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For years, literary adrenaline junkies have turned to daring heroes like Jason Bourne and Jack Reacher for their next fix. But with his latest thriller, Orphan X, author Gregg Hurwitz introduces a bold new crime-fighting favorite—a hero who’s sure to leave readers eager for more.
This first book in a new series introduces Evan Smoak, a government-trained operative who escaped his black-ops life and is now hiding in plain sight in Los Angeles. Known as the Nowhere Man, this legendary crime fighter has dedicated his life to helping those who can’t help themselves, quietly accepting one case at a time. But when his latest mission—helping a desperate gambler rescue her father from Las Vegas thugs—doesn’t go as expected, Evan begins to suspect that he’s the real target. And he soon finds himself facing off against someone who knows both his strengths and his weaknesses.
Orphan X is a breakneck adventure, following Evan as he tries to help his latest client while attempting to figure out who’s hunting him and why. It’s tense and suspenseful, full of mystery and misdirection—not to mention skilled assassins hiding around every corner. Trained to be cautious to the point of paranoia, Evan doesn’t know whom to trust—whether his latest client is in danger because of him or the other way around. And his search for answers only adds to the book’s suspense.
More than just an action-packed thriller, though, Orphan X also tells an interesting story. Evan is an intriguing character—a kind of ultra-violent modern-day Robin Hood who will stop at nothing to help the helpless. Chosen for his lack of identity and trained as a ghostly warrior, he was also instilled with just a touch of humanity. Though he lives alone, removed from the messiness of real life, there’s a part of him that truly cares about other people. And his growing awareness of the people around him—especially the mother and son who live in his building—gives the story more depth than you might expect.
The case, meanwhile, is a tricky one. His latest client—a high-stakes gambler who’s millions in debt—isn’t exactly an innocent victim. Sure, she’s in a terrible situation, but it’s a terrible situation of her own creation—and, from the beginning, it makes her seem less than trustworthy. Like Evan, you’ll keep her at an arm’s length.
Fortunately, though, there’s so much more to this gripping, chaotic thriller. And when the smoke clears on Evan’s final showdown, Hurwitz brings it all to a shocking conclusion—one that promises more action and drama to come.
If you’re looking to add a little bit of literary adventure to your daily grind, be sure to pick up a copy of Orphan X. It’s a smart and thrilling start to what’s sure to be a popular series—one that you’ll want to read from the beginning.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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