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DI Skelgill Investigates #6
Murder in the Mind
WHEN DI SKELGILL IS CALLED to an isolated maximum-security hospital, he catches the eye of a notorious female serial killer. Is this the trigger that turns a routine investigation into a rollercoaster of murder, mayhem, escapes and hostage taking? Are these events purely coincidental, or is some conspiracy afoot? And if so, is it blackmail, corruption, a power struggle... or something altogether more sinister? In this, the sixth stand-alone Inspector Skelgill mystery, while search teams comb the moorland for clues, the maverick Cumbrian detective finds his mental sinews stretched to the limit as he strives to solve the case.
269 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2016
457 people are currently reading
1239 people want to read
About the author
Bruce Beckham
85 books460 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
January 10, 2025
Skelgill is coerced into being a fishing guide for a charity auction. The winner is a comely Swedish lass. One thing leads to another...
A wee bit later, he gets called into a mental health facility. There's nurse convicted of poisoning patients, a serial killer, and others. Somebody is possibly murdered. There's an escape, a search, another escape, an abduction, and a regular scramble.
There's a lot going on, but it all comes out by the end.
A wee bit later, he gets called into a mental health facility. There's nurse convicted of poisoning patients, a serial killer, and others. Somebody is possibly murdered. There's an escape, a search, another escape, an abduction, and a regular scramble.
There's a lot going on, but it all comes out by the end.
March 22, 2021
I continue to enjoy my fisherman, now the sixth book that highlights Skelgill's ability to gather information and cut through the misdirection that leaves his team confused at times. The plots and murders in this book presented a maze of unlikely culprits I will not describe as it would spoil for others.
This one requires attendance at a secure hospital facility where one inmate dies, one escapes and others are kidnapped with threat of more killing. The team are reunited to wind up this case after Jones is temporarily borrowed for another assignment (as per usual).
Note: usual amount of sexual tension that leads nowhere
Kindle Unlimited
This one requires attendance at a secure hospital facility where one inmate dies, one escapes and others are kidnapped with threat of more killing. The team are reunited to wind up this case after Jones is temporarily borrowed for another assignment (as per usual).
Note: usual amount of sexual tension that leads nowhere
Kindle Unlimited
May 16, 2017
I like the characters in this series but there is not nearly enough of DS Jones in this book. I didn't find the plot very interesting. I am becoming rather annoyed with the author as the main character has a number of attractive women interested in him, but the author is too coy to tell the reader if anything ever "happens."
October 18, 2019
Fabulous
This series is always a delightful read. I really like the three main characters and the plots will, at times, keep you on the edge of your seat. I want to learn how to fly fish.
This series is always a delightful read. I really like the three main characters and the plots will, at times, keep you on the edge of your seat. I want to learn how to fly fish.
May 6, 2021
I have too many series on the go. After two or three books in them I feel in need of a change and move on. It is sometimes a worry if I will be able to drop back into a storyline of a series and remember the key points and characters when I do return.
No such problem with Bruce Beckham and within a few pages of D.I.Skelgill's onboard musings, I am totally back with the series from which I am always learning. For instance, even with my 10 years of Lake District near residency, I have never heard of the transitive verb 'to muckle'. Now learned, I am hoping to introduce into my own vocabulary.
Back to the story and what a wonderful way to start it. A book with a good story that mingles with Lake District life, a bit of fishing ,good police camaraderie and, of course a death or two.
I mentioned in a review earlier in the series, that the author, much to his credit, didn't seem to get involved with sex or violence in his stories . However, I am starting to wonder about D.I.Skelgill who seems to be developing from a shy almost father figure into quite a ladies man.
Of course there is nothing definite in print but there are plenty of hints and through all of this, DS Jones is away on an undercover mission in the big city with DI Smart.
Long ago, I developed a theory about the women in the Morse books of Colin Dexter and the TV series, whom he found attractive. It seems that it still holds good here.
Most enjoyable.....again.
No such problem with Bruce Beckham and within a few pages of D.I.Skelgill's onboard musings, I am totally back with the series from which I am always learning. For instance, even with my 10 years of Lake District near residency, I have never heard of the transitive verb 'to muckle'. Now learned, I am hoping to introduce into my own vocabulary.
Back to the story and what a wonderful way to start it. A book with a good story that mingles with Lake District life, a bit of fishing ,good police camaraderie and, of course a death or two.
I mentioned in a review earlier in the series, that the author, much to his credit, didn't seem to get involved with sex or violence in his stories . However, I am starting to wonder about D.I.Skelgill who seems to be developing from a shy almost father figure into quite a ladies man.
Of course there is nothing definite in print but there are plenty of hints and through all of this, DS Jones is away on an undercover mission in the big city with DI Smart.
Long ago, I developed a theory about the women in the Morse books of Colin Dexter and the TV series, whom he found attractive. It seems that it still holds good here.
Most enjoyable.....again.
August 27, 2017
Another interesting and complex DI Skelgill mystery, this entry in the series is focused on a remote, high security mental hospital which includes at least two serial killers. While interviewing a serial killer who claims her innocence and points to a frame-up, Skelgill and Leyton also begin an inquiry into some missing tools and food stores, which leads to possible malfeasance at high administrative levels and ultimately to murder.
This is my least favorite of the Skelgill series. The writing is still excellent, the mystery is complicated, and the characters are fascinating, but I felt kind of lost, much as DS Leyton must feel all the time around DI Skelgill and that was frustrating. There was almost too much going on to keep all the threads in order for me.
This is my least favorite of the Skelgill series. The writing is still excellent, the mystery is complicated, and the characters are fascinating, but I felt kind of lost, much as DS Leyton must feel all the time around DI Skelgill and that was frustrating. There was almost too much going on to keep all the threads in order for me.
February 28, 2019
I read this in a 17 hour plane flight in my way to a holiday in Cumbria. I read several of Beckham’s books last time I visited and plan to read the rest of the Skelgill books this tine.
It didn’t disappoint. The setting tells me more about Cumbria than ant tourist guide. It evokes a way of life. I have no interest in fishing but don’t mind the metaphors that flow from it in this context.
By now the main characters are old friends an fairly predictable. The world is contained but varied enough to keep the reader interested. The plot is credible.
It’s a fun series of stand-alone books and I hope to enjoy a few more.
It didn’t disappoint. The setting tells me more about Cumbria than ant tourist guide. It evokes a way of life. I have no interest in fishing but don’t mind the metaphors that flow from it in this context.
By now the main characters are old friends an fairly predictable. The world is contained but varied enough to keep the reader interested. The plot is credible.
It’s a fun series of stand-alone books and I hope to enjoy a few more.
March 13, 2018
An easy read with lots of details and twists
What I liked about this book was firstly the pace. It was steady, but not at all boring. Even the fishing was interesting. A brilliant ‘whodunnit ‘ with fantastic characters.
What I liked about this book was firstly the pace. It was steady, but not at all boring. Even the fishing was interesting. A brilliant ‘whodunnit ‘ with fantastic characters.
May 22, 2018
Twisty and turny
I never knew what to expect. Each page seemed to bring a new perspective to what was it could be happening.
I never knew what to expect. Each page seemed to bring a new perspective to what was it could be happening.
Read
October 9, 2022Plodding
August 19, 2018
A Somewhat Abrasive Hero ‘Fishing’ for the Insight That Will Break the Case
Murder in the Mind is the sixth book in what is currently an eleven-book, British mystery series, each novel advertised as a standalone work. This installment finds the series protagonist, DI Skelgill, called to an isolated, high-security, psychiatric hospital for a routine investigation. But soon, concerns about petty pilfering are forgotten when inexplicable deaths and daring escapes enter the storyline. Over the course of the rest of the book, Skelgill uses something akin to an abrasive, Socratic method to elicit thoughts and theories from his team only to discount or disregard them in most cases. Eventually, however, he fits all of the pieces into the puzzle, gaining his insight while fishing … which appears to be a trademark for the series’ detective.
One of the strengths of the book is the description of the setting, in this case, the Lake District in northwest England. As (bad) luck would have it, this story occurs during a rainy, dreary stretch of weather and you can almost feel the drizzle seep under your collar as you stand beside Skelgill on the banks of a lake. The story is a bit slow starting, but then moves at a deliberate pace as the detective collects facts, then lets the solution form in his mind. The murderer is somewhat obvious, but twists in the details are still good.
There were, however, a couple of aspects of the book that detracted. One was the writing style. Clearly, there is a thin line between clever turns of a phrase and wording that is mind-numbing, but for me, this book crossed over. Consider the description of the hospital as “…an appellation that hints of Bedlam (albeit an authentic eponym – being built on the lower slopes of Hare’s Fell) and an outward appearance that is at once foreboding and forbidding.” I could almost understand this type of wording if it reflected the protagonist’s speech, but Skelgill tends toward simple statements replete with British slang (although he can be obscure). A second concern was point of view. It is third person consistently, but sometimes the narrator knew what Skelgill was thinking and other times, he/she did not. Whether or not we got a peek into the detective’s thoughts seemed random and so, became a bit distracting.
Overall, consistent use of point of view and more straightforward prose would have helped this otherwise prototypical British murder mystery.
Murder in the Mind is the sixth book in what is currently an eleven-book, British mystery series, each novel advertised as a standalone work. This installment finds the series protagonist, DI Skelgill, called to an isolated, high-security, psychiatric hospital for a routine investigation. But soon, concerns about petty pilfering are forgotten when inexplicable deaths and daring escapes enter the storyline. Over the course of the rest of the book, Skelgill uses something akin to an abrasive, Socratic method to elicit thoughts and theories from his team only to discount or disregard them in most cases. Eventually, however, he fits all of the pieces into the puzzle, gaining his insight while fishing … which appears to be a trademark for the series’ detective.
One of the strengths of the book is the description of the setting, in this case, the Lake District in northwest England. As (bad) luck would have it, this story occurs during a rainy, dreary stretch of weather and you can almost feel the drizzle seep under your collar as you stand beside Skelgill on the banks of a lake. The story is a bit slow starting, but then moves at a deliberate pace as the detective collects facts, then lets the solution form in his mind. The murderer is somewhat obvious, but twists in the details are still good.
There were, however, a couple of aspects of the book that detracted. One was the writing style. Clearly, there is a thin line between clever turns of a phrase and wording that is mind-numbing, but for me, this book crossed over. Consider the description of the hospital as “…an appellation that hints of Bedlam (albeit an authentic eponym – being built on the lower slopes of Hare’s Fell) and an outward appearance that is at once foreboding and forbidding.” I could almost understand this type of wording if it reflected the protagonist’s speech, but Skelgill tends toward simple statements replete with British slang (although he can be obscure). A second concern was point of view. It is third person consistently, but sometimes the narrator knew what Skelgill was thinking and other times, he/she did not. Whether or not we got a peek into the detective’s thoughts seemed random and so, became a bit distracting.
Overall, consistent use of point of view and more straightforward prose would have helped this otherwise prototypical British murder mystery.
November 1, 2018
This one is one of my favorites in this series. Gets my attention fairly early. An intriguing storyline with interesting characters. Very intelligently written. DS Jones doesn't appear very much in this story's action. We get to see how DI Skelgill's mind works as he follows leads. The story does not drag. Something new is always around the corner. Most of the action takes place at a mental institution where some very bad characters are kept because of their evil crimes. Skelgill interacts with the administrators and some of the workers. Then the first of two serial killers escapes. Leave it to Skelgill to figure out how he got over the "escape proof" fence. Then the other serial killer is seen on camera supposedly using one of the administrators to leave through the guarded gate. Lots of twits and turns. Lots of interaction between DI Skelgill and DS Leyton. Poor Leyton has quite a time tryng to decifer Skelgill's thinking.
December 9, 2017
Called to an isolated max-security hospital for the criminally insane, DI Skelgill catches the eye of a notorious female serial killer. When the killer, a nurse who was accused of killing scores of her patients, escapes, taking her psychologist with her, Skelgill and his crew undertake a plodding, systematic chase, culminating in a surprise ending that caught me completely unawares.
Murder in the Mind by Bruce Beckwith is a classic British murder mystery, written in an almost dry, nonchalant style—matching the principal protagonist’s personality—with plenty of red herrings and wry observations. It starts slow, as British mysteries are prone to do, but keeps moving relentlessly until the good guys prevail, and the bad ones are put where they belong.
I give this one four stars.
Murder in the Mind by Bruce Beckwith is a classic British murder mystery, written in an almost dry, nonchalant style—matching the principal protagonist’s personality—with plenty of red herrings and wry observations. It starts slow, as British mysteries are prone to do, but keeps moving relentlessly until the good guys prevail, and the bad ones are put where they belong.
I give this one four stars.
May 5, 2019
This is another fairly typical entry in the quaint series featuring the maverick DI Skellgil, set in the lake district of England. The description of the environment and the flora and fauna is as vivid as that in previous novels, and the protagonist is just as quirky. What disappointed me in this book, though, was the negligible space given to DS Emma Jones, whose relationship with the DI has been intriguing, lending the series quite some fun.
Another complaint is that the actual story and the action get smothered by the profusion of clever turns of phrases and convoluted dialogues;
it took me a lot of effort to just keep track of what's happening and who said what.
I enjoyed it, but not as much as I had expected to, which is sad.
Another complaint is that the actual story and the action get smothered by the profusion of clever turns of phrases and convoluted dialogues;
it took me a lot of effort to just keep track of what's happening and who said what.
I enjoyed it, but not as much as I had expected to, which is sad.
August 25, 2019
Enjoyable
‘The clue’s in the title, Broadmoor Hospital – just like Haresfell Hospital – patients die all the time, man.’
Another great read. This book is probably one of the best Skelgill books I'vekelgill. This time going to the local read. They are all very good and I have come to love the characters and vividly recognise them as relateable. As usual, sexy women are persuing him, and you know despite the age gap, WPC Jones and him are meant to be together. Whilst Jones isn't mentioned much, as she is working a different case, I enjoy the dynamics of Leyton and Skelgill as the case of stolen goods at a prison for the mentally ill becomes more confusing.
‘The clue’s in the title, Broadmoor Hospital – just like Haresfell Hospital – patients die all the time, man.’
Another great read. This book is probably one of the best Skelgill books I'vekelgill. This time going to the local read. They are all very good and I have come to love the characters and vividly recognise them as relateable. As usual, sexy women are persuing him, and you know despite the age gap, WPC Jones and him are meant to be together. Whilst Jones isn't mentioned much, as she is working a different case, I enjoy the dynamics of Leyton and Skelgill as the case of stolen goods at a prison for the mentally ill becomes more confusing.
July 10, 2023
Another outing with Detective Inspector Daniel Skelgill, and another where you learn just a little more about him.
Skelgill agrees to give a prize at the police charity auction of a weekend's fishing which will involve the hooking of a thirty pound pike. The winner is a psychologist at the maximum security prison where he is investigating the theft of some stores. His investigation has already brought him into contact with a convicted serial killer, a former nurse convicted of poisoning a number of patients. And then he discovers some of the others in responsible positions at the facility are not quite squeaky clean either.
I'm enjoying the varied plots in these not-quite-cozies.
Skelgill agrees to give a prize at the police charity auction of a weekend's fishing which will involve the hooking of a thirty pound pike. The winner is a psychologist at the maximum security prison where he is investigating the theft of some stores. His investigation has already brought him into contact with a convicted serial killer, a former nurse convicted of poisoning a number of patients. And then he discovers some of the others in responsible positions at the facility are not quite squeaky clean either.
I'm enjoying the varied plots in these not-quite-cozies.
August 14, 2017
This was my least favorite in the whole series so far although I didn't read the "Magic" one yet. Not interested in reading about the occult in any form.
I found this story rather convoluted and the characters didn't act the way I thought that people in this line of work would comport themselves. Especially the women. I'm quite sure that, while the inspector is quite handsome and virile looking, not every woman he meets would make sexual advances at him. Particularly professional women of the caliber in this setting.
I found this story rather convoluted and the characters didn't act the way I thought that people in this line of work would comport themselves. Especially the women. I'm quite sure that, while the inspector is quite handsome and virile looking, not every woman he meets would make sexual advances at him. Particularly professional women of the caliber in this setting.
December 13, 2017
Never judge a book by its cover.
This is a first class , well written murder mystery . It is a pleasure to be once again in the land of lakes , which are not "lakes" , except one of course . After reading most of this series , one enjoys being with Inspector Skelgill and Co. again as one would enjoy a family reunion.
But .......I avoided this book for months . I don't like the cover and the subject matter seemed disagreeable.
I was wrong and am glad that I forced myself .
This is a first class , well written murder mystery . It is a pleasure to be once again in the land of lakes , which are not "lakes" , except one of course . After reading most of this series , one enjoys being with Inspector Skelgill and Co. again as one would enjoy a family reunion.
But .......I avoided this book for months . I don't like the cover and the subject matter seemed disagreeable.
I was wrong and am glad that I forced myself .
August 13, 2019
Excellent!
D I Skelgill and his team are involved with several crimes at a prison hospital for criminals who suffer mental problems! Very different and unusual! The doctors and support staff are also suspects, as well as the patients. Usual wildcat investigation yields surprising results
D I Skelgill and his team are involved with several crimes at a prison hospital for criminals who suffer mental problems! Very different and unusual! The doctors and support staff are also suspects, as well as the patients. Usual wildcat investigation yields surprising results
June 28, 2018
Slow reading. The "British-isms" were confusing to my American ear.
The book plod along and had some interesting subplots. All-in-all not a bad book, but not captivating enough to read more from the series.
The book plod along and had some interesting subplots. All-in-all not a bad book, but not captivating enough to read more from the series.
August 1, 2018
Murder in the Mind
Very interesting and entertaining storyline about two serial killers locked inside a mental hospital where mysteries begin with suspicion directed at them as well as others.
Very interesting and entertaining storyline about two serial killers locked inside a mental hospital where mysteries begin with suspicion directed at them as well as others.
November 19, 2018
Murder in the Mind
Started out rather boring! Was hard to keep up with all the characters involved!
It did become more interesting at the end as the plot was revealed and played out!
Started out rather boring! Was hard to keep up with all the characters involved!
It did become more interesting at the end as the plot was revealed and played out!
February 14, 2019
Another Winner
Fast paced, intriguing mystery with the colorful country of England/Scotland as a major character. The solution to the mystery seems a tad less exciting than the ride as seems a routine in this series. Perhaps I just don’t want the stories to end.....
Fast paced, intriguing mystery with the colorful country of England/Scotland as a major character. The solution to the mystery seems a tad less exciting than the ride as seems a routine in this series. Perhaps I just don’t want the stories to end.....
May 21, 2020
I struggled a bit with this one. Part of that was due to the fact that is had been ages since I read the last book and thus needed to get the characters sorted again. The main reason was the setting, though; I am generally not a fan of investigations around psychiatric hospitals.
August 29, 2017
Enjoyed all 6 so far and looking forward to 7.
November 29, 2017
Great book in the series
The wonderful fishing detective is awesome chasing down serial killers while trying out salmon fishing instead of his beloved pike!
The wonderful fishing detective is awesome chasing down serial killers while trying out salmon fishing instead of his beloved pike!
December 2, 2017
Great story
Another great book all the local places mentioned make you feel as if you are there. Local knowledge is very good.
Another great book all the local places mentioned make you feel as if you are there. Local knowledge is very good.
May 30, 2018
Not as clear cut or satisfying a mystery as previous books in the series.
August 3, 2020
Hypnotized my ass. Not to mention unethical. I feel for Jones and Leyton in this one.
Read
February 22, 2022Engaging
Skelgill once again shares lots of knowledge of the Lakes region, goes fishing and eats a lot as he solves the puzzle.
Skelgill once again shares lots of knowledge of the Lakes region, goes fishing and eats a lot as he solves the puzzle.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews