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Marvel Crime #2
Enemy of My Enemy: A Daredevil Marvel Crime novel
Los Angeles Times Book Prize winner Alex Segura (Secret Identity) continues the Marvel Crime series of thriller books for adults with the all-new legal noir story of the Punisher on trial for the murder or the Kingpin—with Matt Murdock as his defense attorney.
When the call comes in that the Kingpin and a police officer have been killed and that Frank Castle (aka the Punisher) has turned himself in for it, Matt senses holes in the narratives the media and the streets are quick to run with.
Both criminals have been Matt’s nemeses when he dons the cowl of the Daredevil, and there’s no denying that New York is better off without its Kingpin and the Punisher behind bars. And yet, while the Punisher is a murderous vigilante, he doesn’t kill cops. And he doesn’t turn himself in.
Castle certainly deserves prison for all of the other crimes he has committed in the past. However, Matt’s indominable sense of justice insists that nobody should be sent to prison for crimes they didn’t actually commit. Representing the vigilante in court, Matt enters a contest of wills and guile with Castle to try and uncover the game beneath the game. And when Matt’s girlfriend takes the stand and complicates matters, there’s truly no rest for the wicked or the just. As the Kingpin’s absence has passions running hot in Hell’s Kitchen, Matt must decide if justice means the letter of the law, what’s best for the citizen on the streets, or where is heart is beginning to lead him.
Enemy of My Enemy continues the Marvel Crime series that began with Lisa Jewell’s Breaking the Dark, and brings fans into a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe.
When the call comes in that the Kingpin and a police officer have been killed and that Frank Castle (aka the Punisher) has turned himself in for it, Matt senses holes in the narratives the media and the streets are quick to run with.
Both criminals have been Matt’s nemeses when he dons the cowl of the Daredevil, and there’s no denying that New York is better off without its Kingpin and the Punisher behind bars. And yet, while the Punisher is a murderous vigilante, he doesn’t kill cops. And he doesn’t turn himself in.
Castle certainly deserves prison for all of the other crimes he has committed in the past. However, Matt’s indominable sense of justice insists that nobody should be sent to prison for crimes they didn’t actually commit. Representing the vigilante in court, Matt enters a contest of wills and guile with Castle to try and uncover the game beneath the game. And when Matt’s girlfriend takes the stand and complicates matters, there’s truly no rest for the wicked or the just. As the Kingpin’s absence has passions running hot in Hell’s Kitchen, Matt must decide if justice means the letter of the law, what’s best for the citizen on the streets, or where is heart is beginning to lead him.
Enemy of My Enemy continues the Marvel Crime series that began with Lisa Jewell’s Breaking the Dark, and brings fans into a grittier, street-level side of the Marvel Universe.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 24, 2026
About the author
Alex Segura
298 books586 followersAlex Segura is the bestselling and award-winning author of Secret Identity, which The New York Times called “wittily original” and named an Editor’s Choice. NPR described the novel as “masterful” and The L.A. Times called it “a magnetic read.”
Secret Identity received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, was listed as one of the Best Mysteries of the Year by NPR, Kirkus, Booklist, LitReactor, Gizmodo, BOLO Books, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, was nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Hardcover, the Lefty and Barry Awards for Best Novel, the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, and won the LA Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category.
His upcoming work includes the YA superhero adventure Araña/Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow, the follow-up to Secret Identity, Alter Ego, and the sci-fi/espionage thriller, Dark Space (with Rob Hart). Alex is also the author of Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the Anthony Award-nominated Pete Fernandez Miami Mystery series, and a number of comic books – including The Mysterious Micro-Face (in partnership with NPR), The Black Ghost, The Archies, The Dusk, The Awakened, Mara Llave – Keeper of Time, Blood Oath, stories featuring Marvel heroes the Avengers, Sunspot, White Tiger, Spider-Man and DC’s Superman, Sinestro, and The Question, to name a few.
His short story, “90 Miles” was included in The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories for 2021 and won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story. Another short story,“Red Zone,” won the 2020 Anthony Award for Best Short Story.
Alex is also the co-creator of the Lethal Lit podcast, named one of the best fiction podcasts of 2018 by The New York Times.
A Miami native, he lives in New York with his wife and children.
Secret Identity received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and Booklist, was listed as one of the Best Mysteries of the Year by NPR, Kirkus, Booklist, LitReactor, Gizmodo, BOLO Books, and the South Florida Sun Sentinel, was nominated for the Anthony Award for Best Hardcover, the Lefty and Barry Awards for Best Novel, the Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, and won the LA Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category.
His upcoming work includes the YA superhero adventure Araña/Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow, the follow-up to Secret Identity, Alter Ego, and the sci-fi/espionage thriller, Dark Space (with Rob Hart). Alex is also the author of Star Wars Poe Dameron: Free Fall, the Anthony Award-nominated Pete Fernandez Miami Mystery series, and a number of comic books – including The Mysterious Micro-Face (in partnership with NPR), The Black Ghost, The Archies, The Dusk, The Awakened, Mara Llave – Keeper of Time, Blood Oath, stories featuring Marvel heroes the Avengers, Sunspot, White Tiger, Spider-Man and DC’s Superman, Sinestro, and The Question, to name a few.
His short story, “90 Miles” was included in The Best American Mystery and Suspense Stories for 2021 and won the Anthony Award for Best Short Story. Another short story,“Red Zone,” won the 2020 Anthony Award for Best Short Story.
Alex is also the co-creator of the Lethal Lit podcast, named one of the best fiction podcasts of 2018 by The New York Times.
A Miami native, he lives in New York with his wife and children.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
March 24, 2026
3.5 stars ♡
A big thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: March 24th, 2026
As a huge Daredevil and Marvel fan, receiving this ARC made me so happy!! Getting to see Matt Murdock defend Frank Castle in court for killing Wilson Fisk with appearances by my favorite characters? Hell YES.
I can tell Alex Segura really understands and loves Matt Murdock. His knowledge of Daredevil and his skill at capturing Matt's and Frank's voices really shone through. I could hear the characters' voices when reading the dialogue, their personalities were so vivid. Alex Segura KNOWS Daredevil, both in the show and the comics, and clearly did his research, which shows in his writing
...this wasn't always a good thing though. I noticed that there were quite a few info dumps and unnecessary passages reminding us of previously established lore. For example, we'd learn a piece of info through Matt early in the book and a few chapters later, it would be brought up and we would be reminded of how Matt came across the info (with his senses + a long-winded passage describing how he was trained), what the info is, and THEN why it's relevant.
The constant reminding would get in the way of the development of the main mystery, which was actually really interesting. I wouldn't say the plot twists were completely shocking but it was a fun read nonetheless and featured a true-to-show action scene.
AND THE COURT SCENES!!! Probably my favorite part of the entire book was reading about Matt defending Frank in court. I'm glad we got to see a bit of Matt the Lawyer and not just Matt as Daredevil.
A second issue I had, which is honestly really minor but confusing considering the quality of the dialogue, was the AAVE used as Gen Z slang. As far as I noticed, it was only a couple times and only spoken by Matt and Frank - which... the concept of MATT MURDOCK and FRANK CASTLE saying things like "take the L" and "we're cooked"
I don't understand why that was included because this is an adult book, featuring grown men who are certainly not kid-friendly, and aside from that, these characters' dialogue was truly spot on. It was so confusing 😭
If you are a fan of Daredevil or new to Daredevil lore but curious, this is perfect for you!!
*this plot exists in a separate universe, so no need to be worried about Daredevil: Born Again spoilers*
A big thank you to Netgalley and Hyperion Avenue for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Expected Publication Date: March 24th, 2026
As a huge Daredevil and Marvel fan, receiving this ARC made me so happy!! Getting to see Matt Murdock defend Frank Castle in court for killing Wilson Fisk with appearances by my favorite characters? Hell YES.
I can tell Alex Segura really understands and loves Matt Murdock. His knowledge of Daredevil and his skill at capturing Matt's and Frank's voices really shone through. I could hear the characters' voices when reading the dialogue, their personalities were so vivid. Alex Segura KNOWS Daredevil, both in the show and the comics, and clearly did his research, which shows in his writing
...this wasn't always a good thing though. I noticed that there were quite a few info dumps and unnecessary passages reminding us of previously established lore. For example, we'd learn a piece of info through Matt early in the book and a few chapters later, it would be brought up and we would be reminded of how Matt came across the info (with his senses + a long-winded passage describing how he was trained), what the info is, and THEN why it's relevant.
The constant reminding would get in the way of the development of the main mystery, which was actually really interesting. I wouldn't say the plot twists were completely shocking but it was a fun read nonetheless and featured a true-to-show action scene.
AND THE COURT SCENES!!! Probably my favorite part of the entire book was reading about Matt defending Frank in court. I'm glad we got to see a bit of Matt the Lawyer and not just Matt as Daredevil.
A second issue I had, which is honestly really minor but confusing considering the quality of the dialogue, was the AAVE used as Gen Z slang. As far as I noticed, it was only a couple times and only spoken by Matt and Frank - which... the concept of MATT MURDOCK and FRANK CASTLE saying things like "take the L" and "we're cooked"
I don't understand why that was included because this is an adult book, featuring grown men who are certainly not kid-friendly, and aside from that, these characters' dialogue was truly spot on. It was so confusing 😭
If you are a fan of Daredevil or new to Daredevil lore but curious, this is perfect for you!!
*this plot exists in a separate universe, so no need to be worried about Daredevil: Born Again spoilers*
Want to Read
November 15, 2024my girlfriend saw me react to the announcement and went “how are you not screaming right now?” and honestly it’s because i’m crying. what the fuck
March 30, 2026
Full disclosure: I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
The Kingpin is dead, apparently shot by the Punisher. With every mobster in the city looking to take over, Daredevil has his work cut out for him, especially since he's also the Punisher's lawyer …
I really wanted to like this book. And, all things considered, it's not bad. Once it gets going, it moves along at a brisk pace. But it's really more of a comic book without artwork than it is a mystery novel, which is what it's allegedly trying to be.
I mean, the cover touts it as “A Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel.” And casually allows that Alex Segura is an “LA Times Book Prize Winner.” I don't know about you, but I'm imagining something that will sit comfortably on the shelves in the Mystery section of the local bookstore snugly next to Raymond Chandler, John D. MacDonald, Sara Paretsky, and the like. I don't read a lot of mysteries, but you know what I mean. And certainly Daredevil has always had a bit of noir in the mix, at least since the Frank Miller days. It would seem like a match made in heaven.
The book seems to have been written more for comics fans. I've never followed Daredevil regularly, but it seems like everyone he's ever fought or otherwise interacted with gets paraded through the book at some point. Heck, I'd forgotten Dakota North even existed! And most of them barely rate an introduction. You either catch the reference or you don't. And the general survival rate for seemingly fatal wounds seems absurdly high. It's a familiar comic book trope, sure. But what's it doing here, in what's ostensibly a mystery novel? It felt jarring to me.
And remember earlier, when I used the phrase, “Once it gets going …?” That's because the first chapter is mostly exposition, recapping Daredevil's origin. I suppose it's a necessary evil. Readers need to know who he is, after all. But surely there was a better way to integrate it into the story? Worse yet, the framing sequence for the expository dump is a courtroom scene where Matt Murdock is defending a client. This would be a great place to establish his legal skills, show us what a good lawyer he is. But instead of showing us how, Segura simply tells us that Matt won the case. That is incredibly lazy writing, and I came perilously close to chucking the book across the room.
The writing does improve from that point–really, how could it not?--and we do get a passable Daredevil story. This book is probably best suited for comics fans. I'm not sure how much casual readers will get from it. Definitely don't let that first chapter throw you.
The Kingpin is dead, apparently shot by the Punisher. With every mobster in the city looking to take over, Daredevil has his work cut out for him, especially since he's also the Punisher's lawyer …
I really wanted to like this book. And, all things considered, it's not bad. Once it gets going, it moves along at a brisk pace. But it's really more of a comic book without artwork than it is a mystery novel, which is what it's allegedly trying to be.
I mean, the cover touts it as “A Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel.” And casually allows that Alex Segura is an “LA Times Book Prize Winner.” I don't know about you, but I'm imagining something that will sit comfortably on the shelves in the Mystery section of the local bookstore snugly next to Raymond Chandler, John D. MacDonald, Sara Paretsky, and the like. I don't read a lot of mysteries, but you know what I mean. And certainly Daredevil has always had a bit of noir in the mix, at least since the Frank Miller days. It would seem like a match made in heaven.
The book seems to have been written more for comics fans. I've never followed Daredevil regularly, but it seems like everyone he's ever fought or otherwise interacted with gets paraded through the book at some point. Heck, I'd forgotten Dakota North even existed! And most of them barely rate an introduction. You either catch the reference or you don't. And the general survival rate for seemingly fatal wounds seems absurdly high. It's a familiar comic book trope, sure. But what's it doing here, in what's ostensibly a mystery novel? It felt jarring to me.
And remember earlier, when I used the phrase, “Once it gets going …?” That's because the first chapter is mostly exposition, recapping Daredevil's origin. I suppose it's a necessary evil. Readers need to know who he is, after all. But surely there was a better way to integrate it into the story? Worse yet, the framing sequence for the expository dump is a courtroom scene where Matt Murdock is defending a client. This would be a great place to establish his legal skills, show us what a good lawyer he is. But instead of showing us how, Segura simply tells us that Matt won the case. That is incredibly lazy writing, and I came perilously close to chucking the book across the room.
The writing does improve from that point–really, how could it not?--and we do get a passable Daredevil story. This book is probably best suited for comics fans. I'm not sure how much casual readers will get from it. Definitely don't let that first chapter throw you.
January 3, 2026
When I read the back of this book, I got really excited—what a fantastic premise for a Daredevil story. Unfortunately, the prose, dialogue, and story progression weren’t very good. Dozens of characters just show up with info-dumps of their past adventures, no actual narrative introductions. The writing was pretty repetitive, and I never felt any energy. Disappointed.
October 25, 2025
Would be so good if it had better writing. Can follow the story easily but a big part of it was screaming at the reader to remind them who they were following. That got annoying.
I was given a review copy by the publisher.
I was given a review copy by the publisher.
Want to Read
July 29, 2025Publication delayed until February 2026, as I just learned when I requested my public library acquire it and they said, "Nope!" because you can only request something once it's been published.
February 8, 2026
Fans of Daredevil will get everything they’re looking for in this novel—a well-balanced mix of action and legal/investigative drama that includes every ingredient needed to put you in Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen. Alex Segura really knows Matt’s character and motivations. He also knows the other players in Matt’s world, mixing in a surprising number of characters from DD’s rogue’s gallery.
If you love comic books and the comics industry, read Segura’s SECRET IDENTITY. If you love Daredevil—either from the comics or the TV series—read this.
If you love comic books and the comics industry, read Segura’s SECRET IDENTITY. If you love Daredevil—either from the comics or the TV series—read this.
Want to Read
January 18, 2025I want this lowkey
April 5, 2026
ENEMY OF MY ENEMY by Alex Segura is the second superhero novel I've read by Alex Segura. The first was ARANA AND SPIDER-MAN 2099, which had the hilarious premise of teaming up two much-neglected characters to face against Judas Traveler (quite possibly the most hated supervillain concept of all time with the possible exception of Paul Rabin). I loved it and thought it was an incredibly goofy but loyal to the characters who have always deserved better. Yes, I'm a guy salty about the fact Miguel is the villain of the second Spider-Verse universe and wonder what Peter David (RIP) thought.
The premise is that the Punisher has murdered the Kingpin and Matt Murdoch AKA Daredevil has the task of defending him. This is an incredibly strong premise and reminiscent of the second season of the Netflix Daredevil show even if that about defending Frank Castle in general versus killing Wilson Fisk. My first thought was, of course, "I really hope they don't backtrack on this. This is an alternate universe so there's no reason they have to." Unfortunately, it's only chapter later that we find out the Medical Examiner was kept from analyzing Wilson Fisk's body and most readers will deduce this is like those covers that state a hero will die this issue (only for it to turn out to be a clone or something). This is less a spoiler than my reaction and, who knows, maybe my finely tuned comic book reader instincts were wrong.
Still, Alex Segura has a pretty good grasp on Matt Murdoch and the story is about his moral conundrum of defending a man that he knows to be a mass murderer. The best parts of the novel are also Matt wrestling with the fact that he feels no small sense of joy at Wilson Fisk's death (this is a post Born Again [comic] storyline so many references are made to the Kingpin destroying Matt's life even if specifics like Nuke aren't mentioned). Matt is so deep in his own righteousness, he feels guilty even for wanting Wilson dead even if he didn't do anything to bring him down.
We also get the inclusion of no less than three former Daredevil girlfriends to compensate for the fact
Karen Page is (still) dead in this universe. Elektra, Dakota North, and Typhoid Mary all show up at various points in the story to comment on both how much they still care for Matt while also privately (or not so privately) bemoaning what a terrible boyfriend he is. Matt is also in a relationship with an original character working in Internal Affairs and it doesn't take long for Daredevil to torpedo this relationship by exploiting it for help in his vigilante efforts despite what a gross betrayal this is. This shows that Alex Segura has a good grasp of who Matt Murdoch is and his often hypocritical self-righteousness.
The book has flaws even if I overall enjoyed it. Some of the cast are slightly out of character even accounting for an alternate Marvel universe. Would Frank Castle ever make a deal with organized crime even if it managed to get him closer to some big wigs that he wants to kill? Would Matt Murdoch not be able to tell that two women he's had, uh, intimate relations with are the same person even if they are in disguise? His blindness doesn't work that way. Would Bullseye ever work as someone's bodyguard versus just an assassin for hire?
Overall, I really enjoyed Enemy of my Enemy. Alex Segura has a deep love for the Marvel universe and manages to thread the needle that it's close enough to the Netflix shows that fans of them will enjoy it while keeping it comics-related. The absence of Karen Page for Netflix fans will be an issue but I'm confused why she's still dead in the comics myself (because comics). I am already interested in picking up the third of these Marvel Crime Novels.
The premise is that the Punisher has murdered the Kingpin and Matt Murdoch AKA Daredevil has the task of defending him. This is an incredibly strong premise and reminiscent of the second season of the Netflix Daredevil show even if that about defending Frank Castle in general versus killing Wilson Fisk. My first thought was, of course, "I really hope they don't backtrack on this. This is an alternate universe so there's no reason they have to." Unfortunately, it's only chapter later that we find out the Medical Examiner was kept from analyzing Wilson Fisk's body and most readers will deduce this is like those covers that state a hero will die this issue (only for it to turn out to be a clone or something). This is less a spoiler than my reaction and, who knows, maybe my finely tuned comic book reader instincts were wrong.
Still, Alex Segura has a pretty good grasp on Matt Murdoch and the story is about his moral conundrum of defending a man that he knows to be a mass murderer. The best parts of the novel are also Matt wrestling with the fact that he feels no small sense of joy at Wilson Fisk's death (this is a post Born Again [comic] storyline so many references are made to the Kingpin destroying Matt's life even if specifics like Nuke aren't mentioned). Matt is so deep in his own righteousness, he feels guilty even for wanting Wilson dead even if he didn't do anything to bring him down.
We also get the inclusion of no less than three former Daredevil girlfriends to compensate for the fact
Karen Page is (still) dead in this universe. Elektra, Dakota North, and Typhoid Mary all show up at various points in the story to comment on both how much they still care for Matt while also privately (or not so privately) bemoaning what a terrible boyfriend he is. Matt is also in a relationship with an original character working in Internal Affairs and it doesn't take long for Daredevil to torpedo this relationship by exploiting it for help in his vigilante efforts despite what a gross betrayal this is. This shows that Alex Segura has a good grasp of who Matt Murdoch is and his often hypocritical self-righteousness.
The book has flaws even if I overall enjoyed it. Some of the cast are slightly out of character even accounting for an alternate Marvel universe. Would Frank Castle ever make a deal with organized crime even if it managed to get him closer to some big wigs that he wants to kill? Would Matt Murdoch not be able to tell that two women he's had, uh, intimate relations with are the same person even if they are in disguise? His blindness doesn't work that way. Would Bullseye ever work as someone's bodyguard versus just an assassin for hire?
Overall, I really enjoyed Enemy of my Enemy. Alex Segura has a deep love for the Marvel universe and manages to thread the needle that it's close enough to the Netflix shows that fans of them will enjoy it while keeping it comics-related. The absence of Karen Page for Netflix fans will be an issue but I'm confused why she's still dead in the comics myself (because comics). I am already interested in picking up the third of these Marvel Crime Novels.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
RTC.
Alex Segura wrote a fantastic Daredevil book. I will say more when it's out next week!
Alex Segura wrote a fantastic Daredevil book. I will say more when it's out next week!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Enemy of my Enemy: A Daredevil Crime Novel is exactly what it says on the wrapper -- A Daredevil tie-in crime novel. It's not bad, but I wouldn't call it all that spectacular either. If you want more of Matt Murdock and are looking to get back into reading, this might be a good reading-slump buster for the comic book fans out there.
What this book does well:
The twists and turns were fun! I liked the banter between Matt and Frank. The two big twists at the end of the novel were set up well. Matt was written with a voice that felt in-character, and his actions make sense for who he is as a person. It really captures how flawed and human he is, which is great. The pacing was fast-paced but not overwhelming, and the action sequences were written so that I could visualize them clearly.
My quibbles:
The narration is surprisingly dry, and there were moments of exposition that, even for someone who hasn't watched the show in nearly five years, felt excessive. Yes, I am familiar with the source material. Maybe someone who wasn't would have needed the extra explanation. Where it overdoes itself at some points, But some of the language surrounding Matt's senses could have been more...descriptive? Flowery? and I wish we had more time with Foggy. I know Matt's the main character, and there was a LOT of action happening, but it would've been nice to have a few more slower moments with our civilian side-characters. Actually, I think a little fluff overall would have benefitted this book. It was very plot-focused, yes, but even adding a few more sensory details here and there would have immersed me more within in the story. It felt like a lot of telling, and less showing. Which, again, maybe is the point. I, personally, am more used to character-driven stories. So it could just be a personal preference thing.
Overall, not bad. A bit dry, a bit too plot-focused as opposed to character focused. But it was fast-paced, interesting, and had some fun surprises for sure.
A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What this book does well:
The twists and turns were fun! I liked the banter between Matt and Frank. The two big twists at the end of the novel were set up well. Matt was written with a voice that felt in-character, and his actions make sense for who he is as a person. It really captures how flawed and human he is, which is great. The pacing was fast-paced but not overwhelming, and the action sequences were written so that I could visualize them clearly.
My quibbles:
The narration is surprisingly dry, and there were moments of exposition that, even for someone who hasn't watched the show in nearly five years, felt excessive. Yes, I am familiar with the source material. Maybe someone who wasn't would have needed the extra explanation. Where it overdoes itself at some points, But some of the language surrounding Matt's senses could have been more...descriptive? Flowery? and I wish we had more time with Foggy. I know Matt's the main character, and there was a LOT of action happening, but it would've been nice to have a few more slower moments with our civilian side-characters. Actually, I think a little fluff overall would have benefitted this book. It was very plot-focused, yes, but even adding a few more sensory details here and there would have immersed me more within in the story. It felt like a lot of telling, and less showing. Which, again, maybe is the point. I, personally, am more used to character-driven stories. So it could just be a personal preference thing.
Overall, not bad. A bit dry, a bit too plot-focused as opposed to character focused. But it was fast-paced, interesting, and had some fun surprises for sure.
A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 8, 2026
Fantastic Daredevil crime thriller. A little more Marvel heavy than Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewel that preceded it, but as a huge Marvel fan it really worked for me. Fans of the Netflix show will really vibe with this.
*thanks to Marvel for the review copy.
*thanks to Marvel for the review copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Daredevil: Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura is a legal thriller and action novel. Enemy of My Enemy is the second book in the Marvel Crime Series, with the first being Breaking the Dark by Lisa Jewell. This series focuses on street level characters, with Luke Cage up next.
The plot centers on the Punisher, who has allegedly killed the Kingpin. Only Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil, does not believe he is responsible. The supposed murder sparks a gang war as criminal factions battle to claim Kingpin’s territory. Daredevil must protect the innocent both in the courtroom and in the streets.
Alex Segura clearly knows Daredevil extremely well. He has said that he read every Daredevil comic before writing the novel and even wrote a book on the character’s history. That deep knowledge shows in the writing. Segura understands Daredevil inside and out, and most of the time it works beautifully. At times, however, the background information becomes excessive and slows the story. It can feel like starting season four of a show and constantly being reminded of everything that happened in the first three seasons. Segura also has to navigate the differences between comic continuity and the television version, which leads to moments that feel like over explanation.
The voice of the Punisher is absolutely nailed. I only wish he had appeared more, because Segura captures his character perfectly.
The mystery itself is uneven. Some elements were very compelling, while others were predictable. Everything involving the Punisher in court worked extremely well. The storyline involving the police brothers was strong. The mystery surrounding who was moving in to take over Kingpin’s territory was less effective. I guessed the culprit early on and did not like how that thread ultimately concluded.
The ending contains a major twist that did not work for me. It relies on superpowers that were not clearly explained, making the reveal difficult to accept. Another twist, which I had anticipated, was handled much better and felt satisfying.
Daredevil: Enemy of My Enemy will be published on March 24, 2026, by Disney Hyperion Avenue
Why did I read Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura?
I have read and reviewed Alex Segura’s work before. I enjoyed his young adult Star Wars tie-in novel Poe Dameron: Free Fall. I also read his darker short story La Mala Hora from The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand. I have met Segura in person, and he signed both books while we talked about his work on Daredevil. Enemy of My Enemy was already on my most anticipated books of 2026 list. I did receive Enemy of My Enemy early for review, thanks to NetGalley and Disney - Hyperion Avenue.
The plot centers on the Punisher, who has allegedly killed the Kingpin. Only Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil, does not believe he is responsible. The supposed murder sparks a gang war as criminal factions battle to claim Kingpin’s territory. Daredevil must protect the innocent both in the courtroom and in the streets.
Alex Segura clearly knows Daredevil extremely well. He has said that he read every Daredevil comic before writing the novel and even wrote a book on the character’s history. That deep knowledge shows in the writing. Segura understands Daredevil inside and out, and most of the time it works beautifully. At times, however, the background information becomes excessive and slows the story. It can feel like starting season four of a show and constantly being reminded of everything that happened in the first three seasons. Segura also has to navigate the differences between comic continuity and the television version, which leads to moments that feel like over explanation.
The voice of the Punisher is absolutely nailed. I only wish he had appeared more, because Segura captures his character perfectly.
The mystery itself is uneven. Some elements were very compelling, while others were predictable. Everything involving the Punisher in court worked extremely well. The storyline involving the police brothers was strong. The mystery surrounding who was moving in to take over Kingpin’s territory was less effective. I guessed the culprit early on and did not like how that thread ultimately concluded.
The ending contains a major twist that did not work for me. It relies on superpowers that were not clearly explained, making the reveal difficult to accept. Another twist, which I had anticipated, was handled much better and felt satisfying.
Daredevil: Enemy of My Enemy will be published on March 24, 2026, by Disney Hyperion Avenue
Why did I read Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura?
I have read and reviewed Alex Segura’s work before. I enjoyed his young adult Star Wars tie-in novel Poe Dameron: Free Fall. I also read his darker short story La Mala Hora from The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King’s The Stand. I have met Segura in person, and he signed both books while we talked about his work on Daredevil. Enemy of My Enemy was already on my most anticipated books of 2026 list. I did receive Enemy of My Enemy early for review, thanks to NetGalley and Disney - Hyperion Avenue.
April 5, 2026
Everyone knows that Matt Murdock and Daredevil's greatest enemy is the Kingpin, so it's no surprise when Matt takes on the case to defend The Punisher when he's accused of murdering him. Nor is it suspicious when Darevil begins to stalk the underworld to find out what truly happened. But when facts don't align and everyone seems to be hiding secrets, Matt must decide what justice means to him and what he's willing to sacrifice to see it done.
This is one of the best Daredevil stories I've read in print. You get a perfect balance of Matt and Daredevil, seeing how both personas are affecting everything in his life. You also get a super complex case that has everyone on edge and hiding things. It does fall a bit into clichéd comic tropes, so many of the great reveals are obvious way before they happen, but Segura's writing manages to keep you interested thanks to great pacing. You know where you're headed, but you're happy to follow the trail. You can't help but root for Matt as he's having a hell of a time trying to find all the clues that will lead him to the truth. He will suffer (as Daredevil must) and his relationships will be tested (as is also mandatory), but you just know that things will somehow work out in the end, and that's a big part of why I like the character. We also get a ton of Easter eggs and character name drops and appearances, so it's also fun to see how many of them you catch and recognize.
I will say that it is not going to be an easy read for non-comic or show-watching readers. There is some deep lore woven into it and tons of characters I loved seeing, but many people will have no idea who they are. It's a great novel. I highly recommend reading it, but I fear that someone who's looking to jump into the Daredevil or Marvel Universe with it will not have an easy time of it.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the riveting read!
This is one of the best Daredevil stories I've read in print. You get a perfect balance of Matt and Daredevil, seeing how both personas are affecting everything in his life. You also get a super complex case that has everyone on edge and hiding things. It does fall a bit into clichéd comic tropes, so many of the great reveals are obvious way before they happen, but Segura's writing manages to keep you interested thanks to great pacing. You know where you're headed, but you're happy to follow the trail. You can't help but root for Matt as he's having a hell of a time trying to find all the clues that will lead him to the truth. He will suffer (as Daredevil must) and his relationships will be tested (as is also mandatory), but you just know that things will somehow work out in the end, and that's a big part of why I like the character. We also get a ton of Easter eggs and character name drops and appearances, so it's also fun to see how many of them you catch and recognize.
I will say that it is not going to be an easy read for non-comic or show-watching readers. There is some deep lore woven into it and tons of characters I loved seeing, but many people will have no idea who they are. It's a great novel. I highly recommend reading it, but I fear that someone who's looking to jump into the Daredevil or Marvel Universe with it will not have an easy time of it.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the riveting read!
March 9, 2026
Between 3 1/4 and 4 stars. Daredevil is one of my favorite Marvel characters and I really enjoyed reading this. It was a fun story. The writing could have been better though- sometimes stuff was repeated over and over- basic facts- as if the reader couldn’t remember them. There was one glaring plot error- not a big one but I was like huh? Mentioned a character being attacked in prison but they were not in prison at the time and when asked about the attack in the next chapter they said they were in a warehouse when attacked. Hopefully an editor caught that and the typos for the final copy of this. It’s sloppy if not. Also many characters were brought in that I assume were in Daredevil comics (I have plans to read some soon) and we were given quick histories on them and their dealings with Matt/Daredevil, but it didn’t always flow well with the story. But overall a fun read. I have the Jessica Jones novel to read and I cannot wait for S.A. Cosby’s Luke Cage novel. Shout out to The Whispering Shelf in Indianapolis, IN where I snagged my ARC from!
May 4, 2026
In the second installment of the Marvel Crime series, Matt Murdock must defend vigilante Frank Castle, aka the Punisher, in court, after he is accused of murdering the Kingpin.
I enjoyed the Jessica Jones book that started off this series and I really wanted to like this book as well, but I had a lot of issues with it. I feel like the author was just trying to do too much and there were way too many characters. Then everytime a new character showed up, the author had to explain their full comic history. What I liked about the Jessica Jones book was that it felt like an independent story separate from the comics, whereas with this book it felt over reliant on comic references and kept taking time away from the story to explain events from the comics. I'm still going to continue with the series and read the Luke Cage book coming out later this year, which was set up at the end of this book, but this book has definitely soured my opinion on the series.
I enjoyed the Jessica Jones book that started off this series and I really wanted to like this book as well, but I had a lot of issues with it. I feel like the author was just trying to do too much and there were way too many characters. Then everytime a new character showed up, the author had to explain their full comic history. What I liked about the Jessica Jones book was that it felt like an independent story separate from the comics, whereas with this book it felt over reliant on comic references and kept taking time away from the story to explain events from the comics. I'm still going to continue with the series and read the Luke Cage book coming out later this year, which was set up at the end of this book, but this book has definitely soured my opinion on the series.
April 3, 2026
I forgive typos and editing mistakes a lot these days, I know how hard pressed the publishing industry is to get books out as quickly and efficiently as possible. But really this book needed a few more passes by an editor before publication.
There were multiple times Matt "looked" at someone, or "spotted" something on the floor. Or "watched" something happen. At one point Daredevil arrived at Fisk's building and described the lobby as "silver and white." Word choice is very important for a novel. And for a blind character, these word choices are confusing and take me out of the story.
The story itself was engaging and I enjoyed the court scenes especially. A little more tightening up of the word usage would have put the story into top tier!
There were multiple times Matt "looked" at someone, or "spotted" something on the floor. Or "watched" something happen. At one point Daredevil arrived at Fisk's building and described the lobby as "silver and white." Word choice is very important for a novel. And for a blind character, these word choices are confusing and take me out of the story.
The story itself was engaging and I enjoyed the court scenes especially. A little more tightening up of the word usage would have put the story into top tier!
March 23, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for an ARC of this book!
I love this Marvel series! If you enjoyed the comics, you will understand many of the references and the characters woven into this story. I’m a big Marvel fan, and really appreciated the storytelling in this mystery. I loved the descriptions of how Matt is able to use his senses in a unique way to help him find clues or people he is looking for. Alex Segura keeps you wanting more as the story builds to the twists! You need to keep with the story, the twists and turns are chaotic and exciting!
I love this Marvel series! If you enjoyed the comics, you will understand many of the references and the characters woven into this story. I’m a big Marvel fan, and really appreciated the storytelling in this mystery. I loved the descriptions of how Matt is able to use his senses in a unique way to help him find clues or people he is looking for. Alex Segura keeps you wanting more as the story builds to the twists! You need to keep with the story, the twists and turns are chaotic and exciting!
March 27, 2026
Entertaining, if a bit predictable. I appreciated Elektra’s povs (and her scenes in general) the most.
Didn’t love the writing for Matt’s pov, sometimes there are visual descriptions (like colors) that felt out of place in his perspective.
Didn’t love the writing for Matt’s pov, sometimes there are visual descriptions (like colors) that felt out of place in his perspective.
Want to Read
March 6, 2025What a time to be a Daredevil fan!
April 24, 2026
Esperaba más...
May 2, 2026
Could have used some more action but a fun read all around
May 11, 2026
mattlektra nation never loses.
November 14, 2025
After loving the first book in the Marvel Crime series, I was eager to see what
Alex Segura
would do with Daredevil in
Enemy of My Enemy
. Segura crafts a tale that feels just as much as a Daredevil comic as it does the crime novel it sets out to be. With plenty of twists, turns and action, it's truly is a fantastic Marvel crime story.
When reports come in that the Kingpin and a police officer have been killed and that Frank Castle (aka the Punisher) has turned himself in for it, Matt Murdock senses holes in the narratives the media and the streets are quick to run with.
Both criminals have been Matt’s nemeses when he dons the cowl of the Daredevil, and there’s no denying that New York is better off without its Kingpin and with the Punisher behind bars. And yet . . . while the Punisher is a murderous vigilante, he doesn’t kill cops. And he doesn’t turn himself in.
Castle certainly deserves prison for all of the other crimes he has committed in the past. However, Matt’s indominable sense of justice insists that nobody should be locked away for crimes they didn’t actually commit. Representing the vigilante in court, Matt enters a contest of wills and guile with Castle to try and uncover the game beneath the game. And when Matt’s girlfriend takes the stand and complicates matters, there’s truly no rest for the wicked or the just. As the Kingpin’s absence causes passion and ambitions to run hot in Hell’s Kitchen, Matt must decide if justice means the letter of the law, what’s best for the citizen on the streets, or where his heart leading him.
Personally, I believe Marvel made all the right choices with the first two books in the Marvel Crime series. Focusing on characters such as Jessica Jones and Daredevil were strong places to begin, but the real success lies with bringing on authors such as Lisa Jewell and Segura to foster this stories. While I feel this series suits Jessica Jones just the slightest bit more, this latest installment in the series fearing Daredevil was also wonderful.
Enemy of My Enemy reads with such cinematic presence, feeling a ton like the Netflix and Disney+ series featuring Charlie Cox as titular character. So much so, that I was picturing Cox's portrayal of Matt Murdock/Daredevil as the main character in this story. The crime is high-profile, but the story plays more to the street level of the characters allowing us to connect to them on a more personal level. At times, it felt like a blend of Marvel and Law & Order, which, personally, was an absolute delight.
Segura intertwines and features a ton of Daredevil related characters from the comics which I felt could've been distracting if not handle just right, but the author was purposeful on how he used each and every one of them. Longtime fans of Daredevil will love the nods to the classic characters and the inclusion in this crime story. While Enemy of My Enemy is undeniably a superhero story, at its core is a crime noir. The purpose of this tale is to solve a crime and what happens along the way is what made it feel like the Daredevil we all have come to love. Mixing mediums like this can be challenging but Segura handles it with ease.
While I found myself figuring out the major twist before it was revealed, it didn't take away from the story and my overall enjoyment. I still wanted to continue to the end and wrap on the story at hand.
Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura carries forward the feeling of the Marvel Crime series that began with Breaking the Dark , but brings a bit more of the grit and grime of the street-level side of the Marvel Universe in Hell's Kitchen. It expands this emerging corner of the Marvel Crime universe, but is a nice standalone crime story that doesn't need any further reading to enjoy.
Enemy of My Enemy hits bookstores everywhere on March 24, 2026 from Hyperion Avenue. The audiobook is available exclusively via Audible.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Enemy of My Enemy from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
When reports come in that the Kingpin and a police officer have been killed and that Frank Castle (aka the Punisher) has turned himself in for it, Matt Murdock senses holes in the narratives the media and the streets are quick to run with.
Both criminals have been Matt’s nemeses when he dons the cowl of the Daredevil, and there’s no denying that New York is better off without its Kingpin and with the Punisher behind bars. And yet . . . while the Punisher is a murderous vigilante, he doesn’t kill cops. And he doesn’t turn himself in.
Castle certainly deserves prison for all of the other crimes he has committed in the past. However, Matt’s indominable sense of justice insists that nobody should be locked away for crimes they didn’t actually commit. Representing the vigilante in court, Matt enters a contest of wills and guile with Castle to try and uncover the game beneath the game. And when Matt’s girlfriend takes the stand and complicates matters, there’s truly no rest for the wicked or the just. As the Kingpin’s absence causes passion and ambitions to run hot in Hell’s Kitchen, Matt must decide if justice means the letter of the law, what’s best for the citizen on the streets, or where his heart leading him.
Personally, I believe Marvel made all the right choices with the first two books in the Marvel Crime series. Focusing on characters such as Jessica Jones and Daredevil were strong places to begin, but the real success lies with bringing on authors such as Lisa Jewell and Segura to foster this stories. While I feel this series suits Jessica Jones just the slightest bit more, this latest installment in the series fearing Daredevil was also wonderful.
Enemy of My Enemy reads with such cinematic presence, feeling a ton like the Netflix and Disney+ series featuring Charlie Cox as titular character. So much so, that I was picturing Cox's portrayal of Matt Murdock/Daredevil as the main character in this story. The crime is high-profile, but the story plays more to the street level of the characters allowing us to connect to them on a more personal level. At times, it felt like a blend of Marvel and Law & Order, which, personally, was an absolute delight.
Segura intertwines and features a ton of Daredevil related characters from the comics which I felt could've been distracting if not handle just right, but the author was purposeful on how he used each and every one of them. Longtime fans of Daredevil will love the nods to the classic characters and the inclusion in this crime story. While Enemy of My Enemy is undeniably a superhero story, at its core is a crime noir. The purpose of this tale is to solve a crime and what happens along the way is what made it feel like the Daredevil we all have come to love. Mixing mediums like this can be challenging but Segura handles it with ease.
While I found myself figuring out the major twist before it was revealed, it didn't take away from the story and my overall enjoyment. I still wanted to continue to the end and wrap on the story at hand.
Enemy of My Enemy by Alex Segura carries forward the feeling of the Marvel Crime series that began with Breaking the Dark , but brings a bit more of the grit and grime of the street-level side of the Marvel Universe in Hell's Kitchen. It expands this emerging corner of the Marvel Crime universe, but is a nice standalone crime story that doesn't need any further reading to enjoy.
Enemy of My Enemy hits bookstores everywhere on March 24, 2026 from Hyperion Avenue. The audiobook is available exclusively via Audible.
NOTE: We received an advance copy of Enemy of My Enemy from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
April 8, 2026
So this was a pretty good Daredevil story. Like any Daredevil story, this had street level crime and mystery mixed with court room drama. I loved the way Matt would battle himself on what was right and wrong especially when it came to what Matt could use in the courtroom from what he learnt from his time as Daredevil.
January 2, 2026
This was SUCH a lovely little treat I devoured this like a kid in a candy store
This is, first and foremost, a celebration of Daredevil and its history. It pays homage to iconic DD scenes, and his struggles in the story are illustrative of what make him compelling as character and as a hero (to the point where it is reeeeally lacking in subtlety lmao but I think expecting that is a misunderstanding of what the book is going for). The mystery and plot weaves in aspects and characters from the comics without making the fanservice overbearing, and I ate it up like slop every time. I was kicking my feet and giggling like a lil dork
That isn't to say that the noir crime aspects aren't interesting - my favorite parts of this are when Matt was in the courtroom or having conversations with Castle as his lawyer - but imo they're just adequate, and it's clear Segura was prioritizing making this a Daredevil story. The conclusion of the mystery was pretty clear to me from the beginning, but the journey and twists were still engaging because Segura REALLY did his homework and uses the extensive lore to his advantage. It's integrated soooo well and it didn't feel clunky or forced. It reads like a Daredevil comic arc in prose. It elevated this book for me. I really liked it!!! But I feel a little bad for the show-only people in the comments. I don't think your knowledge needs to be by any means comprehensive, and the book does its best to give background on anything that's going on, but even then, what's the point of reading if you're going to be missing out on a significant chunk of what makes this so great?
It's Spider-Man: No Way Home but for comic Daredevil people. It reads like an event and a love letter to the character. I feel like newcomers are just gonna think that this is okay at best, but if you like Daredevil comics, you're probably gonna have a good time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC! The review is honest tho I had an embarrassing amount of fun
This is, first and foremost, a celebration of Daredevil and its history. It pays homage to iconic DD scenes, and his struggles in the story are illustrative of what make him compelling as character and as a hero (to the point where it is reeeeally lacking in subtlety lmao but I think expecting that is a misunderstanding of what the book is going for). The mystery and plot weaves in aspects and characters from the comics without making the fanservice overbearing, and I ate it up like slop every time. I was kicking my feet and giggling like a lil dork
That isn't to say that the noir crime aspects aren't interesting - my favorite parts of this are when Matt was in the courtroom or having conversations with Castle as his lawyer - but imo they're just adequate, and it's clear Segura was prioritizing making this a Daredevil story. The conclusion of the mystery was pretty clear to me from the beginning, but the journey and twists were still engaging because Segura REALLY did his homework and uses the extensive lore to his advantage. It's integrated soooo well and it didn't feel clunky or forced. It reads like a Daredevil comic arc in prose. It elevated this book for me. I really liked it!!! But I feel a little bad for the show-only people in the comments. I don't think your knowledge needs to be by any means comprehensive, and the book does its best to give background on anything that's going on, but even then, what's the point of reading if you're going to be missing out on a significant chunk of what makes this so great?
It's Spider-Man: No Way Home but for comic Daredevil people. It reads like an event and a love letter to the character. I feel like newcomers are just gonna think that this is okay at best, but if you like Daredevil comics, you're probably gonna have a good time.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for the ARC! The review is honest tho I had an embarrassing amount of fun
April 24, 2026
*SPOILER HEAVY REVIEW*
I first found Alex Segura as an author through the news that he would be writing this novel. I wanted to see what the author of a Daredevil book could do, and how well they’d adapt and translate the character. This led me to finding the Pete Fernandez series, which I love(and have yet to finish), and had me feeling as though Alex was the perfect person to write this book. I was incredibly excited to start it, only to find that Segura struggles to stick the landing.
I wanna preface this by saying that I enjoyed the novel. It was a decent adaptation of Daredevil, with many plot elements similar to the Born Again story, but with a modern Marvel twist. This is the current, up to date Marvel universe(kind of) with things like Elektra having taken over as Daredevil being mentioned. The plot was kind of obvious, I never for a second believed that Fisk was dead(especially with the confirmation that his own doctor would be doing his autopsy), and the whole “if you don’t see a body” thing. Cuz we never see a body. We’re just told Fisk is dead, Frank Castle killed him, and Frank is saying he didn’t do it. There’s something of a mystery here, with the corrupt cop who was also killed and the person manipulating the events of the story(spoilers: it’s Kingpin), but this was more a straightforward superhero story in my opinion. Many of the mystery elements were very obvious, and many of the reveals which I hadn’t already anticipated just fell flat, like Typhoid Mary being the one to manipulate Matt. I just didn’t care. Also, the action scenes here are abysmal. I find that disappointing, but also a potential pitfall of trying to translate a visual, action heavy medium into only the written word. I also enjoyed how self destructive Matt was. I would’ve liked more of it, this was certainly no Pete Fernandez. Honestly, by the end of this I felt like Segura would’ve done better with the Jessica Jones novel than the Daredevil one. Speaking of, both Jessica and Luke Cage appear here, which excited me(Luke’s novel is next, coming out in September).
Strangely, I felt that Segura was held back in writing such a popular character. I could see glimpses of a darker and more serious story that Segura wanted to write, and I could almost feel the places where editorial and Marvel held him back from going. It feels like Segura wouldn’t commit to the grittier parts of the narrative, and I know he’s capable of doing so because of Pete Fernandez. I hope that Segura gets another shot at Daredevil, maybe in a sequel to this novel? I don’t know the direction the Marvel Crime series is going towards(I can almost guarantee that either it gets cancelled after the Luke Cage novel, Iron Fist is the fourth novel, or they keep the series going with other POV characters outside the Netflix cast like Spider-Man(get Jim Butcher back!!!), Punisher and Moon Knight. I am a personal fan of the latter two options, but I would love a sequel to each individual novel, like a sequel to Breaking the Dark, a sequel to Enemy of my Enemy. Maybe each character gets a trilogy, and each book builds on the last. I would enjoy that a lot, and maybe Segura could go darker in a sequel.
I felt his characterization of both Punisher and Elektra was off. Elektra is in “slightly annoyed monk” mode the entire novel, and seems almost alien, which isn’t her character at all. Also, Segura mentioned that she “used” to be Daredevil, but at the time of the novel’s release(and of this review), she’s still DD. Punisher seems unhinged, confused, and honestly a little bit stupid? And quite frankly, so does the cast. The whole “Fisk was killed with a Glock 26, something Frank Castle notoriously uses”(which also doesn’t make sense, but Segura has an obsession with Glocks and constantly chooses the wrong ones for his characters, like Pete Fernandez using and concealing a Glock 17(a full size, duty handgun) while now Punisher uses a Glock 26(a subcompact meant for concealed carry and often called the “baby Glock”. Their Glocks should be swapped lol)), but… Frank isn’t legally buying his weapons. He’s not filling out FFL paperwork, passing a background check, waiting 7 days to pick it up, getting fingerprinted, etc. Frank probably has like 80 illegal Glock 26 pistols. He also has a bajillion guns. All illegal. He’s the Punisher. The fingerprints on the weapon is a nice touch but he probably has fingerprints on all his weapons. But somehow the Glock 26 is a smoking gun? Really?
All in all, mixed bag that I really enjoyed but that I couldn’t ignore the problems of, of which there are a great many.
I first found Alex Segura as an author through the news that he would be writing this novel. I wanted to see what the author of a Daredevil book could do, and how well they’d adapt and translate the character. This led me to finding the Pete Fernandez series, which I love(and have yet to finish), and had me feeling as though Alex was the perfect person to write this book. I was incredibly excited to start it, only to find that Segura struggles to stick the landing.
I wanna preface this by saying that I enjoyed the novel. It was a decent adaptation of Daredevil, with many plot elements similar to the Born Again story, but with a modern Marvel twist. This is the current, up to date Marvel universe(kind of) with things like Elektra having taken over as Daredevil being mentioned. The plot was kind of obvious, I never for a second believed that Fisk was dead(especially with the confirmation that his own doctor would be doing his autopsy), and the whole “if you don’t see a body” thing. Cuz we never see a body. We’re just told Fisk is dead, Frank Castle killed him, and Frank is saying he didn’t do it. There’s something of a mystery here, with the corrupt cop who was also killed and the person manipulating the events of the story(spoilers: it’s Kingpin), but this was more a straightforward superhero story in my opinion. Many of the mystery elements were very obvious, and many of the reveals which I hadn’t already anticipated just fell flat, like Typhoid Mary being the one to manipulate Matt. I just didn’t care. Also, the action scenes here are abysmal. I find that disappointing, but also a potential pitfall of trying to translate a visual, action heavy medium into only the written word. I also enjoyed how self destructive Matt was. I would’ve liked more of it, this was certainly no Pete Fernandez. Honestly, by the end of this I felt like Segura would’ve done better with the Jessica Jones novel than the Daredevil one. Speaking of, both Jessica and Luke Cage appear here, which excited me(Luke’s novel is next, coming out in September).
Strangely, I felt that Segura was held back in writing such a popular character. I could see glimpses of a darker and more serious story that Segura wanted to write, and I could almost feel the places where editorial and Marvel held him back from going. It feels like Segura wouldn’t commit to the grittier parts of the narrative, and I know he’s capable of doing so because of Pete Fernandez. I hope that Segura gets another shot at Daredevil, maybe in a sequel to this novel? I don’t know the direction the Marvel Crime series is going towards(I can almost guarantee that either it gets cancelled after the Luke Cage novel, Iron Fist is the fourth novel, or they keep the series going with other POV characters outside the Netflix cast like Spider-Man(get Jim Butcher back!!!), Punisher and Moon Knight. I am a personal fan of the latter two options, but I would love a sequel to each individual novel, like a sequel to Breaking the Dark, a sequel to Enemy of my Enemy. Maybe each character gets a trilogy, and each book builds on the last. I would enjoy that a lot, and maybe Segura could go darker in a sequel.
I felt his characterization of both Punisher and Elektra was off. Elektra is in “slightly annoyed monk” mode the entire novel, and seems almost alien, which isn’t her character at all. Also, Segura mentioned that she “used” to be Daredevil, but at the time of the novel’s release(and of this review), she’s still DD. Punisher seems unhinged, confused, and honestly a little bit stupid? And quite frankly, so does the cast. The whole “Fisk was killed with a Glock 26, something Frank Castle notoriously uses”(which also doesn’t make sense, but Segura has an obsession with Glocks and constantly chooses the wrong ones for his characters, like Pete Fernandez using and concealing a Glock 17(a full size, duty handgun) while now Punisher uses a Glock 26(a subcompact meant for concealed carry and often called the “baby Glock”. Their Glocks should be swapped lol)), but… Frank isn’t legally buying his weapons. He’s not filling out FFL paperwork, passing a background check, waiting 7 days to pick it up, getting fingerprinted, etc. Frank probably has like 80 illegal Glock 26 pistols. He also has a bajillion guns. All illegal. He’s the Punisher. The fingerprints on the weapon is a nice touch but he probably has fingerprints on all his weapons. But somehow the Glock 26 is a smoking gun? Really?
All in all, mixed bag that I really enjoyed but that I couldn’t ignore the problems of, of which there are a great many.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for an advance copy of this novel featuring a comic book hero whose powers are advanced senses, a sense of responsibility, and a keen legal mind, all things he will need to draw on to stop the city he loves going up in the flames of vengeance.
Daredevil was a character in comics I was aware of but I never really followed. The idea seemed like a melding of Doctor Midnight with The Batman DC that I was reading at the time and liked. I loved comics but was a neither a Marvel zombie nor a superfan of the distinguished competition, so I loved who I liked and ignored those that did nothing for me. That changed with Frank Miller and his take on the character, creating a mythos that is still resonating today. I became of fan of Ol' Hornhead, and found more of an appreciation for the character, his Catholic guilt mixing with his love of punching, plus a supporting cast that was interesting, and deadly in their own rights. There have been many creators, many mixing the many traits of Matt Murdock, the enhanced senses, the ninja aspect, the guilt, the emotional pain that many like to put on him, even his law career. However Alex Segura is the first writer to capture all of this and create a story both unique, and very familiar. Enemy of My Enemy: A Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel, by Alex Segura is the second in a series of prose novels that tells the stories of some of Marvels street level heroes, in a case that is explosive in natures leading to a trial that might decide the fate of a city, and how it might be destroyed.
Matt Murdock is trying not to let people down, something Murdock does quite well in both his job as lawyer, and as the Superhero known as Daredevil, the man without fear. Before things get worse Murdock hears news that both elates him, and makes him worry about the future. Wilson Fisk, known to many as a humble dealer of spices, but better known as the Kingpin of crime, has been murdered in his office. The suspect is the man known as Frank Castle, the Punisher, a vigilante with a murder list bigger than a phone book. However to Murdock things don't make sense. Another person was killed with the Kingpin, a cop, and Castle has made it clear that his war on crime does not involve the innocent, nor law officers. When arrested Castle seems too calm, like things are working out the way he wants. As Murdock and Daredevil begin to look into the case, Murdock as Castle's lawyer, and Daredevil being Daredevil, things start to get confusing. Evidence is pointing towards something else, something that even Daredevil's heightened abilities can't seem to answer. Something that might leave the city a smoking ruin as criminals fight over who will take over the Kingpin's realm, even if they have to rule over ashes.
I have read a lot of comic book novelizations and novels based on heroes. Many are lacking something that maybe only sequential art can fill in. The writers seem to be missing something that makes the hero tick. Segura has none of these problems. Right from the beginning he understands Daredevil, and more importantly Matt Murdock. Matt is a good man, who does bad things, feels guilty and goes out and hits people as a penance. As a hero Matt is great, as a man, ahh he's got feet of clay and morals of a tom cat especially for women. Segura understands this, even has the women characters discuss this. Segura has done the research and has a big supporting cast, both heroes, villains, friends and well Electra and the Punisher. All of them sound right, act right, and realy flesh out the story, which is good. Segura is a great choice for this, a writer who understands comics, understands what makes them tick, and what does not translate to prose writing.
A really good story about Daredevil and one that fans will appreciate. I have not read the first book in this series, though I plan to now. Perfect for comic readers and a very good introduction to the writer Alex Segura, whose work in comics and novels I have enjoyed. I look forward to the next book in this series, as well as anything Segura has planned.
Daredevil was a character in comics I was aware of but I never really followed. The idea seemed like a melding of Doctor Midnight with The Batman DC that I was reading at the time and liked. I loved comics but was a neither a Marvel zombie nor a superfan of the distinguished competition, so I loved who I liked and ignored those that did nothing for me. That changed with Frank Miller and his take on the character, creating a mythos that is still resonating today. I became of fan of Ol' Hornhead, and found more of an appreciation for the character, his Catholic guilt mixing with his love of punching, plus a supporting cast that was interesting, and deadly in their own rights. There have been many creators, many mixing the many traits of Matt Murdock, the enhanced senses, the ninja aspect, the guilt, the emotional pain that many like to put on him, even his law career. However Alex Segura is the first writer to capture all of this and create a story both unique, and very familiar. Enemy of My Enemy: A Daredevil Marvel Crime Novel, by Alex Segura is the second in a series of prose novels that tells the stories of some of Marvels street level heroes, in a case that is explosive in natures leading to a trial that might decide the fate of a city, and how it might be destroyed.
Matt Murdock is trying not to let people down, something Murdock does quite well in both his job as lawyer, and as the Superhero known as Daredevil, the man without fear. Before things get worse Murdock hears news that both elates him, and makes him worry about the future. Wilson Fisk, known to many as a humble dealer of spices, but better known as the Kingpin of crime, has been murdered in his office. The suspect is the man known as Frank Castle, the Punisher, a vigilante with a murder list bigger than a phone book. However to Murdock things don't make sense. Another person was killed with the Kingpin, a cop, and Castle has made it clear that his war on crime does not involve the innocent, nor law officers. When arrested Castle seems too calm, like things are working out the way he wants. As Murdock and Daredevil begin to look into the case, Murdock as Castle's lawyer, and Daredevil being Daredevil, things start to get confusing. Evidence is pointing towards something else, something that even Daredevil's heightened abilities can't seem to answer. Something that might leave the city a smoking ruin as criminals fight over who will take over the Kingpin's realm, even if they have to rule over ashes.
I have read a lot of comic book novelizations and novels based on heroes. Many are lacking something that maybe only sequential art can fill in. The writers seem to be missing something that makes the hero tick. Segura has none of these problems. Right from the beginning he understands Daredevil, and more importantly Matt Murdock. Matt is a good man, who does bad things, feels guilty and goes out and hits people as a penance. As a hero Matt is great, as a man, ahh he's got feet of clay and morals of a tom cat especially for women. Segura understands this, even has the women characters discuss this. Segura has done the research and has a big supporting cast, both heroes, villains, friends and well Electra and the Punisher. All of them sound right, act right, and realy flesh out the story, which is good. Segura is a great choice for this, a writer who understands comics, understands what makes them tick, and what does not translate to prose writing.
A really good story about Daredevil and one that fans will appreciate. I have not read the first book in this series, though I plan to now. Perfect for comic readers and a very good introduction to the writer Alex Segura, whose work in comics and novels I have enjoyed. I look forward to the next book in this series, as well as anything Segura has planned.
March 29, 2026
I am not sure I can properly put into words the excitement I felt while poring over ENEMY OF MY ENEMY. I hope that I speak for most Marvel fans when I say that this novel, which stars the superhero from Hell’s Kitchen --- Daredevil --- made me feel like a boy again who was gleefully enjoying the latest comic book starring “the man without fear.”
Alex Segura, who has a great love for superhero comics, fills this Daredevil story with so many beloved characters and Marvel Easter eggs that I almost lost count --- all while grinning from ear to ear and eating up every line. For those who are not familiar with Daredevil, he is the alter ego of defense attorney Matt Murdock. He also happens to be blind but has taken skills originally taught to him as a boy by his late prizefighter father and honed them with superior martial arts abilities paired with heightened senses that do not include sight.
ENEMY OF MY ENEMY opens with a startling piece of news that rocks Matt’s world and shakes up the entire spectrum of New York City. Head mob boss Wilson Fisk (aka the Kingpin) has been shot dead, and his criminal domain is now up for grabs. Making matters even more interesting is the rumor that the vigilante known as the Punisher is the one who took the Kingpin down.
Matt and his law partner, Foggy Nelson, do not believe this for a second. As the Daredevil, Matt locates Frank Castle (aka the Punisher), who confirms his innocence moments before giving himself up to the authorities. Matt immediately decides to take on this highly controversial client who also allegedly killed a police officer.
Ben Urich of The Daily Bugle was the first person to alert Matt to the Kingpin’s death, as well as the rumor about the Punisher being behind it. Like Matt, he also does not think that the dark vigilante is guilty, but he still has a column to write. The problem is that the Punisher is giving next to nothing in his jailhouse meetings with Matt, who now must investigate on his own what really happened to the Kingpin. All of this is going down while a group of the Kingpin’s soldiers are making attempts to take the crown as new head of the NYC mob syndicate.
The first criminal adversary Daredevil has to take down is the Owl. However, with some assistance from his former partner and lover Elektra, Daredevil will still need to face a host of other villains --- like Hammerhead, Typhoid Mary, Bullseye, and the Kingpin’s right-hand man, the Arranger. During these battles, we also are thrown into the courtroom for the Punisher’s trial. It’s a fight that no one, including Foggy, believes can be won.
It will take everything Matt can give, both as a shrewd defense attorney and as the persistent Daredevil, to get to the bottom of this case. Along the way, he is severely injured and hospitalized more than once. He also is in danger of losing his partnership with Foggy, who wants to walk away. When Matt’s new girlfriend is attacked by the sinister group of ninjas operating as the Hand, Daredevil begins to see some of the landscape behind this situation --- an amazing feat for someone without sight.
Alex Segura has more than a few shocking plot twists up his sleeve, as well as additional Marvel characters who make welcome appearances. ENEMY OF MY ENEMY presents an explosive finale that left me reeling and giddy at the same time. It’s a complete joy, and I highly recommend it to fans of Daredevil, Marvel, or combustible crime thrillers that never cease to amaze.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Alex Segura, who has a great love for superhero comics, fills this Daredevil story with so many beloved characters and Marvel Easter eggs that I almost lost count --- all while grinning from ear to ear and eating up every line. For those who are not familiar with Daredevil, he is the alter ego of defense attorney Matt Murdock. He also happens to be blind but has taken skills originally taught to him as a boy by his late prizefighter father and honed them with superior martial arts abilities paired with heightened senses that do not include sight.
ENEMY OF MY ENEMY opens with a startling piece of news that rocks Matt’s world and shakes up the entire spectrum of New York City. Head mob boss Wilson Fisk (aka the Kingpin) has been shot dead, and his criminal domain is now up for grabs. Making matters even more interesting is the rumor that the vigilante known as the Punisher is the one who took the Kingpin down.
Matt and his law partner, Foggy Nelson, do not believe this for a second. As the Daredevil, Matt locates Frank Castle (aka the Punisher), who confirms his innocence moments before giving himself up to the authorities. Matt immediately decides to take on this highly controversial client who also allegedly killed a police officer.
Ben Urich of The Daily Bugle was the first person to alert Matt to the Kingpin’s death, as well as the rumor about the Punisher being behind it. Like Matt, he also does not think that the dark vigilante is guilty, but he still has a column to write. The problem is that the Punisher is giving next to nothing in his jailhouse meetings with Matt, who now must investigate on his own what really happened to the Kingpin. All of this is going down while a group of the Kingpin’s soldiers are making attempts to take the crown as new head of the NYC mob syndicate.
The first criminal adversary Daredevil has to take down is the Owl. However, with some assistance from his former partner and lover Elektra, Daredevil will still need to face a host of other villains --- like Hammerhead, Typhoid Mary, Bullseye, and the Kingpin’s right-hand man, the Arranger. During these battles, we also are thrown into the courtroom for the Punisher’s trial. It’s a fight that no one, including Foggy, believes can be won.
It will take everything Matt can give, both as a shrewd defense attorney and as the persistent Daredevil, to get to the bottom of this case. Along the way, he is severely injured and hospitalized more than once. He also is in danger of losing his partnership with Foggy, who wants to walk away. When Matt’s new girlfriend is attacked by the sinister group of ninjas operating as the Hand, Daredevil begins to see some of the landscape behind this situation --- an amazing feat for someone without sight.
Alex Segura has more than a few shocking plot twists up his sleeve, as well as additional Marvel characters who make welcome appearances. ENEMY OF MY ENEMY presents an explosive finale that left me reeling and giddy at the same time. It’s a complete joy, and I highly recommend it to fans of Daredevil, Marvel, or combustible crime thrillers that never cease to amaze.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
March 28, 2026
I am not sure I can properly put into words the excitement I felt while quickly poring through the novel ENEMY OF MY ENEMY by Alex Segura. I hope that I speak for most Marvel fans when I say that this novel, which stars the superhero from Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, Daredevil made me feel like a boy again who was gleefully enjoying the newest comic book starring ‘the man without fear.’
Segura, who has a great love for superhero comics as evidenced in the various books and graphic novels he has written, fills this Daredevil story with so many beloved characters and Marvel Easter eggs that I almost lost count. All of this while grinning from ear to ear and eating up every line. For those who are not familiar with Daredevil, he is the alter ego of Defense Attorney Matt Murdock. He also happens to be blind but has taken skills originally taught to him as a young boy by his late prizefighter father and honed that with superior martial arts skills paired with heightened senses that do not include sight.
ENEMY OF MY ENEMY opens up with a startling piece of news that rocks Matt’s world and shakes up the entire spectrum of NYC. The head mob boss Wilson Fisk, nicknamed The Kingpin, was shot dead and now his criminal domain is up for grabs. Making matters even more interesting is the rumor that the vigilante known as the Punisher was the one to take The Kingpin down.
Matt and his law partner, Foggy Nelson, do not believe this for a minute and as Daredevil, Matt locates Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher who confirms his innocence to him moments before giving himself up to the police. Matt immediately decides to take on this highly controversial client who also allegedly killed a police officer in addition to Kingpin.
Ben Urich of the Daily Bugle was the first person to alert Matt to the death of The Kingpin as well as the rumor about the Punisher being behind it. Like Matt, he also does not think the dark vigilante did this but still has a column to write. The problem is that Punisher is giving next to nothing in his jailhouse meetings with Matt and now our hero has to investigate on his own what really happened to Kingpin. All of this is happening while a group of Kingpin’s soldiers are making attempts to take the crown as new head of the NYC mob syndicate.
The first criminal adversary Daredevil has to take down is the Owl. The problem is that Daredevil, with some assistance from his former partner and lover Elektra, will still need to face a lineup of other villains like Hammerhead, Typhoid Mary, Bullseye, and Kingpin’s right-hand-man known as The Arranger. During these battles, we are also thrown into the courtroom for the murder trail of Frank Castle, a fight that no one including Foggy Nelson believes can be won.
It will take everything Matt can give, both as a shrewd defense attorney and the persistent Daredevil, to get to the bottom of this case. Along the way, Matt/Daredevil is severely injured and hospitalized more than once. He is also in danger of losing his partnership with Foggy who wants to walk away from this entire case. When Matt’s new girlfriend and NYPD Detective Melinda is attacked by the sinister group of ninjas operating as The Hand, Daredevil begins to see some of the landscape behind this situation --- an amazing feat for someone without sight!
Segura has more than a few shocking plot twists, as well as additional Marvel characters who make welcome appearances, and ENEMY OF MY ENEMY presents an explosive finale that left me reeling and giddy all at the same time. This novel was a complete joy, and I highly recommend to fans of Daredevil, Marvel, or combustible crime thrillers that never cease to amaze.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
Segura, who has a great love for superhero comics as evidenced in the various books and graphic novels he has written, fills this Daredevil story with so many beloved characters and Marvel Easter eggs that I almost lost count. All of this while grinning from ear to ear and eating up every line. For those who are not familiar with Daredevil, he is the alter ego of Defense Attorney Matt Murdock. He also happens to be blind but has taken skills originally taught to him as a young boy by his late prizefighter father and honed that with superior martial arts skills paired with heightened senses that do not include sight.
ENEMY OF MY ENEMY opens up with a startling piece of news that rocks Matt’s world and shakes up the entire spectrum of NYC. The head mob boss Wilson Fisk, nicknamed The Kingpin, was shot dead and now his criminal domain is up for grabs. Making matters even more interesting is the rumor that the vigilante known as the Punisher was the one to take The Kingpin down.
Matt and his law partner, Foggy Nelson, do not believe this for a minute and as Daredevil, Matt locates Frank Castle a.k.a. The Punisher who confirms his innocence to him moments before giving himself up to the police. Matt immediately decides to take on this highly controversial client who also allegedly killed a police officer in addition to Kingpin.
Ben Urich of the Daily Bugle was the first person to alert Matt to the death of The Kingpin as well as the rumor about the Punisher being behind it. Like Matt, he also does not think the dark vigilante did this but still has a column to write. The problem is that Punisher is giving next to nothing in his jailhouse meetings with Matt and now our hero has to investigate on his own what really happened to Kingpin. All of this is happening while a group of Kingpin’s soldiers are making attempts to take the crown as new head of the NYC mob syndicate.
The first criminal adversary Daredevil has to take down is the Owl. The problem is that Daredevil, with some assistance from his former partner and lover Elektra, will still need to face a lineup of other villains like Hammerhead, Typhoid Mary, Bullseye, and Kingpin’s right-hand-man known as The Arranger. During these battles, we are also thrown into the courtroom for the murder trail of Frank Castle, a fight that no one including Foggy Nelson believes can be won.
It will take everything Matt can give, both as a shrewd defense attorney and the persistent Daredevil, to get to the bottom of this case. Along the way, Matt/Daredevil is severely injured and hospitalized more than once. He is also in danger of losing his partnership with Foggy who wants to walk away from this entire case. When Matt’s new girlfriend and NYPD Detective Melinda is attacked by the sinister group of ninjas operating as The Hand, Daredevil begins to see some of the landscape behind this situation --- an amazing feat for someone without sight!
Segura has more than a few shocking plot twists, as well as additional Marvel characters who make welcome appearances, and ENEMY OF MY ENEMY presents an explosive finale that left me reeling and giddy all at the same time. This novel was a complete joy, and I highly recommend to fans of Daredevil, Marvel, or combustible crime thrillers that never cease to amaze.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
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