Death At Dukes Halt

Book excerpt: Lady Caroline Victoria Genevieve Jane de Montfort (Lady Caz to her friends) made a promise to her (newly deceased) friend George Warren and she intends to keep it -sadly for Danny Bird she's roped him in as her accomplice. And so with Danny's South London pub The Marq left in the 'safe' hands of Ray & Dash (The ASBO Twins) and his indomitable bar-manager Ali roped in as their driver, the trio set off to spend the weekend at the Warren family's imposing country estate Dukes Halt. As they set about achieving their mission, Danny, Lady Caz & Ali are joined by a classic cast of characters including a Hollywood actress, a right-wing Member of Parliament and an Albanian gangster. Shenanigans inevitably ensue. Of course, it wouldn't be an authentic country-house weekend without a murder or two and pretty soon Danny and the gang are on the track of the killer in their midst. As the plot ingeniously twists and turns in every direction Danny wrestles with another deeper, sadder mystery hidden in the pages of a secret diary that he realizes may just hold the key to everything. The dialogue is whip-sharp, the story-telling is hugely engaging, and the plotting is intricate & precise - but we've come to expect all of that from a Danny Bird novel - With Death At Dukes Halt however Derek Farrell has taken all of his usual flair, skill and humour and has elevated them all to new heights with a warmth and maturity that delivers on every level. It isn't an exaggeration to say that with Death At Dukes Halt, Farrell has written the most accomplished novel of his career to date and if there is any justice in the world, one that will bring him the recognition he so richly deserves.