Murder Your Employer By Rupert Holmes - A Review

 I saw this book in a small bookstore in Cambridge. I couldn't pass it up. It was so unique I thought I'd never see it again. The library app has proven it is quite popular. It couldn't just immediately borrow the audiobook, which is a sign of popularity. I'm reviewing it because I loved it's humor and it is one of the best suspense novels I've ever read. 

rupertholmes.com

I know this one has an interesting, strange title but it is a comedy/suspense. It's a combination of Lemony Snicket, Agatha Christie, Detective Marlowe, and The Count of Monte Cristo vibes. I can't explain it any better than that. There are phrases in here that made me chuckle and mark the page - several pages. Describing the plot of such a unique book is a little weird. I'll do my best. It's best to just try it for yourself. You might not like it if you don't have a dark sense of humor or don't like dark suspense. It's a bit darker as you keep reading and the three students actually commit their murders. 

It is a mock-guide book on murdering people, with the idea that it came from a secret college for teaching murder. It shows the stories of "graduates" and their experiences after the main intro. It's clearly not real and clearly fiction. It has strange Snicket-like ideas paired with witty dialogue and phrases in character descriptions. One plotline reminds me of Agatha Christie crossed with Monte Cristo. If you think you'd like it or are unsure, pick it up at the library. I imagine the darker sense of humor appeals to a specific genre and crowd. If you like Lemony Snicket, Agatha Christie, or dark suspense in general you'll love this. 

The plot becomes suspenseful when it explores the three students' experiences. These include one man whose boss changed a plane design that was previously safe to fly in (until his boss built it differently), an assistant who has all her ideas stolen and is being blackmailed, and an actress who's been told her next quality role is either after leaving a studio or over someone's dead body. You see what campus looks like and learn why they want to commit the murder and who they encounter. I cannot spoil this for you. Read it yourself. Not sure? Try it. Love dark humor and Agatha Christie? Definitely try it. 

Courtesy of roeliareads.co.za

My Overall Thoughts

It's hard to summarize the plot when it is such a unique book. Let's be real. Read it for yourself. It's in the Libby app in ebook and audiobook (but be sure to get on the waitlist). I'm sure you can find the physical copy, too. I found it at both Books A Million and a small bookshop in Cambridge. 

You take the intellect of Agatha Christie, the revenge drive of The Count of Monte Cristo, the witty dialogue of Philip Marlowe, and the humor of Lemony Snicket to get this book's genre. They work together wondrously. I picked this up and laughed from page one. Nothing is meant to be taken seriously, but the suspense does get thicker as you read on. The characters are all quirky. It is a book I can pick up and mark witty lines in. This is purely dark humor and dark suspense. I was pleased when I opened the book and laughed for many chapters. I was also pleased to see the plot twists that make sense, but definitely twist your expectations. I give it five stars and put it in the same category as some of the best Agatha Christie mysteries. 

It starts comedic and becomes more suspense toward the body of the book, so it isn't a pure comedy. It is comedic still, so don't expect the dark humor to drop. It simply becomes more about the three students completing their "education" and "thesis". You discover more about them and why one is being blackmailed (so sad). The last section of the book is about them doing the actual murders - one of them being less prepared than the others. The book doesn't promise good endings for all of them in the beginning, which is something you should note. You shouldn't expect sunshine and rainbows in this book, anyway, so keep that in mind. 

It isn't gorey. I'm going to say it because I'd ask if I were considering it. It is not a gorey book, nor does it feature much blood at all. It's a lot of wit, humor, murder, poison, plotting, and revenge. It's not a gore-fest in any way, shape, or form. 

It does not contain outright sex. It suggests sex often but doesn't have a sex scene you can clearly point to. It suggests sexual misconduct in many of the employers in the book. Please don't read this if you are below the age of 18 or you don't understand what sex is. You won't endure a sex scene, but you will hear about sex throughout every student plotline. I don't believe this was intended for anyone below adulthood. 

Courtesy of audible.co.uk

Who this is for

Anyone who doesn't know how to read dark humor or sarcasm should avoid this. Anyone who can't handle or hates dark humor should not pick it up. This isn't sunshine and rainbows reading. You have to have a good sense of dark humor to love it. You also have to like suspense. It's in that genre for a reason. It also gives quite a creative variety of ways to commit murder (none gorey). Writers of suspense and horror might want to take notes on those methods (for the sake of character and plot NOT real-life murder). 

I get the feeling this was written for adults. It doesn't strike me as a Young Adult book, given its nature, but it depends highly on the person reading it. This has the feeling of adult suspense, not YA suspense. I wouldn't put this in front of someone younger than 18 or 19. If you are a parent, read it yourself first. I suggest doing this for any book you aren't sure of, but doubly so when the humor has a darker hue and sexual suggestions peppered in. You might have them wait to read it or not. It's your call, parents. Adults will have no problem reading it. Just know it contains sexual references and adult ideas. 

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I wrote a book! I am delighted to say that I have 5 five-star reviews up on Amazon now, which is amazing. I hope you like it, too. If you're interested in buying a paperback, hardcover, or ebook version go to my website link in this blog or click here to go straight to my Amazon page. 

Jack Thomas is running from a past case. He's hiding in Wrenville. Is his past case catching up with him? 

Find out in my first book, Wrenville, a stand-alone suspense novel.