What’s it about (in a nutshell):
Secret Identity by Alex Segura is a boldly daring and creative take on a noir-style murder mystery set in the 1970s comic book publishing world.
What I Enjoyed:
I love the comic pages about The Lynx interspersed throughout the story. They represent Carmen’s struggles in a superhero format and intriguingly add to the character development. They also read as a love letter to comics by the author who used to work in the comic book industry. I read comic books as a kid, but mostly Archie and similar. However, I realize I could easily have enjoyed comics such as The Lynx and what an outstanding role model they would have been.
Written in a hard-boiled noir slow-build style but without a professional detective, Secret Identity is a murder mystery set in the 1970s. This style and period bring about complex thematic struggles that still ring true today. Segura handles themes such as sexual identity, the plight of immigrants, and the glass ceiling phenomenon (which was much lower, then) skillfully and relevantly to illicit plenty of emotions from me over the various plights and struggles.
The story also genuinely explored the world of comics and authentically displayed the world for what it was - warts and all. I never thought about making a comic or how complicated the process truly is. I came out of the story which a much more knowledgeable appreciation and a desire to read superhero comics.
Let’s not forget, at its base, this is a mystery novel. I enjoyed this excellent mystery that connects all the components, including the Lynx comic, by the jaw-dropping conclusion. I did not figure out who did it or why -at least not the correct person and/or reason- being happily led down the red herring path. But boy, the conclusion came up with a dangerous bang that kept those pages turning.
Characters:
Secret Identity is a character-driven story. It is a complex character study of a Cuban American lesbian in the 1970s in New York. That can be a lot to take in, but it is fascinating and filled with ingenious nuances that made it feel authentic; put it this way - it would not surprise me to find a real Carmen Valdez out there in the world.
Carmen Valdez is determined, intelligent, and not afraid to stand up for herself. She has always dreamed of writing comic books since they played a significant role in her formative years. Nothing and no one can get between her and her dream, even though plenty try.
What I Wish:
The comic pages are so good that I wish there had been more of them!!!
To Read or Not to Read:
If you love a complex character-driven mystery with solid themes and find the world of comics intriguing, you will want to pick up the latest book by Alex Segura and just sit back and enjoy.

Carmen Valdez got her love of comics from her Papi. It was their routine. It was how he learned English. Originally hailing from Miami, Carmen moves to New York City where she works as a secretary for Jeffrey Carlyle, owner and editor of Triumph Comics. It is here that Carmen learns who she can and can't trust and learns to find her voice in an industry that is dominated by men and fleeting.

Set in 1970's New York, "Secret Identity" follows Carmen on her journey to try and fight for her own dreams: writing comics. Her creativity and writing is constantly stymied by her boss, Carlyle, and ultimately she puts her trust in junior editor Harvey Stern, thinking that this is her chance to get her ideas out into the world. However, she finds that the road to success isn't that simple.

Alex Segura's novel combines well fleshed out characters with flashes of old world New York, mystery, intrigue and of course, comics! This novel was a page turner and I couldn't put it down until I figured out who did what and if Carmen ever got the recognition she so rightly deserved. I loved the noir vibes mixed with murder mystery, mixed with the personal struggles of Carmen being a woman with aspirations (other than being a secretary) in a heavily male dominated field. Overall a really compelling read and one that I would definitely recommend!

As someone who enjoys superhero comics and loves a good mystery, SECRET IDENTITY gets a lot right when it comes to what I look for in a novel. Segura has crafted a well plotted mystery in a unique and vibrant time and place, and weaves in some great commentary on misogyny, creative use, and toxic industries. In terms of the mystery itself, Segura has a great detective in Carmen, who has a vested interest in figuring out who murdered her colleague Harvey, who also happened to steal her idea of the Lethal Lynx and try to take full credit for it on his own. I loved how Carmen approaches this violation, and how it also means that she could potentially be in danger as well, as the murder may be because of said character. As she goes through 1970s New York City, the setting comes to life, as does the fact that as a Latina woman in a white male dominated industry it was an already hard to navigate situation for her even without being a potential target. I loved Carmen as a character as well, her complexities really being explored and drawn out. And I also loved the clear love that Segura has for comics, as Carmen's love and passion is on display and just burns on the page. We even get to see some samples of the Lethal Lynx comic at the heart of the mystery, and it has the right retro feel and look that made me grin from ear to ear.

SECRET IDENTITY is sure to be a winner for mystery fans and comics fans alike! The hype is real on this one!

This literary mystery follows Carmen Valdez, an assistant at Triumph Comics in 1975. Carmen has loved comics since childhood and followed her dream of one day writing a comic all the way to NYC from her childhood home in Miami. She's tried pitching multiple ideas to her boss at Triumph, with no success. But then one of the writers at Triumph who Carmen is friendly with enlists her help creating a new character. And not just any character, but Triumph's first female superhero. The writer wants to keep Carmen's involvement a secret, planning to reveal her as a co-writer later once the comic is successful. But before any of that can happen, he is found dead and all the scripts they worked on together only bear his name. Through her grief and frustration, Carmen starts piecing together what happened to him and if he was actually a friend to her at all.

TW/CW: infidelity, suicide

Unsurprisingly, the comic industry aspect is key to the story and I think it was woven really well into the plot. I'm a pretty casual fan of comics - translation: I like watching the movies/tv shows that are being made recently but I've never really read comics - so I really wasn't bringing in any sort of background knowledge or personal history to this read. So of course there were things about the comic industry that I didn't know but Segura did a great job of trickling in this information to the reader. There was a pretty lengthy set up to this book (we don't see the body drop until about the 40% mark) and that long set up time gave the reader plenty of space to get acclimated to this setting and these characters. We get to see not only Carmen's interactions with the people at her office, but we get a good sense of the industry as a whole. I really enjoyed some of the more philosophical conversations about comics and their impact on society as a whole. Based on the acknowledgements at the end of the book, Segura did a ton of research and talked to a lot of people about this time in the comic industry and I think that amount of care and dedication really comes through in the story. There were many times where this really felt like a love letter to comics and what they can mean to people even if they aren't considered 'high literature'.

I absolutely adored Carmen as a character and thought she was so well developed. As I mentioned previously, we spend a good amount of time being introduced to this world and Carmen before the real meat of the plot gets started. Segura uses this lead time to really immerse the reader in Carmen's character and her view on the world she's moving through. We get to know her experiences as a woman in the comic industry in the 1970s but also get to see how her love of comics propels her forward in her day to day. We're introduced to her parents back in Miami that she is semi-estranged from for a reason to be discovered later. We see her walk this tightrope of knowing how much she can speak up at her office and give her opinions on the comics, writers, and artists before she crosses some invisible line of propriety. By the time she accepts the deal to co-write a comic, the reader has seen just how much the day to day grind is slowly crushing Carmen's spirit and passion for the industry. The first 1/3 of the book or so really reads more like a literary fiction where we're following this woman through her daily motions and interpersonal interactions. The character development doesn't stop when the mystery kicks in, if anything, both the reader and Carmen discover new aspects to her character.

The pacing for this story wasn't exactly what I was expecting but I think it was successful overall. I thought that this would be more of a noir mystery set in the 1970s so the long lead in was throwing me off a bit. I wasn't bored at all, but there was a sense of waiting for the shoe to drop because we're told in the description that there's a death that Carmen investigates. I don't know if the official description has been changed from when I saw it initially on NetGalley, but I think calling this a literary mystery is a much more apt description. We don't get a body drop until about the 40% mark and Carmen doesn't start investigating in earnest until about 60%. Coming from the mystery side, that is very late to have the actual mystery start and it did make me worried that maybe the ending would be rushed (more on that point later). However, with the framing that this is more of a lit-fic with a mystery element the pacing felt a lot more natural. As I said above, I really enjoyed the long set up following Carmen in her day to day and learning about the comic industry. But if readers were, like myself, expecting this to be a more traditionally paced mystery story they might be a bit disappointed.

Despite my previous note about the mystery not starting until really the 60% mark, I think Segura pulled off a pretty intriguing mystery. It definitely wasn't as twisty and complex as I was expecting, but it still had some good dead ends and reveals in the investigation. I think the narrative moved very seamlessly from lit-fic to mystery without shifting in tone or style which was great. Carmen's investigation was interspersed with more of the daily grind scenes that we've been getting all along. I think in a lot of mysteries, the investigating character often 'loses themselves' in the investigation and sort of shuns all other aspects of their lives until the case is solved. In this case, we see Carmen still showing up to work, talking with her roommate, etc. I really enjoyed how all the information we got early on in the story does come into play in the mystery investigation rather than the solution being completely out of left field. I do think the actual investigation was wrapped up pretty quickly and I, personally, would have enjoyed a few more twists.

Overall, this was a really fantastic read. Carmen is an incredibly compelling character and I loved being so immersed in the world of comics. I do think the pacing and mystery were a little different than what I was expecting, but they worked out well in the end (especially once I re-framed my expectations around this being a literary mystery).

Thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC

Expected publication is March 15, 2022

Secret Identity is an exposé of comic publishing in the 1970s by someone that was there. But it also is a feminist statement and a full-blown female noir. I can’t imagine a better book for my tastes.

It’s 1975. New York City is at its grimy and murderous best. Carmen doesn’t care. She has her dream job as secretary to Jeffrey, the owner of Triumph Comics. But her real dream, of publishing her own comic, is shot down quickly by her boss. A woman writing comics is as silly as the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment (which never passed).

Carmen decides to help friendly co-worker, Harvey, with the comic he is working on. Together they produce the Lethal Lynx, the first female superhero. The series is wildly successful. But Carmen’s name is not credited. When Harvey is murdered, Carmen must walk down some dark alleys to find his killer—all while trying to wrestle control of the Lethal Lynx series from her boss.

I love a good noir, so I was quickly hooked on Secret Identity. It even contains some comic book pages within its covers. Carmen feels genuine. The plot with its many twists worked well. If you like noir, or want to read about how comics are created, this book is a great choice. 5 stars!

Thanks to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Secret Identity is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read in a good while. Taking place in the 1970s, the novel is a murder mystery, and a look at the comics industry, the New York City music scene, and life in Manhattan during that time period. The writing is crisp and easy to read. The plot is intriguing and well done. The characters, even minor ones, are well defined, especially our heroine, Carmen Valdez, a superwoman in her own right. The addition of comic strip panels between chapters adds so much to the book.

My thanks to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for providing an ARC of this excellent novel. Highly recommended.

Secret Identity is a murder mystery that takes place among comic writers in the 1970s. Carmen works at a smaller comic publisher and dreams of writing her own comics. When she starts to work on her own comic with a coworker, he ends up mysteriously murdered. Weird things keep happening, and she must find out who did it.

This book was a bit slow for me. The first murder didn't happen until over 1/3 through the book, and it was less of a mystery than the description made it seem. I thought it would mostly be about finding clues and the culprit, but that was more interspersed throughout the plot. I might have enjoyed it more if I had gone in expecting less mystery.

This book is perfect for someone who loves comic books, someone who knows this industry inside and out will really enjoy this one. I loved the peek inside the publishing industry and the spotlight on females in this world. 1970s New York makes a really fun atmosphere as well. I'm not sure I was the right reader for this book. I enjoy comic books but I'm definitely not a big enough fan to understand the name drops and characters mentioned in this book. I loved the idea of a female heroine but I just didn't connect with Carmen. Hardcore comic fans, this is your book. There are wonderful pages included between chapters which are ripped from the book Carmen is working on and feature beautiful illustrations.

Loved this and the throwback milieu. Delighted to include Segura's latest novel in March’s edition of Novel Encounters, my regular column highlighting the month’s most anticipated fiction for Zoomer magazine. (at link)

This book was engaging and enjoyable; simultaneously a murder mystery and a story about a woman trying to make a name for herself in a field dominated by men. It was impossible not to root for Carmen as she tried so hard to not only solve the mystery of who murdered her friend, but also claim the character that she created. There were also enough red herrings to throw you off the scent of who the killer might be, and what their motives were. Another great addition is the insertion of comic panels between chapters, showing a bit of the Lynx character that Carmen created. And a nice touch is that when the artist for the comic changes, the art in the panels changes to reflect that.

As an avid reader of comics, I appreciated the multiple references, whether the author was directly referencing famous comic covers and stories, or using comic characters as analogies to better describe the characters and situations that were occurring. While obviously having background knowledge of comics would help with enjoyment of the book, it is not essential.

Author Alex Segura, no stranger to the comicbook world, is the creative force behind this novel that makes it debut on March 15, 2022. The publisher Flatiron Books granted me an early look in exchange for an honest review. And, I can tell you, I really enjoyed this one.

As a child of the 70's and a lifelong comic reader, this story connected with me on many levels. From the feel of the industry in the 1970's to the various references to DC, Marvel and more (some of which might be a bit too "inside baseball" for non-comic fans) to the moments and places in New York City (a place I always wanted to live as I was growing up), this book kept me engaged the entire time. I found myself completely entrenched into Carmen's world and desperately trying to piece together the mystery as she was also doing so. I also liked the added bonus of pages created for The Lethal Lynx comic book that are sprinkled throughout; they really tie-in nicely to the plot of Carmen's story and give the whole package an extra punch that just straight prose cannot.

This was so so good. I was already interested in reading this book because the premise caught my attention, so I was already expecting something great. Although there’s a murder mystery, I like how the author dedicates a great part of the book to Carmen’s struggles as woman in the comics industry. Another aspect I loved reading about here was the comics industry itself, it was really interesting. This book was different and really unique to other books I’ve read, especially because it includes the comic itself in it. My only complaint is that there weren’t enough panels. Overall, this was a really well written book, I loved it from beginning to end. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this advanced copy!

Thank you to Flatiron Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Secret Identity by Alex Segura is a noir mystery centered around comic books. The story revolves around Carmen Valdez, the daughter of Cuban immigrants who is working as an assistant for a comics company in 1975. She becomes one of the co-creators of "The Lethal Lynx." Then, her colleague is found dead. What happened to him? And is she next?

Here is a lovely excerpt from the opening chapter, which is a flashback to Carmen's childhood:

"She’d think about better times. Warmer times. Walking to la farmacia with Papi, his big hand in hers, the smell of his sweat and cologne mixing together to create a familiar, comforting feeling. His worn features shifting into a tired smile as he held the door open for her, his “princesa.”
They wouldn’t go far. They didn’t come to the pharmacy for medicine, usually. They’d make a beeline for the magazine aisle, past the glossies and paperback books to a wire-frame spinner rack loaded with pictures so colorful and welcoming that they practically whispered Carmen’s name as she approached. The red, white, and yellow of the Flash. The patriotic gear of Captain America. The muted green-and-yellow insectoid costume of the Fly. The gray, red, and black of the Dusk.
It was their ritual. Their special routine. Papi would walk with her, she’d step back and watch him spin the rack, his fingers gently touching the stacks of comics as it went around and around."

Overall, Secret Identity by Alex Segura is a brilliant and original mix of comics and noir-mystery. One highlight of this book is that the main character is a woman and Person of Color. These kinds of characters are often missing from books about the comics industry and from mysteries as well. Another highlight of this book are the comic inserts that are interspersed between the text chapters. I found them to be entertaining and innovative. If I had to complain about 1 thing, I would say that I didn't feel much suspense when reading this book. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of mysteries, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in March!

SECRET IDENTITY is a noir murder mystery that takes place in the 1970s NYC comic book industry, and it is SO MUCH FUN. The book’s heroine, Carmen, is easy to root for, as she’s a strong character who’s often overlooked and undervalued in her contributions to the comic book publishing company where she’s an assistant. Her journey toward finding—and finally sharing—her voice is exciting and satisfying, as is the mystery at the center of the book. I read this in less than 24 hours, completely captivated by the propulsive plot and smart, riveting writing.

Carmen Valdez wants to write comics, unfortunately, she is stuck working as an assistant to the editor of Triumph Comics, an operation well below the fandom of DC and Marvel. One of the writers at Triumph approaches Carmen who decides she will work with him to develop her heroine, The Lethal Lynx. Only problem is, he is murdered and all of Carmen's work ends up on the desk of the editor with only his name on the project. Carmen has to find out how and why he died, so she can reclaim her creation. The author uses his knowledge of comics and noir fiction to create a very exciting read. Recommended.

Set in the 70s, Secret Identity is about Carmen Valdez, the daughter of Cuban immigrants, who is an artist and storyteller with dreams of breaking into the men-only club of comic books. By day she works as a secretary running errands and making coffee for her demanding boss, a spoilt brat publisher whose company is struggling, but, by night, she shines when she creates characters and stories about women superheroes.

Her life changes when a colleague, Harvey, proposes a secret and exhilarating collaboration where he promises her credit if the publisher likes what they create. (Their female superhero, the Lethal Lynx, is captured in a cool add-on with comic book pages drawn in black and white and scattered throughout the book—a story within a story, which would make a cool stand-alone comic book.)

But Harvey betrays Carmen, he submits her scripts as his own, and gives her no credit at all. Before she can confront him, Harvey is murdered, leaving Carmen to figure out the truth on her own.

Alex Segura has amazing world building gifts, and his comic book world is both interesting and authentic, with Carmen, a strong female lead caught in a misogynistic industry, a worthy protagonist who carries the story beautifully.

Thank you Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the ARC.

Secret Identity draws up a murder mystery in the world of comic book publishing. Although such fan-hallowed bullpens are, in all actually, a mundane yet stressful industry, it is one ripe for imaginative settings and author Alex Segura jumps on in. The business is also one that probably has not been fictionalized since Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000), which similarly dramatizes the comic world with two characters hiding their own secrets. However, that is where all comparisons should stop as referencing Secret Identity to Kavalier & Clay is akin to measuring Rob Liefeld’s mis-proportioned handling of Captain America with Alan Moore’s seminal Watchmen. Secret Identity is a plodding mystery enveloped in a disappointing read with only significant comic-book namedrops to keep things semi-interesting.

Set in 1975, Carmen Valdez works for Triumph comics, a small contender in a market dominated by DC and Marvel. Carmen has an idea – the Lynx – but Carmen is a secretary, not a comic writer, a status her boss wishes to maintain. Her idea may not die but Harvey, an assistant editor and supporter of the Lynx, does. Drastically. Carmen, like the crimefighters she dreams of, sets out to find who killed Harvey, and why, while also struggling with an industry set against her to keep the Lynx alive.

Although aptly named, there are many struggles within Secret Identity. Contextually, Carmen Valdez struggles to be a woman in comics in the 1970s. She struggles to find a creative voice; one she must keep hidden to retain her job. Carmen struggles with the murder of her friend and co-worker and what this means for the life of her character. She struggles with her sexual identity.

Stylistically, the book presents as many issues as there are Justice Leaguers. Alex Segura struggles to maintain a setting of 1975; outside of the ongoing reminders of New York’s crime problem, Secret Identity could occur in 1985, 1995, or in some timeless, uncaring limbo. Other than the aforementioned victim, and Carmen’s boss Carlyle, Segura struggles to maintain the personalities of most secondary characters, all of whom have forgettable, interchangeable names. While the mystery is genuine, there is no priority; no threat. Segura’s matter-of-fact writing style prohibits any thrills and all but stops the ticking clock in the race for a solution.

Carmen is an interesting character, and one the reader wants to see succeed in her work, in her life, and with her love. Carmen is also handed an incredible convenience in her love for comics. She owns comics featuring the first appearance of Galactus (Fantastic Four #48), Flash #163 (where the Scarlet Speedster implores help from the reader of the comic), and Batman’s return-to-relevance post Adam West (Detective Comics #395). This is not entirely impossible but in a pre-comicbook shop 1975, rather improbable. To digress, this is one of the few, totally fun steps in a mostly bland march.

Other than those classics? Jim Starlin’s work on Warlock was mentioned but Segura confusingly goes all cricket silent with any other contemporary-for-the-time shout outs. In 1975 alone, comics saw the debut of Moon Knight; a new Green Goblin (the original’s son) terrorized Spider-Man; Len Wein and Bernie Wrightson continued to generate weird, sophisticated horror in Swamp Thing; and, oh yeah, an upstart writer named Chris Claremont introduced an all-new, all-different X-Men team with characters named Nightcrawler, Storm, and Wolverine.

Segura no doubt wants to world build but does so by shutting out any pre-existing IP that could otherwise be used as a historical mile marker, as well as a treat for dedicated fans. There are plenty of name drops – he tags The Eternals and Doom Patrol knowing their movie and streaming show would provide relatively-easy name recognition – but most references are openly-generic (descriptors include “as strong as Superman” and “goofy like Spider-Man”) and miss the “in-the-know” winks that made something like the pop-culture heavy Ready Player One such a fun read.

However, Secret Identity does contain a small treat within. Certain chapters end with comic pages “ripped” from Triumph’s Lethal Lynx series. Illustrated by comic artist Sandy Jarrell, the art is gorgeous black-and-white with Zip-a-Tone highlights and cinematic panel layouts. Unfortunately, and yet another infuriating point of contention, is that Lynx totally looks like an indie comic from the mid 1990’s: narration captions; inverted word balloons to white on black; tight focus points. None of these styles were in motion in a time when draftsmen such as Sal Buscema, George Tuska, and Dick Dillin ruled the bullpens.

Secret Identity succeeds in dreaming up a real and recognizable woman in comics – both behind and between the glossy cover. The book might also succeed as a long-desired love letter to comics themselves. As a compelling narrative and deep mystery, Secret Identity simply cannot keep pace with its four-color idols.


Many thanks to Flatiron Books for thinking of me and sending out the advanced copy. I truly wish this one had met my expectations.

At some point last year or the year before (what even is time anymore), Alex (I introduced myself to Alex at Bouchercon back when I was a baby author and basically attached myself to him like a barnacle) posted the “book DNA” for SECRET IDENTITY on Twitter (I can’t find the original post but there were four book covers and one was THE PRICE OF SALT.) I wrote something dumb, I’m sure, like, hi, hello, give it to me now. Alex asked if I wanted an early looksee, and I was like, SEND IT TO ME NOWWWWWWWW. I’ve now read this book twice, and I’m here to tell you, It’s SOOOOO GOOD. I rarely read books twice because I feel like there are so many books I still have to get to. But that’s how easily I got sucked back into the world of Carmen Valdez and her pursuit of a career in comics in the gritty days and nights of NYC in the 70s. The juxtaposition between Carmen’s hometown of Miami and NYC helped cement Carmen’s internal and personal conflicts. And also, not a spoiler, Carmen is the queer female lead you want in your life! The queer drama is [insert fire emoji]. #LesbiansLesbiansLesbians! Alex also perfectly captures the frustration and barriers of being a woman in a male-dominated field [aSk mE hOw I kNoW]. Would I recommend this to every person I know? Yes, a thousand times yes.

Thank you to the author, Flatiron Books, and NetGalley for the digital galley.

"It was a love letter to characters like Spider-Man, Daredevil, Batman--but different." Thus describes new comic book hero, The Lynx aka Claudia Calla. The same can be said for Secret Identity. This book reads like a love letter not only to the comic book heroes that even someone outside the world of heroes and villains duking it out on the pages of line drawings and thought bubbles can appreciate but also to the comic industry as a whole, the New York City of the 1970s, and the Cuban immigrant experience. And like a true love, Secret Identity does not gloss over the lesser traits. Our hero Carmen Valdez navigates the misogynistic industry that ties her to childhood memories and being introduced to the world of comic books by her father - a Cuban immigrant who learned to read English from their colorful pages -all while ignoring his calls. The New York City of Secret Identity is at once full of vibrant life and also squalor and crime. The country as a whole stands on a precipice in the aftermath of Watergate and the Vietnam War. It is a love letter that sees the flaws and loves despite, or maybe, because of.

Secret Identity opens with Carmen, a secretary at a flailing comics publisher, Triumph, hoping for her big break - a chance to write her own book. She has more talent than most of the hacks Triumph hires. Then her friend, junior editor Harvey Stern, approaches her with a proposition. Can she help him create a new character? She may not get the glory of being named the author of this new book, but her ideas, her brilliant literary ideas, will be out there in the world. Carmen agrees and, together, they create The Lynx. However, shortly after the first several scripts are submitted to Carmen and Harvey's boss, those associated with the comic, with Harvey, are attacked. The police seem to be stalling in their investigation, so Carmen takes matters into her own hands fearing that she may be the next victim.

Woven into the main plot are Carmen's memories of growing up and falling in love in Miami, ultimately leading to her decision to move to NYC and pursue comics publishing. Also woven in are pages from The Lynx that are simply gorgeous and an addition that gives Secret Identity texture that makes the story leap off the page in a way it wouldn't otherwise. The details are incredible (pay attention to the writer and the artist for each one!). Carmen is a fully developed and realized character who grows in her confidence over the course of her story.

Those already familiar with Segura's writing will see familiar friends in Secret Identity. Although set in NYC, Miami is a character into itself. The mystery to be solved by those in just over their heads and that is built on relationships not only the accumulation of clues. It is always lovely to meet with old and familiar friends.

Mystery is not a genre I typically turn to, nor am I someone who reads comics (besides the odd Archie decades ago), yet Secret Identity drew me in and kept me there. I read the book in two large chunks because I needed to know what happened. The ending (no spoilers) is satisfying and the epilogue is a lovely bow on top of this gift.

A love letter to comics, New York City of the 70's, and mysteries.

Set in the time before instant communication, it showed life in what was the then fast-lane.