Useful

Debra Oswald is the master of character; no one escapes the truth yet no one is beyond redemption. Useful tossed my emotions around like a summer salad, with characters that are tragically broken yet supremely loveable.

Eddie Perfect

Reading Debra Oswald's Useful, you can fall into the warm embrace of an expert story-teller. Here are characters to love and laugh with, situations that test them and reveal their natures, and resolution that satisfies on every level. But then – wham – just as you feel the comfort of being inside a well-told story, you are slammed by the big questions. Useful is a very funny and entertaining novel that also gets you right in the heart (and in the kidneys).

Malcolm Knox

'Wry, moving and clever, this is an interesting and funny rumination on life, friendship and people's capacity for change.'

Weekend Post

A moving, at times hilarious and wry portrait of one man's desire to redeem himself and become a 'useful' member of society.

Weekly Times

Oswald writes with humour and insight, creating complex and believable characters.

Daily Mercury