Corpse auctions for crime-writing fans

Crime-writing fans who would like to have a corpse named after them in a top crime author's next book can bid in the Million for a Morgue auction

Participating novelists Jeffery Deaver (pictured), Tess Gerritsen, Peter James, Jeff Lindsay and Stuart Macbride are all offering the chance to have a corpse named in their next book. The corpse can be named after the successful bidder, or it can take the name of a person of their choice (with that person's permission).

All the money raised from the auction will go to the Million for a Morgue campaign to build the first morgue in the UK that uses the Thiel method of embalming, which enables breakthrough research in science, medicine and dentistry.

The auction is open until 30 September at www.millionforamorgue.com/auction