About Derek

Derek Farrell has, since childhood, told stories.

Of course, back then they were called lies, and usually got him in to trouble, but nowadays his stories, humorous poetry and song lyrics are entertaining people from Kansas to Crawley.

Derek grew up in a small terrace close to the Guinness brewery in Dublin’s Liberties neighbourhood, where the smell of roasting hops alternated with the yeasty fermentation of the mash, and the cry of the seagulls was interrupted occasionally by the snorting of an escaped cow on the rampage from the abattoir at the bottom of the street.

To date, Derek has completed three novels. His latest novel is a contemporary Cosy-Noir mystery story called Death of a Diva. The book features his wonderfully human detective Danny Bird, and it’s been described as “Like The Thin Man meets Will & Grace via Ab Fab. In Bermondsey.”

Derek’s literary heroes include Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse, Lawrence Block, Joe Keenan, Steven Saylor, Scott Fitzgerald, Jonathan Harvey, Doctor Seuss and anyone who actually drags their arse to the desk and writes, Goddammit!

His jobs have included: Burger dresser, Bank teller, David Bowie's paperboy, and eventually Investment Banker on the 80th floor of the World Trade Centre. Time in high finance, has given him an opportunity to observe people, to understand the persuasive power of language and to develop an insight into the workings of the criminal mind, whilst allowing him to live and work in Hong Kong, Istanbul, Tel Aviv, Prague and London.
And all the time, he’s been telling stories.

You should get to know him.

Twitter: @derekifarrell

Here are my most recent posts

Q1 Review

Q1 Review

Okay hush up back there. Cool it. We’re reviewing the past three months cos that’s what we do in a corporate setting at this time of year. And – if you’ve been paying any attention – you’ll know that Danny Bird, Caz, Ali, The ASBO Twins and I are very much a corporate...
Better & Better: Dead is Beautiful Reviewed.

Better & Better: Dead is Beautiful Reviewed.

Jo Perry’s Charlie and Rose series – centring on a ghost and his sole constant companion, an emaciated phantom red setter dog – is on it’s fourth outing this time round and shows no signs of series fatigue. Rather, this series is getting better and better. If the...
Angel: Week One

Angel: Week One

Well, this has been an interesting seven days. A week ago, Death of an Angel was released. It’s a book I’m incredibly proud of. My best so far, I think. And not, it turns out, just me. Even before publication, writers like Neil Broadfoot had commented that the book...
Angel: Week One

And On We Go

Strange day yesterday. In my dayjob I had to say goodbye to the team I’ve worked with for over a decade. I’ll still be around, but I’m no longer directly managing them – I’ve moved into ‘a closer relationship’ with what they refer to as “Senior stakeholders”...
D’s Logic – or how to stay married

D’s Logic – or how to stay married

Me (Reading this season’s CostCo catalogue): Oooh, Costco have a discount on Pianos. Can I have a Piano? Him (paying something less than 100% attention as he focusses on the latest goings-on in Weatherfield): Yes, mmmm. Me (sensing I can probably...