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Usurpation
464 pages, Paperback
Published August 13, 2024
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3 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 28, 2025
honestly this had a lot of potential that it did not live up to. i struggled with the timeline of the main romantic relationship, both because it felt too convenient and tidy while also progressing unrealistically quickly. i understand what the author is trying to do but gentrification is not one big evil plot being executed by a few select wealthy, there’s varying levels of complicity etc. some of the character choices also seem to be cheep emotional shots. however with a better editor the book would be a must read
September 1, 2025
Usurpation is a brilliant character study about a historian who deals in collectible photographs and begins an investigation into the murder of her good friend's son. It takes place primarily in Portland, Oregon, but includes a brief trip to New Orleans.
There isn't much action in the story, but the characters are such a joy to spend time with that it didn't bother me a bit. There's Kitty, the main character who investigates the murder of ReeCee, the young son of her best friend Nina.
Early on, Kitty and grieving mother Nina take a trip to their home city of New Orleans to attend ReeCee's funeral. There we meet MeeMaw, PeePaw and many other family members of Kitty and Nina. This for me is the most enjoyable part of the book. The humor and sense of community in the New Orleans scenes is a delightful contrast to some of the darker scenes in Portland, specifically in neighborhoods in the throes of gentrification sped up by opportunistic criminals who may or may not have had a hand in the death of ReeCee.
Usurpation is full of love, laughter, great coffee, bossy pet cats, lock-picking lessons and heinous criminals. I highly recommend giving this book a try.
(Note: I bought this book directly from the author and wasn't compensated in any way for my honest review.)
There isn't much action in the story, but the characters are such a joy to spend time with that it didn't bother me a bit. There's Kitty, the main character who investigates the murder of ReeCee, the young son of her best friend Nina.
Early on, Kitty and grieving mother Nina take a trip to their home city of New Orleans to attend ReeCee's funeral. There we meet MeeMaw, PeePaw and many other family members of Kitty and Nina. This for me is the most enjoyable part of the book. The humor and sense of community in the New Orleans scenes is a delightful contrast to some of the darker scenes in Portland, specifically in neighborhoods in the throes of gentrification sped up by opportunistic criminals who may or may not have had a hand in the death of ReeCee.
Usurpation is full of love, laughter, great coffee, bossy pet cats, lock-picking lessons and heinous criminals. I highly recommend giving this book a try.
(Note: I bought this book directly from the author and wasn't compensated in any way for my honest review.)
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews