Concept art by Victor Ribbarp
With a passion for storytelling, Bennie Bernstein knew from a young age that he wanted to be an investigative journalist. Now, fresh from school, he’s ready to uncover (and cover) every hidden gem that holds a story just waiting to be told. With his trusted camera always at hand and a journal full of scribbled headlines, he’s ready to immortalize every unexpected event he stumbles upon.
A recent family tragedy has left Bennie heart-broken and alone. But when a letter from his uncle Barnie arrives, everything seems to change. His uncle lives in Larcenest Gap, a small town tucked away deep in the wilderness. It’s a place Bennie has only heard whispers about in passing. In the letter, Barnie offers him a fresh start and a job as an investigative journalist at the local newspaper in town. Despite knowing almost nothing about the town, Bennie seizes the chance and sets off for this unknown place.
The job offers Bennie both a distraction and a chance to move forward. Even so, it gives him that family connection he’s missing, since his uncle is the only Bernstein left other than himself.
Bennie is the quiet type, but he has a lovable charisma that makes people open up to him. And don’t let the red apple cap fool you. Bennie’s sharper than he looks. Behind his calm smile, he hides a curiosity that can sniff out the most hidden mysteries that've been buried and forgotten for decades.
Although he doesn’t know it quite yet, the town of Larcenest Gap hides stories more mysterious than any article has ever captured before. With each clue, Bennie will find himself deeper and deeper into a mystery that blurs the line between journalist and detective.
Every mystery has a beginning. If you were in Bennie’s shoes, would you start your investigation with the people… or the secrets hiding in the town itself?