Step into the shadowy streets of 1950s New York City with The Long Goodbye DIY Book Nook Kit. This intricate miniature captures a pivotal crime scene where mystery and betrayal unfold, setting the stage for a detective's most dangerous case. The two buildings, separated by a dimly lit alley, are adorned with old iron-framed signs. At the alley's dead end, a chain-link fence blocks the way, with trash scattered across the ground, and the bustling city visible beyond. But something darker lurks here – a place where a detective will uncover a deadly truth.
The Background of a Crime
The story begins at a bar below the detective’s office, where a small gathering took place. Among the attendees were the detective, his old friend Sheriff Terry, and their wives, along with the bar owner and his wife. That night, the detective’s kitten, refusing to eat new cat food, escaped through the window, setting off a series of unexpected events that would change everything.
Meet the Characters
- The Detective: Quiet, elusive, and sharp, the detective moves through the city like a shadow. He follows his own rules, hunting for the truth no matter the risk. Money doesn’t motivate him—it's the secrets hidden behind smiles that drive him.
- The Bar Owner’s Wife: Always graceful, she wears a warm smile, though her eyes hint at a deeper, more complicated story. There’s something buried in her heart, a story she keeps hidden from the world.
- The Bar Owner: Hardworking and tired, the bar owner is an ordinary man with a heavy burden. One day, without warning, he disappears, and the mystery thickens.
- Sheriff Terry: On the surface, the sheriff seems flawless, his smile always perfect. But beneath his calm demeanor, he harbors secrets that no one knows. His friendship with the detective feels close, yet distant, as if something is always kept in the shadows.
- Sheriff’s Wife: Elegant and mysterious, her smile is her mask. In public, she shines like a star, but behind her composed appearance, she carries a secret known only to her.
- The Detective’s Kitten: Independent and picky, the kitten is the detective’s only companion. It often disappears without warning, as if it, too, is searching for something in the city’s dark corners.
The Detective’s Room
Inside his office, shelves of books sit alongside his personal items. A cat bowl sits on the floor, filled with uneaten food, the kitten nowhere to be found. A calendar on the wall tracks the days since the cat disappeared and marks the day his best friend left. Photos of the detective and Sheriff Terry sit on the desk, a reminder of their once-close friendship.
A Night at the Bar Party
Just as the detective was about to search for his kitten, he was drawn to a party at the bar below. There, he met Sheriff Terry again, a reunion between old friends. Terry’s wife, the daughter of a powerful media mogul, also attended. During the reception, the bar owner’s wife recognized Terry as her former lover, who had gone missing during the war years ago. Though they exchanged few words, the tension in the air hinted at unresolved emotions.
A Shocking Murder
The next evening, as the detective prepared to search for his cat, he learned that Sheriff Terry had killed his wife and fled. Shocked and disturbed, the detective sought solace at the bar, where the bar owner’s wife pleaded with him to find her husband, who had also vanished after the party. Following a trail of clues, the detective discovered the body of the sheriff’s wife in a nearby alley.
The Death of the Bar Owner
As the detective searched for more answers, he found bloodstains leading to a chain-link fence at the end of the alley. Near an abandoned phone booth and scattered trash, he discovered the bar owner’s lifeless body in the sewer. The scene was littered with empty liquor bottles and scattered rats, and on the sewer wall, written in blood, were the chilling words, "She didn't have me in her heart." The meaning behind the message remained unclear.
Unraveling the Mystery
Emerging from the sewers, the detective found the bar owner’s wife standing on a nearby rooftop, facing the newly resurfaced Sheriff Terry. In a final, heart-wrenching revelation, she exposed the truth behind the murders and Sheriff Terry’s dark past. As the detective watched in horror, she ended her life.
A Final Farewell
In the closing moments, the sheriff bid a grim farewell to his former friend, the detective. The case had left the city in ruins and friendships shattered. The detective, having recovered his lost kitten, made a vow to distance himself from the corrupt darkness that had consumed his world. And with that, he walked away—leaving behind the long goodbye.
This beautifully detailed Long Goodbye DIY Book Nook Kit brings to life the gritty atmosphere of 1950s crime noir, perfect for fans of mystery and miniature craftsmanship. Every piece tells part of the story, from the detective’s shadowy office to the haunting alley where the truth comes to light.
