Victim Six: Olsen’s Latest Thriller is Out Now!

And yes, people are talking.

Gregg Olsen’s latest thriller Victim Six is out this week and into the hands of readers across the country and Canada (the book’s number 18 on the News West bestselling paperback list). There have been some great newspaper and blog stories about the book and its author.

Charlie Bermant of the Port Orchard Independent wrote a story with a headline Olsen loved so much he had a T-shirt made with it emblazoned under the title of the book. For those who don’t know Debbie Macomber is probably in the top five of bestselling authors in the world. She makes her home in Port Orchard, which she has dubbed “Cedar Cove” in a series of bestselling romances.

Says Bermant in his piece:

While Debbie Macomber’s romanticized Cedar Cove setting has earned her millions of worldwide fans, another local author’s fictional portrayal of Port Orchard is quite different.

Yup, he’s got that right.

David Chesnow over on AmeriCollector (serial killers collect bodies, don’t they?) had this to say about Victim Six.

“The Exorcist” scared the bejesus out of me as well, but forget the demonic possession – forget, even, the fashionable Northwest vampires: “Victim Six” (Pinnacle), a novel about serial murder by Gregg Olsen, is one book that will remind you just how much fun a great read really is. A New York Times best-selling true-crime writer based in Olalla, Wash., Olsen knows enough about the evil that men (and women, too, dearies) do in real life not to have to resort to the supernatural to know exactly how to creep you out. After all, he IS originally from Seattle …”

Jennifer Morris (way smarter and more talented than Olsen’s fictional Serenity Hutchins!) of the What’s Up section of the Kitsap newspaper group wrote a terrific feature on Olsen. She calls it like she sees it.

The book is shocking, darker than Olsen’s four previous works of fiction. He is best known for “Starvation Heights,” a true-crime account of Olalla’s Linda Burfield Hazzard, a doctor who starved her patients to death. Olsen has written on a battery of other real world cases, covering such topics of fascination as convicted child rapist Mary Kay Letourneau and Tanya Reid, a mother who murdered one of her children and attempted to kill the other.

And finally, a review from Web Digest Weekly that gives Olsen’s book an A+.

Author Gregg Olsen, who has penned such popular true crime titles as Bitter Almonds, and novels like Hear tof Ice, returns to the forefront of his genre with Victim Six. Easily one of the best entries in his catalog, this is one that will keep readers voraciously consuming it until the last word, and then talking about it for ages thereafter. Olsen is truly a master at his craft. One of the finest releases of the new year, Victim Six is highly, excitedly recommended reading.

Olsen will be making several stops in Washington and Oregon to talk about Victim

Six. Here’s the schedule:

Book Tour for Victim Six

February 11, 10 a.m., Mystery Book Club Read, Liberty Bay Books, Poulsbo WA.

February 11, Powell’s, “drive by” signing, Beaverton, OR.

February 11, 7 p.m., Murder by the Book, Portland, OR.

February 12, 6:30 p.m. Tea Party Bookshop, Salem, OR.

February 13, noon, North by Northwest, Lincoln City, OR.

Watch the Book Trailers for Gregg Olsen’s 2010 Releases

Victim Six: The New Thriller From Gregg Olsen

A Twisted Faith: The New True Crime from Gregg Olsen

Suspense Magazine Names Heart of Ice Top 10 for 2009

Suspense Magazine named Gregg Olsen’s novel, HEART OF ICE, number seven in their Top Ten Best Books for 2009! Olsen’s book was number seven in a list that included novels by Steven James, Lisa Gardner, John Connolly, Lee Child, Vince Flynn, Lis Wiehl, James Rollins, Joseph Finder, and Dean Koontz.

“I’m thrilled the editors included HEART OF ICE in a list of the best suspense writers in the business. I couldn’t be in better company,” Olsen said.

Advance Praise for A Twisted Faith

Gregg Olsen weaves his story deftly, managing to bring alive a wide cast of characters, all headed for and contributing to a tragedy driven by faith. His book shows just how subtly corrupting, divisive, and dangerous religious intolerance can be.
– Stephen Singular, NY Times bestselling author of When Men Become Gods

A harrowing tale of betrayal from a masterful storyteller.
– Jeanine Cummins, author of A Rip in Heaven

This horrifying tale of spiritual and physical seduction – and murder – draws its power from the strong and subtle hand of a master storyteller.
– Kate Flora, Edgar-nominated author of Finding Amy: A True Story of Murder in Maine

Gregg Olsen does a masterful job bringing us into the mind, heart and soul of a small

Pentecostal church, showing without judgment or parody how self-proclaimed prophets can lead the faithful – and themselves – down a dark and dangerous path.
– Don Lattin, author of Jesus Freaks:  A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge

Great true crime from one of the greats in the business, Gregg Olsen pulls back the veil revealing evil disguised as a minister who claims to know the will of God. A TWISTED FAITH is a fascinating exposé of sexual obsession and murder, a cautionary tale of innocence and virtue manipulated and destroyed by the vilest of mortal sins.
– Kathryn Casey, author of A Decent into Hell

Once you start this story, you won’t want to put it down.
– Diane Fanning, Edgar Award nominated author of A Perfect Husband

Olsen writes the way a surgeon cuts—precisely exposing the personality riddles that lie concealed within each of the players. The magic of A TWISTED FAITH takes root in the “why” of the story, exposed here as the loneliness, personal greed, and sociopathic levels of lust that drove well-intended followers to allow themselves to hear “God” telling them to reward themselves by doing anything their darkest hearts desired.
– Anthony Flacco, International Thriller Award nominated author of The Last Nightingale and A Checklist for Murder

Olsen’s Thrillers and True Crime Coming in Audio

Gregg Olsen’s first two thrillers (A WICKED SNOW, A COLD DARK PLACE) have been released in audio by Books In Motion, the audio publisher of such authors as J.A. Jance, Christine Feehan and Terry Brooks. HEART OF ICE is next.

Books In Motion is one of the pioneers of the audio book industry, and since 1980 has gained a reputation for high-quality audio book productions in the unabridged format.

“There’s nothing better than listening to a book during a long commute and I’m delighted that BIM will be sharing my books with listeners on the go,” the author said. “The company produces a superior product — and the people there could not be nicer. I’m thrilled to be working with them.”

In other audio news, A TWISTED FAITH and STARVATION HEIGHTS are also headed for your Ipod courtesy of another audio publisher. Audible will publish A TWISTED FAITH to coincide with the book’s hardcover release in April. No word on when STARVATION HEIGHTS will be available, but its coming soon.

Taking the Author of Heart of Ice on a Trip

Gregg Olsen has never been to Egypt or Turkey, but recently readers and pals Doris Lobe and Nona Rambo brought him along on their vacation jaunts…and here are the photos they kindly shared of HEART OF ICE to prove it.

Gregg will share Nona’s amazing (and funny) HEART OF ICE photo collection on MySpace and Facebook. Be sure to “friend” Gregg on those sites so you can see images that truly are for the ages!

If you take Gregg along on a trip, be sure to take a photo and send it here.

Pulitzer Winner Letts to Adapt Starvation Heights for Film

Gregg Olsen’s account of Dr. Linda Burfield Hazzard and the goings on in turn-of-the-century Olalla, Wash., is headed for the big screen. Producer Jason Fogelson and Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts (August: Osage County) have optioned STARVATION HEIGHTS for a feature film.

Says Fogelson of the source material: “STARVATION HEIGHTS lifts the veil on a very dark moment in time, and in exploring the real events, we find a frightening parallel to what we see around us today. Fragile people with body image issues are still preyed upon by unscrupulous professionals, and evil masquerading as good abounds. Gregg Olsen’s sharply crafted depictions in STARVATION HEIGHTS leap off the page for Tracy and me, and we believe that there’s the foundation for a powerful film in the text.”

The Mirror (London, UK) Gives Gregg Olsen a Nice Shout Out

London Mirror book columnist Henry Sutton published this short, but sweet, review on the KILLER YEAR anthology on December 5th:

“A great collection of new crime and mystery voices, edited by none other than Lee Child. If this is the shape of stuff to come, we’re in for one hell of ride. I’d especially recommend you check out Jason Pinter, Dave White and Gregg Olsen.”

Pretty good company, don’t you think?

A Cold Dark Place Selected for Washington Reads

Make that Washington Screams, as that is the theme of this quarter’s Washington Reads program that just tapped Gregg Olsen’s A COLD DARK PLACE for the honor of a place on the list of chilling must-reads.

Here’s what some very nice librarian had to say about the book:

“A dark stunning thriller in eastern Washington has the perfect mix of two complex and interwoven plots and characters, and enough suspense to keep you awake at night. Olsen carries his skill as a true crime writer to crafting of gripping fiction.”

Nice, huh?

Washington Reads is Washington State Library’s statewide program to promote reading for all Washington residents.

In the intro to the new selections, the library posted this:

“We often think of Washington as an idyllic place of beautiful scenery, calming beaches and mountains, gentle rains, latte stands and high tech industry, seldom considering the weird and chilling stories and legends that flourish in this state. Murder and mayhem, ghosts, vampires, werewolves, and malevolent people as well as the very strange abound in both fiction and nonfiction written about Washington. Some of the more notorious reads, such as Starvation Heights, and popular reads, such as Twilight, have already been selected for Washington Reads.  However, the notoriety of our well-publicized serial killers, other true macabre deeds, the popularity of the contemporary urban fantasy genre, international acclaim for the Twilight Saga of vampires in Forks, and that which is frankly weird combine to make a most unusual list of recommendations in Washington Screams.”

Careful readers will notice the reference to Olsen’s STARVATION HEIGHTS. That book was selected by the state last year.

Next True Crime Coming in April 2010

Nick Hacheney, a youth pastor from a Bainbridge Island, Wash., church who was convicted of murdering his wife is Gregg Olsen’s newest nonfiction book project. A TWISTED FAITH will be published in hardcover by St. Martins Press in April 2010.

Says Olsen of the case: “The story is twisted and complicated and I’m grateful for all of the courageous women and men who’ve helped me sort things out over the past couple of years. I never could have written this book without so much help and trust.”

The picture at right was taken at the men’s prison in Monroe, Washington. Same haircut and same shirt….hmmm…. Olsen is on the left.