Alter Ego

Alter Ego is a sharp and spellbinding mystery set in the cutthroat world of comic book publishing. Alex Segura, author of the Pete Fernandez series and Secret Identity (the predecessor to Ego), has created an immersive environment with a tough-as-nails protagonist, Annie Bustamante.

Ever since she was a child, Annie has dreamed of creating her own comic books. A huge fan of The Lethal Lynx, Annie spends her days doodling and drafting new plots for the series with her best friend, Danny. Years later, Annie is a single parent and a relative success in the movie industry, having left the comic book world behind. When the new owner of Triumph Entertainment—the company behind The Lethal Lynx—reaches out to Annie to ask her to modernize Lynx, Annie is over the moon. But she has been in the business long enough to know better than to leap without doing her research. Soon, she discovers that everyone connected to The Lethal Lynx, past or present, has met an untimely death. Does Annie want to fulfill her childhood dream badly enough to risk her own life?

Ego is the second novel in Segura’s series and follows Secret Identity. However, it isn’t necessary to read the first book, as Ego introduces new protagonists, a different plot, and even a different time frame (Secret Identity is set in the 1970s, while Ego is set in the modern day). While there is some overlap in background characters and the broader environment, readers can dive right into Ego without feeling lost. In fact, you don’t even need to be a comic book fan to enjoy Segura’s latest.

Annie is a powerhouse worth cheering for. A single mother and recovering alcoholic, she has made her mark in Hollywood entirely on her own merit. Far from naïve, Annie is fearless and takes no prisoners, even when going up against the smarmy titans of the entertainment industry. She is a woman of values and bravery, embodying the admirable traits of her childhood hero, the Lynx.

The narrative alternates between modern-day Annie—raising her preteen daughter while battling both her decision to revive Lynx and the Hollywood titans—and flashbacks to her past, exploring her friendship with Danny and her growing passion for comics alongside her love for her best friend.

Ego offers an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at the comic book industry. While this is fascinating on its own, the dark secrets and the rising body count make the story irresistible. Segura’s Ego is a unique and thrilling experience that stands out from the crowd.