OVERALL:
A new mission (unwanted but taken) to help kingpin drug dealer rescue his kidnapped daughter. This book I felt was one of the darkest and disturbing of them all. I still randomly think about some of the brutal scenes, feeling uncomfortable. If you are interested Mia and Evan’s relationship, it clearly grows, but the air time for them, or that aspect of Evan’s life is sparse. That being said, if you like Evan and Joey’s relationship, that is a very real and poignant part of the book.

15 SECOND “WHAT’S THIS ABOUT”:
Evan Smoak is alive and rebuilding his base. Per the usual, he a mission finds him, and he cannot say no. Evan’s client is a man who walks a serious line between good and bad, and Evan can see himself in some of these actions. Also per the usual, Evan has to do some crazy ass shit that doesn’t seem possible to survive, but does! While also navigating (sometimes unsuccessfully) some heavy issues with Joey and Mia.

My favorite part:
Joey’s remodel :)

This was my introduction to the Orphan X series. Hurwitz is a good story teller, and the characters are compelling. I was able to read and follow this book just fine because it is a stand alone story from the previous 6 books in the series. I am excited to go back and start from the beginning and read all of the books.

Evan Smoak had been trained and known as Orphan X for years. Also known as The Nowhere Man. And many other identities. Evan is all things to all people when it comes to saving and protecting as many lives as possible. However, Evan had enough. He left the program, but his desire to help others still remained paramount to him.

A very interesting man, a man with OCD, he will take on any challenge, even if these challenges put his very life at risk, and that is something Evan has experienced time and again, and will likely experience until he takes his very last breath.

Evan faces what just might be his biggest challenge yet - that of actually working with and for the kingpin of a major drug-dealing operation.The fact that Urrea mixes illegal and legal operations does not make him a good man and this goes against everything Evan stands for, but the kingpin, Aragon Urrea nees help and Evan is man for the job. Urrea's eighteen-year-old-daughter has been kidnapped and the location where she is being held can only be penetrated by someone with Evan's experience. In fact, Evan, The Nowhere Man once again, is the only man for the job.

Evan is not alone in this incredible task. In fact, some of the best characters from the previous books in this series - other Orphans - Mia, Joey, Peter and even Dog, the dog, are right in the thick of things. While I really love Evan, Joey, the teenage tech guru is trying hard to steal first place in my heart in this series. This continuity is important. Important enough that this is a series that should really be read in order.

Factor in that I was able to get this book also as an audiobook ARC while having the print ARC was stellar. The narration was just perfect, making Evan come alive and the adventure and danger utterly realistic.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This series is not a genre I read often, but I think I’ve read the entire series so far. This was not my favorite entry at the beginning. I struggled to get into it and didn’t connect with the new characters that Evan was helping. As another reviewer said, the cartel aspect was difficult for me. I was actually born in and lived in San Bernardino, CA until I was 9 (when I moved to the next town over) so that part was a little hard to read for me, though I don’t dispute the challenges it has with crime. Maybe the violence just felt closer (and therefore scarier) in this one. I enjoyed the second half and finished it quickly. I like Evan as a character and am glad he has been evolving throughout the series.

Published by Minotaur Books on February 8, 2022

The 7th Orphan X novel offers what fans of the series expect: action; spats between Evan Smoak and his teenage ward Joey; more action; introspective moments as Smoak tries to understand himself; more action; philosophical moments as Smoak tries to help others understand themselves; and, of course, a whole lot of action.

The plot is far-fetched. That isn’t unusual for Orphan X novels. In Dark Horse, Evan returns to his Nowhere Man gig, helping people who can’t help themselves.

A cartel leader in southern Texas named Aragón Urrea wants Evan to retrieve his daughter Anjelina, who was kidnapped by a rival cartel leader in Mexico. One might think that Urrea would be more than capable of helping himself and wouldn’t qualify for Evan’s services. Urrea has funding and manpower to attack his rival, although a frontal assault would probably not work out well for Anjelina. He decides he’d rather send one guy, apparently having heard through the grapevine that Evan is a superhero.

Evan agrees to take the job if, at least to some degree, Urrea will change his evil ways. Urrea reluctantly agrees because nothing is more important to him than his daughter, at least until later developments cause him to question his parental loyalty. At that point, Evan helps the cartel boss get back in touch with his root love of his daughter. Those scenes a bit hokey but they advance the plot so the hokeyness is forgivable. Because Urrea is only “sort of” a cartel leader, not like the evil cartel leader in Mexico who traffics in young women and feeds his enemies to a lion, the reader can “sort of” get behind Urrea, or at least not despise him.

The portrayal of Urrea as a gangster with a heart (at least when it comes to family) is forced, but it leads to an interesting discussion of the relative morality of drug dealing. Urrea profits from feeding addiction, but so do the Sacklers. Urrea’s mother points out that Urrea, as a good crime boss, at least uses some of his profits to support needy families who are loyal to him. I appreciate that point of view. Evan isn’t into moral relativism but he listens. In fact, he spends a good bit of the novel learning to listen, particularly when the petulant Joey demands that he respect her ability to make mature decisions. The continuing effort to develop Evan’s character helps the reader maintain an interest in Evan.

Evan’s ability to infiltrate the Mexican cartel and his immediate bonding with (and ability to manipulate) the cartel boss strained my willingness to suspend disbelief. I did so only because the novel works so well as an action story. Evan’s ability to wipe out a couple of dozen bad guys also strains credibility, but that’s the nature of the modern thriller. The story is entertaining and, in the end, that’s all that counts.

There is a Romeo and Juliet feel to the story (more than that I won’t say for fear of spoiling it). Apart from the main plot, the story advances Evan’s “sort of” relationship with his neighbor Mia and her son Peter while adding a bit of drama regarding Mia’s uncertain future. The story also advances Joey’s desire to be independent, a desire that clashes with Evan’s protective nature. All of that gives the book (and the series) enough substance to elevate it to the upper tier of thrillers that feature action heroes.

RECOMMENDED

Dark Horse is the seventh in a series called Orphan X. Evan is the "Nowhere Man" that helps those that have no other choice. The head of a cartel's daughter has been taken by a rival cartel.

This is my first read by Gregg Hurwitz, and though this is the seventh book in a series. I was not lost as to what was going on. I look forward to go back and read the other books in the series and other reads by Hurwitz.

I enjoyed the fast pace and moments of comic relief. I would compare this to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity.

As much as I enjoyed the first books in this series, the last couple have not appealed nearly as much. The end of this one does give me some hope that the next book might return to what I enjoyed in the earlier books.

There are books we don't need to read, and this is one of them. Gregg Hurwitz's imagination of human evil without boundaries has gotten grotesque. Enough.

Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz


This book certainly opened my eyes about the drug wars, bad drugs, and their Lords. Well=written but didn’t care for type violence.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced copy for my review.

One family damaged, one family dangerous, and one family facing the unthinkable

“Dark Horse” is the continuing story of Evan Smoak, better known as Orphan X, but new readers will find that everything they need to know is included in the current narrative. This is the story of the good, the bad and the very bad. Typically Evan, in his role as “The Nowhere Man,” is rescuing the good while fighting the bad. This time “The Nowhere Man” receives a call for help from Aragón Urrea, a “bad” man, the head of a cartel, someone very much outside the law; he is not worthy of Evan’s help but his daughter, Anjelina, is. This young woman is in the hands of a rival cartel; she needs his help.

The pace is fast, and the action takes place over just a few days, but it seems like a lifetime to Evan. He lives by his “Second Commandment” so how he does anything is how he does everything. He is constantly evaluating, looking ahead, assuming the worst will happen, and planning his response. He moves carefully and purposefully through this mission, while at the same time, repairs the damage to his apartment, assesses his relationship with his young protégé Joey and her dog named dog, and maintains his dual identities and the resulting complex relationships with residents of Castle Heights.

“Dark Horse” is about complex family dynamics, one family is damaged, one family is dangerous, and one family is facing the unthinkable. Evan advances, changes, and matures in every book; he reaches out a little more each time for the experiences, the emotions, the “normal” things that he has missed. I received a review copy of “Dark Horse” from Gregg Hurwitz, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books. This adventure, like every “Nowhere Man” adventure, is compelling, provocative, gripping, and entertaining.

I also listened to “Dark Horse” as an audio book narrated by Scott Brick. Brick has a multi-dimensional voice that at various times is melodic, reassuring, matter of fact, cautionary, unsettling and alarming. There is urgency in the narration, a tone of anticipation and yet dread of what is to come. The audio version provides a very different experience, perhaps an even more absorbing involvement than in the printed book. Both are exciting with non-stop action and reaction.

Excellent continuation of the series with deeper character development plus the usual action. Recommended.

Evan Smoak is The Nowhere Man, was once Orphan X, now he uses his skills, earned in a very dark covert section of the US security forces, to do good wherever he is needed. He is contacted by a South Texas drug lord, whose daughter has been kidnapped by another drug lord. She is being held captive in a heavily fortified stronghold in Mexico. The Nowhere Man has a code of conduct and Aragon Urrea does not meet his standards, but as they talk to each other, X learns Urrea is a very complicated man. As the rescue operation develops, X learns there are more threads in the story than Urrea knows. Now, all X has to do is figure out how to get into the stronghold, rescue the damsel and get himself and her out. Always a great read.

Made sure that I would have enough time to finish. this book once I started it. I"m the type of reader who gets involved in mystery plots with wonderful characters and have trouble putting the book down
until I. finish it.
Read all his books and look forward for the next one. The plots are so interesting and the characters well developed.

Definitely the most evolved of the Orphan books! I really liked the points brought up about human behavior, even amongst drug lords.

"Maturity is graduating from the belief that the world misunderstands you to the awareness that you misunderstand the world." Amen

I've enjoyed every book in this series, and this was no exception. One thing I like about the series is the character development - so although this could stand on its own merits, I think it'd be a lot more enjoyable read in the proper order.

This book starts soon after the end of Prodigal Son. Even gets a call on his "Need Help" phone that is unusual. The caller isn't powerless (in most things) or innocent, but he definitely needs the kind of help that only Evan can provide.

The main action plot of this book was terrific, but I enjoyed even more the between-action glimpses of the life Evan is starting to put together. Joey is such a terrific character and is so good for Evan. Mia, Peter, and this time there was a touching scene with Hugh, the usually annoying HOA president.

My only issue with this series is having to wait a whole year til the next one. Especially after the endings of the last two.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for letting me read this great story! I really recommend the series.

Gregg Hurwitz just keeps on winning with the Orphan X series.

Yes, Evan Smoak is a trained assassin. But he's also a one with a soul. In his vigilante activities as the Nowhere Man, he tries to redeem himself by using his specialized skill set to help those who reach out to him.

But this time, is a drug cartel leader worthy of his assistance.....well he is when it comes to rescuing his innocent daughter. I am really enjoying how Hurwitz is growing this character. He's not just a killing machine. He's trying to build relationships with the other people in his life (his adopted protege Joey and his semi love interest MIa and her son Peter). He's trying to actually be a human being.

The action is is not non stop but when it comes, it hits hard but it takes a while to finally get to it. This book is a lot more cerebral than the last few in the series, which I like. It makes the character of Evan, more fully fleshed out.

4/5 stars to another great read!

Gregg Andrew Hurwitz is one of my all-time favourite authors and I loved this 7th book in his "Orphan X" series!
Faced with his most challenging mission yet the Nowhere Man heads to south Texas to rescue the 18 yr old daughter of the kingpin of a major drug-dealing operation who has been kidnapped by a vicious cartel. They have her held hostage at an armored complex at their Mexican headquarters.
A fast-paced and thrilling novel with recurring characters that I have become quite attached to.
With each book I love this series more and more and can't recommend it highly enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars = Great! Might re-read.

Another fascinating case for the Nowhere Man. I enjoyed this story (although this series is darker and gorier and more violent than I usually prefer), and especially loved the character development here for Evan, Joey and the other core folks in the series.

The thread of family and connection from the last book continues to weave through this one as well, stretching Evan and helping the books grow rather than fall into a predictable pattern. This is the other factor that keeps me reading this series.

Series fans will find plenty to enjoy here. Newcomers could probably start here without a lot of trouble, but would miss some of the fantastic character development that's been done over the last few books. (Language, violence and gore, sex)

I got hooked on the Orphan X series from the beginning and always look forward to his new adventures. This is actually not my usual genre of reading but Hurwitz's crisp writing, great characters, and the outlandish storylines that he makes sound feasible have made me a fan. Ok, I KNOW Evan will emerge from his adventures (relatively) unscathed, but I still hold my breath while I'm reading wondering how on earth he's going to do it this time.

Can't wait for the next book!!

I am a big fan of Hurwitz's Orphan X series, and this one was another enjoyable installment. In Dark Horse, Evan Smoak has to answer the question---"Is a person who does bad acts someone worthy of Orphan X's help?" Besides the central plot, Evan struggles with his own inter-personal relationships and navigating unfamiliar territory for him.