Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel - by Lisa Jewell

About the Book

"An original story of Jessica Jones investigating a case about a mother who fears her children have been replaced"--

Book Synopsis

"Absolutely perfect." --Booklist
"Fresh, lively, insightful--astonishing." -- AJ Finn

In her most imaginative novel yet, #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell (None of This Is True) launches the Marvel Crime series of thriller books for adults with an original story starring the private detective Jessica Jones.

Meet Jessica Jones: Retired super hero, private investigator, loner. She tried her best to be a shiny spandex crimefighter, but that life only led to unspeakable trauma. Now she avoids that world altogether and works on surviving day-to-day in Hell's Kitchen, New York.

The morning a distraught mother comes into her office, Jessica would prefer to nurse her hangover and try to forget last night's poor choices. But something about Amber Randall's story strikes a chord with her. Amber is adamant that something happened to her teenage twins while they were visiting their father in the UK. The twins don't act like themselves, and they now have flawless skin, have lost their distinctive tics and habits, and keep talking about a girl named Belle. Amber insists her children have been replaced by something horrible, something "perfect."

Traveling to a small village in the British countryside, Jessica meets the mysterious Belle, who lives a curiously isolated life in an old farmhouse with a strange woman who claims to be her guardian. Can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for the Randall twins' new personas? Why does the strange little village of Barton Wallop seem to harbor dark energies and mysteries in its tight-knit community?

A mother's intuition is never wrong. And Jessica knows that nothing in life is perfect--not these kids, not her on-again, off-again relationship with Luke Cage, and certainly not Jessica herself. But even as she tries to buy into the idea that better days are ahead, Jessica Jones has seen all too clearly that behind every promise of perfection trails a dark, dangerous shadow.

Breaking the Dark, the first book in the brand-new Marvel Crime series, introduces fans to a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe, and will continue with original novels featuring fan-favorite characters like Luke Cage, written by S.A. Cosby, and Daredevil, written by Alex Segura.

Review Quotes

"Fresh, lively, insightful--from page one, Lisa's take on Jessica owned me. Astonishing. The voice and dialogue are wry with a whiff of hard-boiled. The action scenes hit like a chop. Honest, earnest, and a really cracking story."
--AJ Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

"Breaking the Dark is a novel that reveals the depth and complexity of one of the most fascinating and indomitable characters in the Marvel canon. Lisa Jewell has found secret reservoirs of strength and perseverance in Jessica Jones that only a writer of her skill could articulate."
--S. A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of All the Sinners Bleed

"Absolutely perfect."
--Booklist

"I was hooked from the start and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. Original, clever and cinematic."
--Alice Feeney, New York Times bestselling author of Rock Paper Scissors

"A juicy campfire read ... Jewell's fans will enjoy seeing her flex some unfamiliar muscles." --Publishers Weekly

"Breaking The Dark is Jewell at the height of her powers: the pace doesn't let up, the characters never once slip. I actually know nothing about the Marvel universe, but I was utterly beguiled by Jessica's investigation into a pair of mysterious adolescents. Lisa Jewell writes excellent teenagers, and here she has levelled up, with supernatural teenagers. Tricksy, endlessly interesting and pure entertainment, don't miss this one."
--Gillian McAllister, New York Times bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time

"A page-turner for readers to stick their nose into over the weekend."
--Culturess

"Fast-paced, addictive and SO. MUCH. FUN. Will delight Lisa's existing fans and attract a legion of new ones."
--Tamar Cohen, bestselling author of When She Was Bad

"A classic Lisa Jewell with an amazing supernatural twist!"
--Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of The Bookshop on the Corner

About the Author

Lisa Jewell is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-two novels, including The Family Upstairs, Then She Was Gone and her latest novel, None of This is True. Her novels have sold over 10 million copies internationally, and her work has been translated into over thirty languages. She lives in London with her husband, two daughters and their amazing Romanian rescue dog, Daisy. Connect with her on Twitter @LisaJewellUK, on Instagram @LisaJewellUK, and on Facebook @LisaJewellOfficial.