The Girl from Home

Author: Adam Mitzner

This endearing novel presents the story of Jonathan Caine, who is a present day Donald Trump.  He owns everything he has always wanted: beautiful wife Natasha, great job on Wall Street, a Bentley to drive, a New York City apartment, and is looking to buy an ocean front summer house in the Hamptons.  Until he makes a bad decision and everything falls apart.  He overleverages his accounts and goes from millionaire to minion in one hectic month at work.

And when he gets fired, he knows it is only a short time later when his wife Natasha will leave too, for Natasha only wants his money and fame and is a cold society fish.  As everything he owns goes down the drain, Jonathon returns home to supposedly “take care of his father,” but really he goes home to stay in his dad’s house while his dad is dying in assisted living.  And when he returns, for some reason, he decides to pretend he is still the Wall Street Success and attends his 25^th high school reunion.

While at the reunion he sees the girl who had everything in high school, Jacqueline Williams, and remembers the geek kid that he was back then lusting over Jacqueline like all the other guys.  But Jacqueline, now Jackie, married her high school sweetheart, the captain of the football team, is miserable: her husband is abusive and beats her and terrifies their two young children.

As Amy, Jonathan’s sister, tries to get Jonathan to visit his father, Jonathan and Jackie begin an affair.  Jonathan has a difficult time with his father in the throes of a cognitive illness, but Jonathan decides that Amy is right: it is time Jonathan helped with his father, with whom he has been estranged.

As Jonathon’s life changes, so does his attitude.  He finally realizes that he and his father have more in common than he ever wanted to believe, and that he does not need money and possessions to be happy.  Even with securities fraud and finally, murder, hanging over his head, Jonathan knows he will be all right.  But who has killed Rick, Jackie’s abusive husband?  Jackie? Or Jonathan?

With great twists and a fascinating ending, The Girl from Home is a thriller that had me reading into the dark night!  Absolutely well done, Adam Mitzner is a new name that I will be following in crime fiction!  Loved it.

Ratings are based on a 5-star scale 

Overall: 4

Review by Broad “A” 

We received a product to facilitate our review. All opinions are our own

DETAILS

• You can pick up this book on Amazon.com here: The Girl From Home: A Thriller or at a bookseller near you.