A Book Review: ‘#MurderTrending’ by Gretchen McNeil

Dee is sentenced to death after being found guilty of murdering her step-sister, Monica. Alcatraz 2.0 isn’t your typical death row, though, as Dee is given an apartment, job, and social life while awaiting her imminent demise. How will she die? By way of a serial killer commissioned by the government to torture and murder criminals, of course! But Dee isn’t a criminal. She swears she didn’t kill Monica and just knows her conviction is about something bigger. This is the story Gretchen McNeil presents in #MurderTrending. 

Dee is innocent!

Kidnapped at 11 years old and now convicted of a crime she’s sure she didn’t commit, Dee has endured hardships most adults have not known. She is determined to stay alive on Alcatraz 2.0 long enough to prove her innocence to the world. The cards are stacked against her, however, and it seems The Postman (the person running Alcatraz 2.0) has it out for her and everyone who attaches themselves to Dee. 

There is more to the story

McNeil does a great job of providing depth when it comes to Dee’s story. She takes us back in time to the kidnapping that forever alters the main character’s existence. The key ingredient that links the entire ordeal together is so simple that it’s shocking. 

The Postman is…

In the beginning, we are sure we know everything there is to know about The Postman. It is near the middle of the book that we as readers start to doubt our previous assumptions and lean towards the conspiracy theories presented about the owner of Alcatraz 2.0 In the end, we find that The Postman’s situation is nothing like we thought and the person who’s been calling the shots isn’t who we thought. 

Too long for its own good

#MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil would make a fantastic 260-page book. The current length of 339 pages is just too long. There are scenes that I think the author drags out just for length’s sake, which ultimately brings the excitement of the overall story down. There are also areas of the storyline that do not feel realistic. I’m still not convinced a collection of scarves can decapitate someone’s head. I just don’t believe it!

In all, this book could be a good read for those youth (ages 12-14) looking for a Dystopian story. Older teens (age 15+) and adults may not find #MurderTrending by Gretchen McNeil as appealing.