Simon Booker
(1955-2024)
Simon was a novelist and screenwriter. His TV work includes The Inspector Lynley Mysteries, The Mrs Bradley Mysteries and Holby City (all BBC1); several psychological thrillers for ITV; and romantic comedies for US TV, including Perfect Strangers starring Rob Lowe and Anna Friel. Simon’s crime novels Without Trace and Kill Me Twice are published by Bonnier Zaffre. A third crime novel Animal Instinct is an Audible Original drama. His last novel, Three’s A Crowd, is a romantic comedy published by Simon & Schuster.
Simon also worked as a journalist, his articles appearing in the Guardian and the Observer, and he wrote many plays for BBC Radio 4. Simon spent a year as Writer-in-Residence at HMP Grendon, taught creative writing on the Greek island of Skyros, and was a Fellow of the Royal Literary Fund where he mentored emerging writers through the RLF’s affiliation with The British Library.
Simon was a First Story Writer-in-Residence for Kingsbury High School in 2024-25 and supported many First Story events, including a Schools Connect Event at University of Greenwich, The Courtauld Gallery London Writers’ Day and the charity’s 15th birthday celebrations at the ICA.
Simon’s enthusiasm for his craft was infectious and he was much loved by all the young writers he worked with at First Story. Simon was a kind and generous man and is deeply missed by First Story staff and his fellow writers.
