Ever Ready: Book Review The I-94 Murders

Sunday, October 21, 2018

Book Review The I-94 Murders

The I-94 Murders is an action packed thriller novel filled with intrigue, suspense and a cat and mouse guessing game. Author Frank Weber's newest novel challenges the reader to examine clues and motives, make assumptions and deductions to solve the identity of a serial killer along with investigator, Jon Fredrick. Fredrick is searching to uncover the identity of a killer who moves along the communities of the I-94 corridor targeting couples who store their fetish photos online. It's a unique mystery as it proposes new ways that hadn't been formerly implemented, to solve the murders.

Frank Weber has been a forensic psychologist for over 20 years. He is the Clinic Director of CORE professional Services. He has testified as an expert witness in numerous sexual assault and homicide cases. In addition Weber has visited every prison in the state of Minnesota performing psychological assessments. Weber's qualifications give him a unique understanding of forensic profiles of predators' thought processes, and the trauma of victims. Weber's background lends credibility to his writing as well as giving his characters authentic voices.

The I-94 Murders is loosely built on the true life serial killer known as the 'Golden State Killer' (initially known as ‘the I-680 killer’) who had not been caught at the time this book was written.. Weber compiled his own personal profile of 'The Golden State Killer' based on his background knowledge of serial killers and sexual predators. Weber deduced the killer to be someone with knowledge of investigations. His theory was reaffirmed when former police officer Joseph DeAngelo was captured in April 2018. However, in The I-94 Murders (North Star Press) the killer is present throughout the story, but his vocation isn’t that obvious. Like his previous mystery, Weber enjoys creating suspense through anticipation, rather than focusing on the assault.

Murder Book, Weber's debut novel, was inspired by a real life homicide case. The book introduces the character, investigator Jon Fredrick. He reopens a case near his home in Pierz, Minnesota of a young woman in 1985 he befriended in his teenage years, who one day disappears. Weber applies his insider knowledge of how predators think, victim trauma, assessment of murder cases and actual court cases, often leading him to cross paths with the killer.

In The I-94 Murders Jon Fredrick reprises his role of the neurotic obsessive protagonist. Weber skillfully crafts two narrative stories. One is of a search to track down a serial killer, and the other Fredrick's personal life which we find is filled with a lost love, numerous disappointments, fatherhood and romance.

Interest is sustained throughout the story as it is told from multiple perspectives switching voice with every new chapter. The reader gets to know each character's thoughts as events unfold simultaneously. Unique to this story is a killer who mocks the readers and law enforcement as each crime is committed, leaving a trail of clues for all to figure out. Investigator Fredrick applies his knowledge of police work, cutting edge forensics and an algorithm which creates a data bank with DNA samples to track down the serial killer known only as Culhwch, who preys on the fetish community. Readers try to figure out the killer's identity with the main clues cipher-filled messages and an unusual smell.

The involvement of technology to solve crimes is an intriguing piece because it can be a great resource in investigations. Weber hopes his story will raise awareness of how dangerous the internet can be as computer technology becomes more sophisticated. Unless someone is blocking their location, such as on snapchat, as indicated in the book, any one online can determine exactly where someone is. There are hackers who video people in their bedrooms from the camera off their computer, and people who go through people’s online personal information and photos as the killer did in this book. Weber wants people to realize that what you put online is public information, One of the safest ways to protect oneself is to shut the computer off at the end of the day. Weber has dealt with too many sex crimes against people who didn’t realize they unknowingly open their homes to predators. The FBI estimates there are 15,000 sex offenders on line at any given time, a chilling statistic.

Weber is working on book three, with the working title of Last Call. It is about a young woman who is abducted after leaving a convenience store in Brainerd. Investigator Fredrick in this story is borrowed from the St. Cloud office where he is newly assigned to work on the Brainerd case.

Weber, who is all about family and community, ties settings in all three of his books to actual places near his home town Pierz, Minnesota. In the story Fredrick speaks of the importance of family by saying, “I’ve come to understand love differently. Regardless of what you’ve been through, love is the only way out. Love is the action that reveals the beauty in others. It’s by loving Serena, I experience her absolute affection.”

The I-94 Murders is a fascinating and chilling look into the hearts, the souls and motives of predators whose disorders cause them to take advantage of innocent victims.

More information on the author, his books and upcoming events can be found on his website http://www.frankweberauthor.com/index.html