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The setup was compelling: a mother convinced her children have been replaced by something...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.

Not your typical Lisa Jewell story, but I have loved her other novels so I wanted to give this a try. I love Marvel movies, but before this book I wasn't very familiar with the Jessica Jones character. I think the book did a pretty good job of presenting her backstory to make me understand the character, though I wish there had been a little more. I also would've liked to know more about the villains and I wish we could've seen Jessica using her powers more. Overall, I really enjoyed the story.

As a huge Marvel and Lisa Jewell fan... It was quite the change up from most of the books I've read by her, but I was entertained throughout it. I've read the comics, seen the show... It was well done in keeping with the character and the overall crime thriller that is the Jessica Jones brand.

I thought it was a bit rushed, however. The chapters were really short, so while it was a very quick read to get through, the ending fell a little bit flat for me.

Some really great things? She nailed describing Jessica Jones's character and personality throughout the book. She's always half aloof and very irreverent any time you read/watch her character and I thought Lisa really nailed that.

I was excited to see that this will be a part of a Marvel retelling series and will continue to pick them up as they are released. Thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for sharing this ARC with me. It was a fun time.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Disney Publishing Group for the opportunity to read and review Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel. While browsing through novels for students, the author of this book is what caught my attention at first. I have read a lot of Lisa Jewell novels and enjoy her storytelling. As someone who is a Marvel fan, but not a completist (yet!), I am not too familiar with Jessica Jones and the storylines related to this character. Reading the novel gave me more insight to the Marvel world, Jessica Jones, and how readers who are Marvel fans would really enjoy this read! I would recommend this novel to students who may need a specific "buy in" for reading and for any major Marvel movie fan. Thank you!

Jessica Jones thought she'd left the hero life behind—until a desperate mother walks into her PI office with a chilling story. Her teenage twins returned from the UK... different. Too perfect. Something isn’t right.

Reluctantly drawn into the mystery, Jessica finds herself in a creepy English village, facing eerie locals, a strange girl named Belle, and a secret that reeks of danger. As she digs deeper, Jessica is reminded that perfection is never what it seems—and darkness always lurks beneath.

Breaking the Dark kicks off Marvel’s new crime series with gritty noir vibes and psychological suspense. It’s a sharp, moody dive into the shadowy corners of the Marvel Universe, where powers take a backseat to paranoia.

Thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital book in exchange for my honest review.

I did not find myself getting through this book easily, but that is entirely my fault. The writing and storytelling is beautiful, however, the subject matter is where it fell flat for me at no fault of the author.

I went into this book blind yet again not reading the Synopsis as I LOVE Jewell but unfortunately this was not for me, don't know anything about Jessica Jones or comics. Unfortunately this wassnt for me. I'm just
.just the wrong audience

Many thanks to NetGalley, Lisa Jewell, and Hyperion Avenue for the eARC! This was a gripping, fast-paced thriller inspired by Marvel’s Jessica Jones. Packed with action, twists, and surprises at every turn, it kept me hooked from start to finish!