The intern's handbook a.k.a. Kill your boss by Shane Kuhn

"The intern's handbook" a.k.a. "Kill your boss", debut novel of Shane Kuhn. This book is published by  Simon & Schuster in 2014 and has 288 pages. Why there are two titles? Because this book is published in US as "The intern's handbook" and in UK as "Kill your boss.

John Lago is an orphan and works for HR Inc. run by Bob. What's their business? To place interns in various corporations. The interns are assigned to a boss. They earn his trust and then kill him. HR Inc. is an organization of contract killers disguised as interns.

John is assigned to kill one of the three partners of a Law firm. He has to identify the one who sells the identities from witness protection program and kill him. This would be his last assignment before he retirees at the age of 25. Here he meets Alice, a beautiful junior associate and decides to use her as an asset to gain entry where an intern is not allowed. He pretends to love her and she intern mobilizes help to find his biological father.

Can John identify and kill the partner? Who is Alice? Can she find his father? Does John retire? Is this his last assignment?

The book is written in first person narrative. John has written a handbook for other interns and told his story through it. It could have been a memoire instead of handbook and still would have made the same impact.

The idea of intern assassin is superb, full marks to the idea. The anonymity enjoyed by an intern, a free worker, is key to gaining confidence of boss without drawing attention and then killing him. Author has written very well. The start of book is engaging, middle portion drags a little bit and end is again interesting. Although you don't read it in one go you also don't abandon it.

Style of writing is different and a good change from usual. Narration is informative and entertaining but a little mechanical at times. Considering that this is the first novel of author, we can expect more good work from him in future.

The cover design and use of eye catching yellow color is very effective. I think the European title is more appropriate.

A good book. If you are a fan of thrillers and want to read something different, this book is for you.