The twists in the book kept me guessing, and the crime story was exciting. Perfect for a quick binge read!!!

Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell is a gripping Marvel crime novel that brilliantly captures the gritty, complex world of Jessica Jones. Jewell’s take on this iconic character blends sharp detective noir with intense psychological depth, delivering a story that’s both thrilling and emotionally charged. The narrative weaves suspenseful twists and character-driven drama seamlessly, keeping readers hooked from start to finish. Fans of Marvel and crime fiction alike will appreciate this fresh, compelling exploration of Jessica’s struggle for justice amidst darkness.

4 solid stars. Actually, this was way better than I expected it to be, and that's a real testament to Lisa Jewell's writing, as I am not into superheroes & the MCU, at all. I think it worked due to Jessica Jones being such a broken and yet relatable heroine, and that the villain, Polly, was no Thanos, either - though I did find the "perfect" plot very weird. Anyway, I'm glad I read it :)

I'm not a fan of Marvel, didn't realize it when I requested the book. I enjoy the author, and I will keep reading her work. But this book wasn't for me!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Lisa Jewell is a brilliant author and I was excited to read her take on a Jessica Jones crime novel. I felt that she captured the essence of the character of Jessica Jones incredibly well, including her demeanour, humor, and her overall essence. It was also interesting to see Jessica Jones outside of the typical NYC setting and starting to heal and begin a new chapter of her life. I felt like this provided the closure that we never got from the series due to its sudden cancellation but I am a big fan of this character and I’m glad she will be returning to our screens soon. This also provided a good message about perfection and the lengths that people will go to in order to obtain what they perceive to be perfection or to be “perfect.” Overall I enjoyed this and would reccomend it to fans of Jessica Jones, or Marvel Comics for sure as well as Lisa Jewell fans as it is a well-written thriller/crime novel as well as being Marvel.

Marvel plus Lisa Jewell equals me zipping through the book! I loved where Jessica Jones ends up by the end of the book and how therapy is utilized.

This story was different, but interesting. It follows Marvel character, Jessica Jones on her latest crime mystery. Someone has developed a mysterious way to stay youthful and is targeting young teens. She takes a job from a worried mother and travels to England in search of clues to why the mom’s twins are behaving so strange. Soon, history and present collide and details come to light about a treatment that’s got all the kids buzzing and feeling “perfect”., but is the price too high? If you are fascinated downer rabbit holes of adrenochrome stories, you’re going to want to check this one out! Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for this gifted ARC. All opinions are my own.

I just finished Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell, and I’m torn in a good way. Think gritty detective story meets Black Mirror sci‑fi, all wrapped in a Marvel crime setting. The story follows Jessica Jones, a former superhero turned PI, who takes on a chilling case: a mother’s twins return home “too perfect” after a trip to the UK, prompting Jessica to uncover something eerie hiding in a rural village

Lisa Jewell is usually an automatic buy for me, but this one just didn’t land. I found myself struggling to stay engaged and had to really push through to finish it. I’m not sure if it was the Marvel tie-in — which didn’t appeal to me as someone who isn’t a big fan of that universe — or simply the pacing and content overall. Unfortunately, even the ending didn’t deliver the payoff I was hoping for. While I respect Jewell’s versatility and willingness to try something different, this particular story just felt flat and forgettable to me.

When I first saw this book I recognized the author’s name and knew I had read some of her previous works, after reading the summary I saw it was Marvel related. I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy or be able to understand the story since I haven’t watched very many of the Marvel movies but I was blown away with this book! This story kept me hooked from beginning to end. The main character still felt relatable even as a superhero. The other characters in this book were so well written, I wanted to hear all the details of their stories too. I loved this book and am interested to read more books in this genre. I would recommended this book to anyone, including those like myself who aren’t as familiar with Marvel. I will say after reading, that I am planning on looking more into the Jessica Jones character in the Marvel world!

I really wanted to like this book. I started in 6 different times. I was not able to get into it at all. The plot was a little boring. I was hoping that when she went overseas it would start to read faster, but it did not. Since I feel this is a personal dislike v. a poor writing issue, I did not post a public review of this book.

Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel by Lisa Jewell is an entertaining exploration of the titular character, though the mystery that drives the plot did not grip me in the way that I hoped it would. Jewell’s characterization of Jessica is solid, with the mental health and trauma of the character given room for exploration, though I wish this novel had spent more time unpacking this trauma. The character’s comic book past is a major part of her journey throughout the story, which may turn off some readers, but for a comic fan like myself this served as fun easter eggs and added to Jessica’s journey. The side characters are (for the most part) interesting, but the overall story felt bogged down. It took well over a hundred pages for me to become intrigued by the mystery, and even after becoming intrigued I did not find the mystery to be particularly good. Overall, for fans of Jessica Jones and fans of Lisa Jewell, this is worth reading.
Thank you to NetGalley and the public for an eARC of this book.

This book was pretty good. I do believe that I may have liked it more if I was either a big Marvel person or if I hadn't had experience with other Lisa Jewell books as this book was different from her others. I would still recommend this to others who are into Marvel and crime books.

I picked this one up solely because Lisa Jewell wrote it—and I did not regret it. While I enjoy Marvel movies here and there, I’ve never been deep into the comic universe, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. But Breaking the Dark completely pulled me in. Think Marvel grit meets Black Mirror unease—layered with sharp commentary on social media, perfection, and what it really means to be happy.

Jessica Jones is the kind of heroine I love: messy, haunted, whip-smart, and impossible not to root for. She’s no longer the spandex-wearing savior—she’s a PI scraping by in Hell’s Kitchen, trying to outrun her past. When a mother shows up convinced her twins have been replaced after a trip overseas, Jessica is dragged into a mystery that’s eerie, atmospheric, and deeply unsettling.

From a creepy countryside village to a girl named Belle who’s just off in all the wrong ways, the plot hums with tension. Jewell brings her trademark suspense and character depth to a darker, more supernatural setting—and it works so well.

Whether you’re a Marvel fan or not, this is an addictive and twisty read that doesn’t require any prior superhero knowledge. It’s weird, it’s thoughtful, and it left me thinking long after I turned the final page. Consider me officially intrigued by the Marvel Crime series.

This was already published when I requested it and did not realize it at the time. May may still read this and review at a later time. Thank you for the opportunity!

As someone who's read and loved so many works by Lisa Jewell, this one just didn't live up to the high expectations that I had set for it. But on that note, I in no way disliked this book, it just wasn't the five star read I expected. It was more of a 4 star read.

I was pretty confusing for me getting into this, since I had no previous knowledge of Jessica Jones/Marvel Comics, so I was definitely thrown off at some parts, especially with the first mention of the FMC's super powers. It just came out of no where for me, especially since I was not familiar with Jessica Jones and her background.

Also, due to my lack of knowledge, the start of the story didn't really grab my attention too. It seemed like we started in the middle of a storyline, which may just be continuing from the Comic (which I didn't read) or TV show (which I didn't see, but I hear it exists), but left me a little lost. Both of these previous things are on me, not the author so I cannot dock any points for either of these.

However, I will be taking off a point from my rating due to the story line just not being able to grab my attention and keep it, superhero stuff aside. The premise was great, and I really loved the idea, but I do wish there was more action and excitement throughout.

Thank you to Lisa Jewell, Hyperion Avenue, and NetGalley for the eARC of this book. This is my honest review.

I’m not even sure where to start on this one. It was a good book, very unique plot. Definitely a mix of mystery/suspense, paranormal, and sci-fi. I typically don’t like anything sci-fi but this blended well with the paranormal elements and wasn’t detracting at all - I just wasn’t prepared for it. This was not a book that I could sit and binge either because there was a lot to absorb and sort through in my own mind. Also the differing timelines made it a bit harder for me to follow. If you are looking for something different than the main stream I highly recommend!

I requested this book solely on the author and did not regret it. Lisa Jewell is an auto-read author for me. I like Marvel movies but have never read the comics or paid close attention to the Marvel universe. After reading Breaking the Dark, I’m interested in more!

Breaking the Dark is a Marvel meets Black Mirror story highlighting social media and unattainable images. It questions what really makes someone happy. I was entertained from start to finish.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I realized I hadn't provided feedback.. Lisa is an "auto buy" author for me and quite frequently a selection for my local book club. I wouldn't say this was a fave of mine but it still packs a punch

I tried multiple times to pick up this book and finish. It’s a DNF for me. I’m a big Marvel Fan. I’ve watched the Jessica Jones series. So I felt it was down my line of interest. I did read more than a few Lisa Jewell books so I thought this book would be for me but it didn’t catch my interest as I thought it would.