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.

Was this a classic Lisa Jewell book? No. Didn’t absolutely enjoy it and had a good time? Yes! I’m not big marvel fan so I wasn’t really sure how I would like it. This book did put me off guard and it was surprisingly good! Loved the short chapters &dual time frame. I would’ve liked more back story about Jessica and a little more action in the ending.

Thank you NetGalley for the ACR!!!

Jessica Jones is a retired superhero, working as a private investigator, who takes on the case of twins who go to visit their father and come home as completely different kids. The twins’ mother says something strange is amiss and wants Jessica to get to the bottom of it. There is definitely something eerie and mysterious going on, and you don’t have to be a Marvel fan to enjoy Jessica’s search for answers.

This isn’t the norm for Lisa Jewell, but it’s very, very good. I don’t necessarily love Marvel characters but I did find this book intriguing and catchy. Overall, I give it 3 stars. Thank you, NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced reader copy.

Had I known this was a “super hero” novel I would not have picked it up. Man am I glad I didn’t know that and chose to read this one. IT WAS SO GOOD. I hate super hero movies. Hate marvel hate avengers. This book was amazing, however. I could not put it down. I needed no knowledge of super hero’s and the main character was brilliant. So relatable and awesome. This was a crazy story with some seriously unique elements. It was written perfectly. 5 solid stars, can’t wait for another.
A great lesson of don’t judge a book by its cover.
One of my favourite reads this year

I received a free copy of, Breaking the Dark, by Lisa Jewell, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book one in the Marvel Crime Series. Jessica Jones was once a super hero, now she helps solve crime, as a private investigator. Jessica is a great character, I really enjoyed learning more about her.