Love and Lake Monsters

Nathan Camber arrives in the small upstate New York town of Staubkill for what his wealthy honorary aunt Irene believes is a three-month writing retreat. In reality, the nearly thirty-year-old Nathan, who is autistic and has ADHD, has come to prove that the legendary Staubkill Hellbender exists. Cryptids have been his lifelong obsession, and he hopes a genuine discovery might finally give his drifting life direction, recognition, and perhaps a book deal. He installs trail cameras around his rented cabin, only to discover that the intimidating older man he keeps encountering is Sebastian “Mack” McFie, the reclusive owner of the cabin and neighboring property. Mack removes Nathan’s cameras and insists the monster is not real, but Nathan notices warning systems in the woods and suspects Mack knows more than he admits. Nathan soon gets proof in the worst possible way when a huge predatory creature attacks him near the lake. Mack rescues him and admits that he saw the Hellbender as a child, when it killed a goat. He agrees to help Nathan investigate only after Nathan promises that any…