Review: Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes (audio)
when an education turns deadly
Murder Your Employer: The McMaster’s Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes, narrated by Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance, is a tongue-in-cheek “deletion” mystery in which readers are educated on the right way to become executors of deletion. The McMasters Conservatory is a secret school in an undisclosed location, and students must have “ethical” reasons for committing a deletion.
Courses on poisoning, the art of seduction, and so much more are key to a well-rounded education, and students then engage in the track meet at the end of the year in which they perform a mock deletion based on who the teachers assign them.
What I loved about this book is how funny it is in a darkly humourous way. I loved the puns and word play - it’s a poet’s dream.
The murderers are so complex and their reasons run the gamut, but I absolutely loved every minute of this wild ride. I particularly like how one character is basically kidnapped after a failed attempted murder of his employer and enrolled in the school without a clue until he wakes up from a hooded and chloroformed nap.
Murder Your Employer: The McMaster’s Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes was great on audio, and I’ve heard the print copy has illustrations, which might be a treat to look at. Definitely a book that will keep you on your toes and give Sherlock Holmes a run for his money.
RATING: Cinquain
About the Author:
Rupert Holmes was born in 1947 in Northwich, Cheshire, England. Soon after, he ventured forth to America (New York) with his British mum and Air Force dad. After graduating from the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Holmes delved into the art of melodious sound. A successful piano player for both the Cuff Links and the Buoys, with whom he had his first international hit, "Timothy," in 1971, Rupert also wrote and arranged songs for Gene Pitney, The Platters, The Drifters and the Partridge Family.