🎯 Where Should I Start?
ⓘ About James Oswald
James Oswald is, primarily, a Scottish farmer who doubles up as an author. He studied psychology at the Aberdeen University where he had a penchant for penning comic strip books. Among the literary figures that influenced Oswald are English authors J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Pratchett, and American writers Robin Hobb and Tad Williams. James Oswald, who is a livestock farmer, lives in North East Fife where he owns an expansive farm where he rears Highland cattle and New Zealand sheep. James had been writing for two decades albeit with little success. His own family gave scant credence to his writing ambitions. Friends of his parents thought he lack the hallmarks of a noteworthy author. His father, though somewhat helpful, was equally bewildered.
All Book Series by James Oswald
#ChooseThePlot
Single-title series · published 2014 Co-authored · Jane Casey,Christopher Fowler
Wage Slaves
Series opener · book 1 of 9 · published 1997 Anthology · Christopher Fowler
#ChooseThePlot
Book 6 of 9 · published 2014 Co-authored · Jane Casey,Christopher Fowler
Bryant & May and the Nameless Woman
Book 7 of 9 · published 2015 Anthology · Christopher Fowler
The Washing
Latest in the series · book 9 of 9 · published 2019 Anthology · Christopher Fowler
? Frequently Asked Questions
Who is James Oswald?
James Oswald is, primarily, a Scottish farmer who doubles up as an author. He studied psychology at the Aberdeen University where he had a penchant for penning comic strip books. Among the literary figures that influenced Oswald are English authors J.R.R.
Which James Oswald series should I start with?
The best place to start is the Christopher Fowler Short Stories/Novellas series, the earliest of James Oswald's multi-book series: it opens with Wage Slaves (1997) and runs to 9 books across 1997–2019, ending with The Washing (2019). James Oswald's other series stand alone, so they can be read in any order.
How many books has James Oswald written?
James Oswald has 37 books catalogued in this guide, published between 1997 and 2026. 32 of them belong to 4 named series — the largest being the Inspector McLean series with 15 books — and 5 are standalone titles, collections or anthologies.
In what order should James Oswald's series be read?
Read each series in publication order — the numbered entries in each series follow the year each book first appeared. James Oswald's series do not depend on one another, so they can be started in any order; by start date they are Christopher Fowler Short Stories/Novellas (1997–2019, 9 books), Inspector McLean (2012–2026, 15 books) and Ballad of Sir Benfro (2012–2016, 5 books), plus 1 more.
How are James Oswald's books organised into series?
This guide splits James Oswald's 37 books into 4 named series and 5 titles that stand alone or appear only in collections: Inspector McLean (15 books, 2012–2026); Christopher Fowler Short Stories/Novellas (9 books, 1997–2019); Ballad of Sir Benfro (5 books, 2012–2016); DC Constance Fairchild (3 books, 2018–2021).