James Murphy is John Bookers best friend. A former coal miner in 19th century Ireland, he got into Heaven ‘by the skin of his teeth’ at his own admission. He wasn’t a believer when he was trapped in a rockfall and killed. Christ met him at the junction between life and the afterlife and offered him one last chance to follow Him. James took that chance. Now he follows John into battle as a wise cracking, slightly neurotic foil to John’s ever serious nature..