The sub-sub-title is "From the Chronicles of Dean Harbinger Harrow, The McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts, Dean of Admissions and Confessions, Professor Emeritus, Department of Arts and Blackmail Letters, Senior Fellow, International Guild of Murderists."
As you might have guessed from the lengthy title, Rupert Holmes' book is a send up of an elite private academy that seeks to turn out the "well-rounded" as well as successful "deletist." They only accept people who have a righteous reason for wanting someone dead. I am copying the Library Journal's review because I think it well captures the flavor and plot of the book.
"Holmes ... is a gifted wordsmith whose latest is a top-notch read that both entertains and amuses. Many have fantasized about killing their boss, but few feel adequate to do the job. The sole purpose of the McMasters Conservatory for the Applied Arts is training students to dispose of odious employers and get away scot-free. The school stresses that the task must only be committed after you have given your intended victim every chance at redemption, This delightfully wicked tale chronicles the adventures of three students: Cliff blames his former boss for the death of a woman he loved; nurse Gemma is being blackmailed by her superior; and film star Doria has been put on the back burner by a vengeful studio executive. The three are schooled in everything from poisons to disguises ... As the story line deliciously unfolds, the three aspiring killers study hard and reenter the world with their "deletion plans" ready. Told in alternating chapters among the three students, as well as narration by the school's charming dean, the book's satisfying conclusion is just as delightful as its premise. VERDICT An amusing and cheeky tale with excellent pacing replete with droll observations."
Publishers Weekly says of this book, "his farcical plotting, idiosyncratic characters, and witty, stylish prose combine for a fun, frothy read." Booklist characterizes it as s"somewhat dense thriller [which] is delightfully dark and compelling...Perfect for readers looking for something very different." Kirkus offers a more nuanced review: "There are a lot of genres happening at once in this novel. The debt to British boarding school stories is obvious, although the vibe is very different when the students aren’t adolescents ... but, rather, full-grown adults playing water polo and enjoying sumptuous meals as they learn best practices for taking lives without getting caught. The journeys of Cliff, Dulcie, and Gemma unfold like mysteries in reverse. And, while the story is set in the 1950s, the plot and dialogue are much indebted to the screwball comedies of the 1930s."
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