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Zack Hacker
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Cut Reality: The Reality TV Murder Mystery Kindle Edition

by Zack Hacker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 57 ratings
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When death washes ashore on reality TV, who's to blame? And what's real?

Join Jason Debord as he seeks clarity following the death of a reality TV co-star and ends up uncovering criminal conspiracy.

When Jason returned home from competing on Beached he'd lost weight, couldn't sleep, and felt more alone than ever. But, he expected those changes. Jason had no way to predict that one of his fellow competitors would fling himself from a cliff. Unless he didn't.

Jason can't believe it, but the network broadcasts the alleged suicide to the world, so he pushes forward in his own amateur investigation. Met with resistance from the cast and crew, he persists only through the support of his developing romance with Blake, a psychologist who observes alarming similarities between her patient and her partner.

Events in Cut Reality have a variety of interpretations. While under the watchful eye of the public, Jason has to decide: is what he uncovers too coincidental to be true, or so hard to accept because it's his new reality.

Buy Zack Hacker's anticipated debut novel to find out what Jason discovers...




What critics are saying:

"Intelligently conceived and well-executed...A mystery that thoughtfully reflects on the hazy line between suspicion and reckless mania." - Kirkus Reviews

"On the surface, Cut Reality is a murder mystery; but actually it is much more...Highly recommended for those who like their intrigue steeped in philosophical insights and dilemmas." - Midwest Book Review

"When I heard the premise of Cut Reality, I almost died...and I wouldn't lie about that." - Jonny Fairplay, Survivor NSFW

"[Zack Hacker] makes poignant critiques though subtle plot developments, holding back from judging society at large, but willing to poke holes in some of our accepted values...From the first tension-filled scene...Cut Reality will keep readers guessing, but also leave them with plenty to think about." - SPR

"The perfect genre book at the perfect time." - San Francisco Book Review

"Cut Reality is the type of thoughtful, provocative work that you don't see much of in the reality TV fanbase anymore. I had a lot of fun reading it." - Mario Lanza, author of When It Was Worth Playing For, The Funny 115, and host of Survivor Historians

"★★★★★ I have always loved books that can surprise me - this book did that and more." - Readers' Favorite Reviews

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  1. Print length
    342 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    April 16 2019
  5. File size
    3486 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07NWCQF5T
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Anywhere Press (April 16 2019)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3486 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 342 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 57 ratings

About the author

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Zack Hacker

Zack Hacker

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Zack Hacker is the USA TODAY bestselling author of CUT REALITY and THOSE WHO WATCH FROM AFAR, book one of MAGIC'S EROSION. He is also one of the podcast hosts of Reality NSFW.

He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio before moving across the river to Northern Kentucky, where he lives with his wife and their two cats, until they move to Marrakesh, Morocco this summer. He also teaches English and works as a travel writer, but when he’s not teaching or writing he spends his time traveling with friends, hosting murder mystery dinners, running long distances, playing D&D, or binge-watching reality TV. You can probably find him sitting at the bar or on the back of the train, busy jotting down something he overheard and planning how to use it in his next story.

For more information, to sign up for release notification, or to contact Zack, visit his official site at www.zackhacker.com or follow him on social media @zackhackerwrites

Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
57 global ratings

Top review from Canada

Barbara Raue
5.0 out of 5 stars Reality TV - what's real, what's not real
Reviewed in Canada on May 14, 2019
Jason Debord seeks clarity following the death of a reality TV co-star and ends up uncovering criminal conspiracy. While under the watchful eye of the public, Jason has to decide: if what he uncovers is too coincidental to be true, or so hard to accept because it's his new reality. He has quite the struggle to come to grips with life after spending time on the island, becoming close to some and then having to vote them off the island. A reality show with twists and turns – a page turner.
I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
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Top reviews from other countries

Brian Aird
5.0 out of 5 stars Reality of Reality TV
Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
Cut Reality: A Novel by Zack Hacker

Cut Reality: A Novel by Zack Hacker is a mystery thriller about 14 contestants who compete for a million-dollar prize on a reality game show called Beached.

The reality game show was your typical reality game show in which each of the contestants use their survival skills, personalities and physcological skills to out strategize each other in hopes of receiving the most votes in order to be awarded the $1 million prize.

For RTN (Reality Television Network) this was their 50th year in televising this game of skill and putting on full display the wisdom, formation of alliances and eventually the cut-throat decisions to vote people off the island. RTN was hoping for the 50th show to be their best.

Unfortunately, it was. This is because only 13 contestants left the island alive.

The premise of this well-written fictional novel will capture the imagination of the reader as it deals with the psychological effects of those returning from participating in this reality game show. Additionally, it adds the mysterious as the potential leader in line for the $1 million thinks that something more devious occurred on that island and that perhaps the castaway who did not return did not actually commit suicide.

Cut Reality: A Novel by Zack Hacker starts with an unique premise and carries the reader right through to the end of the novel requiring the reader to hungrily turn page after page.

The author, Zack Hacker, is an accomplished writer and develops the story and each of the characters very well. Interwoven into the story is a long-term relationship with the hero and his longtime female companion who happens to be a psychiatrist.

Cut Reality: A Novel by Zack Hacker is a very entertaining read and is sure to delight the reader with the engaging and mysterious narrative as well as the unfolding dramatic story.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle-Kunde
3.0 out of 5 stars Semi-decent, but Nothing to Rave About
Reviewed in Australia on April 21, 2020
Verified Purchase
Interesting premise. Great idea. But too much waffling about extraneous dialogue and scenes which added next to no value to the main plot. The "hot and cold" relationship between the two protagonists was beyond unnerving and to be quite frank, unrealistic given the type of personalities the author originally paints for the reader in the beginning. The book doesn't seem to really "conclude" , leaving more questions than answers (but in this case actually works in the story's favour, for reasons I won't tell due to not wanting to leak spoilers). There is enough tension and suspense to make you want to keep reading, in spite of the additional monotonous sequences that don't belong with the main story line. Overall, I didn't hate it, but not the type of book I'm keen on reading again anytime soon.
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mint tea
4.0 out of 5 stars The storytelling style is interesting and lures you in!
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2019
Verified Purchase
The author did a great job of luring you in right at the beginning of this one. I found myself highly intrigued, which carried me through the rest of the story at a fierce speed. At first, we simply know that the main character, Jason, has recently been on a television show and that someone is now dead. I think the back and forth dialogue in this one is done well and the plot moves along at a reasonable pace. I also think that there is ample character development, which is an absolute must, at least with the most important players. I really like the texts and different ways of telling the story, as this is something new and not seen in every novel of the like. I am impressed with the first work of fiction from this writer and I will likely read other things he produces in the future.
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quirru
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2019
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Cut Reality: A Novel by Zack Hacker. This book is a thriller, the plot is about Jason’s coworker that dies by falling from a cliff and the way Jason starts wondering why would that happened and how, and if it was for real an accident, suicide or something worst, the only support for him Blake, the psychologist with whom he is developing a romance, and who is worried about him because of the symptoms he is developing during this investigation. The mystery of the book makes you keep reading, there is intrigue, many doubts that open Jason’s mind to philosophical thoughts and problems. The book is well written, the characters well developed and the plot with twists and turns and a steady quick pace that keeps you reading. I liked the novel, it kept me reading until late at night and that is a sign that I enjoyed it.
One person found this helpful
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Sdan12
3.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2019
Verified Purchase
This book certainly paves the way for a whole new story genre since it is about reality tv. Jason Debord is the main character of the story, he is a College English Professor who decide to take part in a reality tv show named Beached. Deeply shocked about the death of another contestant on the island during the filming of the tv show, he tries to find out what really happened to him. He firmly believes his friend didn't commit suicide or it simply was an accident...He thinks he was murdered! From here, he starts investigating to unravel the mystery around this strange death. The author's writing style is straightforward and concise and this helps to render the well developed characters as unique and the story easy to follow and compelling. The novel has a very interesting plot line since it is full of mystery and intriguing situations... I recommend it.
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