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Ava James FBI #13

The Good Doctor

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When renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Alastair Mays is found standing next to his dead wife, holding the murder weapon, it seems like an open-and-shut case...

The incident leaves the clinic's staff and the nurse who discovered Dr. Mays in shock. It's an impossible nightmare scenario, and following the doctor's arrest, the case quickly garners worldwide attention. Meanwhile, FBI agent Ava James is on the hunt for a notorious housewife serial killer. But her investigation takes an unexpected turn when she receives a desperate call pleading for her "Ava, you must investigate this case. The good doctor is innocent!"

With a plethora of witnesses and a clear motive, the evidence seems indisputable. Dr. Mays' marriage was on the verge of collapse, and his wife had plans to divorce him. There's no denying who seems responsible for the crime. But what if the truth is too twisted and unbelievable to comprehend?

Can Agent Ava James unravel the tangled web of lies and discover what really happened?

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 18, 2024

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About the author

A.J. Rivers

166 books1,643 followers

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5 stars
1,056 (66%)
4 stars
403 (25%)
3 stars
112 (7%)
2 stars
12 (<1%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Angela.
9,650 reviews126 followers
April 22, 2026
4.5 Stars

The Good Doctor is the thirteenth book in the Ava James FBI Series by A.J. Rivers - this series perfectly blends suspense, crime & investigation, and emotional depth.
The series follows Special Agent Ava James, an FBI investigator whose cases often blur the line between professional duty and personal stakes. Each book contains a standalone mystery - ranging from chilling murders to long-buried secrets - while also weaving in an overarching storyline about Ava’s past, her relationships, and her evolving sense of justice.
Ms. Rivers crafts stories that are both plot-driven and character-focused. The pacing is quite brisk, with short, punchy chapters that kept me turning pages late into the night. The twists are frequent but didn't feel contrived or forced, and the author exceled at planting subtle clues that make the reveals oh so satisfying.
Balancing dark, suspenseful crime scenes with moments of warmth and humanity, the author shows she has a knack for creating atmospheric settings - whether it’s a small town hiding sinister secrets or a bustling city with shadows in every alley. The tension is sustained without becoming overwhelming or excessive graphic.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy FBI thrillers with a dose of heart, as this series is well worth diving into – but be prepared to clear your schedule, because once you start, you won’t want to stop.
Happy Reading…
Profile Image for Kelly Smelcer.
436 reviews
May 27, 2024
Captivating!

Once again, AJ Rivers creates a captivating story that sucks you in from the beginning and keeps a stranglehold on you until the last page.

When the wife of a renowned surgeon is murdered and the surgeon is holding the murder weapon, FBI Agent Ava James is asked to shadow the case to find clues as to what happened. No one could believe the good doctor would be capable of such a heinous act. Will Ava's investigation clear the surgeon or be the nail in his own coffin?
Profile Image for Linda Thomas.
842 reviews9 followers
May 16, 2024
Ava was working on an old serial killer case when she was pulled into a new one.

Ava was known to be a bulldog when she was on a trail of evidence. Another agent ask her to look into a New murder that everyone thought was a slam dunk closed already case. Boy did she open a couple cans of worms. Liars, cheaters, and screwed up murders were what she had to wade through. She got where she didn’t know who to trust and what was real.
Profile Image for Mary Rowe.
2,688 reviews7 followers
May 18, 2024
what a convoluted, confounding and frustrating spree

A well-respected cosmetic surgeon, on the brink of divorce at the behest of this disenfranchised and disillusioned wife, prepped and gloved to perform a last cosmetic procedure on her, at her request, stands accused of her murder.

Suddenly, others in the doctor’s life are being murdered. The truth is more twisted than anyone imagines.
430 reviews4 followers
June 19, 2024
The Good Doctor (Ava James FBI Mystery Book 13)

OMG!!!!!!!! This book was incredible. I couldn't put it down. There were so many twists and turns, everything pointed to the good Doctor, until the very end, and you would never be able to guess who the killer was. I can't wait to read the next book.
Profile Image for María Calvete.
37 reviews1 follower
July 14, 2024
This book was quite a simple murder mystery but it was fun to read at the beach. It got a bit confusing at times due to the great amount of names and characters that were introduced. Also, the frequent changes between the main plot and the underlying plot (the one where the main character tries to decipher the Housewife Murders) make it a bit confusing as well.
272 reviews6 followers
May 15, 2024
Great series!

This series just keeps getting better. Ava James has become a bulldog of an FBI agent since the days when she worked with Emma Griffin. Now she's her own force to be reckoned with and she never quits until she has the truth.
1,507 reviews7 followers
May 24, 2024
The Good Doctor

This was a pretty good mystery. I did not like the beginning because it was going from one case to the next. It wasn't until it got into the doctor case that it got good. I was was pleased with book. Hope the next one is better
1,499 reviews4 followers
June 4, 2024
Ava’s cases are pretty twisted

Wow, this was twisted in more ways than one! As usual, Ava plots her case and moves forward until she gets the answers. Sure hope Santos gets cleared. And please, not Jason!
121 reviews
June 4, 2024
Had me guessing

I was totally stumped and guessing "who done it" throughout this entire book and was totally wrong in my guessing game until the killer was revealed. This book was outstanding as is all of Mary Stone's series'. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Patricia A. Biba.
417 reviews1 follower
December 20, 2024
Who's Guilty

Good story. I had trouble deciding who was guilty of the murders. Ava also had problems deciding if the doctor was guilty but she had been asked a fellow agent to investigate the crime. I felt sorry for the doctor as he lost family members.
101 reviews
Read
April 5, 2025
Great read,

One murder after another. Suspects were many.
Intense, exciting, emotional. Ava was twisted like a pretzel as she was accused of untrue things.
Can't wait until the next book.
Profile Image for Penny Anne.
41 reviews1 follower
March 29, 2026
Ava and the Doc

Ava works hard to look into a case for a co-worker. Her dogged pursuit of the truth prevails again. And her love interest? We need to read on to see where that is leading…
247 reviews1 follower
May 16, 2024
Intriguing

I enjoy reading this author she keeps me hooked until the last word, always wanting more. Looking forward to her next book.
810 reviews2 followers
May 26, 2024
This was a excellent story with lots of suspense and action and a ending you didn’t see coming. Thank you for writing such great stories.
404 reviews4 followers
July 16, 2024
Excellent Reading

I really enjoyed this storyline and all of the characters. It was exciting and had lots of surprises. I recommend it to everyone.
2 reviews
January 23, 2025
loved the twists and turns!

Kept me on the edge of my seat! Always something new to consider! But at the end? Who could’ve known?!!!!
206 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2025
When first you practice to deceive

Lies, lies, and more lies. This one was a truly tangled web. I hope the trouble with Santos, both her own and with Ava, get resolved soon.
Profile Image for Roblin Muso.
27 reviews1 follower
Read
September 20, 2024
I have high hopes and trust for the good doctors. It's just that someday I'll die too, and before that I might even try to deliver Moses to safety. It's not real world. Why fight over small things?
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews