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A Life Divided: A psychologist's memoir about the double life and murder of her husband - and her road to recovery
Inspector Gil Hill, head of Detroit Homicide Division, was the first to explain my husband's indiscretions to me. Hill bluntly disclosed that Al had led a double life for the previous 18 months in the notorious Cass Corridor (a red-light district in the inner city) using the name "Dr. Miller." We were probably broke. He had been dismembered. The press had questions. Hill needed me at the morgue.In those disturbing minutes, I not only learned truths about my unfaithful husband, I learned truths about life. Sometimes we know shockingly little about the people we think we know best. And when it comes to marriage there are things known, unknown and known too late.This verified that when adversity comes, you have three permit crises to define you, destroy you, or strengthen you. I vowed then I would not become collateral damage.What you have before you is a memoir of the darkest days of my life as a widow and so-called homicide survivor. It is raw, detailed, and deliberately subjective. A Life Divided speaks for "invisible" families in the shadows of gruesome homicides who know all too well that headlines, sound bites, formalities, and trials are just the prologue to the story.I can never claim to be unbiased, bit I rendered the contents as faithfully as possible and relied on many sources beyond my own recollections. I returned twice to where the events unfolded, interviewed people who had a role, read eleven pounds of court testimony, examined old photos, poured over crispy newspaper articles, and carefully examined old video footage.I left my redacted life of 30 years to share this account. Healing and insight do not happen overnight. This is a cautionary tale as well as a true comeback story from a nightmare that never had to happen. The defendants had their say in court. Now it's my turn.
449 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 3, 2020
66 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 30, 2024
Non-fiction/ true crime. This book generated mixed feelings.
Gave this 3 stars.
Jan's goal was to become a psychologist. She married 40 YO
Alan already a psychologist & 18 years her senior. The more
education she obtained the more defensive he became. She
received a 2 yr. fellowship w/ her new mentor Dr. Rutledge
after she obtained her PhD in psychology. His parents were
rigid & authoritarian. Jan thought this left Al doubting
himself & lacking in life skills.
Al had his 3rd psych. hospital stay after married he Jan (he
had 2 before he knew her). Al & his parents were secretive
in this regard.
Al spent his 50th birthday elsewhere w/ a 'hot' teen hooker
Dawn who did tricks to support her cocaine and heroin
habit. He was obsessed with her, but did not try to talk
her into drug rehab. Her pimp, he preferred 'protector'
known as Lucky, needed the drugs too. Ironically Dawn
quit her senior year of HS when she was expected to be
named the Valedictorian of her high school. She ran
away from witnessing domestic violence in her household.
Al saw Dawn over an 18 mo. period and gave her approx.
$150 K. over that period which made him in the red for
his bills. Jan learned all this after the fact. She also saw
Al's lies & deceptions. Jan was tested for STDs, what about
Hep C?
Al went missing, you can guess his gruesome fate.
Didn't Al know that Dawn & Lucky & their friends were
high & not rational & could not be reasoned with? Lucky,
a violent ex-con, couldn't control his temper. Al thought
he was immune to danger as per Jan. He never should've
shared his real name & personal contact info w/ those 2.
Gave this 3 stars.
Jan's goal was to become a psychologist. She married 40 YO
Alan already a psychologist & 18 years her senior. The more
education she obtained the more defensive he became. She
received a 2 yr. fellowship w/ her new mentor Dr. Rutledge
after she obtained her PhD in psychology. His parents were
rigid & authoritarian. Jan thought this left Al doubting
himself & lacking in life skills.
Al had his 3rd psych. hospital stay after married he Jan (he
had 2 before he knew her). Al & his parents were secretive
in this regard.
Al spent his 50th birthday elsewhere w/ a 'hot' teen hooker
Dawn who did tricks to support her cocaine and heroin
habit. He was obsessed with her, but did not try to talk
her into drug rehab. Her pimp, he preferred 'protector'
known as Lucky, needed the drugs too. Ironically Dawn
quit her senior year of HS when she was expected to be
named the Valedictorian of her high school. She ran
away from witnessing domestic violence in her household.
Al saw Dawn over an 18 mo. period and gave her approx.
$150 K. over that period which made him in the red for
his bills. Jan learned all this after the fact. She also saw
Al's lies & deceptions. Jan was tested for STDs, what about
Hep C?
Al went missing, you can guess his gruesome fate.
Didn't Al know that Dawn & Lucky & their friends were
high & not rational & could not be reasoned with? Lucky,
a violent ex-con, couldn't control his temper. Al thought
he was immune to danger as per Jan. He never should've
shared his real name & personal contact info w/ those 2.
June 11, 2020
Wonderful Book
This book is hard to put down. The author's writing takes you to the time and place of events. (She paints a picture with words.) The subject matter is interesting; it describes how people can damage and destroy lives, including his/her own life. I admire the author for rising above deeply painful, frightening, and shocking circumstances. Her gracious and resilient roads to healing, are an inspiration for victims.
This book is hard to put down. The author's writing takes you to the time and place of events. (She paints a picture with words.) The subject matter is interesting; it describes how people can damage and destroy lives, including his/her own life. I admire the author for rising above deeply painful, frightening, and shocking circumstances. Her gracious and resilient roads to healing, are an inspiration for victims.
January 8, 2023
Riveting, a page turner, unbelievable story. Yet it is completely true.
I would not have believed the details in this book but the Detroit newspapers, radio stations and television news broadcasts confirmed them. A young, beautiful psychologist thinking that something was a bit amiss with her distinguished
Psychologist husband was stunned to discover his involvement with the Detroit Red light district, prostitutes, criminals who resided there,
illicit acts that occurred and his eventual grisly horrific murder.
I knew Jan from 2 different settings. I went to college with her at Moneith, a small honors college at Wayne State, Later, when I was a clinical social worker, practicing in Michigan, I saw her when she accompanied her husband at inservice trainings.
About 5 feet tall, somehow. she always seemed tall and statuesque. I believe this was from her character. This character, grace and dignity shines through her book. She tells her unbelievable story without bitterness.
This is perhaps the most shocking part of all of this. She comes through with the aim of helping others. The hero, not the victim. In these pages, her story helps validate the experiences and feelings of others but does not reduce herself to another fatality.
A must read for anyone torn apart by trauma or knows someone who is. It offers help, hope and peace.
Gayle Beth Lewis, LCSW
I would not have believed the details in this book but the Detroit newspapers, radio stations and television news broadcasts confirmed them. A young, beautiful psychologist thinking that something was a bit amiss with her distinguished
Psychologist husband was stunned to discover his involvement with the Detroit Red light district, prostitutes, criminals who resided there,
illicit acts that occurred and his eventual grisly horrific murder.
I knew Jan from 2 different settings. I went to college with her at Moneith, a small honors college at Wayne State, Later, when I was a clinical social worker, practicing in Michigan, I saw her when she accompanied her husband at inservice trainings.
About 5 feet tall, somehow. she always seemed tall and statuesque. I believe this was from her character. This character, grace and dignity shines through her book. She tells her unbelievable story without bitterness.
This is perhaps the most shocking part of all of this. She comes through with the aim of helping others. The hero, not the victim. In these pages, her story helps validate the experiences and feelings of others but does not reduce herself to another fatality.
A must read for anyone torn apart by trauma or knows someone who is. It offers help, hope and peace.
Gayle Beth Lewis, LCSW
April 16, 2024
The Size of the Book Should Be Halved
Centering around the extremely tragic and life-altering death of her husband, the book starts with a brilliant flashback. However, what should and could have been an absolutely compelling story is very soon sabotaged by the author’s own writing style: her long-drawn-out analyses ( she is a psychologist by profession) of her husband’s and the perpetrators’ character and her own feelings about the circumstances of his death are annoyingly repetitive, tedious and therefore disingenuous. As a result, page after page she rambles on the same analyses which reduces the effectiveness of reading a uniquely sad and moving story. I cannot understand why her editor(if she had one) failed to suggest to cut down the size of the book by half.
One other striking example of wasting precious space in the book is her overabundant complaints of the media interest and intrusiveness in the case. Understandable, yes, the media can violate privacy, but again, her attacks against the insensitivity of the media are boringly repetitive. They also rise to a level which shows a lack of tolerance/awareness about how newspapers and TV operate and how to cope with their intrusion without being overwhelmed.
Centering around the extremely tragic and life-altering death of her husband, the book starts with a brilliant flashback. However, what should and could have been an absolutely compelling story is very soon sabotaged by the author’s own writing style: her long-drawn-out analyses ( she is a psychologist by profession) of her husband’s and the perpetrators’ character and her own feelings about the circumstances of his death are annoyingly repetitive, tedious and therefore disingenuous. As a result, page after page she rambles on the same analyses which reduces the effectiveness of reading a uniquely sad and moving story. I cannot understand why her editor(if she had one) failed to suggest to cut down the size of the book by half.
One other striking example of wasting precious space in the book is her overabundant complaints of the media interest and intrusiveness in the case. Understandable, yes, the media can violate privacy, but again, her attacks against the insensitivity of the media are boringly repetitive. They also rise to a level which shows a lack of tolerance/awareness about how newspapers and TV operate and how to cope with their intrusion without being overwhelmed.
June 17, 2023
good book
Good book, very well written and the first part got me riveted to every word, as the book progressed I got more impatient, I felt I already knew the facts or they had already been discussed. I liked mostly the psychologically profile of the people involved, although I had a hard time understanding the motivations of Dawns choice of a life of prostitution. It reminded me a little of the choices made by Manson ‘s women. I would have skipped some of the author emotional ups and down, the emotional part. Yes, She had a horrible discovery but it was kind of predictable considering she knew very little of her husband due to her very busy life. Plus he helped her achieve her goals, and not too many men do it and pay for it. Sometimes it takes two people to create a void in a relationship.
Good book, very well written and the first part got me riveted to every word, as the book progressed I got more impatient, I felt I already knew the facts or they had already been discussed. I liked mostly the psychologically profile of the people involved, although I had a hard time understanding the motivations of Dawns choice of a life of prostitution. It reminded me a little of the choices made by Manson ‘s women. I would have skipped some of the author emotional ups and down, the emotional part. Yes, She had a horrible discovery but it was kind of predictable considering she knew very little of her husband due to her very busy life. Plus he helped her achieve her goals, and not too many men do it and pay for it. Sometimes it takes two people to create a void in a relationship.
August 2, 2020
Amazing!
Anyone who goes through trauma gets tired of the questions. My sister once told me after the loss of her child 'The only reason people ask for details is so they can be convinced it can't happen to them. '. I confess as I was reading Masquerade I wanted details, HOW could Jan NOT know? As I read A Life Divided I was introduced to a smart, sassy go-getter and I started to ask How could Jan have possibly known? The truth rings out in her voice, her pain and ultimately her happiness can be felt. It is a story of survival. I found I became uninterested in the dirty details of the murder because I realized this type of thing can happen to anyone. The book then became a story of healing and hope. A roadmap on surviving trauma. Well written and moving.
Anyone who goes through trauma gets tired of the questions. My sister once told me after the loss of her child 'The only reason people ask for details is so they can be convinced it can't happen to them. '. I confess as I was reading Masquerade I wanted details, HOW could Jan NOT know? As I read A Life Divided I was introduced to a smart, sassy go-getter and I started to ask How could Jan have possibly known? The truth rings out in her voice, her pain and ultimately her happiness can be felt. It is a story of survival. I found I became uninterested in the dirty details of the murder because I realized this type of thing can happen to anyone. The book then became a story of healing and hope. A roadmap on surviving trauma. Well written and moving.
June 14, 2025
Very Amazing Story!
This is an incredible true story. My heart was saddened with what the author experienced but also with the mental illness of her husband and his ultimate demise.
The wounds that some people experience during their childhood that can never be healed is horrific and so sad for them. The people who’ve been the recipients of their anger, hurt, and emptiness are also heartbreaking. A very insightful and thought provoking.
This is an incredible true story. My heart was saddened with what the author experienced but also with the mental illness of her husband and his ultimate demise.
The wounds that some people experience during their childhood that can never be healed is horrific and so sad for them. The people who’ve been the recipients of their anger, hurt, and emptiness are also heartbreaking. A very insightful and thought provoking.
July 10, 2023
Fascinating but slows at the end
I could not put it down for the first 85% or so of the book. The rest slows a lot, but she’s earned the readers commitment to the end. I will forever consider the impact on the victims of violent crime, understanding that in ways I never took time to consideration to appreciate before.
I could not put it down for the first 85% or so of the book. The rest slows a lot, but she’s earned the readers commitment to the end. I will forever consider the impact on the victims of violent crime, understanding that in ways I never took time to consideration to appreciate before.
June 2, 2025
3.5. Her story was compelling, tragic and debilitating. She is certainly a superstar survivor. However, I think after all these years, she is still dealing with her past and especially her damaged husband. Unfortunately, for me, the telling dragged often, rehashing the same points and incidents over and over. Lop a hundred pages off and you've got a much better read.
March 24, 2023
Jan is so brave & what she went through is beyond what any of us can imagine. She is honest and raw in this book as she deals with the complicated emotions of what happened
July 16, 2020
A must read for anyone who has been associated with a victim of a heinous crime! Dr. Canty gives her perspective on what it was like to be blindsided by her husbands gruesome murder due to his double life. She writes in such a way that you feel a connection to her akin to her being your best friend explaining the details of her experience. She leaves nothing out of the details; how she was deceived and actually put in danger with these two drug fueled criminals who could not have cared less about anyone but themselves! To learn the person that you love and trust with all your heart has been unfaithful is bad enough but to know that he has exposed your home and whole existence to two such low life individuals is unforgivable. I have been so intrigued by this story since reading the book "Masquerade" by Lowell Cauffiel about the two, I can not imagine the pain and grief Dr. Canty has had to deal with and I admire her so much for sharing her story! I know her job is as a psychologist but she shares more than what one would expect of her personal story. Her story is so compelling anyone who has been in a terrible situation should be able to receive encouragement from her book. Also listen to Dr. Canty's podcast Domino Effect of Murder where she talks to survivors and families effected by crimes.
November 4, 2022
A well-written and insightful book.
In 1985, the Detroit newspapers published a shocking story of a well-respected psychologist who was murdered and his body dismembered. Unbeknownst to his family, friends, and associates, the murder victim had been living a double life. During the day he was straight-laced Dr. Alan Canty, seeing clients in his elegant office, located in an upscale suburb of Detroit. But at night, he was Dr. Alan Miller, driving down the most crime ridden streets in Detroit, picking up hookers. He became captivated by a particular prostitute who, with the urging of her pimp/boyfriend, began milking him for drug money. The pimp/boyfriend killed Canty in a fit of rage when, after shelling out thousands of dollars, finally refused to give them any more money.
A few years ago, I read about this crime in a book by Lowell Cauffield titled Masquerade. It was fascinating, but I was left with questions about why a man like Dr Canty would be drawn to the underbelly of our society. And how was it possible his wife knew absolutely nothing about his secret life. So when I heard that his wife was writing a book, I knew I had to read it.
Jan Canty, several years younger than her husband, was busy working on her PhD. when he was slipping deeper and deeper into the life of hookers, pimps, and drugs. When her husband was murdered, her life (or the life she thought she had) ended also. But she went on to build a new life and, thirty years later, she's ready to revisit the past.
A Life Divided is a well-written and insightful book. This is Dr. Jan Canty's own story. She gave answers to my why and how questions. (Why would her husband have done what he did? How did she not know anything about his hidden life?) But more than that. She wrote about what it felt like to realized her marriage was filled with deceit, and how little she really knew her husband. She wrote about cops who informed her of her husband's murder and dismemberment, and then callously asked her to go to the morgue and identify his severed head. She wrote about how reprehensible the media was toward her, a grieving widow. They only cared about selling papers. Her husband was a homicide victim. She was a victim too. A collateral victim of homicide. An interesting perspective.
Five stars.
In 1985, the Detroit newspapers published a shocking story of a well-respected psychologist who was murdered and his body dismembered. Unbeknownst to his family, friends, and associates, the murder victim had been living a double life. During the day he was straight-laced Dr. Alan Canty, seeing clients in his elegant office, located in an upscale suburb of Detroit. But at night, he was Dr. Alan Miller, driving down the most crime ridden streets in Detroit, picking up hookers. He became captivated by a particular prostitute who, with the urging of her pimp/boyfriend, began milking him for drug money. The pimp/boyfriend killed Canty in a fit of rage when, after shelling out thousands of dollars, finally refused to give them any more money.
A few years ago, I read about this crime in a book by Lowell Cauffield titled Masquerade. It was fascinating, but I was left with questions about why a man like Dr Canty would be drawn to the underbelly of our society. And how was it possible his wife knew absolutely nothing about his secret life. So when I heard that his wife was writing a book, I knew I had to read it.
Jan Canty, several years younger than her husband, was busy working on her PhD. when he was slipping deeper and deeper into the life of hookers, pimps, and drugs. When her husband was murdered, her life (or the life she thought she had) ended also. But she went on to build a new life and, thirty years later, she's ready to revisit the past.
A Life Divided is a well-written and insightful book. This is Dr. Jan Canty's own story. She gave answers to my why and how questions. (Why would her husband have done what he did? How did she not know anything about his hidden life?) But more than that. She wrote about what it felt like to realized her marriage was filled with deceit, and how little she really knew her husband. She wrote about cops who informed her of her husband's murder and dismemberment, and then callously asked her to go to the morgue and identify his severed head. She wrote about how reprehensible the media was toward her, a grieving widow. They only cared about selling papers. Her husband was a homicide victim. She was a victim too. A collateral victim of homicide. An interesting perspective.
Five stars.
February 17, 2021
I was a Wayne State University student in Detroit at the time and remember this terrible murder vividly. As Dr. Canty stated, WSU borders the Cass Corridor, so I knew about this troubled area and mostly avoided it. The story definitely described the Detroit area during that time and brought back memories to me. I found the book very compelling and difficult to put down. Dr. Canty was very honest in describing what lead up to the murder, the murder itself, and its aftermath. With her psychological background, she was able to help the reader understand this bizarre murder and why the principle players acted as they did. Further, she brought to my attention that the people left behind after a murder feel its effects for the rest of their lives, but she gives hope to survivors that recovery is possible. I have already highly recommended this book to many friends and relatives.
September 1, 2023
Thorough. Raw. Insightful.
K. Thomas
K. Thomas
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews