After-hours at the bookshop with James O'Loghlin

After-hours at the bookshop with James O'Loghlin

25 November 2026 from 5.30pm

The Bookshop Bowral

Meet comedian and writer James O’Loghlin after-hours in the bookshop to hear about his new thriller, The Writers’ Room - set right here in the Southern Highlands!

The twisty, suspenseful and darkly funny crime novel centres on a writers’ retreat, where old friends get together to realise a heartfelt project. Enter charming amateur detective Barb Young, who has the world's most disarming interrogation technique.

Tickets include drinks and canapés, author talk and time to enjoy the bookshop after-hours.

About The Writers' Room

Seven writers. One murder. Whose story do you believe?

Clara Newsome was 22 when she died. A prodigiously talented writer, she'd seemed destined to take the literary world by storm.

Twenty years later, her four best friends have done rather well for themselves. Now successful screenwriters and producers, they've finally decided to adapt Clara's only novel into a TV series. A creative retreat in a remote mansion in the Southern Highlands to brainstorm… what could possibly go wrong?

Quite a lot, as it turns out. Because housekeeper Barb Young has just found a body at the bottom of a nearby cliff.

The police are happy to call it an accident, but Barb is not the sort of woman who settles for a convenient explanation. The real story of Clara's death might not be the one the writers have all been telling.

James O'Loghlin's twisty, suspenseful and darkly humorous crime novel follows unlikely amateur detective Barb Young as she solves a mysterious death with charm, stealth and the world's most disarming interrogation technique.

About the author

James O'Loghlin is a comedian, TV and radio host, playwright and author of 14 books. He also co-hosts the mental health podcast 'Minding Your Mind' with Professor Ian Hickie. James began his career as a corporate lawyer, realised it wasn't for him, and became a criminal lawyer and a comedian.

About the event

After-hours in the bookshop is our idea of the perfect night out: intimate, informal, inexpensive and over at a sensible hour.

Stop in after work. Grab a drink and canapés. Enjoy the author talk, audience Q&A and book-signing. Linger if you like.

Doors open at 5.30pm. Presentation from 6pm till 7pm. Lights out at 7.30pm (approximately).

• You don’t even need to hunt for your ticket… your name will be on our list at the door.

• This is an all-ages event, and teen readers are very welcome.

• If you can't come but you'd like the author to sign a book for you, please let us know – if you like, we’ll even ask for a dedication to you or a friend.