Local writer Oswald launches latest book

The Damage Done is the lastest of his Inspector MacLean books – and the title is a reflection of James’ dramatic year, which saw him have a close shave with death.

The barn on his farm at Newburgh was ripped apart during Storm Gertrude, bringing the building down on the caravan in which James and his partner Barbara were sleeping.

Fortunately, the major collapse was at the opposite end of the barn from the caravan and the couple escaped injury. “If the roof had collapsed at the other side, we could have died because the whole thing would have been straight down on the caravan,” James recalled.

“It hasn’t been the best build-up to releasing a book, obviously,” he continued, “but there has been good news also. The sales have gone above 500,000 in the UK, which is really pleasing.”

James will be talking to readers about The Damage Done at Topping Book Seller in St Andrews on today (Friday) 8pm