Into the Fire: An Orphan X Novel by Gregg Hurwitz

ABOUT THE BOOK

The New York Times bestselling Orphan X returns - just when Evan Smoak thinks he's done, his deadliest job yet pulls him back Into The Fire...

Evan Smoak lives by his own code.

Once he was known as Orphan X. Trained as an off-the-books government assassin and spoken about only in whispers, Evan Smoak was one of the most talented – and most feared – men in the Program. But he broke free and reinvented himself as The Nowhere Man, a figure shrouded in mystery, known for helping the truly desperate.

If anyone is truly desperate, it’s Max Merriweather.

Max is at the end of his rope. His cousin has been brutally murdered, leaving Max an envelope that contains nothing but a mysterious key. However, someone really wants that key, badly enough that Max – and anyone he turns to – is in deadly danger. What seems like a simple job for The Nowhere Man turns out to be anything but. Behind every threat he takes out, a deadlier one emerges and Evan Smoak must put himself in greater danger than ever before as he heads once more Into The Fire.

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REVIEW

After five books, thrillers in the same vein of the Bourne series, I am fully involved in Evan Smoak's journey. His moral compass guides him to take up the mantel of the Nowhere Man, aiding those in danger with no recourse but to look beyond the law for justice. Evan desires to redeem his perceived wrongs. He endeavors to convince himself, after one more job, and he can embark on regular life. 

As the series moves forward, consequences escalate for Evan. Into the Fire is the most intense book yet. The level of conspiracy Evan encounters goes deep, and the mounting threats kept me on the edge of my seat. When this book concluded, I immediately wished for the next one. If crime thrillers are your thing, I enthusiastically recommend Into the Fire by Gregg Herwitz.

Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz

 ABOUT THE BOOK 

"A shocking stunner in every way. The perfect thriller." —Robert Crais

When darkness closes in—he's your last, best hope. Evan Smoak returns in Gregg Hurwitz’s #1 international bestselling Orphan X series.

Taken from a group home at age twelve, Evan Smoak was raised and trained as part of the Orphan Program, an off-the-books operation designed to create deniable intelligence assets—i.e. assassins. Evan was Orphan X. He broke with the Program, using everything he learned to disappear and reinvent himself as the Nowhere Man, a man who helps the truly desperate when no one else can. But now Evan's past is catching up to him.

Someone at the very highest level of government has been trying to eliminate every trace of the Orphan Program by killing all the remaining Orphans and their trainers. After Evan's mentor and the only father he ever knew was killed, he decided to strike back. His target is the man who started the Program and who is now the most heavily guarded person in the world: the President of the United States.

But President Bennett knows that Orphan X is after him and, using weapons of his own, he's decided to counter-attack. Bennett activates the one man who has the skills and experience to track down and take out Orphan X—the first recruit of the Program, Orphan A.

With Evan devoting all his skills, resources, and intelligence to find a way through the layers of security that surround the President, suddenly he also has to protect himself against the deadliest of opponents. It's Orphan vs. Orphan with the future of the country—even the world—on the line.

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 REVIEW 

Out of the Dark is the latest in the Orphan X series, one that I have come to enjoy considerably. The Orphan series is not exactly a fresh idea: a boy is taken from foster care and trained to become a covert assassin for the government. What keeps me coming back is Evan's personal development as the stories continue. Evan craves emotional bonds with those around him he just doesn't know how to accomplish it. I have grown attached while watching Evan struggle to find meaning in his life. 

As the Nowhere Man, a mantle he takes up after going rogue, Evan has become a type of avenging angel. Whether he is protecting a young man from those who murdered his family, saving an abuse victim and her child from their abuser or going after those who threaten the remaining Orphans, Evan thinks well on his feet and excels at planning. He is formidable when adversarial, using both his brain and his physical training to master any situation. Although some circumstances require a suspension of disbelief, Evan's journey is worth the experience.

Random spoilery thoughts: I appreciated when Evan explained to his foes how he would defeat them, and then did exactly what he described. The boldness of the act was fun to witness.

Mia needs to find a way to deal with the sense Evan works outside of the law, or she needs to stay away from him. It does neither of them any good doing their back and forth.

I am most pleased that in the end, Evan prevailed with his smarts rather than his brute force.

I was granted a copy of this book by St. Martin's Press, through NetGalley, for my honest opinion.  I suggest all readers come to their own conclusions.

Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz

Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz is book three in the Evan Smoak Orphan X series.   Every installment can be read as a stand alone, but are more enjoyable when read in order.  In Hellbent the need to eliminate Evan, previously an active government assassin known as Orphan X, is becoming more imperative for Sciver. The current project runner of the Orphan program catches up with Evan's former handler Jack. Sciver plans to torture Evan's location out of him and assassinate Jack to induce a reaction from Evan that forces him out of hiding.

Hellbent takes on an emotional undercurrent that the other two books have only touched on. Evan is facing his past, his desire for a better life and the consequences the Orphan program created for him.  He is now painfully aware of how unequipped he is at dealing with human connections. The addition of Joey serves as a reflection of his past and the turning point in his life that made him what he is. I was just as invested in Joey's salvation as Evan. I want more than anything for both characters to experience a human connection, a sense of normalcy and to not feel so alone.

As always with this series, the action of Hellbent is fast-paced and smart. I spend most of my time on the edge of my seat. Often I do not see a solution for Evan's conflicts, which is quite nerve-wracking. And I love it. Now my eight-day binge reading of this series is over. Only a few months to go before the next installment, which is already on my to-read list. I was granted a copy of this book by St Martin's Press, through Netgalley, for my honest opinion. I encourage all readers to reach their own conclusions.

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Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz

Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz is book two in the Evan Smoak series. This book could easily be read as a standalone, although I would suggest reading book one as well. Active members of the Orphan program nearly succeeded in assassinating  Evan. After the confrontation, Evan resumes his undertaking of helping those unable to turn to anyone else. While tying up loose ends with a human trafficking ring, Evan is kidnapped.

Most of Nowhere Man takes place while Evan is in his kidnapper's custody. What proceeds is an intricate game of cat and mouse where both men consistently underestimate each other. This conflict makes for suspenseful interactions that kept me eager for a resolution. I was honestly unsure how Evan would make it out of his situation. When the ending did come, it was quite epic and served as a turning point for Evan.

I am surprised at how attached I have become to this character. The author is not only presenting a thrilling vigilante story. Evan is a vastly sympathetic character that the reader gets to know slowly through his adventures. I, of course, have already started the next book in the series. I can tell reaching the end will make for a bittersweet wait until more books come out. Nowhere Man was given to me by St Martin's Press through NetGalley for my honest opinion.  I encourage all readers to come to their own conclusions.

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Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz

Through a series of flashbacks, we see 12-year-old Evan Smoak inducted into the Orphan program. In this highly covert, government-funded program the Orphans become some of the best assassins in the world.  Years later Evan has gone underground. No longer an agent he becomes the Nowhere Man, a moniker he obtains due to the number those in need call, 1-855-2-NOWHERE. With his skills, Evan can help those with no other recourse. Ones in dire straights with no way of improving their situation. Defending his latest client becomes difficult as Evan learns his cover is no longer intact, and those from his past are out to kill him.

As I started Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz, I was a little unsure what to expect. Then on page one, there is an acknowledgment "to all the bad boys and girls, rulebreakers, and vigilantes --- for being so wicked that they're good."  One of the greatest I have seen. Vigilante stories attract me. Taking an impressive skill set that can harm and using it to help is, well, the stuff of superheroes. And something I can get behind.

Evan's handler Jack gives him harsh training to make him the best of his field. Slowly we observe Jack's relationship with Evan goes deeper than the job. Procedures, or commandments, taught to Evan include never let an innocent be harmed. One thing other Orphans don't seem to mind. Jack often tells Evan the hardest part is keeping him human, implying Jack cares he stay that way. Which validates that Evan would choose the path he did after going underground. You can't help but root for him and worry for him. Even hope the brief connections he makes with those outside his job will lead to a personal connection. The author does an excellent job of making Evan sympathetic.

Orphan X delivers on the suspense. Whether coming from the tension of his missions or the fear Evan will be found by those seeking to harm him, this story is a page-turner. There is action, and subterfuge, and even a bit of a twist I did not see coming.

If I were to mention anything slightly negative, and this is minor, I am lost in the fight scenes sometimes. Specific style names about fighting techniques get lost on me. Usually, I gain definition through context. A fight is a fight. I retain the overall events, but the specific descriptors don't help me much.

I finished Orphan X and immediately started Nowhere Man. I am fully rooted in Evan Smoak's world and cannot wait to see what happens next. I was granted an ARC copy of this book by St. Martin's Press through NetGalley for my honest opinion. I encourage every reader to reach their own conclusions.