This book was a lot of fun. It was action packed and fast paced throughout the whole thing. The backstory could have been better/more believable but it is what it is. I'd say this book is kind of like the Purge movies and a bit Hunger Games like. Readers will eat it up quick!

This was the first book that i have read by this author and WOW.
When i read the synopisis of this book it really intrigued me to want to read it. I don't really read many thrillers but there was something about this one that i wanted too read.
It was a fast paced book i couldn't put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen. there was some twists and turns that didnt see coming.
Alcatraz 2.0 is where criminals are sent to be hunted and killed, rather just being sent to prison. They are then given a constume to wear so that that people at home can watch an see what happens. It's kind of like Hunger games/Big Brother.
I was suprised to know that this book was part of Disney. Some parts of it was really gruesome for Disney imo.
Aside from the gore I think that this one your going to want to read.

I'm not a big fan of thrillers, but my students flock to them. I really enjoyed McNeil's Ten--it was fast-paced and fun, and I actually didn't see the reveal coming (which is sometimes rare in YA). So when I had the opportunity to get an ARC of this one, I decided to give it a shot.

The premise is outlandish (capital punishment is now legal and takes place on a reality show where a team of assassins hunt and kill convicted killers), and the action is both gruesome and ridiculous. It's so unbelievable to think that these teenagers somehow manage to not only survive but take down seasoned killers--and yet I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN.

McNeil just has a way of writing suspenseful, engaging action. And though some things seemed pretty obvious, there were enough twists and turns that I didn't feel cheated or bored. The characters aren't particularly developed, but there's barely time to think about it because the plot just keeps on moving along. Some of the killings are pretty icky (for me, anyway), but definitely interesting and original. There's a little bit of political judgement...kind of a "this could happen in the not-so-distant-future" attitude, and also pretty hard look at the internet and what people will accept as "entertainment," but it doesn't feel preachy.

Also...once you've read it, the cover is absolutely AWESOME. And horrible. But AWESOME.

This really feels like a very fresh concept that my students would enjoy. It taps into an extreme version of reality TV, social media, and the bystander effect. General society just sits back and cheers on depraved punishments. I would have liked a bit more development of the main character, but I thought it was a really memorable concept.

The cover and description caught my eye for this book.
I really enjoyed the story, it was fast paced and kept my attention. Graphic but appropriate for the age group and story line. I think this will go over very well with the YA audience, especially with the tie in to reality tv and twitter.

3.5 stars

In a world where The Purge and The Hunger Games collide— #MURDERTRENDING shows us a society crippled by reality television and instant social media validation. Seriously folks, this book is a lot of fun and all too real for me. Dee Guerrera is wrongfully convicted for the murder of her step-sister Monica and sent to Alcatraz 2.0 for punishment. Alcatraz 2.0 is a man-made prison island off the coast of San Francisco where the worst convicts imaginable are sent to live out their days in fear. They must work, they are provided housing, and they are able to maintain their lives accordingly. However, the prison is run by The Postman—businessman and reality television producer who enlists the help of a rolodex of infamous serial killers to provide excruciating executions of the convicts; all captured on the The Postman app that viewers can tune into.

Dee awakens on Alcatraz 2.0 and immediately realizes that she's fallen victim to the show and must fight in order to survive. She knows that she was wrongfully convicted and wants to prove her innocence before it's too late. She meets a group of other young, attractive people in Alcatraz 2.0 and starts an alliance with them. #DeathRowBreakfastClub Time is running out for the newly established group, because as everybody knows—nobody gets out of Alcatraz 2.0 alive.

Gretchen McNeil, I truly love the sick and twisted world you provided in #MURDERTRENDING . I really didn't think this book would be as fun as you made it for us. The pacing of #MURDERTRENDING is fast, action-packed, and edge-of-your-seat thrilling. The story starts off with a bang, but it doesn't stop from there so I urge you to plan the day accordingly (seriously, this book is unputdownable!).

I had a few critiques about the story, which is why I couldn't give #MURDERTRENDING a higher rating. I felt that the backstory was a little weak and unbelievable. The foundation to the overall arc of the story was a little flat and could've been handled in more detail. I can't comment more about that without ruining the story for you, so after you read #MURDERTRENDING , talk to me! I also felt that there were serious plot holes and continuity issues that were made to keep the story going at it's fast-paced level. I wanted more story foundation, rather than continuous action—I actually rolled my eyes several times at how the situation was randomly handled and that definitely affected my rating. Maybe if the backstory was handled more and the secondary characters had a POV, the development of the story could have been more persuasive for me.

Even though I had some critiques about the story, #MURDERTRENDING was fabulous in the most disgusting way possible! It's very, very, very graphic at times so if you can't stomach gruesome violence, maybe give this one a pass! My boyfriend thinks I'm totally messed up in the head for enjoying this book, but what can I say?! I urge you to pick this story up if you're interested in a YA story with an original spin on a dystopian society.

P.S.: Don't think I didn't notice all the Rupaul's Drag Race references! Love, love, loved that!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. #MURDERTRENDING will be released August 7, 2018.

Dee wakes up in an abandoned warehouse, suddenly aware that she has been delivered to Alcatraz 2.0. She knows that soon she will be killed by one of many infamous serial killers and her death will be streamed live on the Postman app. When Dee accidentally survives and causes the death of Prince Slycer, she knows her days are numbered. Can she stay alive long enough to prove her innocence?

#Murdertrending was a great survival book about serial killers, but it was handled in a truly humorous fashion. The development of the serial killers characters was well done, and the description of the deaths does the topic justice. An entertaining read (with very little romance) that will appeal to readers looking for action, adventure, and humor.

This book surprised me a little. I knew going in that it was going to get detailed and graphic, but I couldn't wrap my head around how gorry and focused on death it was for a YA book. Prisoners sent to an island to die for their crimes as a reality show is not too far fetched for a futuristic book, but since these were teens sent to boost ratings, it was a little over the top. It is a really quick read and you do find yourself wondering how it will all end. Young adults that enjoy horror movies would enjoy this book.

After being framed for the murder of her stepsister, Dee Guerrera is sent to Alcatraz 2.0, a prison that's also a reality show where convicted criminals are hunted down by state-sanctioned serial killers. This book was utterly ridiculous in a good way. I wasn't invested in the conspiracy theory aspect of the book, the story itself didn't make a lot of sense, and everything that happened was too perfectly coincidental -- but I had so much fun reading it!

#MurderTrending has to be one of the strangest books I've ever read. Combining a bizarre amalgam of internet culture, surreal gore, and Disney allusions, there were several moments that I found myself extremely put off. That said, I read it in less than 48-hours. This alone tells you that it is a compulsive, popcorn-munching read. However, I couldn't help feeling that there was something extremely voyeuristic about it, like by reading the novel I was like the #Postmantics in the story. There's something pretty disturbing about relating to the viewership of what basically amounts the equivalent of a YA snuff film. Then again, it's not so different than Barry Lyga's I Hunt Killers or Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games. #MurderTrending simply embraces our thirst for the macabre.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish this book. The book throws you right in at the beginning, and I would have liked a bit more build up. The silly names for the villains and locations were off-putting. I didn't think I would be able to connect with the main character so I put the book down.

This is a really good book that is almost certainly destined to be made into a really terrible movie. Prisoners are held on an island and hunted by serial killers as part of a nationally televised reality show punishment, a plot straight out of Black Mirror that could lead to either the best or worst kind of book, depending on the execution (SEE THAT PUN I MADE?)

In any case, the author nails the dark humor of this plot with a wink and a nod to both the over-the-top, nearly camp nature of the storyline and horror tropes, and includes some psychologically thrilling mystery/back story that keeps you turning pages right up until the end. Highly recommend high school and up (or middle school where edgy material can fly).

I received and ARC of this book from Netgalley and The Disney Book Group. I’ve been in a reading slump but this book perked me right up.

The idea that there is an island where criminals are sent and then basically hunted and killed, rather than sitting in prison, is interesting. In #MURDERTRENDING, action happens right and left from the moment Dee is left on the island. Convicted of killing her step-sister, she now has to pay the ultimate price... or does she? Each "prisoner" left on the island is given a costume and fills a role for the people watching at home from their live feeds. Dee was left princess attire, which doesn't fit her personality, at all. As she fights to survive as long as she can, while proclaiming her innocence, she befriends a ragtag group of other prisoners. Can she trust them? Are they innocent as well? Why are all the more recent prisoners young and good looking? Higher ratings and more money pouring in, perhaps? And how does Dee's past fit into this?

Although it’s a YA book, it’s rather graphic and felt more adult because of how violent it was. The premise of the book was interesting and played out well. I think the most distracting aspect of the book was how the chats/viewer comments were laid out. I skimmed a lot of those but felt some of it might have been important to the story.

In the not too distant future, the Department of Justice has set up a new way to deter violent crime. The country's newest reality experience is launched, Alcatraz 2.0. The guilty are released onto the island and must survive as long as possible, all the while being hunted by executioners looking for a viewer spike. Capital punishment has been monetized, and the more creative your kills, the more followers you get.

Seventeen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up, groggy, in the middle of a dirty warehouse. Quickly she realizes where she is - Alcatraz 2.0. She has been framed for the murder of her step sister, and must survive the kill or be killed island long enough to try to prove her innocence. Can Dee and her new allies survive long enough to figure out what is really going on, or will she be just the latest grisly kill posted?

I was extremely conflicted about this book. On the one hand, like a cheesy horror movie, this book was very enjoyable and amusing. On the other hand, it had some series flaws. The plot seemed way too contrived, and everything worked out very easily for the people involved. In the history of the island, only one killer has been taken down, but this non violent seventeen-year-old girl has no problem dispatching the professional killers one after the other. Everything falls neatly into place, and when the big twist is revealed, it is not a surprise to most people if they were paying attention.

If you're looking for a campy ride through a gruesome jail hell, pick up the book and enjoy. If you're looking for something well-written with even the slightest bit of depth, you have better odds escaping Alcatraz than finding what you want here.