THE MAN NEXT DOOR

About the Book

The Man Next Door introduces Nikki and Richard Scott, a loving couple expecting their first child.  Richard is a tenure track professor at a small college in central Missouri.  Nikki, besides making preparations for the forthcoming delivery, manages the couple_s modest mobile home rentals.  Although both love an intellectual challenge, Richard is more reserved and methodical while Nikki is an amateur sleuth or, perhaps. just plain nosy.  When Bud Thornton appears to rent a vacant unit, Nikki is drawn into a web of intrigue, organized crime and murder, unwittingly, becoming the archenemy of KTH, the syndicate_s ruthless crime boss.  When Nikki starts to question some of Thornton_s activities, both she and Richard discover that living in a small, quiet community does not insulate them from the threat of harm, attempts on their lives or threats to their unborn child.  The roller coaster ride starts with the first rent check and stops only when Nikki comes face-to-face with the dreaded KTH.

About the Author

merlinstar is a novelist, artist and poet who also has had diverse careers as a child support administrative judge as well as a university level writing instructor, trial lawyer and as a social service administrator. His writing is informed by his experiences with persons of all backgrounds and personalities. Previous to The Man Next Door, his publiciations were poetry, but he was nationally recognized for his development of a public awareness campaign for public social services.