Scan barcode
Reviews tagging 'Homophobia'
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide by Rupert Holmes
21 reviews
bigheadcam's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
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!
Moderate: Murder, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Gun violence, Homophobia, Death, Classism, Suicide, Pregnancy, Bullying, Grief, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Kidnapping
a_little_teacup's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Violence, Sexual harassment, and Murder
Moderate: Suicide and Homophobia
bzliz's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
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.
Graphic: Murder, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Homophobia, Transphobia, Suicide, Alcohol, and Racism
Death, murder:janae's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
However, the second half of the book makes up for that in spades as we build up to the promised deletions. It’s interesting and definitely satisfying, although I will say the “shock value” of one of the nursery was, in my opinion, based on played out homophobic tropes. Sure, this is all set in the fifties so it’s plenty realistic but I don’t know that that makes it right.
I found that I was rarely truly surprised by events that happened, although before reading the page I couldn’t have guessed. I think that means the mystery was well built so that few things came out of left field while still being interesting. The biggest surprise for me was the “postscript” ending.
As for the characters, I found them lovable but shallow. Not at by any means, just lacking depth of character. I think that works for this book because the whole thing is filled with jokes and puns and a sense of levity, so very deep characters might have been out of place.
Regarding diversity, I marked it’s complicated because while there is a main character of color, and some diverse side characters overall the book is very white centric. Which is fine but there was just enough lack that I couldn’t honestly mark it as diverse.
Finally, I would reccommend this book to anyone who wants a light, fun, campy mystery. This is for lovers of puns and slapstick. If you don’t like dramatic, self aware humor based narration then this won’t be for you.
Moderate: Homophobia and Murder
drastichopeful's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Classism, Death of parent, Murder, Violence, Grief, Death, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Sexism, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Medical content, Racism, Suicide, and Police brutality
Minor: Transphobia and Homophobia
cozyscones's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide, Sexual harassment, Homophobia, and Misogyny
Minor: Racism and Transphobia
toffishay's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Graphic: Death and Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Violence, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexism, Alcohol, Homophobia, Death of parent, Transphobia, Classism, Racism, Medical content, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, and Gun violence
In addition to listed content warnings, story also contains mention of "Gambling/Gambling Addiction"madamenovelist's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Murder, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Gun violence, Misogyny, Violence, Suicide, and Death
Moderate: Transphobia, Stalking, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Sexual content, and Homophobia
honeyenbee's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Murder, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Racism
Minor: Chronic illness, Animal death, Kidnapping, Trafficking, Homophobia, and Grief
kat1105's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Pregnancy, Blood, Classism, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, and Alcohol
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Homophobia, Sexual content, and Misogyny