Big thank you to netgalley for supplying me with an arc of Breaking the Dark. As a big marvel fan and as a reader who has heard so many amazing things about Lisa Jewell, I was naturally curious when seeing this on netgalley so i requested it and got accepted c: I was instanty drawn to the writing style and the fact that this has characters that I already know and live made it so much easier for me to follow and get into. I really enjoyed the plot and to say that I’m not the biggest mystery reader, this really surprised me in that I loved the storyline.

I had just finished The Family Upstairs and loved it as I have with all the previous Lisa Jewell books that I have read was looking forward with great anticipation to this one. However it was not for me. I’m not a fan of super heroes, know very little about them and I don’t like fantasy and this book just didn’t work for me. The style of writing seemed slow and didn’t pull me in. I’m now going to read The Family Remains…. much more my style!
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for giving for giving me the chance to read this book.

When two brilliant worlds collide the outcome can only be good! Lisa Jewell has taken on the world of Marvel, and it is brilliant.

The story of Jessica Jones is gripping, I was hooked from start to finish. It had everything you would expect from a Lisa Jewell thriller with the addition of Marvel and superpowers.

I loved the plot and subplot, I was gripped throughout. Elliot and Malcom were great supporting characters.

This book will open up the writing of Lisa Jewell to a whole new audience....and they will find this an addictive and engrossing read. I am not a fan of Marvel, but I am a huge fan of the author. I think this will be the first in a series, as they is plenty to build on.
Despite my initial reservations I was able to easily finish the book because of the incredible craftsmanship of the author. I think I would have given this 5 stars were I a Marvel fan, but I felt I could have done with a little more background knowledge on the Marvel character.

As with any other Lisa Jewell book, I really enjoyed it. There's something about her storylines packing in a lot more than you would think that I always find compelling. Her main characters are always multidimensional, and this was the case for Jessica too. I don't often read super heroes fiction (and this was very low key superhero, to be honest), but I did enjoy the story and the plot kept me reading.

A marvel story about Jessica Jones, retired superhero now working as a private investigator. Jessica is tasked with investigating twin teenagers who are acting strangely since spending time in the U.K. over summer and have suddenly developed immaculate complexions…

This one surprised me. I had mixed feelings picking it up, as Marvel isn’t usually my thing. However, it’s a testament to Lisa Jewell that I was hooked pretty early on. While some of the dialogue reads more like YA fiction, the plot is unique and clever. I enjoyed the dual PoV and it took quite a while for me to figure out how they linked up, which was an unexpected twist! The main characters were nuanced and addictive!

This was my first Lisa Jewell, but it’s pushed me to pick up more of her books, as I think it shows her talent of how well she has executed a book outside of her comfort zone.

I love Lisa Jewell books and I love Marvel so was really looking forward to reading this. I actually saw the book advertised on a Disney bus when I was on holiday in Walt Disney world.

Took a little while to get into it as she writes in a different style than her usual books but once I got a few chapters in then I really got into it. I enjoyed a more gritty side of marvel.

Marvel & Lisa J !?!? Whaaaat !! Then I got an arc!! This got devoured in 2 sittings whilst on holiday. Didn’t think I’d enjoy this as much as her other works but I actually loved it!!

This was good, I am not a fan of marvel sadly, but I am a huge fan of the author which is why when I seen this I had to read it straight away! I think this is going to be a series and I enjoyed it a lot

So... first I must say that Lisa Jewell became my #1 favorite author of all time after reading None of This Is True. And she still is my favorite author. But this was a definite miss for me. I think because it didn't feel at all like her writing, but rather seemed to be fitting to the mold of Marvel (which was ultimately her objective, so well done). I would suggest this for fans of the Marvel-verse but unfortunately I am definitely not among them. Thank you so much for allowing me to read an advanced copy and I will still be auto-buying ANYthing she writes.

Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell, set to release in July 2024, merges the author’s signature psychological thriller style with the Marvel universe. This first installment in the Marvel Crime series brings Jessica Jones, the gritty and traumatized private investigator, into the forefront. The plot kicks off when Jessica is approached by a mother, Amber Randall, who suspects something sinister has happened to her twins after they returned from a summer with their father in the UK. The twins seem altered, too perfect, and obsessed with a mysterious girl named Belle.

The novel’s strength lies in Jewell’s ability to craft a suspenseful and eerie atmosphere. Jessica’s investigation takes her to Essex, where she encounters Belle and her guardian, revealing a high-stakes conspiracy involving dangerous technology. As Jessica untangles this twisted web, readers are plunged into a dark, chilling mystery that has supernatural undertones but stays grounded in human emotion and intrigue.

While Marvel fans will appreciate the inclusion of Jessica Jones, even those unfamiliar with the superhero will find this book engaging. Jewell’s hallmark pacing and character development are present, though some readers may wish for more background on Jessica’s past early on. Overall, Breaking the Dark is a compelling blend of psychological thriller and sci-fi that should appeal to both Lisa Jewell’s fanbase and Marvel newcomers alike .

This is a book that I took a chance reading and was pleasantly surprised. It is not my usual type of read and is a first write for Lisa Jewell of this genre. This is the first book of a new Marvel Crime series.
Jessica is a private investigator living in New York who unravels the mysterious character change in 16 year old twins. Her investigations take her to England where she tries to find out what happened whilst the twins were their visiting their father. Battling her own personal and emotional difficulties, she needs to decide where her own future and relationship with Luke Cage is going.
A mix of super hero fantasy, along with the draw of social media made this an enjoyable read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Lisa Jewell for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

The first in a new Marvel crime series, Lisa Jewell proves once again how versatile a writer she is.

Retired superhero Jessica Jones, currently working as a private investigator in New York, is hired by a rich divorcee who is worried about her 16-year-old twins. The twins, Lark and Fox, have returned from visiting their father in Essex, England, but something clearly happened while they were away since they have come home entirely different people.

Jessica has to travel to Essex to find out what happened. There, she meets Belle and Debra, two evil geniuses and dives into a world where new technology can make the world a better place for some people holes – to the detriment of others.

I’m not really into superheroes, and knew nothing about Jessica Jones, but I’m always willing to try something a bit different. Jessica’s backstory has a few holes – to be filled, no doubt, further into the series. This novel ticks all the boxes – great hook, great story, quirky characters, fast pace, lots of mystery and suspense, a hint of science-fiction … I thoroughly enjoyed Breaking the Dark.

As a massive Lisa Jewell fan, I jump on every one of her books as soon as they’re released. I don’t even bother with the blurb. If it’s written by Lisa, I know I’m going to love it. So, to say I was blindsided to learn that this was set in the Marvel Universe as part of a new Marvel crime series is an understatement. I’m not into Marvel. I know nothing about superheroes. And I’ve never heard of the protagonist, Jessica Jones.

The only thing I could do was set aside my reservations and resolve to let the book speak for itself.

And the verdict?

It was fun! A departure from Lisa’s usual style, for sure, but still a highly entertaining read.

The premise has retired superhero Jessica, now working as a private investigator in New York, when she’s hired by a wealthy divorcée who is anxious about her 16 year-old twins. Lark and Fox have returned from a visit to their father in England but are not the same teenagers who left New York. Their faces have a waxy, unblemished look, and they have lost all their unique personality traits.

There’s no doubt that this is a great hook to get you into the book. And what follows is a murky, mysterious ride, involving some seriously wacky characters and ideas. As mad as it all was, though, I found myself perfectly willing to cast plausibility aside and just go with the flow.

I would have liked to know more about Jessica’s background and what had caused her “disgrace” and ejection from the superhero squadron. And I never figured out what her actual superpower was. All of which probably left me at a slight disadvantage when it came to fully appreciating the story.

I’m still not persuaded that superheroes are my thing, but all credit to Lisa Jewell for rising to the challenge and trying her hand at something new. I’m no expert, but I’d say she pulled it off.

First of all thank you for approving my request!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The authors writing style had me hooked throughout this book.

I didn't want it to end, a book I really couldn't put down.

I love Lisa Jewell & all her books,she's an amazing writer. I didn't really enjoy this book as much as her others as I've no real interest in the Marvel universe in saying that i actually finished the book & have recommended it to my friends who love the Marvel universe. Anyone who enjoys this genre will love this book

I am so confused as to why Lisa Jewell is basically writing marvel fanfic - but I am not mad about it?

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC. I ADORE Lisa Jewell and although I’m not that interested in Marvel I wanted to read this book because I will read anything she writes. I ended up really enjoying it!

The plot was really well paced. Twists were revealed at a good pace, I wasn’t bored at any point because we were regularly provided with new information. I liked the sci-fi twist as well, it was a really interesting concept. The discussion on “perfection” and the media’s portrayal of what “perfection” looks like and how it affects people’s self esteem and behaviour was really relevant, especially with the rise of AI and how prevalent it’s becoming in our lives.

I’m going to be honest though, I didn’t particularly like Jessica. I thought she was kind of rude and she made some really strange decisions. There was one event in particular with Malcolm where she didn’t even make an effort to help him after all he’d done for her and the fact that he was a teenage boy as well. I thought that was a bit shitty of her.

I did like the author’s exploration and representation of PTSD and I liked the fact that the story was told in a dual timeline which then came together at the end. Overall I would recommend this even if you’re not a Marvel fan. You can enjoy it even if you know nothing about, or no interest in superheroes and you can also enjoy it if you do. It was released on 4th July so it’s out now!

As a huge fan of Jewell, the news of this book didn't initially interest me, until I listened to Woman's Hour and she spoke about it. I was hooked and was thrilled be have been given a copy.

I warmed to Jessica straight away and the story line between her and Luke was devine.

I was so curious how Jewell would include Essex and it was done so well- the jump from USA, I mean. All of the quirky characters in this section were great and rich with their own energy.
I lost interest at about a quarter towards the end of the book, the sci fi- marvel energy umped out a bit and I didn't understand some of it nor could I keep up!

My one criticism was the book was written using American grammar and vocab, why? It was really very off putting for me in a big way.

I really enjoyed this book, honestly Lisa Jewell never disappoints! The characters AND the plot were both very well developed and the writing was great as always