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Murder Your Employer: Discussion #1

This week we are discussing Murder Your Employer: The McMaster's Guide to Homicide by Rupert Homes, Ch. 1-13.


Content Warning!!! This book contains situations and subjects related to: sexual content, murder/violence, death, sexism, suicide, homophobia, transphobia, racism, and pregnancy.


Spoiler Warning!!! This post is full of spoilers for Murder Your Employer: The McMaster's Guide to Homicide by Rupert Homes.


Discussion:

Michaela: Hello friends and welcome to our first discussion of McMaster’s Guide to Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes. So far this book is giving off some very fun and quirky vibes which I am very much into. It reminds me a little of The Kingsman film series, which I love. It did take a moment to get into this book though. The way it's written takes a little bit to get in the groove of it but once I got there it was quite enjoyable. It has also been so funny, I’ve actually laughed out loud a couple times which I wasn’t expecting. Not referring to the FBI as ‘the enemy’ because there are so many McMaster’s alumni there, that one got me, as well as listing Queen Victoria as an recognized honorable alum.

I love that the main character thinks this school is ridiculous and comments on his real opinions in his journal to his sponsor, X. His character gives off a weird kind of anti-hero energy, but the hero is actually committing murder? It’s really a fun concept to read. I like seeing other character’s “thesis” reasons as well. Our main character, Cliff, has my full support. Fiedler is a disgusting man, I was hoping that Cora might actually be alive and be Cliff’s sponsor but I don’t think that’ll happen. Mayber Cora’s father is the sponsor? Currently that’s my only theory. 

Jac: I have absolutely no clue who I think might be the sponsor yet. I’m excited to learn more about Gemma and Dulcie - from the brief glimpse we got into how they came to McMasters, it seems like it’s clear who their “executive” is, but Gemma said she’s killed before….. So there’s more to her story for sure. Plus, I have my doubts that she actually likes Jud, considering how despicable he seems to be. We know one of the three don’t graduate, which means they die… and at this point, I have no idea who I suspect will be the failure. 

I am finding this book really charming, now that I’ve gotten into it. It’s one of those books where I’m extra thankful that I’m an ebook person, because it’s been easy for me to just highlight the words or phrases I don’t recognize and look them up. With the decade it’s set in, there’s a lot of vernacular that I’m just not as familiar with. Like Michaela, I have also laughed out loud multiple times. The quips between characters are so much fun. 

I’m fascinated by McMasters itself. The fact that they are able to keep its location secret to so many people, including the students, is so cool. Much difficult to imagine in modern times, with the improvements in technology, but for the time period we’re in, it’s almost easy to imagine a college like this existing somewhere in the world. I hope we learn more about how people get in and out - is there truly a tunnel system!?

Michaela: I think it’s probably still in the UK or somewhere similar. I feel like the weather they experience would be a giveaway, but they don’t really mention that much. I love the campus and there is a map in the book of it. I love maps! Also this campus seems so cozy for being all about murder. They have meals together and they have dancing on certain nights. Then Sunday brunch. The little Market area and the lake, I love it. I wonder about all these employees though, where do they live? They can’t all live in those few staff houses can they? I have a lot of questions about this place.

I’m really enjoying Harrow, I know Cliff finds him annoying but I think he is a very funny character. He’s so proper and that makes him all the more silly. Cubby, too, is a great side character so far. I love all these comedic yet serious characters mixed in with the serious yet silly school and circumstances. Simeon is really the only character I don’t like, from the school anyways, but I don’t think we’re meant to like him. He clearly either has the biggest ego or the worst self-esteem to immediately view Cliff as a threat to his grade. They may be graded on a curve but that in no way explains why he would have this rivalry with Cliff. Simeon is one of those characters you just want to see punched in the face.

Jac: I love that Cubby keeps fucking with Cliff in various ways, but really just seems to want to be his friend. He’s charming, and so is Harrow. I love all his puns and wordplays. And he seems genuinely fond of Cliff, too. It makes me wonder if he might know who the sponsor is, or if the sponsor is a secret to the faculty, too. 

Well, friends, that’s it for this discussion! We’ll be back next week with the next section and likely more shenanigans.


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