Patti Smith Writing Detective Novel Set in London

Patti Smith has revealed she is writing a detective novel. The singer announced details of her next book while speaking in London at the Royal Geographic Society's 'Intelligence Squared' series of talks on Wednesday night, Jan. 25.

According to Smith, the inspiration for the book was provided by a previous visit to London. She explained, "I've been working on a detective story that starts at St Giles in the Fields in London for the last two years", the NME reports.

As a result Smith now visits the church "where it [the idea] came to me" whenever she's in town. Drawing on her childhood love of Sherlock Holmes and US crime writer Mickey Spillane, the singer-songwriter-cum-author said she "loved detective stories" and jokingly suggested the book was "68 percent" done.

The evening also heard Smith discuss her recent memoir 'Just Kids' and take questions from the audience while by way of goodbye she performed an acoustic version of 'My Blakean Year.'

Watch Patti Smith Perform 'Because the Night' on the BBC's 'Later'