I’ll start off by saying I was so excited to receive the ARC copy of this book as my very first one! I’m not a Marvel fan”fan” but the book was great delivering the multiple story lines without confusion. It kept me wanting to read more as I wanted to be the sleuth to figure out the answers! It was a smooth fast read for me and I would definitely recommend this book! I can’t wait for the continuation of the series.

I am a HUGE Lisa Jewell fan so I requested this from Netgalley (thank you and Hyperion books for the ARC!). I'm not a huge Marvel fan so I wasn't sure how this would resonate, and at times I think the superhero stuff distracted me because it's just so out of my element. There is NOT a lot of super hero-ing here, though. Much more sleuthing!

I enjoyed the book and it was a page turner, but I felt like it got really preachy about beauty standards, in a way that was unnecessary. Lots of telling at the end, when the whole book already showed it. Give the readers some credit to draw that conclusion for ourselves!

I probably won't reach for the Marvel series in the future - not because it isn't good, it's just not for me.

This book is the Start of the Marvel Crime series with Private Detective Jessica Hones.
Thank you to Netgalley for the Advanced copy of this.
This private detective avoids the world and Survives the day to Day in Hells Kitchen New York.
She takes a case from a distraught mother from the UK who is worried about her Twins, who just returned from visiting their father and don't "Seem the same" They have lost their quirks and habits and how are flawless in appearance. The mother is worried that her kids have been replaced by Perfect children. So she goes to investigate.
I generally love Lisa Jewell books but I found myself fighting to keep focus on this one. I will most likely not be reading the follow up books to this one. The premise sounded promising but the storyline was very weak.

Breaking the Dark brings Jessica Jones from the comics and Netflix series to the page. The story captures her trademark sarcasm and resilience as she faces a dark conspiracy that challenges her both professionally and personally.

The novel blends detective noir and superhero drama with vivid cityscapes and morally gray twists. While the pacing slows in parts, fans of Jessica’s previous portrayals will appreciate this deeper dive into her psyche and her raw, emotional journey.

While I admire Lisa Jewell’s writing and her ability to craft complex characters, the Marvel superhero angle wasn’t for me but I am sure there is a great fan base ready to devour this great story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for sharing this amazing thriller's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Am I a big Marvel fan? No; I didn’t even know who Jessica Jones is. Am I big Lisa Jewell fan? HECK YES. I was so excited for this ARC. Lisa Jewell is the master of dual-storylines, and this was no different. I also really enjoyed the premise of this one, how creepy to think that isn’t as unrealistic as some may like to think! I kept reading, wanting to know what was going to happen and how the storylines would meet. Thank you NetGalley and Lisa Jewell for this opportunity! I have a feeling this will be a popular series!

When I started reading this book, I was so confused. I had only seen the author and was so excited to read it. I have always loved everything Lisa Jewell has written. I had to go read the description of the novel so I would understand. I had watched the Jessica Jones series before reading this so that was another reason I was confused. Lisa did a terrific job of writing this Marvel Novel and providing a unique mystery that kept me guessing. It definitely is quite different than her usual novels but I enjoyed it very much and hope there will be more.

This was such an original novel. I loved the story based on this great Marvel character. It was suspenseful and had lots of twists and turns. I cannot wait for the next in the series. Lisa Jewell always delivers and this is no exception. It is a departure from her usual books however.

BIG Marvel AND Jessica Jones fan here, so I had to get a hold of this book. I'm so very glad I did! I have to admit that at first, it was difficult for me to separate the Jessica Jones Netflix show from this book as there are a few differences. i.e. Malcolm is a teenager in this story, while on the show, he was in his early twenties and Jessica's neighbor. Once I got past the differences, I could not put this book down. I had to know what was happening, why it was happening and how these characters in the past connected to the present.


Lisa Jewell truly understands Jessica Jones, her attitude, her personality, etc. Only one thing surprised me about Jessica in this particular story only because I never thought of her as maternal. I was actually a little surprised that Jessica didn't throw us a few F bombs!

I loved the Avengers references! I appreciate that the author snuck a lesser known Marvel character into this story...and it worked!

The only "issue" to speak of is some of the dialog. Americans do not typically use some of the words that the author chose. Most people would probably overlook this or not even notice.

If I could give this 4 1/2 stars I would! I enjoyed this Marvel crime novel so much and I hope that Lisa Jewell returns to write more!

Thank you to Netgalley and Lisa Jewell for the opportunity to read this book. My little Marvel loving heart is so happy right now!

Review:
Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel 1 by Lisa Jewell (published July 2, 2024)

I jumped at the chance to have access to a Lisa Jewell novel (big fan) and was (in all honesty) a bit dismayed to find out that it was a Marvel Crime Novel. And - continuing with the honesty - I don’t think I could sort the majority of DC and Marvel characters into their universes correctly. I am actually a bit impressed that I remembered DC was the other big name comic universe. At least I think it is the other big name.

So, thanks to NetGalley - I have expanded my horizons and read a new to me genre: comic book crossover (is that a thing?). This hopefully honest review will have been based upon my appreciation for mysteries and thrillers (and, of course, excellent writing) - I am unable to offer any opinion on the adaptation/translation of Jessica Jones from film or comic book to novel.

The novel started well - drawing me into the tale with excellent and relatable descriptions of the setting and main character. Although, it was a bit eerie that I started reading this book as a break from watching Los Angeles incinerate 💔 and read this sentence on the very first page - “. . . meanwhile the planet is set to burn to cinders . . .”! Fortunately, the book’s initial setting is Jessica’s apartment in Hell’s Kitchen and not LA. So, I escaped to New York via these pages.

The main character, Jessica Jones, is some sort of private eye. She’s broke and currently doesn’t have a case, so when a wealthy woman (Amber) wants to hire Jessica to figure out if her teenage twins were swapped Stepford Wives style while they were in England visiting her ex (aka their father) - as looney as Jessica thinks it sounds - she tentatively accepted the job. This is because Jessica is not only broke, she’s broken. A real mess.

As I mentioned, I am lacking any previous knowledge of this character - but since Jessica doesn’t seem non-plussed by appearing and disappearing figures; another character mentions helping her find Spiderwoman; and there are implications that Jessica has special skills - I surmised that she probably has some sort of relationship with the supernatural. I later learned that she used to be a “sub-par superhero” - who has an on again, off again relationship with a “par” superhero.

In Part Two - Jessica travelled to England (specifically - a quirky village in the south) and continued her investigation into the strangest twins since The Shining IYKYK. The mysterious and somewhat creepy storyline kicks up a notch in this section. There are a lot of unanswered questions. I needed answers. I was fully invested now.

Part Three - returned to New York. Which is where the timelines merged and all my questions were answered.

Finally, there was a short epilogue that addressed Jessica’s personal issues.

Format: The book had dual timelines (both were quite mysterious) and they were easy to follow. The timelines ran in what were essentially alternating chapters. The chapters involving Jessica’s present day storyline were numbered. The other timeline (featuring different characters) is delineated within the numbered chapters with a past date and location heading (e.g. “Thirty-eight years ago Harlem, NYC).

Writing: I like that Ms. Jewell interjects bits of levity into her books - “She lifts the cup and drinks the tea. It tastes of dirty flowers.” Ted Lasso couldn’t have said it better. Almost made me spit out my coffee!

Characterization: I enjoyed Jessica’s snark (or is it sass?) and there was some fun banter. Especially, between Jessica and her teenage protégé Malcom. The banter with her love interest wasn’t as entertaining, but that might be reflective of his character (with whom I am unfamiliar).

Constructive criticisms: some cultural references seemed anachronistic - “eyes like James Dean (he died nearly 70 years ago); “emo” (I did use Google and it’s making a resurgence, so maybe); writing down a phone number”; the “pinky and thumb phone gesture” (teens don’t do this - I’m not even sure if Millennials do); etc.

And, as an American who lived in the UK for nearly twenty years, I can usually “spot the tell” for a British author writing American characters and settings. For example, in Chapter 11 “She threw some coffee into her machine” - Americans don’t say (coffee) “machine” they say “coffee maker”. “She threw some grounds into her coffeemaker” - would be more authentic. And, it’s not “a coffee” it’s either “a cup of coffee” or “some coffee”. Also, in Chapter 18 the names of the gardening tools are British. (To be fair, the tools aren’t important to the story - but I do wonder how many American readers will stop reading to conduct an internet search on “strimmer”.) I don’t know if most other Americans find these Britishisms awkward or not. But, I and my other ex-pat and re-pat friends do. It pulls us right out of the narrative.

Fortunately, the story was compelling enough to pull me back in and I finished the novel.

Setting: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Suspense/Mystery/Thrill Factor: 3/5

It’s probably a solid 3.5 out of 5 for me. Which means I’d recommend it to someone who enjoys thrillers/mysteries and doesn’t mind some supernatural elements.

I do not think you need to be a Marvel fan or know anything about the characters' backstories to enjoy this book.

I really like Lisa’s books but sadly this wasn’t the book for me.. it didn’t seem like much a thriller to me and I didn’t really like any of the characters. I pushed through it hoping my thoughts would change, but they didn’t.

This was such a great book! I think I would have enjoyed it further if I was more integrated into the Marvel world, but for those who are, this is a great thriller book for you to check out!

I’ll admit that I’m not very familiar with all of the members of the Marvel universe, but I have read several books by Lisa Jewell and I trusted that this adventure would be good. She did not disappoint. I enjoyed this soft introduction to Jessica Jones and her occupation as a private investigator, aided by her enhanced abilities. Jessica is a complicated mess, a flawed character who strives to be self-aware. She is self-deprecating at times despite her special attributes . . . she also has a good heart, a moral compass, and a strong desire to help out wherever she can. This unique blend of qualities renders Jessica a quite relatable and endearing hero. A new case involving missing teenagers brings Jessica abroad and nearly to the edge of her sanity.

I recommend this novel for fans of Marvel, mystery, suspense, and/or young adult genres.

I thank NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Breaking the Dark for my unbiased evaluation.  3.75 stars

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!

What a good book! I really enjoyed this book and had such a hard time putting it down. I enjoyed the writing style. The characters worked so well together and the plot was great.

I love Jewell's books but this one was harder to get into than the rest as it goes back and forth in time so seamlessly. It begins with Ash and her mother Nina as they receive flowers after her father Paddy is killed by a random man. And then all of a sudden we are thrust into a time four years earlier when a guy needs money from his wife. The novel continues to vacillate between two different times and we are never really sure how they are connected until the end! I did breathe a sigh of relief when it ended as Jewel always cleans up her "messes" with surprises that stay with the reader long after the book is finished!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Breaking The Dark
By Lisa Jewell
4⭐️

I received this Arc through NetGalley for my honest review. And here we go..

Lisa Jewel writing a Jessica Jones book, yes please sign me up.
I was a huge fan of the Netflix show, so when I saw this read I was so excited. This book didn’t disappoint my need for Jessica Jones fix. Lisa was able to capture the Jessica Jones attitude and feel.

Amber Randall’s goes looking for Jessica to hire because her twins aren’t acting like themselves. She’s worried something has happened to them, that someone did something. That they “replaced them”

Jessica travels to a small village to seek the truth. She uncovers that this story is a bit more than what she signed up for.
Evil lurking within the town, and her case is definitely linked somehow to a several-year-old case involving the abduction of three teenaged girls as well as a 30-year-old case of a New York serial killer called the Harlem Vampire.

This read had me at the edge of my seat wanting more. Seeking for more.

I'm a Marvel girl for sure, so I was excited about this book. It was not great, but it wasn't bad. The story was interesting. It was just a lackluster crime in the end for me. I wish there was more to it.

The need to be perfect and beauty products was OK I guess but like I said I wish it was more intriguing. I got bored halfway through. I like the FMC and Malcolm I want to see more with them for sure. Maybe some more cases?

Where to begin! I was so excited to start this clash between one of my favourite authors and the Marvel universe and had no idea what to expect.

It took me a while to get into this read, but I am so glad I stuck with it. Not only was the story intriguing and kept me wondering what the heck was going on, but it finished with a heartwarming message that the world needs more of these days.

I am so grateful to have had the chance to read this novel as an advanced reader copy and would recommend it to anyone who loves Marvel, or who isn’t a superhero fan but loves Lisa Jewell! Such a cool marrying of the two worlds, in the perfect fashion. Almost felt like I was living a true crime story in a parallel universe.

I didn’t realize this was a Marvel thing when I started it. I’m just not the right audience for this one.

"In her most imaginative novel yet, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell (None of This Is True) launches the Marvel Crime series of thriller books for adults with an original story starring the private detective Jessica Jones.

Meet Jessica Jones: Retired super hero, private investigator, loner. She tried her best to be a shiny spandex crimefighter, but that life only led to unspeakable trauma. Now she avoids that world altogether and works on surviving day-to-day in Hell's Kitchen, New York.

The morning a distraught mother comes into her office, Jessica would prefer to nurse her hangover and try to forget last night's poor choices. But something about Amber Randall's story strikes a chord with her. Amber is adamant that something happened to her teenage twins while they were visiting their father in the UK. The twins don't act like themselves, and they now have flawless skin, have lost their distinctive tics and habits, and keep talking about a girl named Belle. Amber insists her children have been replaced by something horrible, something "perfect."

Traveling to a small village in the British countryside, Jessica meets the mysterious Belle, who lives a curiously isolated life in an old farmhouse with a strange woman who claims to be her guardian. Can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for the Randall twins' new personas? Why does the strange little village of Barton Wallop seem to harbor dark energies and mysteries in its tight-knit community?

A mother's intuition is never wrong. And Jessica knows that nothing in life is perfect - not these kids, not her on-again, off-again relationship with Luke Cage, and certainly not Jessica herself. But even as she tries to buy into the idea that better days are ahead, Jessica Jones has seen all too clearly that behind every promise of perfection trails a dark, dangerous shadow.

Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, and will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura."

Oh my, Lisa Jewell and Jessica Jones together!?! It's like peanut butter and chocolate, a combination we've longed for and is now a classic.

Thanks to NetGalley I was able get my hands on this early. This was a solid read and a great glimpse into the Marvel world without being too overwhelmed with super powers. The story line had lots of twists and characters were easy to get to know. The book could have been edited down a bit for length. The non-linear timelines were a bonus to the material that helped to build to twists. I am very interested in continuing the series. I am now a Lisa Jewell fan! Win-win in my book! #NetGalley #BreakingtheDarkAJessicaJonesMarvelCrimeNovel