Pages: 464
Published: 4th July 2024
Genre: Crime
Content warnings: Missing child storyline
Meet Jessica Jones: a private investigator and retired super hero based out of Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan, who goes from job to job as a hard living, rough talking, loner.
And then a wealthy Upper East Side woman pays her a visit. Amber Randall is concerned about her twin sixteen-year-olds, Lark and Fox, who have acted and looked very different since they returned from spending the summer with their British father in the UK. She tells Jessica that her children have unnaturally perfect skin for teenagers and have lost all the tics and habits that made them who they were. They are not Lark and Fox, she tells Jessica. Something has happened to them.
To find out more, Jessica travels to Essex to talk to their father and once there meets Belle who is living a curiously isolated existence in a run-down farmhouse with her guardian Debra. Jessica knows that Lark and Fox had spent the summer with Belle – but can this unworldly teenager really be responsible for Lark and Fox’s new personas?
Jessica soon discovers that, behind Belle and Debra, evil geniuses are playing a dangerous game with technology in order to make the world a “better place”, not caring who gets hurt, maimed or even killed in the process. Can Jessica stop them from wreaking destruction on a whole generation of young people?
This is a crime thriller with a bit of an unusual twist, taking place on an enormous scale and walking the line between the real and the fantastical. The cautious curiosity that arises from seeing the logo of the world’s largest comic book superhero franchise emblazoned understatedly on the front cover is tempered by the fact that most of the story is very grounded, while bringing to the table a gripping mystery that also includes some extremely thought-provoking elements.
For any regular reader of Lisa Jewell’s work this certainly represents a departure in some ways, as the main protagonist here is a Marvel character with supernatural abilities. However, these abilities only appear fleetingly and although there are clearly concepts that would be far-fetched in some of her other books, she does not deviate massively from the formula that has made her one of the most successful authors in the genre.
In other words, it is unmistakeably a Lisa Jewell book. The writing style is the same and all the hallmarks are there, from the way the mystery unravels to her ingenious way of making both plot and characters coexist equally together in perfect harmony. And in fact, in many ways this is one of her very best to date, such is its boldness and all the different sub-plots and themes that are at play.
The mystery is brilliantly thought out, going from intriguing at the outset to genuinely pulsating as it builds towards a nail-biting climax. There are multiple strands to it that are gradually introduced through dual timelines on opposite sides of the Atlantic, and become increasingly enjoyable to unpick, at the same time as feeling consumed by the heightening suspense.
Some of the ideas really pique your interest and raise a lot of questions that make you obliged to turn the pages in order to find the answers. The dual timelines contrast so sharply at first that you wonder how they are related. The strange behaviour of Fox and Lark that Jessica has been hired to investigate. The ageless woman who Polly visits and then tries to exploit for her own gain. All of these things and more will keep you hooked.
As it advances and we begin to learn more about the chain of events, the story gets noticeably more sinister and the pace ramps up. There are not necessarily many twists; instead the layers are slowly peeled away before the mystery at last reaches its pivotal moment, and it delivers in terms of both the action and the character development, with Jessica having to face her anxieties and overcome them.
And let us be clear about one thing – Jessica is an extremely cool character. For a superhero she is a bit of a recluse who is quite tentative when it comes to social interactions, and she also lacks a little in self-belief, which is a factor in her not using her powers so often. She is developed well during the book, regaining some of that assurance and discovering a more maternal side, which works nicely alongside the pregnancy sub-plot.
The manner that she goes about trying to solve the mystery is enthralling too, aided by the wonderfully named Malcolm Powder who becomes a sidekick of sorts. Their relationship is fun to read, with Malcolm eventually winning her over with his initiative and boundless enthusiasm, while it is also great when she teams up with Ryan towards the end. Both characters complement her well, and in different ways.
Polly is an ingenious creation and her story would not seem out of place in another Lisa Jewell book were it not for the supernatural touches that are involved. She is a compelling villain, extremely single-minded and a very good representation of someone who looks and comes across as harmless and innocent, but in reality is anything but. The intricacy of her scheme is cleverly thought out, and the control she has over those around her is rather eerie.
What lifts this novel to another new level is the skilful way a number of interesting themes are highlighted in the plot, some more implicitly than others. The repetition of the word ‘perfect’ is a particularly powerful meme, exploring not only how people can be easily drawn to things that are too good to be true, but also very relevant topics relating to body image and positivity. In addition, there is some subtle commentary on the dangers of revealing too much about oneself on social media.
There is a useful contrast between the settings, which are split between the unending rush of New York and a small, seemingly tranquil English village. Aside from its comically bizarre name, Barton Wallop has a simmering atmosphere about it that only intensifies when Jessica enters the large house and strange things start happening to her, which makes for another haunting moment.
If there is a slight criticism of the ending, it is that once every piece of the mystery finally comes into the open, it is all over and resolved very quickly. However, that does not take anything away from the quality of the story or the journey it takes to get there. Everything is wrapped up in a good way too, topped off by the unexpected reveal concerning the girl who keeps appearing alongside Jessica. It only could have worked in this book.
Overall, the two unlikely worlds of Marvel superheroes and crime fiction collide here and it is a resounding success. In Lisa Jewell, they could not have chosen a better author for this and she has risen to the challenge, delivering a story full of layers, intrigue, and a fabulous mystery where the character of Jessica Jones gets the star treatment she deserves.
Despite being a huge fan of Lisa Jewell’s work I was quite apprehensive coming into this one, as I have never watched nor read anything to do with Marvel. The superhero theme will mean this will not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I ended up totally hooked and absolutely loved it.
My rating: 
