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Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'
How to murder your Boss – McMasters Handbuch zum Morden by Rupert Holmes
72 reviews
adventurous
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
This is a comedically dark book that I enjoyed quite a bit. Told from many excerpts of journal entries and record-keeping, it was a really clever and unique way to make you feel like the McMaster school was a real place. The eventual and unavoidable murders were cleverly done, and it was like watching a movie like The Prestige where you have to finish it to know how it all comes together in the end.
Definitely a brain twister book, but I'll definitely be reading it again and look forward to reading any sequels.
Definitely a brain twister book, but I'll definitely be reading it again and look forward to reading any sequels.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Murder, Sexual harassment
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
medium-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:
Yes
Murder Your Employer is like if Harry Potter was written for the macabre, in a good way. It's a fun story with some interesting (if at times, simple) characters as well as a fantastical setting in the form of McMasters and the U.S. in the 1950s.
It's worth mentioning that I think part of the reason that this book takes place in this time period is because quite a few of the methods mentioned in this book around "getting away with murder" would not be possible due to today's surveillance state and much more accurate and sensitive forensic technologies. Still, a good romp through hypothetical murders and the fantasy by proxy of an evil employer being shown the door!
It's worth mentioning that I think part of the reason that this book takes place in this time period is because quite a few of the methods mentioned in this book around "getting away with murder" would not be possible due to today's surveillance state and much more accurate and sensitive forensic technologies. Still, a good romp through hypothetical murders and the fantasy by proxy of an evil employer being shown the door!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual content, Suicide, Terminal illness, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
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
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Homophobia, Suicide
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is everything I love in a campy mystery- it’s quirky, laugh out loud funny, and perfectly convoluted. And after finishing it I’ve learned that the author is the same Rupert Holmes who is a 2 time Tony winner and wrote the Piña Colada song. If I believed in such things I’d say it’s proof that god really does have favorites because this man is supremely talented.
The manner is which the story is told could be confusing for anyone not in the right headspace. Primarily it is a manuscript written by the Dean of a university for would-be murderers (aka deletists)- telling the story of three students of the school, all angling to kill their employers, and we learn that one of them will not be successful. Cliff Iverson’s story is told primarily through journal entries as he must document his studies for his sponsor, whereas Gemma Lindley’s and Doria Maye’s (aka Dulcie Mown) stories are told primarily through a third person omniscient narrator. It is implied that these omniscient sections are retellings of their events from undercover agents and former graduates of McMasters. Additionally, the book is split in two clear parts. The first takes place at the school where our student heroes are learning all the skills they need to become well-rounded deletists; the second is their return to the real world where they must complete their thesis (murder) in order to graduate and failure will result in their own deletion.
The only reason I cannot give this a full five stars is the tendency to use underlines to ensure a pun, double entendre, joke, etc lands correctly. It was distracting for me. I will still readily recommend this to anyone looking for a mystery book that takes an unconventional approach to the subject.
The manner is which the story is told could be confusing for anyone not in the right headspace. Primarily it is a manuscript written by the Dean of a university for would-be murderers (aka deletists)- telling the story of three students of the school, all angling to kill their employers, and we learn that one of them will not be successful. Cliff Iverson’s story is told primarily through journal entries as he must document his studies for his sponsor, whereas Gemma Lindley’s and Doria Maye’s (aka Dulcie Mown) stories are told primarily through a third person omniscient narrator. It is implied that these omniscient sections are retellings of their events from undercover agents and former graduates of McMasters. Additionally, the book is split in two clear parts. The first takes place at the school where our student heroes are learning all the skills they need to become well-rounded deletists; the second is their return to the real world where they must complete their thesis (murder) in order to graduate and failure will result in their own deletion.
The only reason I cannot give this a full five stars is the tendency to use underlines to ensure a pun, double entendre, joke, etc lands correctly. It was distracting for me. I will still readily recommend this to anyone looking for a mystery book that takes an unconventional approach to the subject.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual assault, Murder, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Racism, Suicide, Transphobia, Alcohol
Death, murder: I hope if these trigger you that you haven’t picked this book up. Multiple people will be murdered in this book, with specific details as to how it was done included.
Sexual harassment: Doria’s target Leonid Kosta exploits women looking to break into the film industry to lure them to his home. He also uses refusal of his advances against her, thus resulting in her desire to kill him. Gemma’s target Adele Underton essentially pimps her out (using blackmail) to a big wig coming to the hospital to secure them more funding. Gemma does not go through with it.
Sexual assault: Cliff’s target Merrill Fiedler regularly uses his station to entice women to his bed (or office). He also drugs them so they’re unaware as he takes photos of them in a compromised state that he can later use as blackmail when he wants them to go away so he can victimize someone else, but also as a threat to keep them under his thumb.
Injury: Gemma is nearly strangled at the school. Later she is hit with cinder blocks from 3-4 stories off the ground. Other injuries occur including a few poisonings, plus the murders themselves.
Alcohol: They drink occasionally. Alcohol is mainly used as a method of concealing poison.
Homophobia: There is clearly shame given to same sex partners that would be period appropriate. They are minor mentions.
Racism: Gemma notes that it’s acceptable that her white father married a woman of color but that it would not have been so if their races had been reversed. Some microaggressions about her mixed race in her real life.
Suicide: Cliff’s crush Cora overdosed on pills due to his murder target’s blackmail.
Transphobia: Police make some comments about the “evidence” left at one of the crime scenes showing how the murderer must be a man masquerading as a woman. They toe the line between homophobia and transphobia depending on if they believe the target knew about the guise, which is all manufactured evidence anyway.
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
"Don't commit homicide. Commit a tragedy."
A fantastic read to kick off the new year! (I technically started this at the tail end of December, but I read most of it in January so I'll count it.) Holmes embraces what could be a dark topic with engaging wit and whimsy. Throughout the novel, you follow three main characters (Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Dulcie Mown) in their separate quests to "take care of" their individual problems. What seems to be a straightforward assassination plan is handled with care, stealth, and cautiously laid out plans that tie up every loose end imaginable. The act of killing isn't just thrown about willy-nilly, and it's interesting to see the different moral/ethical guidelines put in place by McMasters. Holmes successfully immerses the readers in the ideology of the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts by introducing them to the different classes, techniques, and professors that help create well-rounded deletionists (not murderers, obviously). Such an engaging book with a fitting while somewhat unexpected end!
A fantastic read to kick off the new year! (I technically started this at the tail end of December, but I read most of it in January so I'll count it.) Holmes embraces what could be a dark topic with engaging wit and whimsy. Throughout the novel, you follow three main characters (Cliff Iverson, Gemma Lindley, and Dulcie Mown) in their separate quests to "take care of" their individual problems. What seems to be a straightforward assassination plan is handled with care, stealth, and cautiously laid out plans that tie up every loose end imaginable. The act of killing isn't just thrown about willy-nilly, and it's interesting to see the different moral/ethical guidelines put in place by McMasters. Holmes successfully immerses the readers in the ideology of the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts by introducing them to the different classes, techniques, and professors that help create well-rounded deletionists (not murderers, obviously). Such an engaging book with a fitting while somewhat unexpected end!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Death, Sexism, Suicide, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book instantly hooked me. The first few chapters were great! Then it got really boring, then good again, now I'm struggling to finish.
Content Warnings
Minor: Violence, Murder, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Incredibly thrilling overall. I would clarify this as a dark comedy thriller more than a mystery. Gives me the same fun vibes as a well done heist. Ending was almost too sweet in contrast with the serious subject matter.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Transphobia, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
It was super engaging and a fantastic and a fun idea I just wanted more they could have done so much more but if this is vol 1 I’m excited to read what comes next! Definitely a fun read especially if you love school/tests and that type of trope definitely a fun time
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide, Transphobia, Medical content, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Sexual harassment