I received a digital copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This was definitely creative but I found the whole thing just rather silly. If you like campy horror movies you would probably like this. I don't, so it just wasn't for me.

Librarian: Like many other librarians (and other professional readers) I will admit to the fact that I am getting slightly sick of YA Dystopias. There's just so many of them, and for the most part they're all quite similar. There's a few general types (ie corrupt government, people divided up into some type of social classes, protagonist thrown into prison for a crime they didn't commit, etc). This one is of the "protagonist in prison for a crime they didn't commit" type. In this case, the crime is murder, and the prison is a town where prisoners systematically hunt one another down, all while being live-streamed around the world. 
If that sounds like a Black Mirror episode, while it feels like one too. And that's part of why this YA Dystopia is a bit more fun and less formulaic than some others. It's not as heavy on the corrupt government thing as most examples of the genre, which may appeal to readers who feel like they see enough government corruption in the real world. This book also feels more mystery centered, and I think that might make it appeal to a slightly larger audience than it might otherwise.
Reader: As I said, this book feels like an episode of Black Mirror (and not the one with the two women who fell in love in the virtual reality world). As such, the dystopian aspects are more focused on the evils of technology than on the type of government who would find this a good idea in the first place. That's kind of nice. Also the story is fairly fast paced and enjoyable. It's a tad predictable at times, but then, what YA novel isn't? 3.5/5 Stars

This was such a cool and intense read. It really reminded me a lot of those 90 teen horror flicks like Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer. It seems a bit weird to say this was a fun read, but it was. I loved the element of not knowing who to trust and how Dee’s past was somehow connected to her present situation.

The concept behind Alcatraz 2.0 is interesting but also hella scary given the political climate we’re in.

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.

*A book that has a little bit of everything, mystery, thrills, romance, horror, humor, and likable characters*
Dee Guerrera, a 17 year old is sent to Alcatraz 2.0 for murdering her sister. Alcatraz 2.0 is no ordinary prison because while there everything is being filmed and the more the audience likes you the longer you stay. This story is the perfect story to read if you want something unique and out of the ordinary. This book did a good job of putting a fun twist on social media not only was it well written it was well thought out. By using social media as an important factor in the story the author is able to reach a wider audience. While the story started out strong it did start to loose me towards the end but I am glad I kept reading because it was an overall enjoyable read. I would recommend this story to others. 4/5 *Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Horror with a bit of humor!
Thanks to NetGalley and Disney Book Group for the opportunity to read and review Murder Trending by Gretchen McNeil!  
Government-sanctioned serial killers entertain citizens on The Postman app, which shows them hunting and killing convicts. A seventeen-year-old has been convicted of killing her stepsister. This teen’s name is Dee and she says she’s innocent. After the trial, Dee woke up on Alcatraz Island in a cell that reminded her of when she’d been kidnapped as an eleven-year-old. She has no recollection of the time between her trial and waking up in a cell on Alcatraz Island. The back and forth telling of the kidnapping and Alcatraz Island was difficult to follow for a while, but I kept reading and the story did get better. The characters grew on me and the unique plot and setting drew my interest. With some twists and turns and a bit of humor, #Murdertrending is entertaining, 4 stars!

Set in the near future, eighteen year old Dee has been convicted of murdering her stepsister, and is sentenced to a new type of prison, known as Alcatraz 2.0, run by a mysterious figure known as The Postman. Located on an island, Alcatraz 2.0 is always under surveillance, and the public can tune in at any time to watch the live feeds of the prisoners. What makes this prison different is the fact that there are killers on the island, who, allowed by the government, torture and kill the convicted felons that end up there. The audience can watch the murders and place bets on who they think the killer will be for each inmate.

Dee swears she's innocent, and refuses to become one of the island's next victims. She forms a group of friends, nicknamed by the public the Death Row Breakfast Club, and together they try their best to stay alive day by day. Dee is determined to find a way off of the island to prove her innocence, but in doing so, has placed herself right in the The Postman's line of sight.



As soon as I read the blurb for #MurderTrending, I knew I had to read it! I am a huge fan of books that incorporate social media into the plot, given how prevalent social media is for most people these days. Reading the book was an interesting experience, because while we know from the beginning that Dee says she's innocent, you can't help but rooting for not just her, but her entire posse of friends, even knowing that they've all been sentenced to the island because they are convicted killers (regardless of whether or not they say they are innocent). 

Another element to the book that I loved was the mysterious character, known as The Postman - a former reality TV producer, who no-one knows the identity of, but who runs the island. There are a few chapters that are told from The Postman's point of view, which made him even more intriguing. 

If you are a fan of books like The Hunger Games and 1984, movies like The Purge and Untraceable, and shows like Big Brother, I think you'll be a fan of this book. There are elements of survival, voyeurism, social media, dystopia, and corrupt governments and legal systems, and I think some of these things are really relevant to today's society, just on a smaller scale. 

All in all, this was a perfect YA thriller for me, and exactly what I needed to read at the moment. Because it's YA, it was quick and easy to get through, but didn't skimp on the gore or reveals. I also loved the ending of the book - it did a great job wrapping up this story so the reader doesn't feel like they got ripped off, while leaving it open just enough to leave room for a sequel (which comes out next year!).

This is a book you definitely have to suspend your belief to read and unfortunately I just couldn't do it. I have to be in the right mindset to read these kinds of books and I guess I just wasn't when I tried to pick this up. I can see how it would be pretty fun, but it's not working for me so I DNF'd at 40% and then read a good chunk of the end. If it sounds interesting to you I would still recommend picking it up!

In a world where a former reality mogul is president, we get introduced to Alcatraz two point oh.

A diverse group of so called 'criminals' - dubbed the Death Row Breakfast Club - are the core players in residence on Alcatraz 2.0, an island off the San Fran Bay where live executions bring...ratings.

This is a gory, quick paced read with a group of characters that will leave you cringing, laughing, and rooting for them. While the backstory lacked slightly the events that take place on the government approved execution island help to make up for it. I wasn't completely surprised by the ending, but I will definitely be reading if there is a sequel!

#MurderTrending is set in the very near future where reality television has been taken to a whole new level. The Postman is an anonymous television mogul who developed the idea for Alcatraz 2.0, an island in the San Francisco Bay, and the Postman App. People convicted of the most heinous crimes are sent to the prison island, Alcatraz 2.0 and then hunted down by government sanctioned serial killers. All of which is recorded on video and available for the public through the Postman App. This new “show” has become so popular that almost everyone in the country has a favourite serial killer that they follow and know everything about

The story begins with the main character, Dee Guerrera, as she wakes up on Alcatraz 2.0. She is dressed as a princess and immediately has to fight for her life because the executioner, Prince Slycer, is slated to kill her while America watches. But things don’t go as planned and Dee meets up with a group of fellow inmates that become known as the Death Row Breakfast Club.

The story follows them as they all try to survive on the island they were meant to die on. As they get to know each other better, they start to realise that things might be even more sinister and strange because none of them actually committed the crimes they were convicted of.

We see the story unfold on Alcatraz 2.0, but between chapters we also get glimpses of the forums where fans are discussing what they watch on the app. Some are brutal, disappointed when the deaths don’t go as planned and others are hinting at a conspiracy theory. This makes the story such a unique experience as we get to see the perspective from inside the prison as well as a glimpse of what is happening outside.

Throughout we get Dee’s flashbacks from when she was 11 years old and kidnapped as well. She was held captive for a period of time and has a lot of unresolved feelings from that time. So with all of this going on, you can imagine the number of twists and turns this story takes.

This book was such an interesting concept as it really highlights the excessiveness that we’ve come to expect from reality television as well as the way we interact online. It’s a near future that doesn’t really seem that far off. And some of the scenes even seem a bit over the top while still maintaining an excellent storyline.

Though it’s twisty and super interesting, it is also has some gore. Each time a murder takes place on the island it is described on the page and the characters are forced to watch it repeatedly on the TV screens throughout the island. So if you’re squeamish, know going in there may be scenes you need to skim.

Overall, this was a super interesting look at society and where we’re headed and I’ll definitely be picking up the sequel.

Students will love this book.  There is enough action and violence to keep them reading.  I really enjoyed the beginning and how it shows students the dangers of believing what you see on social media.  However, as the book progressed, it became more and more far-fetched.  
On a whole, I will recommend this book to high schoolers looking for a simple pleasure-reading book.

Okay, this book was just kind of...weird. I loved the premise--I'm super into any and all reality show books. However, the execution was...less cool. I almost feel like the book would have been more interesting if the main character was actually guilty? Or if the island was a little more Hunger Games-y? Just my opinion. Then things just got super weird with Kimmy, etc. In the end, just okay.

I can’t quite comprehend what I read. I love the premise of this book, but the scenarios and explanations for how everything occurs is absolutely absurd. Typically, I don’t have many issues with stories that have far-fetched worlds (this is fiction, after all), but I have tremendous issues with this particular setting. I refuse to believe that the government would sanction such a grotesque solution to capital punishment, and that they would choose to broadcast this to the outside world. How has the fan base for this morbid show escalated to the millions? We reside in a world where thousands upon thousand of people commit crimes, and yet the vast majority of people disprove of violent treatment towards any felon, regardless of their crimes. Am I expected to believe that the same population who considers hate speech to be a cruel and unjust transgression, will welcome the idea of executing criminals through horrific methods? Furthermore, the human race relishes this concept so much, that they develop a social media addiction to this show? Pardon me, as a roll my eyes. I am not denying the fact that a wide percentage of our population is more infatuated with social media than is necessary, but I find it awfully implausible that we would ever stoop this low.

Even if I could stomach the concept, the characters are another issue altogether. To describe them in a single word: fake. I never once felt that these characters were genuine human beings. The decisions they all make, in addition to the cheesy, dramatic, and forced dialogue are written purely to create drama and needlessly violent scenarios. Personally, if I was in these characters’ predicaments, I would be frightened out of my wits, not worrying about crushes and which wardrobe option suits me best. Perhaps I won’t be murdered if I don the pale yellow dress today. Call me crazy, but I think an ounce of fear in the hearts of these characters would’ve helped me relate to them on some meager level.

Hyperboles should be used in moderation. In all earnestness, is this novel supposed to be taken seriously or is it a parody? I honestly don’t have a clue as to what the tone of this novel is implied to be. This story reminds me of Scary Movie and other Hollywood satires, that poke fun at the tacky, high-school horror movie genre. Again, the actions and dialogue of the protagonist, Dee, along with the other members of the Death Row Breakfast Club felt so outlandish, that the only clarification I can conjure is that it must be a parody of sorts. Not to mention, their homage to the original Breakfast Club characters seemed too out of proportion to be sincere. The mystery element also isn’t too enticing, since it’s fairly clear what’s happening from the start.

I wanted to enjoy this one. Truly, I did. I dived into it with an open mind, but I couldn’t swallow the lack of realism in the world and plot, and the characters weren’t able to redeem it. The one element I did enjoy (assuming the story is in fact, satirical) is how the side character, Ethan randomly recites famous quotes from movies, despite the dire situation the characters are in. They made me chuckle more than once, and I appreciated the lightheartedness they brought to the story. I’ve never been a fan of over-the-top horrors such as this, so it isn’t too shocking that this one is no exception.

/sigh.... I really wanted to like this book more than I did....I did like it enough to finish it out of curiosity but the YA market is so over saturated with this type book right now and nothing really stood out to me to really LOVE it. There was over the top gore and violence that made this book seem like it was on the edge of YA to adult.The cheesy names in this book bothered me too. i.e.-Molly Mauler...(insert eye roll here). The info dumping in this book was on a whole different level. It was way too informative and read more like statements than a fiction ya.

This book was unexpectedly well written and I did find enjoyment in it all. The book is graphic and descriptive and it's surprising how eloquently the author describes it without going too far into detail. You can get lost in describing things like that so it was nice that she knew when to let your mind do the rest of the work.

However, the plot twist I thought could have been executed a lot better and we could have used more down time with the murderers breakfast club in order for us to get attached to them. There was quite a bit of telling and not enough showing which is why I only gave this 3 stars. It's a solid read and I know my teens will enjoy themselves, but we could have had more character establishing moments.  Just my thoughts.

This book has a lot of movie quotes so I'm going to start this review with one:
"-There's just one thing I don't understand.
-ONE thing?"

There's just too much that did not make sense. How does a government dystopia turn into being all about one person? Why/how were all these people being set up?  Who thought this would be a good idea? (I'm not sure if I mean the reality show or the book.)
Maybe if it hadn't been satire?

I feel like it tried to hard, like with all the movie quotes and pop culture references there's only so far a running gag will go. Especially if it wasn't all that funny to begin with..

Everything about it just felt random.

When I first discovered #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil, I was intrigued! To be honest, I’m kind of a big chicken when it comes to scary stories, and because of that, I was a little weary about starting this book. But, I was more curious than I was weary, so I decided to check it out anyways, and I’m SO glad I did!!

Let me first say that #MurderTrending has a very interesting storyline. Imagine a twisted reality tv show where you can watch the executions of convicted felons live on a streaming app from a prison island called Alcatraz 2.0. That’s not exactly something I would be into in real life, but it did make for an addictive read! I also liked that while this was obviously fiction, it included SO MUCH that’s relatable to the world today, like the reality star president and government that seemed too similar to our current government. I have to say, it would be awesome if the last chapter of the book would happen in real life. *grin* Just sayin’.

#MurderTrending is full of interesting characters as well, including the main character, Dee, who finds herself right in the middle of Alcatraz 2.0 after being wrongly convicted of a crime that she didn’t commit. Dee has a really interesting backstory, one that is actually quite terrifying, and I can’t even imagine being in her shoes in this story. The things this girls has gone through in the past, and then goes through on the island, are pretty insane. But at least she has the help of some other fascinating characters on the island, while trying not to get killed by some terrifying psychos in the process.

Overall; If you like a good thriller story, #MurderTrending may just be right up your alley! This book was definitely an addictive and quick read. I think it’s a standalone book, but the ending was definitely written in a way were the could totally be a sequel, so I'm curious to know if there’s going to be a second book in the future. If so, I will totally check it out! Fans of Gretchen McNeil, or fans of thrillers in general, do add #MurderTrending to your TBR now!

Happy Reading!

Title:   #murdertrending
Author:  Gretchen McNeil
Genre:   YA/horror
Rating:   3.5 out of 5

In a near-future where society is obsessed with social media, followers, and apps, The Postman app is the newest big thing. Alcatraz 2.0 takes convicted killers and puts them in a suburbia setting on Alcatraz, where serial killers hunt them down and kill them in graphic, theatrical detail for those watching on the app. 

Dee’s sister, Monica, was obsessed with the app, so when Dee wakes up in a deserted warehouse, she knows immediately she’s been sent to Alcatraz 2.0 for the murder of her sister. With social media buzzing with bets on the quickness of her demise, Dee decides she’s not going to just roll over and die.

Instead, Dee takes on the notorious serial killers, determined that this princess is going to rescue herself—and prove her innocence. She just has to survive the worst the island has to offer.

#murdertrending was, to me, a scary look at a future that wouldn’t surprise me at all if it came true, considering how our culture is changing. The characters were a bit underdeveloped, and the identity of The Postman didn’t surprise me at all—the foreshadowing was a little heavy-handed—but it was a quick, easy read. If you’re squeamish, you might want to give this a pass, as it’s pretty graphic.

Gretchen McNeil is a trained opera singer, former circus performer and voice over artist, and current author. Her newest novel is #murdertrending.

(Galley provided by Disney/Freeform in exchange for an honest review.)

Basically a horror movie in print format, and I am not a fan of horror movies. It's got a great premise, though, and despite plot holes aplenty, the fast-paced story kept me reading all the way through instead of DNF. The decision to start the story in the middle of an execution scene made for a lot of flashback exposition and that got the book off to a slow start, but it picks up quickly. There is a copious amount of death and gore, but the characters are pretty one-dimensional, so there's not too much angst as they are picked off in various gruesome scenarios. I will definitely hand this one to horror fans and reluctant readers.

Thanks to Freeform Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw the cover for this one, my attention was immediately caught. I then read the synopsis and had to dive in! #MURDERTRENDING is a very a unique read with some memorable characters. 

Dee wakes up in a warehouse and knows the worst is about to happen. Millions of people are tuning in to watch her die. She has been convicted for a gruesome crime that she didn't commit - the murder of her stepsister. The Postman App like streams life on what is being called Alcatraz 2.0. Convicted criminals are sent there and are then murdered by different killers on the island. Justice being served, right?

I will say that I really enjoyed the different killers and their gimmicks. This definitely made me think of THE RUNNING MAN by Richard Bachman (Stephen King). Not necessarily in what they did, but the fact that there were different character names and methods for each killer. As Dee tries avoiding death on Alcatraz 2.0, she meets other teens that were convicted of murders they didn't commit. 

I will always love seeing social media being incorporated into thrillers. The author did a great job illustrating the impact that The Postman App has on the public. Many justify these killings because it is justice being served and these are criminals. There are the others that are convinced this is all a big set up and have their conspiracy theories. If you're looking for a YA thriller novel with a unique concept and some memorable characters, then I would highly recommend this one. 

I give this 4/5 stars!

If The Hunger Games was written in 2018, it would be this book. A gory, twisting dystopian horror novel that's also strangely political. An ex-reality star as the incompetent President of the United States? Hmmmmmm.

CW: murder, gore, and more murder and gore. Don't read this if you can't stomach any Halloween movies at all.

In #MurderTrending, Dee is framed for her stepsister's murder and sent to an island where serial killers with secret identities can kill you at any moment, while the whole thing is televised for entertainment. Fandoms, cults, and pop culture form as the reality show takes off across America and is apparently the "solution" to the crime problem in the country. Dee and her friends form a Death Row Breakfast Club, or, as the followers irritatingly refer to it, #DRBC, to solve the mystery of the island and its true purpose. And yeah, I guessed almost every plot twist in the whole book.

I loved loved loved McNeil's Ten, another mystery thriller set in a creepily specific stranded island. I went into this deliciously unique novel expecting something similar... and was sorely disappointed. I've been hitting so many poor ARCs recently, and it's discouraging. This book took me so long to read, I couldn't understand it. It was a bit slow for the first 1/3 or so, but as it picked up I found myself wanting to read it more often--but then I would read and read and only a few pages would go by. I still don't understand how science explains that inconvenient and frustrating concept of reading. It's the worst, and did cause me to drop a star just for the unpleasant reading experience.

I think my least favorite part of the entire novel though was the ridiculous fandom part. I was reading an e-ARC with poor formatting to begin with, so I could not understand the stats, tweets, or any of the multi-media format. I'm not even sure it adds anything to the story besides red herrings or further expanding of the digital aspect of the island. And why all the ridiculous villains? It just didn't make much sense to me, and I don't care for confusing or unrealistic plots.

As for the characters, I didn't care about any of them at all, except for, ironically, Mara. The romance wasn't well-fleshed out either, and the ending was absolutely cheap and made me angry. Complete set-up for an unnecessary second book. So why the two stars? I found the middle to be actually interesting and paced well, so I read that in one sitting. The rest of the book took thirteen days. I wouldn't recommend this book, but Ten is excellent so read that instead. It has less of an appealing cover but won't feel like a waste of time afterwards.

Thank you to Netgalley and Freeform for sending me a digital ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinions.