Perfect Husband: The True Story of the Trusting Bride Who Discovered Her Husband Was a Coldblooded Killer

The subtitle pretty well tells it all: in 1985, Lisa Paspalakis, the attractive, intelligent, hard-working daughter of a successful Greek-American businessman with extensive holdings on the boardwalk in Daytona Beach, Fla., was introduced to Greek immigrant Konstantin (Kosta) Fotopoulos. An accountant helping her father to run his business, she was 25 and felt no compulsion to marry. But Kosta--handsome, witty and charming--won her heart very quickly; they were wed. Apart from his obsession with guns, he seemed a normal young man, although resentful that he had to work for his father-in-law. After the sudden death of that father-in-law, for which Kosta later claimed responsibility, he became part-owner of a seedy pool hall, began an affair with a waitress there and schemed to kill his wife. He and the waitress murdered one of the young men who botched the hit, videotaping the murder. On the third attempt, another of Kosta's young hangers-on shot Lisa, who survived; the youth was in turn killed by Kosta. All of Kosta's so-called buddies testified against him; the videotape of the slaying was discovered; and both Kosta and his mistress were found guilty and sentenced to death. Provost ( Across the Border ) tells the tale well, creating an ominous picture of how attractive a sociopath can be. (Dec.)