MONMOUTH, Ill. — The faculty and administration at Monmouth College can only hope that the subject of professor William Urban’s latest book remains fictional.

Urban, the college’s Lee L. Morgan Professor of History & International Studies, is known for his non-fiction books, many of which deal with Baltic history. But, lately, Urban has turned into a murder mystery author, with his ill-fated subjects employed at a small liberal arts college.

In his 2007 debut novel, "The Dean Is Dead," the victim was the dean of Briarpatch College. Now, in "The Dean Is Still Dead," which was released earlier this month, "There’s another murder," said Urban. "Also, we learn more about the characters – who turn out to be ever more interesting."

One reviewer of the series’ first book certainly enjoyed those characters:

"The tangled webs of relationships on this campus figure into the laughs as well as the murder plot. If you’ve ever been to a small college, you will recognize the cast of characters whose eccentricities provide some of the more humorous bits of description in the novel … For those who like satire, this is a great read."

Urban, whose previous historical works have included "Bayonets for Hire: Mercenaries at War, 1550-1789" and "The Livonian Crusade," said, "Writing a novel was a departure from the usual for me. I’m known as a non-fiction writer, and each genre has its own rules. Fiction can be harder, because fiction has to be plausible, while straight history only has to follow the rules of accuracy and honesty. Of course, fiction can be accurate in its own way, catching the spirit of thoughts and actions. It can be honest, too, but it allows, sometimes even expects, exaggeration, irony and satire … I enjoy writing for readers who enjoy a good story."

Urban explained that the concept for the murder series was first written down in 1972, and that the series’ second book started as a play in 2000. The process of turning it into a murder mystery began in 2003.

So what are readers in store for this time around? According to the book’s back cover, "In the fall semester of 1995, Professor Donahue and Chief Biggs investigated the watery demise of Dean Wooda, murdered as part of an insurance scam intended to resolve Briarpatch College’s financial problems. Now, only a few months later, they have it all to do over again. Another murder, it appeared. But who did it? And how?"

To find out the answers to those questions, visit the Monmouth College Bookstore, where "The Dean Is Still Dead" is available in paperback for $18.95. The book can also be ordered from Amazon.com.

And for those hungry for even more, Urban said that the chances for the series to turn into a trilogy are "a dead certainty."