Origin stories aren’t always captivating even if the character is; they can be hit or miss. With PRODIGAL SON, author Gregg Hurwitz provides readers with ample backstory while delivering a fast and furious thriller in real time. Our hero is working on a retirement that doesn’t quite fit him. Out of the blue he is contacted by someone claiming to be his mother. Why now, after all these years, has she appeared? In an effort to learn more, his past comes roaring to life in more ways than he could imagine. Whoever said retirement was peaceful didn’t know Evan Moak. This book is an excellent addition to the series and fans will love it. While it could stand alone, it is best when read with at least one of the other books. There are clever appearances and references to characters from other episodes. I loved this book and eagerly await the next. Orphan X remains one of my favorite series. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Prodigal Son is an action thriller that truly raises the standards for what encompasses a spectacular action-fest read with such a deeply resonating emotional core. It knocks out of the park all the previous Orphan X novels (no small feat) and establishes itself as THE BEST ORPHAN X NOVEL YET.

The storyline picks up with the shocking revelation at the end of Into The Fire where Evan Smoak gets a call from his mother. A mother he didn’t know he had. Meanwhile, following the events of Into The Fire, Evan Smoak is trying to adjust to a life outside of being The Nowhere Man. Trying to gain some semblance of a normal life and relationships. However, a sinister and dangerous plot involving drones being programmed to make ethical decisions on their own in terms of taking out targets without any human intervention or observation spins a web of a narrative that ends up becoming intimately personal for Evan Smoak, a narrative that digs deep down into Evan’s past as a little boy at the orphanage, and the ripple effects of his childhood extending to present day with some very startling discoveries about his real family, revelations that will surely leave you breathless while they hit like a freight train. The story is tied together with a component of a new danger in the form of self-thinking drones unlike anything Evan has ever faced before, mixing it with a gut-wrenchingly emotional story of family and decisions about responsibilities, making Evan face his deepest desires, taking readers on a journey of Evan’s emotional turmoil under the façade of coolness that Orphan X is known for.

The action, as ever, is absolutely praise-worthy with regards to interesting weapons details and vivid action sequences that are as fast-paced as they are brutal in nature. The finely described ARES 1911 pistol, Evan’s choice of weapon, is imbued somewhat with a sense of intimacy with descriptions about the weapon frame, bullet cartridges, and features such as slide locks and reloading techniques that give readers a great insight into just how deadly proficient Evan Smoak is with a weapon. The action sequences themselves are written with the beauty of allowing visualization of each and every move of Evan Smoak in tactical combat whether it is him breaking a guy’s spinal cord with a flashlight or shooting his opponents while taking a hostile as human shield.

There is also a focus on technological tidbits in this thriller, given that the book pertains to drones, and the technology described in the book is done so in layman terms, which if familiar to readers will jar their memories immediately, and if not familiar to readers, will explain promptly enough to take away any feelings of disarray with the narrative.

The relationship between Evan and Joey, a teenage former member of the Orphan program, is explored further beautifully, as Joey tries to become used to the life of a normal teenage girl, with Evan trying to work through his feelings of protectiveness for Joey. Their banters are warm and hilarious and it adds another level of emotional depth to the story.

Prodigal Son features enigmatic adversaries, both as brains and brawns, with brutal and unforgiving natures that make this arguably the most dangerous outing for Orphan X. Tech guru, murderous siblings, and microdrones capable of locking onto targets and not relenting until the target is destroyed. With a heart-pounding cliffhanger just when things start to seem happy again rocks the entire reading experience to the level of sheer excitement. A must read for action thriller fans for what will be one of the best reads of 2021 without any misgivings about this statement.

Orphan X is still fighting the good fight and I'm SO glad. Evan is such a paradox. Such an interesting and intriguing character. It's impossible not to love this series. As we find out more about Evan's personal life and back history than ever before, the story just becomes more exciting and captivating than should be possible. I don't know how Gregg Hurwitz does it. The level of storytelling just keeps getting better and better.

Wow! What an incredible blend of action, suspense, and technology mixed with interpersonal relationships that add so much depth to Evan Smoak. When The Nowhere Man gets a phone call, his whole life changes. The man we know by still another name, Orphan X, is reunited with his past in ways that force him to examine many of his long-held, long-suppressed feelings. The villains are, as usual, super evil and determined to eliminate our protagonist. But with a little help from his friends, Evan continues the good fight.

Hurwitz' Orphan X series is always there for when you want a quick-reading action-packed thriller. Evan Smoak was whisked away from his orphanage (or really nasty group home) to be trained as a virtuoso assassin. Having quit that profession, Smoak has remade himself as the Nowhere Man, a sort of caped crusader without the costume and with a high rise condo instead of a bat cave. He's the legendary nowhere man who offers help to the desperate who have nowhere else to turn to. Put aside any concerns for where his endless monies come from, his surveillance gadgets, his James Bond like weapons, and enjoy the thrill ride. In the sixth episode in this series, our superhero finds out things about his origins that perhaps he didn't want to know. And, tackles a James Bond type mad scientist super villain with a doomsday weapon.

That moment you spend your whole life trying to be different only to learn you're the same.
"We're not the only hunters in the game anymore."
Truth be told we wore never alone. Wore we?
Folks, this was an absolute killer in the thriller realm of technology, action, suspense, and mystery.
Chilling wouldn't describe the depth of this one because it was also quite moving and heartfelt which is often excluded in this genre.
My word Gregg Andrew Hurwitz has really outdone himself on this one because he has covered every base with glaring precision, immense thought provoking action, and suspenseful military accuracy with nothing more left unsaid.
Which brings me to my point...so many things might be left unsaid in terms of one's connections to others.
That idea that you belong, you're a part of something bigger, your life -successes and or failures-matter.
Life lessons isn't that what's all about but think for a second what would you do if you could focus more attention on helping those in need?

I really enjoyed this series and I loved the characters. There is a lot of information about his early life There was a lot of technical info that was above my head. I am looking forward to the next book in this series

I enjoyed this book. It's different from the previous book it that it's has a lot of personal emotional scenes, but also plenty of action. I really like Evan and hopefully there's a next book. #ProdigalSon #NetGalley