What do you think?
Rate this book
Murder on the Menu
IN THE LAKE DISTRICT’s natural larder, deadly poisons lurk unseen. Pretty flowers and exotic fungi may flatter to deceive, and they should not be underestimated. Their toxins evolved in prehistoric times to deter great grazing beasts like bison and elk and the Ice Age aurochs.
But in the modern fashion, rare plants and other wild fare – Grizedale venison, Arctic char, Herdwick lamb – are blended with traditional ingredients to make Cumbria a gourmet’s paradise. The rugged and beautiful county boasts more Michelin stars per head than any other part of the British Isles.
And each year the region’s top-ranked chefs compete to be crowned Champion of the Great Cumbrian Menu – a six-course fine-dining the more original and innovative, the more likely a restauranteur will serve up the winning formula. In search of obscure ingredients, contestants scour sea and shore, lake and river, and forest and fellside.
For the chef and the gourmand alike, it is the chance to experiment – to stretch the limits of convention and excite the taste buds. And to win an accolade that may bring fame and fortune.
But for someone with murder in mind … it presents an opportunity of a different kind.
But in the modern fashion, rare plants and other wild fare – Grizedale venison, Arctic char, Herdwick lamb – are blended with traditional ingredients to make Cumbria a gourmet’s paradise. The rugged and beautiful county boasts more Michelin stars per head than any other part of the British Isles.
And each year the region’s top-ranked chefs compete to be crowned Champion of the Great Cumbrian Menu – a six-course fine-dining the more original and innovative, the more likely a restauranteur will serve up the winning formula. In search of obscure ingredients, contestants scour sea and shore, lake and river, and forest and fellside.
For the chef and the gourmand alike, it is the chance to experiment – to stretch the limits of convention and excite the taste buds. And to win an accolade that may bring fame and fortune.
But for someone with murder in mind … it presents an opportunity of a different kind.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 31, 2025
119 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Beckham
89 books462 followersBRUCE BECKHAM brings a lifelong love of the outdoors to the contemporary crime novel. An award-winning, Amazon best-selling writer and member of the UK Society of Authors, he pens fiendish plots, vivid wild scenes and compelling dramas.
His series 'Detective Inspector Skelgill Investigates' now extends to 24 standalone murder mysteries and 8 boxsets, and sells across five continents, from Japan and India to Brazil and the United States of America. Over one million copies have been downloaded worldwide.
Murder at Blind Beck (#25) was released in May 2025 and can be ordered at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK2XQ46Z
You are welcome to contact Bruce directly through the Goodreads message system or via his publisher, at this address: lucius-ebooks@live.com
To sign up for his monthly newsletter please click the website link above, or send a friend request or click 'follow' - to receive updates of free Kindle downloads and Goodreads giveaways.
His series 'Detective Inspector Skelgill Investigates' now extends to 24 standalone murder mysteries and 8 boxsets, and sells across five continents, from Japan and India to Brazil and the United States of America. Over one million copies have been downloaded worldwide.
Murder at Blind Beck (#25) was released in May 2025 and can be ordered at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DK2XQ46Z
You are welcome to contact Bruce directly through the Goodreads message system or via his publisher, at this address: lucius-ebooks@live.com
To sign up for his monthly newsletter please click the website link above, or send a friend request or click 'follow' - to receive updates of free Kindle downloads and Goodreads giveaways.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 3, 2026
I could not put this book down and enjoyed it tremendously as I am a big fan of this author. His writing is distinctive and unique. It is just hard to wait between books so I sometimes roll back and do some quick reads of books read in the past. The descriptions of natural landscapes as well as the working relationships with his mates are always edifying. As the title implies, restaurant food is featured, but plenty of beautifully described natural elements stand out.
January 6, 2026
What a fine start to the new year. The latest Skelgill novel hot off the presses. It felt good to be back in the company of Skelgill, Jones and Leyton and to have the tour around the Lake District again with such wonderful descriptions that tourist brochures should be envious.
Was it my imagination or was there more about the nature of the district this time - not surprising , perhaps in view of the storyline. This starts when a gastroentimlogist suggests to Skelgill that a few recent cases of illness might warrent further investigation.
Skelgill and Jones seize this opportunity for some visiting around the county . Leyton is left to follow up a case of live ammunition being found on a nature reserve.
Throughout we are given hints of how the story might develop and we might even feel we know how it will end. To quote one of the parties involved, "Ha hah".
There are plenty of clues and motives and even Jones finds them difficult to sort out as she leads the team when Skelgill falls ill too.
Perhaps the ending gets a little confusing but trust the local paper to explain it all in detail in the final chapter.
Roll on July and the next in the series.
On a personal note the discussion with experts in Toxicology, Botany, Gastroenterology and the Vet which suggested the dangers of foraging without sufficient knowledge, rang warning bells for me, particularly as an annual gatherer of wild garlic unaware of the possible dangers involved.
Was it my imagination or was there more about the nature of the district this time - not surprising , perhaps in view of the storyline. This starts when a gastroentimlogist suggests to Skelgill that a few recent cases of illness might warrent further investigation.
Skelgill and Jones seize this opportunity for some visiting around the county . Leyton is left to follow up a case of live ammunition being found on a nature reserve.
Throughout we are given hints of how the story might develop and we might even feel we know how it will end. To quote one of the parties involved, "Ha hah".
There are plenty of clues and motives and even Jones finds them difficult to sort out as she leads the team when Skelgill falls ill too.
Perhaps the ending gets a little confusing but trust the local paper to explain it all in detail in the final chapter.
Roll on July and the next in the series.
On a personal note the discussion with experts in Toxicology, Botany, Gastroenterology and the Vet which suggested the dangers of foraging without sufficient knowledge, rang warning bells for me, particularly as an annual gatherer of wild garlic unaware of the possible dangers involved.
January 2, 2026
A local doctor alerts the team to several cases of poisoning seen recently. All of the victims, who have since recovered, dined at local fancy restaurants. Leyton is investigating a poaching case, and there is speculation that the two cases my be related. When Skelgill himself falls ill and is hospitalized, Jones and Leyton hope that the case can be solved before there is another incident.
January 15, 2026
2 1/2 stars rounded up. Not my favorite.
January 2, 2026
The world with its troubles stops in its tracks for me when a new addition to Bruce Beckham’s “Detective Inspector Skelgill Investigates” series is released. For hours I lose myself in Beckham’s vivid fictional world, eager to spend time with his appealing trio of detectives: DI Daniel Skelgill himself, DS Emma Jones, and DS Leyton. This book features the haute cuisine of Cumbria’s finest restaurants, as the detectives try to discover whether several poisonings are accidental or intentional. They race against time to try to prevent more poisonings, fearing that “murder is on the menu”. The theme of poisoning is a mainstay of classic detective fiction, and here it receives a fresh and inventive twist. When I finished the book (practically nonstop), I gave myself a short break before diving back in for a second reading, as always even more enjoyable and satisfying than the first. This is the 26th book in the series, and I continue to marvel at Beckham's rare ability to spin a compelling tale, develop lovable characters, and evoke the beauty of the Lake District. "Murder on the Menu" is now my new favorite book of the series.
January 3, 2026
I love the Skelgill books and the way that the author takes his readers into a new environment for each plot. Reading the whole well-researched series, I have learned so much about so many things en route to finding out "whodunnit".
Bruce Beckham writes beautifully and after reading the latest book quickly for the plot, I am now settling down to re-read it for the sheer enjoyment of the writing.
I also relish being in the company of the three main characters, and "visiting" with them the sites mentioned, thanks to all the information and photographs available on the internet.
Thank you for the gift of this book, Bruce, and all the work you have obviously put into it: I look forward greedily to the arrival on my iPad of the next title in the series - due out in July.
Bruce Beckham writes beautifully and after reading the latest book quickly for the plot, I am now settling down to re-read it for the sheer enjoyment of the writing.
I also relish being in the company of the three main characters, and "visiting" with them the sites mentioned, thanks to all the information and photographs available on the internet.
Thank you for the gift of this book, Bruce, and all the work you have obviously put into it: I look forward greedily to the arrival on my iPad of the next title in the series - due out in July.
January 11, 2026
Especially Interesting
I've liked all the Bruce Beckham books but this one was especially interesting with all the flora and fauna information in addition to the complex and intriguing plot. I always enjoy all the local knowledge Mr. Beckham passes on in his books, also. He makes me want to visit the area.
I've liked all the Bruce Beckham books but this one was especially interesting with all the flora and fauna information in addition to the complex and intriguing plot. I always enjoy all the local knowledge Mr. Beckham passes on in his books, also. He makes me want to visit the area.
January 13, 2026
Another brilliant story...
This time, for reasons best not disclosed in a review, Skelgill is, to a large extent, a side character.
This gives his trusty DCI's storylines of their own.
Can't wait for the next in the series despite some seriously dodgy character names for the subordinate cast in this particular tale.
This time, for reasons best not disclosed in a review, Skelgill is, to a large extent, a side character.
This gives his trusty DCI's storylines of their own.
Can't wait for the next in the series despite some seriously dodgy character names for the subordinate cast in this particular tale.
January 4, 2026
The team has done it again
Didn't expect the twist in this case but well done. New people added additional information and texture to the overall tale. Glad for the return of some previous characters to add depth.
Didn't expect the twist in this case but well done. New people added additional information and texture to the overall tale. Glad for the return of some previous characters to add depth.
January 6, 2026
Intriguing
I liked this book but had to reread some parts because it was a bit confusing. I did enjoy Sg. Leyton working his case, he shows he is good and smart. Sg. Jones seems to be taking over every case. Here ir is shown she lacks experience and her feelings for Skelgill can cloud her judgment. But the end was great.
I liked this book but had to reread some parts because it was a bit confusing. I did enjoy Sg. Leyton working his case, he shows he is good and smart. Sg. Jones seems to be taking over every case. Here ir is shown she lacks experience and her feelings for Skelgill can cloud her judgment. But the end was great.
January 6, 2026
Always thrilling
And fun, and like a travel guide for the lake district and the small towns in and around. And the "cast" are some of my favorite fictional people.
And fun, and like a travel guide for the lake district and the small towns in and around. And the "cast" are some of my favorite fictional people.
January 8, 2026
Another winner!
Even without Skelgill , his trusty seargents stuck to his methods to find the culprits. Best one yet! Another outstanding read.
Even without Skelgill , his trusty seargents stuck to his methods to find the culprits. Best one yet! Another outstanding read.
January 16, 2026
Always great books. Reading in order is highly recommended
February 13, 2026
Another great book
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews