Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of Then Things Went Dark. I love reality tv books, but this one wasn’t for me. The premise of the game wasn’t interesting, and the challenges were laughable. The dialogue in italics, which I presume was supposed to be contestant voice-overs, didn’t feel genuine and neither did the view comments. I read this until the end to find out how everything worked out, but the writing never engaged me. If you love a murder on reality tv, you might love this one.

Then Things Went Dark by Bea Fitzgerald is an electrifying thriller that dives into the sinister side of reality TV. The novel begins with six contestants arriving on a secluded island, all ready to outlast one another and claim the grand prize. However, the game takes a dark turn when Rhys Sutton, a contestant, is murdered on live television, making it the most shocking broadcast in history.

The story's brilliance lies in its multi-perspective narrative, with each chapter offering insights from the remaining contestants: Rhys's best friend, his rival, his girlfriend, his lover, and his sworn enemy. As the investigation unfolds, each character's secrets and motives are exposed, creating a web of suspicion and intrigue. Fitzgerald masterfully maintains the tension, leaving readers questioning who among them could be the killer.

The setting of the deserted island adds to the claustrophobic and tense atmosphere, where every corner could hold a potential threat. The isolation amplifies the characters' paranoia and desperation, making their interactions even more volatile and unpredictable.

What stands out in Then Things Went Dark is its incisive commentary on the voyeuristic nature of reality TV and the ethical boundaries it often crosses. Fitzgerald explores how far people are willing to go for fame and the consequences of living life under constant surveillance. The book raises questions about authenticity, manipulation, and the public's relentless appetite for sensationalism.

The climax is both thrilling and satisfying, with revelations that are both shocking and inevitable. Fitzgerald ties up the loose ends with skill, ensuring that each character arc reaches a compelling conclusion.

Overall, Then Things Went Dark is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and reality TV dramas. Its engaging plot, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes make it a standout novel that lingers long after the final page.

Pretty good read. There were some things I wasn’t the biggest fan of but it was a quick and entertaining read! I would definitely recommend this book. There was a little mystery, a little drama and high stakes. What’s not to love? Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC.

Reality show gone wrong! Six typical reality show contestants (washed up celebrities looking to revamp their careers and get famous again) are left on a deserted island while America watches. Rhys quickly becomes the villain on the show, and then dies. The remaining five contestants all find themselves as suspects. I liked that the book was written in different formats ( present day, social media posts, confessionals, investigative information). I felt the different formats made the book fly by!

This had the potential to be a really great book but it fell flat for me. It was hard to read and understand what was happening. I get the premise of the writing and it was a reality show, but it just didn't vibe with me. I did not quite understand the "point system" of the show and I also felt the characters weren't likable. I can read a book that characters are unlikeable but I like them to have some substance. These did not. This was an okay book but not one I would recommend to anyone.

Ready to read? Question everything.

Rhys is dead. A moment that was live-streamed by millions. Now, the network that was filming the reality show he and 5 other contestants were competing in are getting ready to air the final episode. If a crime took place, detectives must prove it in order to prevent AHX from airing it. If the public sees the episode, there won’t be a single person that could be involved in a jury that would be unbiased.

Each contestant is held in solitary as they are questioned and no one is confessing. Each icon has a motive. Who wanted Rhys dead the most?

I loved the way this was written. We are taken through the present during the investigation and then we view each episode as the detectives research. What better way to solve a murder than to watch as much cctv as possible? And the crew had cameras hidden everywhere. The group of contestants were chosen to tick off all the boxes. And to annoy the absolute crap out of each other. So many secrets are uncovered. Can any of what happens on the island be real? Is it all a publicity stunt?

I did want a little more on the detectives. I was so involved with the story line of the island and the episodes that the detectives bit was so much less important.

I can absolutely see this as a tv show. Netflix? Hulu?

Thank you to Bea Fitzgerald, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the ARC. I really enjoyed reading this one!

🤐 T R I C K Y T U E S D A Y 🤐 featuring “Then Things Went Dark” by Bea Fitzgerald!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤/5

SIX contestants of a new reality tv show “Iconic” gather on a remote island near Portugal to start filming. The contestants consist of an actor, an activist, a rockstar, an entrepreneur, a celebrity chef and an influencer. All of them are trying to revamp their fizzling careers/platforms and claim that they are on the show for honourable reasons … when in reality, they ALL have secrets. Deep dark secrets. And how does one keep their secrets hidden when they are being filmed 24/7??

I enjoyed this locked room / reality tv show thriller that is jam packed with secrets, scandal, sabotage and a selfish fight for the most air time 📺!

Thank you kindly to @chaosonolympus @bookmarked @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on August 27, 2024!

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced read of this book.
The story follows 6 people stranded on an island for a reality TV show. It tells how they each have something against the other, and one ends up dead.
This book wasn't exactly my cup of tea, I didn't love the writing style. It did get twisty towards the end! Even though it wasn't a hit for me, it doesn't mean it won't be a 5 star read for someone else!

10/10 Amazing! I enjoyed this book a lot honestly! Bea Fitzgerald has slowly become an autobuy author, and I was so lucky to get an ARC Copy of this book! I loved the book's writing style and the plot was super interesting! The premise of 24/7 filming plus the incorporation of police interviews is fantastic!

Thank you NetGalley! I could not get into this book. I’m not sure what it was, but I did think it dragged on in places. The premise was good though

Wow, this book was a lot. Isko, the celebrity chef; Araminta, the rich and spoiled socialite artist; Theo, the successful musician, Kalpana, the feminism activist, Jerome, the Silicone Valley tech bro, and Rhys, the tortured actor are stuck on a deserted Island all in hopes of winning a half a million dollars as constants on the new hit reality show, Iconic. What could go wrong? Apparently a lot, by the finale one contestant is dead and the others are all suspects. And survivors, or so the viewers say.
I liked this book a lot and I actually think it would make a great movie, but the pace was slow and tedious in some spots and I really just wanted to figure out who was the culprit in the end. It's a slow burn, but worth the read and I think it will probably make a great audiobook; however, there's a lot of toxic masculinity depicted and can be triggering. Reader Beware.
Overall, 🌟🌟🌟✨, rounding up to four need on overall potential.

THEN THINGS WENT DARK was an interesting story but sadly not one that I will remember. Maybe it would be better for a younger audience.

Many thanks, for my gifted copy.

This was a cool premise but the writing style fell a bit flat for me. It centers on 6 young and famous/quasi-famous people who join a reality show on a remote island to win a prize. All 6 characters are truly unlikable but it's kind of neat to have a look behind the curtain of a reality show like that. We know from the beginning that one of them dies, so the story cuts between the action on the show to social media posts to the police investigation into the murder. The story flows between these 3 areas without any break, which I found jarring and somewhat distracting at times.

I received this book before the publication date. This author was new to me but the description had me intrigued. This story follows the lives of celebrities as they compete to determine who is truly iconic on a private island. Isolation, egos, scandal and love have the events of the story progressing quickly. Throw in a murder of one of the contestants and readers are taken from the POV to the episodes and through the investigation. This story truly had me unsure of who actually killed the villain of the story. Think glass onion/knives out meets big brother. One of my top reads for the summer!

I tried 3 times to get interested in this book. The transcript format was difficult to follow, as it had several people talking was well as descriptions. Sad to say, as the premise of the story was interesting. I have to rate this a zero as I did not finish it.
It's frustrating because I have to give a 1 below but it deserves a zero from me.

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book. Being a fan of reality tv shows already, following these 6 characters throughout the book was very appealing. Throw in a murder mystery too…this sounded like the perfect book. While I did like the book, I felt that it fell a bit short of what it could have been. This was a long book and I felt like each chapter was entirely too long. It could have been broken up better with the reality show aspects and the murder investigation. I also found it hard to connect with any of the characters (or root for anyone along the way). I will say it was cool to see how it was written like a reality tv show, almost made me feel like I was watching one while I was reading it. The premise of this book truly was like nothing I’ve ever read before which was a nice change of pace. Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

I received an ARC of this book from Sourcebooks via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one. Every single character is unlikable - I have to assume this was on purpose - but I am not exactly sure for what purpose? It is not a long book, but it dragged, and I did not feel eager to pick it up again. There were small pockets that seemed more interesting than others, but I was glad when it was over. I did somewhat like the reveal as far as the cause of Rhys' death. I don't think the back & forth between the days on the island and then the present in the police station really worked. Also, I am not sure the relationship between the two police officers had a point.

This was an interesting premise and I felt like it was pretty true to modern reality show formats. There were not too many characters to be confusing. However, I did find myself having to go back sometimes and re-read something because the formatting didn’t make me realize that perspectives or timeline had shifted. The way that it ended was somewhat unexpected, but I didn’t necessarily find it satisfying.

Outstanding cover, wild and twisty story. Very enjoyable. The reality tv genre seems popular lately, but this book got it just right! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

In the day and age of Reality TV shows that revel in contestants behaving badly, Then Things Went Dark fits perfectly. Six contestants are on an island to compete for half a million dollars. All are trying to get a refresh on their public persona but in addition to having secrets are mostly unlikeable. The story starts after one of the contestants dies and is told through flashbacks and police interviews. I wanted to have more of a foundation for the competition in which our characters are competing. It may have helped me become more invested in the outcome of the story. Unraveling the characters' secrets is entertaining but the pacing was slower than I usually enjoy.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.