Death in the Faculty: Leigh Redhead, P D Martin and Elise Payne explore the long-standing relationship between crime fiction and academia with Professor Sue Turnbull

Many academics such as Caroline Heilbrun (writing as Amanda Cross) have turned to crime whilst others, from the Dorothy L Sayers’s Gaudy Night onwards, have set their crime novels in academia. Australia’s own June Wright set 1961 Mother Paul mystery, Faculty of Death, at the University of Melbourne.

Crime writers Leigh Redhead and P D Martin are both currently undertaking Creative Doctorates that include both a work of crime fiction and an exploration of what makes it work. Elise Payne is studying how Patricia Cornwell uses her minor characters to set a political agenda.

Leigh Redhead has worked on a prawn trawler and as a waitress, exotic dancer, masseuse, teacher and apprentice chef. She is the author of the award winning Simone Kirsch private eye series: Peepshow (2004), Rubdown (2005, Cherry Pie (2007) and Thrill City (2010) and is currently completing the fifth in the series while studying for a PhD in Australian noir fiction. Info: www.leighredhead.com

PD Martin is the author of five crime fiction novels published ‘traditionally’ in 13 countries. Her Sophie Anderson series — Body Count, The Murderers’ Club, Fan Mail, The Killing Hands and Kiss of Death — has met with international acclaim.

In 2010 Phillipa moved into the ebook sphere, starting off with book six in the Sophie series, Coming Home. Since then she has released Hell’s Fury, a spy thriller with crime at its heart, and two middle grade novels under Pippa Dee — The Wanderer and Grounded Spirits. She currently teaches creative writing at Abbotsford Convent and Writers Victoria, and is also studying for her PhD, “Literary” crime fiction – an analysis. Info: www.pdmartin.com.au

Elise Payne is working a PhD in English Literature at the University of Wollongong examining Patricia Cornwell’s Scarpetta series, with a special focus on the identities of supporting characters and their effects.

Sue Turnbull is Professor in Media and Communications, University of Wollongong, a long-time Sisters in Crime national co-convenor, and crime columnist for Fairfax Media. Her latest book is The TV Crime Drama (University of Edinburgh Press, June 2014).

Venue: The Rising Sun Hotel (upstairs – no lift), cnr Raglan Street and Eastern Road, South Melbourne. Melways map 57 H2; free on-street parking after 6 pm; trams 1, 12 or 55 or St Kilda Road trams

Tickets: $10 Sisters in Crime and Writers Victoria members/concession; $15 non-members

Tickets not sold prior to the event will be available at the door for $12/$17

Dinner upstairs from 6.30pm (bookings not necessary); men or ‘brothers-in-law’ welcome

Bookings: https://crimefictionandacademia.eventbrite.com

Sun Bookshop stall: members receive a 10% discount

Additional information: Carmel Shute 0412 569 356; admin@sistersincrime.org.au