AN AWARD-WINNING author was “delighted” to see his novel had a noteworthy fictional fan.

Peter James spotted Silent Witness star Daniel Weyman, as character Max Thorndyke, reading a copy of his book Dead at First Sight in a scene of the hit BBC show.

He thanked eagle-eyed readers who spotted the literary cameo.

The author said: “Delighted to see Daniel Weyman at his mother’s hospital bedside in Silent Witness reading my novel DeadAtFirstSight. It looked like he was gripped.

“Thanks to all of you who wrote in to alert me.

“Fun fact, Daniel also narrates several of my Roy Grace audiobooks including this one.”

Peter James is a UK number one best-selling author famed for his series of novels about detective superintendent Roy Grace.

The police officer fights crimes in Brighton.

Late last year it was revealed the books would be made into an TV series by ITV with John Simm set to play the protagonist.

Peter said: “With John in the lead, the brilliant scripting by Russell Lewis, and our wonderful production team, I’m confident that fans of my novels and of TV crime dramas in general will be in for a treat.”