Last Call

by Frank F. Weber

Audrey Evans, 19, disappears in the dead of an arctic winter night after leaving a convenience store in Brainerd, Minnesota. Investigator Jon Frederick is called in and is not about to let Audrey end up one of the 40,000 missing women in the U.S. In Jon's personal life, a deceptive past lover jars his intense relationship with Serena and sets in motion a pending tragedy. The explosive situation is amped up further after Jon's name is used to solicit a woman, and one last call detonates it all. Referencing actual Minnesota crime cases, this spine-tingling thriller tests an investigator's tender compassion and the gritty resilience of a soft-spoken young woman. Last Call examines what we will do to protect the ones we love. This is the third book in the Jon Frederick series.

Last Call is the 2020 MIPA Book Award winner for Best Romance.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

340 pages, Paperback

Published January 8, 2021

About the author

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.

Reviews

[Toby Brennen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit hesitant to start reading. 'Last Call' was given to me as a gift a year ago on my birthday by my daughter with two personal notes from the author, one a personal dedication to my cousin who was murdered during a Minnesota winter. Once I started though, I could barely put the book down.
Frank Weber weaves a suspenseful story, woven with realistic characters and raw emotions of every type - the good, the bad, and the ugly - hate and hope sensually and intricately intertwined.
"Last Call" was outside the style of book I would normally pick up. I love each chapter being from a different persons perspective. I would provide a synopsis but I'm scared I will give to much away inadvertently. [4/5]

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book in this series.
Audrey Evans is kidnapped while driving home. Her car stalled and a guy pulled up saying he would help her. Instead he punched her out and took her with him to a secluded area. We follow the investigators trying to find her and her ordeal at the hands of this bully.
Half way through the book Jon Fredrick is at a meeting with a gang member and ends up dying in an explosion. I went, "What? You can't kill the main character in the middle of the book!"
To find out if they catch the bad guy you really need to read this book. It keeps you anticipating the next move of each character.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A weak 3 star rating. I like to try to give constructive feedback but struggling with this one. While I didn’t hate this book, my problem is the places references. Not sure if it’s because I live in Brainerd and recognize the places and cities talked about but it was really overkill. Almost like saying I took the hwy 27 exit to just put words on the page. And did I miss something where he was “dead” and hiding out but went everywhere. And driving all the way that he did on a snowmobile. I just questioned a lot and I may have missed things cause the book really didn’t hold my attention. If I hadn’t received Burning Bridges for Christmas I don’t think I’d be reading the next two books.

[Mommysmoose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had the great honor of meeting this amazing man who can write amazingly realistic books that are so good you can't put them down. He writes like James Patterson used to. From start to finish he holds your interest with characters and scenes that you can't believe could possibly be real. His knowledge is an asset to his writing and his style is fast paced and packed with action and suspense. From start to finish I don't put the book down until the very last page where i'm left extremely satisfied and wanting the next book to hurry up and be finished. Because I can never seem to get enough of his books. I highly recommend reading his books. You won't be disappointed.

[Janell Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Weber’s books keep getting better and better! Great storyline, a great writing style and many edge of your seat moments make this a book you will want to read and talk about with your friends! 5 stars, without question!-Green Gables Book Reviews

“Last Call” by Frank F. Weber

Weber has done it again! In “Last Call” Jon’s life is good. Serena is having his baby, they are living a happy life with their daughter Nora, anticipating the baby’s birth. Then, an unexpected phone call from past lover Jada throws a surprise his way and unknowingly sets Jon up for a threat against his life.

Investigator Jon gets called in on a case in the cold tundra of a Minnesota winter. Below zero temps, a stalled car and a 19-year-old girl abducted after her shift at the local gas station is making Jon worry. He is working every lead to find Audrey Evans. Who would have imagined they would find another woman frozen in a ditch while on the case? Is there a connection? Time is moving too quickly and Jon is consumed with finding Audrey and getting justice for Mercedes.

Jon’s friend Clay has done some questionable things in his past. But, when he knowingly poses as Jon in an unsavory setting, he not only puts Jon’s reputation at risk but also Jon’s life. Will Clay every recover from the emotional strain of what he has done? And, will Serena ever be able to forgive him?

While “Last Call” references events from previous books, it is a stand-alone book. It is so well written, with a great style. The headings let you easily know the location and who the character is in each part of the book.

Paperback: 306 pages

Publisher: North Star Press of St. Cloud (October 1, 2019)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1682011038

ISBN-13: 978-1682011034

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frank Weber delivers a well-written, intense novel with a complex web of criminal activity from his experiences in law enforcement. The author writes with intensity and suspense drawn from his forensic psychologist expertise specializing in homicide, sexual assault and domestic abuse. Honorable specialties, certainly. This story is a tough one. There is much abuse of women and the good guys (and their families) take hits trying to whittle down the suspects and solve multiple cases that are intertwined. The good guys have troubled relationships which is all likely normal for the profession. The criminals live disgusting lives. We should all be thankful there are brave, competent law enforcement officers that dedicate their lives to ridding the world of scumbags like these. Not for the feint of heart. R-rated if it was a movie.

Side comment: The book cover and title greatly influence me when I am selecting a book to read. One of my pet peeves is book covers that include photographs. I am a book snob and totally biased in that those are cheap, supermarket novels that I am not interested in. I picked up this novel because a law enforcement friend told me about him and that he was going to do an appearance at a local restaurant. I believe his novels are beyond my prejudiced view and would be well-served to have nice artwork that represent the story, on the cover.

[Mark Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Last Call centers around the complex and multifaceted character of Jon Frederick, a forensic psychologist who is drawn into the dark and twisted world of a series of murders. The novel opens with the discovery of a young woman’s body, a harrowing event that sets the stage for a tale filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected twists. As Frederick delves deeper into the investigation, he uncovers connections and motives that challenge his understanding of the human psyche and push him to question the very nature of justice.

I felt that the entire True Crime Story seemed somewhat misleading. While I believe the crime itself did occur, the elements in between appeared largely crafted by the author, blending fact with fiction in a way that sometimes blurred the lines. There were numerous characters to keep track of, which occasionally made the narrative feel complex and convoluted.

However, I appreciated the setting being centered around Minnesota, which added a personal touch to the reading experience. It is a delight to visualize the story unfolding in places you have been, lending a sense of familiarity and connection to the plot. Supporting local artists is always commendable, and Frank F. Weber's focus on Minnesota brought a unique regional flavor to the tale that was both engaging and refreshing.

3.25 stars!

[Kat ☕️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to give this book a solid 4.50 rating. The storytelling was amazing, and I enjoyed seeing the plot unfold from multiple POVs. The way the ending wrapped up all the loose ends made me satisfied. After each part, I was like, "WHAT?!" and was eager to keep going. My favorite part is that it's based in my hometown, so I thought it was very cool to follow the characters and be able to visualize exactly what the surroundings looked like. Based on a true story, a nightmare unfolds, and justice is served.

[Christina Spriggle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I met Frank Weber, a local Minnesota author, this weekend in Two Harbors. He is a forensic psychologist who works throughout the state of Minnesota investigating crimes and interviewing criminals. He's written seven books about true crimes in our state. I bought three of his books and this is the first one I've read and it was pretty good. I like that it's based on real events but it's hard to know what is real and what's not real as it is a work of fiction.

[Joy Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had trouble getting into this book and following who was who, and how they were connected this time. A lot of the storyline is dark, so maybe I need to take a break and read some more uplifting literature for awhile. I think there are a couple more books in this series, so I may return to it down the road.

[Gina Staska · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart broke for her and her family!
I love how Frank did an amazing job at describing so many of our family dynamics and disfunction in our area.
Again love being able to picture exactly where Frank is writing about!

[Susy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Full of suspense and Central Minnesota landmarks.

[JENNIFER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, Frank Weber tells a great story!

[Eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters and hope that there is another book in the works.

[Krista Rolfzen Soukup · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner! Another exceptional book in the Jon Frederick series by Award winning author Frank Weber! Better than CIS!

[Marcie Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book has been really good but I think this one is my favorite

[Dwight C]

I didn't read all of it.

[Vicki Pfeffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

He has yet to disappoint Loved this book also.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I liked this one even more than the 2nd in the series. There were a few story lines that got a little confusing but it was a very good fast read.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.
Strong story And engaging cover but a little long. Also difficult to keep up w all the names in the story.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the book although it was pretty slow moving and disjointed in the first half, but really good in the last half. I recommend it!

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time I have read this author. There were so many characters invoked and it was hard To follow how they all played into the story line. Too much brutality for my taste. But I did finish it!

[Angie Schmit · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you like thrillers...I would recommend.