Every year, there are two or three books that I cannot stop thinking about. I recommend them to everyone, read them in multiple formats, and genuinely obsess about them. And given that by the time of publishing I’ve read 102 103 books thus far in 2023, I think I’m in a good position to decide which few books fall into this category. I’ve actually already included this book in my Only Murders in the Building book recommendation list, but I wanted it to have it’s own post. With spooky season upon us, let’s dive into another mystery: Murder Your Employer!
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide, Rupert Holmes
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.
Why You Should Read This…
If you are a fan of mysteries or true crime, this is a book for you. (Though I will place the emphasis on the mysteries.) We follow three would-be murderers as they hone their murderous craft and then attempt to carry out their own perfectly plotted murder on a deserving victim. Because we are working backwards and already know the murderers (sort of), the mystery lies in how they actually carry it out. And it makes for a fascinating read where it is actually quite difficult to guess the missing pieces.
For me, the worldbuilding at McMasters Conservatory is impeccable. Not only is this entire murder academy fleshed out for us in the book, it will leave you wanting more. I genuinely came away from this book thinking, “I would love a whole series set at McMasters- it would not get boring in any way.” You are left wondering if something is real or fabricated; if something is on purpose or happenstance, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. And I’ve got to say, Holmes impressively makes this book timeless- while it is set in the past, it’s actually rather difficult to discern exactly when. (More mystery to solve!)
Neil Patrick Harris narrates the majority of this audiobook and he might be one of the best narrators I’ve ever listened to. The personality, the charm, the worry, the anger- it is all there without being excessive. I typically listen to audiobooks at 2x speed, and I kept slowing this down so it wouldn’t be over so soon.
Go further and er… don’t Murder Your Employer!
Is Murder Your Employer on your to-read list?
Cheers,
The Historian
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