The reviews of this book are incredible which may have caused me to have too high of expectations…

This book was lacking for me in one way in particular: the pacing. The pacing of this book made me struggle to pick it up at times, it felt rather slow and inconsistent. Also in the middle of the book we start getting more POVs which felt forced.

All that to say I did enjoy this book and oddly enough found our main character wholesome?? Overall it was a good time and a very intriguing concept.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really liked the witty, macabre writing and concept. The idea of a school for murderers (ahem, deletists) was great, and from the very first page it’s obvious that there is a certain dark humour to this book. It had chapters from the actual guidebook, illustrations, school timetables and student reports, which made everything feel like a scrapbook murder guide put together by a student.
I didn’t really care for the the characters, there is a lot of telling instead of showing, but I was interested in finding out whether (and how) they would complete their murder.
My main complaint would be that the book felt very slow and cluttered at times. With three main characters and a lot of switches between a third person ominous narrator, Cliff’s first person letters and the included student reports/illustrations etc. it jumped around a lot and that did not make it feel like a suspense novel about murder at all.

Let me just start by saying that the premise and plot for this are absolutely bonkers and genius. A secret academy / university where matriculation means being certified not only in the dinner points of murder, but in how to do it and get away with it. Absolutely amazing.

Right off the bat, this was hilarious. It’s got that British, dead pan, sarcastic humor that’s just those side of cruel in the best way.

“After all, when the behavior of another person leaves you no choice but to kill them, their murder is simply involuntary suicide.”

However, about half way through, I felt this started to lag badly and I’m not sure it ever really recovered of why it needed to be so very long. This could have been 100 pages shorter and still covered the plot adequately while also letting the saccharine jokes and humor land without feeling so encumbered or even buried by superfluous words and character exchanges that don’t end up adding much.

“Heavenly father, who gave life to all creatures on this earth and then thought it would be just as good an idea to give us death . . . thank you for the bounty we are about to receive, and also for the bounty which is not on our heads. Give us this day our daily bread—and may I just say how delicious the brioche was today, my compliments to our baker as well as to our maker—and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who’ve trespassed against us once we’ve deleted them. And may all of us soon be saying ‘Amen’ at the funeral of our targets. Amen.”

I’d still recommend this, but would caution that the second half does feel a bit long.

Thank you Simon & Schuster for my galley! This is available now and delightful on audio with fabulous British narration.

I very much enjoyed Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes! It was such a unique and clever book - centered around a secret murder academy that teaches it's students how to "delete" their subjects. This was such a fun book!

P.S. the cover is stunning!

I was absolutely surprised and excited to see Rupert Holmes is also an author...just about everyone knows his song (which was a great piece of storytelling in itself). This full length book was just as good as I hoped it would be.

We are introduced to the McMasters school. A finishing school for finishing off problematic people in your life. As a student you study and work towards your goal of becoming a 'deletist' and most importantly, never getting caught at it. The final thesis, determining if you pass or fail, is the successful deletion of your subject.

This story follows three very different students on their individual journeys to rid the world of a person who has outlived their welcome. All three cases were fun, compelling, and riveting.

Thank you to Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this exciting e-ARC. This story was so much fun I will be getting a physical copy for myself soon.

Murder Your Employer... winner for most subtle book cover that belies the fun assassin training filled plot underneath. Rupert Holmes' book is a win, sly and sneaky with its story that is somehow a deft blend of charm and darkness and a welcome change from a standard thriller while not leaning into the fantastical themes that I don't always connect with. The characters were all well drawn, with good depth, unique stories and backgrounds, and the story had strengths in the background early chapters that developed the story and moved into a kind of case study approach to develop the student characters. I really enjoyed this book and appreciate the review copy from Avid Reader Press, 4.5 stars for a creative story and a new author for me to follow.

This is a fun well written read, might be a fun book club read for groups looking for a different kind of thriller/murder theme.

Recommended for: fans of Never Saw Me Coming; Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone;

It’s very rare to come across a truly original premise for a book, so i was delighted by this story, reminiscent of other favorites but wholly unique in plot.

I am, of course, a perpetual sucker for anything with an academic setting, particularly books like this one where the author creates an immersive atmosphere for the reader at their fictional school. This has the feel of Hogwarts or Brakebills, minus the magical elements.

And like all books with this sort of school/training bent, the portion of the book set at the school is significantly more fun, clever, and interesting than the portion that comes after that. I don’t like to criticize authors too much for this because the departure from training is of course made inevitable by the plot, but it does always leave me wishing that a greater portion of the plot stayed in the central setting.

I love the clever training the students received, including everything from the rationale for certain instruction (cooking! Dancing! Baseball!) to the delightfully punny course titles (I’m still giggling at Zooicide).

My lone gripe with this one was some gross and unnecessary moralizing at the end with regard to Gemma’s plot line, but it wasn’t enough to truly leave me disappointed in the story. The end implies the possibility of a sequel or series to follow, and I very much hope that to be the case!

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.

We are introduced to our main character Cliff Iverson when he attempts unsuccessfully to kill his horrible boss. Presented in the form of a textbook for the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, we follow Cliff mostly through his journal entries as he navigates his education to learn how to successfully "delete" (aka murder) his employer, and most importantly, to get away with it. We also follow two of his other classmates, Gemma and Doria, as they learn the skills to both murder their own employers and to avoid getting murdered themselves.

One of the things that I missed at first that really would have helped me was knowing that this book is set in the 1950s as I struggled for a while with the time setting. There is so much dry humor here, I could totally picture it as a movie on the screen with the witty one-liners. I came to really care for the characters and was rooting for their success in their deletions as their employers were truly awful people.

There are some parts that were slow and dragged a bit, but overall this is a highly original tale that has widespread appeal. The ending is superb, so even if you get to some of the slower parts definitely power through and you'll be rewarded in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rupert Holmes, Simon & Schuster, and Avid Reader Press for an ARC of Murder Your Employer.

The concept for this novel was new and interesting. Cliff Iverson is basically kidnapped after trying to murder his former employer and taken to McMasters, a murder training school. We follow Cliff's deletion education (McM doesn't use the term "murder") and once he is allowed back into his life to complete his thesis (execution of deletion) we see his plan unfold. Along the line, we are also introduced to Gemma, who is being blackmailed by her supervisor and Doria, a Hollywood star being kicked out the door for not giving in to the producers personal demands. The story floats between the three of them through their time at McMasters and beyond. We aren't told their plans, but see them in action once they are executing their deletions.

The three main characters are likeable, and the targets of their deletions are very much worthy of their demises...if the three of them can succeed. Merrill Fiedler is the worst kind of boss; he has no care for employees or anyone who comes into the path of their products. All he cares about is the bottom line, and it doesn't matter how many people are lost in the process. Adele is using a past indiscretion to blackmail Gemma, so she's making Gemma's life a living hell. And Doria's producer? Well, he's a typical Hollywood producer. He found out she was intimate with another employee after refusing him for years and he's taking revenge on her.

Although the story concept was good, the execution left a little something to be desired. It was definitely a slow burn...with no flame at the end. No suspense, just cold hard facts. It was very wordy and just seemed to drag on and on. That being said, I still liked it, I just wish it hadn't felt like I was trying to wade through a 1000 page tome.

All in all, an interesting concept, and it has some good murder ideas and does show how to truly plan out a deletion. There are no triggers, just a good-hearted murder story.

DNF @30%.

I was hooked in the beginning but the book lost it’s spark quickly after that. It’s very overwritten and without a plot established at this point, there’s almost no forward momentum to the story and I just feel like I’m reading verbose pretentious writing for no reason.

I received a complimentary ARC copy of Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes from NetGalley and Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster in order to read and give an honest review.

…Quirky, clever, inventive, and deliciously dark….…

Cliff Iverson has the boss from hell, Merrill Fiedler is a narcissistic jerk who has not only ruined Cliff’s career, and knowingly put people’s lives in danger but he’s driven Cliff’s dear friend and love interest to suicide.

In the opening of the book, we learn about Cliff’s failed attempt to murder Fiedler, but he is saved in a sense by a sponsored scholarship to The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a private college which teaches one how to “delete” their treacherous employer, however there is one caveat, failure in the program is not an option.

The academy is in a completely unknown location, students are blindfolded and arrive at the academy by multiple means of transportation. A beautiful campus with all amenities, the Conservatory seems like an ivy league experience with classes such as “Remains to be seen” and “Principles of Deletion” students get a well-rounded education in the Art of Murder.

We learn of Cliff’s classes, classmates, and their respective stories, as well as meet students a little too competitive for their own good. The story is mostly told through journal entries, progress reports and correspondence. Upon graduation we follow Cliff and two of his classmates as they plot to delete their employers for reasons that make the reader root for the graduates.

Quirky, clever, inventive, and deliciously dark. I really enjoyed Murder Your Employer. My only complaint would be that at some points the story did drag a bit but overall, a fun read that has you flipping pages, I highly recommend.

The premise of this book sounded great to me - a school where the students are trained in how to commit a perfect murder. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy. When I saw the audiobook was partly narrated by Neil Patrick Harris I immediately preordered the audio and started listening on the day of its release. Unfortunately this just wasn’t for me and I decided to DNF at 25%. For such an interesting premise I’m so bored. I kept waiting thinking it would pick up but at this point I’m calling it. There’s also a fine line between being clever and trying too hard to be clever and for me this one fell on the wrong side of that line.

Murder Your Employer was so good!!! It's set in the late 1950s and is about 3 students of a secret murder academy that teaches its pupils how to "delete" the subject of their "thesis."

It was so much fun, and so CLEVER! Reading this book was like watching an episode of 30 Rock or Arrested Development for the first time. You feel smart because you understand and laugh at most of the jokes, but you are aware that things are going well over your head. I also got White Lotus vibes but I can't pinpoint any real reason why.

I received an advance copy (thank you so much Netgalley, Rupert Holmes, and Simon Schuster!) but I WILL be buying my own copy to keep on my physical shelves.

A+, 5/5, please make it a series

Thank you to NetGalley, Rupert Holmes and Avid Reader Press for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This is written in quite a unique way that I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to continue. It’s interesting but the style of writing and the back and forth between first person and third got much too confusing for me.

I'm concerned that Rupert Holmes knows too much about murder!!
What a fun romp through a university destined to make their students the best "deletists" they can be. Holmes artfully merges three murders into one story, effortlessly switching between time periods and characters.
It all came together so satisfyingly. I thoroughly enjoyed this dark comedy. As strange as it sounds, it was a fun break from reading thrillers, even though it was all about murder!

Has it ever crossed your mind that the world would be a better place without a particularly odious person? Perhaps someone who makes life hell for everyone else?

Well, provided you have a sound reason for wanting them dead and you’re really serious about killing them, you need to attend the McMaster’s Conservatory for the Applied Arts. There you will learn all the tools you need to successfully kill (or as those at MacMasters prefer to say ‘delete’) your target.

You must first convince the Dean you have a strong ethical reason to murder your target and then you will be allowed to enrol at a beautiful campus, in a location kept secret from all who attend. You will learn the fine arts of deception, disguise, poisons, martial arts, flirting and seduction, along with building perfect alibis and so much more. When you leave you will be perfectly equipped and assured of carrying out the perfect ‘deletion’ and getting away with it. However, don’t be mistaken in thinking that McMasters is a school for training assassins or serial murderers. It is not. Carrying out just one perfect murder is the expectation and will allow you to complete your graduation.

This delightfully entertaining novel is darkly devious, intelligently written and so much fun. Once accepted into McMasters, students cannot leave until they complete or fail the course (you don’t want to know what happens if you fail), but the campus sounds enchanting, with tasteful buildings, pleasant leafy grounds, and enticing shops and restaurants.

Set in the 1950s, the novel opens with a somewhat dry tongue in cheek guide to McMasters to set the scene. Do not abandon the book at this point, as it then goes on to more interestingly follow the case histories of three of McMasters students: Cliff is an engineer whose boss is endangering the lives of many by his actions, while Gemma’s boss is a blackmailing bully and Doria, an actress wants to rid the world of her studio boss who only gives out the best roles in return for sex.

The McMasters staff and the training they provide are just as interesting as its students and, of course, not all the students are pleasant people who play by the rules (remember, they are training to be murderers). Reading about unique and inventive ways of killing (sorry, deleting) people that need to be removed from the human race never became tiring and I could easily read more about the staff and students at McMasters. Once the students have finely honed their skills, they are sent out to carry out their final graduation project (ie. murder their employer). How they chose to go about it and how it turns out it is just as entertaining as their training.

Author Rupert Holmes is a celebrated musician, well known for his song writing and production, as well as a playwright and novelist. Much like his famous Pina Colada Song (aka ‘Escape’), this inventive, character-driven novel is full of quirky charm that is sure to delight many readers.

Set in the 50's this is a unique, funny, entertaining read. I really enjoyed this book and the unorthodox subject matter was great. I am sure most of us have had an errant thought pass thru our mind contemplating someone's untimely demise. What if there was a school to teach the tips and tricks, the how to of it and of how to get away with it? Can you imagine the characters who would enroll? Well they are right here in this book, told in 3 POV's of those attending the "academy" and they are as unique as the plot of the book.
Highly recommend, totally entertaining, you won't be sorry!
Thank you to Avid Reader Press and to Net Galley for the ARC, I am leaving my honest review in return.

This is a fun read, but not great. I enjoyed the story a lot and the writing style but something has not convinced me at the end. Still will recommend it.

The beginning of this story had me absolutely hooked - I loved the witty writing style packed with clever puns. It made me feel like I was plopped in the midst of a classic murder mystery with a fresh twist - in this universe, people enroll at the McMasters academy to learn how to effectively get away with murder. It was amazing!

But by the middle/end, the story lost me. It was extremely wordy and spent a lot of time giving character back stories or every minute detail of a scene, which made it feel like a chore to get through. At times, the magic was recaptured and I remembered what I found so charming in the beginning, but ultimately it wasn't able to hold my intrigue. And by the end, the arc of the story felt... off to me. It was unsatisfying, partially because I felt so distant from these characters and wasn't very invested in the culmination of their journeys.

I feel like this would be much more effective played out on screen, or with more "to the point" writing, although that's just based on my personal opinion/what I find enjoyable!

Thank you to the publisher for granting me access to an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

How could I possibly resist a book with such an *intriguing* title? And then, to my delight, I found out it was a book about a school dedicated to the arts of offing one's enemies without being caught. I didn’t quite know what to expect, other than a good time!
It begins with a few definitions, and a foreword by Dean Harbinger Harrow introducing us to the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts and the three characters we would be focusing on. Cliff Iverson was fired from his engineering position with an aviation company for pointing out the changes his superior made would be deadly. The same superior was also tangentially responsible for Cliff’s mentor and a woman at the company he was interested in. When Cliff fails to push Fiedler, his hated superior, in front of the subway train Cliff is whisked away to McMasters. There he meets Gemma Lindley, a soft spoken woman of many talents, and apparently a desire to murder the woman blackmailing her. Gemma is one of McMasters more hesitant students, though she must go through with her deletion (a more tasteful and obscure word for murder) otherwise she herself will be deleted. Then there’s Doria Maye, Hollywood actress, who is enthusiastically attending McMasters so that she might be rid of her studio director who is holding a grudge against her for sleeping with someone else. If she doesn’t she’ll be stuck voicing an animated pig and her career will surely be over.
The characters are a delightfully interesting bunch, and though their goal is homicide they’re very easy to sympathize with because each has been obviously wronged. While that doesn’t make the “deletion” right, it certainly becomes understandable. McMasters itself is a fascinating school - it’s a picturesque campus in a secret location, and the classes are specifically geared towards a variety of techniques one might employ to commit the perfect crime. Everything from forgery to poisoning and seduction to disguise are available to study, though they have much more mundane names and the students’ curriculum are tailored to their specific method of deletion (their thesis).
I had a great deal of fun reading this though at first I was somewhat put off by the number of colloquialisms I didn’t quite understand. Then as I read further, I realized it was set in the 1950’s and that made much more sense. I don’t know if this is intended to be the start of a series, as the ending both implied it was planned and implied that nothing of the sort would happen. You’ll understand what I mean by that when you get to Dean Harrow’s epilogue if you choose to read this. I would definitely recommend it if you’d like a unique school setting with older characters and don’t mind the extensive number of murder puns.