A BEST-SELLING crime author popped into an independent book store as a cheque was handed over to a domestic violence charity.

Peter James was at City Books in Western Road, Hove, yesterday to see its co-owner hand over £567 to the White Ribbon Campaign.

Inge Sweetman presented the cheque to Sarah Findlay of the campaign on behalf of the shop.

City Books raised the money through sales of Mr James’s hardback book Want You Dead, which covers the issue of domestic violence.

The shop donated £1 from each sale to the campaign.

Mr James, as a supporter of the campaign, was also on hand to sign copies of the paperback version of Want You Dead ahead of its publication on Thursday. Mr James will appear at a TEDx Talk on October 31 at the Brighton Dome.

And his next book, A Twist Of The Knife, a collection of dark and twisted short stories, is released on November 6.

He appears at WH Smith in Churchill Square, Brighton, on the same day at 12.30pm and at Hailsham Pavilion at 7.30pm.