The Millionaire's Wife: Difference between revisions

*The Millionaire's Wife*
Author	Cathy Scott
Language	English
Genre	True crime, Biography
Publisher	St. Martin's Press
Publication date	March 27, 2012
Published in English	March 2012
Media type	Print (paperback), eBook
Pages	256 pp (Paperback ed)
ISBN	0312594356

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The Millionaire's Wife: The True Story of a Real Estate Tycoon, his Beautiful Young Mistress, and a Marriage that Ended in Murder, by the author and journalist Cathy Scott, is a true crime account of the 1990 contract murder of George Kogan on an Upper East Side Manhattan street in broad daylight. The book was published for mass-market release by St. Martin's Press True Crime Library in March 2012.^[1]

Synopsis

Twenty years after George Kogan's murder, in July 2010, his estranged wife Barbara admitted to hiring a hit man to have her husband gunned down. She was sentenced to 12 to 36 years in prison.^[2]

The son of Holocaust survivors, 49-year-old George Kogan grew up in Puerto Rico before relocating to New York City, where he enjoyed success as an antiques and art dealer—until one morning in 1990 when Kogan was approached on the street by a gunman identified by the prosecution as Paul Prosano and killed in cold blood.

Just before the shooting, Kogan had been on the way to his girlfriend's apartment. Mary-Louise Hawkins was 29 years old and had once worked as Kogan's publicist. Kogan and his wife Barbara became estranged, and his wife Barbara became bitter. Barbara and Kogan began negotiations for a divorce, part of which was to be $5,000 per week in alimony. A judge turned down her request.^[3]

Barbara, who stood to collect $4.3 million in life insurance,^[4] was immediately suspected in Kogan's death. But it would take authorities nearly 20 years to uncover the link between her lawyer, Manuel Martinez, and the hitman. In 2008, Martinez was convicted for the murder of Kogan. In 2010, Barbara pleaded guilty to grand larceny, conspiracy to commit murder, and murder in the first degree.

Reception

The book has remained on Amazon's Top 100 bestseller list in the category of true crime as well as murder and mayhem during its pre-release sales.^[5]^[6]

The Big Thrill in an April 2012 review of the book and interview with the author, wrote, "Thriller novelists get to make stuff up, but a true crime writer must work with the facts." The article explores "(Scott's) writing process with The Millionaire's Wife and how it compares to authors of thriller fiction."^[7]

In July 2011, the author appeared on the "Susan Murphy-Milano Show" to talk about the Kogan case.^[8] In June 2012, Investigation Discovery aired a documentary about the Kogan case in its Behind Mansion Walls series titled "The Killer Inside" that included an interview of the author.^[9]

The author covered the book in the Forbes.com blog "Crime, She Writes," writing that "the goal with The Millionaire’s Wife was to tell it like it is and get to the bottom of the story."^[10]

The book was included in an NBC New York story in October 2013 about a juror in the trial of defendant Manuel Martinez.^[11]

Awards

The Millionaire's Wife placed No. 3 in the True Crime Zine reader's poll for the Top 10 Best True Crime Books of 2012.^[12]

Crime Magazine included it in its September 2012 "Book ‘Em Vol. 36" issue.^[13] It also made Crime Magazine's Books of Note.^[14]

References

External links

[1] Forbes.com, "They Negotiate at Jezebel," January 2012 (scroll down to announcement of book launch)

[2] New York Times "City Room," "Woman Sentenced for Having Husband Killed," June 4, 2010

[3] "George Kogan Murder: Barbara Kogan Faces Sentencing In Real Estate Tycoon Husband's 1990 Hit Job", Huffington Post, June 4, 2010

[4] New York Post, "Rich Widow's 'Slay Broker' Called to Testify in Mysterious '90 Case," March 23, 2008

[5] Amazon.com, Best Sellers in True Crime

[6] Amazon.com, Best Sellers in Murder and Mayhem

[7] The Big Thrill, "The Millionaire’s Wife by Cathy Scott," April 2012

[8] "The Susan Miurpny Milano Show Welcomes Author Cathy Scott," July 2011

[9] Investigation Discovery's "Behind Mansion Walls"

[10] Forbes.com, "Crime And Misdemeanors -- And The Millionaire's Wife," Jan. 22, 2012

[11] Juror in Black Widow Murder Case Gets Letter from Convicted Conspirator | NBC New York

[12] "Best True Crime Books 2012 Winners List". True Crime Zine. 2013-01-04. Retrieved 2013-01-12.

[13] Book ‘Em Vol. 36 | Crime Magazine

[14] Books of Note | Crime Magazine

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+{{Short description|2012 book by Cathy Scott}}
-{{Userspace draft|source=ArticleWizard|date=January 2012}} <!-- Please leave this line alone! -->
+{{Distinguish|The Millionaire's Wife (TV series)}}
-{{Infobox Book
+{{Infobox book
 | name          = ''The Millionaire's Wife''
 | title_orig    =
 | translator    =
-| image         =
+| image         = Cover of the book TheMillionaresWife.jpg
-| image_caption =
+| caption =
 | author        = [[Cathy Scott]]
 | illustrator   =
 | cover_artist  =
 | country       =
-| language      = [[English language|English]]
+| language      = English
 | series        =
-| genre         = [[True Crime]], [[Biography]]
+| genre         = [[True crime]], [[Biography]]
 | publisher     = St. Martin's Press
 | pub_date      = March 27, 2012
@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 | media_type    = Print (paperback), eBook
 | pages         = 256 pp (Paperback ed)
-| isbn          = 978-0-312-59435
+| isbn          = 0312594356
 | oclc=
 | preceded_by   =
 | followed_by   =
 }}
-'''''THE MILLIONAIRE'S WIFE: The True Story of a Real Estate Tycoon, his Beautiful Young Mistress, and a Marriage that Ended in Murder''''', by author and journalist [[Cathy Scott]], is a true crime account of the 1990 contract murder of George Kogan on an Upper East Side Manhattan street in broad daylight. The book is scheduled for mass-market release by [[St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's Press True Crime Library]] in March 2012.<ref>[http://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegotiates/2012/01/15/they-negotiate-at-jezebel/2/ Forbes.com, "They Negotiate at Jezebel," January 2012 (scroll down to announcement of book launch)]</ref>
+'''''The Millionaire's Wife: The True Story of a Real Estate Tycoon, his Beautiful Young Mistress, and a Marriage that Ended in Murder''''', by the author and journalist [[Cathy Scott]], is a true crime account of the 1990 contract murder of George Kogan on an Upper East Side Manhattan street in broad daylight. The book was published for mass-market release by [[St. Martin's Press|St. Martin's Press True Crime Library]] in March 2012.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/shenegotiates/2012/01/15/they-negotiate-at-jezebel/2/ Forbes.com, "They Negotiate at Jezebel," January 2012 (scroll down to announcement of book launch)]</ref>
 ==Synopsis==
-Twenty years after George Kogan's murder, in July 2010, his estranged wife Barbara admitted to hiring a hit man to have her husband gunned down and sentenced to 12 to 36 years in prison.<ref>[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/barbara-kogan/ ''New York Times'' "City Room," "Woman Sentenced for Having Husband Killed," June 4, 2010]</ref>
+Twenty years after George Kogan's murder, in July 2010, his estranged wife Barbara admitted to hiring a hit man to have her husband gunned down. She was sentenced to 12 to 36 years in prison.<ref>[http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/barbara-kogan/ ''New York Times'' "City Room," "Woman Sentenced for Having Husband Killed," June 4, 2010]</ref>
+The son of Holocaust survivors, 49-year-old George Kogan grew up in Puerto Rico before relocating to New York City, where he enjoyed success as an antiques and art dealer—until one morning in 1990 when Kogan was approached on the street by a gunman identified by the prosecution as Paul Prosano and killed in cold blood.
+Just before the shooting,  Kogan had been on the way to his girlfriend's apartment. Mary-Louise Hawkins was 29 years old and had once worked as  Kogan's publicist.  Kogan and his wife Barbara became estranged, and his wife Barbara became bitter. Barbara and Kogan began negotiations for a divorce, part of which was to be $5,000 per week in alimony. A judge turned down her request.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/george-kogan-murder-barba_n_600434.html "George Kogan Murder: Barbara Kogan Faces Sentencing In Real Estate Tycoon Husband's 1990 Hit Job"], ''[[Huffington Post]]'', June 4, 2010</ref>
+Barbara, who stood to collect $4.3 million in life insurance,<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_kJx95NG0doKK0SNWVPZcmO ''New York Post'', "Rich Widow's 'Slay Broker' Called to Testify in Mysterious '90 Case," March 23, 2008]</ref> was immediately suspected in  Kogan's death. But it would take authorities nearly 20 years to uncover the link between her lawyer, Manuel Martinez, and the hitman. In 2008, Martinez was convicted for the murder of  Kogan. In 2010, Barbara pleaded guilty to grand larceny, conspiracy to commit murder, and murder in the first degree.
+== Reception ==
+The book has remained on Amazon's Top 100 bestseller list in the category of true crime as well as murder and mayhem during its pre-release sales.<ref>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/229583011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_5_last#4 Amazon.com, Best Sellers in True Crime]</ref><ref>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/229582011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_5_last#4 Amazon.com, Best Sellers in Murder and Mayhem]</ref>
+''The Big Thrill'' in an April 2012 review of the book and interview with the author, wrote, "Thriller novelists get to make stuff up, but a true crime writer must work with the facts." The article explores "(Scott's) writing process with ''The Millionaire's Wife'' and how it compares to authors of thriller fiction."<ref>[http://www.thebigthrill.org/2012/04/the-millionaires-wife-by-cathy-scott/ ''The Big Thrill'', "''The Millionaire’s Wife'' by Cathy Scott," April 2012]</ref>
-The son of Holocaust survivors, 49-year-old George Kogan grew up in Puerto Rico before making his way to New York City, where he enjoyed success as an antiques and art dealer—until one morning in 1990 when George was approached on the street by an unidentified gunman and was killed in cold blood.
+In July 2011, the author appeared on the "[[Susan Murphy-Milano]] Show" to talk about the Kogan case.<ref>[http://imaginepublicity.com/2011/07/13/the-susan-murphy-milano-show-welcomes-author-cathy-scott/ "The Susan Miurpny Milano Show Welcomes Author Cathy Scott," July 2011]</ref> In June 2012, [[Investigation Discovery]] aired a documentary about the Kogan case in its ''[[Behind Mansion Walls]]'' series titled "The Killer Inside" that included an interview of the author.<ref>[http://investigation.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=141.15373.131063.40447.x Investigation Discovery]'s "Behind Mansion Walls"</ref>
-Before the shooting, George had been on the way to his girlfriends’s apartment. Mary-Louise Hawkins was 29 years old and had once worked as George’s publicist. But ever since they became lovers, George’s estranged wife, Barbara, was consumed with bitterness. As she and George hashed out a divorce, Barbara fueled her anger into greed—especially after a judge turned down her request for $5,000 a week in alimony.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/04/george-kogan-murder-barba_n_600434.html [[Huffington Post]], "George Kogan Murder: Barbara Kogan Faces Sentencing In Real Estate Tycoon Husband's 1990 Hit Job," June 4, 2010]</ref>
+The author covered the book in the [[Forbes]].com blog "Crime, She Writes," writing that "the goal with ''The Millionaire’s Wife'' was to tell it like it is and get to the bottom of the story."<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/crime/2012/01/22/crime-and-misdemeanors-and-the-millionaires-wife/ Forbes.com, "Crime And Misdemeanors -- And The Millionaire's Wife," Jan. 22, 2012]</ref>
-Barbara, who stood to collect $4.3 million in life insurance,<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/item_kJx95NG0doKK0SNWVPZcmO ''New York Post'', "Rich Widow's 'Slay Broker' Called to Testify in Mysterious '90 Case," March 23, 2008]</ref> was immediately suspected in George’s death. But it would take authorities almost twenty years to uncover a link between her lawyer, Manuel Martinez, and the hitman who killed George. In 2010, Martinez agreed to testify against his client…and Barbara eventually pled guilty to charges of grand larceny, conspiracy to commit murder, and murder in the first degree.
+The book was included in an [[WNBC|NBC New York]] story in October 2013 about a juror in the trial of defendant Manuel Martinez.<ref>[http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Juror-Barbara-Kogan-Killing-Gets-Letter-226437161.html Juror in Black Widow Murder Case Gets Letter from Convicted Conspirator | NBC New York<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
-True Crime Book Reviews described it as "a love triangle and a hit-for-hire."<ref>[http://truecrimebookreviews.blogspot.com/2011/08/pre-order-true-crime-books-2011-2012.html True Crime Book Reviews, "The Millionaire's Wife" (scroll down), Aug. 12, 2011]</ref>
+== Awards ==
-In July 2011, the author appeared on the "[[Susan Murphy-Milano]] Show" to talk about the Kogan case.<ref>[http://imaginepublicity.com/2011/07/13/the-susan-murphy-milano-show-welcomes-author-cathy-scott/ "The Susan Miurpny Milano Show Welcomes Author Cathy Scott," July 2011]</ref> In March 2012, [[Investigation Discovery]] is scheduled to air a documentary about the Kogan case in its "Behind Mansion Walls" series with an interview of the author.<ref>[http://investigation.discovery.com/tv-schedules/series.html?paid=141.15373.131063.40447.x Investigation Discovery]'s "Behind Mansion Walls"</ref>
+''The Millionaire's Wife'' placed No. 3 in the ''True Crime Zine'' reader's poll for the Top 10 Best True Crime Books of 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://truecrimezine.com/best-true-crime-books-2012-winners/ |title=Best True Crime Books 2012 Winners List |magazine=True Crime Zine |date=2013-01-04 |accessdate=2013-01-12}}</ref>
+''Crime Magazine'' included it in its September 2012 "Book ‘Em Vol. 36" issue.<ref>[http://www.crimemagazine.com/book-%E2%80%98em-vol-36 Book ‘Em Vol. 36 | Crime Magazine]</ref> It also made ''Crime Magazine'''s Books of Note.<ref>[http://crimemagazine.com/books-note Books of Note | Crime Magazine<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
-The book has remained on Amazon's Top 100 bestseller list in the category of true crime as well as murder and mayhem during its pre-release sales.<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/229583011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_2_5_last#4 Amazon.com, Best Sellers in True Crime]</ref><ref>[http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/books/229582011/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_b_1_5_last#4 Amazon.com, Best Sellers in Murder and Mayhem]</ref>
 == References ==
-{{Reflist}}
+{{Reflist|2}}
 == External links ==
 * [http://us.macmillan.com/themillionaireswife/CathyScott Publisher's book page]
+* [http://www.thebigthrill.org/2012/04/the-millionaires-wife-by-cathy-scott/ ''The Big Thrill'', interview of author/review, April 2012]
+* [http://article.wn.com/view/2013/12/13/New_true_crime_by_Cathy_Scott_money_madness_murder/ ''World News Network'', "New true crime by Cathy Scott: money + madness = murder"]
+{{DEFAULTSORT:Millionaire's Wife}}
-<!--- Categories --->
-[[Category:Articles created via the Article Wizard]]
+[[Category:Books about New York City]]
+[[Category:Non-fiction books about murders in the United States]]
-{{DEFAULTSORT:The Millionaire's Wife}}
-[[Category:Books available as e-books]]
+[[Category:2012 non-fiction books]]
-[[Category:Non-fiction crime books]]
-[[Category:2012 books]]
-[[Category:1990 murders in the United States]]
 [[Category:American biographies]]
-[[Category:True crime]]
+[[Category:St. Martin's Press books]]
+[[Category:Non-fiction books about crime]]
+[[Category:Books by Cathy Scott]]