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Reviews tagging 'Stalking'
How to murder your Boss – McMasters Handbuch zum Morden by Rupert Holmes
15 reviews
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Picked this up based on a random post that came up on my feed and entirely based on the title. Clever and steady paced. Not exactly suspenseful more methodical including the plot, enjoyed the idea of training people to become better killers/how to get away with murder.
Content Warnings
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Misogyny, Violence, Murder, Gaslighting
Moderate: Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Body shaming, Medical content, Medical trauma, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'd give it one star, but by the time I wanted to DNF it, I was already halfway through the book and decided to begrudgingly commit to finishing the rest of it. ("But there's a half/quarter star rating feature!" don't piss me off more than this book already has. Let me make life simple for myself.)
I'll start this off kindly: I wanted to read this book because the cover is gorgeous and I found the morbid title entertaining. The premise of failed/aspiringmurderers "deletionists" attending a homicide school is fascinating in a gothic, almost comical way. It's an interesting and refreshing story idea that I've personally never seen done. Also, the world-building and mapping of the McMasters college itself is very cool! Every location is described just enough to both instill the intended and evoke a personal description of what everything looks like, which is perfect for someone like me.
However, as many other reviewers have mentioned, there were problems--which were in a grand MAJORITY of the book--that instilled a fury that I myself cannot even begin to fathom.
It's very obvious that Rupert Holmes as a bit of an ego complex, in which he inflates and translates to every, single male character introduced throughout the narration. Dean Harrow. Cliff Iverson. Merrill Fiedler. Simeon Sampson. Jud Helkampf. These are like the first examples I can come up with from the top of my head, but this urge to find Holmes and strangle him was deeply ingrained in me, because why does every single male character have the exact same douchebag attitude? Like, I get it, the time period in this is set post-WW2 when sexism was much bigger than it is now, but Holmes can take the stick shoved up his tush and beat himself with it because he does not do characterization well AT ALL.
I'm almost inclined to say that he (somehow) wrote the women better, but the other two POVs--both of which were women--were insufferable in their own "special" ways. Doria Maye has an incredibly sexualized personality and character: despite her being the most tolerable POV between her, Cliff, and Gemma, I was still eyerolling at her evidently "I am a woman who is sexy, promiscuous, and will use that to manipulate men" trope. Very sexist character trope. Gemma Lindley, on the other hand, was almost written to be as important as diet water, which is to say that Holmes evidently did not have enough going on in the plot (sarcasm) and decided that Cliff needed a romantic love interest or, as my manager called it, a "side-quest." HE DOES NOT NEED THIS SIDE-QUEST. HIS PREVIOUS LOVE INTEREST COMMITTED KYS AND DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE GOOGLY EYES OVER A GIRL HE JUST MET AT THIS HOMICIDE SCHOOL THAT EVIDENTLY HAS NO INTEREST IN HIM IN THE SLIGHTEST! Speaking of which, there is genuinely no hint of Gemma returning his feelings at all until her point of view a third into the book, and her returned feelings during that exam felt cringily forced. And then at the end:"Cliff! You're alive! :D" "Gemma! You're not dead let's go out on a date! ;D" THE STICK, HOLMES. USE THE STICK.
And, oh my god, for all the living things in the world, this book literally treats us like we're stupid. Of course, it doesn't help that the narrator is Dean Harbinger Harrow, one of the most insufferable characters of the book who tries to be morbidly funny and fails to. Every. Thing. Is. Explained. Over. And. Over. Again. Then it's explained IN ELABORATE DETAIL A SECOND TIME when something is just "so clever." Holmes (Holmes...), I hope both sides of your pillow and your bed is a little too warm for comfort every night.
And, of course, the cherry on top...
I'll start this off kindly: I wanted to read this book because the cover is gorgeous and I found the morbid title entertaining. The premise of failed/aspiring
However, as many other reviewers have mentioned, there were problems--which were in a grand MAJORITY of the book--that instilled a fury that I myself cannot even begin to fathom.
It's very obvious that Rupert Holmes as a bit of an ego complex, in which he inflates and translates to every, single male character introduced throughout the narration. Dean Harrow. Cliff Iverson. Merrill Fiedler. Simeon Sampson. Jud Helkampf. These are like the first examples I can come up with from the top of my head, but this urge to find Holmes and strangle him was deeply ingrained in me, because why does every single male character have the exact same douchebag attitude? Like, I get it, the time period in this is set post-WW2 when sexism was much bigger than it is now, but Holmes can take the stick shoved up his tush and beat himself with it because he does not do characterization well AT ALL.
I'm almost inclined to say that he (somehow) wrote the women better, but the other two POVs--both of which were women--were insufferable in their own "special" ways. Doria Maye has an incredibly sexualized personality and character: despite her being the most tolerable POV between her, Cliff, and Gemma, I was still eyerolling at her evidently "I am a woman who is sexy, promiscuous, and will use that to manipulate men" trope. Very sexist character trope. Gemma Lindley, on the other hand, was almost written to be as important as diet water, which is to say that Holmes evidently did not have enough going on in the plot (sarcasm) and decided that Cliff needed a romantic love interest or, as my manager called it, a "side-quest." HE DOES NOT NEED THIS SIDE-QUEST. HIS PREVIOUS LOVE INTEREST COMMITTED KYS AND DOES NOT NEED TO HAVE GOOGLY EYES OVER A GIRL HE JUST MET AT THIS HOMICIDE SCHOOL THAT EVIDENTLY HAS NO INTEREST IN HIM IN THE SLIGHTEST! Speaking of which, there is genuinely no hint of Gemma returning his feelings at all until her point of view a third into the book, and her returned feelings during that exam felt cringily forced. And then at the end:
And, oh my god, for all the living things in the world, this book literally treats us like we're stupid. Of course, it doesn't help that the narrator is Dean Harbinger Harrow, one of the most insufferable characters of the book who tries to be morbidly funny and fails to. Every. Thing. Is. Explained. Over. And. Over. Again. Then it's explained IN ELABORATE DETAIL A SECOND TIME when something is just "so clever." Holmes (Holmes...), I hope both sides of your pillow and your bed is a little too warm for comfort every night.
And, of course, the cherry on top...
"...We are not going to help someone commit murder."
(pg. 260, Chapter XXXVI)
...in a book about murder.
I almost threw this library-owned copy out of the car when I was on the highway. Look, I love ironic statements where it's a character going "It surely can't be that bad." with the starting quote of the next scene being something along the lines of "It was that bad." I love irony. I love humor. I love everything about these when it's properly executed. Note how I say "properly" before executed. This also ties back to my point about the "Holmes's main character syndrome" I was on about. This is a high-ho, smart-alec CEO saying this line, sure. Would it have made me laugh in any other circumstance? Absolutely. But after the rest of the rancid vibes I had to face from pages past, I unironically found myself considering murder. Best find you your Sherlock, Holmes. Whatever contaminated that stick up "there," eat it. Probably tastes better than what you dished for us.
All in all, let me summarize this in the best way I can: I was ranting to my manager about how bad this book was while I was reading it. Am I going to be murdering my employer anytime soon? If I was, then not anymore. That's how bad the book was. It couldn't even manager to make murder cool in a book about cool, "good" murder.
I think I'll find myself a good stick and hunt down Holmes myself...
...in a book about murder.
I almost threw this library-owned copy out of the car when I was on the highway. Look, I love ironic statements where it's a character going "It surely can't be that bad." with the starting quote of the next scene being something along the lines of "It was that bad." I love irony. I love humor. I love everything about these when it's properly executed. Note how I say "properly" before executed. This also ties back to my point about the "Holmes's main character syndrome" I was on about. This is a high-ho, smart-alec CEO saying this line, sure. Would it have made me laugh in any other circumstance? Absolutely. But after the rest of the rancid vibes I had to face from pages past, I unironically found myself considering murder. Best find you your Sherlock, Holmes. Whatever contaminated that stick up "there," eat it. Probably tastes better than what you dished for us.
All in all, let me summarize this in the best way I can: I was ranting to my manager about how bad this book was while I was reading it. Am I going to be murdering my employer anytime soon? If I was, then not anymore. That's how bad the book was. It couldn't even manager to make murder cool in a book about cool, "good" murder.
I think I'll find myself a good stick and hunt down Holmes myself...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Alcohol, War
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Medical content, Kidnapping, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Toxic friendship
There is a part about 3/4 into the book where a character pretends to be trans on multiple occasions in order to commit their murder. Each instance is slightly exaggerated, but IMO not enough to consider transphobia.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Murder
Minor: Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
dark
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Don't be fooled. This is not Murder Your Employer For Dummies. You must be quite smart to succeed in your McMasters education. Cliff Iverson learns quickly that he must have his wits about him. First, he is kidnapped and taken to a secret conservatory with an unknown location after attempting to murder his employer. Yes, he messed up, but an unknown sponsor would like to make sure the job gets done. He then must pass a series of tests before undertaking his final thesis (it's in the title). There were definitely parts of this novel that were funny and engaging, but at other times I was bored. I think the author lost me at the other two students studying for and presenting their final theses; I honestly didn't care about them or whether their employers were 'deleted.' In my opinion, Cliff's reasoning for murdering his employer was far more compelling. Overall, the murder plans and alibis were clever. I would not want to get on Rupert Holmes's bad side.
Side note: Holmes is the singer-songwriter of Escape (The Piña Colada Song). 😆
Side note: Holmes is the singer-songwriter of Escape (The Piña Colada Song). 😆
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking, Murder
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A great mix of dark humor, thriller, and a little Hogwarts-esque fantasy! A little slow and predictable sometimes, but I can appreciate the base idea here, especially as a fan of horror and thriller comedies.
Kind of wish the end was a little more flushed out though. I’m glad to see the three characters reunite, but was almost too happy and predictable of an ending for what’s overall such a dark comedy. Was the love interest really necessary if it wasn’t going to be fully addressed or developed? Could the Dean really not see his own death coming? How many students are offered to come back as faculty like that?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was a good read. Very strange and I often was very confused. Even at the end I was confused. But I liked the progression of their plans and that we had a progression of the stories of each person. I also liked that each of their stories intertwined and that not all of their deletions worked. But the one that didn’t work felt right. I would like to know what happened to the Dean at the end. But other than that it was an entertaining book and one unlike any I’ve ever read before.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug use, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Minor: Violence, Pregnancy