Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz
Orphan X #4

4am...I mean...4am? I stayed up reading this book because I could NOT put it down. I had to find out what would happen...I really did. It grabbed me and kept me enthralled from beginning to end.

Evan Smoak – Orphan X – The Nowhere Man – Who is he really? Well, he is a man I admire and really want good things for but wonder if he will ever find a way to have them? Being trained as an assassin from a young age, finding his way out of the dark ops job he had and making a life for himself while trying to payback for his past has not been easy for him. He takes on jobs for those who need his services and some of those cases are...intriguing. I can see that there will be more cases for him to tackle in the future and can see this series continuing even though the man out to kill him has finally been dealt with. At least I hope there will be more books in the series and in those books I would like to hear more about the remaining orphans still alive, find out how Joey is doing and see if Evan can find a way to live a “normal” life at some point in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

There is a secret program in the depths of the intelligence system of the United States. A group of orphans have been trained to kill. They are an elite group of assassins. But, someone wants this program wiped off the map and all the players with it. Evan is fighting back and he has to go straight to the top, The President of the United States.

I have enjoyed all the Orphan X books. Fast paced and exciting is an understatement. This one is no different. Evan is on the hunt and nothing is going to stop him. This has now gotten personal for him. When the only father he has ever known is killed, Evan knows he has to take action.

I am partially in love with Evan. He has such charisma…you know in the strong, silent type way. Plus…he is very intelligent. You never know what his next play will be. He is a master of getting himself into tough situations. The way he uses his brain to get out of these situations is fascinating. Good writing if you ask me!

This is an edge of your seat thriller!

I received this novel from Minotaur Books via Netgalley for a honest review.

Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, was 12 years old when he was taken from an orphanage and began his training as a covert operator in a program buried deep in government bureaucracy and 19 years old when he performed his first mission. Fast forward to the present - Smoak is no longer part of the covert program - he has become the Nowhere Man who helps individuals in dire need with his only payment being that they reveal his phone number to someone else in dire need. But now that first operation has come back to haunt him. None other than the President of the United States, who was the Secretary of Defense at the time of the creation of the Orphan program, feels the pressure of possible disclosure from that deep cover operation. As one after the other of the orphans are killed, Smoak must protect himself and his unknown fellow orphans, while still being the Nowhere Man. None stop, over-the-top action and an indestructible hero protagonist will keep you turning the pages as fast as you can.

This is the 4th book in Hurwitz’s Orphan X series featuring Evan Smoak. For those that read my reviews, you know that I usually read series in order, and I would recommend that for the Orphan X books. I did not follow my behavior for this book as it became available to me as an ARC (for which I thank Minotaur Books and NetGalley). All that being said, if you can only read them out of order, do it! Hurwitz is up at the top of this genre.

It takes a certain kind of writer who can make the totally outrageous and unbelievable seem to be not only possible but totally believable. Writers like Stephen King and Dean Koontz. And Gregg Hurwitz. Hurwitz has created a character and a series just screaming to be made into movies or television. And I understand the series IS being adapted for television. The question remains - who will portray Evan Smoak and will he live up to my imagination.

Orphan X, Evan Smoak, The Nowhere Man - - no matter how unbelievable the character might be, he comes across with feeling and somehow real. The action in this book is nonstop just as it was in the preceding ones and the characters are well drawn and range from sympathetic to evil without ever seeming cartoonish.

Hurwitz is a formidable writer. Can't wait to see what he does next.

Wow! Another thrill-packed adventure of Orphan X. Chosen out of foster care to be trained in a black-ops program for the US, Orphan X is in a fight for his life as high ranking members of government want to disavow any knowledge or involvement of the Orphan program. He had already walked away in favor of helping those in fire need, but that isn't enough to satisfy the President. If you haven't read the first three books, I recommend you go pick them up. This series is a DO NOT MISS for any thriller lover. Two thumbs up!!

One of my all-time favorite series. Evan Smoak, aka “The Nowhere Man", aka “Orphan X is such a multi-faceted character that I’m not sure if even three names is enough. Each name has an adventure in this installment of the series. The President of the United States, fellow ‘Orphans’, a mentally challenged young man, drug lords, Secret Service personnel, and an assistant district attorney/girlfriend all play important roles in this story in which Evan acts lik a Grandmaster Chess Player playing multiple games with other masters. Non-stop action!

If you want a real sleigh ride of a thriller- this is one for you! I read the first book and missed the middle two, making this more or less a standalone for me and boy do I regret that I didn't read those others. Not because I didn't get what was happening here but because I missed a chance to spend more time with Evan Smoak, the Orphan X. Conspiracy theory novels about the President abound but few are as well done this. Hurwitz has created an indelible character in Evan and, equally importantly, he's surrounded him with others who are his match, in this case, Naomi of the Secret Service. Even as Evan is working to kill the President, who has, of course, set another assassin after him, he's taken on the case of Trevon, whose family was brutally killed by a very bad man. What an interesting young man he is. This is non-stop action and, to be honest, violence but with a core of heart that turns up in Evan's interactions with, for example, Trevon, his neighbor Mia, young Joey, and others. Hurwitz knows Washington at a granular level- the streets, the buildings, the little things. The scene at the Newseum- awesome. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a very very good page turner. I am most curious where this will go next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to review this book in advance of its release date.

In the fourth instalment of the Orphan X series - Out of the Dark - we catch up with Evan as he attempts to take on President Bennett. The former DoD secretary, now President, is intent (or rather, hellbent?) on eliminating everyone associated with the now-defunct black op Orphan program. The President is especially concerned about Orphan X - the best of the Orphans - as knowledge of Evan's first mission in the Balkans can prove damaging to the President, namely political. Orphan A and his two henchmen are tasked with killing Orphan X (and the other Orphans, even if they've since retired). Bennett has also enlisted the help of Naomi Templeton, a Secret Service agent, to ensure his security. As always, the Nowhere Man finds himself between two missions: killing Bennett and helping whoever has called his line (in this case, an Angeleno boy named Trevon whose honesty embroils him with dangerous businessmen).

I was eager to read Out of the Dark following the phenomenal Hellbent that precedes it in the Orphan X series and I was not disappointed. While Out of the Dark contains the de rigeur action, mystery and thrills, it was also a more sophisticated and subtle story. As always, Gregg Hurwitz's extensive research (cities, landmarks, weapons, security protocols, medicine, etc.) is obvious. I hope not to spoil anything, but I must say that - as a biochemist - I adore how the conflict was resolved. I was happy to see that Joey lent her incredible hacking skills and that the dynamic between Evan and Mia had advanced a bit too.

I highly recommend this exciting addition to the Orphan X series. I can't wait for the next one!

The Nowhere Man, Evan Smoak, aka Orphan X, is back in this suspense thriller by Gregg Hurwitz. We know Evan and his nemesis, USA President Bennett from previous books. Someone has been killing other orphans, and Evam believes that someone is President Bennett. Evan is convinced that there was something in his first assignment as an Orphan that has led Bennett to focus on him in particular, but he can't figure out what that might be. To make things even more interesting Bennett is not very popular and Congress would like to get him. And as if that weren't challenging enough, Bennett has sent another former Orphan after Evan....someone who just may be the only person who can bring Evan down.

The Nowhere Man is the last hope for people in trouble; a call to his special phone brings the Nowhere Man to do what no one else can or will do. When Evan gets a call from a young man with special needs, whose family has been killed by a brutal gang who is threatening the last person this young man has left, Evan must balance stopping the evil unleashed by President Bennett, saving the young man, and oh yes, maybe possibly having a real relationship with the lovely Mia, who also just happens to be a DA. It may all sound unbelievable, but somehow Hurwitz pulls it all together and makes it work. He's also brought in a new character, Naomi, who is head of Bennett's secret service detail. Naomi comes from a family with a long history of public service, but there's something about President Bennett that just doesn't quite sit right...

Out of the Dark is fast paced, suspenseful, and ideal for a long plane ride...you won't be able to put it down and the time will just fly by!

“Out of the Dark” is part of the “Orphan X” series, but it starts with a flash back that introduces Evan and details the relationship between Evan Smoak, Orphan X, and Jack. This gives new readers any needed background and adds new insight for fans of the series.
Evan had no idea why his first mission was so important to Jonathan Bennett, now president of The United States. Evan is one person, a representative of the children who had had been taken from foster homes, trained, indoctrinated, and spend their existence serving their country. Bennett is the president of The United States with unlimited power and resources. Ending Jonathan Bennett will be the ultimate Nowhere Man mission. However, killing the president is going to be a lot of work. Whether Evan is successful or fails, nothing will ever be the same for him again.
Intertwined story lines also include, Mia Hall with her nine-year old son, Peter, and someone else who needs Evan’s help, someone alone and desperate. Trevon Gaines walks from the bus stop to Mama’s place. He opens the door to find that everything and everyone he has known is gone, dead in a vicious bloodbath. He is alone and scared. 1-855-2-NOWHERE rings, and Evan answers. Now he is “The Nowhere Man,” called by someone in desperate need of his help, lending his services to a truly frantic young man, to someone who has nowhere else to turn.
Hurwitz transitions seamlessly between the multiple storylines, and readers easily get a feel for the complex plot details and the multi-faceted characters. They all have neighbors, acquaintances, everyday chores, responsibilities, and tasks that make them familiar and human. Readers also watch Evan changing, opening up to the world and all that is in it. He juggles personal issues and his professional life. Little everyday details bring Evan back to reality, and in his next life, he vows he will be a Starbucks barista.
Exacting descriptions allow readers to picture the participants:
“He was built like an anvil, a whisper over five-nine, broadened with veiny, bulging muscle.
The locations:
“The park bench by the artificial pond looked like a movie prop, set at an artful slant beneath a Rockwellian maple tree.
And to anticipate what will come:
Evan said, “I’ve killed generals. I’ve killed foreign ministers. I’ve killed captains of industry.” The voice came back, calm as ever. “But you’ve never killed the president of the United States.” Evan said “Not yet,” and severed the connection.
The details of the storyline are impeccably accurate. The equipment details are so specific and authentic that if one wants to buy a Santa Cruz Slasher sticker, some reinforced luggage, a RoamZone or expensive wine and vodka, all of Orphan X’s favorites are just a click away. Of course, the Tesla incident is every owner’s nightmare.
Hurwitz is a master storyteller and in true Hurwitz style, the surprise ending is intricate and startling. I received a copy of “Out of the Dark” from Gregg Hurwitz, Minotaur Books, and Net Galley. It is an understatement to say that it is compelling and action-packed. This is a book that grabs readers right from the start and never lets go.

3 1/2 stars. Action packed thriller. So I'm coming in to the Orphan X series quite late in the game. There is certainly something missing by not reading the previous novels but, I did like the writing style and the character of Evan. I will definitely be going back to "catch-up" on his backstory.

Another superiorly written tale of Evan Smoak!

Evan Smoak was taken from the orphanage at age 12 and became Orphan X. After years of working deep, deep off the grid for the government, the killers in the Orphan program began to die. Orphan X left the program to become the Nowhere Man. When his phone rings he asks, “Do you need my help?” Trevon shakily answers “yes.” The book travels with Evan as he tries to help a special needs boy and assassinate the president of the United States at the same time.

I am a huge Gregg Hurwitz fan and have read everything he has written. The book is another fast paced, running on all gears novel. His characters remain rich and invoke strong feelings of admiration or disgust. It contains precise details about how and why the characters take the actions that they do. This is a refreshing trait found in the author’s other books, as well.

If you are a fan of Gregg Hurwitz and Evan Smoak, you need to read this! If you are not familiar with Gregg Hurwitz or Evan Smoak, you need to read this! You will soon join the legion of his other fans.

Wow! Gregg Hurwitz did it again! A lovely cat-and-mouse style novel that follows Evan (aka The Nowhere Man, aka Orphan X) through his usual issues. This book picks up where Hellbent left off, and doesn't ease up. With the President involved, things only get bigger and better. Great writing, great character development, and great plot lines. I am thankful I stumbled across Orphan X last year!

“Out of the Dark” by Gregg Hurwitz is another home fun for fans of the Orphan X series.
The story takes off where the previous book left off and I recommend reading them in order.
Evan Smoak is one of my favorite “super heroes.” In this installment, he is on a mission of revenge against the President who has been killing off all the Orphans and their mentors.
This book is non stop suspense. Highly reccomend.

Evan Smoak is the Nowhere Man. A man who moves in the shadows and helps people. He is also the former assassin Orphan X. He is back and ready for his most difficult and dangerous assignment yet. He is going to kill the President of the United States. When he was twelve years old Smoak was taken from a foster home and trained to become part of a deadly black operations force. The Orphan program produced the deadliest assassins and prepared them to serve their country. When Evan decided to leave they powers behind the program attempted to terminate him. In the previous books we learned that Evan wasn’t the only target of termination. All of the Orphans had been targeted. The man who issued the orders to terminate Orphan X was the President of the United States. All Evan knows is that the reasons are attached to his first mission. For some reason something attached to that mission is viewed as dangerous to the career of the current President. So Evan realizes that the only way to make himself safe is to kill the President before he is killed.

The Orphan X novels are enjoyable. They keep the pages turning. This newest book in the series is no exception. Gregg Hurwitz does an excellent job in each novel developing the character a little more each time. Evan Smoak is not just a two-dimensional cutout. He is a fascinating character who develops a little more each time we meet him. Smoak is flawed. His training leaves him unable to engage in normal human relationships. He doesn’t know how to navigate the world of dating. We feel Evan’s loneliness and we can’t help but hope that somehow he will end up with Mia and Peter. In some of the Orphan X novels the pacing has been slow. Not so in this novel. The pace is fast and the action is always moving. It is a great addition to the series. Definitely the best book to date. I look forward to more Orphan X books in the future.

'Out of the Dark' is the fourth Orphan X novel. While you could essentially read this one as a stand-alone, I think this is the type of series that almost requires you to start at the beginning. Evan Smoak's character evolves in specific ways as the series goes along, and threads of various story lines carry over from one book to the next.

I loved the first three in this series. Unfortunately, this fourth one didn't wow me the way the others did.

We have the main plot of Evan up against the president and all the president's resources. Then we have three subplots: Evan taking on an organized crime ring to help a man in trouble, Evan's complicated love life, and Orphan A's relentless pursuit to find and kill Evan for his own personal reasons. Despite all this activity, the first half of the story moves slowly. Not much happens as Evan wanders around, deciding and planning. When the action does finally get going, the various subplots clash more than complement one another. The story feels chaotic.

While thrillers of this sort tend to stretch the boundaries of plausibility, this one goes overboard. Evan is able to heroically take on large groups of trained killers all at once, while also avoiding capture by a desperate president using every resource at his disposal.

Evan is also much more brutal in the way he kills in this book, which makes him less of a sympathetic character.

The constant dropping of brand names, from fancy liquor to high-end weapons, grated on my nerves. In the midst of chaos, Evan would stop for meals including "cauliflower mousse," while looking through his "Steiner tactical binoculars." A little name-dropping goes a long way, and this one went way too far.

The pacing during the second half is consistent with the feel of the first three books. Unfortunately, the lull of the first half, combined with the implausible and annoying factors, left me less committed. While I enjoyed moments, this one never held me riveted like the others did.

Evan Smoak is Orphan X, one of the best from a long-running, but now defunct black-ops DoD program of extreme deniability. Orphans were taken from orphanages and trained for years. Now Evan has renounced the program and become the Nowhere Man, who helps people who cannot help themselves. But one big obstacle remains in his way to free himself from the program...the president, who was once the man in charge of the Orphan program at Defense, a man who knows far too much about what Evan did once upon a time. Jonathan Bennett had reached the highest office in the land by knowing a lot about bad people; he remains in office and runs the White House as his own personal fiefdom. Naomi Templeton is the Secret Service agent in charge of his protection; she is the daughter of a legendary Secret Service agent who, unfortunately, is suffering from dementia in a private nursing home. The Nowhere Man has to take out Jonathan Bennett, but he has to go through Naomi Templeton to do it. Edge of the seat pacing and action. Highly recommended.

I've been a fan of Orphan X from the beginning but Out of the Dark by Gregg Hurwitz is the best yet. Picking up where Hellbent left off, after the death of his mentor and father figure, Evan is on the offensive. But not only is Evan searching for answers from his past, he is still making amends by helping those in the present. In Out of the Dark, Orphan X is again being sought, but he is also searching. Why is it so important for any evidence of the Program to be eliminated now? Just as he has a game plan in motion, someone calls the Nowhere Man - someone in desperate need. With two simultaneous missions, Out of the Dark is a fast paced adventure using the most sophisticated equipment and Evan's ingenious mind. As the character of Orphan X develops and we gain insight into him professionally and personally, he is quickly becoming a favorite character in the mystery/thriller genre.

Evan Smoak is my fictional heart throb! I LOVE the Nowhere Man books. Out of the Dark might be one of the best ones. I love how Evan is so talented and capable. His apartment is absolutely terrific. His capabilities are outstanding. The guy you want on YOUR side. I just happened to see this book and snapped it right up. Enjoy!!

Evan Smoak (Orphan X) just wants to help people who have no one else to turn to. He is still being pursued by the government who in this book is no way any higher than the president. Evan knows him from way back as they do have a history. This book is the continuation of a great series of good verses evil. Also it has some romance to throw in with Evan’s neighbor who was also in his last book. Without telling you what happens I can tell you it’s a edge of you seat kind of book and you can start here but I recommend you get the first book and read them all, they are awesome. I really think I will be reading this series again because they are fast paced and I love that kind of book. Go try them out!