Desk belonging to No 1 crime writer Peter James is sold at Sussex auction

A desk and chair belonging to award-winning crime writer Peter James has been sold at auction ... to one of his top fans.
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The furniture went under the hammer last week at Bellmans auction house in Wisborough Green - and was snapped up by fan Sara Marchant for £1,300.

Peter wrote many of his best-selling novels while sitting at the desk at his home in Woodmancote near Henfield - which he put up for sale last year.

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Fan Sara Marchant said she was delighted to have bought Peter’s desk. “I am a big fan and thought it was a beautiful piece of furniture.

Writer Peter James at his deskWriter Peter James at his desk
Writer Peter James at his desk

“We have been given the go-ahead to work from home permanently and are shortly moving to Lincolnshire.

“It will be my office desk where I will work to help people with a whole range of disabilities and it will be well-used and much loved.”

As well as the desk and chair, the sale lot also included a selection of Peter’s books.

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Peter is best known for writing crime and thriller novels and is the creator of the much-loved Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, who made his first TV appearance on ITV last weekend with John Simm playing Grace.

His novel ​Perfect People​ is also being filmed as an eight-part mini-series in 2021.

With a total of 17 Sunday Times No 1s and over 40 awards under his belt, Peter has achieved global book sales of more than 22 million to date, and has been translated into 37 languages.

The 72-year old writer has lived in Sussex for many years - and even mentioned auctioneers Bellmans in one of his novels: ​Find them Dead ​(2020).

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He has now moved to Jersey and said: “It had always been my dream to have my own desk made to my design and I spent many happy years working at this one.

“I hope the new owner finds it as inspiring as I have always done for so many of my Roy Grace and standalone novels.

“I also hope they will enjoy the secret compartment!”

Peter enjoys a number of hobbies and is a self confessed petrol head - and still enjoys racing classic cars at circuits around the country including being a regular at the Goodwood Revival.

He also undertakes extensive charity work which includes the Sussex Police Charitable Trust. ​

He hosts ​The Author’s Studio​, a free online learning facility for all budding authors, on his YouTube channel.