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Bobby Underwood


#22 best reviewers
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Bobby Underwood’s Followers (261)

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Bobby Underwood

Goodreads Author


Born
in The United States
Genre

Member Since
March 2013


Bobby Underwood is a respected reviewer of classic films whose comments about Mrs. Miniver, and The Bishop's Wife on Amazon.com were quoted in the Saturday Evening Post of Nov/Dec 2006.

He is the creator of the unique, darkly sensual and thought-provoking Matt Ransom crime series set in the 22nd century, the old-fashioned Wild Country Western series, the Nostalgia Crime series set during the 1940's, and the exciting Seth Halliday crime series set in the present day. His more romantic endeavors include the anthologies, Lovers' Tide, After Closing Time, and Where Lonely Lives. His nine-story anthology of mystery and suspense, The Unlocked Window, was written to pay homage to all the pulp writers who provided endless entertainment in the 1930s
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Popular Answered Questions

Bobby Underwood Creating a story, a world, and characters that I'm happy with and leaving behind something for others to enjoy. In essence, writers put little pieces …moreCreating a story, a world, and characters that I'm happy with and leaving behind something for others to enjoy. In essence, writers put little pieces of their own soul on display in everything they write. Ross Macdonald said it best in regard to writers leaving clues and fingerprints on their work so they can be caught. There is no greater feeling of satisfaction than to finish something you feel is beautiful in some way, and later on, have a reader agree.(less)
Bobby Underwood I can't honestly say that I've ever experienced what I'd consider writer's block. There are times when I'm not ready to write a specific scene, but I …moreI can't honestly say that I've ever experienced what I'd consider writer's block. There are times when I'm not ready to write a specific scene, but I generally have enough projects ongoing that I can work on something I am in a groove to write until I'm ready to get back to that story. Occasionally, I will write a scene and chapter far ahead that I am in a mood to write and then return to the other scene later, but don't think I've ever had writer's block. Hopefully I never will.(less)
Average rating: 4.43 · 1,111 ratings · 371 reviews · 100 distinct worksSimilar authors
The Wild Country (The Wild ...

4.16 avg rating — 258 ratings — published 2012 — 8 editions
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The Trail to Santa Rosa (Th...

4.31 avg rating — 151 ratings — published 2013 — 11 editions
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Whisper Valley (The Wild Co...

4.21 avg rating — 101 ratings2 editions
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The Turquoise Shroud (Seth ...

4.37 avg rating — 35 ratings — published 2013 — 6 editions
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Grover's Creek

really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 24 ratings — published 2012 — 8 editions
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I Died Twice

4.57 avg rating — 21 ratings — published 2017 — 5 editions
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Surfer Girl

4.40 avg rating — 20 ratings9 editions
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Saturday's Children

4.58 avg rating — 19 ratings7 editions
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Beautiful Detour (Nostalgic...

4.67 avg rating — 18 ratings — published 2013 — 10 editions
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The Strangler's Tune

4.59 avg rating — 17 ratings3 editions
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More books by Bobby Underwood…

Bobby Underwood hasn't written any blog posts yet.

The Wild Country The Trail to Santa Rosa Whisper Valley
(3 books)
by
4.22 avg rating — 510 ratings

The Turquoise Shroud The Long Gray Goodbye Eight Blonde Dolls A Candy Red Christmas Blue Spanish Sky
(5 books)
by
4.52 avg rating — 66 ratings

The Velvet Sea The Tender Shore The Gentle Tide The Lovely Harbor The Sandy Shore The Beautiful Island The Sensual Sea
(13 books)
by
4.74 avg rating — 54 ratings

Beautiful Detour Where Flamingos Fly Nightside
(3 books)
by
4.79 avg rating — 34 ratings

The Idaho Affair The Idaho Matter The Idaho Affairs
(3 books)
by
4.84 avg rating — 19 ratings

More series by Bobby Underwood…

Bobby’s Recent Updates

The poor man's guide to the Orient by David Dodge
"Even in 1965, when Guide was published, I can't imagine more than a handful of people finding it useful. Unlike Dodge's mystery novels and his travel books, this volume is intended as a handbook of sorts for traveling to the "Orient," by which he mea" Read more of this review »
Through the Looking Glass by Paul   French
"Scores of names make Through the Looking Glass somewhat dense at times. Even if you know many of them (some of which I came to know through French's other books), it can sometimes be distraction trying to remember just who is who. But it's also rewar" Read more of this review »
The Mystery of the Crimson Ghost by Phyllis A. Whitney
"From the first page:

“My name is Janey Oakes, and I might as well tell you straight off that I have a very serious and painful disease. I call it ‘horse fever’. It can attack when you’re young, and I understand that it can last until you’re grown-up a" Read more of this review »
Bobby Underwood made a comment on their status
" Most writers worth their salt have taken on criticism in the broad sense, spoken about how they consider it, especially when they feel it's ridiculous ...more "
More of Bobby's books…
Quotes by Bobby Underwood  (?)
Quotes are added by the Goodreads community and are not verified by Goodreads. (Learn more)

“For death is a spider's web, and once caught within its silky strands, our only hope of escape is to kill the spider.”
Bobby Underwood, The Sensual Sea

“She had aged with style and beauty. In soft romantic lighting, I could still see the magnificent girl from Mexico who had saved me with her love. When the lighting was less sentimental and somewhat more revealing, she was perhaps even more magnificent. The years had added a velvety richness to her physical beauty, a resonance to her inner loveliness that made her even more spectacular. She was a woman in every sense of the word, yet so much of the young girl remained in those dark and lovely eyes it made you feel young again too.”
Bobby Underwood, Just Beyond Love

“A delicate scent hung in the air as we strolled down the long boulevard toward the Opera House holding hands. Paris had come to life in a very special way, the lights of the Eiffel Tower a gentle reminder that nothing mattered once that starry blanket covered the great city, except love. Love was the reason Paris existed. For those lonely in their soul, their heart a barren wasteland starving for nourishment, she offered hope. For those like Caroline and I, lucky enough to have found each other and begin the healing process to repair our brokenness, Paris was a bastion to love's transforming power. A year ago I could not have pictured myself holding hands with someone as nice as Caroline, as lovely and unpretentious. She was pretty, but her soul made her beautiful. I loved everything about her, including her damage.”
Bobby Underwood, The Long Gray Goodbye

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“It was raining hard the evening Holly died. One of those summer rains that seem to come from nowhere and catch all but the most compulsively weather-conscious off guard. She was beautiful, Holly, and much too good for me by a long stretch. Big soulful eyes. A beautiful face framed in a flowing mane of brunette hair that would lift along the edges at the slightest breeze. Full soft lips that conveyed warmth and sunshine when she smiled, and tender sensuality when they brushed across mine in the quiet darkness of our bedroom. It is no exaggeration to say that I worshiped the ground my wife walked on — perhaps less secretly than would have been wise had it been any woman but Holly. For whatever reason, she adored me, and ours was a mutual admiration society. She thought me the finest man who’d ever walked this earth, and could not imagine going through life with anyone other than me. I thought the world a better place for her being in it, and each time she rose from our tangled sheets to dress in the morning, I was certain birds began to sing songs of joy simply because she was awake.”
Bobby Underwood, The Memory of Rain

“How do I begin to tell you about Dana and all that she meant to my life? A writer can describe spring in technical terms; the scent of cherry blossoms awakening from their long winter's sleep; the first whiff of honeysuckle in the air; and the bright cool promise of the sun before it turns harsh in summer. Through some gift from God, perhaps he is able to imbue it so vividly for the reader that they can envision spring in all its loveliness. But can he ever truly capture on paper that feeling of spring in his heart? How could he find words to describe the rush of joy his heart feels at discovering life can be beautiful? Could the poetry of his prose ever paint a feeling, or recount his soul's wistfulness that when this moment passes, life will never be as beautiful again? All I can say is that is how I felt the first time I saw her.”
Bobby Underwood, Requiem

“She didn’t have to say that it wasn’t our time, that a whole new world had opened up for her in Mexico. She didn’t have to say that she was just beginning her journey, while I was already weary from mine because of all those I’d lost along the way.” — The Sapphire Sea”
Bobby Underwood, The Sapphire Sea

“You can’t learn to write in college. It’s a very bad place for writers because the teachers always think they know more than you do—and they don’t. They have prejudices. They may like Henry James, but what if you don’t want to write like Henry James? They may like John Irving, for instance, who’s the bore of all time. A lot of the people whose work they’ve taught in the schools for the last thirty years, I can’t understand why people read them and why they are taught. The library, on the other hand, has no biases. The information is all there for you to interpret. You don’t have someone telling you what to think. You discover it for yourself.”
Ray Bradbury

“I don't like people. I don't like any kind of people. When you get them together in a big lump they all get nasty and dirty and full of trouble. So I don't like people including you. That's what a misanthropist is.”
Mickey Spillane, The Big Kill

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Comments (showing 1-32)    post a comment »
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message 32: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Paula wrote: "Hi Bobby! Thanks so much for the friend request! :)"

No problem! I'm not around here much any longer, but I'll still check in from time to time. Thanks for accepting, and sorry I didn't see this when it was posted. :-)


message 31: by Paula

Paula Hi Bobby! Thanks so much for the friend request! :)


message 30: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Luís wrote: "Thanks Bob for accepting. I hope getting more attention to the thriller-crime specific genre! All the best, Luís."

No problem! Always great to connect with others who love books, enjoy reading. :-)


message 29: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Carol wrote: "Your comment in your last book states "a simpler time." That's very profound. I guess I have similar beliefs, and I miss them very much. To use that concept in your writing really touched me, and I..."

Thanks.


message 28: by Carol

Carol  Jones-Campbell Your comment in your last book states "a simpler time." That's very profound. I guess I have similar beliefs, and I miss them very much. To use that concept in your writing really touched me, and I hope that perhaps a time will come when our work and family, religion, whatever is stressing us will calm down. Best to you and your wife.


message 27: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Carol wrote: "How cool that you are able to read some of James' books. I'm still seeing if I can locate a copy. Enjoy"

I'll see how it goes, since I always give an honest opinion, and never let my acquaintance or friendship, or the opinions of others about a book influence me. I do, however, try to keep in mind the audience a particular book is aimed at, which isn't always me, and give some latitude as to how it will strike that audience. Reviews on this one put me off for a while, because it's an extension of that Goodreads anti-author vibe. If a guy or gal wants to stick something on their personal profile, fine, their business, but Goodreads has it's own guidelines for authors, and I don't personally feel that within a review of a book, other authors need to be told how to "behave" by another reviewer, especially since they most likely do not work for Goodreads. I've been reviewing for over thirty years on Amazon and have never seen anything resembling that. It's put me off reviewing this author's book for some time, which probably isn't fair to the writer, who had nothing to do with reviewers' comments. But nonetheless...


message 26: by Carol

Carol  Jones-Campbell How cool that you are able to read some of James' books. I'm still seeing if I can locate a copy. Enjoy


message 25: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Joe wrote: "Hi Bobby,
I was going to add this to your review of "Bridge of Sighs and Dreams" but wasn't sure if it was the place to get it off my chest. So bear with me as I place it here.
Another great review..."


Yes, there were bad leaders supported for one reason or another, but the perspective of the book, as was Hans Fallada's Little Man, What Now? was more simple and intimate, just about everyday people trying to survive war in general, disconnected from what nations and governments are doing, but suffering for their decisions. Their foolishness in supporting and putting into power the governments which brought on the war, of course, is not really dealt with, which is a different book. I did feel a bit of that simplistic vibe that America and the Allied forces were wrong for pounding Italy in order to liberate Europe, and the world, because people were hurt. But many more would have been hurt had they not, however we might hate the casualties and the cost. The alternative is in fact, unthinkable. Before the war was 2/3 over, America was providing 70% of the food for Britain (it's in Vera Lynn's book, among others), and once it was over, it was America which shouldered the bulk of the price for rebuilding all of Europe, with surviving sons and daughters, fathers and mothers in the US paying for the Marshall Plan. Most people on the ground, however, are far removed from actual war, and why it's happening. Not all of them were fans of Mussolini, there just wasn't much they could do about it, and then the war came.


message 24: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Sandra wrote: "Hi Bobby!

I hope you have a Wonderful 2018!

"


You too, and thanks so much! Sorry I didn't reply earlier, but never saw this!!! :-)


message 23: by Joe

Joe Krakovsky Hi Bobby,
I was going to add this to your review of "Bridge of Sighs and Dreams" but wasn't sure if it was the place to get it off my chest. So bear with me as I place it here.
Another great review Bobby. War is hell, and Mussolini brought it to Italy, but the Italians didn't mind him when he made the trains run on time, or made great concessions to the Church, or bombed the Ethiopians with mustard gas. I'm sorry Bobby, for I didn't mean to preach. I do want to read this book because I like WWII history, and I do respect great works by talented authors. I just figure the Italians got what they deserved for what they did to Ethiopia and siding with Hitler.


message 22: by Sandra

Sandra Hi Bobby!

I hope you have a Wonderful 2018!




message 21: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Sandra wrote: "Hi Bobby,
Thanks for the friend-invite! :)"


Thanks for accepting! Always great to find others who love books. :-)


message 20: by Sandra

Sandra Hi Bobby,
Thanks for the friend-invite! :)


message 19: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Stacey wrote: "Hi Bobby! I'm looking forward to reading your books. I think I'll start with The Turquoise Shroud. Thank you for the friendship!"

Hi Stacy! Thanks for accepting! Looking forward to checking out All your reviews. Always nice to connect with other book lovers. :-)


message 18: by Stacey

Stacey Hi Bobby! I'm looking forward to reading your books. I think I'll start with The Turquoise Shroud. Thank you for the friendship!


message 17: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Candace wrote: "Bobby,
Thanks for the friend invitation. Best luck with your writing.
Happy Reading,
Candace"


Thanks for accepting. Always nice to connect with people who love books, and love to read. :-)


message 16: by Candace

Candace Bobby,
Thanks for the friend invitation. Best luck with your writing.
Happy Reading,
Candace


message 15: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Stacy wrote: "Thanks for the friend invite!"

Thanks for accepting! Always great to connect with people who love books and reading. :-)


message 14: by Stacy

Stacy Thanks for the friend invite!


message 13: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Bobby wrote: "Majenta wrote: "Hello, Bobby! Thank you for contacting me. Congratulations on your books! Happy Monday, have a great week. Happy reading, writing, and everything else. Blessings!

Best wishes from ..."


Thanks! Sorry, but I only just now saw this! It didn't pop up in red under my notifications deal for some reason. Best wishes and nice to be in touch! - Bobby


message 12: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Majenta wrote: "Hello, Bobby! Thank you for contacting me. Congratulations on your books! Happy Monday, have a great week. Happy reading, writing, and everything else. Blessings!

Best wishes from Majenta"


Thanks! Nice to be in touch! Best wishes. :-)


message 11: by Majenta

Majenta Hello, Bobby! Thank you for contacting me. Congratulations on your books! Happy Monday, have a great week. Happy reading, writing, and everything else. Blessings!

Best wishes from Majenta


message 10: by Bobby (last edited Jan 13, 2017 11:53PM)

Bobby Underwood Jane wrote: "Bobby I cannot find the reviews I left re Beyond Heaven's Reach, The Unlocked Window, and Lover's Tide. No idea where they went. Anyway, I picked out those stories I really loved, though I enjoyed ..."

Thanks so much! I saw a rating for The Unlocked Window collection, the homage to the great pulp writers of mystery and suspense, but that's all. Maybe there was a glitch? I guess if they don't show up, and you haven't saved them to documents or something, you can just click on whatever star you gave them and rate them. Even just a rating is much appreciated. :-)


message 9: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Linda wrote: "Thank you so much for your lovely review, Bobby. :)"

No problem! It was great fun to read! Also posted it on Amazon US, UK, AU and Canada. Hope it does well, charming little story. :-)


message 8: by Linda

Linda Hill Thank you so much for your lovely review, Bobby. :)


message 7: by Jane

Jane Bobby I cannot find the reviews I left re Beyond Heaven's Reach, The Unlocked Window, and Lover's Tide. No idea where they went. Anyway, I picked out those stories I really loved, though I enjoyed every one of them. I love your easy writing style and observations of people and time and place. Such a captivating selection of stories which grabbed me and took me with them to the last words. Thanks so much for sharing them with me and if you find my reviews let me know. I am mystified. Happy 2017 and much continued success. Jane x


message 6: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Jane wrote: "Bobby thanks so much for watching the YouTube of my Flash Fiction piece, Changing the Guard; hope you enjoyed it. Thanks also for reading my recent blog post. Did it bring back memories for you and..."

Jane, - Enjoyed the fiction and the blog. My mom in America is most definitely not with the technology. She would simply be lost with a computer, and even has trouble sometimes with a cell phone she has just so I can cal and stay in touch. She is more the Murder She Wrote type, although in her 80s now. I send her the books because she likes to read them. I think in some ways simpler was better, though. Hard to imagine being without the computer, but I'd simply write on a typewriter like I used to. I'm sort of a dinosaur myself, don't own a cell, and don't want to. Technology, rather than widening our sphere, I believe, has created disengagement because people no longer actually speak and cultivate relationships. In many ways, technology, in my opinion, has created a disconnect of humanity. Einstein once wrote that he feared the day when technology grew faster than society, which would, in his words, create a generation of idiots. LOL If you browse through television channels, or simply watch people in mass staring down at their cell phones as they walk, or eat at a restaurant, or do anything, I have to wonder if Einstein's fears have already come to pass. Is it the culturally shallow world which made it conducive to technology taking precedence over human interaction and using the imagination, or thinking, or was it the other way around, and technology brought it about? Who knows. But maybe the good old days really were the good old days. As for me, I'll keep reading and writing. LOL Looking forward to your new book release in May!


message 5: by Jane

Jane Bobby thanks so much for watching the YouTube of my Flash Fiction piece, Changing the Guard; hope you enjoyed it. Thanks also for reading my recent blog post. Did it bring back memories for you and growing up with grandparents/parents using these items? Do you have an elderly techy? How are things?


message 4: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Jane wrote: "Bobby, thanks for reading my blog and the short stories (flash fiction there) I hope you enjoyed them. Appreciated. :)"

You're welcome! Sorry I only now saw this post! They place them at the bottom of my profile page and I didn't notice it. Enjoy both the blog and the short stories. Hope they keep coming! :-)


message 3: by Jane

Jane Bobby, thanks for reading my blog and the short stories (flash fiction there) I hope you enjoyed them. Appreciated. :)


message 2: by Bobby

Bobby Underwood Dianna wrote: "As a friend and fan I'm currently reading a number of his books and each has left me emotionally and psychologically changed for the better. He takes you with him so you can see,smell and hear the ..."

Thanks so much! I write in different genres, as well as a few continuing series, but try above everything else, to tell a truly involving story that also transports the reader there, whether it is a time and place, a tender emotional moment, or action-filled scene with tension and excitement. Hopefully all my work is lent a cinematic quality through description. Nothing beats a book for transporting you into another world. Hopefully as a writer, I accomplish that. It is the most important thing a writer does, I believe.


Dianna As a friend and fan I'm currently reading a number of his books and each has left me emotionally and psychologically changed for the better. He takes you with him so you can see,smell and hear the world you're in. Not many authors can do that consistently. Do not pass up an opportunity to read one of his books,for it certainly won't be your last.Dianna Slowey-Thomas


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