James Oswald is a Scottish writer and farmer who has written the Inspector McLean and (as J. D. Oswald) The Ballad of Sir Benfro series of novels.
He initially self-published his books but later was published by Penguin Books. Since 2018, he has been published by Wildfire, an imprint of the Headline Publishing Group, where he has continued the Inspector McLean series and introduced a new series character Constance Fairchild.
His brother is the playwright Peter Oswald. His maternal grandfather was churchman and writer Patrick McLaughlin.
Early life Oswald was born a son of farmer and stockbroker Peter David Hamilton Oswald and Juliet (née McLaughlin). His uncle was Sir Julian Oswald, First Sea Lord from 1989 to 1993.Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition, vol. 2, ed. Charles Mosley, Burke's Peerage Ltd, p. 1987.Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 146th edition, ed. Charles Kidd, David Williamson, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2000, p. 852. The Oswalds were landed gentry, of Cavens, Dumfries, and Auchincruive (now named "Oswald Hall"), South Ayrshire, Scotland, descending from merchant George Oswald, Rector of the University of Glasgow from 1797 to 1799,Burke's Landed Gentry, 16th edition, ed. L. G. Pine, Burke's Peerage Ltd, p. 1925.
Novels Inspector McLean series Inspector Anthony McLean is a detective in the Lothian and Borders Police force, stationed in Edinburgh.
Number Title 1 Natural Causes 2 The Book of Souls 3 The Hangman's Song 4 Dead Men's Bones 5 Prayer for the Dead 6 The Damage Done 7 Written in Bones 8 The Gathering Dark 9 Cold as the Grave 10 Bury Them Deep 11 What Will Burn 12 All That Lives 13 For Our Sins 14 The Rest Is Death 15 The Violent Hour
Constance Fairchild series +NumberTitle1No Time to Cry2Nothing to Hide3Nowhere to Run
The Ballad of Sir Benfro series Number Title 1 Dreamwalker 2 The Rose Cord 3 The Golden Cage 4 The Broken World 5 The Obsidian Throne
Farming He runs a livestock farm in North East Fife, where he raises Highland cattle.Official page.
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