THE CASE OF HARPER RUSSELL

"As a big city private investigator, you thought you'd left your small hometown behind. But when your high school crush's little sister is found dead under mysterious circumstances, you're dragged back to your old stomping grounds and forced to address your past, including the guy you left behind."

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The Case of Harper Russell is a visual novel published in Whispers Interactive Romance Stories. In addition to writing the full text of the story (approximately 60,000 words), I was also responsible for the initial story pitch, full outline, and editing chapters as necessesary.

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Players play as Rowen, a private investigator with a troubled past, who is forced to return to her small Virginia hometown when her former best friend and crush, Kevin Russell, shows up on her doorstep with news of his sister, Harper's, recent death. The authorities claim it was a suicide, but Kevin isn't so sure. Find clues, question suspects, and chase every lead until you crack the true Case of Harper Russell.

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The Case of Harper Russell was my fourth freelance project, and perhaps my favorite game I have written so far. As a romance writer, character development and dialogue have always been my strengths, as opposed to plot, but in this story, I was able to really craft a thrilling narrative full of twists and turns, and I'm especially proud that I did so on my own, without help from a team (though I did recieve helpful input from an editor. I'm also particularly proud of the dynamic between Kevin and Rowen. The combination of intimacy from how close they were as children, resentment from the time spent apart, and sexual tension that has simmered since they were teens made for a juicy relationship that was as fun to play as it was to write.

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The Case of Harper Russell can be played for free in the app Whispers: Interactive Romance Stories, available for iOS and Android.