Thin Ice

Fizz & Buchanan #4

by Joyce Holms, Unknown Author

First published in Hardback and paperback by Hodder
“ Buchanan’s first thought on seeing Fizz ensconced in his mother’s drawing room was that Fate had really kneed him in the crotch this time. He had spent sixteen months, dating from the time she had entered his life like an ebola virus, scheming to avoid just such a disaster and now that which he had feared had come upon him”.
It’s the week before Christmas and Robin Tarrant, a four-year old boy, has been kidnapped by his seriously unbalanced, drug addicted father. Contacting the police would endanger the child and Buchanan finds himself, however unwillingly, agreeing to do what he can to find him. He could do without Fizz’s intervention but that is not to be. . There are few stressful situations which she cannot make immeasurably worse, so it comes as no surprise to Buchanan to find that they are investigating not only a kidnapping but a murder and who knows what other nefarious crimes. They do finally pinpoint the culprit but having done so they find themselves in a cleft stick. The killer’s safety is guaranteed by the boy and Buchanan cannot see justice done without putting Robin’s life in not unless Fizz – resourceful, intuitive and often dangerously foolhardy Fizz – can find a way. But this time it’s not only Fizz who is walking on dangerously thin ice.
Press comments on Joyce Holms’s work.
VAL Engaging and entertaining, it builds to a spectacular climax. Deft, daft and definitely delicious. Holms is a magician. - the reader is so busy laughing, the clues slip by unnoticed. (Manchester Evening News)
IAN RANKIN. : Delightfully quirky. For Joyce’s stories you don’t need a strong stomach, though you may find your sides aching with laughter. Her humour is sharp without being nasty, her characters well-drawn and her Edinburgh a place you’ll want to spend time in.
SUNDAY The writing is deft and smooth, the characters well-drawn and Fizz and Tam are a couple worth keeping an eye on.
SUNDAY A cleverly plotted story. The characters are well-drawn and the story moves along at an enjoyably brisk pace.
SHERLOCK HOLMES Diverting humour and nifty characterization. Go on – go out, get it, gasp and giggle.
BIRMINGHAM a good story, light-hearted, full of fascinating characters .
SHOTS Holms has a gift for writing pacy mysteries with a central pair of very engaging characters,
SCENES OF CRIME Holms has a gift for writing light, pacey mysteries with an engaging pair of central characters in Fizz and Tam.
THE delightfully quirky.

Unknown Binding

First published June 1, 2004

Reviews

[Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, well-paced mystery, with plenty of action and intrigue. Had a bit of a dated feel at times, but then it was published in 1999. Took me a while to realise that Tam Buchanan was not very much older (early 30s) than the impulsive, intuitive and aptly named Fizz, as he seemed quite middle aged. They make a good contrasting pair of amateur sleuths - Tam's caution and play-by-the-rules lawyerishness is well tempered by Fizz's upbeat confidence and ability to pump people for information while appearing to be a bit of an ingenue.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whilst not as good as some of her other books, Thin Ice, still manages to grip you, after a slow start. Tim Buchanan and his trusty side kick Fizz are asked by Tim's cousin Mark, a doctor to help a patient of his, find her kidnapped four year old son.
Nothing is as it seems and Fizz soon finds out that there is more to Robins disappearance than meets the ice,,
Christmas is just round the corner, and time is running out, and there is a killer on the loose