Barnard lives in Barnes (where his Garibaldi novels are set) and when not writing cheers himself by watching QPR and listening to Leonard Cohen. According to his website he has few claims to fame, but counts playing football with Nick Hornby, giving Clare Balding interview practice, teaching members of Mumford and Sons and Noah and The Whale, having lunch with George Best and nearly being recruited as a spy as some of his most significant achievements. He has written a number of novels including ‘No Regrets’ (2013), ’10 Things To Do Before You Leave School’ (2019) and two crime novels in the DI Garibaldi series,  ‘The Final Round’, and ‘Private Lessons’. The third book in the series, ‘Every Trick in the Book’, was published in February 2024.