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.
Alex 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.
Publication 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Alex Segura pens the second book in the Marvel Crime series, following Matt Murdock in his quest to safeguard Hell's Kitchen from crime. For those wary about MCU endless tie-ins, this is a standalone novel, so reading the preceding book by Lisa Jewell isn't necessary, although knowing about Daredevil in the comics will give readers a better advantage at guessing the mystery early on.
"Enemy of My Enemy" has a promising setup, where two of Matt Murdock's antagonists have gone against each other and one has paid the price with his life. Daredevil's archnemesis, Wilson Fisk a.k.a "the Kingpin" of crime, was seemingly gunned down by the murderous vigilante, the Punisher. Matt decides to give Frank Castle a fair day in court by defending him, even though the Punisher has unquestionably murdered many people, and doesn't exactly deny killing Fisk, he's adamant about not killing the cop who was in the same area. It's a great setup to really play with Matt's devotion to the ideals of justice, even as he spends a lot of the time swinging around at night as a vigilante.
Segura writes this like a comic book, right down to the pacing. While the courtroom drama simmers in the background, Daredevil gets into fights that would leave him hospitalized at least three times during the book. His search for answers leads him to some fan favorite cameos and lesser-explored villains (but no Stilt Man, sorry to the four Still Man fans out there). This keeps the chapters brisk and adventurous, but I admit I personally was more interested in seeing the overarching legal conflict more than Daredevil punch mobsters. Matt struggling to deal with Frank's point of view, that a flawed system doesn't provide real justice, was frequently sidelined and I felt that Frank Castle was not as well-written as the other established characters. Which is really a shame because that was the most interesting part for me, so even though the rest of the novel was very strong, it felt like that was at the expense of something better.
Even though I felt the coutroom drama was underutilized, it wasn't as if the plot was spinning its wheels. The murder mystery was established, although comic book powers mean it's not exactly fair play when you can legally call up Skrull shapeshifters and L.M.D. robots to explain away why people who were supposed to be dead are suddenly walking around. If people were reading this expecting a Connelly or Crais investigation, they'll probably be disappointed. But comic book fans will nod and say, "okay, yeah sure that made sense" when everything is revealed. Daredevil's many vignettes of crime fighting do build up to some thread of comprehension, and the flashbacks to his past help non-comic book readers to keep up with his adventures while not overstaying their welcome to those who already know about Daredevil's many rock bottoms.
Overall, this is a really solid outing for Marvel prose novels. It pays homage to the many dark conflicts of Hell's Kitchen and gives Matt more than just rooftop ledges to grapple with. While I don't think it stuck the landing as well as could be, the adventure is worth the read. Unless you're a Punisher or Stilt Man fan.
As someone whose favorite Marvel character is Daredevil, I have been excited and eagerly anticipating this novel since the moment it was announced. I’m very happy to say it lived up to the expectations I had and even exceeded them!
The story takes you on a true journey, with all the twists and turns I’ve come to expect and love from not only a Daredevil adventure but comics as a whole. It’s packed with cameos from other beloved characters, heroes and villains alike, and several fun easter eggs for those who care to notice. This is the Daredevil we’ve all come to know and love: the one who gets beaten and bloodied to keep Hell’s Kitchen safe, the one who puts aside the needs of his own life to save others and make sure justice is dealt in equal and fair measure, the one who does it all with a smirk on his face and his fists raised. Whether you’re a fan of Daredevil in the comics or the shows, this book is for you. It has mystery, intrigue, murder, memorable fights, and, most importantly, Matt Murdock doing what he does best: being the best defense attorney in NYC.
This second installment in the Marvel Crime series is a huge step above its predecessor, and I can’t wait for more people to experience it! Some of the writing can get slightly repetitive toward the beginning as things are being established, and I do wish some of the fighting had been given longer sequences, but overall I loved every moment and neither aspect takes away from my enjoyment of the story. It gets a solid 4.5/5 stars from me, and I look forward to the day I can add a physical copy to my shelves and can re-read it as often as I choose!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Hyperion Avenue, for allowing me access to an advance review copy. I don’t believe I have ever been more excited to receive an email!
Everything I know about Daredevil I learned from the Netflix series...
I'm more of a Punisher fangirl (I may have skipped every part of the second season that didn't have the Punisher in it...) so I was hoping we'd see more of Frank Castle than we did. That said, this felt like it could have been a solid story arc in the show. Castle is on trial (again) for murdering Fisk! Or did he...
Daredevil is still struggling (and failing) to balance his personal life and his alter ego. He also has a team around him that he sometimes asks for help, which is always nice to see in a genre where the main character tends to be a lone wolf.
While I was suspicious about the demise of a certain character, the plot did keep me guessing up until the reveal. The short, snappy chapters kept things speeding along. I did feel like maybe I was missing a previous book since Daredevil kept flashing back to previous events.
This does not appear to be a tie in to the show as a certain character's death did not occur in the show, so I'm guessing the books all tie in to their own universe. Either way, basic knowledge of Daredevil is all that is needed to enjoy this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.
This is a Marvel Crime novel featuring Matt Murdock, otherwise named Daredevil. It appears that Punisher has killed a cop and Kingpin. He gives himself up and Matt signs up to be his lawyer against Foggy’s vote, Punisher is adamant he never killed a cop but never said yes or no to Kingpin and doesn’t help Matt put together a defense. Hat leaves Matt to do what he can in the courtroom but he can do so much more on the streets as Daredevil with big thanks to his newspaper friend Ben. I will stop there because you need the read the rest yourself. This was so good but being a fan of these offshoots of Marvel I figured I would like it. If you are a purest of the original comic there might be some differences, but I didn’t mind. I would have to say I like Daredevil the most as he has really no superpowers, just what he has been trained for since he lost his sight as a child. This book is action packed and fast paced so hang on this will be quite the ride. Review copy provided by Netgalley
This was a decent crime novel. The storyline was engaging and I enjoyed the plot twists. However, I expected the content of the book to include more segments aligned to that of a legal thriller/drama given the fact that Matt Murdock is a lawyer.
I also read the first Marvel Crime novel, Breaking the Dark, authored by Lisa Jewell. Although the novels are meant to build on one another, I was hoping for more of a connection between the characters earlier on in the book.
The Marvel Crime novels do not require familiarity with Marvel or the other books in the series. If you are a Marvel fan and already have background information on Murdock and the origin story of Daredevil, you may find some parts of the book repetitive. I did not necessarily feel this way because I have only watched Netflix’s Daredevil series several years ago.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hyperion Avenue for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review. Enemy of My Enemy will be published on March 24th, 2026.
I like to thank Edelweiss and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reading this. I love Daredevil and after the show and its 'rebirth', I wanna promote and read anything new.
I will say that those who are interested in just the show will be a bit upset due the fact that this is for those who read the Marvel comics. From what I gather, they seem to grab from the Zardarsky run and bits and pieces from others.
The plot is a true murder mystery. The Punisher / Castle is labeled the killer of Fisk, but shady coverups and etc. seem to point in a direction that he may not be the killer... and Fisk might not actually be dead.
With the help of Jessica Jones, a shadowy Electra and a current love interest (not to mention Ben Ulrich) Matt and Daredevil have to figure out this case and the rumbling criminal syndicate who is looking to take over the city.
I liked the writing, I liked the way that there is a distinction between Matt and when Daredevil is on page. I think the characters were pretty close to the Marvel comics.
The only grudge I had is that since most are grabbing this because they are expecting a story within the canon or inspired by the TV show(s). While one can see Charlie Cox and the others acting out the show, there is that factor that if you're not familiar with the comics characters / motivations will be lost on you.
I was given a free copy on net gallery but all opinions are my own.
rating - 3.5 stars age rating - PG-13 but seeing the show/background knowledge of the higher rated media helps
I really wanted to like this, The last book in the serious was amazing and I had high hopes for this one especially as a daredevil fan but this just kinda fell short for me. Don't get me wrong it was still a thrilling read and it's great to have more daredevil media but it simply felt empty.
The story was alright, alternating between lawyer Matt and daredevil in a case with many known characters
But then it falls victim to what most marvel novels do, unfulfilling romantic plot, witch leads into the story at the ending but kind of just makes you question the whole storyline as a whole
It's not as bad as some of them but still
either way it does give the TV show daredevil feel with Matt himself witch is hard to nail in most daredevil media.
Hyperion Avenue provided an early galley for review.
I have enjoyed Segura's writing in the past, so I was interested to see what he could do with a Marvel character. I was familiar with some periods of Daredevil's comics, and I always enjoyed him as a guest star in other books.
Segura does a great job with the "show aspect", given Matt's disability. This allows the author to play up sounds and smells to describe the scenes just as our blind hero would experience them. It is a good reminder to all writers about how important those senses can be in our narratives.
He also takes advantage of thr character's rich history, bringing in supporting cast and rogues gallery members as the story requires. There is enough context for the casual reader or those who only know DD from his television show or movies to follow along.
I was super excited to read Enemy of My Enemy. I've enjoyed the Daredevil comics and TV Shows, so this was a big deal to read.
This book begins with a BANG! The death of the Kingpin, and it goes down and FAST in Hell's Kitchen. I enjoyed following the story and watching how Matt Murdock/Daredevil worked to figure out how to manage his current court case AND all of the killings that are taking place at the same time. He's doing ALL of that while also trying to stay alive. A WILD TIME.
You have cameos from other vigilantes, love, drama and heartbreak. Foggy backing up Matt in Court. AND A TON OF BLOOD. WHOSE THE NEW BAD GUY ON THE BLOCK!?
Thank you to Hyperion Avenue and net galley for the opportunity to preview this novel.
Matt Murdock is a attorney by day, picking up the shambles of his personal and professional life. By night, he wears a red suit and horns. In this novel by Alex Segura, both aspects of Murdock's life converge to prove the innocence of a vicious killer, vigilante and sometimes friend, Frank Castle.
I wanted to love this novel. Maybe I set the expectations too high. The story held a lot of potential but fell a little flat for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the ARC I received for review. I enjoyed this story but I expected and predicted most of the twists. It is a relatively short book and fast read. Having Matt continue to balance his life between D+aredevil and a mild mannered attorney and his personal relationship is always challenging.
Good story for comic book characters. Knowing these characters are going to be stereotyped and the plot will be over the top, the reader is not to be disappointed. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.