Book Review
Review by Marcy Shortuse
‘The Trophy Wife Divorce’
by John D. Mills
When Dr. Stan Jacoby walked in
the door of his estate on the
Caloosahatchee River to surprise
his wife with an early return from a golfi ng
vacation, he was confronted with a lifechanging
realization: What’s good for the
gander, is truly also good for the goose.
The “goose” in this case, Karen Jacoby, is
Stan’s wife, and the compromising position
she was found in by her husband begins a
tale of debauchery and distrust that rivals
any Kardashian real-life drama found on
reality television. The primary protagonist,
Attorney Beth Mancini, is Karen’s divorce
attorney, and she has been featured in other
books written by author, Attorney John D.
Mills of Fort Myers. He spins the tale with a
good amount of historical information about
Cayo Costa and Boca Grande: A lot of the
locations mentioned will strike a familiar
chord with readers … and perhaps some of
the characters.
Mills is a fi fth generation native of Fort
Myers who has been fi shing local waters
since he was a child. He graduated from
Mercer University in Macon, Georgia with a
BBA in fi nance, and worked for Lee County
Bank in Fort Myers for fi ve months. He
returned to Macon and graduated from
Mercer’s Law School in 1989 and started
his legal career as a prosecutor for the State
Attorney’s Offi ce in Fort Myers.
16 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE • March/April • 2021
In 1990 he opened his own private
practice, concentrating in divorce and
criminal defense.
Mills said he fi rst became interested in
writing after reading Randy Wayne White’s
books with familiar settings around our
barrier islands.
“I grew up here and loved fi shing in Pine
Island Sound whenever I could,” he said. “I
remember reading Randy’s books describing
a spot and thinking, ‘I’ve been there! I know
what he’s describing!’”
Mills, who has always been a big reader,
said it was a very different experience
reading about places he had been that were
featured in a story of intrigue and excitement.
It inspired him to start writing his own murder
mysteries/legal thrillers that are set on the
islands around Pine Island Sound.
As the “Trophy Wife” story initially evolves,
the reader is caught up in the daily grind of
a hideous divorce, starting with mediation,
where Mills’ professional background shines
through. A classic trophy wife, a typical
older husband who compiled a mountain of
money with an inheritance from his parents
and sound decisions made with an IPO by a
little-known company called Google … there
are misdeeds and backbiting a-plenty … but
then a “slap yo’ Mama” moment happens
and the attitude of the entire book changes
very quickly when Beth and Karen show up