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748 ratings | 707 reviews | avg rating:3.66

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Bobbie Darbyshire

Goodreads Author

Born

London, The United Kingdom

Website

http://is.gd/u8V4hA

Twitter

bobbiedar

Genre

Fiction, Humor and Comedy

Member Since

May 2011

URL

https://www.goodreads.com/bobbiedar

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Bobbie's fifth novel, 'The Third Bus' was published in October 2023. Her earlier novels are: 'The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker', 'Oz', 'Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones' and 'Truth Games'.

She won the 2008 fiction prize at the National Academy of Writing and the New Delta Review Creative Nonfiction Prize 2010. She has worked as barmaid, mushroom picker, film extra, maths coach, cabinet minister's private secretary, care assistant and volunteer adult-literacy teacher, as well as in social research and government policy.

Her latest novel is 'The Third Bus': An unappreciated man walks out of his dispiriting 42-year marriage with no destination in mind. At Victoria coach station, on the spur of the moment he boards a coach to Norwich. Bobbie's fifth novel, 'The Third Bus' was published in October 2023. Her earlier novels are: 'The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker', 'Oz', 'Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones' and 'Truth Games'.

She won the 2008 fiction prize at the National Academy of Writing and the New Delta Review Creative Nonfiction Prize 2010. She has worked as barmaid, mushroom picker, film extra, maths coach, cabinet minister's private secretary, care assistant and volunteer adult-literacy teacher, as well as in social research and government policy.

Her latest novel is 'The Third Bus': An unappreciated man walks out of his dispiriting 42-year marriage with no destination in mind. At Victoria coach station, on the spur of the moment he boards a coach to Norwich. A late-life coming-of-age story, mixing humour and sorrow, hope and regret.

Bobbie's four earlier novels are:

'The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker': A world-famous superstar actor – think Laurence Olivier crossed with Jack Nicholson – dies, but to his astonishment finds he’s still here among us. He’s able to watch the effect of his mean-spirited will on those left behind, including his son (cycling along on the cover) and even his cat. If your spirits are in need of a lift, it’s a real feel-good book that will keep you hooked.

'OZ': Mark Jonnson's life is a mess. He fears his marriage is over, but can't bear to leave his boisterous 7-year-old daughter, Matilda. Just when he thinks things can't get worse, his mother is killed in a road accident. Shocked and grieving, he decamps to her house, where he uncovers a secret that turns his life upside-down and sends him and his daughter on a whirlwind search for the truth.

Sarah Rayner, author of 'One Moment, One Morning', says of 'Oz', "What a delight to find a novel that's both a page-turner and a nuanced exploration of characters. The tensions and subtleties of relationships of marriage and parenting across the decades are explored with delicacy, yet the storytelling never falters, as a constantly evolving plot keeps you hooked until the last page."

'Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones': Long-listed for the 2011 International Rubery Book Award. In this comedy of errors, three troubled people dash off to the Scottish Highlands, where their destinies are mysteriously entwined around a reading group in the Inverness public library. Twists & surprises, very funny with also some dark, serious threads, it keeps you guessing throughout.

'Truth Games': In 1970s London, the blazing summers of 75 & 76, a group of friends get out of their depth in infidelity. Thought-provoking, amusing & sexy, a book about how we hurt each other with lies and with truths.

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Combine Editions
Bobbie Darbyshire’s books

Average rating: 3.7 · 248 ratings · 72 reviews · 10 distinct works • Similar authors

	The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker 3.66 avg rating — 125 ratings — published 2019 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Love, Revenge and Buttered Scones 3.17 avg rating — 52 ratings — published 2010 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Oz 4.20 avg rating — 30 ratings — published 2014 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Third Bus 4.36 avg rating — 22 ratings — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Truth Games 3.67 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2009 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Love, Revenge & Buttered Scones really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 3 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Lovers' Lies by Clare Sandling, Katy Darby (editor), Cherry Potts (Goodreads Author) (editor) it was amazing 5.00 avg rating — 1 rating	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Posthumous Adventures Of Harry Whittaker by Bobbie Darbyshire (Goodreads Author), Peter Kenny (Reader) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Posthumous Adventures of Harry Whittaker by Bobbie Darbyshire (Goodreads Author), Peter Kenny (Reader) 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	OZ 0.00 avg rating — 0 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book really liked it The Kind Worth Killing (Henry Kimball/Lily Kintner, #1) by Peter Swanson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Two people meet on a plane and get chatting. One of them is, not very seriously, thinking of killing his wife and her lover. I saw this praised online, I like a good thriller now and then, and this one did not disappoint. A clever plot with several un ...more
Sep 01, 2026 12:29AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book really liked it Mathematics for the Million: How to Master the Magic of Numbers by Lancelot Hogben	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
“… from simple arithmetic to calculus. His illuminating explanation is addressed to the person who wants to understand the place of mathematics in modern civilization but who has been intimidated by its supposed difficulty.” I have possessed a hardbac ...more
Aug 26, 2026 02:39AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Mathematics for the Million by Lancelot Hogben. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Mathematics for the Million by Lancelot Hogben <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book really liked it mathematics from the million by Lancelot Hogben	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
“… from simple arithmetic to calculus. His illuminating explanation is addressed to the person who wants to understand the place of mathematics in modern civilization but who has been intimidated by its supposed difficulty.” I have possessed a hardbac ...more
Aug 26, 2026 02:37AM · like · see review
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book it was amazing Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An account of the workplace personalities and happenings in an Chicago advertising agency. A discussion of this on Radio 4’s A Good Read intrigued me, particularly because it is told mostly in first person plural. I loved it! It took me a while to ge ...more
Aug 24, 2026 05:21AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — Then We Came to the End by Joshua Ferris <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bobbie Darbyshire has read At the Heart's Farthest Edge by Jan Fortune	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Aug 19, 2026 02:14AM · like
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book really liked it Wittgenstein: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by A.C. Grayling	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This does what the title says it will. I’ve harboured romantic, uninformed notions about Wittgenstein since my early twenties, when an intimidating young man with a condescending attitude to young women answered my request at a party to be told someth ...more
Aug 15, 2026 07:21AM · like · see review
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book it was amazing The Andromeda Strain (Andromeda, #1) by Michael Crichton	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
A returning space-probe brings back something nasty. Prompted by friends whose reading tastes I trust, a few months ago I read Jurassic Park by this writer, enjoyed it (4 stars) and decided to try another. This was an early one that made his name, an ...more
Aug 09, 2026 09:41AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book liked it The Peepshow: The Murders at 10 Rillington Place by Kate Summerscale	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Chosen by my book group, a fully researched, true-crime account of the seven murdered women and one murdered toddler found hidden behind a wall, under a floor and in the garden of this notorious address, of the ensuing investigations, both police and ...more
Aug 04, 2026 04:36AM · like · see review · preview book See a Problem? We’d love your help. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale. Problem: Details (if other): Thanks for telling us about the problem. Not the book you’re looking for? Preview — The Peepshow by Kate Summerscale <iframe sandbox id="wrongBookKindlePreviewScreen">
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book really liked it Why You Should Read Children's Books, Even Though You Are So Old and Wise by Katherine Rundell	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
An essay that convincingly delivers what it says in the title it will, published as a beautiful little hardback book. 62 pages for the essay, plus a short extract from one of the author’s own books for children. I will put it on the bedside table in ...more
Jul 30, 2026 04:19AM · like · see review
Bobbie Darbyshire rated a book really liked it Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Lillian’s golden prospects as a scholarship student at a fancy school come to an abrupt end when her mother accepts money for her to take the fall for her best friend Madison’s misdeed. More than ten years later, Madison, married to a senator who has ...more
Jul 30, 2026 03:55AM · like · see review