On the surface, this sounds like a dark comedy of a novel. It starts as a sort of manual for a school that teaches their students how to ethically kill, then transitions into journal excerpts from three different characters and how they feel about their experience at school. It’s interesting as it mostly focuses on one guy at first, then adds two other characters’ journals later in. It diversifies the story and makes you come to realize that maybe the world would be better without some people. Ethical murder is a heavy topic and the presentation here lightens that but also makes it digestible.

The vibe of the school is specifically on par with any other academy you’d expect. Each class teaches the students different methods of dispatching their targets but also there’s room for PE. The story doesn’t really get too in depth about the actual teachings of murder as the character motivations are front and center. Cliff, Dulcie and Gemma all have their own reasons for wanting to commit murder. While we are initially inducted to McMaster’s through Cliff, the other two’s stories are equally as interesting. There’s a lot of hopping back and forth between them later on, and at times I really just wanted to see how one story would go, but the obvious hook there made it impossible to put down. We also get to see their targets and discover why they want to get rid of them. I came to really despise each of them as a tech bro CEO, hotshot director and extortionist hospital admin are already unlikable on the surface. The brevity of their depravity was appalling to see. I agreed that they needed to be eliminated by the time that section came around. 

Basically, at McMaster’s you either succeed in your elimination (referred to as “thesis”) or you’re the one who gets eliminated. This strict policy is how the school has remained in business for so long. That on top of the drugged bag-over-the-head technique and mutually assured destruction if the school is exposed make it the best kept secret in history. Students are also encouraged to try and eliminate one another for practice, though they generally frown upon murder without reason. It’s novel to see the book take the concept and make it seem mundane. Through rulebooks and policies, homicide becomes just another major in this story.

I found myself wanting more in regards to the teachings at the school. They spend a lot of time there, and I remember few subjects actually being studied or mentioned. The emotional manipulation and poisoning classes being the most prominent in my memory. The characters and the downplaying of murder are what make this a compelling read. I will say that the ending for each character varies in quality. There was one that felt like a cop-out, but the other two were pretty solid. The build-up to get to the murder attempts felt earned as each of the three main characters showed more capability as time went on. The dean, coach and administrator at the school were fun supporting characters as well. I also felt like more of the other students could have been given more time, though with the depth of the main three, I can appreciate the focus. If you enjoy ridiculous concepts driven by strong character motivations, then you’ll enjoy this murderous academic adventure.