Rupert Holmes' Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide is a darkly comedic exploration of morally ambiguous territory. Praise highlights its witty prose and clever plotting, while critiques note occasionally implausible scenarios. An inventive, satire-laden narrative that will entertain fans of unique crime fiction despite some suspension of disbelief.

Fans of dark humor, satire, and unconventional mystery will relish Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes. Comparable to Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events and Jasper Fforde's The Eyre Affair, this book appeals to those who appreciate clever, witty narratives with a macabre twist.

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes is written as a self-help manual by Dean Harbinger Harrow of McMaster’s Conservatory for the Applied Arts, an elite school that teaches the art of committing the perfect murder. It follows three students, Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Doria Maye, as they navigate their education in the 1950s and learn the skills required to "delete" their targets while teaching readers through their experiences and mistakes. This text deals with dark themes including suicide and features scenes of murder and sexual behavior.

Mysterious / Dark / Humorous / Suspenseful / Playful

- Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide is written by Rupert Holmes, who is not only an author but also a celebrated songwriter and playwright, known for the hit song "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)".
- Rupert Holmes, the author of the book, is a recipient of the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical for his work on The Mystery of Edwin Drood, highlighting his diverse talents in both literature and theater.
- The book blends dark humor with mystery, showcasing Rupert Holmes' distinctive narrative style, which echoes his work in both musical theater and mystery novels.

**Dean Harbinger Harrow**  
The witty and avuncular narrator of the journal entries, known for his puns and philosophical approach to death and murder, who serves as the moral center of the school and faculty advisor to protagonist Cliff Iverson.

**Cliff Iverson**  
An aircraft engineer and the main protagonist whose journey of planned vengeance against a destructive boss takes him to McMasters, where he navigates moral complexities with his diverse skills and compassionate nature.

**Gemma Lindley**  
A student at McMasters who struggles with her moral compass in the face of the school's teachings, illustrating themes of justice and sincerity without resorting to disguises or humor.

**Dulcie Mown/Doria Maye**  
A Hollywood star attending McMasters under an alias, known for her confidence, intelligence, and masterful disguises, tackling personal vendettas with an eye for drama and intrigue.

Rupert Holmes

Adult

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide?

Reading Age

Book Details