Dark humor and satire

Setting

Set in the 1950s, Murder Your Employer transports readers to a bygone era of classic mystery novels. The post-war decade provides a fitting backdrop for the story's exploration of societal tensions and moral ambiguities, as characters grapple with the ethics of murder in a world still reeling from global conflict.

While the exact location of the McMasters Conservatory remains a closely guarded secret, the story unfolds across a diverse landscape. From bustling urban centers to secluded rural hideaways, the setting encompasses a wide swath of mid-20th century America, reflecting the era's social and economic disparities.

At the heart of the novel lies the enigmatic campus of the McMasters Conservatory itself. Described as a fusion of Hogwarts, Downton Abbey, and a White Lotus-style resort, this clandestine institution serves as the primary setting for much of the action. Its hidden location and labyrinthine layout serve to create an atmosphere of intrigue and danger, perfectly suited to the dark arts taught within its walls.

Characters

• Harbinger Harrow: The story’s narrator. As dean of McMasters Conservatory, he guides students through their education in the homicidal arts with dry wit and wisdom. Harrow maintains the school's secrecy and ensures students have ethical reasons for their “deletions." His narration provides insight into the school's macabre philosophy and methods.

• Cliff Iverson: One of the three main characters, all students at McMasters. An aircraft design engineer, Cliff is seeking to murder his supervisor who endangered lives by altering designs to cut costs. He is determined and principled, driven by a desire for justice. His technical background influences his approach to planning his “deletion."

• Gemma Lindley: Another main character. Gemma is being blackmailed by her supervisor who suspects her of mercy-killing her dying father. Gemma is conflicted and under pressure, torn between clearing her name and seeking vengeance. Her situation highlights the moral complexities the students face.

• Dulcie Mown: The third main character studying at McMasters. Bringing glamour and star power to the student body, Dulcie is a Hollywood actress tormented by a predatory studio head. Her motive for murder shines an arresting spotlight on the abuse of power in the entertainment industry.

• Cliff's supervisor: The target of Cliff's murder plot. This character's actions, driving co-workers to suicide and compromising aircraft safety, make him a deserving victim in the eyes of McMasters.

• Gemma's supervisor: The blackmailer targeting Gemma. Their actions put Gemma in a desperate situation that leads her to McMasters.

• Predatory studio head: Dulcie's tormentor and intended victim. This character represents the dark side of Hollywood power dynamics.

Quick facts

• Murder Your Employer is set in the 1950s at a fictional school called McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts.

• An Edgar Award-winning novelist, author Rupert Holmes is also known as a Tony Award-winning playwright (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and the story-songwriter of hits like Escape (The Piña Colada Song). 

• The novel is narrated by the dean of McMasters, Harbinger Harrow.

• The location of the school is unknown even to its students.

• The story follows three students learning the art of “deletion” (the school's preferred term for murder).

• To gain admission to McMasters, prospective students must have an ethical reason for wanting to “delete” someone.

• Murder Your Employer reached #6 on the New York Times bestseller list.

• The audiobook version, narrated by Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance, was a finalist for the 2024 Audie Award for Mystery.

• Murder Your Employer is the first installment in a planned series, with the second book tentatively titled Murder Your Mate.

About the Author

Rupert Holmes (born David Goldstein in 1947) is a multifaceted British-American artist known for his contributions to music, theater, and literature. Rising to fame as a singer-songwriter in the 1970s, Holmes achieved international success with hits like Escape (The Piña Colada Song) and Him. His musical career began as a session musician, arranger, and producer, working with notable artists such as Barbra Streisand and Gene Pitney.

Holmes's versatility led him to Broadway, where he made his debut as a playwright with the 1985 Tony Award-winning musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood. This success paved the way for other theatrical works, including Curtains and Say Goodnight, Gracie. Among his notable work in television, Holmes created and wrote the AMC series Remember WENN, showcasing his talent for period storytelling. 

Holmes also brings his signature gift for blending elements of mystery, humor, and romance to his work as an author. His novels include Where the Truth Lies and Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide, which reached #6 on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover fiction.