About the Author
Rob Howard has been a licensed real estate professional in Knoxville, Tennessee since 1996. A University of Tennessee graduate with a degree in Communications, he brings nearly three decades of hands-on experience to both his fiction and non-fiction writing. When he’s not helping clients find their perfect home or crafting the next Frank Merchant adventure, you can find him hosting A Knoxville Podcast or exploring the historic neighborhoods that inspire his stories.
Principles of Real Estate and Murder
A Frank Merchant Mystery | Book One
A decorated Knoxville detective trades his badge for a real estate license—and walks straight into his first open house crime scene.
After nearly three decades solving murders in East Tennessee, Frank Merchant thought his days of stumbling onto dead bodies were behind him. But when he hosts his first open house in the prestigious Cheshire Heights neighborhood, he discovers that some secrets are worth killing for—and his detective instincts never really retired.
What begins as a routine luxury listing spirals into a web of international espionage, Oak Ridge National Laboratory secrets, and a conspiracy that reaches the highest levels of government. Frank must navigate the dangerous intersection of Knoxville’s real estate market and deadly forces that would prefer certain properties—and certain truths—stay buried forever.
“In detective work, the evidence tells the story. In real estate, the property does—if you know how to listen.”
— Frank Merchant
Perfect for fans of Craig Johnson’s Longmire series, Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, and anyone who loves a mystery rooted in authentic local flavor. This cozy thriller blends genuine real estate expertise with page-turning suspense—proving that sometimes the most dangerous rooms in a house aren’t listed in the MLS.
✍️ Signed copies available exclusively at RealEstateMurderMystery.com
The Second Story
A Frank Merchant Mystery | Book Two
Some doors, once opened, lead straight to hell. And sometimes the only way out is through the fire.
Frank Merchant has built a new life. A new marriage to Hannah. A baby daughter on the way. A thriving partnership in Merchant & Moore. The ghosts of his past finally seem at rest.
Then a friend falls into debt with men who consider arson a gentle reminder—and Frank makes a devil’s bargain with Isaac Johnson, the government operative who moves through Knoxville like smoke through the Smokies. One brass chit. One favor. One chance to save a friend.
But the mob’s response is swift and merciless. And as Frank stands in a hospital corridor praying to a God he’s not sure listens anymore, bones surface at a property listing—remains that whisper his name from a cold case he never solved.
In the shadows of the Cumberland, where limestone holds secrets older than the Republic and the mountains watch with ancient patience, Frank must navigate between the violence of organized crime and the cold calculations of government power. His past won’t stay buried. His present is burning. And the future costs more than he ever imagined paying.
“The second story isn’t just the building’s second floor. It’s the story beneath the story—the one you don’t see until you’re standing in it.”
A deeper, darker chapter in the Frank Merchant saga—where the price of protecting what you love may be everything you’ve built. Coming Spring 2026.
Seller Secrets
Revised Edition Coming 2026
The Anatomy of a Real Estate Deal
Non-Fiction
What your agent knows—and what you need to know before you sign.
After 23+ years helping East Tennessee families buy and sell homes, I’ve seen every mistake, every missed opportunity, and every strategy that actually works. Seller Secrets pulls back the curtain on the real estate transaction process—giving you the insider knowledge that can mean thousands of dollars in your pocket.
Originally published in 2019, this comprehensive guide walks you through:
• Negotiation tactics from both sides of the transaction
• Hidden costs and fees that surprise unprepared sellers
• Staging and presentation techniques that create emotional connections
• Timeline management to avoid costly delays
• Contract pitfalls that can derail your closing
The 2026 revised edition is coming soon with updated market insights, new chapters on navigating today’s digital-first real estate landscape, and lessons learned from the post-pandemic housing market shifts.
Whether you’re selling your first home or your fifth, Seller Secrets gives you the knowledge to approach your transaction with confidence—and the tools to maximize your results.