she was familiar with the after-hours gay scene in Edinburgh and would be able to move freely in that environment.
As Viv investigates, she finds herself investigating more than just a missing young man. There are drug dens, murders, sex trafficking – pretty much everything on the darker side of life. People are not who they seem to be and it reaches right up into the affluent sections of society. There were many villains involved with many different parts of the crime and I didn’t feel ‘finished’ with a couple of them. The murderer came out of left field – you definitely won’t guess who it is because you don’t really meet them until they are revealed.
The bottom line for me is that it is a good mystery, well written, well-plotted, but it wasn’t my normal cup-of-tea. I will try another book or two in the series to see how things progress and whether I can come to like Viv.
March 23, 2017
A real page turner, so much so, I read all three Viv Fraser books in three days.
As I live in Edinburgh and love Perthshire, I could imagine most of the settings, the characters interact well and the plot keeps you involved right to the end.
As I live in Edinburgh and love Perthshire, I could imagine most of the settings, the characters interact well and the plot keeps you involved right to the end.
July 5, 2017
Dr. Viv Fraser is a hair stylist by day and a crime solving investigative journalist in Edinburg, Scottland (the “Doctor” part comes from having a Ph.D. in anthropology). This fast-paced, gritty first novel has Fraser investigating the disappearance of a missing teenage boy who likes other boys and may have come to a bad end because of it. Viv is familiar with Edinburg’s gay community, and her editor thinks Viv will have an “in” to find out the truth about the boy. The journey brings her death threats, a new interesting friend, and extensive contact with the police.
Fraser is a compelling character. Her day job (hairdressing) allows her to fade into the woodwork and learn things she might not otherwise. People underestimate her – no one knows how to categorize her(why on earth would someone who has earned a Ph.D. cut hair for a living and write for broadsheets?) and she can use that in her quest for justice and obtaining the full story. She’s coming out of a long-term relationship with another woman who died and left Viv her estate, so money’s really not an issue. She’s kind of attracted to the detective involved with the disappearance case, and she doesn’t quite know what to do with her feelings for him. She’s comfortable in her own skin, and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what others think of her.
The story is written in present tense, which I initially found off-putting, but I can’t really articulate why. I almost gave up about 30% in, but then the storyline grabbed me – I became intrigued with Viv’s ability to negotiate all strata of society and fit in wherever she landed – and the way the story was written ceased to be an issue. This is a well-written mystery that clips along at a good pace and has a surprise ending. It made the time on the recumbent bike fly by. It’s part of a three-book series. Would I go out of my way to get this series? No, but I will read at least the next book, I’m kind of curious to see what happens to Viv.
Fraser is a compelling character. Her day job (hairdressing) allows her to fade into the woodwork and learn things she might not otherwise. People underestimate her – no one knows how to categorize her(why on earth would someone who has earned a Ph.D. cut hair for a living and write for broadsheets?) and she can use that in her quest for justice and obtaining the full story. She’s coming out of a long-term relationship with another woman who died and left Viv her estate, so money’s really not an issue. She’s kind of attracted to the detective involved with the disappearance case, and she doesn’t quite know what to do with her feelings for him. She’s comfortable in her own skin, and doesn’t give a rat’s ass about what others think of her.
The story is written in present tense, which I initially found off-putting, but I can’t really articulate why. I almost gave up about 30% in, but then the storyline grabbed me – I became intrigued with Viv’s ability to negotiate all strata of society and fit in wherever she landed – and the way the story was written ceased to be an issue. This is a well-written mystery that clips along at a good pace and has a surprise ending. It made the time on the recumbent bike fly by. It’s part of a three-book series. Would I go out of my way to get this series? No, but I will read at least the next book, I’m kind of curious to see what happens to Viv.
February 23, 2018
What a wonderfully preposterous idea, a hairdressing crime reporter is similar to any number of VIZ characters, a particular favourite of mine was 'Brown Bottle' a bank clerk by day and a Superhero by night. However the similarity to VIZ ends here as VC delivers a highly enjoyable crime caper. Yes there are a number of 'coincidences' that help the narrative along, but that is true for a great number of crime thrillers. Dr Fraser is a likeable enough central character, she has her foibles , just like any other lead character, and these also help the story rattle by.
Will most certainly read another Dr Fraser novel.
Will most certainly read another Dr Fraser novel.
February 1, 2020
I read this book for the ATY 2020 Reading Challenge Week 23: A book featuring an LGBTQIA+ character or by an LGBTQIA+ author.
A young man from a good family has disappeared in Scotland. The nitty-gritty rumor trail has him down as gay. A broad-sheet editor enlists a friend to investigate. A friend with a doctorate in anthropology and a side-line of haircutting. That alone is intriguing, but Viv is also, at least, bi and somewhat acquainted with the scene. So different. Also, quite normal. She must be making people nervous for her car gets torched and she is attacked twice. How does it all end? One must read to find out.
A young man from a good family has disappeared in Scotland. The nitty-gritty rumor trail has him down as gay. A broad-sheet editor enlists a friend to investigate. A friend with a doctorate in anthropology and a side-line of haircutting. That alone is intriguing, but Viv is also, at least, bi and somewhat acquainted with the scene. So different. Also, quite normal. She must be making people nervous for her car gets torched and she is attacked twice. How does it all end? One must read to find out.
January 4, 2021
Haircut with a side of murder
I love female protagonists part it as solvers of mysteries. I have been reading lots of British and Irish police procedure fiction. It is interesting to explore Edinburgh with Dr. Viv Fraser. She is an interesting character, no stereotypes evidenced there. Professional hairdresser, PHD in anthropology and a sideline of writing stories for a friends publication. It appears that it is the writing at the center of her investigating. This is the initial story in the series so hopefully the strings between chart will become clearer.
I love female protagonists part it as solvers of mysteries. I have been reading lots of British and Irish police procedure fiction. It is interesting to explore Edinburgh with Dr. Viv Fraser. She is an interesting character, no stereotypes evidenced there. Professional hairdresser, PHD in anthropology and a sideline of writing stories for a friends publication. It appears that it is the writing at the center of her investigating. This is the initial story in the series so hopefully the strings between chart will become clearer.
September 3, 2024
The book was chosen by a member of our Book Club who was actually at school with the author! Small world!
I enjoyed how the book just 'got on with it' in its 214 pages. No fuss. No extra words. It just told the story.
I enjoyed all the characters. I found a couple of times that I felt the story slipped a bit and I had to think if had I misread something as I wasn't sure why something had happened - could be me!
I would read another in the series. Have passed the title on to a friend who spends a lot of time in Edinburgh.
I enjoyed how the book just 'got on with it' in its 214 pages. No fuss. No extra words. It just told the story.
I enjoyed all the characters. I found a couple of times that I felt the story slipped a bit and I had to think if had I misread something as I wasn't sure why something had happened - could be me!
I would read another in the series. Have passed the title on to a friend who spends a lot of time in Edinburgh.
January 26, 2019
Really enjoyed the characters and setting but the mystery seemed a bit subordinate to the character development. I read on my kindle and it seemed like there were some editing issues with the kindle edition, extra spaces and misspelled words. That said, I loved Viv’s character. She is a very relatable and believable bundle of intelligence, curiosity, and anxieties. Now reading the next books.
June 21, 2021
Vic Fraser, Much more than a hairdresser
This story is different from many mysteries that I have read because the heroine is a hairdresser with a doctorate degree in anthropology who writes articles for newspapers . As a result she got tangled up in quite a mess! I enjoyed the story line and was surprised at the end! I recommend this book to me reading friends and family.
This story is different from many mysteries that I have read because the heroine is a hairdresser with a doctorate degree in anthropology who writes articles for newspapers . As a result she got tangled up in quite a mess! I enjoyed the story line and was surprised at the end! I recommend this book to me reading friends and family.
November 2, 2017
Viv Fraser. a hair dresser and a journalist has been assigned by her boss to find a missing boy named Andrew and gets into plenty of situations with murder and drugs involving some of her clients. This is exciting and lots of guessing!
January 26, 2019
Fast Paced
Enjoyed the characters and storyline in this book. Viv is a tough female heroine. My only complaint is that the book ended suddenly. I will read another book in this series soon.
Enjoyed the characters and storyline in this book. Viv is a tough female heroine. My only complaint is that the book ended suddenly. I will read another book in this series soon.
November 12, 2019
A who or why to a murder
Interesting story with many twists n turns. A story in Scotland which is exciting in itself. A Dr works with the police to find a killer.. Enjoyable with the killer not revealed until the end.
Interesting story with many twists n turns. A story in Scotland which is exciting in itself. A Dr works with the police to find a killer.. Enjoyable with the killer not revealed until the end.
April 27, 2022
First time for this author for me ... not impressed. It had its moments, but not enough for me to read another. The BEST part was that she lives in Edinburgh and since I visited I knew what streets and pubs she was in!! That gave the book a different dimension.
February 11, 2017
I don't normally read crime and was surprised how much I enjoyed this. I immediately grew to admire the main character Viv and loved the settings in and a round Edinburgh.
September 15, 2018
First-time - this author
The ending came and I hardly expected it!
Good tale - not rushing to read the other two right away.
But I will eventually.
The ending came and I hardly expected it!
Good tale - not rushing to read the other two right away.
But I will eventually.
January 15, 2020
Good read
Couldn't put down & finished reading in 2 days & look forward to reading more of V. Clifford's books about viv.
Couldn't put down & finished reading in 2 days & look forward to reading more of V. Clifford's books about viv.
November 20, 2020
Enjoyed a lot of this book, might try another.
July 9, 2024
Meh!
It was not what I was expecting based on the book summary. The book had a very slow start, and the ending felt rushed.
It was not what I was expecting based on the book summary. The book had a very slow start, and the ending felt rushed.
November 17, 2016
Viv Fraser is a anthropology PhD, a mobile hairdresser and a sometime journalist who lives in a fourth floor walk-up flat in Edinburgh. In her regular rounds of hair clients, she visits professional men and women, society dames and worried mothers, but her discretion keeps her from mixing her clients with her writing assignments until she begins working on a story of a missing schoolboy. What seems like a missing persons story, or maybe even a kidnapping, turns out to involve drugs, safe houses, the government's banker, a number of gay bars and an unexpected twist at the end of the investigation. The story is told in the third person and is full of local color and crime story grit, but the "solution" is a major disappointment. Not sure what I was expecting based on the first 100 pages, but the villain of the piece did not gibe with bombed cars and charred bodies and all the other grand scale mayhem of the investigation. Kind f sorry I stuck with it, but I liked Viv and her quirky professional life and I guess I was hoping she'd uncover something big.
May 23, 2016
Cute cozy mystery with a different twist.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews