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

Everything Happens: Dark, Deranged & Delightful

Everything Happens: Dark, Deranged & Delightful

Jo Perry is well known and loved, round these parts, for her series of “Dead is…” books featuring Charlie & Rose. Those books – which I have described as being what would happen if Samuel Beckett wrote a crime series, as well as being “Like ‘The Wire’ meets ‘The...
A nice piece of ass.

A nice piece of ass.

Back in July my dear friend Paddy Magrane author of the brilliant Chase Thrillers Disorder and Denial (available by clicking here) was doing some work in Israel at a charity called Safe Haven for Donkeys. Safe Haven for Donkeys was set up in 2000 to help the thousands...
Morecambe & Vice & Whats Next?

Morecambe & Vice & Whats Next?

It’s the law, apparently. Well hello there. Just thought I’d drop you a note to bring you up to date on what I’ve been doing, am doing and am going to be doing soon. Last weekend I hoped on an Edinburgh-bound train from London Euston station and headed North...
Cage: A fitting end to a Brilliant Icelandic Saga

Cage: A fitting end to a Brilliant Icelandic Saga

I don’t know if the Icelandic language has a word for Puzzle-box, but if they do, then it would perfectly describe this novel. This last act in the trilogy which began with Snare (2017) and proceeded with Trap (2018) isn’t another unnecessary sequel featuring the...
Inspiration, Persperation & Paris

Inspiration, Persperation & Paris

I’m writing this on a train trundling to London to meet up with a couple of police officers (one serving and one newly retired). I’ve started the new book and realised that there are a bunch of things I don’t know that I think I really should. So the plan to ‘pants...