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The New York Times Book Review
“By The Book: Rupert Holmes”
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CBS Saturday Morning: Rupert Holmes opens up about new novel “Murder Your Employer”
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USA Today (Article and Video) interviews Rupert Holmes re his national bestseller Murder Your Employer 
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Barnes & Noble Events: Rupert Holmes discusses MURDER YOUR EMPLOYER with Neil Patrick Harris.
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The London Times: The McMasters Guide to Homicide: Vol 1 by Rupert Holmes review — want to murder your boss? Here’s How.
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The LA Times: Enjoy Rupert Holmes’ new cozy mystery!
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Newsday: ‘Murder Your Employer’— A book of surpassing cleverness written by a man whose protean reserves of wit have given us cultural touchstones! A coup de grâce of Holmesian cleverness!
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The Poisoned Pen Bookstore Podcast: PodBean | YouTube | Facebook

BroadwayWorld: Rupert Holmes on His Habit of Writing About Murder
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The Week: Rupert Holmes recommends 6 timeless books
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KATU-TV (ABC): Watch Rupert’s interview on Portland’s AM Northwest (live in-studio appearance)
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KATU-TV (ABC): Watch Rupert’s interview on Portland’s KATU-TV “Afternoon Live”
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Len Berman & Michael Riedel on WOR Radio: Rupert Holmes Interview
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The History of Literature Podcast: Writing Hit Songs, Rewriting Charles Dickens, and Murdering Your Employer (with Rupert Holmes)
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NPR WNYC: Murder Your Employer shared with readers, “5 new mysteries and thrillers to help get you through winter”
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CrimeReads: The Best Plot Twists In Mystery by Rupert Holmes
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The RoundTable Podcast (WAMC Northeast Public Radio): Rupert Holmes’ launches new thriller book series “McMasters Guide to Homicide” with “Murder Your Employer”
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The Southern Bookseller Review: Spotlight On: Murder Your Employer By Rupert Holmes
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BOLO Books: Murder Your Employer (BOLO Books Review)
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About Murder Your Employer


From the diabolical imagination of Edgar Award–winning novelist, playwright, and story-songwriter Rupert Holmes comes a devilish thriller with a killer concept: The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, a luxurious, clandestine college dedicated to the fine art of murder where earnest students study how best to “delete” their most deserving victim.

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college—its location unknown to even those who study there—is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate…and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder of someone whose death will make the world a much better place to live.

Prepare for an education you’ll never forget. A delightful mix of witty wordplay, breathtaking twists and genuine intrigue, Murder Your Employer will gain you admission into a wholly original world, cocooned within the most entertaining book about well-intentioned would-be murderers you’ll ever read.

Rupert Holmes’s much celebrated career ranges from chart-topping story songs with surprising twists—“Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”—to Tony Award–winning whodunit musicals—The Mystery of Edwin Drood—Edgar Award–winning comedy-thrillers—Accomplice—and the Nero Wolfe Best American Mystery Novel nominated Where the Truth Lies, made into an Atom Egoyan motion picture starring Colin Firth and Kevin Bacon. Called “an American treasure” (Los Angeles Times), “a true Renaissance man” by Newsweek, “a comic genius” (Kirkus Reviews) and simply “a genius” (The Times, London), Rupert Holmes brings his wickedly clever storytelling talents to this outrageous and darkly comic mystery set in a secret, idyllic campus where students learn how to “do in others as you would have others do you in.

Raves

NY TIMES BEST SELLER!
LA TIMES BEST SELLER!
WASHINGTON POST BEST SELLER!
INDIE BOOKS BEST SELLER!

“This case study in the droll amusements of homicide will keep you up at night—alternately turning pages and checking to make sure the front door is locked!” —Gregory Maguire, author of Wicked

“With dry humor and an eye for hidden clues, Rupert Holmes imagines a secret school that teaches the fine art of pulling off the perfect (and perfectly deserved) murder. An utterly creative and deliciously diabolical read.” —Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of Find Me

“Original and captivating: the concept, the execution, the characters, the brilliant wordplay. You will find it impossible to stop reading until the extraordinary puzzles are solved. Holmes will have you hysterical—with laughter AND terror! ” —Otto Penzler, The Mysterious Bookshop

“Only Rupert Holmes could make murder laugh-out-loud funny. It’s fiendishly clever, and the twists, tricks and endless surprises make me want to sign up for another semester!” —R.L. Stine, author of Goosebumps and Fear Street

“Delightfully wicked, a gifted wordsmith delivers a top-notch read that both entertains and amuses. Excellent pacing replete with droll observations, the book’s satisfying conclusion is as delightful as its premise!” —Amy Nolan, Library Journal (starred review)

“Wildly entertaining, clever and inventive!” —Louisa Ermelino, Publishers Weekly

“From the fiendishly funny hand of the Edgar and Tony-winning Holmes, this thriller is delightfully dark and compelling. Perfect for readers looking for something very different.” —Jane Murphy, Booklist

“His farcical plotting, idiosyncratic characters, and witty stylish prose combine for a fun, frothy read.” Publishers Weekly

“Holmes fans will not be surprised that a story about murder can also be full of zingers and witty wordplay: humor, lush surroundings, sympathetic characters whose heart and humanity can’t be extinguished, and clever plotting that would challenge even a great detective like the author’s namesake.” —Elyse Dinh-McCrillis, Shelf Awareness

“This will be one of the funniest books of the year!” CrimeReads, “Most Anticipated Crime Fiction of 2023”

“This gleefully dark tale, filled with wry humor and genuine insight into human behavior is better than a day at the amusement park. Characters that evoke images of people we may know resonate with real life, no matter the fantastic nature of the narrative. The yarn gallops at a delightful pace making this an easy read. Dark fun!” Reading the West

“First in a brilliant new series, a cheeky delightful mashup of Hogwarts, James Bond and Agatha Christie. Prepare to laugh (and also lock your doors)!” —Susan Kehoe, Browseabout Books

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