Murder on the Edge

DI Skelgill Investigates #3

by Bruce Beckham

WHEN a man is found strangled by a climbing rope beneath the Lake District's notorious Sharp Edge, it is assumed he is the victim of a tragic accident.

But Detective Inspector Skelgill suspects otherwise, and his fears are borne out when a second corpse is discovered close to Striding Edge. Soon it appears that a ritualistic serial killer stalks Cumbria's fells.

As the body count increases, Skelgill comes under intense pressure to determine the connection between the seemingly randomly selected targets – the only hope of ending the reign of terror and unmasking the murderer.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Procedural, Crime, Thriller, British Literature, Whodunit

283 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 29, 2014

About the author

BRUCE 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.

Reviews

[Marla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second in the series I have read. Inspector Skelgill is an interesting guy. There is dialect used that I'm not used to. I like DS Leyton and DS Jones. Skelgill kind of does things on his own sometimes which can put him in a sticky situation. This series is good and the books can be read as stand alone but I think reading the series you get to know the characters more. Enjoyable murder mystery.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Skelgills tramps around the lakes when he is called to investigate the murder of a man found with a climbing rope around his neck.

It's a fairly tangled web, with Skelgill and the gang going all over the place, asking questions, and playing the horses.

[Karen Plummer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really glad one of my GoodReads friends put me on to this series. There's more to like with each book. This one surrounds the discovery of some strangled men who've been left in odd places just off of hiking paths and who seem to have no connection to one another. The investigation seems to be going nowhere. Each piece of evidence seems isolated to only one of the victims. Skelgill and company work the case with a sense of growing frustration and the threat of having the case taken away from them if they don't solve it quickly.

Again, Beckham's descriptions are excellent. I can see the locales as well as the characters in my head without much trouble. I seem to know that look Skelgill gets when he's walking and thinking. I feel Leyton's confusion when Skelgill goes off to think or pursue a line of inquiry without him. And I love Jones... she's a strong female with a good mind. Plus there is Cleopatra who fits so perfectly with Skelgill. She's a great dog.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Men are dying, their bodies left on stone outcroppings with climbing rope pointing to the appearance of climbing accidents. Skelgill's team is assigned to find the solution and they certainly meet a mixed bag of weirdos in the investigation. Early on DS Jones suggests a possible solution involving the sex trade as advertised online, but this angle is not pursued until many long avenues of inquiry are exhausted and the reader gets antsy wondering when Skelgill is going to wake up to it. It is a rambling road he follows taking him up Wales way and hither and yon until the elements synch into an action plan. It was another satisfying read from this series and it appears Cleopatra the dog will remain a part of the team. Also, it seems to be the first time Skelgill picks up the tab for a celebratory meal with his team!

Kindle Unlimited

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was difficult for me to read with the local dialect that kept distracting me from the story. I believe the book was well written but not my style. I won the book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[LeAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Takes place in and around the Lake District in northern England with some crossover into Scotland. A slow read for me because of the dialects and terminology of the region. I'm glad that this was in book form and not a movie because I would not have know what they were saying. Even if I heard the word, knowing what it meant was another thing. Such terms as tarns, fells, and sentences like: "Blimey, Guv - it don't half pen - it's enough to put you off your Becks and Posh." Say what? But the main character, Inspector Skelgill, is a good detective, a bit of a loner who has a way of disappearing for a few hours or a day or two. He loves to eat, and he looks for a cup of hot tea everywhere he goes. He loves to fish and is a pretty experienced hill/mountain climber. A lot of land description in this book...lochs, ridges, the topography of the Lake District is covered quite a bit. I found myself skimming over some of it. The story itself is good, the crime is sort of unusual and, in spite of clues buried throughout, it's not easy to figure it all out until the end. It all tied up very nicely. This is the third book in the series, so I'll be reading the previous books next.

[John Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

My third Skelgill novel on the trot and the author's form continues. The stories run together so well that this could be almost a serial rather than a series.

Do you ever try and imagine which actor you would have play the main character in a book? I do but after three books, I still dont know who I think would play the part that I see in my minds eye. Any suggestions?

This investigation , which becomes concentrated on finding links, ends with Skelgill going undercover ( or not !) and putting himself in danger.

As well as the case there is still much more to these books. The rivalries at the Police station are here again in the shape of the Mancunion smoothie D I Smart , as is the hard to fathom relationship with the Chief and the special working relationship with D S Jones.

Not much fishing this time but still plenty of places to note for a quick bite and cuppa if in the area.
I can think of one author who published a separate book on his main character's recipes. Who knows perhaps Mr Beckham might consider a 'Skelgill's guide' to cafes and buttie vans.

Once again there is little but speculation for the Armchair Detective to dust off his magnifying glass for but nevertheless this is still a most enjoyable read. I will be back for more of the series after a short break as I need to know what happened after The Taj Mahal.

[Aravind · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book I've read in the series and it has all the ingredients I liked in the previous two novels. The lead characters are likeable, the plot is good, and, it's an enjoyable read overall. The problems I had with the previous ones are back too; the process of detection and the back story of the killings could have been more detailed. The description of the Lake district with its fells and tarns and other attractions is so vivid that I don't think I'll need any guide book if I were to visit the places... Only advice to first time readers of this series is to do so on an ebook reader, to avoid getting stuck at every sentence on the local dialect.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m very much enjoying reading this series while visiting Cumbria. The landscape is integral to the story and is evoked skilfully and naturally. Inspector Skelgill is a Dalziel kind of figure - working in his own unorthodox way, exploiting his staff, but always getting a result. It would make an excellent regional television series. I have a couple more crime series set in the Lakes District to read while I am here, but am currently hooked on this one.

When you’re on a good thing...

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

To start with, I would like to say that this time it took me longer to finish this Skelgill "adventure" - if we can use that word, but it was worth it.
In the beginning I was a bit annoyed by the somewhat lengthy descriptions not only of the surroundings (That I actually love) of the British countryside but also their attitudes and movements.
(be prepared for Brit langue here and there)
Mr Beckham is amazingly good with words, there's little that goes by without being dully noted and cleared depicted and when that does happen you can feel that it was totally on purpose.
Having said that you may think that sounds boring, like these long descritption books that takes up most of the chapter giving you a 360 view on the room before anything interesting happens. But it isn't. Not a single word is superfluous. It's enjoyable, it's rich, it's well constructed. (And, I would say definitely for advanced readers)
Skelgill is one of those funny chaps, mysterious somehow and yet quite straighfoward guy. His relationships with his co-workers (which is the backside story) is always peculiar and often hilarious.
Next one I want to take even longer, I really enjoyed being able to "fly"away to Penrith during my free time

[Italo Italophiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rich vocabulary. Lots of British locals, lore and dialects, along with fishing and climbing, and of course lots of eating (Skelgill is a veritable garbage disposal with a hyperactive metabolism!). Definitely for Brits or Anglophiles, and for advanced readers.

The characters are very well defined in this entry in the series, but the author departs from the police procedural form and shows us the killers and victims before the police get there, which I didn't enjoy much, to be honest. And the plot and resolution had a bit to much of the few Reginald Hill books that I disliked, a self-indulgence by the author that detracted from the believably of the characters and series.

As a woman, I especially dislike the sexual interest between the boss and the female subordinate. It is just wrong in so many ways. I do like the present tense and the third-person narration, which lets you follow the case along with the police (with the exception of the anomalous visit to the killers and victims in this book). Overall, the quality of the writing and the originality of the setting will keep me reading the other books in the series.

[Regina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is set in the British Lakes district and one of the most interesting things is the use of the different dialects to help define the characters. It is not over done but it is fun to pick up a local word every so often. The most interesting feature, besides the plot and investigation, was the use of the present tense by the narrator. The narrator is no longer omnipotent because happening as the reader reads. The narrator becomes more like stage directions giving possibilities for motivation of actions. I rather liked the subtle difference the grammar choice made and it was just different enough that you felt like you were thinking more. I plan on reading another of the series to see if the effect remains.

[Cheryl Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Inspector Danny Skelgill investigates a series of climbing "accidents" that turn out to be homicides. The victims appear not to have any obvious connection, at least that can be found. The bucolic, quirky Inspector Skelgill must find murderer before more people are killed.

In all fairness, I have to say, this was a difficult book to get into. First, I am completely unfamiliar with the geography of the setting, and the book often left me scratching my head. Eventually, as I got further along, I came to appreciate more of Skelgill's quirks as well as the often dry humor among his colleagues.

[PRK Oregon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want more! Wonderful, sparse prose - you won't find a lot of adjectives and adverbs in this novel.
Not a lot of superfluous language.
If you like police procedurals - tho' Inspector Skelgill does not follow "procedure" very well - I highly recommend this novel. Interesting, complex story. Great secondary characters.
Inspector Skelgill is a fisherman whose love of the outdoors is often interrupted by his work - gotta love him.
I plan to scour the used book stores & websites for more Skelgill, Cleopatra, Leyton and Jones.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the last week I have been indulging myself with the novels of Bruce Beckham. What a pleasure ! The storylines are captivating and believable, there are plenty of twists and turns, great characters and just enough information about Cumbria, weather, history and fishing to be interesting not overloading. I have really enjoyed all of his Inspector Skelgill tales and now want more. Highly recommended reading.

[Nancy W Markey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent plotting. Description of the settings is fascinating and led me

To wainwright and his walking guides. I eagerly await the next book. The the three main characters are well drawn and add intrigue
And comic relief.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book, love all things Skelgill!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is a police procedural, in that all the investigators are British police, the main investigator, Inspector Skelgill, frequently strays from procedure going off by himself to investigate in the middle of the night, and dodging his superior's calls. The murder victims in this book are all found on or close to hiking paths in the Lake District of England, in difficult to access places. As an ardent fisherman well acquainted with the region and a certified mountain rescue worker, Skelgill immediately spots that the bodies were posed there, rather than having died as a result of an accident. Finding out who was putting them there, and how and why they did so, was not so simple. This is the third in this series, and I continue to be entertained by them. You do need to be prepared to deal with various English dialects though, including Cockney rhyming slang.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were plenty of puzzles to solve in this outing: who has killed these men? why have they been killed? how have they been killed? why have their bodies been presented where they are? how did they get there?

The reader gets some help with answering the first question and hints are given to the answers of the others. Plenty of chance to exercise "the little grey cells".

I'm enjoying the character development of Skelgill, Jones, Leyton, and Smart, and even the dog Cleopatra who was added in the second novel. So far the plots have given the author good opportunities to describe Cumbria in particular.

I'm beginning to suspect that these novels are a bit formulaic, but I also have to admit I'm hooked. So far the plots have varied in their settings and in the methodology.

[Armelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Three men are killed in the space of just a few days. Although there is no apparent connection between them, it’s clear they’ve all been killed by the same person. Skelgill’s knowledge of the Lake District may be of little use this time, even if all three victims are found in the hills by walkers.

Skelgill’s idiosyncrasies get a little further out there with each book. He eats all the time, almost never pays his own way, and randomly disappears without explanation. He blatantly ignores orders. He’s a total pig to Leyden, while his relationship with Jones feels awkward and makes me uncomfortable. He’s gone from mildly amusing to mildly annoying … and he’s now rapidly turning into a jerk.

I’ve liked each book a little less, and I’m probably done with the series.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third in the Skelgill series and probably more dependent for full enjoyment on familiarity with the landmarks of the Lake District. Each murder victim is found at the bottom of an ‘edge’ in the fells but is clearly not a climber. As readers we know early on the motives (if not the identity) of the murderer or murderers so the main interest is how Skelgill and his team track him/her/them down. The repartee between Skelgill and his offsider Lleyton continues as does the sexual frisson with DS Emma Jones. The components of Beckham’s approach provide interest and enjoyment but I’ve probably had enough of the series for the moment.

[JanÃÂ Klos · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are good murder mysteries and there are lots of clues that seem to be wandering everywhere but at the end it’s all drawn together and it makes sense . The thing I didn’t like was that Skelgill seemed to be really rude to DS Leyton his subordinate. He was constantly having Leyton pay for Coffee and things and I’m pretty sure he had the higher salary. I suppose that was the humor in the book, but I didn’t like the main character seeming to use his subordinate that way. And although I know that Skelgill is tall and only in his 30s, I couldn’t get a picture of him from the authors details and I like to have an idea of what the main character looks like.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first Skelgill book, but it won't be my last! I've already downloaded 3 more.
This book sees Skelgill & his team investigating a tragic rope climbing accident, but it quickly becomes obvious that this was no accident. More bodies are found & Skelgill puts his life on the line to solve the murder.
The atmosphere of this book was lovely. The pacing was perfect. The villan wasn't "in your face" obvious from the get-go. I can't wait to catch up on the books in this series I've missed & to continue on!

[David Stubbings · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Murder on the Edge" is an entertaining book on two levels, firstly, it is a detective story and secondly it is, intentionally or unintentionally, a remarkably accurate travelogue. The latter made it an interesting tale although a lot of the detective part was rather predictable, until the last few pages when the motive for the crimes is revealed. I thought I detected shades of some other fictional detectives in the main character. However all in all it is worthwhile read. Recommended

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Well done lads & lassie! "

Well done lads & lassie, a terrific detective team you three make!

BRAVO BRUCE BECKHAM! You ALWAYS successfully transport the reader into such a special locale with your vivid descriptions and dialects. Though I started with book 6, and am now reading in order, they are definitely stand alone books. If you are a lover of mysteries, and especially British mysteries this series is a must read. I cannot wait to start my next adventure!

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific!

D I Daniel Skelgill is a maverick as a policeman but gets results! His off work time is spent fishing, climbing, , and fell running. His sergeants are accustomed to his unusual methods and are excellent supporters. The writing is superb and the mystery so well plotted and developed that I have no clue, until final exposure of the murderer, who " dunnit"! I care you to figure it out ahead! Enjoy!

[Susann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Delightful Addition To The Series

I love this author. His use of the English language in all its linguistic variety and density is admirable. The attraction between Skelgill and Emma is ratcheting up teasingly. Apparently there is a lot of naughtiness that goes on in Cumbria but none of it gratuitous here...just cleverly hinted at. Very atmospheric with weather, birds, food, tarns and interesting characters. On to the next...

[Pamela Paterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The murder mystery in this book was exceptionally well done. Skegill with the help of Leyton and Jones go above and beyond to solve what quickly becomes 3 murders with each victim seemingly unrelated, disappearing into nowhere only to be found on one of the many hikes in and around the Lakes.

All the old favourites were there, the bacon rolls, tea and the stunning description of the Lake District.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

For some reason this book was hard to get through--maybe because it was so convoluted and seemingly unsolvable. Still, as the murders piled up and the victims not only did not seem to be rock climbers nor hikers but also seemed unconnected, the mystery was intriguing. When the case finally breaks it is as sudden and surprising to the reader as to the detectives who doggedly investigated it.

I'm not sure what Jones sees in Skelgill but I like her and Leigton. Skelgill gives me a headache.

[Tehila · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was the only reason I slogged through this book; it felt more like a script for a movie, complete with instructions to the actors. Also, I did not care for the main characters.

If you enjoy this style of writing, you will enjoy the novels.

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes.