“She had a special spirit, and it radiated outward so that I felt like I was wrapped up in sunshine whenever she was near. When she wasn’t, it was like an eclipse.”

What a humdinger of a tale Bobby Underwood has spun within the confines of his new, noir shot novelette, THE LEAFY GLADE! Forty-seven pages packed so full of atmosphere, a lesser writer would have used 150. It reads so smoothly, it feels more like 20.

We’re taken back to a small Indiana town of the 1940s, which magically lives again through Underwood’s hypnotic prose. The writer disappears, leaving us an unobstructed view of a place, time, and people that are more real than our neighbors. Underwood, with his deft hand at storytelling, conjures a world so vivid and alive, you can practically smell the corn fields and hear the train’s whistle.

From the first page, Underwood's prose casts a spell, drawing us deep into the heart of a mystery that crackles with tension and intrigue. The tale unfurls sharply, but naturally, allowing the reader to take a breath or two, and enjoy the wonderful anecdotes of a time that is no more.
I was especially struck by this line:
“America was baseball, and baseball was America.”
You’d be hard-pressed to sum up an era any better than that.

But it's not just the plot that captivates—it's the atmosphere, thick as molasses, that seeps from every sentence. Underwood has a knack for evoking the sights, sounds, and smells of a time long past, transporting readers to a world that no longer exists.

And then there are the characters—flawed, complex, and utterly compelling. Their voices carry the echoes of a bygone era. From the haunted protagonist and the sweet, beautiful girl he loves, to the richest family in town, consisting of an egotistical, baseball hero, his powerful father, and his pretty, coquettish sister, Underwood populates his world with people who leap off the page and into your imagination, leaving an indelible mark long after the final page is turned.

In THE LEAFY GLADE, Underwood proves once again why he's one of the finest storytellers of his generation. With his lyrical prose and keen eye for detail, he crafts a noir/mystery masterpiece that's as haunting as it is unforgettable. So do yourself a favor and dive into the murky depths of THE LEAFY GLADE—just be sure to keep one eye over your shoulder. You never know what secrets might be lurking in the shadows. ( )