Breaking the Dark: A Jessica Jones Marvel Crime Novel

Bestseller Jewell (None of This Is True) inaugurates a multi-author series of thrillers set in the Marvel universe with this surprisingly sturdy supernatural noir. Retired superhero Jessica Jones now runs a private detective agency from her Hell’s Kitchen apartment, which has descended into disrepair as her drinking has worsened. In walks wealthy divorcée Amber Randall, who’s concerned because her 16-year-old twins, Lark and Fox, have returned from a summer in England with their father sporting porcelain-perfect skin, flawless manners, and an eerie Stepford vibe. Moved by Amber’s desperation, Jessica sets off for Barton Wallop, the village where Lark and Fox spent their summer. There, she meets a young woman named Belle, whom the twins claimed to know, and who appears to be the ward of an old witch whose influence over the locals makes Jessica uneasy. Things fly off the rails by the climax, with one too many sinister supernatural forces in the mix, but Jewell’s knack for pacing and atmosphere makes this feel more like a juicy campfire story than a corporate cash grab. Jewell’s fans will enjoy seeing her flex some unfamiliar muscles. Agent: Jonny Geller, Curtis Brown U.K. (July)