Dianne
asked
Bruce Beckham:
Does Skelgill really get all the female action that it sometimes seems like he does? And in particular, are he and DI Jones lovers?? Sometimes I think they are and other times it seems unlikely. Please tell us!
Bruce Beckham
Hi Diane
These are great questions – and ones that I constantly ask myself. My honest answer to both is “possibly” – simply because I know no more than is described in the texts. It might sound strange, but when I write I report on what I ‘see’ unfold in my mind's eye – I have very limited access to characters’ histories or private lives, or what happens ‘off camera’, so to speak.
My opinion: I’m pretty certain Skelgill isn’t married, he may be divorced; he seems to live alone. I think he is reasonably attractive to members of the opposite sex but he puts justice and not random conquests at the top of his list of priorities; he does seem to find himself subject to temptation from time to time, but often he cannot trust the motives of these siren females (after all, they are characters in a crime novel!). My guess is he harbours a subconscious fear of losing something precious (he tells DS Jones about the profoundly traumatic death of his baby sister in ‘Murder by Magic’). This might in part explain the obviously disjointed relationship that you mention between him and DS Jones. Clearly he finds her attractive and suffers possessive pangs whenever the sly DI Smart attempts to woo her away or wangle her a role in his team. Equally DS Jones admires Skelgill and tolerates his egotism and recalcitrance; she seems to understand there is something honest in his deep-seated self-absorption. Skelgill is self-conscious about their 11-year age gap (37 v 26) but she is not; he knows she is smarter (if less streetwise) than him and expects her to pass him on the promotion ladder; however, she recognises his intuitive ability to grind out solutions where most cops are failed by logic. The nature of their relationship can seem improbable at times, but truth is stranger than fiction and I do know it can exist. Phew!
These are great questions – and ones that I constantly ask myself. My honest answer to both is “possibly” – simply because I know no more than is described in the texts. It might sound strange, but when I write I report on what I ‘see’ unfold in my mind's eye – I have very limited access to characters’ histories or private lives, or what happens ‘off camera’, so to speak.
My opinion: I’m pretty certain Skelgill isn’t married, he may be divorced; he seems to live alone. I think he is reasonably attractive to members of the opposite sex but he puts justice and not random conquests at the top of his list of priorities; he does seem to find himself subject to temptation from time to time, but often he cannot trust the motives of these siren females (after all, they are characters in a crime novel!). My guess is he harbours a subconscious fear of losing something precious (he tells DS Jones about the profoundly traumatic death of his baby sister in ‘Murder by Magic’). This might in part explain the obviously disjointed relationship that you mention between him and DS Jones. Clearly he finds her attractive and suffers possessive pangs whenever the sly DI Smart attempts to woo her away or wangle her a role in his team. Equally DS Jones admires Skelgill and tolerates his egotism and recalcitrance; she seems to understand there is something honest in his deep-seated self-absorption. Skelgill is self-conscious about their 11-year age gap (37 v 26) but she is not; he knows she is smarter (if less streetwise) than him and expects her to pass him on the promotion ladder; however, she recognises his intuitive ability to grind out solutions where most cops are failed by logic. The nature of their relationship can seem improbable at times, but truth is stranger than fiction and I do know it can exist. Phew!
More Answered Questions
Ann
asked
Bruce Beckham:
Bruce: Thank you for your kind response to my query. Good to know the Skelgill series is available in paperback.Triple tabernac! I do not have a cell-phone, I will pass the info re the Kindle digital download to my daughter who DOES have a Kindle. But, I will check the books out in our library. Is the series in libraries now? I love a good mystery! Thank you. Ann Freggens Flynt
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