• Breaking the Dark

  • A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel
  • By: Lisa Jewell
  • Narrated by: Helen Laser
  • Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (105 ratings)

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Breaking the Dark  By  cover art

Breaking the Dark

By: Lisa Jewell
Narrated by: Helen Laser
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Publisher's summary

In her most imaginative novel yet, number one New York Times best-selling 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 superhero, 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 Amber insists her children have been replaced by something horrible, something “perfect”.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.

©2024 Marvel (P)2024 Audible, Inc.

About the Creator

Lisa Jewell was born in London in 1968. Her first novel, Ralph's Party, was the bestselling debut novel of 1999. Since then she has written another 20 novels, most recently a number of dark psychological thrillers, including The Girls, Then She Was Gone, The Family Upstairs, The Family Remains, and The Night She Disappeared, all of which were Richard & Judy Book Club picks. Lisa is a New York Times and Sunday Times number-one bestselling author who has been published worldwide in over 30 languages. She lives in north London with her husband and two daughters.

About the Performer

Helen Laser is an NYC-based voice actor and artist. Helen narrates for Audible, Apple News+, Penguin Random House, and is the voice of Annie's Homegrown. She has appeared on television, in award-winning films that have graced the festival circuit worldwide, and in various stage performances. She is a member of SAG-AFTRA, a published writer, appreciator of all things spooky, and likes to paint, and plays various instruments including autoharp, accordion, ukulele, and clarinet.
HelenLaser.com

What listeners say about Breaking the Dark

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

A good first installment for Marvel Crime Novels

Marvel doing a series of crime novels with it's street level heroes is an awesome idea, and after listening to the first book I'm excited for more. The book stayed true to the core of Jessica Jones, while also giving some new elements. Also, touching on Jessica and Luke's relationship, and giving us Danni Cage too, as well as a lot of the subtle mentions of other Marvel characters and elements was very well done. My only issues was the lack of action in the book. Stll, overall, very worth the listen.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lisa Jewel Never Disappoints

I have been a fan of Lisa & JJ so this novel brought both favs together. There were a few times I had to click back to reevaluate a narrative (that’s a me thing) and at the end it was all tied in a bow.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not her best

Very predictable. I don’t think it was credit worthy . A little too trendy and a little too sappy

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Another Winner

I purchased this the day it was released and was not disappointed! The story grabs you right away and holds your attention throughout.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this new series!

Great story and I’m looking forward to the next book also looking for other work by this amazing author.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Excellent from beginning to end

I am not a die hard Marvel fan. I enjoy the movies when I get a chance to watch them but don't seek them out. I wasn't sure I was going to be a big fan of this book for that reason alone but I was completely surprised. Great story and Helen Laser was a terrific choice to read it. I will definitely be listening to more books by Lisa Jewell.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Outstanding!! Need more!!

Love the story in performances! Everything was great really enjoy this author, stories always come together well. Felt like I was in a season of the Netflix series, this was so good and I would definitely read more Jessica Jones titles and read more marvel crime titles. Will definitely be recommending to my friends! Hopefully this is just the first of many!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

“Perfect” mash-up

I don’t normally give 5 star reviews but this was a “perfect” mash-up of my favorite genres: mystery novels, marvel comic superheroes, and a touch of science fiction. Lisa Jewell did an excellent job capturing the essence of Jessica Jones and weaving her back story into a standard detective story. Jessica Jones’ superpowers were briefly mentioned and not the main focus, which works here. I was impressed and couldn’t stop listening. The narrator was excellent as well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Very fun read!

I love Lisa and this was a great mystery. I was never bored. Jessica is an honest character. Underlying themes of healing from trauma. I hope Lisa continues.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Good start!

Loved that this series started with Jessica Jones and Lisa Jewell wrote it. Enjoyed the story and have always loved Jessica Jones.

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