Murder Your Employer

Of the three McMasters students featured—Doria Maye, Gemma Lindley, and Cliff Iverson, why do you think the author chose to feature only Cliff as a narrator?

The personalities of McMasters students are diverse, more so than one might suspect of murderers-in-training (consider the gentleness of Gemma, or the clumsiness of Cubby). Was there any one student in particular who surprised you in their endeavor to commit a murder?

Gemma is, technically, a veteran deletist. Can the Four Enquiries be applied to Gemma’s father’s death?

After Fiedler’s death, Cliff declares that he died not at someone else’s hands but by suicide. Why do you think Cliff felt it important to make this distinction?

Keeping the Four Enquiries in mind, do you believe Cliff is truly guilty of committing a murder?

Why do you think the author chose to set the story during the 1950s?

Judd Helkampf comes quite close to deleting Cliff and Gemma. At a school that teaches the art of murder, why was Judd scolded and himself deleted for appearing to be a rather quick study?

Throughout the book, there are several references to Biblical scripture. What is the significance (and, possibly, the irony) of this?

Toward the end of the book, Lilianna Horvath proves to be a rather significant character. Did you ever suspect Liliana to be Cliff’s sponsor? Why, or why not?

Gemma is allowed to return to McMasters as a student counselor, even after failing to complete her master’s thesis. Does this rare exception made for Gemma appear to align with McMasters’ values or depart from them?

What role do personal and moral values play in this book, particularly in the journeys of Gemma and Cliff?