Upstairs: Award-Winning Author David Benjamin Releases Sixth Jim Otis Novel Exploring Hidden Fears

David Benjamin

The sixth Jim Otis mystery takes readers inside an abandoned building where strange visions, buried secrets, and old crimes collide

LOS ANGELES, CA, UNITED STATES, May 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Award-winning author David Benjamin returns with Upstairs, the sixth book in his Jim Otis Smalltown Crime Series. Set in the fictional town of Hercules, Wisconsin, the new novel blends mystery, suspense, humor, and the supernatural as it explores what happens when buried secrets and personal struggles refuse to stay hidden.

“At its core, Upstairs is about the things we try to outrun,” says Benjamin. “The memories we bury, the truths we avoid, and what happens when they finally catch up with us.”

The story begins when Riley, a troubled but curious schoolboy, wanders into the upstairs apartment of an abandoned building and experiences something he cannot explain. Before long, others enter the strange space and experience disturbing visions tied to the things that haunt them most. When Police Chief Jim Otis steps in to investigate, he confronts disturbing experiences from his own past as he tries to understand the strange power the building seems to hold over the town.

Upstairs is available now. Click here to order copies: https://lastkidbooks.com/upstairs/

As the mystery unfolds, Otis and his loyal but unconventional group of friends uncover clues tied to a decades-old crime, a possible curse, and secrets buried beneath the surface of small-town life. Along the way, Upstairs weaves together mystery, horror, Ho-Chunk shamanism, Egyptian mythology, and Benjamin’s signature humor.

“While Upstairs stands on its own, it’s also part of Jim Otis’ larger journey,” says Benjamin. “Longtime readers will recognize references to past adventures, but new readers can jump right in without feeling lost. My hope is that once readers finish Upstairs, they’ll want to go back and explore the rest of the series.”

Jim Otis, the center of the long-running series, is a former Chicago vice detective who became police chief in the small town of Hercules after scandal and personal heartbreak turned his life upside down. Throughout the series, Otis struggles with redemption while tackling crimes that reveal the strange, messy, and often funny side of small-town America.

Benjamin says the inspiration for Upstairs came from his own childhood in Wisconsin.

“When I was a kid, I lived upstairs from the S&Q Hardware on the main street of Tomah, Wisconsin,” Benjamin explains. “The building was decrepit. The hallway was narrow and dark. The stairs were scary. Our neighbors were scarier. It became the perfect inspiration for a story blending mystery, horror, Ho-Chunk shamanism, Egyptian gods, and the sudden disappearance of Elvira Purlew.”

The Jim Otis series has earned recognition from the Next Generation Indie Book Awards, NYC Big Book Awards, Independent Press Awards, and Shelf Unbound. Previous books in the series have been praised for their humor, eccentric characters, and mysteries rooted in Midwestern small-town life.

Readers have praised Upstairs, with one reviewer calling it “a gripping and haunting read” that blends suspense, psychological twists, and deeper themes of consequence and human struggle.

About the Author

David Benjamin is an award-winning author, journalist, independent publisher, and founder of Last Kid Books. The author of 24 books spanning fiction, memoir, humor, essays, and mystery, Benjamin has earned more than 60 literary awards and has written for major publications including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Chicago Tribune. His books, including the Jim Otis Smalltown Crime Series, An Apartment in Paris, Benjamin’s Mess: Sketches, Tirades and Spoofs, and Christmas in a Jugular Vein, have received recognition from the NYC Big Book Awards and Independent Press Awards. Inspired by personal experience, Midwestern roots, and global travel, Benjamin continues to champion independent storytelling through Last Kid Books.

To learn more about David Benjamin and Upstairs, visit: https://lastkidbooks.com/

David Benjamin is available for interviews.

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