I love Lisa Jewell and I’m a big fan of Jessica Jones, so a book about Jessica Jones written by Lisa Jewell?! Sign me up! This is a very different book from Lisa Jewell’s other books and I loved that! This superhero mystery was really creative and captivating. I loved the eerie atmosphere and built-in suspense. I went into this book already knowing about Jessica Jones because I’m a Marvel fan so I know a lot about Jessica Jones’s backstory, but for a reader who may not know who Jessica Jones is, I think including a little bit more of her backstory would have made this book a perfect 5 stars but this is definitely a 4.5 star book for me. Lisa Jewell never disappoints me!

I love Lisa Jewell books! This one was a bit different than her others because it involved Avengers (superheroes). This is book 1 of a new series Marvel Crime. I was a bit hesitant to keep going, but I am glad I did. If you are a fan of superheroes you will probably really enjoy it! It centers around former superhero Jessica Jones. This story revolves a lot around the word "perfect," and focuses a lot on AI and teens. Seems more of a YA story than Jewell's other novels. I don't think I will read more in this series, but I am still a Lisa Jewell fan!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this book blind, and I’m so glad I did. I didn’t know what to expect, but once I settled into the story, I was completely hooked. The twists and turns were absolutely jaw-dropping—I was shocked more than once! The way the author wove this story together was masterful, and I loved every moment of it. Now, I’m about to dive into this author’s catalog because I loved the way they took this story.

I received this book as an ARC through NetGalley and the publisher, but my thoughts are entirely my own.

Lisa Jewell takes a bold step into new territory with Breaking the Dark, blending her signature psychological suspense with Marvel’s gritty noir world. This isn’t just a superhero story—it’s a layered, atmospheric thriller with a deeply flawed but compelling protagonist at its core.

Jessica Jones, now a private investigator, is drawn into a case that’s equal parts eerie and unsettling. A mother insists her teenage twins have been changed after a visit to their father in the UK—polished, perfect, and no longer themselves. Jessica, despite her best efforts to ignore the world’s problems (and her own), finds herself in a remote English village where nothing feels quite right. The tension builds as she unravels the mystery surrounding an enigmatic girl named Belle and a town that seems to be hiding something sinister.

Jewell’s storytelling is sharp, her character work strong as ever. Jessica is raw, cynical, and self-destructive, making for an engaging (if at times frustrating) lead. The novel leans into supernatural elements more than Jewell’s usual fare, which might divide readers, but it works within the Marvel framework. The mystery is compelling, though some moments feel a bit rushed or underexplored, especially in the final act.

Overall, Breaking the Dark is a fresh, immersive thriller with an eerie edge. Jewell fans and Marvel enthusiasts alike will find plenty to enjoy, even if the genre shift may not be for everyone.

Breaking the Dawn - Lisa Jewell
Pub Date - 3/25/25
Rating - 3/5
Summary - Retired superhero Jessica Jones is now a private investigator who works out of her small apartment in Hell's Kitchen. One morning, a mother of two teenage twins comes into her office requesting Jessica to investigate why her kids are acting strangely after coming back from a summer in England. Jessica travels to England to find out who the twins met, what they were doing, and what must have happened during their visit. Jessica finds herself in a similar situation as her past and must battle her demons in this new thrilling marvel series debut.
Thoughts - Thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I'm a huge fan of Lisa Jewell, so I was very excited to read her newest book! This one was very different from stories she normally writes. I liked the short chapters, the character development, and the overall plot of the book. For a marvel book, I was hoping for more action and a little more development of the plot, which I felt fell a little flat. Overall, still really great book and I can't wait to read further installation of the Marvel Series and watch the Jessica Jones show!

This was definitely in the Marvel universe! I love the way Lisa Jewell wrote this crime story being a fan of her books my expectations were high and she definitely delivered. I can honestly say I never see it coming.

I loved the whole ideal of the story. it was Creepy and little bizarre and entertaining. I will definitely want to read more from the author

I went into this book blind, and I'm glad I did. I did not realize it was based on Marvel. I probably wouldn't have read it if I did. I love Lisa Jewell's writing, so when I had the chance to read this, I jumped on it. I really enjoyed this book after I embraced that. I was absolutely shocked more than once in this book. The twists and turns were jaw dropping.

I received this book as an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher. The thoughts were not influenced by that in any way,

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book, I really enjoyed it. I have never heard of Jessica Jones and I liked this was sort of kind of “fantasy” I personally wouldn’t say this genre is “mystery”. This was a pleasant surprise too!! And I would absolutely read her next book I rate this a 4/5 stars.

I chose this book to read because I have read other stories by this author and have very much enjoyed her work. I also loved movies about super heroes that I watched with my sons when they were younger; however, I never actually read a book like this before..

The author, Lisa Jewell, does an incredible job of bringing the main character, Jessica, to life. Like so many of us Jessica has her own issues to deal with including feelings of embarrassment over things that happened in the past and a lack of self confidence. She has a man in her life that she has a physical relationship with, and yet, she is afraid to let him or anyone else know how much she cares. In this book, she has a case to deal with, and even with everything else in her life, she is doing her best to solve it. .

The plot itself is incredibly well done with unexpected twists taking the story into places that I never expected. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I will look forward to the next book in the series.

While this book is a little different than I’m used to I did enjoy it! I’d definitely recommend it to others!

If you are a fan of Jessica Jones then you will love this book, but even if you don't know her it is still a great read. Jewell is an excellent writer. I felt like I was at the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading this. The way that she weaves the story lines together was fun and allowed us to figure out the puzzle like Jessica was. I don't often rate thrillers as must reads, but I think this one is for sure. 4.5 out of 5 stars. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel like there is going to be a second book, but if there was, I would read it for sure.

A crime book with a superhero FMC...oh...also written by Lisa Jewell?! YES PLEASE! As usual, Lisa Jewell's writing is fantastic and I was hooked from the beginning. The Marvel vibes are definitely there and I love that, it's different from other Jewell books but it was still fantastic and I truly hope she'll keep going with this!

I loved this book! It was such an intriguing adventure.
The little bits of Marvel lore sprinkled into the story definitely added a fun aspect to the story but it is not a “Super” story, not really.
It’s mainly the story of a private investigator who is hired to check out a small town in England where a wealthy woman’s teenage twins spent a month over the summer with their dad in his new estate. The twins came back looking and acting very strangely to their mother so she seeks Jessica Jones out for her assistance. Jessica ends up uncovering bizarre people and stories during her investigation.
The story is very applicable to our modern society with a focus on social media, beauty standards, the beauty industry, and tech.
I was thoroughly engrossed and didn’t want to put the book down!

A must read for Lisa Jewell fans and an added bonus if you’re a Marvel fan…but no worries if you’re not because that plays a very minor role in the story and everything is explained so you understand the history behind any marvel reference that’s brought up.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for the copy of this eARC!

Would be an excellent book for Marvel fans. The concept of a series written by different authors, these characters, and the various settings are intriguing and captivating but not enough for me. Looking forward to the next Lisa Jewell book!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Lisa Jewel does it again. This is the first book in a new Marvel Crimes series by Lisa Jewell and will feature some fan-favorite characters. I would highly recommend for Crime Thriller lovers!

You might remember Jessica Jones…the Marvel Superhero! She is reintroduced in this Marvel Crime story as a private investigator!  Lisa Jewell has done a marvelous job in transforming Jessica into this new role!  Jessica is hire by a concerned mom to look into her twin teens’ activities since she feels they are not acting like her children. The story is a very modern mystery thriller with a major focus on beauty and perfection and how young people are following favorite influencers to make it happen! The story is gruesome and gory in parts…with several shocking twists!  Thank you Lisa Jewell for taking a superhero character turned investigator and showing a unique side of her …creating an exciting journey with relatable characters and an enjoyable read!  Lovers of Lisa Jewell…don’t miss this one!!!

I loved the Jessica Jones tv show, so I was excited to check out this novel! I thought this was well-written and I liked all the new characters and the mystery itself. It did feel a little long though for me! First book I’ve read by this author, will definitely check out more!

This one had a solid premise - Jessica Jones, a retired superhero-turned-PI, investigating a mother's eerie claim that her twins have been replaced by something.."perfect".  The mystery starts off intriguing, and the creepy village vibes were a nice touch.  But honestly? It just dragged.  The pacing felt somewhat uneven and by the time things started coming together, I was more meh than mesmerized.  
Jessica's classic snark was there, but it wasn't enough to keep me fully engaged.  Not bad, just too much - could have been sharper, shorter and more impactful.  
Breaking The Dark is the debut novel in the new Marvel Crime series.  This series will continue with original stories featuring fan-favorite characters, including Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura.

Gripping from start to finish! Jewell's masterful storytelling keeps you guessing. A truly addictive thriller with complex characters. Highly recommend!