Breaking the Dark is the first in a new line of Marvel based books. Each book in the series will be by a different author and about a different character. This first one focuses on Jessica Jones, a superhero turned private investigator. The novel reads like a mystery/thriller and while one doesn't have to know much about Jessica Jones to enjoy the book, there are definitely some easter eggs in the novel for those who do. Jessica is given a case when a woman walks into her office talking about how her kids have been acting weird ever since they came back from visiting the father for the summer in the UK. They appear flawless and everything is perfect to them. This leads Jessica to travel to the UK to learn more about a girl named Belle whom they hung out with for most of the summer. Turns out Belle along with other things seem off and leads Jessica to solve not just what is going on with the twins but other mysteries as well.

The book starts off a little slow, and makes you question where it is headed and how a superhero fits into all of this. The second half of the book definitely feels more in line with a Jessica Jones comic or the show. So if you are struggling early on, push through, I promise it gets better. Lisa Jewell doesn't really give much background on Jessica Jones, and I think this would have been beneficial for those who pick up this book because it is by Lisa Jewell or those who know nothing about the character.

I may continue to read the other books in the series when they come out just to see how the other authors handle the characters and if the books end up connecting in any way other than characters popping up here and there.

Thank you NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#BreakingtheDarkAJessicaJonesMarvelCrimeNovel #NetGalley

thank you to netgalley for the arc.

as a huge marvel fan i was looking forward to this book. two things i love : thrillers & marvel. however, i just don't think that lisa jewell is the author for me. while there were short chapters and simple and easy prose, there was not enough of an engaging story for me for really call this a thriller. the overall story also read like a YA novel, with a rushed and unsatisfying ending. i don't think i will be reading from her again, but i am thankful i got an arc.

I’m a big fan of Lisa Jewell’s books—she’s one of my favorite authors. This book was a bit of a departure from my usual reads, though, as I didn’t realize Jessica Jones is a Marvel character until I picked it up. Since I’m not into comics or the Marvel universe, that aspect was unfamiliar to me.

The story starts a bit slow, but the ending takes a turn toward a thriller vibe, which I enjoyed. If you’re a fan of sci-fi thrillers, I’d definitely recommend this book. However, if you’re more into traditional thrillers like me, this one might feel a bit hit or miss.

Jessica Jones is not my favorite Marvel character, but I love a good superhero story.
Breaking the Dark tells the story of Jessica Jones, former superhero turned private investigator. She takes a case to find out what happened to two children while visiting their father in England over the summer.
The Jessica Jones portions of the story had me interested from the start. Her working the case and trying to navigate a messy personal life.
What brought the story down for me, was the flashbacks. They weren’t boring, but I kept wanting to get passed them. Everything about them made sense in the end, though.
I’ve need read a book by Lisa Jewel before. She seems like a pretty good author and I may check out one of her mysteries.
I find it amusing that as a superhero, Jessica Jones used the codename, Jewel, and the author’s name is Jewel.

I'm not a comic reader so the story of Jessica Jones meant nothing to me. That being said, after the first 30% of the book I enjoyed it. It had more of the Jewell thriller drama that I love. I struggled with the disjointed timelines and constant switching back and forth, introducing new characters every time. I wouldn't recommend this to a typical thriller reader but can appreciate the theme.

🦸🏻‍♀️💉👥🩸📲🧴

<i>Breaking the Dark</i>:

Moody. Gritty. Sci-fi.

I’ll skip the part where I re-explain the blurb because I’m not sure anyone cares for that anyway. Instead I give you these three words that, in my opinion, perfectly capture the essence of this book.

I’m not really a big Marvel person, so this book was rough for me initially. I am a big Lisa Jewell fan though, so by the middle of the story I was invested in the outcome. The middle to the end is written very much in thriller fashion, so I enjoyed the back half far more than I did the beginning.

Honestly, <i>Breaking the Dark</i> could have been just as much of a story without the Marvel element, so don’t let that tag deter you from reading it if this sounds like something you’d normally be into. Prior to reading, I was moderately familiar with the Marvel universe: I knew who Luke Cage was, but not who Jessica Jones was. However, those details really weren’t pertinent to the story. Her abilities and ties to the Avengers were certainly mentioned, but the plot didn’t hinge upon that stuff.

This is a fast read. It’s mostly dialogue, which will be a pro for some and a con for others. While it makes for a really quick pace, it can also lead to a bit of “white room syndrome” so that’s something to note before diving in. If you’re looking for a quick sci-fi thriller with a tie-in to the Marvel universe, you will likely enjoy this one. If you’re looking for a typical Lisa Jewell novel or a book that is all about the Marvel universe, this one might fall a little flat for you.

3/5 overall
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A huge thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this ARC!

Loved the show soo here I am giddy with excitement being able to read this ARC!!

Jewell delivers a gripping, gritty story that perfectly captures the essence of Marvel’s beloved private investigator. Jewell balances Jessica’s no-nonsense attitude and sharp wit with her vulnerabilities, creating a narrative that feels true to the character while introducing a fresh, suspenseful plot.

Set in a seedy underworld teeming with danger and intrigue, the story is packed with sharp dialogue, unexpected twists, and a compelling mystery that will keep you hooked—it’s a deep dive into the complexities of a flawed yet fiercely determined hero.

Whether you’re a longtime Marvel fan or new to Jessica Jones, Breaking the Dark is a thrilling, unputdownable read.

Rating: 5/5
Recommendation: A must-read for fans of Marvel’s Jessica Jones and anyone who loves a smart, hard-edged crime thriller.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 rounded up to 4
A Lisa Jewell thriller? Yes please! This is an original story based on the Marvel superhero Jessica Jones with a few other Marvel characters joining in the plot along the way. Jessica is working as a private investigator and is hired to check into mysterious behavior of two teenagers after visiting their father in the UK. The story becomes more dark and twisted as it unfurls. This book has all the elements I expected of a Marvel story- superheroes, villains, origin stories, and science fiction. I would describe this as a fantasy thriller, This is the first book in a Marvel series with each book written by a different author. I will be interested in checking out the next books in the series. Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This Jessica Jones novel follows the retired superhero as she investigates a strange case involving twin teens whose behavior has drastically changed after a visit to their father in the UK. The premise is intriguing, but the writing style was hard to adjust to, and the plot twist required significant suspension of disbelief. As someone unfamiliar with Jessica Jones or Marvel lore, I found it challenging to fully connect with the story. Fans of Marvel and Lisa Jewell’s style might enjoy this more, but for me, it was just okay. Three stars.

I read this book in a few hours and my only issue is that there is no sequel I could immediately start reading. I'm definitely going to read the next in the series as this one was so good!
Thanks to Net Galley and Hyperion for the ARC!

I picked this one up as an ARC without realizing it was a Jessica Jones story. I purely requested it based on the author. That being said, I was familiar enough with Jessica Jones to be able to fully enjoy the story. There is not a lot of exposition given, so a reader unfamiliar with the source material may be a little confused.

This book is about Jessica covering a case where twin teens have returned from their summer in England with their father, but they come back acting strangely; almost as if they are completely different people. Interwoven among the chapters is also a story that spans multiple decades that slowly feeds into the explanation of what is going on. Additionally, Jessica is dealing with both mental and physical struggles of her own that she is unable to dampen or ignore.

I don't want to give too much away, but this story definitely kept me hooked on the mystery. I'd recommend it for fans with at least a base familiarity of Jessica Jones, otherwise it may be a bit confusing.

I’ve been a fan of marvel since the release of Iron Man starring RDJ in 2008. Although I have only really watched the movies and none of the shows that have come out I absolutely loved this book. It made me want to watch the show about her and get more of a back story about Kilgrave. The character growth of Jessica Jones was so great to read. I’ve also always been a huge fan of dual timelines so I was thrilled when I realized this book had one! It was such a fast paced book and really worth every second. So thank you, for this fast paced, dual timeline, marvel story.

I was utterly stumped when NetGalley’s email came through and told me I had been approved for a Marvel novel. I had no idea that’s what Lisa Jewell's newest novel would contain!

That being said, I went into this book with an open mind and I’m so glad I did. It took me roughly 35% of the way through to really have a grasp on the plot, but I was hooked from that point forward. For anyone who is reluctant to read something so seemingly distant from typical Lisa Jewell, I would tell them to approach this as a suspenseful sci-fi novel & it’s worth the risk!

While this is quite different from Jewell's previous novels, it is no less engaging. I love Jessica Jones and enjoyed following her personal journey as it intertwines the novel's central mystery. The mystery begins with a mother who knows that something has changed about her teenage twins, yet isn't able to identify exact what happened. Spanning from New York City to rural England, there are many disparate threads drawn skillfully together by the climax of the novel. A dark, gritty, and altogether fun read!

I love all things Marvel, however I almost DNF this book at 30%. I felt like there needed to be more information where Jessica Jones is concerned. In order for me to understand her backstory, I took to Google to obtain such information. The book didn’t get interesting to me until 60% of the way through so before then I was bored. I love other books by Lisa Jewell but didn’t think this was her best.

When I received and started this ARC, I didn’t realize I was getting a Marvel book or even what that means to be honest. But I was vested and am not big on DNF, and I am really glad I didn’t!

Take the Marvel out of it and you have a vulnerable traumatized Jessica Jones, aka private investigator, taking on a case for a desperate mother concerned over her twins upon their return from their father in the UK. Wanting to know what happened while they were on holiday.

They came home “not themselves”, just perfectly perfect. So begins the adventure, of a very frightening premise of the mystery, science and evil genius. And the root to evil ironically from an app on our phones.

I found the book entertaining despite not having the background of other Marvel stories or FMC.

Awesome book!! Definitely a different kind of book from Lisa Jewell Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review

I am not a Marvel fan, nor did I know that Jessica Jones is a superhero. However, when I saw Lisa Jewell’s name on this book, I immediately said, “yes, please.” Even though I didn’t catch all the references and connections that superhero fans might, the plot and character development were compelling enough to hold my attention throughout.

The supernatural element added a unique twist, with a retired superhero-turned-private-investigator using bizarre clues to uncover why the twin children of an elite family suddenly became “perfect,” shedding all their bad habits. This intriguing premise kept me engaged, blending mystery with just the right touch of the unexplained.

I would certainly recommend this to any Marvel fan, but I also believe it’s a great read for early adults who are beginning to explore books more seriously. Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love the jessica jones tv show so I was excited to read this especially since I enjoy Lisa jewel books. I enjoyed this book and wish it were a series. Lisa really embodied the character of Jessica Jones.

The first 30% of this book was super slow and boring. Jessica Jones is a retired superhero who is working as a private investigator and gets an unusual case revolving around twins who came back from their summer trip “perfect”. I was expecting a lot more action throughout the book but the pregnancy trope made Jessica hesitant to do anything since she wasn’t sure what was good for the baby. Another thing that drove me crazy was how long it took her to confirm the pregnancy, it was the plot for like 20% of the book that she thought she was pregnant but wouldn’t take a test?? The changes of POV were sudden and sometimes very confusing to follow. This book was drawn out and nothing shocking happened. A very average read.