Murder at Home

DI Skelgill Investigates #22

by Bruce Beckham

NEW FOR 2024 – STAND-ALONE, #22 IN THE SERIES. MEET MAVERICK BRITISH DETECTIVE DI SKELGILL... "A COMPELLING BRITISH CRIME MYSTERY."DRIFTING ABSENTLY in The Doghouse on Bassenthwaite Lake, Skelgill has a feeling that he is being watched. From a wheelchair in the adjoining grounds of Duck Hall Nursing Home an elderly man looks on. They exchange a wave; it becomes a regular occurrence. And when later Skelgill engages with his bankside supporter he learns of his tragic circumstances. The helpless man has surely fallen prey to unscrupulous next of kin. As Father Time looms, there ensues a race against the clock, and the realisation that this may not be their first victim.

BRUCE BECKHAM brings a lifelong love of the outdoors to the contemporary crime novel. He is an award-winning author and copywriter. A resident of Great Britain, he has travelled and worked in over 60 countries. He is published in both fiction and non-fiction, and is a member of the UK Society of Authors.

His series ‘Inspector Skelgill Investigates’ features the recalcitrant Cumbrian detective Daniel Skelgill, and his loyal lieutenants, long-suffering Londoner DS Leyton and local high-flyer DS Emma Jones.

Set amidst the ancient landscapes of England’s Lake District, this expanding series of standalone murder mysteries has won acclaim across five continents, with over 1 million copies downloaded, from Australia to Japan and India, and from Brazil to Canada and the United States of America.

"Great characters. Great atmospheric locale. Great plots. What's not to like?"Amazon Reviewer, 5 Stars

Genres: Mystery

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 9, 2024

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

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A novel that is good, yet frustrating, as Skelgill and company try to find out the identity of a man with dementia who was abandoned to an old folks home, while we read about the machinations of welfare cheats.

Very timely.

[John Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife and a GoodReads friend both got to the latest of this series before I managed to. They both rated it very highly.
I am not surprised.
This one is a bit different but:-

I liked the story.
Of course I liked the Team characters that we have all come to know.
I liked the authors simplistic humour in his descriptive writing.
I liked the knowledgeable way the birds, flora and fauna (of course including the fish) are brought in.
I liked the change of narrative to cover the finale.
And, I liked the way real issues were highlighted here.

However, not sure about the banana dessert cake though(even as featured on the author's newsletters)!

A series that goes from strength to strength and which reached 5* a while ago.

[Carola Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

This one will definitely be one of my favourites! It had everything, even Skelgill taking part in a rescue, we don’t see that very often. And the group being kind to DI Smart ( I hope someone picks up on his mistake in the future). I can’t wait for the next one. I hope to read many more Skelgill books.

[Hannahlynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the entire series!

[Raph E Hiney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read

Bruce did it again. Book after book, each gets better. Quite different storyline this time but still s great police procedural.
Skelgill's thought processes are different but right on. Can't wait for the next.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not have been more pleased with this latest addition to Bruce Beckham's DI Daniel Skelgill series. This is my second time reading the book, because the paperback version was released before the Kindle edition and I've read both now. I love spending time again with his three main characters--DI Skelgill, DS Jones and DS Leyton--and the new characters in this book are well-drawn and run the gamut from innocent to evil. I love how the book highlights Skelgill’s instinctual soft-heartedness and desire for justice. And Beckham's signature use of descriptions of the natural world and the beauty of the Lake District are at full strength. The plot is riveting and the conclusion totally satisfying. I was especially intrigued by the theme of elder abuse and fraud, because it is, unfortunately, such a timely one. I heartedly recommend this book to both long-time fans and first-time readers.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rarity in the crime genre - a police investigation story which isn’t a murder. It transpires that there ARE murders but they don’t form part of the narrative although hinted at throughout but the reader doesn’t actually know anything about them until the end. The author has hit upon a very different, but equally heart rending crime for DI Skelgill and his team to investigate. It really does make a pleasant change.

The author’s love of the countryside, particularly, but not confined to, the area of Cumbria/Cumberland is very evident in his descriptions of the locations involved, reminiscent at one point of Kenneth Graham - which is particularly appropriate given Skelgill’s maternal family name. Whilst I love his descriptions I do feel it could be an improvement if he could rein them in a little as they are, occasionally, a bit over the top and can detract from the story.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This latest book from Bruce Beckham is a masterpiece of complex connections, magical accidents, fortunate investigation paths, supernatural interventions and/or perfectly timed meetings that lead to and allow for sublime success and rescue.
I have enjoyed all the books in the Skelgill series and appreciate the author more with the reading of each book. This one has focus on fraud or the dedicated defrauding of governmental agencies.
Every now and then I felt a psychedelic vibe in the careful wording of events and descriptions of people and places.

Kindle Unlimited

[Jillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I appreciate the importance of the issue at the heart of this investigation this one didn’t quite cut it for me.Unlike others in the series, I found this fairly predictable. It was clear where it was headed and roughly how it would unravel. I appreciate the compassion and justice that shines through and stays with the reader.

I’ve been catching up on books in this series, so maybe I just need to step away for a bit..

[Linden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one's a bit different. Usually Skelgill and his team are investigating a murder, but this time he's trying to help an old man in a care home who seemingly has no official identity. The department is investigating fraud cases, and no one has found this man's official registration with the National Health service. There's another story about a pair of grifters who are cheating the health system. Could they be the cruel pair who abandoned old Billy and continue to steal his money?

[Sandra Rifflart · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was an excellent addition to the series

A story told from several different angles and Skelgill’s team spit in two. Very interesting story line coming together in a thrilling climax. Told in Bruce’s inimitable style. Looking forward to the next adventure

[Susan Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very different type of investigation, starting with abuse of government aid, then moving on to trying to identify a patient. Skelgill became very involved with the gentleman's identity. It didn't start with a murder investigation, but turned into one.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

a tangled web

Every Beckham book I read is better than the previous one. In Murder at Home, benefits fraud and greed combine to make an exceptional mystery. It’s going to be difficult for him to top this one.

[Liby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skelgill is getting old. That's it

[Mary Longo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Anna Montoya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I absolutely love the series, but this one I had trouble with. It felt disjointed for me and I had to quit 58 pages in.

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting!

Another crime solved by DI Skelgill and team. This one shows a soft side of the inspector, as well as determination and dedication of his team.