American crime author Gregg Olsen tests new novel out in Forest Gate

An American crime author was so impressed with students in Forest Gate he asked his publishers if he could go back to promote his new book.

Gregg Olsen, from Seattle in Washington, flew over to St Angela’s Ursuline School in St George’s Road to talk to a group of Year Nines about writing the sequel to his successful thriller series ‘Empty Coffin’.

The last time Gregg visited the young women of St Angela’s was in 2011 to read an excerpt from the first book Envy which was based on a true case of cyberbullying that led to a teenager’s death.

The students asked such thought-provoking questions that Gregg chose the secondary school to talk about his second action-packed crime novel for young people entitled ‘Betrayal’.

Gregg said: “The pupils are the best. I should be so lucky to ever meet better classes than the ones I met at St Angela’s.”

Jo de Guia, from Victoria Park Books who organised Gregg’s visits, also had nothing but praise for the Forest Gate students.

She said: “Gregg specifically asked to be able to visit St Angela’s.

“The kids there were still talking about Gregg’s visit from last year, and were thrilled when they heard he wanted to come back.

“He inspired them as a writer and can’t wait to see him again.”

Betrayal is the story of a British foreign exchange student who is stabbed to death at a party with the prime suspect her best friend.

Using real crime-solving techniques, twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan set about getting the bottom of the terrible incident.

Gregg is the author of eight true crime books including ‘Cruel Deception’ and ‘Starvation Heights’ while his fiction includes ‘Heart of Ice’ and ‘Closer than Blood.’

Olsen said: “There is a fair amount of stealing from my daughters and their experiences in the series.”

Betrayal is out now in major bookshops and online priced �6.99 RRP.