Reviews

#noescape by Gretchen McNeil

puppy_party_19's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

acm94's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

So this is like a prequel & I just didn’t find it as thrilling as the first two books in the series. I found it a bit more slow, & I liked the characters but not as much as the first two books. This is worth the read if you enjoy the first two books like I did.

itssimone's review against another edition

dark tense

3.75

rachiiebookworm2710's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Loved it! Great prequel 👏🏻

4/5

ecahill23's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I was NOT expecting the plot twist!! 

bubbataylor's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

justlily's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

blueskyvibes1point0's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

**This is technically the 3rd book in the #MurderTrending series. It is a prequel and could potentially be read as a standalone. However, I recommend reading the books in order.**

This novel centers on Persey, a teenager who struggles with feelings of worthlessness in her family and school life but finds solace in her talent for escape rooms. When she joins a competition with a lucrative prize, she and seven other contestants find themselves in a deadly game where collaboration turns into cut-throat competition. As contestants are killed off, Persey must rely on her wits to survive increasingly gruesome challenges while uncovering the mysterious connections between them.

Overall rating: 3.6/5

Ratings:

1. **Plot and Storytelling:** 3/5 Although I enjoyed this book as a gruesome, campy YA thriller, I felt that the plot dragged on unnecessarily for about 100 pages. However, the well-planned ending twist redeemed the final third of the book.

2. **Characterization:** 3/5 While these weren’t my favorite #murdertrending characters overall, their reactions felt believable. Persey and Neela, in particular, captured my interest and had me rooting for their survival.

3. **Writing Style:** 4/5 Gretchen McNeil's writing style is ideally suited for this campy thriller genre. The witty banter was entertaining, and the pacing was mostly well-executed.

4. **Originality:** 3/5 Although the story felt unique within the #murdertrending series, the concept of a deadly escape room isn't entirely original.

5. **Emotional Impact and Resolution:** 5/5 The novel effectively evoked tension, frustration, and fear, delivering a satisfying ending that caught me off guard.

I borrowed this book from the library. Would I purchase it? I don’t think so. I don’t see myself returning to this particular story again. 

If you enjoyed "#noescape," you might like "One of Us Is Lying" by Karen M. McManus. It's a YA thriller with a group of diverse high school students who become suspects in a murder investigation after a classmate dies during detention. The story is filled with twists, secrets, and suspense, similar to the gripping and suspenseful nature of "#noescape."

laurnolivia's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

3.5

dashfnanz's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Peak Gretchen McNeil-style grisly chaos. Super entertaining and fun, loved the murdery murderness of the murder book. Felt like a continuation of the vibe in the first MurderTrending book, which is great since the second book dropped the ball hard on that one. Still, #MurderTrending will always reign supreme. The twist was funner (and a little gross, but I didn't care) in this one, tho.

P.S. - THANK YOU for not killing off the gay character for once 😒