Wednesday, 26 February 2025

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide-Rupert Holmes

Book: Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide
Author: Rupert Holmes
Publisher: Headline UK

What if there was a school that could help you learn how to “delete” people?

Who hasn't wondered for a split second what the world would be like 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.

When I picked up the book, purely based on the title, I was not sure what to expect from the plot. This is a wonderfully told story of how, we as humans, can be as selective about guilt as much is possible. The entire premise of the book around this fictional conservatory where the execution of the homicidal arts is taught by the very best is written in an engaging manner. I loved how the author has used multiple perspectives to show how we react in different situations and how we make decisions in the split seconds that we have. The idea to use three unrelated people as the eyes to this conservatory, along with their reasons for being a part of this unique school is wonderfully executed. The story is all rounded, with bits of humour, double entendre and witty writing that will keep you chuckling. The first half of the book let us explore the campus and the various facilities and the arts it offers, while the second half of the book takes us into the real world where Cliff Iversion, Gemma Lindley and Doria Maye try and complete their thesis or end up with a fail grade. The writing is engaging and you are drawn to the text as you keep turning the pages. The climax has been wonderfully executed and gives a fitting closure to the story.

Coming to the characters, I loved the character of Dean Harbinder Harrow and his way with words. The author has created such a lively character that makes the book come alive. Another character that I really loved was that of Doria Maye, specially for the resilience she shows right till the last page. The characters of Dobson and Stedge were these amazing pair that just added a bit more of zing to the story.

Why I really liked this book was because while being a crime novel with humour in it, there is this element of science that has been infused in all the deletion classes and the thesis that you are genuinely intrigued to read about the activities inside the conservatory. The terms of the applied arts in the beginning of the book, the illustrations and the postscript really elevate the overall reading experience.

I would highly recommend this book to people who love to read a very well-rounded story that has a bit of everything in it, (and maybe take a tip from it or two). The book scores a 4.88/5 for me.

Grab your copy from Amazon India or a bookstore near you.

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