I absolutely loved this book. I’m not really a marvel fan nor am I a sci-fi fan, but I chose this book because I love Lisa Jewell. She did not disappoint! This book introduced me to a new genre that I may not have considered previously. I loved the timeline switches, the back and forth points of view, the eerie “Perfect” and “Miranda.” I just loved this book. It was “perfect.” 😉

Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell is a gripping 384-page thriller with elements of the paranormal.

Short summary:

Jessica Jones, a former superhero turned private investigator, grapples with her troubled existence in Hell's Kitchen, New York, while avoiding the painful memories of her past as a crimefighter in a skintight suit. Her life takes a turn when a frantic mother, Amber Randall, asks for her help, claiming that her teenage twins have been replaced by eerily perfect versions after a visit to their father in the UK. Drawn by the mysterious changes and the mention of a girl named Belle, Jessica travels to a secluded British village. There, she meets Belle and an eerie web of secrets. Despite her own personal battles, Jessica understands that behind every perfect facade lies a hidden danger.

My personal opinion:

Set in the Marvel universe, the story is fast-paced, unpredictable, and leans into darker, less realistic elements. Though at times far-fetched, the mystery and suspense draw you deeper with each chapter. The story jumps between timelines, which can be confusing at times but adds depth to the plot. Jewell’s writing brings characters to life, particularly Jessica’s intern, Malcolm. The book is thrilling, emotional, and engaging, with multiple POVs and timelines that keep you hooked. It’s perfect for fans of eerie superhero stories and slowly unraveling mysteries.

I was interested in this book because I’ve heard great things about Lisa Jewel and I loveeee the Marvel universe. Although I haven’t dived into the Jessica Jones world I wanted to give this book a chance and I did enjoy it.

Thank you to Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read and leave a review!

Jessica Jones, private investigator, takes on a case involving teenage twins who spent the summer overseas with their father, only to return completely changed in appearance and personality.

For some reason, I love superhero stories in the form of movies only. When I read, it's mostly mystery, thriller, and horror. However, since the author of this is no other than one of my favorites, Lisa Jewell, I had to give this one a try. To my surprise, I ended up absolutely loving this. There was more believability and realness than the average superhero story, focusing more on the mystery and investigation of the case. Jessica Jones, a semi-retired superhero, was a damaged but loving human at her core. She fought for what she believed in and cared more than most for the people around her. The pacing of this was steady, the writing was flawless, and the conclusion will make you think. I believe any fan of mystery and thrillers will enjoy this one. Even if you aren't a fan of the Marvel Universe, give this one a shot, and you won't be let down. Four and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue, for this ARC.

Lisa Jewell never disappoints! I must admit, I was a little apprehensive about trying out this genre (again). I’ve been reading mainly thrillers, romantic comedies and historical fiction. I was so wrong to feel that way! Like all of her books, the author hooks you in within the first few pages and you never want to put it down.

Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel takes you on a captivating mystery that incorporates wonderful character development throughout the entire story. Each time Jessica is confronted with a challenge or twist, you watch her reflect and grow because of it. This book teaches you the power of resilience, inner strength and confronting your fears.

While I read the book, I found myself imagining what it would look like in a movie. I’m only able to do this if an author paints a really good setting with dialogue that works. This truly hit that mark!

Go pick up this book today! Happy Pub Day @lisajewellUK PUB DATE 3/25
😻😻😻😻😻/5

I was apprehensive, as I am not a huge superhero fan. However, I really enjoyed this novel! It was different than most of Lisa Jewell’s, but was still a great story. It really began to pick up in the middle, and soon I didn’t want to put it down!

Thank you NetGalley for the digital copy!

Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel is a ride through the gritty, dark streets of Marvel’s underbelly, and as much as I wanted to love it, I’m stuck somewhere between “meh” and “it was fine.” Jessica’s as sharp-tongued and brooding as ever (I mean, who doesn’t love a character who’d rather knock you out than have a conversation?), but the story doesn’t quite hit the same high as some of her previous adventures.

The premise is solid: Jessica takes on a new case that takes her deeper into the murky world of crime and corruption, and naturally, her sharp wit and broken moral compass make her the perfect detective for the job. But for all the snarky one-liners and classic Jessica moments, the plot feels like it’s kind of dragging its feet. It’s a little too predictable at times, with the twist feeling more like a meh moment rather than a game-changer.

That said, the book definitely gets points for nailing Jessica’s voice. If you’ve read the comics or watched the series, you’ll recognize her cynical, “don’t care but totally do” attitude. She’s like that friend who shows up at your party just to throw some dry humor and then vanish, but you appreciate it all the same.

If you’re a hardcore Jessica Jones fan, you’ll probably enjoy it, even if it doesn’t blow you away. But if you’re looking for something that’ll knock your socks off, this might leave you with a sock or two still hanging on. 3 stars: solid, but not the knockout I was hoping for.

DNF

Unfortunately, I didn’t do enough research before requesting this ARC and didn’t realize it was tied to The Marvel Universe. Since I don’t have extensive knowledge of that world, I struggled to stay engaged and ultimately lost interest. That said, the mystery surrounding the siblings was intriguing, and I think readers with more background knowledge may really enjoy this book. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review it!

As someone who is not a big Marvel person, this was still a good book. I will admit it take me a while to get into it but when I did, I found it pretty intriguing.

Whether you're a marvel person or not, I think most readers will find some sort of element they will like from this book.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC of #BreakingtheDark by Lisa Jewell. Hitting shelves near you tomorrow!!

3.5/5 Stars (Rounded Down)

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for an ecopy of this book!! Breaking The Dark is already out now but newly available in paperback starting 3/25🥳

As someone who knows literally nothing about Marvel or Jessica Jones, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. I found Jessica’s character charmingly down to earth, whip smart (streets & book wise!) and gritty as many of Jewell’s MCs are. The plot was definitely interesting and relevant to today’s world revolving around technology, unrealistic beauty standards and the unconventional means people will take in order to achieve them.

One thing I didn’t love about the book were the multitude of sub plots. I didn’t think they added much to the book and took away from the overall main plot. I can see where they could’ve added value for some but it just didn’t land for me. This book was also labeled as a thriller which I don’t exactly think rings true, at least in my opinion. I was definitely interested but never on the edge of my seat or flipping pages as fast as I could.

All that being said, this was definitely a solid read and overall very interesting. I’m glad I gave this book a chance as I generally love Lisa Jewell novels. If you’re weary of the Marvel designation this novel holds, I wouldn’t let that discourage you in the slightest.

Lisa Jewell Fan ✔️
Marvel fan ✔️ (sort of)

While I don't know much about Jessica Jones I do enjoy other marvel characters (even just got back from comicon). I enjoyed the back and forth in time,0 which I'm a fan of. I'm glad there were parts of JJ's back story through the book. I'm typically not a fan of supernatural stuff and I knew going in it was a superhero type book. I like that she became a private investigator and needs to take on this case about teen twins.

Overall, I think it wasn't for me but I can see why others would absolutely love this book.


I am not sure about the Luke Cage book but I'll pick up the Daredevil one for sure. Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue.

#BreakingtheDarkAJessicaJonesMarvelCrimeNovel

3.75 ⭐️ this one was so hard to get into but once I was in, I really enjoyed the story! While I didn’t really find it to be particularly suspenseful or surprising, I liked the mystery element and enjoyed the way the clues were slowly revealed through the dual timelines.

Jessica Jones is such an iconic marvel anti-hero with her very complicated history but I love most iterations of her story. While this version is less gritty than the Jessica most people know her as, she’s well written and multifaceted throughout the story. All of the background characters are developed and each of them add their own layer to the story, even Speckles.

My biggest issue with Breaking the Dark was the pacing. Part one of the story really dragged for me and it wasn’t until we were in England that I felt like things were starting to pick up and hold my interest. The story also felt a little too long. I think it would’ve benefited from being 50 pages shorter.

All in all, it was a good plot, well written characters, and a solid mystery throughout. I’d recommend for marvel fans or fans of low suspense mystery.

I am a Marvel movie fan, but have never read any Marvel, however anything that Lisa Jewel writes is going to be great! This one is right up there with her best.

I’m not really a marvel fan, so I came into this with an open mind. I am always willing to give something new a chance. With that said, this book had Marvel superhero elements, but it wasn’t drenched in it making it easy for me to get lost in the story.

Overall, I would say the story line entertained me and kept me interested to its conclusion.

Jessica Jones is a private investigator with special powers who is hired to investigate some bizarre behavior of two twins who went away for the summer to spend time with their father. As the investigation progresses things become more and more strange as Jessica uncovers a more sinister reason behind the behavior of the two twins.

I felt this story unfolded slowly. Although it moved a little too slow for me, I did enjoy the story line, and as the conclusion approached, I found myself enjoying it more and eager to reach the end.

This is the first novel I’ve read by this author, and I liked her writing style. I plan on picking up another book by Lisa Jewell in the near future.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for this Advanced Reading Copy of Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell.

3.75 stars.
Anything Lisa Jewell writes always keeps me on the edge of my seat. I won't lie I was a little hesitant to start this because it's so different from her other books. The first 2/3 of this book was a little slow, but the last 1/3 will keep you from putting this book down. I still have so many questions from the end!!!

Even if this isn't your typical genre I encourage you to give this a read! The characters, the storyline, the suspense all top notch. Can't wait to read the next Lisa Jewell. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Lisa Jewell's Breaking the Dark plunges Jessica Jones into a chilling mystery: a mother's desperate claim that her twins have been replaced after a foreign trip. Jewell crafts a suspenseful narrative, drawing Jessica into a remote village where strange occurrences and unsettling transformations lurk.

Despite my usual preference for other genres, Breaking the Dark kept me thoroughly engaged. Jewell's ability to build suspense and deliver unexpected twists made this a compelling read, even for someone less familiar with the Marvel universe. Jewell's prose creates a palpable sense of unease, perfectly complementing the story's dark and mysterious atmosphere. The slow burn of the investigation kept me guessing until the very end.

Fans of Jessica Jones will appreciate Jewell's faithful portrayal of the character's gritty realism and sharp wit, while Marvel enthusiasts will enjoy the blend of supernatural elements with a grounded, noir-style mystery.

Thank you to Hyperion Avenue for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4 1/2 stars)

Breaking the Dark is a bold, gripping addition to both Lisa Jewell’s impressive thriller catalog and the Marvel Universe, bringing Jessica Jones to life in a way that’s raw, immersive, and deeply compelling. Jewell seamlessly blends psychological suspense with eerie, supernatural undertones, crafting a mystery that keeps you hooked from the first page. Jessica’s sharp wit, self-destructive tendencies, and relentless determination make her the perfect lead for this gritty, noir-style crime novel. While the pacing slows at times, the atmospheric tension and unpredictable twists more than make up for it. A must-read for both Marvel fans and psychological thriller lovers alike!

I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. It was a bit out of my comfort zone given that I'm more of a thriller/mystery reader. I was pleased that this had a bigger focus on the crime and investigation part of the story more than the Marvel part of it. I also enjoyed that there was multiple perspectives which helped the book develop well. What piqued my interest about this book was the fact that Lisa Jewell wrote it and she did not disappoint. It also helped knowing that it was a Marvel book so I was expecting that to come up. This is a good intro book for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the marvel universe but still wants more of the crime part more than the superhero aspect.

Genres: thriller, superheroes, crime fiction, mini romantic subplot

I was hesitant about this book at first. I like superheroes, but I had never heard about Jessica Jones. I also love thrillers and crime fiction, and that is what first drew me in. The first 30% of the book was rough for me to get through because it was not Lisa Jewell's regular style (which I love!!!!). Once I was able to pull myself out of my own expectations and accept the book for what it was, it was such a fun and creepy ride.

This book has everything from self growth to murders and kidnapping to sci-fi / dystopian scaries and superpowers!!! I think that this book would be enjoyed by anyone who loved The Substance and also enjoys reading crime fiction. The intersection between science fiction and crime fiction from the perspective of a private investigator is so fun.

I think this book had a LOT of moving pieces, but I never felt like I was getting lost. I definitely never knew where the book was going, but the last 30% of the book had me sweating!!

TL;DR: This book was a fun and eerie read with a slow start and strong finish! Perfect for lovers of movies like the Substance and books like None of This is True.

I am not a huge Marvel fan but I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell. I did have a little bit of a hard time getting into it at first. But I ended up liking it more than I thought. It was a good story and well written. After I got into it, it kept my attention and was fast paced .