The call for Last Call. Lisa Bloom is blooming fraud.

When I read through Abraham Lincoln’s memoirs, I had to smile at his brief concern about the kids being upset because the pet dog escaped the White House.  After searching, he finally found it in the garden.  This “petscape” occurred while Abe was making decisions about the Civil War.  It’s a reminder how everything we do, occurs in the context of our relationships. 
 
If you enjoy true crime, you will appreciate the insight you will gain from both the investigator’s perspective and the victim’s perspective in Last Call.  Having counseled women who have had this experience allows me to share a unique understanding of the turmoil and thought processes.  Having assessed perpetrators allows me to share the rationalizations used to justify the abduction.  As Jon Frederick states early on, “Even killers are heroes in their own stories.”
 
Last Call starts out with BCA Investigator Jon Frederick, caught in a relationship dilemma.  If you’ve read Murder Book and The I-94 Murders, you may be startled, but will then recall how it all transpired.  If you haven’t read them, Last Call still stands alone as its’ own thriller and can be enjoyed without the prequels.  While the relationship issue slowly heats up in the background, Jon is sent to investigate the disappearance of Audrey Evans from a convenience store in Brainerd. 
 
Audrey, age 19, is a soft-spoken freshman at Central Lakes College who berates herself for always trying to keep people happy, rather than standing up for herself.  As the investigation heats up, it becomes clear her kidnapper had to be connected to someone Audrey interacted with in the store earlier. 
 
I had the book reviewed by Joanne Turner, League City/Houston Adult Services Librarian, for two reasons.  The first is she is an amazing person who loves a great mystery.  Second, there are racial issues addressed and I wanted someone who understood this from a perspective I do not have.  Joanne told me the shocker toward the end of the book stunned her, but she stayed with it and was very pleased she did.  After finishing Last Call​, she wrote:  "Frank Weber writes a riveting tale.  He just might be the next great suspense novelist."  A press release on the book summarized Last Call with:
 
“Once again Frank Weber uses hometown characters, every rural Minnesotan can identify with, to add a touch of humor and authenticity.  The reader is side by side with the investigator tracking a killer who is haunts through the communities of Moorhead, Detroit Lakes, Brainerd, Little Falls, St. Cloud and Pierz.  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.”

For people who love the characters of rural Minnesota, I introduce a mechanic, Ray Ray, who is based on a workaholic mechanic I knew well, who was both humorous and entertaining.  For people who have read Murder Book and The I-94 Murders you will be pleased to know Vic, Clay, Tony Shileto, Serena, Jada and Sean have all returned in Last Call.  For people who remember Vicki Ament and her daughter, Hannah, from Murder Book, Serena moves them out of the Little Falls trailer park to a new home. 
 
Actual Minnesota places and businesses are referenced throughout the book, which makes it fun when you go through those communities.  I’ve had college students, book clubs and couples who have told me for the fun of it, they’ve made roadtrips to the places referenced in Murder Book and The I-94 Murders.  Last Call will take you through communities along Highway 10, although that wasn’t the intention of the book.
 
Bloom sells out. Lisa Bloom, seen here at Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial in April 2018, abandoned decades of advocacy for women with her proposal to help tarnish Harvey Weinstein’s victims. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) Harvey Weinstein is a terrible person.  Lisa Bloom, who portrayed herself as a civil rights attorney, offered, for money, to help Harvey tear apart his victims. Bloom offered to help create a counterops online campaign to push back and call victim Rose McGowan a “pathological liar.”   Bloom told Weinstein, “I feel equipped to help you against the Roses of the world, because I have represented so many of them.”

Monica Hesse, of the Washington Post, wrote of Lisa Bloom: The most horrible thing was the life experience she brought to writing it. She knew, intimately, how women were treated in the court system and the public eye. She knew how accusers can be portrayed as crazy — “increasingly unglued,” was the phrase she used when detailing how they would frame Rose McGowan for the general public. Lisa Bloom knew everything that would happen to Weinstein’s victims if they executed her plan, and she wrote that memo anyway…. It’s funny how some women talk about “women’s rights,” when what they really mean is, “me.”
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Lisa Bloom has since called her work for Harvey Weinstein a “colossal mistake.”  Sometimes sorry isn’t enough…  but it is a start.  While Weinstein is the big pig in his assaults, Lisa Bloom confirms what I say about every group.  You can’t defend 5% of any group.  I don’t care if they’re priests, teachers, laborers, Republicans, Democrats, Independents, or even advocates for civil rights.  5% will always sell out.  More than anything, we need professionals with ethics, and I address this in every class I teach. When is Last Call going to be available?  September 30.
 
I had anticipated having the book on September 17, but a combination of factors delayed its’ arrival.  The first is on me.  At the end, I insisted on a couple of changes as I wanted this to be exactly right.  North Star Press has been great to work with, especially considering my obsessiveness with detail.  The second is that the books are printed in New York and there were some delays on their end.   When the books arrive, I will hit the ground running with a variety of great events (and I haven’t started booking library presentations yet).
 October 1, 2019. I will perform a reading from Last Call at the Sisters in Crime meeting held at St. Peders in Minneapolis at 6:30 p.m. located at 4600 E 42nd St, Minneapolis, Minnesota.October 5, 2109.  Last Call book opening at the Shoppes of Little Falls.  The 3rd book in the Jon Frederick series will be released.  I will be signing books from 11:00 to 2:00, and will speak on his work and his newest book from 12:00 noon to 1:00.  The event will feature chicken wings and homemade pretzels with dips from award winning chef Scotty Stocco.  Starry Eyed Brewery beverages will be served along with lemonade, soda and water.  Book cover model, Elise Yates, will be dressed as she is on the cover and will be available for pictures with attendees.October 8, 2019, KDWA radio interview with Maureen McNeary at 3:30 p.m.  KDWA is a tri-county source for news out of Hastings, Minnesota.October 12, 2019 Signing books at the Twin Cities Book Festival at the Minnesota Fairgrounds from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.Thursday, October 17, 2019 Speaking on my latest thriller,  Last Call at the Bierstube in Hastings at 6:30 p.m.  The Bierstube is located at 109 11th Street West, Hastings, Minnesota.The Roundhouse Brewery is hosting my big Brainerd opening of Last Call on Saturday, October 19, 2019.   I’ll speak from 2:00 to 3:00 about writing True Crime mysteries and you can get questions answered about forensic psychology.  The Roundhouse Brewery is located at  1551 Northern Pacific Rd, Brainerd, Minnesota.  It is located at the old trainyard in downtown Brainerd.  This will be a great time and with a title like Last Call, it only seems fitting.  Stop in and have a cold beverage.  Book cover model, Elise Yates, will be dressed as she is on the cover and will be available for pictures with attendees.The Beaver Island Brewing Company is hosting my big St. Cloud opening of Last Call on Monday, October 21, 2019.   I’ll speak from 6:00 to 7:00 about writing True Crime mysteries and you can get questions answered about forensic psychology.  Beaver Island Brewing Company is located at 216, 6th Avenue South, St. Cloud.  It is right off of division close to the exits to St. Cloud State.  This is going to be a blast and there is no cost.  Stop in and have a cold beverage.  With a cover of Last Call by bar, and the back of the book featuring a young woman by the river, Beaver Island is the perfect location!  (The Beaver Islands are the islands in the Mississippi river through St. Cloud.) Book cover model, Elise Yates, will be dressed as she is on the cover and will be available for pictures with attendees.Saturday, October 26, 2019.  Signing books at Barnes and Noble in St. Cloud, from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.  Barnes and Noble is located at 3940 Division Street, St Cloud, Minnesota, 56301November 1, 2019, speaking on the writing of true crime novels and the latest thriller, Last Call at the King Library and San Jose State University Library from 12:00 to 1:30 at 150 East San Fernando Street, San Jose’, California.November 9, 2019, I will be signing books at the Fall Into Books Event, at the Museum of Visual Arts, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Museum is located at 500 North Main Avenue, in Sioux Falls.
​Thanks for listening.  I’ll be back to forensics next blog.
 
Frank