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Murder Book

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murder book (n): a new term for a cold case where a homicide is suspected.

Jon Frederick spent his adolescence protecting his mentally ill brother and worrying about his parents' farm as it headed toward bankruptcy. So when Mandy Baker, the alluring new girl in town, pursued him, he was easily enamored. But on the day he ended their tryst, Mandy vanished. There is no doubt in the small Minnesota town of Pierz that the flirtatious girl is dead, and there is little doubt that Jon got away with murder.

A decade later, Jon is made an investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. While investigating a case near his hometown, Jon quietly reopens the murder book on Mandy Baker and begins to see commonalities between Mandy's disappearance and his new case. Digging up the past raises intriguing possibilities with an old friend, Serena Bell but also forces them to work through old betrayals. As the investigation intensifies, Jon realizes he has crossed paths with the killer before.

Frank Weber, a forensic psychologist, expertly examines the intricacies of investigations, victim impact, and predatory thought in his debut thriller.

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272 pages, Paperback

Published May 9, 2017

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About the author

Frank F. Weber

10 books143 followers
Frank Weber is a forensic psychologist who has completed assessments for homicide, sexual assault, and domestic abuse cases. His work has ranged from assessing murderers chained to the cement floor in the basement of a prison and assessing psychopaths to providing therapy for wealthy professionals who’ve engaged in multiple affairs. He has testified as an expert witness in numerous sexual assault and homicide cases, written seven different treatment workbooks, and in 2015 published a training series for psychologists which has been accredited by the MN Board of Psychology. He has received the President’s Award from the Minnesota Correctional Association for his forensic work, and recently received an award for excellence in his clinical work. Frank Weber has used his unique understanding of how predator’s think, victim trauma, and actual court cases to create a thrilling mystery.

Raised in Pierz, Minnesota, Frank is one of ten children. Frank has been blessed to share his life with his wife, Brenda. His debut novel, Murder Book (North Star Press), will be available in May, 2017.

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5 stars
139 (28%)
4 stars
170 (34%)
3 stars
135 (27%)
2 stars
36 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
Profile Image for Doughgirl5562.
57 reviews11 followers
October 22, 2019
Tags: Mystery, Thriller, Psychological Mystery, Minnesota, Addition, Abuse, Mental Illness

Pros:
- Good psychological mystery. A real page turner.
- Some great lines. My favorite was, "The best chance that Clay and I have of getting into heaven is through an unlocked window."
- Flawed characters (some really flawed characters)
- Treats mental illness well and honestly. The author is a forensic psychologist with a lot of experience working with criminals. Many of the characters in this book have issues, and one is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic.
- Dark but mostly realistic portrayal of a small rural area in Minnesota. Farmers may be poor, but people still supported each other.

Cons
- Very dark - with plenty of sexual violence or abuse against women (and one child).
- Most of the major female characters were too sexualized. Some of their actions didn't seem realistic.
4 reviews1 follower
August 23, 2023
So good! He seriously made me feel like I was reading a true story
Profile Image for Aimée Bissonette.
Author 11 books35 followers
August 2, 2017
Author Frank Weber certainly has put his decades of work as a forensic psychologist to work in crafting this chilling crime story set in the remote, cold, small towns of central Minnesota - and to good effect! His protagonist, an investigator named Jon Frederick, is smart, obsessive, and troubled. Years ago he was the prime suspect when a teenage girl went missing. Now on the trail of a sexual predator, Frederick finds himself in the position of having to protect his family and prove his own innocence in a case that is eerily similar to the one he was involved in - all while racing to stop the next sexual assault or murder. A real page turner!
68 reviews2 followers
June 17, 2024
Excellent read! I'm a fan and read many of Frank Webers books!! Can't wait to read Scandals.... Missed his last author fest and signing. Hope to catch another if my area.
Profile Image for Brent.
94 reviews2 followers
July 3, 2017
This book is an on the edge of your seat thriller. Based in Minnesota, it is detailed and thorough, captivating from start and finish.
45 reviews3 followers
June 28, 2017
MURDER BOOK
By Frank F. Weber
Published by North Star Press
Of St. Cloud, MN
Copyright 2017
ISBN 978-1-68201-068-6
263 pages


I live in central Minnesota, where the murder rate is quite low. However, according to author Frank Weber, when there is a murder in that locality, it comes from a dark world steeped in horror, suspense and a good dose of nastiness. Fortunately, the author also blends in some great forensic police work and characters who are believable, no matter what side of the law they favor.

Using actual towns and places (Little Falls, Pierz, Genola and the Black and White Café), we are introduced to a decade of interest in a cold case murder, farm families with ties to success and failure, and secrets that are better left as secrets.

We meet John Frederick, a native of the area, who has become an investigator for the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. He finds himself back home at the investigation of a missing ten-year-old child, but as he digs into the case, he finds threads to a different (yet very personal) case from ten years back. John is professional in his thinking, but his heart’s memory nearly compromises that work.

We meet Serena Bell, a lady that John knew back in those older times. She has retained her beauty, as well as her friendly ties with John. As they are reunited, other matters surface that she handles sometimes with innocence, sometimes with insecurity.

We meet the mind of a killer who manages to disguise such tendencies with the taciturn manner we have come to know as “Minnesota Nice” when it is to that killer’s advantage.

We meet a squad of criminologists who work together (mostly), finding themselves amid a crime that seems to lead everywhere and nowhere at the same time – or at least in circles.

We meet a team of townspeople as well, who work into the story in clever ways, thanks to the thoughtful writing of Mr. Weber.

The book reads nicely for someone like me who is not a big crime novel fan. Having lived in the area for forty years now, I know the locations and can imagine the surroundings as the events unfold – but I can also assure a new reader that the author writes in such a way that having been in Minnesota is a requirement before enjoying this novel.

The plot moves along quickly – I felt no slacking in the pace of the story, as is so common in some other crime novels I’ve read. At the right times, the suspense and tension ratchets up at a satisfying rate that will increase the reader’s blood pressure and raise the hairs on the back of one’s neck.

This is no pasteurized Saturday afternoon movie or the plotline of a MATLOCK episode.
When you page through this one, you will be drawn into an adult world of crime, police work, personal failure and success, and even some passion.

I look forward to more crime novels from Frank Weber.
Profile Image for Beth Ann.
503 reviews37 followers
June 13, 2017
What happens when an investigator with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension sees similarities in a new case and in one that happened years before in his Minnesota hometown? In the case of Jon Frederick he stealthily reopens the old case and tries to tie the two together. What results is an engaging and thoroughly entertaining story with enough twists and turns to keep any reader interested.

Frank F. Weber is an author who knows how to use his background as a forensic psychologist to give the right slant to this novel that details homicides both past and present. Add in his amazing ability to flesh out the characters that the reader finds and this book was an amazing example of fiction at its best.

I was given a free copy of Murder Book for review purposes and often when I receive copies like this they are less than great literature. Murder Book definitely does not fit into that category as I found myself wanting to just sit and read the entire book in one sitting. That is the pull of Frank F. Weber and the quality of his writing is superb in my opinion.

Main characters, Jon Frederick, Serena Bell, and Panthera ( the criminal) are presented in real and three dimensional ways. While I found myself getting upset at times at the deceit and betrayals that permeated the story line I also understood what an important part of the story these events were. The ending of the book tied the entire journey together in a nice way and I did not feel like I was left wondering "What if?".

Homicide, deceit, betrayal, relationships, and even a bit of mental illness are all included in this complex novel. It is definitely not a piece of fluff and I was thrilled to have the chance to read such a well thought out and executed story. If you are a lover of good writing, of mysteries and need a good book to add to your to read this I would highly recommend Murder Book.
Profile Image for Lisa Newhouse.
131 reviews4 followers
October 27, 2017
Man, this was a tough book for me to read. The writing was good, although I did find a few typos and grammatical errors. The story line drew me in and kept me reading, but this was not my normal drama. I am generally a fantasy or historical fiction reader. There were two main reasons this book was difficult for me to read. The first reason was the graphic nature of the story line. In the story, a young girl (12 years old) is sexually assaulted and left for dead in the ditch. Throughout the story, this crime is connected to other rapes in the area that took place over the years. There are a few times in the book where we see a sexual assault occur and it is described in graphic detail. There are also disturbing details about how individuals were killed. I also prefer not to read about my characters having sex all the time and there is a lot of sex in this book. The sex isn't necessary laid out in detail but there is enough there to visualize exactly what is happening. This is just not my thing. The second reason I disliked this book is the believability of the story. I am from the county where the story takes place and reading through, the book made it almost sound like it was a high crime area with all the assault, murder, and attempted murder taking place. After talking to my brother who interned with the county sherif's office, I just don't believe this story would ever take place in this location. Although the story was compelling and kept me reading, these two problems make it difficult for me to recommend this book.
Profile Image for Janell Madison.
342 reviews14 followers
August 11, 2019
If you’re looking for a book that makes you think and try to solve the crimes before the Police can, this book is for you. I liked this book and even though I thought I “figured it out,” I didn’t… maybe you will!

Jon Frederick is a person who has not been able to live his life to the fullest. Growing up on the family farm, it was always hard to make ends meet, he felt the need to be the protector of his older mentally ill brother, Victor, and he was thought to be the murderer of his once girlfriend who disappeared. While never convicted, his life changed and he lived with those shadow, always there. Worrying about Victor and his parents has always stayed with him. He’s worked hard to get where he is today.

Jon, now a BCA officer in Minnesota, finally feels he may have a chance to figure out what actually happened to Mandy Baker all of those years ago. When a crime near his hometown is committed, Jon gets called to go help with the investigation. It does not take long to realize there are links tying this case to Mandy’s case so many years ago. Jon’s investigation also brings him back to Serena Bell, his close friend from years ago. Can Jon and the team solve this before there are more crimes? Are people close to Jon in danger because he is involved with this case? Can he keep Victor and Serena safe?

Well written and keeps you guessing!

I’ve also read The I-94 Murders by Frank F. Weber and I’ve heard he has another book coming out this Fall! I’m looking forward to reading and reviewing it!
50 reviews
January 30, 2025
Finally. This took me forever to get through, and it shouldn't have. I blame reading it in book form. No matter what time of day I pick up a physical book, I end up dozing off after just a few pages. That's just me; I'm an audio book fan. I've met Frank Weber twice, once at Phelps Mill Festival in Underwood and once at an author chat at ABC Brewing in Battle Lake. He is an interesting, engaging speaker whose career, training, and instinct have provided him with a wealth of knowledge, experiences, and stories, some of which he has transformed into true-life crimes novels. His writing style in this book switched back and forth between characters, dates, and places. It was important for the reader to pay attention to the "chapter" titles, so you could understand the timeline and who was doing what, when, and where. That's not my favorite way to read a book. This crime happened in rural MN. I live in rural MN, so I could relate to the way things went down and how they were handled. Overall, the book is decent, and I think I owe it to Frank to read at least one more of his titles.
Profile Image for Mary.
455 reviews9 followers
December 24, 2017
I was lucky enough to meet this author at a local event and had to grab up his book. This is definitely my genre and I was thrilled with the entire book! It had me reading way too late into the night. Dealing with a definitely obscene subject, it might be too much for some people to handle, but if you're a thriller love like me, this one will keep you turning pages as fast as you can read. Brand new BCA investigator Jon Frederick returns to rural Minnesota to help solve a missing child case, but it brings up a missing person investigation from his past. Soon, things become much more sinister and Jon is in serious danger while investigating this case. Nothing is as it seems in this small town Minnesota-mice community. If you're a mystery and police procedural reader, this is one you NEED to read. What a fabulous first book for this author!
277 reviews2 followers
November 1, 2023
Forensic Psychologist thriller

My first Frank F. Weber book has me hooked. I loved this book. I find it helpful to know that the author really does work in Minnesota as a forensic psychologist. The character development is wonderful, and I immediately picked up on who is who and relations to each other. Coming from rural Minnesota, I found this to be a story of anywhere in Minnesota. The farming, gravel roads, everyone knows everyone, and a decade ago is just yesterday if it's big news. I want more of Jon and Serena. Coincidentally one of my favorite authors from Minnesota, Brian Freeman, also has a Jon and Serena in his series. It just fit for me and the expectation going into this book was beyond what I thought I could expect. Midwest thrillers are great reads! I'm looking forward to the next Frank F. Weber book!
143 reviews
May 11, 2024
I heard this author speak about his work and his books about a month ago and left feeling I really needed to read one of his books. I had some trouble getting into this book, not sure if it was just his writing style or what. Felt at first like he was writing it for a police report...but that did change for me about a third of the way into the book. The characters are interesting, and the storyline was compelling. Jon Frederick is from a small town in Minnesota and was a person of interest in the case of a missing girl. No body was found and it became a cold case. Years later Jon is an investigator for the BCA and looking to solve that missing girl case as well as a new case that may be related. Not sure if I feel compelled to read another one of his books.
Profile Image for Bronco.
75 reviews
February 2, 2025
Dumb Title - Too much rape

Murder Book was recommended to me while I was at a brewery in Pantown (St. Cloud) last year. After several weeks of waiting, I finally got a copy of it on Libby. I liked the small-town Minnesota mystery, but I didn't like this author's style of writing so much. It was very scattered. Also, what's with the author's fascination with raping little girls and assaulting women? Those scenes were happening too often and were a bit sick. I guess it helped build the predator's plot. The ending had very high-intensity action, and although unique in its own way, it was also very similar to other endings I've read. I probably won't read more from this author TBH, but I appreciated the recommendation. 2.75 out of 5 stars.
1 review
May 20, 2017
Excellent Book! Once I began reading this book I could not put it down, and I ended up reading the entire book in a weekend. It is evident that the author has drawn upon his professional background as a forensic psychologist, and that he has insider knowledge of casework. Very good characters. I enjoyed the random facts and thoughts that the main character, Jon Frederick, either thought or felt the need to say throughout the book. Having grown up in small-town Midwest, this book also does an excellent job of capturing both the good and bad of living in such a small community. I highly recommend this book!
3 reviews
February 14, 2023
I have met this author in St. Cloud. He is so down to earth and very interesting. I love how he bases his books on MN places and crime. His background career and first hand knowledge and experience gives him an edge.

Frank Weber is one of the few authors that I am "into" the book from page one. He makes the story move and doesn't just fill the pages with words. This is an easy book to read and keeps you motivated to find out what is next.

I hope he keeps on writing!

Profile Image for Joy Schmidt.
647 reviews3 followers
May 25, 2023
Due to a recommendation of a friend from Minnesota, I decided to check out this book written by a Minnesotan. The story is based in Minnesota and revolves around an investigator named Jon and a ten- year-old disappearance of Mandy, as well as a recent murder attempt on Brittany. The chapters switched between the two main characters and were told from their point of view. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Laurie.
134 reviews9 followers
July 6, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this novel though the crimes described were harrowing.The story moved at a satisfying pace and I enjoyed getting to know Jon. I really liked Tony’s character and scenes with him, particularly the banter between Jon and Tony, offered respite and a bit of levity while dealing with some very dark themes.

Thank you to Goodreads Giveaways and Frank F. Weber for sending this book!
Profile Image for Emerson.
107 reviews
July 31, 2018
I really enjoyed how clever written it is and it is not a book you can really guess about but that makes it great. I did not like how it had so many rape scenes. I have not found any mystery murder case book that does not have rape and I really hate any mentions about it. It was a good book overall though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ELDEE.
254 reviews
February 8, 2021
Ihad never heard of this author even though he lives in the state I live in. I really enjoyed his style of writing and am waiting for his next novel. It has a definite draw when you can recognize some of the places he writes about. I love the forensic part of the story and his expertise as a forensic specialist adds to the authenticity.
June 4, 2024
I really liked the story. The story about an investigator that gets a chance to review a crime he was originally involved in and gets called into another crime in the same area and eventually both stories come together.

The only negative about the book is that the the editor missed a number of missing words or the wrong words making sentences incomplete or choppy.
Profile Image for Morgan Carlin.
37 reviews1 follower
November 18, 2024
Very interesting reading a book published in my hometown. The pacing of this book was not doing it for me. I felt like most of it was very slow with extra “fluff” that didn’t help the story too much. Parts were fairly predictable, but still had some twists and turns.
This book was also a lot darker than I was expecting, revolving a lot around sexual assaults.
September 13, 2017
Great page-turner.

Once I got started I couldn't stop. I'm from just down the road in St Cloud Minnesota so this was like walking through the old neighborhood. I thoroughly enjoyed it hope there's another book soon
Profile Image for Valerie.
655 reviews16 followers
March 22, 2019
This is a good murder mystery story! Liked the way the author switched the POVs back and forth between the main characters! Liked the setting of rural Minnesota! This is a page turner with a horrible rapist, a cold case linked to the present and an investigator that has ties to both the cold case and the recent crie!
Profile Image for JENNIFER .
120 reviews
January 19, 2020
If this story had more pages... it may have been better. There were grammatical errors and I couldn't get past them. I felt like the storyline was good but the characters just needed more time to be GREAT. Overall, it was a good read.
Profile Image for Marcie Spence.
62 reviews7 followers
April 13, 2021
I definitely could have done without all the praying but I did enjoy the story itself. Plus it’s always fun to read about the area you grew up and recognize the locations. I’ll definitely read another of his books
59 reviews
May 25, 2021
I enjoyed the mystery and the fact that the book took place in a small town in my home state where I am familiar with a few people in law enforcement...along with the culture of the area. It reflected this well.
Profile Image for Brenda V.
152 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2021
The story could have used some female editing. So much of the "love story" is over the top and not realistic from a woman's point of view. The crime/mystery has a lot of good detail and the author has clearly worked in this area for years.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews

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