I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
#Murdertrending by Gretchen McNeil Series: #Murdertrending #1
Published by Freeform on August 7, 2018
Pages: 352
Format: ARC
Source: the publisher
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
WELCOME TO THE NEAR FUTURE, where good and honest citizens can enjoy watching the executions of society’s most infamous convicted felons, streaming live on The Postman app from the suburbanized prison island Alcatraz 2.0.
When eighteen-year-old Dee Guerrera wakes up in a haze, lying on the ground of a dimly lit warehouse, she realizes she’s about to be the next victim of the app. Knowing hardened criminals are getting a taste of their own medicine in this place is one thing, but Dee refuses to roll over and die for a heinous crime she didn’t commit. Can Dee and her newly formed posse, the Death Row Breakfast Club, prove she’s innocent before she ends up wrongfully murdered for the world to see? Or will The Postman’s cast of executioners kill them off one by one?
This was my first Gretchen McNeil book, but it definitely won’t be my last! It was The Hunger Games meets The Purge meets The Breakfast Club, with a hint of Criminal Minds mixed in. It was creeptastic, suspenseful, and had me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. Honestly, I read it in three or four reading sessions over the course of just four days – the fastest I’ve read a book in a VERY long time.
Dee was super badass. Nyles was SUPER cocky and annoying, but in a hot British kind of way. Griselda was a tough bitch who hardened her heart/emotions to the situation she was in and the people she was around – and rightfully so. Ethan was a little cinnamon roll – I absolutely adored him and his movie-loving self and I AM NOT OKAY WITH HOW HIS STORY ENDED!!!! Mara was…. Whoa. I can’t because spoilers, but whoa…
I know we didn’t see a lot of Monica, for obvious reasons, but I was really intrigued by her character. I’m not sure why, but I kept picturing Monica as Megan Fox in Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. But nicer, since she’s described as being nice and actually got along with Dee.
This whole book was creepy and suspenseful. The “Death Row Breakfast Club” concept was incredible, and the Disney Princess thing was sick and twisted but also highly entertaining (I’m a horrible person, aren’t I? Haha). The ending was insane – I was 50% shocked and 50% not surprised. It was like a puzzle – it all came together and made SO MUCH SENSE. I’m 100% excited for the second book, and 100% frustrated we have to wait a whole year to get it!
I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone who likes all the things I mentioned above: The Hunger Games, The Purge, The Breakfast Club and Criminal Minds. Also, for those who are fans of mysteries and suspense thrillers – you won’t want to put this book down!