I have just joined a new book club The Cat Tales Book Club run by YouTuber MegwithBooks and this was our second choice (the first was The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss which I had already read). 

I keep meaning to read more current books but normally end up reading my old favourite authors where I feel more comfortable but I wanted to try different things and this certainly fit the bill!

Dee Guerrera is a 17 year old teenager preparing for college who finds herself in the horrifying situation of being found guilty of first degree murder and incarcerated in Alcatraz 2.0, part of a live streaming show and app “The Postman”.  How can she survive against enormous odds confronted by the most heinous of criminals and forced to fight for her life.

It is of course completely preposterous but at times a fun ride, fast paced and constantly twisting and turning but it is hit and miss also.  You don’t get a lot of background to the characters except for Dee so this isn’t deep and meaningful.  A sort of satire of reality TV shows and the public’s insatiable modern desire for programmes like ‘I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!’.

The social media elements didn’t seem to me to add much to the story except to show how shallow people can be and how they lose the ability to empathise when they feel they can justify their callous disregard for others.  After all these participants are just criminals.

I would not say I would heartily recommend this to anyone if you are curious it is just okay.  I feel it is a bit of a missed opportunity as I think the idea was solid but not necessarily the execution.  I understand there is a sequel but I won’t bother.