I was excited to have the opportunity to obtain an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from Net Galley.

“They say that revenge is a dish best served cold, but Evan preferred to serve it piping hot.”

While I thoroughly enjoyed all three novels, HELLBENT is my favorite book in the Orphan X series. In this installment, not only is Evan handling a Nowhere Man case, he’s on a personal mission assigned to him by Jack, his mentor and father figure. HELLBENT showcases Evan’s struggle to unpack his past and create a future not only as a dealer in justice, but as a human being with a personal life. For example, he continues to struggle to forge a relationship with his neighbor, Mia. His feelings for her are clear to the reader when he considers a birthmark on her temple as a detail applied by a Renaissance painter. How to include her and her young son in his chaotic life provides constant conflict for Evan.

The cast of HELLBENT includes all of the great characters from the series along with a new orphan, Joey, who hurls Evan into uncharted emotional territory. The book begins with a bang with Evan in a car chase. The author brings the opening scene alive with killer details such as the comparison of the car’s brakes to that of the sound of an asphyxiating chicken. Hurwitz’s top notch writing and fast pacing make the book nearly impossible to put down.

I usually listen to the audiobook versions of Hurwitz’s novels, because I am a big fan of Scott Brick’s narration. Reading HELLBENT as an e-book gave me the opportunity to glory in the author’s phenomenal word choices and writing style. I consume Hurwitz’s audio books like a kid tearing into presents on Christmas morning, while the e-book allowed me to savor his fantastic prose like a piece of Belgium chocolate melting on my tongue.

Smart writing and unforgettable characters turn the book into a standout thrill ride. I eagerly await the next release in this outstanding series.

I have loved other Gregg Hurwitz's books but this is the first I've read in the Orphan X series. Now, I wish I'd read the other two first just to have some prior knowledge about protagonist, Evan. Of course it's not necessary as the book can clearly stand on its own as we see Evan and new "partner," Joey, a sixteen-year-old girl who is also schooled in the fine art of subterfuge and technology. Not a killer herself, she is a valuable asset to Evan as he searches for his "adopted" father who has been violently assassinated. Evan is a beautifully flawed character who is clever and ruthless, but he has the proverbial heart of gold when it comes to people for whom he cares. Breakneck pacing and non-stop action keep this thriller going from page one until the end. A very satisfying read!

Thanks to the publishers and netgalley, I was given the opportunity to read Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz before official publication. This review will be glowingly positive, not because of their generosity, but because this book deserves the high praise. It is only mid January and I believe I may have read the most entertaining book I will read this year. The story, the characters, the action are all top notch. I loved this book!

Evan Smoak has gone through many transitions in his life. He was an orphan in a boys' home, he was taken from there at the age of 12 and trained to become a government assassin known as Orphan X. When he left the program, he became, The Nowhere Man, helping people who have nowhere else to turn. But now Smoak is out for revenge. When the last book ended, Evan gets a call from his mentor, Jack Johns, who he thought was dead. He was very much alive, but before the call ended, he was captured and ended up dead. The man responsible was Charles Van Sciver or Orphan Y. It is all a plot to get Evan and kill Orphan X once and for all.

The same characters once again make an appearance, Mia and her son Peter, the locals in the apartment building, Tommy his go to guy for firearms and equipment as well as the addition of Joey, a sixteen year old girl who ran away from Van Scriver when he was training her to become an orphan operative. She is now on his radar and Evan has to protect her as well. The story grabbed me right from the beginning. The suspense and excitement keeps building throughout the story until you know Van Sciver and Evan Smoak will meet face to face. The story's plot is detailed and the characters are extremely interesting. I thought this was the end of the trilogy, but the ending leaves it open for another possible book in the series. Only time will tell. Once again there is a lot of violence in the story, so if that bothers you, then this book is not for you. The addition of Joey to this story makes it a little softer and we get to see another side of Evan. I recommend it to thriller/action/suspense lovers. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

Orphan X book #3! What a fun series! I sometimes have to suspend disbelief, but hey, it's a thriller, and just fun. While Evan Smoak appears to have dealt with his nemesis, at the end of the novel, we've discovered who is behind Van Sciver, and the way is open for book #4! Please keep them coming, Mr. Hurwitz!

I loved the first book in this series, Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz. It was one of my favourite books of 2016. I enjoyed the second but it felt a little different. Orphan X  (aka Evan Smoak / The Nowhere Man) seemed as if he'd taken a detour from where we'd started and the novel was more an action-focused game of cat and mouse than its predecessor.

Hurwitz retains the action from both the first and second books in this third outing, Hellbent, but returns to where he started and builds on the humanity of the former assassin and - I ADORED this book.

This book opens with what we assume will be a circular ending. You know... when we start midway through a scene and then go back in time to learn how we got there. Although we don't need to wait until the end to get back to the opening scene... just a little way through. Which felt kinda different. Not good or bad, just more television-like than bookish for some reason.

I remembered the first book in the series focused on Evan being hunted by former colleagues, determined to take revenge on him for having left the black ops program AND well, just wanting to wipe him out cos he'd turned on them and they wanted to erase any evidence of his existence.

We rejoin Evan as the fiendish Charles Van Sciver, director of the Orphan program, refocuses his efforts to track him down. Van Sciver's out for revenge (after the events in the first book of the series) but his hatred is personal as he continues to view Evan as a rival and can't forget being bettered by him when young.

However, we soon learn that Van Sciver is merely a puppet and is working for someone else. He knows Evan well however and decides to track him down via his former trainer and father figure Jack Johns. Jack seems to know the end is nigh, so contacts Evan who later realised his old mentor had another agenda for making contact, leaving him an unexpected message.

And suddenly Evan's not alone and finding himself relating more to Jack than he ever expected. It's probably a bit of a spoiler but we learn there are not only abdicating Orphans, but (Orphan program) dropouts as well, which is how Evan comes across Joey.

And what a ray of humanity-inducing sunshine Joey is. In the first book Evan's grappling with the fact he's not completely devoid of feelings; and there's a sense he's pining for a normal life. I missed his neighbours, Mia and her son Peter in the second novel, but they're back here and they're a reminder of what he's missing. 

"Jack had always taught Evan that the hard part wasn't being a killer. The hard part was staying human. He was superb at the former. And growing proficient at the latter.

It was worth the trying." p 367

Of course at the same time he realises the battle with Van Sciver will not end the war and he's conscious that he's stuck in life he can't escape. It's advice he tries to share with Joey, as well as another potential 'Orphan' and a young man he helps in his 'Nowhere Man' (helping the helpless) role.

As usual Hurwitz nails the fight scenes and those about weaponry and martial arts were all very technical. I must admit I struggled to visualise what was happening in the final 'big' fight sequence and couldn't quite work out who was where and so forth. However - as I've mentioned before - I know Hurwitz goes to A LOT of trouble to ensure his characters and their actions are authentic. I follow him on social media and know it seems to be something he's passionate about. Let's just say in terms of discipline and drive Hurwitz seems to be more Evan than (early) Joey.

Of course however, in this outing, we get to travel on an entire 'journey' with Joey as well and - though it seems unlikely - I'd love to meet the (smart and tech-savvy) Orphan drop-out again.

I really enjoyed this book and loved Evan's growth as well as glimpses of his fallibility. And I absolutely adored Joey. It only kills me that I'm gonna have to wait about a year for the next instalment.

4.5 stars

This author is a seller. This is the third in the series and Orphan X just keeps delivering the thrills. Great read

Hellbent is the 3rd book in the Orphan X series by Gregg Hurwitz. Now, I have seen a few reviews from readers that have been lukewarm on this book. I must be the exception because I think this 3rd entry in the series is the best to date.
Why? Well, in Hellbent we see much more of what makes Evan Smoak tick. We also see an Evan Smoak that is vulnerable and a little unsure of himself and his situation at times. I found this Orphan X more complex and more human. For once I didn't see his penthouse fortress as cool, but I saw it as cold and impersonal. The only conversation Evan has is with a cactus right?
Hellbent picks up after The Nowhere Man with Van Sciver still on the hunt for X. But this time Van Sciver Hasan ace up his sleeve in the form of X's mentor, Jack Johns. Johns is kidnapped and X is forced to watch his mentors tragic death. Which means only one thing. X must get revenge.
Through a cryptic note left for X by Johns, Evan makes his way to a location to retrieve a package left for him by Jack. But the package turns out to be not an it but a she. A teenage girl named Joey who washed out of Orphan training and us now in danger of being eliminated by Van Sciver as well.
The interplay between Evan and Joey is classic with each gradually learning from the other.
Twists and turns as well as some surprises await, but this third entry is well worth the read. Long live Evan Smoak!

This was quite the book. Evan went through so much, both good and bad, each affected him and by the end he seemed more human, a very good thing as often he comes off as cold and uncaring. That isn't true though, it's just that Evan wasn't shown how to be a "normal" person.

I liked that Evan was successful on all of his missions, liked the help that he had for most of them. By the end of this book I'm excited to see where Evan goes next, can't wait for his next hunt!

This book is part of the Orphan X series but could be read on its own. Evan Samoak, aka Orphan X-The Nowhere Man, is on the rampage and he is taking no prisoners. Jack the man who took him from an orphanage and trained him in the Orphan X Program is dead and Evan is out to get the people responsible. Jack was the closest thing to a Father Evan had in his life. Years ago Evan went rogue and left the Orphan program. Now he helps people who have no one else to turn to. Jack was a link to Evan and so the new head of the program was attempting to use him to find Evan. The Ex Orphans have too much information to be allowed to roam free so they are being tracked and eliminated. Jack has left a package for Evan, but the package isn’t exactly what Evan was expecting.

This book is full of non stop action. We also catch glimpses of Evans humanity. He tries to keep his connections to other people at a minimum, but despite what he did in his prior life there is a good side to him. He can also be ruthless when called for. I loved Joey, she really connected with Evan. There are a couple of twists at the end of the book and I look forward to finding out where they lead in the next book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

It is scorched earth time for Evan Smoak. He was originally known as Orphan X from his time as a deep black government assassin trained from childhood in the Orphan program. Later Smoak became known as The Nowhere Man, helping people who have nowhere else to turn. But now Smoak is out for revenge on his own account, as in scorched earth revenge by seeking the death of the twenty-five men who were involved in the death of Smoak’s beloved mentor, Jack Johns. A sort of perverse 47 Ronin.
Johns has contacted Smoak minutes before his death by the hand of Charles Van Scriver who has taken over the Orphan program for his own aims. Orphan X has played the great white whale to Van Scriver’s Ahab, but this time Van Scriver has the highest backing and he can’t let Orphan X outsmart him again.
To add to Smoak’s grief and anger, Jacks has left Evan a present in the form of a sixteen year old runaway from Van Scriver’s personally run Orphan program. To add to Smoak’s revenge plan he must keep the runaway, Joey Morales, alive with the goal of saving her from the Orphan program.
The excitement starts from page one and just keeps on building. Evan is used to flying solo, this time he has to accept the aid of a friend and from his temporary ward.
Hurwitz’s usual smooth writing is in evidence along with his intricate plotting and fascinating characterizations. This book is not all action; there are themes of redemption, sacrifice, and forgiveness.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the prior two books in this series, I absolutely loved the direction the author takes us in this latest book.

Hellbent is incredibly exciting. You do need the background of the other books in order to truly enjoy this one. While there's a little bit of explanation about the orphan program and our characters, it's slight. This book is definitely more for established readers of the series than for newcomers.

In this latest offering, Hurwitz ups the ante significantly. Evan suffers some incredible heartbreak, all while desperately trying to stay alive - and to keep someone else alive.

And we have a new and very exciting character added to the mix. No spoilers. I'll just say this character is a welcome addition and and manages to add both danger and emotion to an already exciting series.

The action in the novel is spot on - this definitely kept me reading.

I'm happily all in when it comes to this series and can't wait until the next book!

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Holy Smokes, Evan Smoaks! What a thrilling ride, great continuation of the 'Orphan' series.

4☆

Orphan X is back with a vengeance. Our government-trained assassin is forced to witness the long-distance execution of his beloved mentor through the power of digital compression sent to him in untraceable images. He vows retribution. But first he must pick up a final package from his mentor. And therein lies the plot for this tale and his own final lesson as a student. Author Hurwitz writes stellar passages fraught with tension, suspense, and great fight sequences. While the #3 in the title offers the strong sense that the hero will survive for another book, it does nothing to inhibit the storytelling or the ‘live or die’ consequences. There is the strong hum of a larger conspiracy behind this tale, just waiting to come into full view. Book #4 is on the horizon and this reader is ready and waiting. HELLBENT is a great book for lovers of tales with lone protagonists against bad guys that never stop coming at him; when all he wants is to be left alone to protect the weak and powerless.

This is the second Orphan X novel I've read and I've loved them both. Great characters, fast=paced plot with plenty of high-tech action. Highly recommended for fans of Lee Child or Brad Thor.

3.5 stars

Hellbent is the third book in the Orphan X series. I loved the first book, Orphan X, struggled a lot with the second one, The Nowhere Man, and felt Hellbent fell somewhere in the middle. In this installment, the plot and ancillary characters are strong. I enjoyed both the project he takes on as the Nowhere Man and the assignment Jack gives Evan as Jack dies. However, I felt the dialogue and conversations Evan kept having in his head with Jack were forced and unrealistic. I found it very distracting and would probably have given the book 4.5 stars had it not been for that aspect. Evan was raised in an orphanage until 12 and then trained to be a killer – it seemed so unlikely that he then would be so sappy. The mystery is solid, and the book kept me entertained. If you like thrillers, this is certainly an entertaining one. I received this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I began reading Hellbent by Greg Hurwitz and realized I should read his first Orphan X before I got more involved with Evan.
Though I liked Hellbent I have mixed feeling about the book. Their was so much violence and that made everything completely unrealistic! However Evan changes throughout the novel and seems to be developing more emotions and relationships. He feels and admits to sorrow when he learns that Jack, his father figure, was killed. He is forming relationships with others in his building and has developed an attachment to Joey.This is what I enjoyed about the book and hope to read more about Orphan X.Maybe some day he will live with a woman and even have a child.

This is a great series with a bright future. If you love action, suspense tinged with characters that continue to develop in depth over time, then this series is for you. The premise of the Orphan program comes to a climax in this novel as Evan/Orphan X seeks revenge on McSciver and company, while trying to grow in humanity and a teenager on board. This novel successfully balance Evan's goal to help with his desire for vengeance and his uncertain friendship with his neighbor(s). The pace is fast and the end isn't clear until the end, which is both an end and a beginning, opening up all sorts of possibilities for this series. I wonder how quickly the author can publish the next volume, because I'm waiting to read it.

With Hellbent, Gregg Hurwitz has gotten back on track after being derailed with Smoak#2, its predecessor. Fast-paced, thrilling and suspenseful, the book gains immeasurably with the introduction of a young protege. Hurwitz really doesn't write as much as let loose rounds of artillery fire; they don't look like much but they have great impact. Bring on Smoak#4!