Pine Island Experience

Pine Island Experience


S3E27 John D. Mills — Author, Attorney, and Storyteller

November 14, 2025

⚓️????This week, we dive into mystery, law, and life along Pine Island Sound with author and attorney John D. Mills.

???????? A fifth-generation Fort Myers native, John grew up fishing these waters — and today, he channels that deep local knowledge into his nine-book fictional mysteries set right here in our coastal backyard.  In his first three books, his main character is Detective Doug Shearer with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Detective Shearer solves murders set on islands in Pine Island Sound in these books: Reasonable and Necessary, The Manatee Murders, and The Objector. The fourth book, Sworn Jury, is a legal thriller about a murder at the Historic Edison Home in downtown Ft. Myers.  John’s characters in his recent five books: The Trophy Wife Divorce, The Hooker, the Dancer and the Nun, Pineland Gold, Cayo Costa Cross and Captiva Coven are divorce attorney, Beth Mancini and longtime boyfriend, Frank Powers, prosecuting attorney. 

????️???? John’s writing blend courtroom tension with the heritage and heart of the islands we love. From years in the legal field to a lifetime on the water, his stories carry the depth of real experience.  From his years as a prosecutor and defense attorney to his passion for preserving local stories, John gives us a rare glimpse into the real people and places that inspire his thrillers.

On fishing Pine Island Sound, “Going out on the water, it reminds me of my younger days and it uses a different part of my brain.”  — John D. Mills

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???? Learn more at pineislandsoundmysteries.com

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