Murder, Accusations, Suspicions, Mayhem

“Murder Book” is a well-crafted, intriguing, chilling tale of suspicions and murder with plot twists and turns engaging the reader right down to the last page. Murder book is also the twenty-first century term for a cold case where homicide is suspected.

 

“Murder Book” is Frank Weber’s debut novel. He is a forensic psychologist who has completed assessments for homicide, sexual assault, and domestic abuse cases.  He has testified as an expert witness in numerous sexual assault and homicide cases, and written seven different treatment workbooks. Frank has taught college classes on Social Problems and started his own company CORE Professional Services, PA, which specializes in forensic work located in downtown Brainerd. He is from Pierz and uses that area for the book’s setting.

 "Murder Book" begins in rural Pierz, MN

Frank’s work in the forensic field has given him an abundance of stories. When he began his novel he wanted to write a logical story that represented forensic work accurately. He has used his unique understanding of how predators think, victim trauma, assessment of murder cases and actual court cases to create a thrilling mystery. In “Murder Book” the characters and situations are based on real-life experiences but they are not identifiable.

“Murder Book” is a thriller based on a neurotic obsessive protagonist Jon Fredrick, recently made investigator for the Federal Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. While investigating a case near his hometown of Pierz he quietly reopens the murder book on Mandy Baker, a young woman he befriended in his teenage years. Jon begins to see commonalities between Mandy’s disappearance and his new case. But digging up the past brings up characters that raise questions about friendships and old betrayals. As the case intensifies Jon realizes he has crossed paths with the killer. He obsesses about discovering more and ruminates about all the possibilities thus putting himself in harm’s way.

Each chapter in “Murder Book” is narrated from a different character’s perspective. Frank writes with compassion as he gets into the head of each character with each chapter seamlessly switching to a new perspective. When Frank writes from the perpetrator’s perspective it is a chilling page turner. It is a remarkable feat to engage the reader so fully one can begin to understand the perpetrator’s motives, his reasoning and how he is able to justify hurtful behavior towards others.

Some challenges for Frank have been balancing his home life with family emergencies, a demanding profession and writing constraints. Frank hopes the reader will come away from reading “Murder Book” with the realization our most powerful drive is a desire for affirmation to be heard, understood, comforted and soothed.

Frank Weber is represented by Blue Cottage Agency, Krista Rolfzen Soukup, publicist http://www.bluecottageagency.com/

April 18, 2017 Speaking Presentation: Forensic Psychology, St. Benedicts/St. Johns University. 10:55 to 11:20 am

Book launch is scheduled for May 10, 2017 at St. Cloud State University.
4:30 to 6:30 pm St. Cloud State University Welcome Center 355 Fifth Ave. S St. Cloud, Minnesota

June 10, 2017 Feature Artist. The Crossing Arts Alliance. 1001 Kingwood Street Brainerd (Franklin Arts Center). 10:00 am to 12:15 pm

June 21, 2017 Book signing for Murder Book. Book World. 15528 Edgewood Drive, Baxter, MN 56425. 11:00am to 1:00 pm

September 11, 2017 Examine Murder Book with the Edgewater Gardens Book Club. Fridley, Minnesota. 7:00 pm

Check Frank's website http://frankweberauthor.com for other upcoming local events and to preorder book for May 9th publication http://frankweberauthor.com/books.html

Article submitted by Sue Ready for Lakes Area Living Magazine April, 2017