Hurricane Love

AIDS and Alzheimers in the Eighties-tempest spawned love: Daniel Lawrence a superior court judge is being tried for the assisted suicide of his wife a young victim of Alzheimers disease. He wants justice defined in the light of personal commitment. His defense: no malice aforethought. Joanna Archer 20 years his junior is the court reporter on his trial. She escapes from a bullying husband and craves personal autonomy. She and Dan meet during Hurricane Irene in Miami and begin the strange intertwining of dependency patterns the gaining and giving up of control a common struggle. Joannas friend and colleague discovers shes an AIDS carrier and must deny her unhealthy need for sex thereby denying Dans defense lawyers need for love. Ralph Dans friend since surviving a capsized boat with him in a 1938 hurricane has his wifes stomach pumped when she attempts suicide with pills. He needs her alive; she hates him. Each character values autonomy. Some gain it; some give it up. The suspense of the novel lies in who; the depth lies in how.