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DI Skelgill Investigates #13
Murder at Shake Holes
STAND-ALONE MURDER MYSTERY, #13 IN THE SERIES. MEET MAVERICK BRITISH DETECTIVE DI SKELGILL... "MAD, BAD AND JUST A LITTLE BIT COZY."MURDER ON THE MIDNIGHT EXPRESS? When the exclusive London-to-Edinburgh sleeper plunges into a snowdrift deep in the Cumbrian fells, DI Skelgill awakes to discover one fellow passenger dead and another missing.Through a blinding blizzard Skelgill leads a daring evacuation - but even before they reach the sanctuary of an isolated coaching inn, a third traveller suffers a life-threatening mishap.As suspicion pervades the elite group of apparent strangers, Skelgill has to face an uncomfortable question. Could it be that the dead man - a world authority on money laundering - has been silenced? And is a ruthless conspiracy afoot to gain possession of his incriminating memoirs?Cut off without communications, surrounded by treacherous moorland, Skelgill must conduct a clandestine investigation. He faces a race against time - and the knowledge that, if he shows his hand, more innocent lives will be at risk."Great characters. Great atmospheric locale. Great plots. What's not to like?"Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars
240 pages, Paperback
Published July 14, 2019
375 people are currently reading
687 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 40 reviews
August 13, 2020
I won this book in a goodreads drawing.
On a train trip home from a ceremony, the train becomes stuck in a snow drift in a remote part of Scotland. DI Skelgill remembers they're right near a handy inn. In the process of evacuating the train, they find a dead man. Was it natural causes or murder? There's a missing manuscript, a missing passenger, a possible attempted murder. The Inn itself is snowed in, without wi-fi or phones, and pretty creepy, surrounded by shake holes, sink holes in lime stone that are hidden in the snow.
A nice throwback to an Agatha Christie type novel, kept within modern types.
On a train trip home from a ceremony, the train becomes stuck in a snow drift in a remote part of Scotland. DI Skelgill remembers they're right near a handy inn. In the process of evacuating the train, they find a dead man. Was it natural causes or murder? There's a missing manuscript, a missing passenger, a possible attempted murder. The Inn itself is snowed in, without wi-fi or phones, and pretty creepy, surrounded by shake holes, sink holes in lime stone that are hidden in the snow.
A nice throwback to an Agatha Christie type novel, kept within modern types.
September 20, 2025
Skelgill and his team are on the train home from London just before Christmas. There is a huge blizzard and the passengers seem to be stuck. Skelgill and another passenger brave the weather to get to a nearby inn, but they learn that one of the passengers is dead. Murdered for important information someone didn't want him to reveal? But where are the incriminating documents? Russian spies, MI5, and Americans are all involved in this most unusual Skelgill mystery.
February 25, 2020
Didn’t like how this book was written in the present tense
May 21, 2020
While this is, like the others in the series, a stand-alone story, this reader benefits from familiarity with the context. I came to the series by seeking out detective novels set in the Lake District while visiting the area and Beckham did not disappoint. This was no exception.
The setting is integral to the plot and evokes not just the landscape, but the life of those who choose to live there. While the espionage thread is not integral to the district it is plausible in the time in which it is set.
The relationships between the detectives are maintained with a light touch, successfully, I think, holding a line between stereotyping and intrusion on the main detection plot. I was taken aback by the gap between the bringing down of the villains and the tidying up of the loose ends. Didn’t readers need to know who got home for Christmas and how families fared?
On reflection, the answer is no. I like the focus on detection, problem solving, resolution - and teamwork. I’m glad it stayed there.
The setting is integral to the plot and evokes not just the landscape, but the life of those who choose to live there. While the espionage thread is not integral to the district it is plausible in the time in which it is set.
The relationships between the detectives are maintained with a light touch, successfully, I think, holding a line between stereotyping and intrusion on the main detection plot. I was taken aback by the gap between the bringing down of the villains and the tidying up of the loose ends. Didn’t readers need to know who got home for Christmas and how families fared?
On reflection, the answer is no. I like the focus on detection, problem solving, resolution - and teamwork. I’m glad it stayed there.
April 30, 2021
Loved this book! Great plot with interesting characters and many mysteries to unravel under severest of conditions. Our faithful three, Skelgill, Jones and Leyton, are heading home on a holiday train north from London after awards dinner where they had been recognized. The fellow travelers are a somewhat elite group and they all enjoy drinks and socializing until a snow storm halts the train. Before departing from the train on a hunt for shelter a dead body is discovered, and that is just the beginning of the fun.
February 20, 2020
The narrative is in the present tense, which takes a little to get used to.
Reminiscent of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, this is actually more of a spy novel. I was a little disappointed with the involvement of Russian spies since that made it feel more old-fashioned. I also did not feel any sympathy for any of the characters. And the dialect and slang were a bit offputting since I had to make an extra effort to unravel what was meant.
Overall I was not too convinced by the whole thing.
Reminiscent of Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie, this is actually more of a spy novel. I was a little disappointed with the involvement of Russian spies since that made it feel more old-fashioned. I also did not feel any sympathy for any of the characters. And the dialect and slang were a bit offputting since I had to make an extra effort to unravel what was meant.
Overall I was not too convinced by the whole thing.
August 24, 2019
Leisurely whodunnit, padded with filler. Almost a police procedural.
I enjoyed the primary whodunnit storyline featuring Cumbrian CID. Please refer to excellent synopses written by other reviewers. Besides the whodunnit, I also liked the deeper storyline running dark in the background. Unfortunately, the primary storyline was overwhelmed by numerous subplots and secondary characters.
I did like several secondary characters, who raised curiosity and suspicions as to their true identities. Plus, there were good red herrings amongst the many characters. I found DI Skegill rather prickly, never cottoned to him, and couldn’t imagine him saying or even thinking the words: “retroussé nose.” Really. I studied French, but I had to look up this one.
This book is written—for most part, annoyingly—in present tense, which reminded me of script-writing and screenplay directions. I almost stopped reading—oh, so many times—when present tense is combined with short, choppy, often incomplete sentences. Further, the author often leaped from short & choppy to “waxing poetic” passages—which all but gasped for an editor to red-pen punctuation, grammar, run-on-sentences, word choices, etc.
Here’s a sentence that I skimmed: “While he has his own knack of appearing disinterested when questioning a suspect or witness, it is an affected manner and not always convincing, his unique blend of capriciousness and recalcitrance lurking never far below the surface, liable to be agitated by obduracy.”
I was often stopped—abruptly—by the author’s peculiar and frequent use of parentheses. I rarely encounter them, so I had to think about rules of usage. At times, the words/sentence enclosed by parentheses could have been omitted entirely. Or the parentheses ditched.
This book has a lot of filler. There are about ten pages of Skegill walking about the wooded fellside whilst engaged in internal monologue. Yes, at times, it’s atmospheric. He sees conifers, becks, ice plates, and “frozen platelets.” In my mind’s eye, plastic bags of blood components sit frozen solid in the blood bank. Another example: Word-walls about an evening of traditional pub games—darts, drinking, billiards, drinking, shove ha’penny, drinking, pub quiz, and finally, karaoke with jukebox.
Warning to Americans: There are a lot of Britishisms, Cumbrian vernacular, plus Scottish variants. The author provides a glossary, but I did search online for other words.
2.5 stars because I liked the primary mystery.
I enjoyed the primary whodunnit storyline featuring Cumbrian CID. Please refer to excellent synopses written by other reviewers. Besides the whodunnit, I also liked the deeper storyline running dark in the background. Unfortunately, the primary storyline was overwhelmed by numerous subplots and secondary characters.
I did like several secondary characters, who raised curiosity and suspicions as to their true identities. Plus, there were good red herrings amongst the many characters. I found DI Skegill rather prickly, never cottoned to him, and couldn’t imagine him saying or even thinking the words: “retroussé nose.” Really. I studied French, but I had to look up this one.
This book is written—for most part, annoyingly—in present tense, which reminded me of script-writing and screenplay directions. I almost stopped reading—oh, so many times—when present tense is combined with short, choppy, often incomplete sentences. Further, the author often leaped from short & choppy to “waxing poetic” passages—which all but gasped for an editor to red-pen punctuation, grammar, run-on-sentences, word choices, etc.
Here’s a sentence that I skimmed: “While he has his own knack of appearing disinterested when questioning a suspect or witness, it is an affected manner and not always convincing, his unique blend of capriciousness and recalcitrance lurking never far below the surface, liable to be agitated by obduracy.”
I was often stopped—abruptly—by the author’s peculiar and frequent use of parentheses. I rarely encounter them, so I had to think about rules of usage. At times, the words/sentence enclosed by parentheses could have been omitted entirely. Or the parentheses ditched.
This book has a lot of filler. There are about ten pages of Skegill walking about the wooded fellside whilst engaged in internal monologue. Yes, at times, it’s atmospheric. He sees conifers, becks, ice plates, and “frozen platelets.” In my mind’s eye, plastic bags of blood components sit frozen solid in the blood bank. Another example: Word-walls about an evening of traditional pub games—darts, drinking, billiards, drinking, shove ha’penny, drinking, pub quiz, and finally, karaoke with jukebox.
Warning to Americans: There are a lot of Britishisms, Cumbrian vernacular, plus Scottish variants. The author provides a glossary, but I did search online for other words.
2.5 stars because I liked the primary mystery.
October 3, 2021
and on to the next in this outstanding series. I must confess that I had doubts about this one as I started reading. It didnt feel like a Skelgill opening. Gone are the Lake District fells and the peaceful boat of an angler on Bassenthwaite, and instead our trio are boarding an overnight sleeper in London hoping to beat the bad weather back to Cumbria in time for Christmas.
I didnt really get a feel for the, mainly Russian,fellow passengers at this stage either.
Even in the snow , things start heating up as "Breakheart Pass" comes to the Lakes. Mysterious
Russians including an oligarch's former supermodel wife, a shady American and perhaps a too helpful ex soldier are among the cast of characters (helpfully listed at the beginning) and of course there is a suspicious death.
The book was well up to the usual standard especially with the high action ending.
I keep having to remind remind myself that Skelgill is only 37 because he regularly seems to act much older and I still havent settled on an actor who I could imagine playing him when these stories eventually make it to the screen as they surely must one day.
I didnt really get a feel for the, mainly Russian,fellow passengers at this stage either.
Even in the snow , things start heating up as "Breakheart Pass" comes to the Lakes. Mysterious
Russians including an oligarch's former supermodel wife, a shady American and perhaps a too helpful ex soldier are among the cast of characters (helpfully listed at the beginning) and of course there is a suspicious death.
The book was well up to the usual standard especially with the high action ending.
I keep having to remind remind myself that Skelgill is only 37 because he regularly seems to act much older and I still havent settled on an actor who I could imagine playing him when these stories eventually make it to the screen as they surely must one day.
March 13, 2022
Strangers On A Train?
This is the third Skelgill book that offers a nod to Agatha Christie. So far there has been strangers in a country house and a mysterious hound on the moors. Since I am not learned on Christie books, I am wondering if the author has used others of her mysteries as inspiration. Maybe he plans to do all of them??? Of course none of the characters are what they seem; the ones that seem innocent aren't and vice versa. Nice convoluted plot with Russians, money laundering, government intelligence operatives and a disclosure set to shock a world conference. Ooo! Skelgill goes through many hideous facial contortions as he agonizes over the solutions as well as cruelly cudgels the fireplace logs in his frustration. He also continues to attract shapely women like iron filings. Beckham's colorful similes are much in evidence and there are lots of delicious Lakeland words and British phrases to learn such as "...how's your father? " The goodies keep coming.
This is the third Skelgill book that offers a nod to Agatha Christie. So far there has been strangers in a country house and a mysterious hound on the moors. Since I am not learned on Christie books, I am wondering if the author has used others of her mysteries as inspiration. Maybe he plans to do all of them??? Of course none of the characters are what they seem; the ones that seem innocent aren't and vice versa. Nice convoluted plot with Russians, money laundering, government intelligence operatives and a disclosure set to shock a world conference. Ooo! Skelgill goes through many hideous facial contortions as he agonizes over the solutions as well as cruelly cudgels the fireplace logs in his frustration. He also continues to attract shapely women like iron filings. Beckham's colorful similes are much in evidence and there are lots of delicious Lakeland words and British phrases to learn such as "...how's your father? " The goodies keep coming.
February 17, 2020
Won this from Goodreads Giveaways and enjoyed it. It was a little difficult for me with some of the British dialogue but as I didn't understand some of the words but nonetheless I enjoyed the story. Good plot and interesting characters.
The story revolves around 3 detectives coming back from an awards dinner in London to Cumbria when their train runs into a snowdrift and they are stranded. They end up at an old Inn and they try to figure out who killed a prominent man on the train. People are not who they seem. In the end all is revealed and their are some definite twists. The setting in the isolated woods is good and moody.
This is the first I have read in this series and plan on reading them all from the beginning.
The story revolves around 3 detectives coming back from an awards dinner in London to Cumbria when their train runs into a snowdrift and they are stranded. They end up at an old Inn and they try to figure out who killed a prominent man on the train. People are not who they seem. In the end all is revealed and their are some definite twists. The setting in the isolated woods is good and moody.
This is the first I have read in this series and plan on reading them all from the beginning.
October 13, 2023
Excellent book
DI Skelgilland his crew wind up on a midnight express train going to Northern England when a severe winter storm comes upon them. The following morning the train comes to a deadstop, throwing most people in the sleeper compartment onto the floor. The train has run into a solid wall of snow on the tracks and they are stranded so Skelgill and his team must find a way to get everyone off the train and into a safe area while they await being rescued.
I really enjoyed this book although I had to stop several times to figure out some of the big words as well as the english vernacular. LOL! I learned a lot reading this story. This book was well written and kept me guessing who the ultimate villan was. Good job, Bruce!
DI Skelgilland his crew wind up on a midnight express train going to Northern England when a severe winter storm comes upon them. The following morning the train comes to a deadstop, throwing most people in the sleeper compartment onto the floor. The train has run into a solid wall of snow on the tracks and they are stranded so Skelgill and his team must find a way to get everyone off the train and into a safe area while they await being rescued.
I really enjoyed this book although I had to stop several times to figure out some of the big words as well as the english vernacular. LOL! I learned a lot reading this story. This book was well written and kept me guessing who the ultimate villan was. Good job, Bruce!
August 21, 2019
Excellent!
Night in London for an awards banquet, night express train from London to Edinburgh, and a massive blizzard roaring across northern England and southern Scotland set the scene for the next adventure of D I Skekgill and his two sergeants. Train encounters a huge snowdrift and is disabled so Skellgill, donning his mountain rescue hat, leads an evacuation of the train passengers to a snowbound inn. Action is fast and confusing, trust is absent, while they wait for rescue. Very complicated plot and need to separate truth from fiction. Another hair raising finale!
Night in London for an awards banquet, night express train from London to Edinburgh, and a massive blizzard roaring across northern England and southern Scotland set the scene for the next adventure of D I Skekgill and his two sergeants. Train encounters a huge snowdrift and is disabled so Skellgill, donning his mountain rescue hat, leads an evacuation of the train passengers to a snowbound inn. Action is fast and confusing, trust is absent, while they wait for rescue. Very complicated plot and need to separate truth from fiction. Another hair raising finale!
August 26, 2019
I won this book in a Goodreads give-away. It's the first Detective Inspector Skelgill I've read, which did not detract from the enjoyment (truly is a stand-alone).
Bruce Beckham's writing reminds me of the British mysteries of the 1930s and 1940s, a very good thing as I enjoy the older style. The characters come to life and the setting is stupendous. Even without the mysterious death the plot has a lot of suspense. I never did figure out who done it. Since this is #13 in the series, I plan to be enjoying more of the Detective Inspector's cases.
Bruce Beckham's writing reminds me of the British mysteries of the 1930s and 1940s, a very good thing as I enjoy the older style. The characters come to life and the setting is stupendous. Even without the mysterious death the plot has a lot of suspense. I never did figure out who done it. Since this is #13 in the series, I plan to be enjoying more of the Detective Inspector's cases.
January 5, 2022
Murder at Shake Holes: New for 2019
A riveting tale with many people and different corners to turn coming to the conclusion at the end of the book.
So much wonderful detail of surroundings, chapters, actions and British terminology to stretch my American brain.
Very intriguing and captivating as I continued to read, getting behind in my chores as I read.
Awesomeness in print.
A riveting tale with many people and different corners to turn coming to the conclusion at the end of the book.
So much wonderful detail of surroundings, chapters, actions and British terminology to stretch my American brain.
Very intriguing and captivating as I continued to read, getting behind in my chores as I read.
Awesomeness in print.
July 27, 2019
I usually enjoy the Skelgill stories,having read them all, however Shake Holes was not a favourite. The plot may have been clever but I found it a tad difficult to follow ,of course all was revealed in the end and everyone lived happily etc. I found the going was really slow and a bit tedious at times. Not too worry I am looking forward to the next Beckham tale #14.
August 7, 2019
This was a really good read! A familiar story with a new twist. I was really surprised when all was revealed at the end and I appreciate that! The characters are good with great dialogue, and the owner of the Inn is an odd duck. I can see him as Skelgill did in his description, someone who can be used. Murder at Shake Holes is worth your time, read it!
November 15, 2019
Intriguing!
A wonderfully crafted and executed mystery in the fashion of Agatha Christie with characters both lively and fun. Like all of the series it is drawn with vivid detail of the formidable natural surroundings on the border between Scotland and England! The inspector and his team are a treat! A most satisfying read
A wonderfully crafted and executed mystery in the fashion of Agatha Christie with characters both lively and fun. Like all of the series it is drawn with vivid detail of the formidable natural surroundings on the border between Scotland and England! The inspector and his team are a treat! A most satisfying read
October 21, 2022
Having read several of his books, I was not disappointed in this one. I like the plot and guessed a couple of areas before reading it all. It is different from other books by its descriptions of areas in the UK. You get to know the country along with the main characters. I like to read books in other co untries and learn information as I follow the plots.
February 27, 2024
I can’t get enough Skelgill…
I absolutely love this series. Even though there is necessarily some familiar characters and situations, each book is fresh and riveting. Each book is a standalone mystery even though the cast is the same. The setting is always interesting and well described. I feel I know Skelgill and his crew. I always look forward to hearing from them.
I absolutely love this series. Even though there is necessarily some familiar characters and situations, each book is fresh and riveting. Each book is a standalone mystery even though the cast is the same. The setting is always interesting and well described. I feel I know Skelgill and his crew. I always look forward to hearing from them.
April 5, 2025
I Love this series
I want to thank Bruce Beckham for coming up with such a great character as Inspector Skelgill in such a beautiful place as the Lake District. Although the amount of time limited and could not see enough, your writing brings out the beauty of the area and of the humaness of the characters. Thanks again for a wonderful series of books.
I want to thank Bruce Beckham for coming up with such a great character as Inspector Skelgill in such a beautiful place as the Lake District. Although the amount of time limited and could not see enough, your writing brings out the beauty of the area and of the humaness of the characters. Thanks again for a wonderful series of books.
Read
August 15, 2019Interesting mystery with colorful characters
Good interesting story line and characters. Several twists and turns that make you look for what is coming next. Would recommend!
Good interesting story line and characters. Several twists and turns that make you look for what is coming next. Would recommend!
August 17, 2019
Good story
This story is the first from this author I have read. It reminds me of Midsomer murders. It started a little slow but picked up and had me guessing for awhile who did it. Entertaining and I will definitely read the others.
This story is the first from this author I have read. It reminds me of Midsomer murders. It started a little slow but picked up and had me guessing for awhile who did it. Entertaining and I will definitely read the others.
September 24, 2019
Murder at Shake Holes by Bruce Beckham is book 13 of Detective Inspector Skelgill Investigates series. It reads me of mysteries that were written in the 1930's. I t kept me guessing until the end.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
I received a copy thru a Goodreads Giveaway.
December 23, 2019
Excellent, as Always
This one is delightfully different. Different setting and no conflict within the police ranks. A train, snow, Russians, a murder and confusion galore, what more could one want?
This one is delightfully different. Different setting and no conflict within the police ranks. A train, snow, Russians, a murder and confusion galore, what more could one want?
January 16, 2020
Murder, trains, and bad weather mix well for a mystery. (See Murder on the Orient Express). This one has great setting, good writing, ok characters and, at the end of it all, as utterly daft a plot as can be found. Check your brain at the door but go with the flow.
March 24, 2020
Good plot
Although this book was rather long, in my opinion, the plot was good. I enjoyed all the characters. Well developed and believable. Location and weather conditions of the story added to the intrigue and overall tone of the book.
Although this book was rather long, in my opinion, the plot was good. I enjoyed all the characters. Well developed and believable. Location and weather conditions of the story added to the intrigue and overall tone of the book.
July 31, 2022
Another wonderful Skelgill mystery
On their way back from London a snowstorm stops their train, and the trio are not only in the middle of it, there’s a murder. There are Russians, CIA and a Bond from MI5. As usual, the description is spot on, especially Leyton’s snake holes.
On their way back from London a snowstorm stops their train, and the trio are not only in the middle of it, there’s a murder. There are Russians, CIA and a Bond from MI5. As usual, the description is spot on, especially Leyton’s snake holes.
September 8, 2019
Murder in the train
There were too many characters and at the end I had no idea what the crime was and who did what.
There were too many characters and at the end I had no idea what the crime was and who did what.
October 27, 2019
Another good read!
I liked the story and true to form for Bruce Beckham, the dialogue and local detail were first rate! I would recommend.
I liked the story and true to form for Bruce Beckham, the dialogue and local detail were first rate! I would recommend.
November 19, 2019
Great Read
You think you have it figured out, but do you?
The plot keeps twisting, it keeps you guessing. Easy read makes you want to read more
You think you have it figured out, but do you?
The plot keeps twisting, it keeps you guessing. Easy read makes you want to read more
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews