Dee Guerrara wakes up in the worst possible situation. She has been convicted of a crime and will serve her time in Alcatraz 2.0. This subdivision of the Department of Justice is run by the Postman, who has set up a system in which stylized, branded killers target island inmates and issue the ultimate sentence. The Postman records the events on Alcatraz 2.0 & showcases them in an app, establishing a full fandom around each killer & occasional inmates. After Dee accidentally kills her killer on her first day, she becomes a fan favorite and key target. But the inconsistencies from her trial, and a number of scary coincidences on the island lead her to wonder if Alcatraz 2.0 is even more contrived and terrifying than she originally thought.
Why It's Worth Reading:
#murdertrending is a thrilling page turner with such a unique setting that you can help but be engrossed in Dee's story. The details and systems of Alcatraz 2.0 & the Postman app are half the fun. What a clever setup! Each killer has a ridiculous name and persona (Molly Mauler, who uses wild animals to tear apart her victims; Gucci Hangman, who stages an elaborate theatrical scene for his murders & always uses an expensive scarf as his weapon) & a dedicated fan base. Dee and her fellow inmates, aptly dubbed the Death Row Breakfast Club by app fans, are endearing and easy to root for. The themes and tone of this book are tremendously dark, but for a book filled with killers and murder, it was really fun. I'm concerned about myself for saying that, but the book is so outside of the realm of reality that I never took it super seriously and just enjoyed it for what it is - a suspenseful, fast-paced mystery. Grab this one if you love One of Us is Lying or The Purge movies.
Book Details:
Title: #Murdertrending
Author: Gretchen McNeil
ISBN: 9781368010023
Publisher: Freeform
Publication Date: August 7, 2018
Format: Hardcover
Awards/Accolades: On the 2019 YALSA Quick Picks list. I would have been disappointed if it wasn't.
Does the NHS Library Own a Copy?: Several.