Bitter End

Fizz & Buchanan #6

by Joyce Holms

When Amy Grassick dies in a gas explosion, Tam Buchanan wishes he were anywhere but in Edinburgh. His law firm is executor of Amy's will and this case is promising serious trouble. Amy's husband, Lawrence, is probably the most influential advocate in the city - a man whose opinion could make or break Tam's career. What's worrying Tam is that he's pretty sure that Amy's death was no tragic accident. Soon Tam - and the irrepressible Fizz, of course - find themselves walking a very precarious tightrope indeed.

Genres: Mystery

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lawyer Tam Buchanan is moody, and Fizz cannot quite put her finger on the reason. Even his secretary the Wonderful Beatrice is not able to enlighten her. By resorting to devious means, i.e. reading his private mail, Fizz discovers that Buchanan's Law firm are the executors of Vanessa Grassick's will. Putting together the fact that Vanessa's husband Lawrence Grassick, dubbed Ghengis Grassick since his student days, and now one of the most influential advocate in Edinburgh and not a man to cross, added to the fact that Vanessa died in a tragic accident with a male friend, and maybe there is cause for Buchanan's unease.

Fizz engineers a visit with Buchanan to the Lammerburn estate, by drawing Buchanan's attention to the possibility of problems over the tenant's rights, and rights of way, none of which are mentioned in the shiny brochures that advertise the sale that is being handled by Buchanan & Stewart; And as the village where Vanessa met her end is close by, what a good opportunity to take a quick look at the village, and maybe talk to one or two people. But nothing is straight forward. The tenants of Lammerburn Estate are seething, as they have all been given notice to quit, and the neighbours who live close to Vanessa's weekend cottage seem to have disappeared.

When Fizz teams up with the handsome Giles Cambridge, who is investigating the insurance claim, Tam's problems multiply.

This is the sixth book in the series and things are hotting up in all directions. As always Joyce Holms weaves a clever plot that always has a twist at the end to keep the readers on their toes. But what of Tam and Fizz? Are they hotting up too?

A wonderful read, clever plot, wonderful characterisation, flashes of humour, and the continually fascinating relationship between Fizz and Buchanan. As soon as I have read one book, I am looking forward to the next.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Hayes

[Mrs Lianne Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining

An interesting mystery with some unforeseen twists. The lively mix of Fizz and Buchanan was a delight as always. This kindle version has some annoying formatting errors.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This mystery is set in contemporary Scotland and features a somewhat stuffy lawyer and his legal assistant/law student, a forthright independent young woman, not above bending the law. In each book, they solve a murder based on one of their cases (in this book, it's a client "accidentally" blown up when a gas furnace malfunctions). There is romantic tension between the two, but both seem completely unaware. An average enjoyable read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is usually one of my favorite authors , you could cut out about 100 pages in the middle of the book and not miss a thing.

[Katharine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable mystery with some neat twists. Fizz and Buchanan are an entertaining detecting duo with sparkling UST though I sometimes wish the relationship between them would progress a little quicker.