Creature Comforts by Stuart A. Barnhill

About the book

Set in contemporary St. Louis, Creature Comforts is a hard-boiled novel in the tradition of Chandler and Hammett.

Standing six-feet-nine inches tall and weighing more than three-hundred pounds, former Army Ranger and truck driver Winston Nash is truly larger-than-life. And in a profession where stealth is often essential, Nash finds his size a hindrance as much as an asset in dealing with clients and foes alike.

In this first novel, Nash finds himself hired to bring home a runaway teen, the daughter of a wealthy, retired judge.

Cynical of wealth and privilege, Nash reluctantly takes the case. But the case immediately goes sour when the teen is found dead on the banks of the Mississippi, nearly on Nash's doorstep.

Nash soon discovers the young woman was involved in prostitution, rebelling against her father's wealth and influence.

The murder of a second young woman, another area prostitute, leads Nash on a search for a professional trucker, who, using his transient occupation, is killing women, and probably killed his client's daughter.

Employing his police contacts, an unconventional source of information in the form of a street-wise prostitute, and his significant other Karen Wo, Nash drudges through the rough and tumble world of professional trucking seeking the deranged killer.

Told from two points of view, that of the killer, and of Nash, this is a unique mystery sure to please.

About the author

Stuart A. Barnhill was born and raised in St. Louis, attended The University of Massachusetts-Lowell, graduating with honors from Webster University in St. Louis.

Creature Comforts is the first novel about Winston Nash, a St. Louis-based, larger-than-life private eye. Mr. Barnhill has also published two short stories, Bundle of Joy, for The New Black Mask Magazine, and Credit Rating, as part of the anthology, Sex, Lies and Private Eyes, through Wildside Publishing, scheduled for release in Spring 2005.

Mr. Barnhill is an active member in the Private Eye Writers of America. His past professions, including long-distance truck driver, newspaper journalist and limousine chauffeur provide background for his writing. He now lives and works in Dallas, Texas.