First Lines: Terms of the Applied Arts. Deletion. Our preferred term for "murder" [vulg.], although some younger staff have lately adopted "omission" as less austere.
Three victims of sadistic bosses find themselves enrolled at the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, an exclusive and clandestine institution of higher education for aspiring assassins (referred to as "deletists" on campus). As students, aeronautics engineer Cliff Iverson, hospital worker Gemma Lindley, and Hollywood-star-traveling-incognito Dulcie Mown must study a wide range of subjects that cover every eventuality in planning a murder. Their educations end with a thesis from each, and in this case, a thesis means the successful deletion of their respective bosses.
~
Having once been one of the victims of a sadistic boss, the title of Rupert Holmes' book, Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide, immediately caught my attention, but it wasn't until I read one review in particular (Luanne's from A Bookworm's World) that I knew I had to read it. I chose to listen to the audiobook version, and the voices of Simon Vance and Neil Patrick Harris did this darkly funny story full justice.
I know not everyone appreciates this sort of humor (black? dark? morbid?), but I've used it most of my life to cope with some of the things that have happened to me. No matter how awful, it is possible to find a funny side to everything, and Holmes does that so brilliantly here that when I wasn't wincing at how gut-wrenchingly terrible the employers were, I was either smiling or laughing-- and wanting each of the students to succeed in their respective deletions. One of the things Holmes does so well is to prove that the world would indeed be a better place if the bosses of McMasters students Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Dulcie Mown would disappear from the face of the earth.
Readers follow each "Poison Ivy League" student through orientation, training, and the final thesis, and I was happy to see that Holmes is currently working on the next book in the series. I'm also fighting the temptation to buy a hardcover copy to experience the story all over again. If your sense of humor is similar to mine, you should love Murder Your Employer.
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes
Narrated by Simon Vance and Neil Patrick Harris.
ASIN: B0B51ZT68K
Simon & Schuster Audio © 2023
Audiobook. 14 hours, 13 minutes.
Thriller/Suspense, #1 McMasters Guide mystery
Rating: A
Source: Purchased from Audible.
I've actually heard that this really is an excellent book, Cathy, with a quirky sort of, as you say, dark wit. I'm glad you enjoyed it, as I wasn't sure whether to put it on the wish list. It does sound different in a refreshing sort of way.
ReplyDeleteIt really is, Margot.
DeleteThis one sounds like fun. A couple of my old bosses immediately came to mind when I saw that book title. (Wouldn't it be fun to bring this one to work and leave it laying around on your desk for a few days?)
ReplyDeleteIt might create a bit of a stir...
DeleteI can certainly understand the attraction residing in the title of this book. (I think most of us have probably had THAT boss at some point.) Fortunately, in my case, I managed to restrain myself!
ReplyDeleteI restrained myself, too. What was great was that karma came for that person while I was still in the area to find out about it, although he did have plenty of years to practice his craft.
DeleteIntriguing!
ReplyDeleteYep!
DeleteI don't mind dark humor in a book like this, especially when it's done well. And the audio version of it sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI think the audio version was very well done, Lark.
Delete