In a presentation filled with intrigue, facts and humor, Minnesota author and forensic psychologist Frank Weber regaled an audience of mystery fans during his visit to the Becker Public Library Monday night.

 

Weber spoke about his two published novels, The Murder Book and The I-94 Murders, as well as his latest work, Last Call, which will be released this fall. All of his books are set in Minnesota and are based off of actual crimes he’s worked on.

 

The author, who grew up in Pierz, MN, began his presentation describing his background, including his over two decades working as a forensic psychologist. He explained his writing career began when he would come home from work, and not being able to discuss his day with his family, he would instead write the crime cases he was working on as a way of release.

 

One day his wife suggested he take some of his writings and turn them into a novel. Murder Book, his first published work, was the result. As a side note, he explained in forensics they use the term ‘murder book’ instead of ‘cold case’ now, which is where the title of the book came from.

 

“I decided I’d write the book and that I’d start with my own weird experience,” said Weber.

 

He went on to describe an on and off again relationship he had with a young woman when he was a teenager. One day she disappeared, and he later found out her whole family had moved away abruptly. He worried about her for the next five months, until one night he was at a dance in Little Falls and she showed up and asked him to dance. At the end of the night she told him, ‘I hate you,’ and left.

 

“It got me thinking,” said Weber. “People would ask where she was but no one knew. So, I started out the first book that way, but my character stays disappeared after the breakup.” 

 

Murder Book is based off an actual case he worked on out of Wadena Co., and is a Midwest Independent Publishing Association Midwest Book Award finalist. Weber noted he’s interviewed inmates in nearly every prison and jail in Minnesota, including numerous ones at the St. Cloud Reformatory. 

 

“I like something that involves the reader with the investigation, like Hitchcock,” said Weber. “The thrill is in the investigation, not the game. My readers are very adept. They know when you make a mistake.”

 

Weber told the crowd after he wrote his second book, The I-94 Murders, he promised himself he wasn’t going to write anything for the next two months.

 

However, he got an idea for another book almost immediately and started writing. He didn’t stop until it, too, was finished. That book, Last Call, will be released this fall. 

 

The same thing happened with his fourth book, which he is currently working on.

 

Throughout his presentation, Weber continued to tell humorous events from his life that have turned up in his books, explaining that they’re there because ‘no matter what you do in life you’ll never survive without humor.’

 

He talked about the reasons why he sets his novels in Minnesota, especially the rural areas, and said he loves reading about actual communities because he can see where things took place when he goes there himself. Because of this he likes doing the same in his books.

 

“I love rural Minnesota,” said Weber, talking about a number of actual people and places he’s based his characters and settings on. “I like all the characters you run into and the weird things about communities.”

 

The investigator in Murder Book, who Weber has continued to use in his following novels, is based off a man he used to work with on cases.

 

After his presentation Weber held a Q&A with the audience. One attendee asked what he thought of the forensic shows on television.

 

“Well, I can tell you this,” Weber answered. “You don’t get DNA results back in an hour, it takes months. But many of the shows are pretty accurate and they keep getting better.”

 

He asked the audience what they thought helps solve crimes today. They responded with DNA, which he agreed with, but told them cell phones and security cameras have also become important.

 

The evening, which was a Great River Regional Library Legacy Event, ended with a book signing that nearly every attendee participated in. Copies of Weber’s two published books were available for purchase.