Learn more about Sheila Quigley's new novel at Sunderland talk

Sheila will be discussing her latest book, The Sound of Silence, at National Glass Centre, on Saturday at 10.30am in The Glass Yard, the new name for the centre’s brasserie.

Sheila is one of the region’s most popular crime writers, rising to fame in 2001 with her first two books, Run for Home and Bad Moon Rising.

She lived on the Homelands Estate, Houghton, opposite a field which became the fictional location of the council housing estate in her Seahills books. The Sound of Silence is the 7th book in the series and is set at the Glass Centre.

Sheila was recently voted in at number seven in WH Smith’s Best Crime Authors of All Time, voted for by readers, finishing above Silence of the Lambs writer Thomas Harris, recently deceased PD James and Jack Reacher creator Lee Child.

Her fictional lead detective, DI Lorraine Hunt, has struck a chord with fans with her strong and tough female persona, and was even voted No.10 in the book retailer’s top fictional detectives poll.

Sheila, a former factory worker, is also the author of the more recent DI Mike Yorke series which has received praise-filled reviews from crime fiction fans.

A part of Saturday’s talk, there will also be a question and answer session with Sheila and a crime quiz in which the winner will receive a free limited edition of The Sound of Silence.

To book a place at tomorrow’s free talk at National Glass Centre contact Tel. 568 9700.