Doctor Dealer: A doctor high on greed, a biker gang high on opioids, and the woman who paid the ultimate price

by George Anastasia, Ralph Cipriano

Dr. James Kauffman and his wife, April, were the perfect a respected endocrinologist and a beautiful radio host. But under the surface lurked a world of drugs, sex, and biker gangs. A world Dr. Kauffman would kill to keep secret.

In May 2012, April Kauffman, a well-known local radio personality and staunch advocate of military veterans rights, was found shot to death in the bedroom of the home she shared with her husband, Dr. James Kauffman.

Six years later, in the fall of 2018, Freddy Augello, a leader of the notorious motorcycle gang the Pagans, went on trial for drug dealing and murder. He was charged with arranging the death of April Kauffman in exchange for $50,000 from her husband, who, in addition to practicing medicine, was one of the area’s most prolific drug traffickers. 

Told by two accomplished reporters and authors with exclusive insights and details provided by two principal players, this is the story about one man's descent into evil and the people he took with him. It's a story about a doctor who helped flood the streets with opioids, about a husband who hid dark secrets from his wives, and about a man so consumed with greed and arrogance that he thought he could get away with murder.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Crime, Audiobook, Medical, Mystery, Book Club

304 pages, Hardcover

First published September 8, 2020

Reviews

[Valerity (Val) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story seemed vaguely familiar as I read it, it felt as if I’ve read it before by another author or perhaps seen it on a true crime show. It’s quite a shocking story to read, for sure. I read it straight through, which I have not been able to do much of lately, so that says a lot. It really held my interest, I stayed up all night reading it. I guess I just had to see how it came out. If you like true crime, with bikers and a drug dealing doctor who wants to knock off his wife when she becomes a problem for him, check this one out. I’ve read several of Anastasia’s books now, and like them more aIl the time. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors George Anastasia & Ralph Cipriano, and the publisher. 

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5

MAY HAVE GENERAL SPOILERS!!!!

This read more like an exposè in a local crime mag, than a hardcore true crime novel.

I'll allow half a star for the few black and white pictures of some of the main players.

It also fell short of full truths, urgency, and statistics, in an unsuccessful attempt to tie in the headlines of the main crimes highlighted herein, with the "opioid epidemic" of a particular population of America. IMHO, this was more a crime of opportunity, greed, pride and ego.

[Paperclippe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gotta be honest with you, this was not exactly what you'd call a "wild ride."

A doctor involved with a motorcycle gang and a drug ring murders his wife. Seems like there could be twists and turns and intrigue, but no; the prose is very dry and voiceless, and there's no real mystery or even suspense; everything is given away at the fore and the rest just feels like filler. Fully ten percent of the first half of the book is just backstory about the Hell's Angels and the Pagans which might have been interesting if it weren't told like the encyclopedia recap of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Tests. In fact, this entire book read more like a Wikipedia entry than like any kind of narrative. And I realize it's non-fiction, but I hope I'm not alone in thinking that a big part of the draw of true crime is the voice and the suspense. And this just had none of that.

[Kaylee M · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very boring and repetitive. It was told in a manner that made it hard to keep track of all the players (too many bike gangsters) and was textbook level dry.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know a book is good when you already know how it ends but the story is still told in a compelling enough way to keep you engaged. I'm a true crime buff but I had never before heard of this story of an lying, narcissistic Atlantic City osteopath who decided to spice up his life and bank account by dealing painkillers illegally and then hiring someone to kill his wife. Enter a motorcycle gang, an ex-girlfriend, a couple of suspicious stepchildren and a lazy judicial system and it makes for an interesting story. And you still don't know the whole story, yet.

The author did a good job researching the who, what when where and why of the tale. In some places it seemed to get a bit too bogged down in the details and maybe a bit repetitive. But I never lost track of who was who and what was going on in this large cast of colourful characters, so I guess the detail was a good thing. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in true crime, crooked doctors, motorcycle gangs or shows like 20/20.

Thank you to the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some true crime to start the new year. We entrust doctors with so much responsibility and autonomy that a sociopathic doctor can really become a one-man crime wave.

On a lighter note, this book contains plenty of bikers and wannabe-bikers and their colorful nicknames, including Slasher, Miserable, Hollywood, and my personal fave, Tomato Pie.

[The Romance Book Disciple (Samantha) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had heard the story of the local radio host who was murdered and the resulting arrest of her husband on a true crime show. This book goes deeper into the players and how the crime unfolded. Obviously much more in depth than a 1 hour show, the book is well researched and interesting. An outlaw motorcycle gang, drugs, and a respected doctor all in one book? This is why true crime is so popular!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor Dealer is a true story about an illegal "pill mill" and murder for hire run by a physician. The book explores all the people involved in his horrifying activities, including those hurt by his actions. A shocking book exposing a doctor who is sworn to uphold the health and well being of patients, and in turn, destroys lives and those who love him.
Thank you to the publisher.

[Darion Thorne · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s that time of the year again…True Crime Month for my local mystery book club. I’ve never been a fan of non-fiction so historically I dread this month. And for good reason, this year’s pick was not any better than the last.

Doctor Dealer by George Anastasia and Ralph Cipriano is about a doctor, James Kauffman, who started a partnership with a biker group called the Pagans. He started a pill mill ring and insurance scams with opioids, a blood lab, and a topical by writing BS prescriptions and in return the biker’s would sell it for huge profits. His wife April Kauffman figured out his dark side and wanted to divorce him, in return James figured it would be cheaper to kill her rather than paying her out in a divorce. He hires one of the biker’s to kill her and eventually gets arrested. He commits suicide in jail before he is sentenced.

The true crime story has all the interesting parts of love, murder, and drugs. But you can watch the 20/20 episode and be more entertained and get the same story across versus this book. This book was drawn out and poorly outlined. Each chapter didn’t serve a purpose and it was a lot of back and forth that didn’t need to be done. The book also goes way more in depth over the whole Pagan biker gang than really needed to be. There were a lot of extra people brought in to the book that had nothing really to do with the crime. It was like the writers wanted you to think it was a mystery but in the beginning they tell you that it was the doctor who did it so the rest of the suspense falls flat.
The statistics on the opioid sales and the other doctors that were convicted, as well as mentioning the switch in prosecution and political aspect was an interesting bonus in the storyline but overall the book wasn’t worth the read.

★★ Boring. Just watch the 20/20 episode.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this Arc from Berkley Books for an honest review:
This book story reads like one of those made for T.V shows the only thing though is that it is real or was real. All of the events and sadly the deaths. You are taken from the very beginning of the book on what will happen and who the players are. The players are real people and sadly real people are murdered all in the name of money greed. Some will say pills opioids but it still comes back to money.
You are taken through the day of the murder of April Kauffman in 2012, you get to hear different versions of events given to police by the husband which led them to believe he has a hand in her death. A call by police to her daughter in Arizona who said she was expecting this phone call and wanting her mother to leave the home. Yet it is not until 2018 until people are brought into court and are facing charges of murder and a slew of other charges. What took so long. The author takes you through the process and all of the mess that everyone had to go through. He was also able to speak with a former Pagan motorcycle member which also gives insight into all that lead up to that morning.
What is sad of course is the loss of April for she was a true advocate for Veterans and other causes as a radio host. This story will keep you gripped to the pages from beginning to end at least for me it did. A sad yet true story and one that takes years before going to court. Very much worth the read.
I received this book from Netgalley.com I gave it 5 stars. Follow us at www.1rad-readerreviews.com

[Ernest Spoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the more straightforward true crimes books I´ve read.

The murder of the beautiful wife or a successful doctor serves as a backdrop into the seamy side of those society deems respectable and well-to-do. Yet even among professions which are supposedly the most ethically scrutinized, the allure of the quick buck made under-the-table is strong.

I think the lesson is, even the most respectable among us can be corrupt. I´m beginning to entertain the idea that corruption within those I term the Working Rich is at the base of many of some of our current political confrontations.

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book is about the murder of April, who was married to a doctor. She was murdered in their home and that is only the beginning of events. Dr. Kauffman lived a double life and this book details the motorcycle gangs and pill mill that her husband was associated with. He paid to have his wife killed and the events leading up to this are shocking. As a true crime junkie, I loved this book.

[Brooklynne Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fairly interesting read. I will admit, it feels kind of slow to start, but Anastasia’s writing style is engaging enough to keep you turning the pages. This is one of those stories that feels more like some kind of AMC drama than something that actually happened, if I’m being honest. Lol

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sad book for me to know the involvement of the medical community in the opioid epidemic. A true crime story. Endocrinologist in jersey , a biker gang, a drug ring and a murder. 3 stars for a rather rambling account by the authors.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book, it kind of gives me chills. Dr. Kaufman was my grandmother’s doctor (we left him before the murder), I live near places they used as meeting spots I work near his former office. To see places I’ve known my whole life in print, connected to this…..it’s scary

[Wanda Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a doctor who used a hit man from a biker gang to murder his wife. The doctor and the group he hired were not bright people so you could see where this story was going from the beginning. Not a well written book and I found myself skipping over much of the last half just to get through.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kinda confusing. Too many people with not enough said to differentiate who's who. But it held my interest.

[Sherry Bohrmueller · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a novel Just facts. Written in point blank statements. Did not enjoy it.

[Greynomad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much detail and it came to having to skim 50% of the book

[Davi Kladakis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the dullest piece of true crime I have ever read. The beginning was so interesting and then 200 pages of boredom.

[Danielle Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather boring account of quite an involved story. HORRIBLE narration. Rip April Kaufman.

[Amy Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read

[Lisa Litz-Neavear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to read this because the story revolves around a murder which took place locally. The events had meaning to me as the narration described places which I frequent. Although I don't personally know the characters involved in some of the crimes, I have friends who do. I'm not sure how someone who doesn't live in Atlantic County, NJ, would react to this book, but I found it compelling.

[Caitlin Fottrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good read if you know or are interested in the rise and fall of Dr Kaufman. I grew up local to him so it appealed to me.

[Anastasia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doctor Dealer by George Anastasia and Ralph Cipciano is a journalistic account of the investigation of the murder of radio personality April Kauffman allegedly commissioned by her husband endocrinologist Dr. James Kauffman with ties to the Pagans motocycle gang. An interesting account but lacking in real evidence and rather repetitive. Seems as if most of the evidence was through deals with drug traffickers, who were given incentives to provide whatever the investigators wanted. Hard to know what is believable.