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The Obsessions of Harvey Usher
At eighty years old, Harvey Usher lives a quiet, reclusive life, still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Sylvia. But when a stunning redhead named Rita shows up, claiming to be his wife of two years, Harvey's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
As Harvey struggles to expose Rita's deception, dark figures from his past emerge from the shadows, forcing him to confront the violent secrets he's kept buried for five decades. With the help of his elderly neighbor Esther and a troubled PI named Eddie Gurski, Harvey races to uncover Rita's true motives before it's too late.
But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, nothing is what it seems. As bodies start piling up and long-buried truths come to light, Harvey must decide who he can trust - and whether some sins can ever truly be forgiven.
A gripping tale of deception, redemption, and the price we pay for the secrets we keep, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is a masterful thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
As Harvey struggles to expose Rita's deception, dark figures from his past emerge from the shadows, forcing him to confront the violent secrets he's kept buried for five decades. With the help of his elderly neighbor Esther and a troubled PI named Eddie Gurski, Harvey races to uncover Rita's true motives before it's too late.
But in this deadly game of cat and mouse, nothing is what it seems. As bodies start piling up and long-buried truths come to light, Harvey must decide who he can trust - and whether some sins can ever truly be forgiven.
A gripping tale of deception, redemption, and the price we pay for the secrets we keep, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is a masterful thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page.
317 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 8, 2025
6 people are currently reading
8511 people want to read
About the author
David Putnam
20 books2,034 followersBest-selling author David Putnam comes from a family of law enforcement. During his career, he did it all: worked in narcotics, served on FBI-sponsored violent crimes teams, and was cross-sworn as a US Marshall, pursuing murder suspects and bank robbers in Arizona, Nevada, and California. Putnam did two tours on the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s SWAT team. He also has experience in criminal intelligence and internal affairs and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau. In Hawaii, Putnam was a member of the real-life Hawaii Five O, serving as Special Agent for the Attorney General investigating smuggling and white-collar crimes.
Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.
Putnam lives in Southern California with his wife, Mary.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
July 15, 2025
At 80 years old, Harvey Usher lives a quiet, reclusive life, still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Sylvia. But when a stunning redhead named Delores (whom Harvey calls Rita since she reminds him of Rita Hayworth) shows up, claiming to be his wife of two years, Harvey's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
Told in segments from the current day and from 1968, it's an entertaining novel with a bit of noir flavour but not really to my taste. There's much repetition and It seems to drag in places so that it seemed much longer than 315 pages. I was curious to find out Delores/Rita's story but didn't enjoy the whole book all that much. There's quite a bit of mob-related meanness and violence which isn't a trope I normally seek out. I'm a bit of an outlier on this one so check some of the more positive reviews if you're interested in the title.
Thank you to Lisa from Swell Media and to the publisher, Level Best Books, via Netgalley, for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 8, 2025
Told in segments from the current day and from 1968, it's an entertaining novel with a bit of noir flavour but not really to my taste. There's much repetition and It seems to drag in places so that it seemed much longer than 315 pages. I was curious to find out Delores/Rita's story but didn't enjoy the whole book all that much. There's quite a bit of mob-related meanness and violence which isn't a trope I normally seek out. I'm a bit of an outlier on this one so check some of the more positive reviews if you're interested in the title.
Thank you to Lisa from Swell Media and to the publisher, Level Best Books, via Netgalley, for providing an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: July 8, 2025
June 17, 2025
This story has a bit of a quirky loveable character in Harvey. A good light read for the most part.
Harvey is 80 years old, and his wife Sylvia of many years died a few years back. One day, a woman Delores claiming to be his wife of 2 years turns up at home. She says they were married and he is forgetting. He takes to calling her Rita (after the actress Rita Hayworth). When Harvey calls the police, Delores produces a driving license (with a shared last name & address) and a marriage certificate. Harvey then hires one Edward Gurski as a detective to check on what the story is. Harvey is puzzled since he does not think his modest savings warrant such an elaborate ruse, if it is that. There are sections which take you to Harvey’s past, and how he and Sylvia got married.
Harvey is a well-developed and loveable character. Though it is somewhat clear how the story could progress, Delores’ character fits well in the story. There is a convergence between Harvey’s past and current events, which I found to be weak and forced. I liked the glimpses of Sylvia’s character we get to see when the past is recounted, though here too the later stages lack imagination.
Overall, an easy read, which could have been much better. Recommended for Harvey’s character!
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Level Best Books and author for a free electronic review copy.
Harvey is 80 years old, and his wife Sylvia of many years died a few years back. One day, a woman Delores claiming to be his wife of 2 years turns up at home. She says they were married and he is forgetting. He takes to calling her Rita (after the actress Rita Hayworth). When Harvey calls the police, Delores produces a driving license (with a shared last name & address) and a marriage certificate. Harvey then hires one Edward Gurski as a detective to check on what the story is. Harvey is puzzled since he does not think his modest savings warrant such an elaborate ruse, if it is that. There are sections which take you to Harvey’s past, and how he and Sylvia got married.
Harvey is a well-developed and loveable character. Though it is somewhat clear how the story could progress, Delores’ character fits well in the story. There is a convergence between Harvey’s past and current events, which I found to be weak and forced. I liked the glimpses of Sylvia’s character we get to see when the past is recounted, though here too the later stages lack imagination.
Overall, an easy read, which could have been much better. Recommended for Harvey’s character!
My rating: 3.5 / 5.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Level Best Books and author for a free electronic review copy.
August 4, 2025
The obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam, this book has too many plots and sub plots to give a good summary so I will just say Harvey wakes up and find a beautiful woman claiming to be his wife who is also 40 years younger than he is. he’s only been married once and that was to Lois for 50 years and she was the love of his life and he’s been mourning her loss for the past two years. although Dolores claims to be his second wife and to make this even harder for Harvey she looks like Rita Hayworth. he has no memory of her despite her claiming they’ve been married for two years and he’s not suffering from dementia or at least he doesn’t think so. The last thing Harvey is going to do is except this beautiful redhead as his wife even though Dolores insist she is and even brings up memories they supposedly had that Harvey has no reference for. When he gets his good friend Esther to ask her good friend Eddie to find out what her game is, this is the beginning of the trouble. because right when Harvey starts getting somewhere at disappears in Harvey‘s life becomes like a snowball rolling down the mountain gaining speed and momentum and his biggest issue is the snowball has been heading his way for the past 40 years. Soon he will have to confront monsters he thought left long in the past. I was not expecting this book to go where did but then again it is a David Putnam novel so I should’ve been prepared. I love his books especially the protagonist he has a way with words and whether he is writing a character like Harvey or one like his other series with Imagene it’s all laugh out loud and always compulsively readable. This is the type of writer whose books you want to read one after the other I can’t say enough about his stories and it seems they just keep getting better. Harvey Usher is very astute with a vast classic vocabulary and someone you’ll definitely want to root for… I know I did! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #DavidPutnam, #TheObsessionsOfHarveyUsher,
June 15, 2025
Despite its ugly and somewhat silly cover, the novel is decidedly entertaining and capable of conveying profound reflections. In this “senior citizen” thriller, memories and misdeeds from the past return to haunt the present despite a life of caution. Unrevealed secrets lead to new, bad choices and a cascade of remorse and regret. Yet, underlying it all, there is a love story so profound that its final sparks illuminate the life of an 82-year-old man, to the point of making him appreciate, almost love, even the explosive redhead that his enemies from the past have placed in his home as a sort of Trojan horse. And it is these last glimpses of an ancient love that lead to a peaceful ending, full of good intentions but not banality. The writing, which leads the reader between past and present, with its self-critical comments by the protagonist, is tinged with subtle humour, making the novel, which is also punctuated by violence and death, truly enjoyable.
March 2, 2025
A very well written novel with a great storyline that keeps you glued to the pages. The clever twists and turns lead to an excellent finale. Highly recommended read for all thriller readers and worthy of five (5) stars.
June 22, 2025
I was initially drawn into The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by its intriguing opening, where an octogenarian is gaslighted by a captivating Rita Hayworth-like figure. The setup promised a suspenseful thriller, but unfortunately, the story lost its spark as it dragged on. The premise, while engaging at first, grew repetitive and failed to maintain momentum.
The introduction of past and present timelines added to the confusion. The interchangeable character names—Rita and Delores seeming to be the same person, as well as Sylvia and Lois—made it hard to follow who was who. I was also unsure whether Harvey Usher and Harvey Dortmund were the same character. This lack of clarity disrupted the narrative flow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Ultimately, I DNF’d the book at 34%.
While I didn’t finish, I can see how some fans of this type of fiction might appreciate the atmospheric elements. However, the confusing character identities and sluggish pacing didn’t work for me. Two stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from Level Best Books through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my thoughts and opinions.
The introduction of past and present timelines added to the confusion. The interchangeable character names—Rita and Delores seeming to be the same person, as well as Sylvia and Lois—made it hard to follow who was who. I was also unsure whether Harvey Usher and Harvey Dortmund were the same character. This lack of clarity disrupted the narrative flow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. Ultimately, I DNF’d the book at 34%.
While I didn’t finish, I can see how some fans of this type of fiction might appreciate the atmospheric elements. However, the confusing character identities and sluggish pacing didn’t work for me. Two stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from Level Best Books through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my thoughts and opinions.
October 14, 2025
at first I wasn't sure about this book. But I had faith in David Putnam - so I kept reading. Glad I did.
October 31, 2025
I'm a sucker for a good mystery and having someone to root for, even if they happen to be a complicated individual who isn't a prince.
Harvey is an 80 year old man when we first meet him, the book alternating between current day and the late 1960's when Harvey first meets his wife. He was an accountant for a mob boss, be aware there is a lot of violence, the kind you would expect with the mob.
Harvey went into hiding decades ago and his intelligence helps him stay that way for a long time. Putman does a great job of bringing it all together in the end along with the supporting characters who are fun to get to know.
thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
Harvey is an 80 year old man when we first meet him, the book alternating between current day and the late 1960's when Harvey first meets his wife. He was an accountant for a mob boss, be aware there is a lot of violence, the kind you would expect with the mob.
Harvey went into hiding decades ago and his intelligence helps him stay that way for a long time. Putman does a great job of bringing it all together in the end along with the supporting characters who are fun to get to know.
thanks to NetGalley for the ARC
May 3, 2025
Mr. Putnam always has a way of surprising me with his characters and the plot. I’ve read many of his books and his range keeps growing far more than police procedural. I wasn’t expecting the direction this plot took. Harvey turned out to be protagonist with a lifetime full of secrets. He’s an active eighty year old who thinks his wits are still intact. However, the very young, voluptuous woman claiming to be his wife has him baffled. Who is she? The strange events unfold with unpredictable revelations at every turn. I liked Harvey, I didn’t want to like Harvey. I had very mixed emotions about the ‘wife’, sometimes despising her, other times she earned my sympathy and understanding. Many other people are integral to the plot and all kept me engaged. You’ll wonder if Harvey is becoming senile, you’ll be fooled by the charming temptress. The plot is an original one with lots of heartfelt emotion, consequences, life and love lessons.
Thanks so much to Level Best Books (via NetGalley) for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of “The Obsessions of Harvey Usher” by David Putnam, publication expected 05/08/2025. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.
Thanks so much to Level Best Books (via NetGalley) for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of “The Obsessions of Harvey Usher” by David Putnam, publication expected 05/08/2025. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.
August 11, 2025
What a great read. What could be better than a mob related story and told from events that happened in 1968 and the current day and how they relate at the end. Who would think that Harvey, a lowly accountant could cause so much trouble over one kiss!!! The characters in the book are a very interesting group and some you'd never think would interact together at all. I highly recommend this book to anyone that loves a great story with amazing characters.
I will definitely search out more books by David Putnam. I did win this Advanced Review Copy. Thank you so much to the publisher and David Putnam for the opportunity to read and review.
I will definitely search out more books by David Putnam. I did win this Advanced Review Copy. Thank you so much to the publisher and David Putnam for the opportunity to read and review.
August 6, 2025
A mystery turned murder mystery and mafia legacy, The Obsession of Harvey Usher is unlike anything I've read lately. Following an old man named Harvey, he awakes one day to find a stranger in his home, claiming to be his wife for the last two years. She, however, says he has dementia, and even after the cops have come and left, is sticking to her story.
Check out my full review here!
https://mutatedlibrary.wordpress.com/...
Check out my full review here!
https://mutatedlibrary.wordpress.com/...
July 1, 2025
The story in a few words:
At eighty years old, Harvey Usher lives a quiet, reclusive life, still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Sylvia. But when a stunning redhead named Rita shows up, claiming to be his wife of two years, Harvey's carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Then starts a cat and mouse game where long buried truths come to light. What true motives does Rita have? Harvey must decide who he can trust….
My thoughts:
I was very intrigued at first and enjoyed how tense and clever the plot was. But as it progressed it grew repetitive and dragged a lot. The dual timelines of past and present with change in the characters name simply added confusion. Around page 100 I was totally bored, this story had lost my interest and never regained it. Even with the sluggish pacing and the lack of clarity I managed to lumber along and eventually make it to the very last word. “ouf” I made it….
Do misdeeds from the past comes back to haunt you? Was Rita a Trojan horse place by Harvey’s enemies? Was Harvey suffering from dementia and fooled by a charming temptress? I leave it to you to find out.
A final note:
Some reviewers acknowledged that overall story was strong and kept them engaged. The mix of crime, personal history, and emotional depth had resonated well with them. Maybe you will feel the same?
I received this ARC from Level Best Books for my thoughts: this is the way I see it
At eighty years old, Harvey Usher lives a quiet, reclusive life, still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Sylvia. But when a stunning redhead named Rita shows up, claiming to be his wife of two years, Harvey's carefully constructed world begins to crumble. Then starts a cat and mouse game where long buried truths come to light. What true motives does Rita have? Harvey must decide who he can trust….
My thoughts:
I was very intrigued at first and enjoyed how tense and clever the plot was. But as it progressed it grew repetitive and dragged a lot. The dual timelines of past and present with change in the characters name simply added confusion. Around page 100 I was totally bored, this story had lost my interest and never regained it. Even with the sluggish pacing and the lack of clarity I managed to lumber along and eventually make it to the very last word. “ouf” I made it….
Do misdeeds from the past comes back to haunt you? Was Rita a Trojan horse place by Harvey’s enemies? Was Harvey suffering from dementia and fooled by a charming temptress? I leave it to you to find out.
A final note:
Some reviewers acknowledged that overall story was strong and kept them engaged. The mix of crime, personal history, and emotional depth had resonated well with them. Maybe you will feel the same?
I received this ARC from Level Best Books for my thoughts: this is the way I see it
September 17, 2025
You guessed it, this is a book about Harvey Usher, however, even though the title gives clues to what the story entails, it is worth the read. Surprisingly, Harvey Usher is an 80-year-old widower who seemingly runs into a younger woman in his home who claims that they have been married for the past two years. This book is interesting because it has a two-timeline type of story setting where it goes from the present day back to the 1960s. This book is for you if you like psychological suspense that builds slowly.
Thank you to Level Best Books for allowing me to read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Level Best Books for allowing me to read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
March 17, 2025
DRC from Netgalley and Level Best Books
Harvey Usher is 80 and forgetful, but not so forgetful that he would forget marring “Rita.” He wakes up one morning to find her in his house making him his favorite breakfast. How did she know? She tells him her name is Dolores and they married two years ago. Harvey calls her Rita as she reminds him of Rita Hayward. As he struggles to figure out what con she is playing, he flashes back to his past, when he met the love of his life, Lois (Sylvia) and did some things he is not proud of.
Told in two time frames, The Obsessions is part mystery and part love story.
Harvey Usher is 80 and forgetful, but not so forgetful that he would forget marring “Rita.” He wakes up one morning to find her in his house making him his favorite breakfast. How did she know? She tells him her name is Dolores and they married two years ago. Harvey calls her Rita as she reminds him of Rita Hayward. As he struggles to figure out what con she is playing, he flashes back to his past, when he met the love of his life, Lois (Sylvia) and did some things he is not proud of.
Told in two time frames, The Obsessions is part mystery and part love story.
September 27, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. Unexpected twists!
April 25, 2025
When Harvey, a widower who lives alone, wakes up one morning to a woman in his home saying she’s his wife, he knows he’s not crazy. Rather, someone is up to no good. When his past collides with his future, poor Harvey must decide if he’s ready to face the truth.
Interesting plot with a great ending. I enjoyed Harvey’s character immensely. Thank you, NetGalley and Level Best Books for the advanced reader copy.
Interesting plot with a great ending. I enjoyed Harvey’s character immensely. Thank you, NetGalley and Level Best Books for the advanced reader copy.
July 5, 2025
Headline: Unputdownable Psychological Thriller!
Book Review: The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam
Published by Level Best Books, July 8, 2025
★★★★★ (4.5 Stars rounded up, Rave!)
Present Day.
Mission District, San Francisco, California
AN 80-YEAAR-OLD WIDOWER wakes up one morning, ready for breakfast, only to find a stranger in his house, a woman claiming to be his wife of two years. Which just couldn't be, as the widower still loves his deceased wife, the better half of fifty wonderful, storybook years whom he'd tragically lost to cancer.
Readers are then treated to a narrative of five perplexing chapters seemingly straight out of random scenes from "Memento" (2000) and "Mulholland Drive" (2001), which, of course, are those blockbuster movies themed on amnesia by Hollywood icons, Christopher Nolan and David Lynch.
But I digress.
IT IS IN CHAPTER SIX that the book abruptly segues into an account of harrowing events five decades earlier, back to 1986, brought about by a rediscovery of an exchange of love letters hidden in the house. An exchange between a drop-dead young woman, and a love-struck geeky, slightly successful accountant.
It is also in Chapter Six that readers may get a bit overwhelmed as the "two Harveys" meet without much build up, the Harvey of the present and the Harvey of the past, the octogenarian and his younger self, with the narrative abruptly inserting hitherto unknown characters from the past.
REVIEWER'S TIP:
Read Chapter Five, Six and Seven TWICE to grasp the profundity of the author's plot.
// “You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car,
But because they sing a song only you can hear.” ― Oscar Wilde //
1986.
Hoboken, New Jersey
THE QUIET ACCOUNTANT called the "Ledger Man" knows where the money is hidden, where all the bodies are buried. Yet he'd never risen above his bottom-dwelling spot within the hierarchy of the Jersey mob, an organization in which he's constantly derided with far more vulgar variations of excrement. "Why kiss a Propeller-head", they'd sneer.
But the Ledger Man is smart, smart enough to invent a "candy bullet". Thereupon he earns his new moniker. He becomes the "Candyman".
He gets irreparably, bitterly entangled with his mob bosses over the loss of the woman he loves, whom they'd coerced to be tied in matrimony to one of their own. A bitterness he keeps to himself.
IT IS WHEN THE MOB pulls off a daring heist, the "Suisse Air Transport caper" that an idea emanates in the head of the despised pencil-pusing pushover. Privy to all things mafia, the lowly Ledger Man is held to account (on pain of death, at times) for cash, assets and liabilities, to balance the books, to audit stocks, inventories, to certify locations and storage. And in the one instance that matters, to ascertain the whereabouts and inventory of stolen gold.
Then the Ledger Man crosses over. ― And strikes!
He plans. He puts his "candy bullets" to good use. He subdues the punks. He grabs the booty.
Then he runs. Not alone, but with someone. Someone who'd turn out to be the love of his life.
The Ledger Man, himself, then known as Harvey Dortmund.
----------
Present Day.
San Francisco, Calif.
IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE but 80-year-old Harvey Usher eventually finds out that Rita, the spousal impostor, had actually endeavored to help him fulfill his own lifetime's objective.
The elimination of the bane of his existence. To be forever free of the Mob. Free of Jackie the Nose. Free of the LaBruzzo family.
Then keep possession of that one thing he'd filched from his mob bosses. Apropos, the Suisse Air Transport heist.
----------
Quite an unexpected, finely-crafted Class-A psychological thriller from author David Putnam, the creator of the highly compelling, eleven-book "Bruno Johnson" series (2014-2024), an incomparable police procedural spanning continents, imbued with uplifting themes of hope and redemption.
David Putnam parlayed his years of law enforcement into the palpable realism of his police procedurals and suspense thrillers. Inter-alia, he was with the real Hawaii Five-O, a narc, on an FBI-sponsored team, with a SWAT team and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau.
And now, an unputdownable psychological thriller!
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Level Best Books and NetGalley.
Book Review: The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam
Published by Level Best Books, July 8, 2025
★★★★★ (4.5 Stars rounded up, Rave!)
Present Day.
Mission District, San Francisco, California
AN 80-YEAAR-OLD WIDOWER wakes up one morning, ready for breakfast, only to find a stranger in his house, a woman claiming to be his wife of two years. Which just couldn't be, as the widower still loves his deceased wife, the better half of fifty wonderful, storybook years whom he'd tragically lost to cancer.
Readers are then treated to a narrative of five perplexing chapters seemingly straight out of random scenes from "Memento" (2000) and "Mulholland Drive" (2001), which, of course, are those blockbuster movies themed on amnesia by Hollywood icons, Christopher Nolan and David Lynch.
But I digress.
IT IS IN CHAPTER SIX that the book abruptly segues into an account of harrowing events five decades earlier, back to 1986, brought about by a rediscovery of an exchange of love letters hidden in the house. An exchange between a drop-dead young woman, and a love-struck geeky, slightly successful accountant.
It is also in Chapter Six that readers may get a bit overwhelmed as the "two Harveys" meet without much build up, the Harvey of the present and the Harvey of the past, the octogenarian and his younger self, with the narrative abruptly inserting hitherto unknown characters from the past.
REVIEWER'S TIP:
Read Chapter Five, Six and Seven TWICE to grasp the profundity of the author's plot.
// “You don't love someone for their looks, or their clothes, or for their fancy car,
But because they sing a song only you can hear.” ― Oscar Wilde //
1986.
Hoboken, New Jersey
THE QUIET ACCOUNTANT called the "Ledger Man" knows where the money is hidden, where all the bodies are buried. Yet he'd never risen above his bottom-dwelling spot within the hierarchy of the Jersey mob, an organization in which he's constantly derided with far more vulgar variations of excrement. "Why kiss a Propeller-head", they'd sneer.
But the Ledger Man is smart, smart enough to invent a "candy bullet". Thereupon he earns his new moniker. He becomes the "Candyman".
He gets irreparably, bitterly entangled with his mob bosses over the loss of the woman he loves, whom they'd coerced to be tied in matrimony to one of their own. A bitterness he keeps to himself.
IT IS WHEN THE MOB pulls off a daring heist, the "Suisse Air Transport caper" that an idea emanates in the head of the despised pencil-pusing pushover. Privy to all things mafia, the lowly Ledger Man is held to account (on pain of death, at times) for cash, assets and liabilities, to balance the books, to audit stocks, inventories, to certify locations and storage. And in the one instance that matters, to ascertain the whereabouts and inventory of stolen gold.
Then the Ledger Man crosses over. ― And strikes!
He plans. He puts his "candy bullets" to good use. He subdues the punks. He grabs the booty.
Then he runs. Not alone, but with someone. Someone who'd turn out to be the love of his life.
The Ledger Man, himself, then known as Harvey Dortmund.
----------
Present Day.
San Francisco, Calif.
IT TAKES A LITTLE WHILE but 80-year-old Harvey Usher eventually finds out that Rita, the spousal impostor, had actually endeavored to help him fulfill his own lifetime's objective.
The elimination of the bane of his existence. To be forever free of the Mob. Free of Jackie the Nose. Free of the LaBruzzo family.
Then keep possession of that one thing he'd filched from his mob bosses. Apropos, the Suisse Air Transport heist.
----------
Quite an unexpected, finely-crafted Class-A psychological thriller from author David Putnam, the creator of the highly compelling, eleven-book "Bruno Johnson" series (2014-2024), an incomparable police procedural spanning continents, imbued with uplifting themes of hope and redemption.
David Putnam parlayed his years of law enforcement into the palpable realism of his police procedurals and suspense thrillers. Inter-alia, he was with the real Hawaii Five-O, a narc, on an FBI-sponsored team, with a SWAT team and has supervised corrections, patrol, and a detective bureau.
And now, an unputdownable psychological thriller!
Review based on an advance review copy courtesy of Level Best Books and NetGalley.
July 25, 2025
THE OBSESSIONS OF HARVEY USHER – by David Putnam
‘At eighty years old, Harvey Usher lives a quiet, reclusive life, still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Sylvia. But when a stunning redhead named Rita shows up, claiming to be his wife of two years, Harvey's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
‘As Harvey struggles to expose Rita's deception, dark figures from his past emerge from the shadows, forcing him to confront the violent secrets he's kept buried for five decades.’
WOW—That Was An Awesome, Yet Heartbreaking Ride—HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
P.S. LOVE The Cover
Thank you, NetGalley and Level Best Books, for providing me with an eBook ARC of THE OBSESSIONS OF HARVEY USHER at the request of an honest review.
‘At eighty years old, Harvey Usher lives a quiet, reclusive life, still grieving the loss of his beloved wife, Sylvia. But when a stunning redhead named Rita shows up, claiming to be his wife of two years, Harvey's carefully constructed world begins to crumble.
‘As Harvey struggles to expose Rita's deception, dark figures from his past emerge from the shadows, forcing him to confront the violent secrets he's kept buried for five decades.’
WOW—That Was An Awesome, Yet Heartbreaking Ride—HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!
P.S. LOVE The Cover
Thank you, NetGalley and Level Best Books, for providing me with an eBook ARC of THE OBSESSIONS OF HARVEY USHER at the request of an honest review.
March 18, 2025
For the last two years, Harvey Usher has been quietly mourning the loss of his wife of fifty years. But when he wakes up to a much-younger woman, who he calls Rita, claiming to be his new wife, Harvey knows something is terribly wrong. He starts looking for ways to expose her with the help of his neighbor Esther and a PI Eddy Gurski. The more they work to figure out Rita's motives, the more Harvey's hidden past comes to the forefront. As more people begin to die, Harvey must decide if he can finally tell the truth about who he is and what he did for love. A well-crafted novel about the secrets we keep and the redemptive quality of telling those secrets.
July 1, 2025
The Obessions of Harvey Usher is a book like no other. With a quirky and adorable main character and a shady hot bombshell with a secret, it was such a fun read you won'twant to miss !!! 💫💫💫💫💫
Harvey's story goes back into the past and shows us a glimpse of his choices and a few misdeeds. It also tells the beautiful love story between him and the love of his life, Sylvia. The story is so entertaining and packed with humor, bad decisions, twists, and some violence that makes this story truly fun and entertaining.
Thank you, Netgalley and Level Best Books/IBPA, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Harvey's story goes back into the past and shows us a glimpse of his choices and a few misdeeds. It also tells the beautiful love story between him and the love of his life, Sylvia. The story is so entertaining and packed with humor, bad decisions, twists, and some violence that makes this story truly fun and entertaining.
Thank you, Netgalley and Level Best Books/IBPA, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
August 2, 2025
I received The Obsessions of Harvey Usher from a goodreads giveaway. I never read anything by David Putnum, but I’m glad I was introduced to him. The story takes place in two timelines which at times can be confusing. Overall the story keeps you guessing especially with big reveal at the end. I’d recommend this book if you like crime or mystery genres.
June 8, 2025
This pulp fiction noir told over two different timelines didn't ever grab me. The story was somewhat convoluted, the pacing a little slow, and the characters were pretty one dimensional. The pace picked up in the second half but I just wasn't engaged with any of the characters to care how it turned out. I think there is an audience for this book, but it wasn't me.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for an advanced reader copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for an advanced reader copy.
December 31, 2025
Is The Old Man Being Conned?
Harvey Usher, an eighty-year-old widower, hears someone walking around in his house in high heels. An intruder is here to rob him. Finally, the person knocks, calls him by name, and says that his breakfast is ready. Come out to eat before it gets cold. He peeks out and sees a gorgeous woman. He tells her to leave, or he will call the police. She says to go ahead, it will not be the first time. She leads him to the table where his favorite breakfast is laid out, just as his deceased wife of 50 years would have done. He asks her for her name, but she tells him he knows it. She eventually says that her name is Delores. He calls her Rita because she looks like Rita Hayworth. She tells him that they met on the Santa Monica Pier a little over two years ago. He calls her out, saying he had never been to the Santa Monica Pier. He threatens to call the police again. She brings a corded phone over to the table next to him. This time, he does call the police.
This novel has two main storyline threads presented in parallel. The book starts in the present day. Delores has extensive knowledge of Harvey and adequate documentation to satisfy the responding officers that she has been his wife for two years. This thread follows Harvey's trials and tribulations as he tries to prove that she is trying to con him. It escalates several times, even to mortal danger and death. Harvey does not understand why he is being conned, because when he was a successful furniture store owner, he and his wife purchased many fine and expensive pieces. After his retirement, they needed to sell much of their furniture because they eventually had no money left to live on. There is an early hint of a possible dark reason hidden in the past for what is happening. The second thread, set in 1968, traces his courtship of his wife and his deep involvement in organized crime. This thread portrays his experiences with his dark side. He has to be very careful to navigate a fine line so as not to earn a dirt nap in the Meadowlands. The tension remains very high throughout the novel. The twists and turns start near the end of the novel, and they come in a storm. The last one was a tsunami-level. My interest was piqued early by Harvey’s efforts to prove that the woman was trying to con him. What he couldn’t fathom was why, since he didn't have much money. These threads kept my attention glued to this novel until the end.
Significant B-storyline threads support each of the main storyline threads. As Harvey’s wife died two years earlier, this thread is between Harvey and his elderly next-door widow. She helps him cope and discover Delores’s true purpose. In the 1968 main storyline thread, there are two B-storyline threads. The first is with his to-be wife. This part of this thread provides insight into his good side. The second thread is Harvey’s relationship with one of the mafia boss’s capos. He was an accountant reporting to the Mafia boss. This thread shows how a mild-mannered accountant embraces the dark side of the Mafia. These threads richly portray his character and his transition between the two main storyline threads. This aspect of the novel significantly enhanced my enjoyment of reading.
Aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. There is a start and references to intimacies, but no actual intimate scenes. For language, most of it consists of two rude words and very few vulgar words. There are several examples of Harvey substituting euphemisms for vulgar phrases. There is a noticeable level of impious words. Little of the violence is described after it occurred. Most of it is described as it occurs, including some death scenes. Most of it doesn't go beyond Prime TV police procedurals. From all indications, this is a standalone novel, so there is nothing from a prior novel that is needed for reading this novel.
There is only one aspect of this novel that did not enhance my enjoyment of the reading experience. It was a tsunami-level twist right at the end of the novel. It left a bittersweet taste after reading the novel. What I liked was that Harvey Usher is a cantankerous character who reminds me of Imogene Taylor from the author’s two previous novels. Still, Harvey in this novel has a dark side that makes him very interesting. I have read four prior novels from three different series. I have liked this author’s work so much that I have purchased ten of his novels. I highly recommend reading this novel. The author is in my Must-Read category. I have enjoyed his mystery thrillers and police procedurals, but he can also write novels featuring quirky characters. Whatever genre this next novel is, I am sure that I will want to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with five stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Level Best Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Level Best Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Harvey Usher, an eighty-year-old widower, hears someone walking around in his house in high heels. An intruder is here to rob him. Finally, the person knocks, calls him by name, and says that his breakfast is ready. Come out to eat before it gets cold. He peeks out and sees a gorgeous woman. He tells her to leave, or he will call the police. She says to go ahead, it will not be the first time. She leads him to the table where his favorite breakfast is laid out, just as his deceased wife of 50 years would have done. He asks her for her name, but she tells him he knows it. She eventually says that her name is Delores. He calls her Rita because she looks like Rita Hayworth. She tells him that they met on the Santa Monica Pier a little over two years ago. He calls her out, saying he had never been to the Santa Monica Pier. He threatens to call the police again. She brings a corded phone over to the table next to him. This time, he does call the police.
This novel has two main storyline threads presented in parallel. The book starts in the present day. Delores has extensive knowledge of Harvey and adequate documentation to satisfy the responding officers that she has been his wife for two years. This thread follows Harvey's trials and tribulations as he tries to prove that she is trying to con him. It escalates several times, even to mortal danger and death. Harvey does not understand why he is being conned, because when he was a successful furniture store owner, he and his wife purchased many fine and expensive pieces. After his retirement, they needed to sell much of their furniture because they eventually had no money left to live on. There is an early hint of a possible dark reason hidden in the past for what is happening. The second thread, set in 1968, traces his courtship of his wife and his deep involvement in organized crime. This thread portrays his experiences with his dark side. He has to be very careful to navigate a fine line so as not to earn a dirt nap in the Meadowlands. The tension remains very high throughout the novel. The twists and turns start near the end of the novel, and they come in a storm. The last one was a tsunami-level. My interest was piqued early by Harvey’s efforts to prove that the woman was trying to con him. What he couldn’t fathom was why, since he didn't have much money. These threads kept my attention glued to this novel until the end.
Significant B-storyline threads support each of the main storyline threads. As Harvey’s wife died two years earlier, this thread is between Harvey and his elderly next-door widow. She helps him cope and discover Delores’s true purpose. In the 1968 main storyline thread, there are two B-storyline threads. The first is with his to-be wife. This part of this thread provides insight into his good side. The second thread is Harvey’s relationship with one of the mafia boss’s capos. He was an accountant reporting to the Mafia boss. This thread shows how a mild-mannered accountant embraces the dark side of the Mafia. These threads richly portray his character and his transition between the two main storyline threads. This aspect of the novel significantly enhanced my enjoyment of reading.
Aspects of this novel can cause some readers to stop reading. There is a start and references to intimacies, but no actual intimate scenes. For language, most of it consists of two rude words and very few vulgar words. There are several examples of Harvey substituting euphemisms for vulgar phrases. There is a noticeable level of impious words. Little of the violence is described after it occurred. Most of it is described as it occurs, including some death scenes. Most of it doesn't go beyond Prime TV police procedurals. From all indications, this is a standalone novel, so there is nothing from a prior novel that is needed for reading this novel.
There is only one aspect of this novel that did not enhance my enjoyment of the reading experience. It was a tsunami-level twist right at the end of the novel. It left a bittersweet taste after reading the novel. What I liked was that Harvey Usher is a cantankerous character who reminds me of Imogene Taylor from the author’s two previous novels. Still, Harvey in this novel has a dark side that makes him very interesting. I have read four prior novels from three different series. I have liked this author’s work so much that I have purchased ten of his novels. I highly recommend reading this novel. The author is in my Must-Read category. I have enjoyed his mystery thrillers and police procedurals, but he can also write novels featuring quirky characters. Whatever genre this next novel is, I am sure that I will want to read it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with five stars.
I received the free, pre-publication e-book version of this novel from Level Best Books through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Level Best Books, for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
June 27, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this delightful eARC.
I wanted to mention, I especially LOVED this book's gorgeous cover; which immediately grabbed my interest!
David Putnam's The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is a wonderful thrill ride of a book, and I loved the interplay between Harvey and "Rita" (apparently Harvey's wonderfully seductive 2nd wife who he forgot - just READ THIS BOOK). Putnam dares to explore the tender landscape of lost love (lost due to death) as well as organized crime and it's endless resources. The result is a noir-tinged character study that reads like a classic yet humorous mob story as well as a profound love story - with a mirror held up to the soul.
Rather than coasting on plot twists or action sequences alone, Putnam crafts a story that moves inward as it moves forward...
Harvey Usher—a former numbers guy for the mob who is haunted by personal loss and burdened by moral ambiguity—serves as a vessel for themes of love, friendship, and honor. Harvey has a compulsion to chase the truth even when it can be deadly.
Readers familiar with Putnam’s earlier Bruno Johnson series may expect grit, but here it’s more internalized. This novel is paradoxically layered—like a minimalist painting you realize is full of haunting brushwork the longer you stare.
Putnam’s prose is clean and direct—almost surgical in its precision. There’s little wasted motion in the storytelling, which makes the story quickly move forward. The dialogue crackles, with flair, levity, emotion and humor which is typically evident in Dave's books (just one reason for his loyal fan base). The pacing is deliberately atmospheric: not sluggish, but meditative, like descending a staircase into a forgotten basement.
Harvey’s "obsessions" go beyond a single issue—they're metaphorical specters. He becomes a character navigating the blurred boundaries between justice and vengeance, self-preservation and self-destruction. In a genre that often fetishizes resilience, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is bold enough to interrogate the fragility of aging.
Putnam also weaves in questions about legacy, responsibility, and whether people can truly atone for their pasts—or if they can only learn to carry them with a little more grace.
The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is a quiet storm of a book—powerful in its restraint and devastating in its emotional honesty. It’s the kind of crime novel that lingers because of its expertly crafted humanity. For readers who crave thrillers with existential weight, this one delivers a descent into moral complexity.
If you enjoy works by Don Winslow or books with the psychological nuance of Tana French, you’ll likely find Harvey Usher a worthy companion. I loved it, I am a huge fan of David Putnam, and this is my favorite book of his to date! I am buying multiple copies for family members as soon as it is released.
I wanted to mention, I especially LOVED this book's gorgeous cover; which immediately grabbed my interest!
David Putnam's The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is a wonderful thrill ride of a book, and I loved the interplay between Harvey and "Rita" (apparently Harvey's wonderfully seductive 2nd wife who he forgot - just READ THIS BOOK). Putnam dares to explore the tender landscape of lost love (lost due to death) as well as organized crime and it's endless resources. The result is a noir-tinged character study that reads like a classic yet humorous mob story as well as a profound love story - with a mirror held up to the soul.
Rather than coasting on plot twists or action sequences alone, Putnam crafts a story that moves inward as it moves forward...
Harvey Usher—a former numbers guy for the mob who is haunted by personal loss and burdened by moral ambiguity—serves as a vessel for themes of love, friendship, and honor. Harvey has a compulsion to chase the truth even when it can be deadly.
Readers familiar with Putnam’s earlier Bruno Johnson series may expect grit, but here it’s more internalized. This novel is paradoxically layered—like a minimalist painting you realize is full of haunting brushwork the longer you stare.
Putnam’s prose is clean and direct—almost surgical in its precision. There’s little wasted motion in the storytelling, which makes the story quickly move forward. The dialogue crackles, with flair, levity, emotion and humor which is typically evident in Dave's books (just one reason for his loyal fan base). The pacing is deliberately atmospheric: not sluggish, but meditative, like descending a staircase into a forgotten basement.
Harvey’s "obsessions" go beyond a single issue—they're metaphorical specters. He becomes a character navigating the blurred boundaries between justice and vengeance, self-preservation and self-destruction. In a genre that often fetishizes resilience, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is bold enough to interrogate the fragility of aging.
Putnam also weaves in questions about legacy, responsibility, and whether people can truly atone for their pasts—or if they can only learn to carry them with a little more grace.
The Obsessions of Harvey Usher is a quiet storm of a book—powerful in its restraint and devastating in its emotional honesty. It’s the kind of crime novel that lingers because of its expertly crafted humanity. For readers who crave thrillers with existential weight, this one delivers a descent into moral complexity.
If you enjoy works by Don Winslow or books with the psychological nuance of Tana French, you’ll likely find Harvey Usher a worthy companion. I loved it, I am a huge fan of David Putnam, and this is my favorite book of his to date! I am buying multiple copies for family members as soon as it is released.
June 24, 2025
I was pleased to receive an early edition of The Obsession of Harvey Usher from NetGalley and the publisher. I had read and enjoyed six books by its author, David Putnam, and some scored a high 5-star rating from me. This book had an intriguing premise, but I was disappointed. I struggled with the past storyline and the alternate names of the main characters. I am not a fan of stories involving organized crime and its violence, and the changing names made it confusing, resulting in the characters being less engaging. I regret that I failed to finish and continued skimming the pages.
The protagonist is Harvey Usher, age 82. He has led a quiet, reclusive life since his long-time marriage ended when his wife died. One morning, he finds a gorgeous younger woman in his house, busily making his favourite breakfast. She is stunning, resembling Rita Hayworth. She insists they were married a couple of years ago, refusing to leave when Harvey tries to evict her. She expresses concern that Harvey is losing his memory. Refusing to admit that his memory is failing, he believes she is part of a scam. She can produce a marriage certificate and other ID items. Are they forgeries, and why would anyone plan such an elaborate fraud when Harvey is not financially secure? What is she after?
A friendly neighbour put him in touch with a troubled man acting as a private detective. He is tasked with determining her identity, past life and associates. This is difficult for the so-called detective who cannot be out at night and must use the computer in the library. Harvey is being charged $500 per day fr the investigation, which he can barely afford. When Harvey called the police to order 'Rita' out of his home, they believed that, as his wife, she belonged there and suspected that Harvey might need institutional care.
While I found the early part of the book tense, clever, and puzzling, I did not enjoy the latter part, which attempted to explain the mystery. Unfortunately, the book was not for me, but I am in the minority here. Other readers may enjoy it more than I did. The publication date is July 08/2025.
The protagonist is Harvey Usher, age 82. He has led a quiet, reclusive life since his long-time marriage ended when his wife died. One morning, he finds a gorgeous younger woman in his house, busily making his favourite breakfast. She is stunning, resembling Rita Hayworth. She insists they were married a couple of years ago, refusing to leave when Harvey tries to evict her. She expresses concern that Harvey is losing his memory. Refusing to admit that his memory is failing, he believes she is part of a scam. She can produce a marriage certificate and other ID items. Are they forgeries, and why would anyone plan such an elaborate fraud when Harvey is not financially secure? What is she after?
A friendly neighbour put him in touch with a troubled man acting as a private detective. He is tasked with determining her identity, past life and associates. This is difficult for the so-called detective who cannot be out at night and must use the computer in the library. Harvey is being charged $500 per day fr the investigation, which he can barely afford. When Harvey called the police to order 'Rita' out of his home, they believed that, as his wife, she belonged there and suspected that Harvey might need institutional care.
While I found the early part of the book tense, clever, and puzzling, I did not enjoy the latter part, which attempted to explain the mystery. Unfortunately, the book was not for me, but I am in the minority here. Other readers may enjoy it more than I did. The publication date is July 08/2025.
June 26, 2025
The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam is a recommended thriller set in two timelines.
Harvey Usher, 80, is shocked when he wakes up and a young Rita Hayworth look-a-like named Dolores is making him breakfast. Harvey's beloved wife of 50 years, Sylvia (Lois) passed away years earlier. Now Dolores, who he starts calling Rita, is claiming they've been married for two years. She is concerned that he is losing his memory, and lovingly continues to care for him.
First Harvey calls the police, but Dolores has a driver's license with her married name and address as well as a marriage license. The police are wondering if Harvey needs to go into long term care. Then Harvey turns to his neighbor, Esther, and a PI named Eddie Gurski to help him prove who Rita is so he can determine what con game she is playing. Things get much more complicated when people start dying.
The plot unfolds in two timelines, 1968, when Harvey met Lois, and the present. There is a connection with organized crime dating back to the 1960s timeline. Events become complicated when past actions come forward years later and it is difficult to know who he can trust. There are some exciting moments and twists along the way. The narrative starts out intriguing but then began to lose my full interest when events from the past began to unfold.
I never really liked Harvey or any of the characters in the novel, which did make it difficult to care about what was happening in either timeline. Those who appreciate organize crime novels may like this one more. Thanks to Level Best Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
Harvey Usher, 80, is shocked when he wakes up and a young Rita Hayworth look-a-like named Dolores is making him breakfast. Harvey's beloved wife of 50 years, Sylvia (Lois) passed away years earlier. Now Dolores, who he starts calling Rita, is claiming they've been married for two years. She is concerned that he is losing his memory, and lovingly continues to care for him.
First Harvey calls the police, but Dolores has a driver's license with her married name and address as well as a marriage license. The police are wondering if Harvey needs to go into long term care. Then Harvey turns to his neighbor, Esther, and a PI named Eddie Gurski to help him prove who Rita is so he can determine what con game she is playing. Things get much more complicated when people start dying.
The plot unfolds in two timelines, 1968, when Harvey met Lois, and the present. There is a connection with organized crime dating back to the 1960s timeline. Events become complicated when past actions come forward years later and it is difficult to know who he can trust. There are some exciting moments and twists along the way. The narrative starts out intriguing but then began to lose my full interest when events from the past began to unfold.
I never really liked Harvey or any of the characters in the novel, which did make it difficult to care about what was happening in either timeline. Those who appreciate organize crime novels may like this one more. Thanks to Level Best Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2025/0...
October 26, 2025
THE OBSESSIONS OF HARVEY USHER by David Putman
Publication: JULY 2025 by Level Best Books
Page Count: 280
Novelist David Putman, creator of the marvelous Bruno Johnson series, turns to a humorous, delightful mystery thriller. Harvey Usher is an eighty-three old recluse, still mourning the loss of his beloved Lois. It’s been two years since her death, and he awakens one morning to find a beautiful, buxom redhead in his house. Although she calls herself Doris, she looks like and reminds Harvey of the screen femme fatale, Rita Hayworth. She insists to Harvey, that she is his wife of two years, and pulls out a driver license verifying her identify and place of residence . .. his house He’s not sure if she’s conning him for his money, his house , or sanity. The reader has to wonder if Harvey is senile?
He hires one of his best friends of the past , Eddie Gursky , a Private Investigator “of sorts,” to uncover her lies.
Putnam proves to be a masterful storyteller, as he weaves events from the past and present to achieve a humorous conundrum with escalating intrigue and suspense. He builds his multi-layered plot with a cast of colorful characters. Harvey’s life appears to be spiraling out of control in this tale of deception, redemption. His secrets from the past will propel the narrative into a satisfying denouement.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: JULY 2025 by Level Best Books
Page Count: 280
Novelist David Putman, creator of the marvelous Bruno Johnson series, turns to a humorous, delightful mystery thriller. Harvey Usher is an eighty-three old recluse, still mourning the loss of his beloved Lois. It’s been two years since her death, and he awakens one morning to find a beautiful, buxom redhead in his house. Although she calls herself Doris, she looks like and reminds Harvey of the screen femme fatale, Rita Hayworth. She insists to Harvey, that she is his wife of two years, and pulls out a driver license verifying her identify and place of residence . .. his house He’s not sure if she’s conning him for his money, his house , or sanity. The reader has to wonder if Harvey is senile?
He hires one of his best friends of the past , Eddie Gursky , a Private Investigator “of sorts,” to uncover her lies.
Putnam proves to be a masterful storyteller, as he weaves events from the past and present to achieve a humorous conundrum with escalating intrigue and suspense. He builds his multi-layered plot with a cast of colorful characters. Harvey’s life appears to be spiraling out of control in this tale of deception, redemption. His secrets from the past will propel the narrative into a satisfying denouement.
Thanks to NetGalley and Level Best Books for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
June 20, 2025
David Putnam's latest novel follows a familiar pattern: an accessible narrative that begins unassumingly, progresses steadily, and intensifies in the latter half. The central figure is Harvey, an eighty-year-old widower who is unexpectedly confronted by a woman claiming to be his wife of the past two years, coinciding with the death of his first wife. The narrative structure employs alternating chapters that reveal details of Harvey's life in both the past and present. As a bookkeeper for the mob, Harvey engages in creative accounting to legitimise illicit funds. His early love, Sylvia, is compelled to marry the son of the Mafia boss for whom Harvey manages accounts. The ensuing plot involves numerous complications as Harvey orchestrates a revenge act and ultimately reunites with Sylvia. While the inclination of authors to resolve all plot threads and conclude with a positive outcome can sometimes be perplexing, this novel proves to be a captivating read, rendering it difficult to set aside once begun.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed herein are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review. The opinions expressed herein are my own.
July 10, 2025
The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by longtime novelist David Putnam may not be for everybody, but it certainly is for me, and it is for my readers. Harvey Usher is an 80-year-old man who wakes up one night with a woman who appears to be old-time movie star Rita Hayworth. But Rita insists that her name is Dolores, and Dolores claims they have been married for two years. Naturally, Harvey is confused and calls the authorities; however, Dolores has identification proving that she is Dolores and has been married to Harvey. Finally, Harvey turns to a PI to help him prove what is happening here and see whether Harvey is being conned out of his money or just out of his mind. It gets interesting as people start to die for no apparent reason. When Harvey met his wife Lois, there was some connection to organized crime, which only adds seasoning to an intriguing and unpredictable mystery. David Putnam is a highly creative writer who creates novels with the best of them. It is with my complete confidence that readers pick up The Obsessions of Harvey Usher by David Putnam and enjoy a twisty and unpredictable novel written by one of the genre's masters.
June 19, 2025
A standalone crime mystery, The Obsessions of Harvey Usher (2025) by David Putnam has an octogenarian protagonist. Harvey Usher wakes up one morning to discover a well-dressed middle-aged woman has made him breakfast. Believing he is being scammed, he calls the police, only for Rita to provide a driver’s licence with his address and a marriage certificate from 2 years earlier. Harvey’s neighbour and friend tries to help but Harvey is seen to be forgetful and Rita’s bonafide story accepted. The narrative then switches back and forth between current day happenings and 1968, when Harvey was a young man. A low-key thriller with deception and a bloodied confrontation, makes for a three star read rating. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement. With thanks to Level Best Books and the author for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes.
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