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A SPATE OF VICIOUS ATTACKS upon valuable Herdwick sheep, the sudden disappearance of a foreign hiker, and the unexplained drowning of a woodland hermit – a series of apparently unconnected events – draw Detective Inspector Daniel Skelgill to the white-knuckle passes and isolated dales of deepest Lakeland.

As straws in the wind begin to suggest there is sorcery afoot – and perhaps some connection to an equally sinister trade in human traffic – Skelgill and his team risk dire consequences as they strive to fathom the mystery, infiltrate the secretive ring and expose its evil perpetrators.

In the fifth Inspector Skelgill novel, the maverick British detective faces what is his greatest challenge yet, as he strives to overcome an error of judgement that could leave his career – and his life – in tatters.

250 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 27, 2015

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About the author

Bruce Beckham

85 books461 followers
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.

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5 stars
441 (48%)
4 stars
308 (33%)
3 stars
128 (13%)
2 stars
26 (2%)
1 star
15 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
6,223 reviews80 followers
March 31, 2023
Skelgill is out hill walking, and he notices a dead sheep. Seems there are an awful lot of dead sheep in the area lately.

There's skullduggery going on, and eventually an old hermit's body is found, and people have disappeared. There seem to be witches around, too.

Sometimes I wonder what this series is actually supposed to be.
Profile Image for Jillian.
893 reviews16 followers
March 29, 2018
Another one of the series I enjoyed. The end is a bit of a rush - and there’s a fair bit of somewhat unlikely abseiling activity in the nick of time- nevertheless it’s well-told, well-constructed and an interesting balance of rational thinking and intuition. I like the attempts to understand intuition and to link it to the experience and knowledge that comes from years of fishing - or other activity.

Skelgill would become very tedious if not surrounded by team members and friends who think differently, the skill of the writer is in the total package rather than the lone detective - a bit of a contradiction when Skelgill IS a maverick and loner. It’s not, however, the whole story.
Profile Image for Debbie.
373 reviews8 followers
May 1, 2016
Wow! This was such a fantastic read, and definitely the best so far in the Inspector Skelgill series! (The fifth instalment: note that these books can also be read as stand-alones, but I highly urge you to start from the beginning; they get better and better!)
There are mysterious deaths and disappearances, both human and ovine, possible human trafficking and both black and white magic witchcraft covens being investigated by Skelgill and his two sergeants, Jones and Leyton.
To say I was on the edge of my seat at many points throughout the book, especially towards the end, is an understatement; it was so exciting!! I could barely turn the pages quickly enough!
There were several absolutely hilarious moments as well, especially Skelgill and Jones' visit to Kiev and the manner in which Skelgill's motorcycle dilemma is solved by an elderly lady.
I can't recommend this book highly enough! I was sorry when it ended! (READ IT. SERIOUSLY!)
Profile Image for Book Him Danno.
2,399 reviews78 followers
December 13, 2017
If you enjoy British Police mysteries you will enjoy this book. It is a good story line and well told. However, having said that, the use of local dialect and excessive scenery descriptions can be off-putting and make for difficult reading. I resided in England, off and on, for over 20 years and I had difficulty at times with the local grammar used.


That said I have rated this book 4 stars for the plot and enjoyment received from a well developed story line.

I obtained this book from Amazon in Kindle format.
Thank you Frank for your review
Profile Image for Montzalee Wittmann.
5,224 reviews2,340 followers
October 30, 2016
Murder by Magic (Inspector Skelgill Investigates #5) by Bruce Beckham is a mystery that is written like the good old fashion mysteries which I adore! Castles, accents, old fashion courtesies, and more. Reminded me of Sherlock. Enjoyed the book tremendously. Great plot and twists. Well developed characters that were relatable, and the surprises at the end, and the mystery at the end too! Great job!
Profile Image for Kathy.
3,876 reviews290 followers
March 16, 2021
I continue to like this series, but this particular book was not quite as enjoyable to read. Skelgill's observations of the woodlands as he treks here and there alone belongs in a natural science book. He was hunting for a missing person as well as investigating missing sheep and then finding ram's heads posted eerily, many pages with zero dialogue. It belongs in a hiking journal for the most part. There is a missing tourist and a missing bum of the woods in an area of abandoned mines, old castle and surly gamekeepers. When he and DS Jones interviews a witch they pick up some vital clues that will be important later. Witchcraft, coven, human trafficking from another country that takes Skelgill and Jones on a very strange trip, poor plan allowing Jones to go undercover putting her life at risk, impossible rescue...Lots to not like or at least question. 3.5 stars for me

Kindle Unlimited
Profile Image for Stewart Tame.
2,477 reviews121 followers
August 23, 2017
I've read two of the Skelgill mysteries now, and they're rather fun. In this one, what starts out as a minor matter of some missing sheep starts to build into something larger when a missing person is added to the tally. And then another. And black magic may be involved ...

Nothing overtly supernatural here, just a good old-fashioned mystery. There's a strong sense of place to this book, which is greatly appreciated. As an American, it's nice to read a book set in the British Isles that doesn't take place in London. I imagine the Brits have a similar reaction to reading a book about the USA that doesn't take place in and around New York City or Washington DC. The book starts quietly, but builds to a suspenseful and action-packed climax. Although this is the fifth book in the series, it's as good a place to start as any. I jumped from book one straight into book five and didn't get any inkling that I'd spoiled anything for myself (although I suppose any "Will Inspector Skelgill survive?" cliffhangers in books 2-4 won't have quite the same thrill now.) Not sure I'd recommend this to just anybody, but if you're looking for a decent mystery novel, it's worth checking out.
894 reviews4 followers
July 22, 2016
DI Skelgill first notices a mutilated sheep on a morning run. Then he hears about more. When a foreign hiker vanishes and a local hermit is drowned, he begins to make connections.

There were things I liked about this book. The vocabulary is erudite which is not often the case in mystery novels. The story is well plotted. DS Jones and Leyland seem likable. Also, the descriptions of the region are incredibly detailed. There was a bit of humor.

My biggest problem with the book was that it was written in the present tense. That works in some literature, but I didn't like it at all here. It was distracting and annoying.

It also made it difficult to develop real insight into what the characters were feeling. There was a lot of "Skelgill looks irked" and "Skelgill is looking irritated". So you could sense that Skelgill might not be a cheerful man, but you don't really know if looking irked or irritated reflects what he is actually feeling. It didn't make him likable. Plus he's a bit of a sexist really.

I received this book as a Goodreads First-reads giveaway. I wanted to like it more, but the fact that it was written in the present tense really ruined it for me.
Profile Image for John Lee.
873 reviews15 followers
February 7, 2023
Sometimes series get a bit stagnant by number 5. Not so here. I think that this is the best yet.

More in depth knowledge dispensed about country life in the Lakes, about fishing and this time witchcraft too.

A cracking story with a climax which reminded of the best of Dennis Wheatley in his heyday in which Skelgill manages to persuade his Chief to authorize another overseas visit with a certain DS.

An almost insignificant missing persons report , while the office is quiet, allows Skelgill to escape his base to look into the incident. Being Skelgill , something doesnt seem quite right and so a mystery starts to unfold.

Perhaps the biggest unanswered question of the series so far, foll0ws the books last line.

After 4* on all of the previous books, its a 5* this time.

Reread Feb 2023.
My memory of my first reading was as vague as Skelgill's was of his visit to the Russian Banya.
5* confirmed..
Profile Image for Karen Plummer.
357 reviews48 followers
August 24, 2017
Two seemingly minor mysteries, a drowned old tramp and a missing guest from a B&B, are the focus of this fifth novel in the Inspector Skelgill series. On the face of things, they don't seem linked in any way. Things get very murky as Skelgill, Leyton, and Jones try to pull all the pieces together, encountering witchcraft, black magic cults, and ties to Ukrainian human traffickers.

As always, Beckham's writing is brilliant. His descriptions of even the most mundane of things are so vivid that I feel myself a part of the scenery. Some day I must visit the Lake District and experience the wild beauty of the place.
Profile Image for J.L. Rallios.
Author 2 books15 followers
January 25, 2018
Whew! I almost didn't make it. Many times I thought about stopping, but I'm glad that I made it through. It was a very good mystery with eeriness, adventure, a little tad of romance, humor, and a surprising ending on who the mastermind was behind the mysterious abductions and sheep deaths. What I didn't like (and almost had me quit numerous times) were the heavy accents, English wordings, and the present tense narration. They made it very difficult. I doubt that I'll read more of this series, but I enjoyed this one. Oh, by the way, I got this for free on a book giveaway and this is my honest opinion of the book.
Profile Image for Jeanne Johnston.
1,592 reviews15 followers
June 25, 2017
Every once in a while, a good read sneaks into the freebie lists. This was one, a fun mystery that builds on scope, the old-fashioned maverick they have to tolerate because he gets results, castles, mines, menacing foreigners, witches, sheep, missing people, mysterious deaths, crotchety old ladies, chase scenes, Slavic discos, and not least of all, pies. It's kind of halfway between Hamish Macbeth (which has more fun and quirky locals) and Shetland (much darker). Would definitely do Skelgill and Co. Again.
Profile Image for Candace.
59 reviews10 followers
August 7, 2019
Always happy reading a book with Skelgill in it!
Profile Image for Wanda.
48 reviews
September 11, 2017
Excellent!

There were a couple of sections that had me a tad bit bored or lost and confused, but overall I enjoyed the story enormously. I highly recommend it!
Profile Image for Becky.
Author 9 books3 followers
March 1, 2017
If you don't like some British features like: dry and smart humour, a special love for their green and dreamlike (sometimes nightmarish) countryside and funny variations on UK's accents, this book is probably not for you.
With a delicious and quite challenging use of the language this book takes us to a new case in which the main characters are more deeply connected. I read reviews complaining about mr. Beckham use of language. Being a foreigner myself I can sympathise but I also think it's refreshing to read something so well written. Really, what's the point of reading if it is not to learn a few words here and there? I appreciate that if you're reading a hardcover it might mean getting stuck sometimes. Reading in a kindle, which was my case, I had no trouble finding the words and chuckling at some use of them by the characters. Yes, they are from an area so small and nevertheless, their accents diverge both in sounds and words. I personally found it fascinating.
In this case, the characters seemed much closer to each other and they seemed to work more close together. This is probably the reason why this one is my favorite from the series so far.

SPOILER!!




*****************************************************************
The Ukranian bit was a pleasant surprise and stimulating somehow.
The only bit that got to me was the (almost) "lady in distress" part. Although DS Jones is nothing like a lady in distress (for me anyway) it was a little disappointing to see her in that situation. I loved the fact that she never felt that troubled anyhow being convinced that Skelgill was on top of it the whole time. Even though he wasn't.
Turns out this one is also quite romantic, but it's an Englishman romance, I daresay!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
81 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2021
Up to Now

Binge reading this series has brought me to book 5, so I decided it was time to make a comment. Daniel Skelgill is not a particularly likeable character. He is self centered, self indulgent, and hypercritical of his subordinates -- especially poor DS Leyton.
Still I read on.
What irks me throughout this series is the blatant sexism especially demonstrated by DI Alex Smart. I haven't decided to be more annoyed by his behavior or by the mouse-like acceptance of DS Jones. Grow some frontage, girl and file a complaint! Surely Britain has Instituted anti-harrassment policies! Of cours,e primary supervisor, Skelgill, would also be taking measures was he has been a witness to Smart's inappropriate advances.
Finally, before the "likes", my last grumbling. Phlegmatic. There MUST be synonyms for this word. I have added it to my (sadly) touring list of overused words alongside " bemused" and "smirk". Don't forget "snuck" the ungrammatical past tense of sneak (sneaked, if you're curious).
What I like: Skelgill. Yeah, I know. Contradicts what I said earlier. But he is more complex than the surface flaws and he's not like many of the other detectives in this genre. I also like the way Beckham describes the Lake District. It has me checking my various atlases and Wikipedia (for photos). I've learned quite a bit about the variety of birds found in that region and have expanded my knowledge of the history of Cumbria.
It is always good to learn as you go.
Profile Image for LeAnne.
384 reviews9 followers
October 11, 2018
Book #5 in the Inspector Skelgill series. Set in Cumberland, in the Lake District of England. Lots of local names for the geographical formations and a few local slang phrases. We get to see a down-to-earth man who leads a loyal team of detectives. Skelgill's intuition serves him well when he has a murder or two to solve. The author challenges the reader with excellent writing and a vocabulary that challenges you on occasion. I've read seven books in this series and I highly recommend them.
Profile Image for Anita Hargreaves.
748 reviews18 followers
August 21, 2019
Meaty read

This author's, love of The Lakes is apparent and I do struggle with the dialect when phonetically spelt however it wasn't used often. As a reader you forget the DI, is a fit young man as is set in his ways, fishing and food being his favourite past time. This book was darker than others in the series, in respect that modern life has intruded to The Lake District with immigrants from the Ukraine possibly being trafficked. I enjoyed this read and look forward to reading more.
Profile Image for JJ.
407 reviews7 followers
April 10, 2023
Well, Guv, first thing I have to say, Guv, is that all the police in Skelgills team, Guv, constantly call him Guv, Guv. Is this so the author does not have to show in words (like ‘Exclaimed DS Jones’ or even just ‘said’) when one of Skelgill’s team takes a turn in speaking. Anyway, it got on my nerves.
The book jumps around a bit, lots of talk of place and landscape. The author really knows The Lakes. And there is a big hunt on for a missing man, witchcraft comes into it and people traffickers.
Not my favourite.
831 reviews5 followers
February 5, 2022
This was an excellent thriller with a very scary windup. The introduction of witches covens into the mix added another dimension quite literally. These books always end with Skelgill and Emma on the brink of a possible romantic interlude but we are never sure if anything then happens. Hmmm. Keeps us dangling. The author uses an interesting present tense third person narrative which seems unusual and gives a person on the wall perspective in real time. This series is addictive!!!
20 reviews
April 25, 2022
The writing is sublime

Bruce Beckham is the master of weaving fascinating descriptions , using words that I constantly have to look up. Combined with down to earth characters that leap off the page . I would never think I would find descriptions of fishing tackle interesting but Beckham has such a way with words, that I find myself galloping through the pages. I've read them all, and now I'm reading them again.
Profile Image for Kerrie.
1,308 reviews
July 1, 2023
I'm enjoying the fact that there are so many in this series (apparently 21 now) to dip into. I am reading them in order as I believe that will give me the best view of character and plot development.

The action in this one takes Skelgill and his Sergeant Jones travelling to the Ukraine to try to work out why people from there appear to be turning up in Cumbria. That seemed to be a little stretch in credibility but it resulted in some interesting plot lines.
7 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2017
Purely Wonderful!

Murder by Magic is an excellent tale. Bruce Beckham adroitly has the characters rousting about Northern England. The way he has them all interacting is done with a great deal of expertise. It is with difficulty that you will set this book aside without wondering what the next chapter holds. On to the next in the series!
Profile Image for Nancy.
76 reviews5 followers
October 14, 2017
This is a very different read, for me anyway. The point-of-view is extremely distant, As is the narrator. At no time, do we see inside the head of any of the characters.
This took some getting used to at first, but the story is interesting as are the characters. It's worth the effort. Fair warning, there are some colloquialisms included that are impossible to decipher.
Profile Image for Bonnie.
259 reviews
April 16, 2018
Not the easiest Inspector Skelgill mystery to read, seemed to have more colloquialisms than normal. Valuable Herdwick sheep being slaughtered, disappearance of a foreign hiker, the murder of the woodland hermit all combined to make for a convoluted mystery! Many thanks to Lucius, author Bruce Beckham & Goodreads for the privilege of reading & reviewing this book.
1,909 reviews18 followers
August 12, 2019
Excellent!

Not the usual coordinated work with D I Daniel Skelgill and the two sergeants with whom he works. This involves Polish and Ukranian immigrants gone missing, witches and magic, and lots of wild conjectures. Did not have the charming appeal of the earlier books. It is still an intriguing mystery.
Profile Image for Linden.
2,117 reviews1 follower
December 27, 2024
DI Skelgill and DS Jones are notified that a young man has vanished from a local B&B. Apparently, he was not who he seemed, as they learn when they find his passport. There is also a problem with someone killing sheep locally. Their search leads them to illegal immigrants, trafficking, Eastern Europe, and black magic practitioners in a very dangerous undercover operation.
Profile Image for Gary Van Cott.
1,446 reviews8 followers
May 19, 2017
3.5 stars. This book had a bit more "action" in it than most of the preceding ones, although some of the plot was improbable. I like the characters in this series. There are a number of unfamiliar word but since I am reading them on a kindle I can look them up.
95 reviews
July 10, 2017
Interesting murder mystery

Entertaining story with complex characters involved in a storyline with enough plot twists to keep you turning pages ages to the very end. Not much violence and no sex.
Profile Image for teresa.
511 reviews4 followers
July 16, 2017
Good story in beautiful country

More confusing to follow than the first book. I just started swimming parts that jumped from place to place with no reason or character connection until I got to the dramatic section. Then the language was more universal and it came together.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews

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