I’m not a Marvel fan but generally enjoy Lisa Jewell books. Jessica Jones is a retired superhero turned private investigator who takes a case leading her to England investigating two teens who returned home from a recent trip with “perfect” complexions and personalities. She soon finds herself in the middle of a missing persons investigation involving 3 other missing teenagers. The first part of the book was really slow, but it did pick up. Even as someone who isn’t into Marvel or any superheroes, I did enjoy the book.

Thanks to Hyperion Avenue and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel" by Lisa Jewell presented a bit of a challenge for me, which is a shame, given my dual love for Lisa Jewell's thrilling narratives and the gritty world of Marvel's Jessica Jones. I was genuinely excited to see these two worlds collide, but unfortunately, the initial spark didn't quite ignite for me.
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC for a honest review.

2.5 stars

Bleh. Did not enjoy this at all unfortunately. The writing just didn't hook me in at all. It definitely had some moments though which made me finish the book but it was LONG. It felt at times like it would never end and that's just not a great reading experience. I think I went into this expecting a typical Lisa Jewell thriller and this isn't that. Don't think I'll continue with this series.

Thank you netgalley for the earc in exchange for an honest review

Jewell takes a step into the Marvel universe with Breaking the Dark, the first book in Marvel’s Crime series, featuring Jessica Jones—a tough-as-nails private investigator and retired superhero. You can tell that the book captures Jessica’s sharp wit and hardened persona, immersing readers in the dark and gritty streets of Hell’s Kitchen. Her signature character-driven storytelling is evident, but this novel leans heavily into supernatural elements that may not appeal to all fans.

As a Marvel fan, I found the premise intriguing, and the crime and investigative aspects were engaging. However, the supernatural themes felt more prominent than expected, which could be a hit or miss depending on personal preference—for me, it was a miss.

Overall, Breaking the Dark is an interesting experiment that blends crime fiction with Marvel’s superhero lore, but it may not fully satisfy longtime Jewell fans or those unfamiliar with Jessica Jones. It’s a solid read for Marvel enthusiasts and those open to a different side of Jewell’s writing, but it doesn’t quite deliver the gripping, twisty experience her readers have come to expect.

I’ve only read one other book by Lisa Jewell, and it was not one that I particularly enjoyed. I was hoping that this book would be a different style and therefore a different outcome for me but it still fell short. Considering this is a series, it will be interesting to see future books under the Marvel Crime series. I’ll try another book by Lisa but so far, it’s not something I would seek out.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC

As someone who is newly in the Marvel universe with my kids, I loved this book. I was not super familiar was Jessica Jones yet before reading it, but I really enjoyed it! I was instantly intrigued with how the twins had this perfect skin and were acting different. I immediately wanted to know why and how and was sucked in.

I came to this novel as just a Lisa Jewell fan and am walking away an even bigger Jewell fan and also a Jessica Jones fan!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review Breaking The Dark in exchange for my honest opinion.

One of my favorite authors is writing a Marvel novel sign me up! I had been dying to read this book since the moment Lisa Jewell announced she was going to be writing it. She never disappoints!

Jessica Jones is no longer a superhero. She has PTSD from when she was under control of Kilgrave and uses her abilities as a private investigator in Hell’s Kitchen. A new client comes to her door wanting Jessica to find out why her twins aren’t acting like their normal selves anymore. Something happened to them when they went to the UK. So now Jessica must go there.

Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel. (review also found on GoodReads)

I committed to this ARC on a whim after getting immersed in a different Lisa Jewell ARC. Keep in mind I went in completely blind about the Marvel universe.

JJ is having a rough go as a retired superhero so she reluctantly takes on a case as a private investigator. A parent hires JJ to figure out why her teenage twins came back from a trip to London as robot-like versions of themselves. In order to avoid spoilers, let’s just say JJ uncovers some weird things.

Paranormal themes tend to disinterest me so I was pleasantly surprised this story genuinely held my attention. This is different from Lisa’s usual twisty thrillers but has her signature engaging pace and some suspense. And it didn’t matter in the least bit that I’m clueless about the Marvel universe.

I’m glad I tried something I wouldn’t typically reach for - a good time was had!

Thanks to the publisher (Hyperion Avenue) & NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Pub date: 3/25/25

This was an interesting one for me. It didn't feel quite like a Lisa Jewell novel, nor did it feel exactly like a Marvel novel. It fell somewhere in between, which maybe didn't meet my expectations, but was still a decent story. A little slow at times, the mystery was still pretty interesting to see unfold. Especially as the past timeline got closer and closer to present day. Jessica is a great protagonist, and brings so much humanity to a superhero character. Her struggles were relatable and poignant. Overall, this novel kind of did what the Netflix series did, portraying a grittier, quieter, less fantastic version of superhero life, and I enjoyed the little Marvel easter eggs throughout.

I didn’t love this one but I didn't hate it either.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Lisa Jewell! But this is the first marvel book I’ve read.

Honestly, I’d only recommend this if you’re into marvel and know a lot about it! I can see how a lot of readers wouldn’t typically grab this book but marvel fans will definitely enjoy this read!

I wish I could’ve gotten into this more, but marvel isn’t my biggest interest!

Jessica Jones, a retired super hero turned private investigator is hired by a mother desperate for answers. After returning from a summer spent in London with their father her twins are not themselves. They have flawless skin, are far better students in school, seem detached, and no longer have the mannerisms they did before. When asked what is up they just say they are “perfect.” This strikes a chord with Jessica and she signs on to investigate. The case which quickly becomes much darker than she ever expected, takes her on a journey proving behind every promise of perfection trails a dark, dangerous shadow.

I jumped at the chance to read this ARC because I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell. That being said, I knew that this book would be different from anything I had read and not just by her. I’m not a huge Marvel fan, but I welcomed the idea of something so different. I enjoyed the Avengers movies and my boys went through a phase where they were totally obsessed with Spiderman, but that is the extent of my knowledge. I found that Jewell took care to make sure this was not necessary. You can enjoy this book without knowledge of the Marvel universe or the character of Jessica Jones.

I honestly enjoyed this book more than I expected to. Although a retired superhero, I found Jessica Jones to be relatable, and I not only enjoyed reading about the developing mystery but her journey to overcome past trauma as well. This story was WEIRD! But weird in a good way. Through the majority of the book I was thinking, “what the hell is going on here,” and it kept me turning pages. It just kept getting darker and more shocking. I loved it!

And despite being an entertaining crime mystery it also hit on the important topics of perfection, AI, social media and how it all affects our young generation. I thought these aspects of the story were intriguing, thought-provoking, and added an interesting edge to it all.

Lisa Jewell takes Jessica Jones into a dark and compelling mystery in Breaking the Dark, blending her signature psychological suspense with the grit of Marvel’s street-level crime world. The story is gripping, with an eerie small-town setting, a chilling mystery, and Jessica’s trademark sarcasm and resilience. The plot keeps you hooked, though some moments feel a bit drawn out. Still, the blend of Marvel lore and thriller elements works surprisingly well, making this a strong, atmospheric read. A solid 4-star novel for both crime fiction and Marvel fans!

I did not think I would enjoy this as I am not a marvel fan, but it was an enjoyable read! It was written for all audiences to enjoy. It starts really picking up about halfway through. I wanted to know what was going to happen next! Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

This is for all the Marvel Superheroes fans out there. I’m not really sure why this is touted as one to be released on 3/25/25. It is the first in a series to be written by several authors, as book two is to be released at the end of July of 2025. Perhaps it was sent as an ARC to me by the publisher to increase readership, thus the purchase of book 2?

Let me start my review by my accolades: thank you to author Lisa Jewell, publisher Hyperion Avenue (a division of Disney Publishing Group), and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own.

This novel lacks much in a storyline. It does its best to keep the reader engaged, but fails on many points. A retired superhero, now private investigator, creepy children seeking perfection, and an evil antagonist that takes more than half the book to truly reveal the plot of the book. Perhaps this should be marketed to the You g Adult audience. Definitely not a fan!

I am a huge Lisa Jewell fan and I can’t wait to read her upcoming thriller, but this one felt a bit too different for me. While the premise was interesting, I didn’t really have a connection to Jessica, know the backstory of her personal challenges, and the plot kind of dragged for me. I just wasn’t interested enough in any of the characters or what happened to them. I think it’s really cool that she explored a a new genre with some supernatural elements but it just wasn’t for me unfortunately :(

Thank you Net Galley for the arc!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for providing me with an ARC!

As a huge comic fan, I was really excited to dive into Breaking the Dark, even though I’ll admit I’m fairly under-read when it comes to Jessica Jones. Sure, I've seen Krysten Ritter in the TV series, but besides that, I don't know much about her story lines. That said, I really appreciate what this novel was trying to do—blending gritty crime noir with all the fun of a comic book. The mystery kept me engaged, especially for a character I knew next to nothing about! And the writing captured that classic hardboiled detective feel while still staying true to the Marvel world.

I'm exciting for all this thriller novel/marvel stories, and I’m absolutely on board for future releases!

Coming from a reader that is not into Marvel at all, this was a good read. I enjoyed reading it but I felt like it was the normal Lisa Jewell book like I've read before. That's fine because each author has their different types of audiences. I truly read this because of the title and author, who does love Lisa Jewell. But if you don't like Marvel or you don't think you can get into Marvel, this wouldn't be your book.

I will read anything and everything Lisa Jewell writes. The way she draws me in is incredible.

I was unsure due to the Marvel aspect, but the further I read the better it got. I am already looking forward to the next one.

Thank you Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for this ARC! Being a huge Lisa Jewel fan but not a Superhero genre fan, I was a little hesitant on this book but boy I never should have been! Great book. The super hero is more of a back story and not the main theme thru the book! When Jessica Jones is at a real low point in her life; she gets hired by Amber to investigate why her teenager twin children back from the summer with their father in the UK “perfect”. Their skin is clear, they’re great students now, not really interested in their phone. What exactly happened during the summer and who is this Belle they met there? Great story line with very interesting plot! 4.5⭐️’s

I was excited to read this book because I really like Lisa Jewell, but it was really hard for me to get into this book. Admittedly, I do not know a lot about the Jessica Jones backstory. It took a long time for the story to pick up. Once it did,I found myself interested enough in the story to finish the book.