Murder doesn’t usually happen in Urbana. At least, not how it does in author James Courter’s novel “Murder Happens,” a literary mystery set in the same places University students walk past every day.
For Courter, who grew up in a small town in neighboring Vermilion County, Urbana has always been a place of fascination.
“For me, Champaign-Urbana and the U of I were almost like a beacon on the horizon, and I spent a lot of time there, and I became very fond of the place,” Courter said.
His interest led to the setting of “Murder Happens,” a novel more than 30 years in the making.
Courter wrote the novel in the 1990s and later secured its publisher, Histria Books, before the pandemic. After COVID-19-related delays, it was finally released in November 2024.
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The story is primarily set in the fictional Lincoln Court, a shopping center and attached hotel that is a clear nod to the real Lincoln Square Mall.
According to Courter, the novel is both a classic whodunit and a literary exploration of class, identity and ambition.
“‘Murder Happens,’ at least in my opinion, qualifies as literature and sort of rises above the mystery genre,” Courter said.
The book follows security guard Devin Cleary, who uncovers a web of corruption tied to a redevelopment scheme when a murder strikes the mall where he works. With everything on the line, he must solve the case before he becomes the next victim.
“In the eyes of a lot of people, Cleary is one of life’s losers,” Courter said. “But I think of him as having a clearer head on his shoulders than many of life’s so-called winners.”
Cleary’s perspective — a mix of cynicism, dry humor and self-doubt — guides the reader through this Urbana mystery.
Courter notes that while the city’s landscape has changed significantly since the book’s setting, many locations will still be recognizable to current students.
“Certainly (readers) will recognize Green Street, where the protagonist Devin Cleary lives in an apartment,” Courter said. “Although, it’s the Green Street of the 1980s before it was developed with high-rise buildings.”
But “Murder Happens” is more than just a local curiosity. It also challenges readers who might have opinions on the stereotypical mystery novel.
“The best mysteries in my opinion, are ultimately about matters of the human heart, and I like to think that ‘Murder Happens’ falls into that category,” Courter said.
He describes his novel as a blend of entertainment and depth, balancing an engaging murder plot with questions of societal worth and personal meaning.
When asked how he’d pitch his book to a University student looking for a read between classes, Courter said, “Imagine sitting in a coffee shop in Campustown or in Urbana and reading a murder mystery that takes place all around you.”
As a retired professor from Western Illinois University, Courter has words of advice for students who might want to get into writing.
“Read and read widely, read fiction and nonfiction, long and short, read the news, read advice to writers from other writers, but take it lightly,” Courter said. “Find what works for you as a writer in terms of habits and methods. Most importantly, find your own voice and be true to it.”
“Murder Happens” is available online through major retailers, including Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
While it may not be stocked in local stores yet, it’s only a few clicks away for any mystery enthusiast — or any Illini looking for a thrilling story set in their backyard.
