Things I liked:

* The cover is pretty and matches the title
*Great concept, thirsty reality stars in a thriller? Sign me up!
* I liked the social media posts and the confessional moments.
*The author does a great job of alternating between all the characters in one chapter. They did it in a way that wasn’t confusing.

Other than that, this book was slow and not interesting. It reminds me of a mix of Love Island and Big Brother, which is an awesome concept but I failed to connect with any of the characters. I think the biggest barrier in enjoying the book was that the characters weren’t well developed. Also, the dialogue and interactions between team felt clunky and strange. People don’t talk like that.

Another issue was that the games, especially the initial game with the cards wasn’t engaging. It was hard to understand the game and why I should care. The reveals felt low stakes.

Sorry that this book wasn’t for me but thanks for the opportunity to read it and review.

The premise, of a reality show set on an island, sounded like a lot of fun but something about the writing style never seemed to draw me fully into the story. None of the characters were particularly likeable but, being jaded celebrities, I'm thinking that they were deliberately written that way. I enjoyed this book but I was just hoping for a bit more. I'd like to read more from Bea Fitzgerald though.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

A tantalizing popcorn read, this reality show-themed novel is a perfect blend of mystery and intrigue. The narrative captivates from the first page, weaving a compelling story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. With its cleverly constructed plot twists and steamy undertones, this book delivers both suspense and entertainment. It’s an irresistible page-turner that fans of reality TV and thrillers alike will find hard to put down. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a gripping, enjoyable read.

🎬 The actor
♻️ the activist
🤳 the influencer
🍳 the chef
📲 the entrepreneur and
🎤 the musician
are all stranded on an island in Portugal competing to win 250k and, more importantly, the title of Iconic, on a 24-7 live streamed reality show. They’re to spend 4 weeks in this gorgeous house participating in challenges while the viewers decide who they like best.

During a live stream, one of the contestants winds up dead. How did he die? Was he murdered while everyone watched?

This book is a page turner!!

I really enjoyed getting to know, like and then ultimately hate each of the characters.  The chapters read as episodes which I thought was fun and unique and then ending with social media updates and detective interviews. i didn’t like the situation with the detectives, felt that kind of out of place. Overall, though, this was an entertaining read.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book

Bea knocked the ball out of the park with this book!!!!! absolutely killed it! i would recommend this to anyone without hesitation!!!

I was sold by the synopsis, but this book unfortunately was not a favorite of mine. The characters are all sorts of awful people a d I found the length of the book too long and dragged out.

I thought the premise of this book was so exciting! Overall it was a good read, but I used for more of a pallet cleanser as it peaked early and didn’t wow me at the end.

The idea behind this was interesting, but I wasn't quite sold on the writing style. Six young, well-known (or semi-well-known) persons compete in a reality program on a far-off island in hopes of winning a prize. Although it's kind of interesting to see behind the scenes of a reality program like that, none of the six characters are really likeable. Since we are aware from the start that one of them dies, the narrative alternates between the social media posts, the on-screen action, and the police investigation into the murder. The narrative jumps between these three locations without any breaks, which can be startling and a little annoying at times.

Goodness. This book was not my favorite despite me having high hopes for it.

In this book 6 semi-famous people show up for a reality show on a remote island with a quarter of a million dollar prize. The show is live streamed and one of the 6 dies, with the rest wanting to be voted ICONIC. The book is centered around who killed Rhys and why?

Positives:
A great premise
A loved the set up of each chapter: Each chapter was segmented as an episode of the reality show. 18 episodes in all. The contestants were spot lighted, followed by the police investigation of the death, and then social media comments of the audience of the show

Negatives:
The book was pretty repetitive to the point of being tedious. I wanted to stop reading a few times but stuck with it.

I read a lot and this one was just not for me. Maybe other will feel differently.

This was a DNF for me. I did not like the format of the book. It works well on TV, but doesn't translate to book.

I was excited to read this one after loving the synopsis. The reality show premise sounded super exciting! Unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations.

The characters are SUPER boring and basic. On top of that, the characters were unlikeable. And there were way too many POVs! It was super messy. Not a good combo.

I did not like the style of switching between the island, the investigation, and the social media posts. It was really choppy and difficult to read. The subplot with the police officers was useless and I did not enjoy it at all.

This was definitely a book that had promise but the execution was just poor.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I'm always drawn to a reality TV premise as well as a good mystery so this book seemed right up my alley. Ultimately, I found that it was a little too long and drawn out to really capture my interest and hold on throughout. I also found the characters wildly unlikeable, which sometimes I can get past but in this case it was a little tricky. I enjoyed it overall, just not a new favorite.

I thought the premise of this book was so exciting! Overall it was a good read, but I used for more of a pallet cleanser as it peaked early and didn’t wow me at the end.

I always seem to find myself being drawn to a thriller with a reality show setting. Then Things Went Dark is a suspenseful and twisty take on a reality show because it dumps 6 "celebrities" on an island and gives us an insight to their inner thoughts throughout the book instead of focusing on one characters POV. Of course, with all the characters being bratty celebs they're all very unlikable and sometimes hard to swallow and I believe that it's exactly what Fitzgerald was going for.

From the very start the reader knows that the show didn't go as planned and one of them ends up dead. Fitzgerald uses social media posts, police reports, and action from the show itself to transport you right onto the set.

My only complaint were that the challenges on the "show" seemed super disjointed and pretty boring. It took me a bit to get into but overall enjoyed the flow of the book and the ending wrapped everything up nicely.

I think I am probably the wrong audience for this book. I disliked all the characters, which usually is not a problem for me, but these characters were just so awful. I have been reading quite a few books recently set on reality TV shows and after reading this one I have had enough.

I do enjoy a good murder story but really struggled to care about this one. The format of the one chapter one episode was done well, butI want more of the investigation, and less about the police as people. It just wasn’t for me.

Thanks for the chance to read this book.

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. 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).

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!