Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, so saying I was excited to read Breaking the Dark is an understatement. Although I'm not the biggest fan of Marvel, I knew that whatever direction Lisa chose to take with this story, I would be hooked—and I was right. I absolutely loved how she incorporated contemporary social issues, such as the pursuit of perfection in the world of social media and technology. The book was fun and exciting, but it also provided some great behind-the-scenes lessons to reflect on. I found myself thinking about it throughout the day and continuously finding excuses to pick it up for just one more chapter! I’m really looking forward to the other books in this series and highly recommend this for a fast paced and highly engaging read. I can always count on Lisa Jewell to write something GREAT. A huge thank you to Hyperion Avenue, Lisa Jewell, and NetGalley for allowing me to read Breaking the Dark!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201306695
3.5 stars!
Im a big Lisa Jewell fan so this book was an interesting twist from her usual thriller plots. It was a slow start but (even though I’m not a Marvel fan) I enjoyed this fun twist and found myself wanting to pick the book up to figure out what happened to the twins. The parallel timelines and flashbacks helped hold my attention while trying to figure out how the stories were connected.

The division of the chapters was confusing at times but I think that’s just how the ARC was setup and I assume it’ll be resolved in the final copies.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC!

This was…fine. The story didn’t make a lot of sense, and much was left unexplained at the conclusion. Also, moving a Jessica jones story to England felt like it was done solely because the author is more comfortable with that setting. All in all I was disappointed- the author really failed to capture the snark and wit that is Jessica Jones’s true superpower.

So interesting and different than what Jewell’s style is. She writes Jessica Jones well and it definitely made me curious what might happen next. Not exactly a compulsive read but outside of my comfort zone.

This sci-fi thriller is packed with hidden agendas and unbelievable secrets. The main character, Jessica Jones, is a woman with extraordinary powers, who has dedicated her life to helping others as part of the Avengers. When a concerned mother named Amber seeks her help, Jessica finds herself drawn into a chilling mystery. Amber’s teenage twins have returned from visiting their father’s new home, but something about the kids feels off. They look and act differently, yet they refuse to reveal what happened.

I enjoyed this story because it was unlike anything I had ever read before. The story showcases how the use of advanced technology, placed in the wrong hands, can be used manipulate the world. It’s a frightening scenario.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the opportunity to read this novel.

I am torn on this one. Was it good? Yes. Was it bad. No. But it wasn’t Lisa Jewell amazing.

I liked the story line and such, but as a first book in a new series it lacked a lot. I enjoyed the characters but also didn’t.

I have it 2.5 stars. It was slow and then picked up, but wasn’t an absolute fav for me

I love Lisa’s books and all of the twists and turns and this one didn’t disappoint. I enjoyed how it tied in Marvel and can’t wait to see how the rest of the series plays out.

As soon as I saw that Lisa Jewel had a new book coming out, I requested it on NetGalley. No need to read the synopsis - if she writes it, I want to read it. I haven’t watched a single superhero movie, I know nothing about the Marvel universe. Trust Lisa Jewel to have me interested in super heroes!

Something about rooting for the underdog/fallen super hero Jessica and the settings of a tiny English village and NYC sucked me right in. I’m not a big fan of supernatural elements, or YA in general, but the pace was quick and the characters were engaging. I really enjoyed the dual POVs of our bad guy and our heroine, along with short chapters.

Overall this one was nothing like what we’ve all come to expect from l powerhouse thriller writer Lisa Jewel. I can see it having mixed reviews from her die hard fans because it’s such a departure from her genre. So was it my favourite Lisa Jewel? No. Was it fun and engaging anyway? Absolutely.

Thank you NetGalley & Hyperion Avenue for this eARC in exchange for my honest review ☺️

This was not the typical Lisa Jewell book I expected—and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I was honestly surprised to find it centered around Jessica Jones, a Marvel character I knew very little about going in. But Jewell is such a talented writer that I found myself intrigued by the story anyway, even without much Marvel knowledge.

The setup was compelling: a mother convinced her children have been replaced by something... off, a creepy English village, and a mysterious girl named Belle. All the elements were there for something eerie and unsettling. And while I appreciated the originality, the pacing felt slow for most of the book. It took a while to build momentum, and I didn’t feel the same sense of urgency or twisty suspense I usually get from Jewell’s novels.

That said, the writing was strong, the atmosphere was vivid, and Jessica herself was a layered, flawed, and interesting protagonist. I enjoyed her voice and her reluctant dive into the strange mystery. The plot just didn’t quite grip me the way I’d hoped, and I found parts of it fairly predictable.

This probably isn’t my usual genre, but I think Marvel fans or those looking for something outside the usual crime thriller box might enjoy it more than I did. It’s unique, dark, and different—just not quite a standout for me.

My copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book is exactly what I expected from Jessica "Hotmess" Jones. Her life is on the edge of flatlining, but she is amazing, saves the day, and, of course, is still hung up on Luke. The atmosphere of this book is dark, moody, and creepy. Imagine your loved one leaving for a holiday and returning void of all personality, and your only hope is retired superhero JESSICA! Of course, you are in good hands, even if they are smeared in last night's chicken grease.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

Though this is not Lisa Jewell's typical genre, she did a great job of sticking with the atmosphere the Marvel Universe has created around Jessica Jones. The pacing of the story was good, the chapters were kept short, which helped to keep the reader engaged, and the side characters all had purpose that moved the story along. What I truly appreciated was the fact that Lisa was able to capture the grit and snark that is traditional Jessica.

I enjoyed seeing a different side of this author and diving back into Jessica Jones's world.

Thank you, Netgalley, Hyperion Avenue, and Lisa Jewell for the ARC of this entertaining novel.

Lisa Jewell is one of those auto-read authors for me, so when I saw that she was writing a new Marvel x Crime series?! I was so excited for it to be right up my alley.

I will admit that I'm not the *biggest* Marvel fanatic, and though I've watched & thoroughly enjoyed all of their big screen movies, I can't say I'm all too familiar with Jessica Jones or Luke Cage. In an effort to connect to this story, I did have to do some Googling to find out more about Jones's backstory so I could understand her better. However, it just wasn’t a story I fell in love with…nor did it hook me in, even after getting 30% in. Which makes me so sad.

I want to point out that I absolutely ADORE when authors, whom I already love, dive into something totally new and interesting and write something completely unexpected. And while I didn’t fall in love with this book and it was a DNF for me (for now), I hope to pick it up some day in the future when the mood strikes again, and hopefully I’ll learn to love it as much as I genuinely wanted to the first time.

Mood reader problems :(

I'll admit, at first I thought this was just going to be a "meh" read for me, which sucks because I love mystery, Lisa Jewell, and surperheroes. I believe in the beginning it felt lackluster for me because I'm not very aware of Jessica Jones as a superhero and her backstory, and I felt there was an opportunity to dive in deeper there to really set the tone for the reader.

So, due to this, I didn't feel as attached as I would have liked to the MC but I loved the concept and the message. 🥹 The theme of this story nearly had me in tears in the end.

I don't want to say too much to give away the plot twist, just know it has to do with AI and filters.

And the message at the end is: you're already perfect just the way you are. It also brought awareness to the social media ramifications on youth.

It was so wholesome.

I will say, I appreciated the going back and forth of the timeline as, even though I wasn't attached to the characters, it still provided substance of where everyone else came from and their baggage, not just the MC.

A never-been-done before plot with a heartwarming message. This is a combination not often found in mystery novels and one I recommend.

I very much enjoyed this book as I do most all of Lisa jewells books. I have always been a huge fan of her writing and I think her take on expanding the marvel universe characters is so cool. I loved the fast paced plot and the character development. I would definitely recommend this book!!

Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors, and this one was no different! This one had some major twists and had me on my seat the entire book! Absolutely loved the wit in this one!!

I did not get into this - maybe it's because I'm not picking up on the Marvel characters, but I don't have much interest in the characters. The exposition is lacking in the first 15%

So at first, I could not get into this book. I downloaded the audio and it ended up being really good. Totally different from your usual Lisa Jewell book but a refreshing change. The Marvel ties and the romance not to mention the wonderful way she writes twists. I can’t wait to keep reading this series as it comes out.

Lisa Jewell’s Breaking the Dark offers an interesting twist on the Jessica Jones character, blending crime thriller elements with her signature noir-style investigation. The story kicks off with Jessica taking on a case involving Amber Randall, a mother worried about her teenage twins’ disturbing behavior after a summer abroad. As Jessica digs deeper, she uncovers a web of secrets, but the pacing and execution don’t always match the novel’s strong premise.

Jewell captures Jessica’s tough, flawed personality well, making her a compelling protagonist. The psychological tension is strong, and the mystery itself is engaging. However, the book moves a bit too slowly at times, and Jessica’s superpowers take a backseat, which might disappoint Marvel fans expecting more action.

Overall, Breaking the Dark is a solid read with great character work, but it doesn’t quite deliver the excitement I was hoping for. If you’re looking for a slower, more introspective take on Jessica Jones, this might be for you—but if you want something action-packed, it may fall a little flat.

Lisa Jewel did a great job with this book conveying the real Jessica Jones character. As a marvel and Lisa Jewel fan I was excited to read this ARC. I thought the pregnancy piece could have been left out of the story as that seemed like information just to extend the story but didn’t have a big impact on it and it felt like we didn’t get to hear much about her super hero powers. It was well written with two dual stories in the book coming into one. I would definitely recommend this book to any Marvel lover.

Jessica Jones didn’t really make it in the super hero world and has decided to just be a private investigator. She has a mom who’s twins have recently visited their dad in the UK and have come back transformed acting like two children she’s never met and she wants to hire Jessica to figure out the real truth and what happened to her kids while they were gone with their dad over the summer. The dual story of the book talks about Polly 12 years earlier who wants to create the most sought after beauty product. She finds out Ophelia’s beauty secrets and Polly secretly finds her way into the family which may not be good news.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lisa Jewell is a well known must-read thriller author. Breaking the Dark is a different type of book for her. It is a super-hero, crime, female detective book and I enjoyed it all. As I started the book, I was not sure how I would feel about stepping out of what I expected from Lisa Jewell to read a different type of book. I enjoyed every word, chapter, and page. I could not wait to find time to read more, even if it was just a few more pages. I am excited to continue this series. The Marvel Series might just be one of my favorites.

Jessica Jones is a detective searching for answers on why the twins came home from visiting their father as different kids. I was so invested in figuring out the why and the how. The small-town Jessica visited was full of secrets and villains. I love putting the clues together, seeing Jessica figure it out, and solve the crime.

Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell kicks off the new Marvel Crime series with a hard-hitting, gritty tale that introduces fans to a very different side of the Marvel Universe. This time, the focus is on Jessica Jones, a retired superhero turned private investigator, struggling with the trauma of her past while navigating life in Hell’s Kitchen.

The story begins when a distraught mother, Amber Randall, walks into Jessica’s office, convinced her teenage twins have been replaced by something unnatural. Their once distinct personalities have changed overnight, and now they are eerily perfect—both physically and mentally. Amber's suspicions set Jessica on a dark journey that leads her to a remote village in the UK, where she uncovers strange happenings linked to a mysterious girl named Belle.

Jewell’s portrayal of Jessica is brilliantly raw and authentic. The character's disillusionment with her former superhero life is palpable, and readers can feel her inner conflict between her desire to remain detached from the world and her inability to ignore the suffering of others. The dark, atmospheric setting of the British village enhances the sinister undertones of the story, while the slow-reveal of Belle’s strange connection to the Randall twins keeps the tension high.

What sets this novel apart from other superhero-based stories is its focus on the crime-thriller aspect, blending classic detective noir with supernatural elements. Jessica’s keen investigative skills, paired with her emotional baggage, make her a compelling protagonist in a world where not all is as it seems.

Breaking the Dark is a fast-paced, suspenseful read that will appeal to both Marvel fans and readers who enjoy darker crime fiction with a twist. The novel sets the stage for future installments in the Marvel Crime series, and if this first entry is anything to go by, we’re in for an exciting, unpredictable ride with more of our favorite street-level heroes.