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Murder Your Employer
Murder Your Employer: The McMasters Guide to Homicide | Rupert Holmes
From the diabolical imagination of Edgar Awardwinning 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 hasnt 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 youve 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 collegeits location unknown to even those who study thereis where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmateand where ones 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 youll 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 youll ever read. Rupert Holmess much celebrated career ranges from chart-topping story songs with surprising twistsEscape (The Pina Colada Song)to Tony Awardwinning whodunit musicalsThe Mystery of Edwin DroodEdgar Awardwinning comedy-thrillersAccompliceand 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.
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Amiable
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The tagged book was my pick of the 5 FICTION books I completed in October. It was a fun tongue-in-cheek read, but did not hold a candle to September‘s pick: “The Trees” by Percival Everett. Which set up a very difficult decision for the quarterfinals. In the end, my heart is still with “Stoner,” which moves on.

#2024ReadingBrackets

jdiehr My sister gifted me a copy of Murder Your Employer in a Halloween box she surprised me with. Glad to hear it's good 🙂 1d
43 likes1 comment
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jdiehr
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My sister sent me a Halloween box that included this book!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Love this 🖤 3w
kspenmoll What a sweet sister! 2w
33 likes2 comments
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Ellie_H
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This is what I got so far for@the #hauntedshelf word search. #FrightClub
-Book
-Dark
-Night
(This is only out of the portion that I have read so far)

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Fr3NcHtOaSt
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Think Hogwarts for adults that learn to become masters at murder (instead of magic) set in the 1950s.

Really enjoying this one. Has a first person journal account of our main character but also switches to narrative accounts of other characters experiences and missions.

#MurderYourEmployer #McMastersGuidetoHomicide #RupertHolmes #book #ebook #kindle

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AmyK1
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Pickpick

While there was plenty of murder, there wasn‘t a lot of mystery for this month‘s Mother Daughter Murder Mystery Book Club with @wideeyedreader It was still a lot of fun though!

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wideeyedreader
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Pickpick

While not as much of a mystery as other books @AmyK1 and I have read for our Mother Daughter Murder Mystery Book Club, this was a lot of fun!! I really enjoyed it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

lil1inblue My sister bought me this for the title alone. 😂 Good to know it's an enjoyable read! 2mo
22 likes1 comment
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Ddzmini
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Pickpick

Great read … I laughed and felt for the characters as they progressed through their process and the thesis projects 🤣🤣🤣📖 so I really liked the way this book presented a different storyline loved it

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Ddzmini
This post contains spoilers
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From me “Where it comes to killers” to the sentence starting with “Pledge” I just thought wow so I just accepted that I‘m not a deletist … 🤣📖 I‘m really loving this so far ☠️

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Ddzmini
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Ok here‘s the list of books I‘m reading… let me explain
1) audible- so I can listen when I go for walks
2) book- because I love the authors work
3) book- because you have to have something to laugh at
4) kindle- in case I forget the other options
5) book- because you have to have something that stimulates your academic brain cells…

So this is how I got myself into this reading list 🤣📖📚📘

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Ddzmini
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Omg 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I can‘t even read it through I‘m laughing so hard

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Ddzmini
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What a way to start a book, ok and that forward I‘m already 🤣🤣🤣📖👀 can‘t wait to get to the chapters

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Happy birthday 🎊 3mo
julesG Happy Birthday 🎉🎂📚 3mo
Ddzmini @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks and @julesG 🤦🏼‍♀️ it‘s not my birthday I don‘t know why that‘s there I did see it until now omg talk about a mess I just wanted to”book” what a way to start a book 🤦🏼‍♀️ but thank you for the very marry unbirthday wishes 🤣 3mo
julesG 🤣🤣🤣🤣 3mo
29 likes4 comments
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MadDustKitties
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50% off the second book at Barnes & Noble so I bought a couple of mysteries. Only on chapter four but this looks promising.

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Bookwormjillk
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Lucky to be away on this hot week. We tried to go out and do stuff but after a while gave up and sat by the pool.

Cheryl_Russell_BookNotes Good book choice! 5mo
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Bookwormjillk
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Once again I was a victim of a Barnes & Noble buy one get one 50% off sale. This time I am determined to actually read the books I bought!

KathyWheeler I loved this book. 5mo
64 likes1 comment
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451Degrees
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Pickpick

The book follows three students who have found themselves at McMasters Conservatory for the Applies Arts which is a university to teach people how to effectively “delete” people then closes out with each students “thesis project” which is how well they murdered their target. This was a well thought out original idea for a novel and it is humorous as well to lighten up the mood of planning someone‘s ultimate demise. Highly recommend!

39 likes2 stack adds
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Magdalenka
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“When a man dies from a bullet entering his chest, it's a homicide.
When a man dies from a meteorite landing on his head, it's a tragedy.
Don't use bullets. Use meteorites
Don't commit a homicide. Commit a Tragedy.”

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K.Wielechowski
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Mehso-so

Three people attend the McMasters school to learn how to delete (murder) their employers.

I don‘t know if I would‘ve liked it just reading it but the audiobook is very good.

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iread2much
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Pickpick

I enjoyed the way the author brought the painful realities of employment in a satirical way highlighting that most people don‘t want to kill their employer but due to the unequal power structures they find they must.
When he fails at murdering his employer Cliff is brought to a school that will give him, and his classmates, the skills to delete the awful man.
3.5/5 read for more satire than murder, with light social commentary.

AnnCrystal 💕🐕💝. 9mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 9mo
iread2much @AnnCrystal 😊💜🐕 9mo
iread2much @dabbe 💜🐕☺️ 9mo
30 likes4 comments
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CaitlinR
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Mehso-so

Rupert Holmes has presented us with an interesting premise, and at times the story is engaging. Unfortunately there are also clunky bits that drag, and also sections that are just overwrought and border on the farcical.

Cliff Iverson, after an unsuccessful attempt to murder his truly awful boss, is enrolled at a College formed to instruct in the fine art of murder. His story, and that of other students, make up the plot. Bit of a slog.

CaitlinR Photo of the author by Susan Woog Wagner 10mo
26 likes1 comment
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Captivatedbybooks
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I opened my package and ran out the house and forgot who sent me my #CreepyChristmas swap. I loved the wrapping and the dish towels!!!!! I cannot wait for next year so I can decorate my bathroom with them. I love the choices of books and those bookmarks are soooo stinking cute ❣️❣️❣️

teebe This would be from @ImperfectCJ 10mo
ImperfectCJ I'm so glad you like it! It's a minor miracle that everything made it to you as I was sorely tempted to keep a couple of the items...I might have to buy duplicates for myself! 10mo
Gissy Great package!🖤🖤🖤🖤 10mo
Gissy @ImperfectCJ So funny! That happens to me in every single swap 😂 10mo
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Bluebird
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#12booksof2023. However, I could not pick just one!

Rupert Holmes: Great storyteller. Absolutely wonderful premise: a school to teach one how to ‘delete‘ a hated boss. Unique, creative and fun! I must read more by him!

The other fav is quite different. A beautiful memoir about a guard at the Met. Lovely insights into the art, the visitors and his personal journey dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. This went straight to my heart!

Andrew65 Look wonderful books. 10mo
20 likes1 comment
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

I did end up liking this book in the end. I think it‘s just a tad too long, but that doesn‘t really hurt it. I am particularly fond of the ending. Up next is An Assassin in Utopia — non-fiction about how the Oneida utopian community may have had a role in the assassination of the US‘s President Garfield. #audiowalk. Upper left is one of the botanical garden‘s cats. He kind of blends into the sidewalk.

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KathyWheeler
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I have a bit over an hour and a half left, so I should finish it tomorrow. I hate when it gets dark so early! A benefit to being retired though is that early dark doesn‘t have to interfere with my walking outside as I can just go earlier. 😊 #audiowalk

Suet624 How long was your walk? 12mo
KathyWheeler @Suet624 3 miles. 12mo
Suet624 @KathyWheeler wonderful. I‘m trying to push myself to walk more. 12mo
KathyWheeler @Suet624 I get a lot of listening done, plus I‘ve found that I can work through issues and my mindset is more positive when I walk. 12mo
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KathyWheeler
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Back to warmish weather today for my #audiowalk. Our heroes are now working on their Murder University theses. We‘ll see how that goes.

Megabooks I enjoyed walking today too. Much better weather! 12mo
KathyWheeler @Megabooks Yes! Much better! 12mo
31 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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More weirdness at the McMaster murder school. I‘m most interested in Gemma‘s story, and she‘s a side character. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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I had to go home to change in order to walk; I‘d have been too cold in what I had on! So I had a nice #audiowalk in long sleeves and sweatpants. I‘m reserving judgement about this book because it‘s just so odd, but I think I like it.

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Hooked_on_books
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Mehso-so

This one starts so strong—funny, interesting. But it quickly focuses more on one of the main characters to the detriment of the other two, who feel tacked on. Then, the whole book starts to sag when they leave the school and each storyline is followed individually. I wanted to love this, but it just has too many issues.

rubyslippersreads I was really looking forward to this one, since the author created one of my favorite TV shows, Remember WENN. 13mo
Hooked_on_books @rubyslippersreads A lot of people are loving this, so hopefully you‘ll be among them rather than reacting the way I did! 13mo
39 likes2 comments
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Nessavamusic
Bailedbailed

This started strong, but half way through it became tedious and I am totally bored so DNFing at 60%

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Read-y_Picker
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When you thought you waited late in enough to poste your #scarathlon TBR but the library holds you weren‘t expecting for weeks suddenly come in… 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️
#BlackCatCrew

Larkken Haha, relatable 13mo
BookwormAHN I also know that feeling. Great bag 🐈‍⬛ 13mo
38 likes2 comments
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ICantImReading
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Do in others how you would have others do you in.”

An unexpected, clever, quirky, and darkly funny back-to-school read! The McMaster‘s Conservatory trains “deletists” in the homicidal arts. The narration was top notch! I think fans of “Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone” and “Killers of a Certain Age” would also appreciate this. 🎧

5feet.of.fury Love NPH 14mo
ICantImReading @5feet.of.fury I was excited to see that he was one of the narrators! Perfect casting! 🙂 14mo
49 likes2 comments
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deirdrebeecher
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Pickpick

Funny isn't it how a very good book which ends a little flat feels so much worse than an okay book which ends on a high. I thought this would be an automatic 5* and yet somehow it isn't. McMasters is a school for murderers. Cliff, Dulcie and Gemma all have very good reasons for signing up. Plots, characters, writing all great. Feel they got too caught up in making it cozy and tying up all the loose ends. Still recommend as a 4*

julesG I like the cover on this edition. Very fitting. 14mo
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Bookzombie
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Pickpick

I can‘t put my finger on why, but this pick is on the lower end. The narration by Neil Patrick Harris and Simon Vance was great. I enjoyed when the characters were at Hogwa…er, I mean McMasters the most. Maybe it was just too long or maybe it was just me. 🤷🏼‍♀️

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lisakoby
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The best kind of impulse buy!

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ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

Cute concept fairly skillfully executed (pun intended). The multiple storylines are sometimes tricky to follow, but the settings are immersive, and the novel is enjoyable overall, especially reading it in the first month of a new job.

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Laughterhp
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Pickpick

I randomly found this book when I was walking through the bookstore and picked it up. But then I saw who the narrators were and decided it would be a better listen! NPH and Simon Vance are both amazing! It was my first book read by NPH but I love Simon Vance!

This book was great. It‘s not really a mystery except for who his benefactor is. I really enjoyed this book. Sun fun!

#jubilantjuly

thegirlwiththelibrarybag I‘ve added this to my audible wishlist - for when I‘ve finished my current reads. 1y
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 I love listening to Simon Vance reading books. 1y
65 likes2 comments
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Jen2
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Pickpick

So fun!

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limada
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Pickpick

I loved this book. What a great twist on a mystery. I've no intention to "delete" my employer, but there's some really fun information in these pages. Looking forward to the next volume, though i expect it may be a different narrator... #32-2023

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DGRachel
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Pickpick

Unique, clever, and highly entertaining. Neil Patrick Harris narrates the POV of one of the students and Simon Vance takes on the roll of narrator for all of the third-person sections. Both are brilliant.

CSeydel Is this Rupert Holmes of the “piña colada song”? 1y
DGRachel @CSeydel I‘m not familiar with the pina colada song, so I‘ve no idea. 1y
CSeydel Oof. I was trying to make a joke, but now I just feel old 💀 1y
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DGRachel @CSeydel Oops. Sorry! Don‘t feel old. I‘m just clueless about a lot of things, so blame my ignorance! 1y
CSeydel Lol! Well, my kids are teenagers/young adults, so my immediate response to anything is “god, I‘m old” 😂 1y
AlaMich @CSeydel That‘s the first thing I thought of too! 1y
DGRachel @CSeydel @AlaMich I had to go Google the song. I‘m older than the song, so it‘s definitely not you, it‘s me. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 1y
DGRachel And YES! Apparently it‘s the same person. 😱 1y
AlaMich It‘s a fun song, and it really tells a story. 1y
CSeydel @AlaMich It‘s definitely one that sticks with you 😆 @DGRachel it‘s really the same person? I thought I was kidding! I didn‘t know he wrote a book. 1y
DGRachel @CSeydel It is! I found his website and he has done a lot of different things. https://www.rupertholmes.com/ 1y
CSeydel 👍🏻 1y
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bthegood
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Pickpick

Follows 3 students (McMasters School) who are learning how to delete someone. A Hogwarts for adults (without the magic)- the campus is beautiful, teachers are quirky, students form tight bonds, goal is ethical/well rounded deletists. Humorous and engaging. Really enjoyed each students back story - thesis (how they would delete someone) - and final exam (carrying out the deletion).

#BookSpinBingo #AlphabeticalBingo

Make agreat day everyone 🙂

39 likes1 stack add
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bthegood
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2 of 3 books finished for #MagnificentMay - still reading tagged book (probably done by end of tomorrow) -
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 -
And Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there in Litsyland - 🌹
Make a great day everyone 🙂

Andrew65 Well done, that‘s excellent 👏👏👏🙌🍾🥂🥳 Have a great Mother‘s Day. 1y
bthegood @Andrew65 thank you - 1y
35 likes1 stack add2 comments
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bthegood
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One more book (the tagged) to reach my #MagnificentMay readathon goal.
Working toward some bingos on my #BookSpinBingo and #AlphabeticalBingo .
Thanks for hosting @Andrew65 @TheAromaofBooks and @Clwojick -

Make a great day everyone 🙂

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 1y
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 1y
27 likes2 comments
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vlwelser
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Pickpick

Simon Vance + NPH = magic

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I Probably shouldn‘t read this at work!! 😂😂 2y
dabbe @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Or ... you could put a copy on your boss's desk for Boss's Day! 🤣🤣🤣 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
Laughterhp Oo I bought the hardcover of this, but I might need to switch to audio! 2y
38 likes1 stack add4 comments
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bthegood
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My goals for #MagnificentMay readathon is to finish tagged book, and “Life Expectancy“ and “The House of Dark Shadows“ -
thanks for hosting @Andrew65

Make a great day everyone 😎

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Sharpeipup
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Probably not the book to read the first week of a new job.

Pageturner1 lol, probably not 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Or any day at work lol!!! 🤣🤣🤣 2y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks It‘s a beautiful cover though ❤️🖤 2y
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vlwelser But it's so fun. Simon Vance and NPH do the audio. 2y
Sharpeipup @vlwelser bet I could listen to it in the office…especially with those narrators. 2y
vlwelser Definitely worth the attempt. 2y
40 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Follow.my.read
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Oooo it has a MAP!!!! #MurderYourEmplyer#volume1#The McMastersGuideTo Homicide#RupertHolmes#InsideArt

Soubhiville I thought this was a fun book. Enjoy! 2y
Ruthiella Is he the guy who sang the pina colada song? 2y
57 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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paisleyjess
Bailedbailed

Very "cheeky" narration with breaks in the third wall as another narrator interjects. Just not my cup of tea right now even though the idea is cute.

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ncsufoxes
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Pickpick

I listened to this one on audio. Neil Patrick Harris was one of the narrators, so that sold me. Both Harris & Vance bring the story to life with their different voices for the various characters throughout the story. It was a fun, quirky story about a school that teaches you the fine arts of deleting someone. I‘m hoping there are more books in the future. The down side is it‘s a long listen. 14 hours but worth it. #bookspin book

AmyG Sounds good! 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 2y
27 likes1 stack add2 comments
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TheBookbabeblog84
Mehso-so

I don‘t know if it was the audiobook or the over all story line but I didn‘t love it. I am going to have to real sit with this one for a moment to figure out what didn‘t thrill me.

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YouReadMyEyes
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I have to admit, the checkout clerk at the bookstore gave me a weird look when ringing me up for this title 🧐 😂

#murderyouremployer #mystery #thriller #crime

tpixie 😀😂🤣 2y
48 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BookBelle84
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Mehso-so

This was funny and clever. The audio is definitely the way to go. I do have to say that I loved the first part in the school. The author lost me a little in the second part with the students back in the real world because the murders were rather complicated and convoluted. I would be interested to read more in the school setting.