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We may think we know the people around us—the guy who walks his dog at the same time every morning, the nice old lady who lives down the street. But The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by author David Putnam uncovers the secrets that a quiet octogenarian has been keeping for decades.
The story begins when 80-year-old Harvey Usher wakes one morning to the sounds of someone else in his home, despite the fact that he’s lived alone since losing his beloved wife, Sylvia, two years ago. The striking red-headed bombshell in the kitchen says that her name is Delores—and though he’s never seen her before, she claims to be his wife. Determined to prove that he hasn’t lost his mind, Harvey hires a private investigator to look into his so-called wife—but her appearance brings up decades of secrets that Harvey has fought to keep hidden.
As Harvey tries to figure out what to do with the woman who refuses to leave his house, he looks back on his life with the woman he loved—and the lives they left behind to be together. Harvey is more than just a mild-mannered accountant turned reclusive widower. And as his story jumps from the present day back to the ‘60s, readers learn about his life before—back when he was known as Harvey Dortmund and he managed the books for a criminal organization in a run-down office above a donut shop in New Jersey.
The story moves back and forth between Harvey’s days as a clueless kid who was in way over his head and the present day, as he tries to figure out what Delores really wants from him—and whether the two might be connected in some way. Each part has its own interesting characters—from the thugs from Harvey’s past to Delores and Harvey’s spunky retired kindergarten teacher neighbor, Esther, in the present. And they all help to add colorful details to the big picture of secrets and surprises. Though the writing style can sometimes be distracting—and the author skips over some key parts of the story, which will most likley leave readers with a few questions—it’s a captivating tale of a love so unforgettable that it was worth risking everything to keep it.
The Obsessions of Harvey Usher explores one character’s deepest secrets—telling a tale of crime and obsession and love. It’s an entertaining crime thriller that will keep readers guessing until the end.
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