A Monster in Mount Pleasant: A Story of Murders and Justice

by C.J. Williams

In the quiet town of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the idyllic calm of 1978 was shattered by a series of brutal murders. Karol Beavers, a vivacious high school junior, and her mother, Clementine, became the unsuspecting victims of a heinous act of violence that left the community reeling. For six months, the case went cold, fear gripping a town unaccustomed to locking its doors. Then, another shocking murder occurred, tying the threads of horror together.

A Monster in Mount Pleasant delves into the unraveling of this dark chapter. Drawing from years of meticulous research, the story reveals not just the pursuit of justice, but the profound emotional scars left behind. From the shattered dreams of a bright young girl to the lifelong grief of families torn apart, this book captures the deep humanity behind the headlines.

This compelling narrative is told through the eyes of a classmate of Karol—and the murderer. Now a federal judge, the author unearthed the societal cracks that shaped both the victims and the perpetrator. It’s a haunting journey into a community forever changed by tragedy, where resilience and the quest for truth stand as testaments to those lost too soon.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

322 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 18, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There are multiple authors by this name in the GR database.

Reviews

[Taylor Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving a high rating because I devoured it in 4 hours. I also grew up in the area so being familiar with people and places made it even more intriguing. I enjoyed the author’s perspective added in. Great true crime story.

[Jackie Kelley-Killion · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to read!

I grew up near Mount Pleasant and was Karol's age. I appreciate CJ Williams doing research on these cases and bringing to light facts that people didn't know or forgot about. I am recommending this to my book club.

[Kenneth L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting but Boring at Times

The story itself was interesting but often times the writing style was a bit boring and the author inserted himself in the story several times where it felt unnccesary.

[Jill Rey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now a federal judge, author CJ Williams takes to the page to recount, reanalyze, and reassess the murders in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, that occurred in the late 1970s.

Having grown up not far from Mount Pleasant I can attest to the calm, sleepy nature of the town. Coinciding with all the Iowa stereotypes, this small manufacturing community has little to do, and even less crime. So, hearing that three brutal murders occurred here is unfathomable and shocking. Throughout this read, Williams reiterated the fact that this was a town where people didn’t lock their doors and keys were left in cars. Yet, as recently as 2020 the City of Mount Pleasant boasted a population of less than 10,000 people thus this town likely still doesn’t lock its doors, as most everyone knows one another.

“A Monster in Mount Pleasant” transports readers to a simpler time. A time when commercials couldn’t be skipped, cell phones didn’t exist, and DNA evidence was limited more to blood type than exact matches. Williams places readers at the scene of the crimes, in the minds of the public, and seated right next to law enforcement as we work through the facts of the case, logically, sequentially, and without prejudice.

A unique opportunity, this book is written by someone who knew not only the victims but worked with the murderer as well. Interviewed by law enforcement at the time of the crime, this event in Williams’ own life marked a turning point, giving rise to his future law career. With an author so close to the case, and even closer to the murderer, this read remains such an engaging one. In fact, in the writing of this book the author received the first confirmation of guilt, years later, as the killer confessed to Williams the nature of his crimes. Providing closure, “A Monster in Mount Pleasant” reminds readers of the beautiful lives lost, the inexplicable wait for justice, and the evil lurking in even the quaintest corners of the state.

Williams layers this case together in a logical and easy to follow way. From setting up the key players to describing the locations and working through the timeline. Never blurring the critical elements, Williams remains precise with the facts as the investigation plays out. Piece by piece these murders unravel as the web of lies and deceit come crashing down.

Disturbing, deliberate, and deranged, this case is a fascinating example of true crime. Working through the crime to the court proceedings, “A Monster in Mount Pleasant” holds an unsettling reality nestled at the heart of this small town. Delivering a landmark read, Williams recounts the three lives taken too soon in an oft forgotten Midwest manufacturing community.

[Dalton Krum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being born and raised in Mount Pleasant, this was an intriguing read for me, as it’s not often you get the equivalent of a murder documentary set in your quaint hometown. I was born not too long after the first trial for the Beavers murders, so I do remember whispers of the incident growing up. It was interesting both as a local and regardless of that; to be able to mentally picture the locations was exciting and strangely heartwarming, now that I’m quite removed from the area geographically.

This book does have its flaws. There are quite a few grammatical errors/misspelled words, a heaping dose of redundancy, and some instances of contradiction. One example that continues to nag at me is that on page 34 of the paperback version, the photograph of Clementine Beavers is noted to have been taken “in the late 1970s.” However, just 6 pages later, the same photo is shown, though zoomed out to include Max Beavers and states that it is “circa early 1970s.” I can appreciate that this book was likely quite an undertaking, and I’m unsure of in what capacity it was able to be professionally edited, but these things were still frequent enough to pull my attention away from fully enjoying it.

Regardless, the author takes tremendous care of the legacies of both the victims and their families. I’m biased in my enjoyment of the book because of being from the area, but I’d still recommend it to someone that isn’t.

[Richard Yount · Rating 5 out of 5]

extremely well written in an immersive manner

I read more true crime than I like to admit to. Always considered Ann Rule to be the best ever in that genre. CJ Willams will not compete with her body of work as he didn’t start this book until he retired from a lifetime appointment as a federal judge. To sum up the book, I grabbed me early on and kept me interested (actually almost mesmerized I’d say) until the conclusion. I typically dislike a lot of the legalistic detail and there is a good deal of that in this book but so well written it was appropriate and appreciated.

First book I’ve read in years that I didn’t want to put down. I average at least one book per week.

All around intriguing and gut wrenching. Loved this book.

[Janet A Soock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Autopsy of solving the murders

This book is not a murder mystery. You find out who did it immediately, but it is a terrifying look into the dissection of several murders. You get a look into the thought process of the judicial system and some of the failings of our judical system. You get to see the families of the victims as try to come to closure of all that transpires. The area of justice seems to blur at times but this is a great book for anyone who loves true crime books.

[Bonita Braun · Rating 4 out of 5]

good story

Well constructed description of three Iowa murders that took two decades to convict the perpetrator. Written by a judge who grew up in the town where these murders took place adds an element of interest. Because a judge wrote this it occasionally becomes pedantic.
AND, editing is poor. Many instances of two consecutive paragraphs saying the same thing with different words.

[Katie White · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horrifying, disgusting, and overall disturbing story that was well-recounted by a classmate of all players involved. It was a beautiful tribute to the victims of such a horrible crime while also recounting as many details as possible. Being from Iowa, it was easy to understand the small town setting of the acts, and I feel that the author did the story great justice.

[Ashley Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was just shy of 6 years after these murders. I was born and raised Mount Pleasant, IA, and have lived here all but maybe 9 months of my 40 years of life. Recognizing some of the last names of people and the locations mentioned was truly eerie. Great read.

[Kim Klett · Rating 3 out of 5]

These murders took place in my hometown; I was in 6th grade when they occurred, and they forever changed our town. The book is interesting to read, challenging my memory at times, but has a lot of repetition and some overly dramatic scenes. However, I appreciate the author’s research and work.

[Katie Coil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not really sure how to rate the book. It read like a law journal explaining the crime in detail. I was very intrigued and never knew of the murders. The facts and content were great, just a little repetitive in some spots.

[Sommer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to read about. My family is from Mt. Pleasant and we visit every year for Old Threshers. I drive by the Beavers house everytime we are in town as it is just a block away from my family.

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

factual telling of a horrible crime

This is so well written. Frustrating for me how it seems the judicial system protects the accused but Williams explains the process and the reasoning. Good book to read

[Hailey Rhum · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a serial killer in my hometown of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Interesting to hear all the details, and especially so when our small town hasn’t changed much since then, and you can recognize all the locations /the families mentioned.

[Diane Sugars · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting. I live near the town that the story took place and I was not aware of these murders happening when they did. I would have been very young at the time though. But this is a very informative book.

[Lorri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed and interesting book

Really well writte book about the murder of a mother and daughter in Mt Pleasant Iowa in 1978. So I threshing the twists and turns to get the murderer convicted.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mount Pleasant is not far from where I live although I hadn’t known about these murders. I found the book interesting and well-researched. He treats the victims and their families with a lot of respect. How sad that the husband/father died still under a cloud of suspicion.

[Teresa L Mertens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

Could not put this book down. What a great read. Descriptive and easy to picture the events as they happened.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent recount of a small town tragedy. Very fast read that is well written and researched. Couldn't put it down.

[Brianna Kinley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good true crime read for anyone living in Iowa 🌽

[Katherine Farris · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a captivating, sad true story of murder in a small town. I thought the writing was sometimes not smooth, but the story and its characters were very interesting.

[Diane M. Berry · Rating 4 out of 5]

well written sad story

Author clearly had a vested interest in the cases. Well researched and written. Easy read. I would recommend the book

[Doug · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would not have much interest in this book had not these events happened in my hometown. The story is worthy of book treatment, and Williams does a credible job of presenting the facts, but it is apparent this is not his day job. The most annoying thing is he keeps trying to put himself in as part of the story. Just sticking to the facts is always the best course.

[Sharon Christensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I, too, grew up and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School about 6 years before these murders took place! I had already left home and was living in Des Moines by then! I would go back home to visit my parents and would always ask the latest on the Beavers’ murders! It seemed like it took FOREVER for answers and, of course, never did get all the answers until I read this book! Such a senseless crime, or crimes including Sue Wheelock! So horrific what the family went through but it helps me sleep at night that Monte is right where he needs to be!