Doctor Witch by Frank J. Edwards
What happens when a man devoted to saving lives is suddenly forced to fight for his own and those he loves most?
In Doctor Witch, a medical thriller and the third installment in the Jack Forester Thriller series by award-winning author Frank J. Edwards, Dr. Jack Forester (former emergency physician and now dean of New Canterbury University Hospital) is thrust into a battle for his life and loved ones when a gang of criminals threatens both his workplace and personal world.
A Hospital — and Family — in Crisis
One morning, Doctor Jack Forester’s supervisor informs him about an emergency meeting and that the hospital’s primary disbursement account was overdrawn, putting the hospital on the brink of bankruptcy. With time running out, the hospital must either secure a prominent investor or sell to a shady business mogul. Jack takes it upon himself to find an investor before it’s too late.
Amid the chaos of the hospital’s financial crisis, strange incidents cause Jack to lose the investment opportunity and ultimately lose his job. As he investigates what went wrong, he begins to suspect betrayal within his inner circles, especially when he discovers that his teenage niece, Kaitlyn, is caught in the crossfire by those working against him.
To make matters worse, a former colleague, now a vengeful serial killer Jack once helped imprison, has escaped from a mental institution and is determined to exact revenge on Jack. Jack must now fight to save himself and the people he loves.
Crisp Writing with Emotional Depth
In Doctor Witch, Edwards writes with such vividness and heart. The writing style is engaging, emotionally layered and sharply observant. With a close third-person perspective that shifts between characters, you can enter each character’s emotional and psychological space. His dialogue is both strong and natural and often reveals character relationships and emotional stakes through subtext, interruptions and shifts in tone.
Edwards excels at mixing intimacy with complexity. In scenes with Kaitlyn, Julia and Zoë, for example, the author captures a rhythm of domestic life and intergenerational connection while subtly layering in trauma, guilt, and resilience. In contrast, in scenes involving Jack, Gina or Potemkin, he also incorporates suspense, professional pressure and political intrigue, but still maintains the same grounded authenticity in how characters speak and react.
Whether it’s through a quiet kitchen conversation or a tense institutional tour, the author demonstrates a strong command of pacing, knowing when to slow down for emotional resonance and when to push the momentum. Edwards’s writing captivated my attention from the first page to the last.
Well-Drawn and Relatable Characters
I also loved how the author portrayed the characters with depth and nuance. Jack, in particular, is a deeply relatable character. He is a compassionate man burdened by immense responsibilities — managing the hospital’s financial crisis while still grieving the death of his wife, and haunted by guilt over the accident that caused her death.
Jack is also navigating the challenges of single parenthood and struggling to connect with his late wife’s niece, Kaitlyn. Her resemblance to his late wife only intensified his pain and prompted him to distance himself emotionally. In trying to protect himself from further heartache, Jack unintentionally damaged his relationship with Kaitlyn and failed to see that his emotional withdrawal was causing more harm than good.
Edwards’ portrayal of Kaitlyn was equally authentic and heartfelt. Kaitlyn is a wholesome, loving and brave character who puts others’ well-being above her own. Her struggles, particularly with her stepmother’s substance abuse, are deeply moving.
Having personal experience with similar situations, I deeply related to her pain, frustration and emotional conflict. Kaitlyn wanted to stay with her uncle for her own safety and stability, yet felt guilty for abandoning her stepmother. Her emotional depth and selflessness make her a truly sympathetic character, and her journey is one about strength, compassion and resilience.
Must-Read, Heart-Pounding Thriller
In conclusion, Doctor Witch is a fast-paced, emotionally charged thriller with well-drawn characters. With a protagonist you can root for and writing that pulls you into the psychological and emotional thrill, this novel delivers both heart and adrenaline.
It is a must-read for fans of character-driven, high-stakes thrillers.
About Frank J. Edwards:
Frank J. Edwards is a writer, emergency physician, and medical educator. He has published three novels, two nonfiction medical books, a collection of poems and stories, and a book of poetry. His short stories and poems have appeared in literary journals including The Virginia Quarterly Review. He won Louisiana State University’s Eyster Prize in short fiction. Prior to receiving a BA degree from UNC Chapel Hill, he served as a US Army helicopter pilot in Vietnam. He graduated from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, and earned an MFA in writing from Warren Wilson College. He taught creative writing to medical students for many years and directed an emergency medicine residency program. He lives in Western New York with his wife, an emergency nurse and equestrian.
