This is set in the world of the Jessica Jones comics which I have read some of but don’t know quite as well as I know the television show. That fact made it hard to get through this book. The story was also slow going at first, which didn’t help.

This is the first in a series of books set in the Marvel universe but I don’t think I’ll be continuing it.

This one was a lot different than past Lisa Jewell books I've read. I'm not a Marvel fan and didn't realize this was Marvel so it wasn't really my cup of tea but if you love Marvel make sure to grab this one!!

*Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel* by Lisa Jewell is a fast-paced, gritty dive into the world of Marvel’s favorite hard-hitting detective. Jessica Jones is back, tackling a dangerous case that takes her into the murky depths of crime and corruption. Jewell’s writing captures Jessica’s sharp wit and no-nonsense attitude perfectly, while adding just the right amount of suspense and action. If you love your crime novels with a side of superhero flair, this book delivers! It’s a thrilling, page-turning read for anyone who’s a fan of Marvel, crime fiction, or just a great story full of twists and turns.

Couldn’t get into this book. I struggled staying interested and connecting with the characters. I loved the cover art for this book.

Looks like the start of a series. I love the characters from the Marvel series. Story was ok. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this

Special thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Jewell and Hyperion Avenue for an ARC of this highly anticipated novel. I can admit that it initially took some time for me to become invested in the novel, but that quickly changed. I am also not overly interested in sci-fi; however, the elements of this that were included with the twists and turns, mystery and suspense was a nice touch. There were multiple perspectives, characters and timeframes which made the book intriguing. I love the moral of the story and the way that the author summarized the events from start to finish in the main characters news article. Overall, would highly recommend this book and this author.

Breaking The Dark is a Marvel-inspired crime novel written by Lisa Jewell. I love Lisa Jewell, and her books are usually a must-read for me, so I was pretty excited about this one. I am also a Marvel fan, so I figured this would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, I think my knowledge of Jessica Jones did not help and actually did more harm when basing my opinion.
If you don't know who Jessica Jones is, then this book might work for you a bit more. However, if you do know who Jessica Jones is, it is best if you disassociate what you are familiar with and go in with a clear palate. This Jessica Jones is not the super badass, takes-no-crap, butt-kicking woman you know, but instead, she is way more relaxed and highly concerned about her possible pregnancy, therefore, she doesnt try to do too much. (She does still have superhero abilities, though.)
This book did not reach my expectations overall, and unfortunately, it fell very flat for me. I do, however, appreciate Lisa Jewell for venturing out and trying something new! 2.5 stars, rounded up!
Thank you NetGalley, Hyperion Avenue, and Lisa Jewell for this read!

Lisa Jewell takes a detour from her usual domestic thrillers and ventures into the Marvel Universe with Breaking the Dark, a Jessica Jones novel that mostly delivers. Jewell successfully captures the gritty, noir feel of the character, and the story offers a compelling mystery that keeps the pages turning.

Jessica Jones is a retired superhero turned private investigator, as she investigates a strange case involving altered teenagers. Jewell weaves a complex narrative that blends elements of the supernatural with a grounded, street-level crime story. The book explores themes of identity, perfection, and the dark side of obsession, which resonate beyond the superhero genre.

Jewell's writing is strong, as always, with a focus on character development and suspenseful pacing. The mystery unfolds gradually, keeping the reader engaged and guessing until the end. While the Marvel elements are present, the story is accessible to readers unfamiliar with the source material.

However, the book isn't without its flaws. At times, the pacing can feel uneven, and some readers may find the blending of genres slightly jarring. While Jewell captures Jessica's voice well, some long-time fans might find this interpretation of the character slightly different from what they're used to.

Overall, Breaking the Dark is a solid entry into the Marvel Crime series. It's an entertaining and well-written mystery with a unique premise and a compelling protagonist. While it may not be perfect, it's a worthwhile read for fans of Lisa Jewell, Jessica Jones, and anyone looking for a dark, twisty thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lisa Jewell, and Hyperion Avenue Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Lisa Jewell and the publishers for letting me read and review this advanced copy. This is a four star mystery marvel thriller that releases Tuesday March 25th 2025. I am a huge marvel movie fan so that's what originally got me into this novel. I really liked it and enjoyed the super hero/ powers with private investigation work.

Being relatively new to the Marvel Universe (MCU), I was ecstatic to see this as an option to request an ARC - and Lisa Jewell delivered!

Breaking the Dark gives readers a peek into the quiet(er) life of retired superhero, Jessica Jones, who now works as a private investigator and prefers to stay out of the limelight. One morning, a mother knocks on her door begging for her help because her children have just come home from visiting their father abroad - and the mom doesn't believes that these aren't really her children; after witnessing some strange behaviors from the teens - Jessica Jones jumps in to find out what is going on!

Thank you to NetGalley & Hyperion Avenue for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Definitely check this out!!!

In Breaking the Dark, bestselling author Lisa Jewell makes a striking debut into the Marvel universe, breathing new life into the gritty, hard-boiled world of Jessica Jones. Known for her gripping domestic thrillers, Jewell's pivot into superhero noir feels seamless, delivering a novel that’s equal parts psychological thriller and character study.

Set in the shadowy corners of New York City, the novel captures the essence of Jessica Jones: cynical, sharp-witted, and deeply damaged, yet doggedly resilient. Jewell wisely leans into the private investigator's humanity rather than her superpowers, grounding the narrative in a gritty realism that will appeal to both long-time Marvel fans and readers new to the character.

The plot unfolds around a missing-persons case that quickly spirals into a much darker and more personal mystery. Jewell’s pacing is taut, and her signature ability to peel back the layers of her characters’ psyches shines here. Jessica’s internal monologue is laced with dry humor, vulnerability, and an ever-present undercurrent of rage—a complex emotional terrain that Jewell navigates with nuance and skill.

What sets Breaking the Dark apart from typical superhero fare is its noir sensibility. This is not a story of high-stakes battles or cosmic threats, but of trauma, secrets, and survival. The violence is intimate, the tension psychological, and the stakes—though smaller in scale—feel weightier for their proximity to real human experiences.

Jewell’s writing is punchy and evocative, with vivid descriptions of the city’s underbelly and a palpable atmosphere of dread. The supporting cast, including familiar and fresh faces alike, are fleshed out with care, and their interactions with Jessica add richness and depth to the narrative.

In sum, Breaking the Dark is a triumph of genre-blending—bringing literary sophistication to a beloved Marvel anti-hero while staying true to the noir roots that define her. Lisa Jewell has not only captured Jessica Jones’s voice with authenticity and grit but has elevated her story with a level of psychological depth rare in superhero fiction.

Highly recommended for fans of crime fiction, noir thrillers, and character-driven Marvel stories.

I started this book thinking it was a typical Lisa Jewell book. I'm definitely not a Marvel fan but did enjoy reading it based on the Author! Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

I have enjoyed Lisa Jewel’s books in the past but I can’t say I’m a big Marvel fan, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this. It was fine, just not the right fit for me. I am not familiar with Jessica Jones at all so I think if I had a little more background on her it might have been a better read. It does work okay as a stand alone book, just not really my cup of tea. Interesting premise though!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.5⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery/ thriller📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
This one surprised me in the best way! I was scared it would be to Marvel-y for my liking but it wasn’t at all!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Gritty female led detective stories
Antiheros with attitude
Character driven stories
Complex female friendships
Slow burn mysteries
Found family
Themes of trauma and healing
Fresh takes on Marvel

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The mystery wasn’t revolved around superpowers
Complex side characters
Dry humor

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Some plot points felt under developed
I wanted a littler more depth for the resolution

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Perfection isn’t a goal. Perfection is a scam. You were perfect then and you’re perfect now. We all are. Every single one of us. Trust me.”
★ “You’re gorgeous. You’re clever. You’re cool. You’re loving. You’re scary. You are so, so strong. What those people did to you, it doesn’t make you weaker, it makes you stronger. You just need to believe that. And you need to open your heart to yourself. Break through the dark. Find the light. Do you see?”

I am not familiar with Jessica Jones or any modern Marvel (ha!), really.
So I thought this would be an action-packed, capes & flying, kinda superhero story - it is not. There are supernatural elements…
(***spoiler****)
(Last chance to avoid a spoiler!)
The supernatural twist involves vampires making a “living blur foundation/cream from the DNA of victims that essentially sucks the life from them while projecting their beauty on the face cream wearer… so yeah, very weird. I found it interesting, if nothing like I expected.

I had a hard time getting into this book. I typically love Lisa Jewell but this one was difficult. I think I enjoy more traditional psychological thriller.s

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC for review purposes.

I am a Lisa Jewell fan and will read anything she writes. So much so that I did not even look at the description of this book before reading it. I was surprised to find it a Marvel novel.

Even with my lack of appreciation for super heroes I enjoyed the novel greatly. Leave it to Lisa Jewell to write a super hero novel that I would both read and enjoy.

I just finished this book and wanted to share my immediate thoughts since I have some mixed feelings. I am a Marvel/Jessica Jones fan (and a Lisa Jewell fan!) so I was very curious to see how this novel would turn out.

Unfortunately, I thought it was a little disappointing regarding the Marvel/superhero part of things. In my opinion, if you didn’t already know who Jessica Jones & Luke Cage were and what their backgrounds and super powers were… it was never really explained. I found it to be very lack luster in terms of there being superheroes with powers as it was only mentioned a couple of times and didn’t add anything to the story.

Marvel/superhero stuff aside I found the storyline interesting and her PI adventures to be intriguing to follow along with even if it was pretty far fetched.

I liked that there was a diverse variety of characters including some side ones with great personality. There seemed to be some things in the story that weren’t really necessary and didn’t make sense but I still enjoyed my time reading it to see what happened.

Overall I think Lisa Jewell should stick to thrillers and Marvel should stick to comics or on screen adaptions lol.

This one really surprised me! While I am a Marvel movie and show fan, other than knowing the name as a marvel character, I knew nothing about nor what to expect of a book written by suspense writer Lisa Jewell about Jessica Jones. I did know that Lisa Jewell writes suspenseful thrillers, so I went in blind with medium hope…

Jessica is a retired super hero dealing with her trauma in unhealthy ways and working as a Private Investigator. After taking on a case around two NY teens who spent the summer in the UK with their father and came back acting very strange, Jessica finds herself involved in something more sinister than she could’ve imagined.

This book started out a little slow, but once it picked up and the pieces started to fit together, it was un-put-down-able! Of course this is a world where super heroes exist, so if you think “scientifically that’s not possible” when you watch Spider-Man, then you probably won’t like this book. This book is about so much more than just super hero stuff, but also about moving through trauma, learning to trust yourself and others, and forgiving yourself to allow room to move on and live life fully.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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

Breaking the Dark is a gripping mystery novel by Lisa Jewell, starring Marvel's Jessica Jones. Once a superhero, Jessica is now a tough private investigator. When a woman named Amber comes to her with a strange case involving her teenage twins, Jessica takes on a mystery that’s much darker than it first seems.

The twins have come back from visiting their dad in England acting totally different—calm, perfect, and creepy. Jessica’s search for answers takes her to a strange village, where she finds secrets that challenge what it means to be “perfect.”
The story is full of suspense, with a mix of crime-solving and supernatural mystery. Jessica’s dry humor and sharp mind keep things interesting, and her bond with her young assistant, Malcolm, adds a warm touch.
Lisa Jewell does a great job combining a detective story with Marvel-style intrigue. The book is fast-paced, easy to follow, and full of surprises. Whether you’re a Marvel fan or just love a good mystery, this book is a fun and thrilling read.