Carmen Valdez has always wanted to work in comics. Her job as secretary to the owner of Triumph Comics in 1975 New York doesn't quite cut it, though - she wants to write her own book, create her own characters, but her boss won't allow it. When Harvey Stern approaches her to collaborate on a new character he's pitching, she can't resist, even if it means her name won't appear in the credits. Soon after The Legendary Lynx proves to be a runaway smash for Triumph, though, Carmen finds Harvey dead in his apartment, murdered. Driven by her own need for answers, and desperate to keep the Lynx in action, Carmen tries to figure out who killed Harvey - before they come for her next.

Secret Identity is a fantastic, slow-burn noir fueled by Alex Segura's love of comics and insider knowledge. As a comic book scribe himself, as well as the Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Oni Press, with prior experience working at Archie Comics and DC Comics, Segura gives us an incredibly authentic-feeling look at the Triumph Comics bullpen, dropping tidbits of info, comic book lore, and recognizable names from that era of the medium's history.

The explorations into the nitty-gritty of making a comic book are where Secret Identity absolutely shines. I could have, and eagerly would have, spent hours more being a fly on the wall to Carmen and Harvey's brainstorming sessions as they developed the Lynx, discussed her background and motivations, and developed her cadre of villains. Segura infuses so much creative energy into these moments that I found myself wishing we had an actual Lynx comic I could turn to next, and the author's passion for that medium made me, several times, want to set this book aside and dive into my own backlog of comics. That's not a knock on this book at all, though! Rather, I wanted to share in that enthusiasm as a fellow comic book lover, to study and absorb the artwork, and delve again into what makes that medium so damn special.

As far as the mystery goes, that's not too shabby either. Segura mines the '70s comic publishing era for all its worth, slowly revealing the shadier aspects of the comic book world as it was while Carmen susses out possible motivations in her quest to identify Harvey's killer. Segura chums the water with plenty of red herrings, complicating Carmen's life at regular intervals until its anyone's guess how everything is going to shake out and reveal who did what, and why.

Thanks to Netgalley and Flatiron for the opportunity to read and review this title. I was excited about the premise for this book, as I love literary mysteries. However, I found it really difficult to connect to the story as I am not well-versed or interested in classic comic book stories. I ended up not finishing this book, and I will not be posting my review anywhere since I did not actually finish the book. I would love to review any other literary mysteries Flatiron produces (I am actually loving another Flatiron book right now!).

As a mystery lover, as a comic book fan, and just as someone who appreciates good writing, SECRET IDENTITY hit every mark for me. I already enjoyed Segura's PI novels, but this book made me a dedicated fan. Highly recommended!

Unique

“She had to become someone else to survive.”

Secret Identity is a creative mystery/character study about a young woman working in the world of comic books in the 1970s.

As a secretary at Triumph Comics, Carmen Valdez is working in her dream environment: a place where comic books are created. Her job might suck, but the possibility of one day writing a comic keeps her going. Even though Triumph is a low-budget, struggling outlet, she sees potential in its crumbling walls.

It finally seems like Carmen’s dreams are going to come true when she partners with her co-worker, Harvey, to create a new comic book series, “The Lethal Lynx.” But Carmen’s dreams are short-lived when Harvey is found dead, and Carmen is a suspect in his murder.

Secret Identity is more of a character study than a mystery, although the mystery is quite intriguing.

Carmen is the sole narrator, and she is an easy character to root for. She has a tough outer shell. Having to negotiate a misogynistic workplace and living in 1970s New York City, her toughness serves her well. Underneath, Carmen is struggling with her sexual identity, her past, and being recognized for her talent. The reader also learns why comics mean so much to Carmen through flashbacks to her childhood in Miami.

My favorite part of this book was the comic sequences of the Lynx, which were interspersed between chapters. The artwork is phenomenal! I only wish there had been more of them, as The Lynx mirrors Carmen's journey into self-acceptance and empowerment: “There was a theme--of an outsider trying to find justice, trying to reclaim an identity and legacy had long been denied.”

This is a slow-build character study. Themes of gender roles and sexuality, as well as the immigrant experience, are explored. I don't know much about the history of comics, but I learned a lot from reading Secret Identity. The ending had me in tears (happy tears).

This was my first read of 2022, and I am glad it was a good one!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up liking this enough to bump up to four stars from 3.5. It's nice to have someone who actually knows an industry write a novel in that industry (like when a firefighter writes a firefighter novel, or a lawyer writes a courtroom drama), but it can also be a double-edged sword where the focus on the minutae becomes a little unnecessary. This one was balanced right on the edge of too much.

Overall, an intriguing mystery set in the world of comic books with an LGBT lead... of course I'm recommending it to all my friends.

In the mid-seventies, Carmen Valdez, secretary to the publisher of Triumph Comics, aspires to become a comic book writer in a male-dominated industry. Presented with an opportunity to create the big break denied to her by her boss, she collaborates with a male colleague on a new superheroine, the Lynx. But her plans are thrown for a loop by a murder, driving her to seek out what happened and to dig up truths that some are determined to keep buried.

This book was a joy to read on a number of levels. As with many, I enjoy a good mystery, especially one with noir elements to it. Being a longtime comic book reader and student of the history of the medium, I was drawn to the world this mystery was set in, the comics industry in New York of the time, with this book enhancing the atmosphere around its fictional characters by blending in real world companies and creators, lending an air of authenticity to the story. Carmen Valdez's experiences within the industry of the time reflect real-life experiences related by members of the comics community of the time in books such as Sean Howe's "Marvel Comics: The Untold Story" and others.

I found the main character of Carmen Valdez to be strong and well-rounded, with the book being as much about her struggles, professionally and personally, as about the murder mystery in which she finds herself embroiled. While the mystery provides the basic plot, it is Carmen's drive to break through and succeed in an industry which, at the time, could still be resistant to women creators that is the force which propels the book and keeps the reader engaged, at least doing so for this reader.

This book should appeal to not only mystery lovers, but fans of comics and comic book history. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this title.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Flatiron Books for an advanced copy of this novel set in the world of comic book publishing.

The history of comic books in America is filled with people who were schemers, gangsters, grifters, liars, backstabbers, dreamers and true believers. During the 1970's comics were suddenly gaining interest not only from people who were treating it as more than a read and toss out medium, but from people with money who cared little for the stories or characters, but more how it all could be monetized. This is the era that Alex Segura has set his novel, Secret Identity, a finely plotted unique thriller.

A young woman moves to New York taking a job as a receptionist in hopes of becoming a comic writer, at a third rate comic book company, a dream she is beginning to doubt due to her sex. She is approached by another writer to join forces, on a new female superhero, with of course her doing most of the work. She agrees. Soon strange things start happening and her co-writer is murdered, and the life that she had created for herself is suddenly in danger.

The book is steeped in details about both the publishing industry and life in New York City, only a few years after being told by the federal government to drop dead. The music, the dirt, the sheer excitement of being in the Big Apple, comes across the pages. Plus the comic history is interesting and doesn't overwhelm the story in a look at all the research I did kind of way. The plot is good, and holds together, with the characters both main and supporting interesting and different from each other. Carmen Valdez, the lead is especially interesting as she is confident, sure, and carrying a secret, but is a complete person and ahead of her time.

A very good book. There are plenty of Easter Eggs in characters names, and creator stories that will make older comic fans smile, but won't annoy new ones. Mr. Segura has a very nice writing style, keeping the plot moving well, sharing information but never bogging the plot down. I have not read anything else by Mr. Segura, something I will need to amend. Recommended for comic fans, thriller readers or for people who enjoy strong female characters in a male dominated field. Very enjoyable.

Secret Identity is a wonderful journey through NYC in the 1970s. I hadn't realized how interested I was in the history of comics until I read this. I found myself going off on research tangents to more fully understand the tidbits that Segura laid out for us.

An enjoyable story full of mystery and infused with relatable characters and the perfect amount of nostalgia.

A love letter to comics, noir, and crime enthusiasts everywhere, SECRET IDENTITY is a masterpiece in mystery and suspense. Segura lovingly guides readers through the history of comics, making it relatable for even the casual fan like me. Our (super) hero, Carmen Valdez wants to write and create her own comics. Anyone with creative drive will sympathize with her plight as a woman in a male-dominated industry, especially in the 1970s. Carmen has to fight for every foothold she gains in the comic world and when an opportunity to write is presented to her, she grabs it. But at what cost? As Secret Identity moves through the tightly crafted plot, Carmen gains confidence and finds her voice, but she's still faced with a mystery that could unravel everything for her.

With actual art from the Legendary Lynx interspersed with the novel, Segura and artists have created something really special with Secret Identity. The pages from the comic build suspense in the story and add to Carmen's narrative in a unique way. Carmen's journey will have you cheering for her and wishing for the chance to pop into her favorite haunt after a long day at Triumph to commiserate over a beer. Or wanting to pick up the latest issue of the Legendary Lynx to catch up on her story. Big thanks to Net Galley, Flatiron Books, and Mr. Segura for the opportunity to read and review this stunning novel.

A compelling and thrilling noir that’s set within the comic book industry bringing mystery, intrigue, and more. I flew through this and couldn’t put it down—Alex Segura does an incredible job of bringing the character of Carmen Valdez to the page in an original story that expertly weaves fiction with real-life comics industry history and Easter eggs.

Secret Identity is a wonderful whodunit, but more than that, it's a deeply compelling glimpse into the life of an unappreciated writer chasing her dreams. Set in the 1970s as the comic book industry reaches a breaking point, Secret Identity is so realistic and well-written--and obviously well-researched--that you'd swear you were reading about a company that actually existed at the time. Whether you're a mystery fan or a comic book fan, or lucky enough to be both, you'll never want to put down this incredible novel.

I had a feeling that a new novel by Alex Segura would be good, but I didn't expect to fall in love with SECRET IDENTITY as much as I did. Turns out it didn't matter one bit that I'm not a big comic book fan. Segura draws in the reader expertly, and I was 100% invested in main character Carmen Valdez in the 1970s New York's comic scene. Brilliant characters, mystery, timing, and oh, what a perfect ending! Highly recommended.

Alex Segura's long career in both fiction writing and the American comics scene have combined to produce one of his best works, a compelling, exciting work which could only have been created by someone with his background in both fields. Appropriate for readers from teen to adult, it is particularly suited to those with an interest in the comic book scene or the Seventies culture which led to the modern comics market. Serious mystery fans will not be disappointed, as Mr. Segura's trademark wit and intelligence make for a fast paced story driven by unique characters. An excellent effort from an established author, 'Secret Identity' does not disappoint.

Sometimes a book hits all the right notes, and Secret Identity is one such book. From the background of the comic book industry, which is integrated so well into this book to the dark side of New York City in the 1970s, Segura writes with confidence and style. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone.