Received via NetGalley for review.

I did not realize this was a sequel when I requested a copy to read, which is absolutely my fault. But even though I immediately went onto Wikipedia to familiarize myself with the plot of the first once I realized, I still found myself lost and a little confused at times.

As I haven't read the first one, I don't know if the writing style is different or not. Becca's chapters are written in an obnoxious "teen" style (lots of OMGs, already dated cultural references) which gets really grating really quickly. Unless this is how the first book is written, it could probably stand to be toned down a little. And there were a lot of spacing issues which interrupted the flow of the reading, which I'm sure will be fixed for final publication.

Plot-wise, it's exactly what I expected. Kind of. The first half of the plot, where Becca and Stef are arguing about Becca's family and where Dee and co are... doing whatever they're doing (seriously, ALL of the chapters with Dee and the old survivors could have been cut, for all the impact they had on the plot) dragged. Once the New Painiacs were chosen is when the action pumped up. I wish there had been more of an audition process for the New Painiacs (what kind of person wants to audition to be a serial killer, even if it's only for TV? Did they get themselves into their situation? Do they deserve sympathy?), but everything is satisfactorily tied up, which is the most I can ask for.

This book is the second book of the #MurderTrending series. To be frank with you, I did not read the prequel to this book because I was not aware that this was part of a series, as the premise of the book did not give any indication of this fact. Luckily the majority of the series was told in a new character perspective and the returning characters from the previous books only had a chapter every now and then. Granted, I most definitely would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the prequel, but reading this book alone was able to allow me to grasp the overall theme the series has and let me tell you this, it's definitely not something I'm interested in. The gruesome deaths, while not written in explicit details, still managed to be a brutal read. The characters also didn't seem to be anything special, though I did find the development between Becca and Stef pretty interesting, but that gets cut short not long after taking off.

I clearly didn't approach this book in the best way and readers who have read the prequel will most likely enjoy this sequel, as I was unable to enjoy it to its full extent. Overall, this story carries a unique mystery, but at the same time, its got a touch of The Hunger Games for violence.

Somewhat too graphic and not enough remorse for me to put this title in my classroom library. Somewhat too graphic and not enough remorse for me to put this title in my classroom library. Somewhat too graphic and not enough remorse for me to put this title in my classroom library.

The sequel to 2018’s #Murdertrending answers lingering questions and presents a slate of new ones as new characters come into play. The lead characters from the first novel return to continue their effort to understand the whos and hows of Alcatraz 2.0, but they are a B-plot in comparison to the fresh faces. The dual perspective flips between Dee and this novel’s primary MC, Becca. Like the first novel, #Murderfunding includes violence and coarse language. While the violence is not described in intense detail, it is often gruesome and brutal despite the wide brush. The story concludes with a tone that doesn’t quite match the rest of the novel, but questions are tidily answered and justice appears served.
This novel is an option between hi-lo and the standard YA novel. Reluctant readers looking to move to longer novels might have match with this series as the plot regularly drives breathlessly forward after chapters of slow burns. The clear references to the current state of US politics have a flair that politically-inclined teens may enjoy. The use of social media excerpts and news articles gives the novel an immersive touch. Ideally, the novel will have another round of editing before it reaches print: readers may struggle with instance of confusing sentence structure and unclear word choices. There is one FF romance on the page, though it is touched by the novel’s violence. (Another FF romance is off the page and also affected by violence.) One new, developed character is Latinx; however, the remaining fleshed-out characters appear to be white.
The novel will likely not be popular for many years, but its half-life hardly excludes this novel from consideration for purchase. Libraries where the first novel had readers may want to purchase the sequel to have on hand. Libraries that have not yet purchased the first novel or that have seen comparatively low circs on the title may want to present this title to your TAB/book club to see if they are interested in the series/sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the E-arc copy.
#Murderfunding is a sequel so please read the first one before reading this one. I really enjoyed this book just not as much as the first one. It has a strong story and characters, but is a slow burn rather than a quick flame to read. I like the originality of the first one, but this one reminded me of other books i have read.

I am always wary of sequels to my favorite books (love #murdertrending), but WOW does this one deliver! Great character development (both new and old), intriguing plot, tons of action, and just as creepy and horrific (in the best way possible) as the first in the series. Truly a must-read!

I was very grateful to receive an arc of #MurderFunding. I absolutely adored #MurderTrending and couldn't wait to read this book. This book follows around Becca, the possible daughter of Paniac Molly Mauler.

This book definitely has a lot more character development than the previous book, but boy does it deliver one heck of a story. Just when I figured I knew what would happen next, Ms. McNeil threw me for another loop. I would highly recommend this book. Additionally, I was afraid CInderella Survivor wouldn't show up, but she did with Griselda and Nigel in tow.

Additionally, I love how this book parallels what is currently happening in American politics with the reality star president. It hits very close to home.

I feel like this book is setting up for a third book, and boy do I hope I am right!!! Overall, this was a great read.

I did enjoy this read but it is important to read #murdertrending first. I was confused by a lot of what was going on and has to read the first book to get a backstory

Gretchen McNeil is so deliciously inventive in crafting her stories. #Murderfunding is as mind-bendingly horrific as its predecessor. Intrigue, creative executions, and startling twists transpire at a pace that will prevent you from putting this book down.

#Murdertrending, the first book in this series, was a new and surprising take on the reality tv/24 hour shock news cycle. This follow up to that novel continues in the same vein but stretches belief perhaps a bit too far. We see the after effects of Alcatraz 2.0, with new characters and a version of the serial killer spectacle. McNeil reaches a bit too far in this one and the gimmick grows stale.

I enjoyed the first book probably more than I should have, so I was really curious when I saw there would be a second. It was interesting to see things from the other side of the equation by looking at the killer's families. I think this was a great twist and a way to show they were still human.
I can't wait to see what else this author brings to life with her books.

While this book had a fun concept, it was felt like a teen derivative of shows and films like GLOW and Suicide Squad, but without any of the heart and humour.

World building and character development were completely non-existent, and while it was a quick read, I didn't find it an entertaining one. It was all glitz and glamour, with very little going on under the surface - which is a shame since this could have been an interesting satire of reality television and social media culture.