The Florida Bar Journal
November, 2011 Volume 85, No. 9
The Trophy Wife Divorce
By John D. Mills
The Trophy Wife Divorce, the fifth novel by author and Florida Bar member John D. Mills, details the marriage and divorce of a rich older man and his beautiful young bride. In this legal thriller, what begins as a typical — albeit nasty — divorce case quickly turns criminal.
Mills’ latest novel opens as the marriage of retired dentist Stan Jacoby comes to an end, and accusations of lies and infidelity begin to fly. Attorney Beth Mancini, who represents “trophy wife” Karen Jacoby, tries to have the couple’s prenuptial agreement set aside, and after a failed mediation in the case, the attorney and her client decide to spend a weekend away at a secluded beach cottage on Cayo Costa, Florida. A violent intruder interrupts their holiday with a threatening message allegedly from Stan, informing the two women that they should have settled at mediation. During the attack, Mancini manages to break free and kill the intruder. Stan Jacoby is arrested, and his defense claims that Karen staged the beachside attack to get an advantage in the divorce case. The Trophy Wife Divorce focuses primarily on the trial itself, when the secrets of the husband and wife are exposed as the lawyers battle for the jury’s verdict in a case of self-defense or murder.
Author Mills uses his background as a divorce and criminal defense attorney to formulate the plot and to describe a constantly revolving cast of characters. Readers will also appreciate the author’s knowledge and appreciation of Florida laws and geography as both play a role in the novel’s overall setting and narrative.
The paperback edition of The Trophy Wife Divorce is available from major booksellers for $14.99. An electronic edition of the book is also available.
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