This must be one of my favourite books of the year to date! I went in blind, totally charmed by the cover art, and was simply blown away.
This book reads as an educational manual, but you will quickly realise that there is a unique premise and plot unfolding – that of an uber entertaining thriller, filled with murder and mayhem.
Set in the 1950s, the reader learns of a mysterious and exclusive college, the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts. And what is the “Applied Arts” being taught here? The fine art of murder!
“After all, it’s difficult to obtain a student loan for a school that not only denies its own existence but teaches its students how to deny other people theirs.”
No, it isn’t a school for military assassins, mass murderers or guerrilla warfare. To be a student at this institution, you will have to undergo a rigorous selection process and your motive must be clear and justified. At “The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Art” the students must have an ethical reason for wanting to eliminate someone very specific from their lives.
The ‘sanctioned homicide’ should adhere to all of these four rules though:
- Is this murder necessary?
- Have you given your target every chance to redeem themselves?
- What innocent person might suffer by your actions?
- Will this deletion improve the life of others?
“If they refuse to reform, you can proceed with a clear conscience. After all, when the behaviour of another person leaves you no choice but to kill them, their murder is simply involuntary suicide.”
The story is told, concentrating on three of the students at this college. One of the three students and the lead protagonist in this story is Cliff Iverson, an aeronautics engineer. He wants to avenge his loathsome and horrible ex-boss. The man who caused Cliff to lose his job and drove one of his colleagues to suicide. A man who has no regard for other people’s safety and sanity. His side of the story is mostly told via his own journal entries.
“Come along, Mr. Iverson, you must be starved to death,” said the dean. He saw my startled look and added dryly, “That’s an observation, by the way. Not a decree.”
His fellow class-mates Gemma Lindley and Doria Maye have their own reasons and motives for wanting to delete (i.e. murder) their respective employers.
We follow Cliff, Gemma and Doria through their orientation, training, and final thesis (i.e the successful deletion of their chosen targets, without getting caught). This is done with loads of dark humour, wit, and satire.
“THE ENEMY…We do refrain from using this term in reference to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as we count so many of their number as alumni.”
The clever wordplay and endless puns had me thoroughly entertained! The syllabus includes subjects such as disguises, forgery, alibis, weapons, and poisons. And because each student has got their own specific motives and challenges, the methods differ for each “deletion”.
“May the only justice you face be poetic.”
I adored the setting of this school, and the fact that murder can be so playfully academic. Yes, I guess you do need a very dark sense of humour to appreciate that. And yes, that’s me.
“When a man dies from a bullet entering his chest, it’s a homicide.
When a man dies from a meteorite landing on his head, it’s a tragedy.
Don’t use bullets. Use meteorites
Don’t commit a homicide. Commit a Tragedy.
-Guy McMaster”
Wonderful world building with a colourful and imaginative plot, I found the story creative, unique and absorbing.
Is the plot improbable, wickedly warped and a little contrived? Absolutely! And I enjoyed every minute of it!
I found some parts where the pace was a bit slow, especially during the first half of the book. The narrative is maybe too drawn out, but I do understand that it is quite important to get the full backstory and the gory details.
I read the book while listening to the audio version as well, and I suspect that it further increased my enjoyment. As it is narrated by Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance, I got full-on Lemony Snicket vibes!
“The McMasters Guide to Homicide” is quirky, charming and extremely original. I found the intelligent writing and unique premise absolutely delightful.
I can’t wait to read more by this author – and hopefully more from the McMasters Conservatory of Applied Arts.
“And that, to me, embraces the very soul of the most important commandment you’ll find anywhere in your Principles of Successful Termination: ‘Do in others as you would have others do you in.”
Thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for the opportunity to read this book!
The Details:
Category: Crime Fiction
ISBN: 9781035402380
Publisher: Headline Publishing Group
On sale: March 2023
Format: Paperback
About the Author:
Rupert Holmes Rupert Holmes, Murder Your Employer – The McMasters Guide to Homicide
