Then Things Went Dark: A Novel by Bea Fitzgerald
Product details
Web ID: 19876529Island Mystery!
Six glamorous and dramatic contestants land on a desert island to film a reality show, trying to win over millions of viewers. However, when one of them is murdered on camera, the remaining five must face the consequences. With no one willing to talk and the whole world watching, secrets come to light as they try to uncover who killed Rhys Sutton. The narrator did an excellent job of keeping me interested, although I found it hard to connect with the characters. Perhaps that was intentional on the author's part. The format of the audiobook made it somewhat challenging to follow at times, so having the physical book as a reference would have been helpful. Overall, the book had some moments where the writing felt lacking, and the challenges seemed too easy for the high stakes involved. The detectives and Internet aspects at the end of chapters felt rushed and confusing. However, the story was still enjoyable and engaging, with deeply flawed characters that showcased the dangers of fame. Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for audiobook ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Desert Island Survival
Then Things Went Dark ~ a standalone By ~ Bea Fitzgerald ~ new to me author Genre ~ Adult Fic, Mystery, Suspense/Thriller Setting ~ Portugal (deserted island) Publication date ~ August 27, 2024, Read~ August 31, 2024 Est Page Count ~ 432 POV ~multiple, 1st person Tropes ~ rivals, celebrity romance, closed door, cheating, competition, forced proximity, secrets, LGBTQIA+ rep, love triangle, wealthy ⚠️TW ~ physical abuse, pedophilia (mentioned, no details), suicide, murder, alcohol and drug abuse, mental illness Six people on a desert island playing on a reality TV show competition "Iconic." Who will win half a million dollars and be remembered in pop culture forever? Araminta seemed to be the focal point and everyone else lived in her orbit. She was the disinherited, sex pot claiming to be an artist/sculptor. Kalpana was a lesbian activist, Isko was a bisexual, celebrity chef, Jerome was the tech entrepreneur, Theo a handsome rockstar, and Rhys Sutton- the actor. They all had secrets about their pasts, careers, or finances. When Araminta and Rhys started a "showmance" things became more volatile and desperate to win the money and fame. There's plenty of backstabbing, cheating, and a murder mystery that ends too abruptly. I enjoyed the POVs from each character and discovering what they hid from the world. They wanted to be immortalized instead of doing the right thing when no one was watching. 🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for this ARC 💚! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are mine alone. Rating ~ 3/5 ⭐⭐⭐
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Drama-filled reality TV.
Are you a fan of those addictive, drama-filled reality shows? If so, "Then Things Went Dark" might be your next must-read book! The story follows six famous individuals who are dropped off on a remote island to compete for a cash prize. Their lavish accommodations hide their dark secrets, which the show aims to expose for viewers' entertainment. The tension reaches new heights when one of the contestants dies on camera, leaving the audience guessing whether it was murder or not. As someone who isn't drawn to reality TV, I usually love the intrigue and drama in books. I was fortunate to receive the audiobook and ebook versions. I enjoy switching between the two formats; having the ebook handy for reference is a great perk. However, I didn't quite connect with the narrator this time around. The single narrator's portrayal of multiple characters didn't sit right with me, although she did an admirable job voicing them all. Unfortunately, all of the characters fell under the "love-to-hate" category, but not in a remarkably captivating way. Despite this, I've noticed that the book has garnered many positive reviews. Take my feedback with a grain of salt, and give it a try to form your own opinion. Thanks to Tantor Audio/Sourcebooks Landmark for providing ARCs of the ebook and audiobook through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #thenthingswentdark #beafitzgerald #netgalley #audiobook #tantoraudio #sourcebookslandmark
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Intriguing, but fell flat in its execution
Then Things Went Dark appealed to me because of its reality show premise and its murder mystery element. Unfortunately, it fell flat in its execution. I struggled with the narrative style, more tell than show, which prevented me from forming any real connection to the characters. I found the jumps between episodes and the murder investigation to be sudden and jarring. I wish there had been some sort of page break or different format, like the social media posts, to help with that shift in perspective. I also found the plot to be a bit slower paced than other murder mysteries which made it hard to focus my attention and reading felt like work. Overall, while I was intrigued by the plot, the story failed to pull me in. Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
I love a good whodunit story!
I absolutely do not like reality tv but I liked the plot for this book! Reality TV with Multi POV’s, Whodunit and Morally gray characters. It keeps you guessing through the book! The author did an amazing job!
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com