INTERNATIONAL best-selling crime writer SJ Watson visited Bolton to launch his new psychological thriller Second Life.

Mr Watson spoke to audiences at Bolton Library about what they could expect from his new book and how he became a published author.

Second Life is told from the narrative viewpoint of a woman named Julia, who recounts her struggles with alcoholism and her relationship with someone she meets online.

It follows Mr Watson’s debut publication, the critically acclaimed thriller Before I Go to Sleep, which has sold more than four million copies and was made into a Hollywood film starring Colin Firth and Nicole Kidman.

Mr Watson, aged 44, said: “The reception was really nice — I always like doing library events. I remember coming to Bolton four years ago when I was an unknown quantity.

“The audience asked some intelligent questions and were really engaged with what I had to say.

“I always enjoy meeting people from this part of the world.

“Sadly, when you do these library visits, often you’re in and out of taxis and train stations, but when I was on the way to Bolton I saw the landscape and the mills and there’s a lot of beauty here.”

Before I Go to Sleep has attracted global recognition, having sold copies in 40 languages across the world and becoming a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller.

But Mr Watson — full name Steve Watson — says he is not fearful of the dreaded second novel syndrome and looks forward to taking his readers on a ride through time.

He said: “Before I Go to Sleep did astonishingly well and I would be naive to imagine this might do the same thing. Second Life is a different book entirely.

“I hope people enjoy it and it would be great if a film was made, but that’s not why I write books — I write books for people to enjoy them.

“Second Life is about someone who is struggling to escape their past. We all carry baggage based on our past experiences and the book highlights this.

“I’ve written this book with the intention of entertaining my readers — I want to take them on a journey .

“The book shows that the Internet can be both a good thing and something you have to be careful about.”

Mr Watson signed copies of the book after his talk.

Second Life is published by Doubleday and was released on Thursday, February 12.

It is available at Waterstones and on Amazon for £14.99.