As always, I absolutely loves this book.
The whole thing first word to last.
And in a, sarcastic, frustrating, over the top dramatic I may want to bang my head against the wall way, I can say with complete respect for Mr Gregg Hurwitz (and Tylenol) the cliff hangers sure seem to get better and better.. ugh 🥴🤓
You can read any review that will explain the guts of the story better then I can.
Obviously one would read it for the main character and I do or did. He was the reason I picked up the second .book
Now though, I read them for this and the little things/thoughts/moments weaved in so skillfully.
I honestly rushed through it wanting waiting for the end to just know.
Now,,I will go back and read it as I should
You are wonderful The book is wonderful
And I thank you forever..

Evan Smoak is a great character: stone cold killer who is occasionally a gentleman and prone to dad jokes. His interactions with Joey (a teenage hacker/niece person) are extremely entertaining. I love the character development for Evan as he attempts to integrate more into "normal" social interactions.

Dark Horse is book 7 in the Orphan X series from Gregg Hurwitz.

"Evan Smoak is trying to get his condo put back together. He's not sure of his relationship with Mia but he wants to keep trying. He is not interested in any new missions but one finds him anyway.
Now he must decide on helping one of the biggest drug dealers in South Texas get his daughter back. And to do that he has to infiltrate the compound of one of the most ruthless, paranoid and cruel cartel leaders in Mexico. "

This book never stops. Evan Smoak is stretched to his limits. I like that Hurwitz doesn't make him a superman. He gets hurt - he bleeds - he breaks bones. But he still keeps at the mission for the people he cares about.
There are so many times Evan is put into situations with cartel guys where Hurwitz makes you wonder "Is this it for Orphan X?"
Evan has to stretch himself socially this time with a visit to Mia's brother's house. That's a long way from the Orphan X in the first book. There is a side story with Mia that is not resolved here. Looks like it's setup for the next book along with the events at the end.
Hurwitz gives us a little surprise with the rescue mission - did not expect that.
It's interesting to watch Evan struggle so much with the right choices in this book - It's full of grey. The drug dealer is a criminal but also a father and a patron of the town. There is good and bad - which side do you choose to help?
Joey feels like an essential part of Evan's life now - even with the disco ball and velcro wall.

A great series and character from Hurwitz and another great Orphan X novel.

This was another hit from the author as this series continues. Full of the authors usual mystery and suspense keeping the reader turning the pages. A book to be read by all who are into this series. In addition a few cliffhangers at the end leaving the reader looking forward to the next book in this series.

X is back and this time the call is from the head of a cartel whose daughter is missing. The Nowhere Man shuttles back and forth from Texas to Mexico to Southern California dealing with bad guys, worse guys, as well as dealing with personal issues that are brought to life as he deals with his latest case.

Get ready for Orphan X’s darkest mission yet as he finds himself in a situation that tests him and his humanity like never before. Gregg Hurwitz never shies away from exploring the moral complexities of Evan Smoak’s struggle to keep a grip on his sanity in a world of unfiltered violence, but Dark Horse ratchets up the darkness inside the formidable assassin when he has no choice but to go over to the dark side.

Reeling over from the explosive cliffhanger of Prodigal Son with bombshell revelations, Evan Smoak is sought out by an unorthodox businessman who dabbles in the illegal drug industry. A far point from Smoak’s moral compass, Evan reluctantly steps in to help because a teenage girl’s life hangs in balance. From the get-go, there is a strong feeling reverberating from the pages that nothing is what it seems and sure enough, the truth rocks Orphan X’s mission from difficult to darn-near impossible. Perfect odds to showcase Smoak’s ingenuity and action acumen.

Orphan X thrillers pack some of the best action sequences in recent thrillers and Dark Horse keeps that tradition going with realistic hand-to-hand combat and kinetic shootouts. Gregg Hurwitz also puts Evan Smoak in the spotlight as he goes through serious emotional dilemmas that put him through the wringer, giving an insight into his vulnerability like never before. The culmination is a big milestone in Evan’s extraordinary character development, one that will surely change things going forward.

Dark Horse is an incredibly meaningful story of self-exploration and what it takes to be humane against all odds, packed in a barrage of uppercuts, knife jabs, and hot lead flying in all directions. In typical Gregg Hurwitz fashion, the tense cliffhanger makes it barely humanly possible to wait until the next book!

Full review posted with blurb image on: https://www.bestthrillerbooks.com/kashif-hussain/dark-horse-by-gregg-hurwitz

I loved this book. I love Orphan X. The characters are great. The story is engaging and gritty. It's a bit hard to read at times due to graphic descriptions. #DarkHorse #NetGalley

Dark Horse is the latest Nowhere Man novel. Evan Smoak is the Nowhere Man, formerly known as Orphan X. Plucked from a nasty orphanage at a young age, Smoak was trained to be a super secret assassin until one day he got tired of taking orders and went AWOL. The conceit is that he flies under the radar, has a secret identity like Batman, endless supplies of cash, and a penthouse lair in Hollywood that would make Batman jealous. He has a phone number people can call if they need help and nowhere else to turn. All he asks is that the number be passed on to someone else. Accept all these things and you’ll do fine with thus series. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in a well of despair trying to make logical sense out of how this guy is invincible, ultrawealthy, and still flies under the radar.

The Nowhere Man is back, as we hoped he would be, even if the last book suggested he might retire. DARK HORSE places Evan Smoak in some really awful places with truly evil bad guys as he seeks to cleanse himself from a past serving his government masters. Author Gregg Hurwitz provides readers with a taste of moral duplicity, offering Evan a client with a lot in common with the bad guys and, also, himself. The tale swings between action scenes and verbal discourse as Evan works his way through the challenges set before him. He accepts an assignment to rescue a kidnapped daughter without fully understanding the situation. The twists and turns in the story are good. One thing that is absolutely clear at book’s end, the series will continue. I eagerly await the next one. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Dark Horse is the latest Nowhere Man novel. Evan Smoak is the Nowhere Man, formerly known as Orphan X. Plucked from a nasty orphanage at a young age, Smoak was trained to be a super secret assassin until one day he got tired of taking orders and went AWOL. The conceit is that he flies under the radar, has a secret identity like Batman, endless supplies of cash, and a penthouse lair in Hollywood that would make Batman jealous. He has a phone number people can call if they need help and nowhere else to turn. All he asks is that the number be passed on to someone else. Accept all these things and you’ll do fine with thus series. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in a well of despair trying to make logical sense out of how this guy is invincible, ultrawealthy, and still flies under the radar.

Here, Smoak gets a call from someone he’d least expect, someone he might not think worthy of his attention, a cartel smuggler who has no one left to turn to with his beloved daughter’s disappearance. Smoak finds a place among these people and takes on a whole cartel of baddies in the wake of rescuing the missing princess. Again, don’t question how he works his way as an outsider into the Leona cartel. Suspend your disbelief and go along for the adventure. It’s fast paced action that definitely will hold your attention.