Born the son of a coal miner, Gary Bell QC left school without any qualifications and drifted in and out of a number of jobs before being convicted of fraud aged eighteen. He then spent two years penniless and homeless in Europe, before returning to his studies aged twenty-one and, after seven years, became a barrister. He has spent the last thirty years at the Bar, becoming a QC in 2012. He specialises in defending major fraud and murder trials.
The court scenes bristle with authenticity. Throughout, I had flashbacks to my time at the bar. And Rook is a compelling creation. Intrepid, irreverent and ingenious. I’m a follower. -- John Fairfax It’s very well done - crackles with authenticity and warmth in the relationship between Rook and Zara. Rumpole of the Bailey dusted off and brought firmly up to date for the twenty first century. -- Harriet Tyce Post Mortem is brilliant in the court room and inventive. -- Paul Burke * Crime Time *