H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov asked Bobby Underwood:

What made you start writing the Seth Halliday series, Bobby?

Bobby Underwood First, I wanted to write mysteries about damaged and broken people, said damage often coming from families and dysfunction. Second, I wanted to make them fast moving and entertaining,usually with a colorful setting for atmosphere. In a way, I wanted to blend elements of Ross Macdonald and John D. MacDonald with TV's Mannix, bringing to it an easy and readable style of narrative like that of David Dodge or Robert Parker. Like those guys, the mystery form gave me all the rope I needed. I wanted to have a tarnished protagonist who had a heart, and use the mystery form to not only touch on personal damage and its aftermath, but comment on society through Seth and his interactions with Sonny and others. Just as with Travis McGee, Lew Archer or Spenser, it isn't necessary for the reader to agree with every observation made during the trip in order to enjoy the ride. I wanted the surrounding characters to have flaws and their own stories which would slowly be revealed over time in the series, as Ed McBain did with the 87th Precinct series. For instance, things are revealed about Sonny in the second Seth Halliday outing, The Long Gray Goodbye, that readers of The Turquoise Shroud might not have expected. Caroline's poignant backstory was revealed from the very beginning, in The Turquoise Shroud, but nuances will come out over time to add depth. Detective Sanchez, and Seth's crippled psychologist friend Jeanette, both have tremendous their own unique stories, so that no one who is a regular or semi-regular in the series is a throwaway character. Another thing that I wanted to do in a series that is rarely done (Spenser would be the exception, though I can't stand the Susan Silverman creation) is have the protagonist permanently attached to someone, someone worthy. This would allow me as a writer to eliminate the need for a new romantic or physical attachment in each new entry, allowing the reader to settle in and focus on the mystery story, while I added a bit more to Seth and Caroline's relationship each time out. I wanted it to have a bit of that cool feeling from past decades, like watching Mike Conners as Joe Mannix, or Robert Urich as Dan Tanna. Basically, I wanted to write the kind of series I'd like to read myself; entertaining yet thought provoking. How well I succeeded is up to readers to decide. Thanks for asking!

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