Citysecrets Stories

In the quiet, historical city of Newford, a brutal murder shatters the peace. But Chief of Detectives Miles Corbin quickly finds this is no ordinary crime. An ancient, unsettling symbol-a faint dragon etched into a victim's wall-whispers of a past long buried. Meanwhile, across the city, Chief Officer Alex Miller is drawn to an old, secluded estate where methodical digging has disturbed the earth, unearthing a mysterious locket bearing a chillingly similar design. As their separate investigations pull them into a web of forgotten claims and hidden histories, Miles and Alex discover their cases are terrifyingly intertwined. Someone is willing to kill to keep an inconvenient truth about Newford's very foundations from seeing the light. But what if the past they're chasing isn't just history, but a living echo, reaching out for them with deadly intent? And what if the deepest secrets lie closer than they could ever imagine? (For all the graphics used in the book, the credit goes to the rightful owners)

Mysterious fires smoldering in Istanbul's historic Balat streets drag M. Kerem Ural-an investigative journalist weathered by years of experience yet whose inner fire of curiosity still burns-to the brink of an unbelievable truth, far beyond an ordinary news case. A cryptic seal found in the palm of the latest fire victim, a seal that fire itself could not melt and which bears ancient, unsettling symbols, becomes more than just a clue for Kerem; it is a gateway into a dark labyrinth hidden behind the gleaming facade of the modern world. As his investigation deepens, he realizes this seal is far more than a mere piece of metal. The trail leads him to Istanbul's forgotten legends, the darkest recesses of Turkic mythology, into the shadows of Erlik Khan, lord of the underworld, and his "sleeping servants." Each new piece of information, every enigmatic witness, pulls Kerem deeper into the heart of this ancient evil. No longer driven solely by journalistic curiosity, Kerem finds himself in a struggle that threatens his own life and perhaps the very fate of the city. With every step, he draws closer to the truth, yet also attracts more attention from that sinister world. He is no longer just a hunter of secrets; unknowingly, he has become the quarry in an ancient hunt. As Istanbul's millennia-old secrets reawaken in modern times, can Kerem escape the wrath of this dark heritage and the "sleepers," and bring the truth to light? Or will he become another soul lost to the city's ominous whispers?

Marcus Blackwell is an ordinary teenager in the bustling city of New Haven, until he inherits a mysterious watch from his estranged father, a watch with the ability to transform him into smoke. At first, Marcus sees it as a dangerous power-an ability that makes him an outcast. When he presses the button on the watch, his body dissolves into a swirling cloud of smoke, and he can manipulate it to phase through walls, disappear into shadows, or form into powerful smoke attacks. But as he learns to harness these powers, Marcus realizes the darker side of the watch: his father, once a vigilante hero, had used the same powers to protect the city, but also left behind a trail of enemies. Now, Marcus must navigate the complexities of his father's legacy while deciding if he will use his newfound abilities to uphold the mantle of a hero-or embrace a darker path, guided by the very forces his father once fought against. The city of New Haven is on the brink of chaos, plagued by a powerful criminal syndicate known as The Red Eclipse, and Marcus finds himself torn between becoming the hero the city needs or becoming the villain he fears he might be. As Black Smoke, he will face enemies, betrayal, and hard choices, but his greatest battle will be with his own identity. Will Marcus become the hero the city hopes for, or will he embrace the shadow and become the villain his enemies want him to be?