Here Holmes successfully turns the mystery genre upside down by making us root for our three goodhearted killers, who if they fail, don’t just receive an F — they pay with their lives. Gulp. I do have a couple of gripes, however. The events occurred in the 1950s but the setting barely lent anything to the story; it could’ve all happened within the last twenty years and there would’ve been no substantial difference. I literally only realized it was set in the chosen decade after an explicit mention of the fact past the 90% mark. Maybe I missed something or maybe it just went over my head, but as I was paying very close attention given that this was a mystery, I highly doubt it. The ending was a bit too neat for my taste and left me wanting way more of my favorite character. But that sly little last chapter somewhat made up for it . Kudos to Holmes for that clever final stroke. Consider me teased and prepped for a next installment. Edgar winner Holmes frames this cheeky 1950s-set crime novel as a self-study guide for those who can’t afford tuition to the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a ‘finishing school for finishing people off’ . . . [the] farcical plotting, idiosyncratic characters, and witty, stylish prose combine for a fun, frothy read. Fans of humorous historical fiction will be well entertained.” — Publishers Weekly The first portion of the book centers on Cliff Iverson, who is anonymously "sponsored" into becoming a student at the McMaster Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a clandestine academy designed to help its students learn how to become "deletists," otherwise known as murderers. This first half alternates between sections from the academy's textbook/manual, and journal entries from Iverson and from the dean of McMaster. I felt that the use of journals kept the reader one step removed from the action, and 1/3 of the way through, I was missing much sense of a plot. The world-building felt a bit heavy-handed. Welcome to the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts – a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.

When Cliff Iverson finds himself wanting to kill his employer, he tries to execute what he feels is the perfect plan. He soon discovers that his thinking is anything but perfect and the police show up on his doorstep moments later. Thinking that he is headed to the slammer, Cliff prepares himself, only to find himself at the gates to the elusive McMasters Conservatory. This is where his life changes forever. All of our characters, even those who really ought to be murdered, are funny. The writing is clever and smart and before you know it, you’ve finished the entire book! Not sure why this took me so long to get through! It's certainly a uniquely told story from a unique author, filled with a bit of mystery and humor and a lot of drama. In some ways, it reminded me of a TJ Klune book, and in other ways of a quirky suspense tale. So I was sunk. If Dobson knew enough to show me those sunglasses, then he had me dead to rights. I wondered if they planned to arrest me here and now. I sure would have liked a last beer before going to prison. I doubted they had beer in the death house. Certainly not draft. Suddenly, life imprisonment and a job in the library sounded like a vacation in sunny Madrid. Welcome to The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts – a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.

A new novel from the man who wrote Swing (2005), Where the Truth Lies (2003), and “Escape (The Piña Colada Song).” They both looked almost pleased with me, as if I’d successfully completed some unholy hazing ritual. I sputtered, “What… what kind of policemen are you?” Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read.

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate...and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live. Having received a comprehensive education in assassination, our three case studies return to life outside of the conservatory to execute their final thesis: delete their targets without being caught. From the diabolical imagination of Edgar Award-winning novelist, playwright, and story-songwriter Rupert Holmes comes a devilish thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college–its location unknown to even those who study there–is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read. Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes – eBook Details I showed him my shield and explained there’s been a rash of subway shovings,” said Dobson. “Told him we were hot on the heels of the perpetrator.” Sergeant Stedge answered the question for me. “Brandt’s has. People pinch something, step into a changing room to remove the price tags, and hide the goods on their person. So the store will post operatives posing as shoppers near the changing rooms, to watch for customers who exit a little larger than when they went in.”

Jesus, I thought—I have my spiritual moments given the right circumstances—they know my real name! My mouth went instantly dry as if a cup of flour had been tossed down my throat. How, how could they possibly know who I was? The only other way out of the room was the fire escape to the street eight stories below, and with flight being evidence of guilt, I summoned all the bravado left in me and discovered there was none. I felt both corners of my forced smile twitching like a jumpy nerve as I opened the door. “Yes?” I asked, striving for the puzzled tone of a model citizen. Full of endless puns, dry humor, and nostalgia for a bygone era that evokes the early 1950s, Murder Your Employer chronicles the experiences of students at McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a finishing school that teaches one how to “finish” people off. It took me a bit longer to read Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide than I’d figured initially. This is actually a pretty interesting and entertaining murder mystery where the mystery is not who dies or who dunnit; it’s how the would be ‘deletist’ (we don’t say ‘killer’ here) will achieve their goal while not getting caught and still observing the 4 main principles of ‘deletion’ (we don’t’ say ‘murder’): Is this murder necessary? Have you given your target every last chance to redeem themselves? What innocent person might suffer by your actions? Will this deletion improve the life of others? Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live. I was constantly blown away by the cleverness of the narrator and the depth of comedic knowledge they presented the murderous education in.

Have to table this audiobook. Every time I turn it on I just want to turn it off. I think I’ll switch to the book at another time.The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts is a Poison Ivy League university that teaches the art of assassination, or “deletion” as they call it. Students learn all the ways to kill and to avoid being killed, and the mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder. The second portion focuses on three graduates: Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Dulcie Mown. Having mastered all of the skills required to "delete," they are now seeking out their prey. While I found this more engaging than the first half, I think I might have preferred to focus on just one of their stories. Reaching the book's conclusion felt tedious, but I pushed through if only to see who Iverson's mysterious benefactor was. With dry humor and an eye for hidden clues, Rupert Holmes imagines a secret Hogwarts-like school that teaches the fine art of pulling off the perfect (and perfectly deserved) murder. An utterly creative and deliciously diabolical read." - Alafair Burke I'm not sure how this could possibly turn into a series of books, but I'd be down for it if the author wants to give them to us. I truly love the concept of this book. The beginning was super slow because of the narration. I’m positive that I would have read it much faster and enjoyed it more.