Dean Eugene R. Milhizer
and his new novel
A Matter of Trust
Coming Summer 2025!
I am pleased and proud to announce the forthcoming publication of my third novel, A Matter of Trust. It is the third novel in my fiction novel series. A Matter of Trust is a courtroom drama, set in the 1980s. It takes readers on a journey around the world - from Washington D.C. to Hawaii, and then to South Korea. It is the story of a young Army JAG attorney defending a military helicopter mechanic charged with murder. The narrative is presented in a fully authentic style, to include excerpts from trial transcripts, crime scene diagrams, and thrilling exhibit photos. It has been well reviewed, especially by legal practitioners, law professors, and law students. Besides being highly entertaining, my novel tackles a myriad of strategic, tactical, ethical, and moral issues. It will soon be available for presale orders on my website.
Dean Milhizer on A Matter of Trust
“Gene Milhizer is back with A Matter of Trust, his third legal thriller featuring military attorney Schofield Milano, his pal Spackles, and a tension-filled murder trial. As with the previous novels, Milhizer uses realist courtroom transcripts to breathe life into legal questions from the story's narrative. The issues are clear enough for all reader to enjoy to but deep enough to impact a law school class. I highly recommend this book."
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Ronald J. Rychlak
Distinguished Professor of Law
University of Mississippi
"As a current law student, I was heavily intrigued by Dean Emeritus Milhizer’s novel A Matter of Trust because of its captivating storyline and lovable characters. However, I strongly suggest that others, even those who did not attend law school, read this book if they want to gain realistic insight on a defense attorney’s state of mind. A Matter of Trust is a unique opportunity to get inside the mind of an experienced defense attorney who frequently reflects on the role trust plays in his daily legal practice."
Lillian Kennedy
J.D. Candidate
Ave Maria School of Law
"A Matter of Trust is so much more than just another murder mystery, turning into to a courtroom drama that emphasizes the trial and trial preparation more than just the crime itself and I loved that. The twists came through the testimonies and trial strategy rather than the usual detective work, which made it feel fresh and tense in a totally different way. I was constantly rethinking who I believed and what justice even meant in this case. If you're into legal thrillers with layered characters and a plot that unfolds like a slow burn, this one’s worth it. Whether you’re in the legal field or just an avid reader, this book will keep you entertained until the very last page!"
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Kennedy Ginatti
Assistant State Attorney
13th Judicial Circuit
Acclaim for Dean Eugene R. Milhizer
and his novel
Searching for Lilly
A fascinating murder-trial novel and the first in the series
“The story is riveting. The prosecution and defense lawyers play out a game of cat and mouse for four days. Alfred Hitchcock would be delighted at the many twists and turns, and in the outcome of the trial. I found the book a 'great read,' one that you don’t want to put down until it is finished. The book reflects the author’s distinction as a respected scholar and experienced trial lawyer, who is blessed with insight and is philosophically grounded.”​
John Parlin, M.D.
Author of numerous books
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“The famous quote ‘Military justice is to justice as military music is to music’ has been credited to both Georges Clemenceau and Groucho Marx. To be fair, Clemenceau said it first and said it in French. In his new novel about the court martial trial of an army helicopter pilot for murder set in Korea, author Eugene R. Milhizer narrates the unique and practical problems of securing 'justice' under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, while providing an authentic and engaging display of courtroom strategy and plot twists that propel his compelling story to its final denouement. Along the way, Milhizer, a lawyer and former law school dean, examines the ethical questions implicit in a defense lawyer’s belief in a client’s guilt or innocence. The issue is relevant to the practical strategic choices and the ethical duty to avoid presenting false evidence. Criminal defense lawyers operate in an ambiguous factual environment. As Justice Holmes said, ‘Lawyers spend their careers shoveling smoke.’ A defense lawyer’s duty at the end of the day is to keep the system honest – a concept too often misunderstood by the general public.”
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Gregory R. Piché
J.D. and Author, The Four Trials of Henry Ford
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“Searching for Lilly pulled me in early and kept my attention all the way through. It has the page-turning attraction of the best crime novels, with legal insight that will excite even seasoned readers of courtroom thrillers. Set against the background of Korea in the 1980s, Gene Milhizer’s story of a military defense attorney representing a soldier charged with killing the son of a congressman is totally engrossing. I greatly enjoyed this book.”​
Ronald J. Rychlak
Distinguished Professor of Law University of of Mississippi
Acclaim for Dean Eugene R. Milhizer
and his novel
A Matter of Trust
The thrilling second murder-trial novel in the series
"In Rough Justice, author Eugene R. Milhizer’s second novel chronicling the military justice exploits of defense counsel, JAG Captain Scholfield Milano, J.D., plunges the reader into the ethical and strategic complexities of a high profile court martial trial where reality and fantasy compete for attention and relevance. In an ironic twist of fate Captain Milano is called upon to defend his former legal adversary and bete noir, the hawk faced and rageful prosecutor, Major Maurice Preener, J.D., who finds himself as a defendant charged with murder and aggravated assault, threatening the loss of his career and liberty. Clever plot twists and realistic trial atmosphere drive the narrative of this entertaining yarn, educating the audience as to how the 'sausage' of military justice is made."
Gregory R. Piche
J.D. and Author, The Four Trials of Henry Ford
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“In Rough Justice, Eugene Milhizer once again shows us that the most compelling legal dramas are not sensationalized trials that bear little resemblance to reality, but rather are those that illustrate the incredible complexity that quickly arises in what can initially appear to be a straightforward criminal case. While this book is unquestionably a page-turner that can be quickly devoured, the reader is advised to savor the journey a bit more. In doing so, the reader will see that criminal cases often involve much more than simply the government and the accused, and that the question of whether justice was done is rarely easy to answer definitively. In addition, through exploring the complexities of this case, it becomes readily apparent that, for the attorney tasked with defending the accused, questions of strategy, ethics, politics, and career often collide in ways that test not only the attorney’s professional skill but his core values as well.”
W. Edward Afield
Associate Dean for Experiential Education and Director of Clinical Programs Mark and Evelyn Trammell Clinical Professor
Georgia State University College of Law