Shannon's Library

LET’S GET EXCITED ABOUT THIS BOOK!

Prepare yourself for an education you’ll never forget! Welcome to the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts – a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder. Who hasn’t wondered what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? At the McMasters Conservatory, future “deletists” (never murderers) learn the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To this sumptuous campus come three memorable classmates: self-effacing Cliff Iverson, troubled Gemma Lindley, and Hollywood diva Doria Maye – all of whom have suffered menacing employers who richly deserve a deadly dénouement. Under the tutelage of Dean Harbinger Harrow and the fascinating faculty of McMasters’ halls of poison ivy, they hone their craft, each hoping to finesse a perfectly masterful murder.

Shannon’s Rating — PG-13 (2 f-words and some sexual content)

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LET’S TALK ABOUT THIS BOOK!

Before we start talking about “Murder Your Employer,” first, listen to this song… (Trust me, there’s a good reason for this randomness….)

Recognize it? If you’re old, like me, you’ve heard it on the radio. Or if you’re young, like my children, you’ve heard it in the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movie! Either way, this song was written by none other than Rupert Holmes – the author of “Murder Your Employer.” Surprise!

Want another random piece of surprising information about our author? His real name isn’t Rupert Holmes. It’s David Goldstein. He chose this nom de plume because long before he was a mystery writer, he loved mysteries. Rupert was chosen for the poet Rupert Brooke and Holmes was chosen for…dun, dun, duuun…Sherlock Holmes!

Anyhoo – back to the book!

Is it too presumptuous to declare that this just might be my FAVORITE book I read in 2023? Now, I know this year isn’t over quite yet. But almost. And I really can’t imagine reading a book in the next two months that I will enjoy more than “Murder Your Employer.”

“Murder Your Employer” reads like a textbook. But not just any textbook. It’s a textbook from the highly esteemed and secretive college of the McMasters Conservatory. Set in the 1950’s, this sprawling, elusive campus exists to train its students in the art of murder. “Deletion” if you will. Put simply – this campus is the Hogwarts for homicide.

The first half of the book takes place on campus and follows three students on their educational quest to become proficient in the art of “deletion.” In order to complete their “thesis” each student must “delete” the person with whom they have their quarrel.

The second half of the book then follows these same three students back into the real world as they attempt to complete their “thesis.”

At first when I was reading “Murder Your Employer” I wondered to myself, “Is this ok?” “Should I be enjoying a book all about learning how to kill people?” But once I came to terms with the fact that this is all done in a very tongue-in-cheek fashion, I decided to let my morality qualms fade away and just enjoy the journey. Plus, it helps when you realize that the people being “deleted” are all really bad people and deserve what’s coming to them!

Now, keep in mind, this isn’t a quick, easy read. The textbook formula, with included journal entries, took some getting used to. It’s a pretty dense and wordy novel that won’t be for everyone. That being said, I loved it! Like, really loved it! A Hogwarts for homicide? That’s got my name written all over it! And the second half of the book, when it shifts to an “Ocean’s Eleven” type of story (as the murders, or “deletions,” are being planned and executed) was equally entertaining.

“Murder Your Employer” is unique, inventive and surprising. Lucky for us readers, this is the first in Rupert Holmes’s “McMasters Guide to Homicide” series. Holmes is busily working on the second book which he says will be titled “Murder Your Mate.”

I feel “Murder Your Husband” is a book that many women would love to buy just to leave it around the house. I don’t think that “Murder Your Wife” is an effective title. I don’t think a wife would think that’s funny.”

Rupert Holmes

Whatever the title of the next book in the series – I’m on board and can’t wait!!

If you’re still on the fence about whether or not to read this book… here are a few quotes from “The McMasters Guide to Homicide.”

“By all means commit murder but not by all means.”

“Do in others as you would have others do you in.”

“It is simplicity itself to fire one’s employer. All it takes is some kindling and a match.”

“When a man dies from a bullet entering his chest, it’s a homicide. When a man dies from a meteorite landing on his head, it’s a tragedy. Don’t use bullets. Use meteorites. Don’t commit a homicide. Commit a tragedy.”

There you go. If you don’t think these quotes from a fictional homicidal textbook are funny, then this book probably isn’t for you. And that’s totally ok! But if you chuckled while reading the quotes – then go pick up “Murder Your Employer.” You won’t regret it!