Evan Smoak is a badass!

He might look like an average guy, but beneath the clothing he’s all lean muscle, and inside his mind is a trained killer.

Pacing is quick, and Hurwitz’s writing is fully immersive. All my senses came alive, lifting me from my chair and placing me right in the story.

The plot stretches plausibility a little too far, even for a professional badass. Still, I could see it playing out, and I’ll always love Evan.

Then we get to the end, and… CLIFFHANGERS. Notice the plural. Ugh. Why? This is my personal issue. I might need therapy.

Dark Horse is book 7 in the Orphan X series. It can be read as a stand-alone, though you’d miss out on the subtleties of Evan’s character. The tone of this book is a little different than previous books because Evan is undergoing a metamorphosis of sorts. Reading them all in order gives a clear picture of how Evan got to this point.

Dark Horse, by author Gregg Hurwitz, is the Seventh installment in the authors Orphan X series. Because Prodigal Son ended on a explosive cliffhanger ending, this book actually begins 6 months from that ending. Readers were left wondering how our hero was going to get him out of one of biggest jams of this series. A quick summary: Evan Smoak is a man with many identities and a challenging past. As Orphan X, he was a government assassin for the off-the-books Orphan Program.

After he broke with the Program, he adopted a new name and a new mission—The Nowhere Man, helping the most desperate in their times of trouble. Evan's life hasn't exactly been easy lately. He's been given a pardon by the US President hoping that he would retire. He has a complicated relationship with his neighbor Mia Hall, who is a prosecutor, as well as mother to Peter, who looks up to Evan as an idol. With Joey Morales, the young 16-year old hacker, and former Orphan helping Evan redesign his apartment, Evan has to decide to want to do with a question that remains from the last installment.

Meanwhile, Aragon Urrea is a kingpin of a major drug-dealing operation in South Texas. He's also the patron of the local area—supplying employment in legitimate operations, providing help to the helpless, a rough justice to the downtrodden, and a future to a people normally with little hope. He's complicated—a not completely good man, who does bad things for often good reasons. However, for all his money and power, he is helpless when one of the most vicious cartels kidnaps his innocent eighteen-year-old daughter Anjelina, spiriting her away into the armored complex that is their headquarters in Mexico under the watchful eyes of the El Moreno Leones cartel.

With no other way to rescue his daughter, he turns to The Nowhere Man. Now not only must Evan figure out how to get into the impregnable fortress of a heavily armed, deeply paranoid cartel leader, but he must decide if he should help a very bad man—no matter how just the cause. Once again, Evan is hoping to live by the Ten Commandments. Evan often finds that the commandments with which he is trying to live his life by do not meet the realities of human flaws and sins. Especially when it comes to a powerful Mexican Cartel and a young girl who has a mind of her own. Actually that pertains to both Anjelina, who isn't as innocent as once thought, and Joey who wants more than to just be a sidekick.

There's some interesting outside of the box things happening to not only Joey, but Mia as well as she receives dire news. To top it off, the author once again leaves readers pondering what's going to happen next. Will he find his half brother? Will he have to go on the run from the government again? Will Joey find her happy place, or will she be dragged back into Noah's newest trouble? As always, Tommy (the Evan's gunsmith), and Evan's twisted neighbors at Castle Heights, are all back causing a ruckus.

5 Evan Smoak Stars
This is another excellent addition to this series by Gregg Hurwitz. Thank you for taking the time to create a tale that has so much to offer.

I think this series could continue and we would benefit.

Hurwitz is a successful American thriller writer who has also written for both Marvel and DC Comics, This is the seventh novel in the "Orphan X" series, that features the character of Evan Smoak. Evan was a government trained operative and now operates as The Nowhere Man, helping people who have no one else to turn to. In this book he takes on a drug cartel kingpin in order to rescue the daughter of another drug kingpin. This is a fun, violent, thriller that is a great recommendation for fans of the genre, but as always I recommend people start with the first in the series "Orphan X". I really enjoyed this one.

Once again Gregg Hurwitz has a hit! Dark Horse is hands down an edge of your seat book! Action packed from beginning to end and Evan Smoak is my new hero!

Even Smoak, Mr. Nowhere Man, helps those who deserve to be helped.... Until he meets Aragon Urrea. Aragon is a drug king pin in Texas. Aragon has two sides to him. He helps those in and around the town he is in. But he is not a good man. Complicated is what he is, and when his daughter is kidnapped by one of the most notorious cartels in Mexico he asks The Nowhere Man for help. What follows is an action packed book with a few surprises thrown in!! 4.25⭐

I have only read the last two books in this series, and I can't wait to read the back list!! 

Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Gregg Hurwitz for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for granting me this book to read.

This book! This series! It just keeps getting better and better. I get so excited when I see a new Orphan X book coming out.

Evan Smoak is Orphan X and his life has recently become complicated. He finally met the mother that left him to foster care but barely had time to ask questions before she died and Evan is told that one of his foster brothers is actually his real brother. All of this is quite difficult to process for a man who has been trained to be the Nowhere Man, complete the mission and to be alone. So Evan is a bit eager to get out of town when he gets the phone call asking for his help.

South Texas and Drug Lords are not Evan's usual milieu so he has to decide if he will help the father of a young woman recently kidnapped by a rival Drug Lord. The more Evan is around the girl's father he finds himself starting to understand him and that gives Evan pause. The Nowhere Man has to figure out how to get into the rival gang and rescue this girl. With the help of his young charge Josephine, his experience and a lot of luck he does just that. Cue the fireworks!

One of the big reasons I am a fan of this series is how Gregg Hurwitz keeps developing Orphan X. It is clear from the first book that Evan struggles with many issues. The normalcy of life sometimes baffles him and his OCD can get the better of him. However Evan Smoak is learning what it means to have people that love him in his life. It makes him sweat and sometimes almost hyperventilate but he is learning to go a different direction other than just be alone. I read another series that's a bit similar but I finally stopped because the main character never changes, it's always the same story just a different setting. That is why any book by Gregg Hurwitz is a winner and this one is no different. See you next time Evan Smoak.

I was not very impressed with this book. It was too much jumping around.

Thank you net galley for letting me read this super book. Loved it

Orphan X is one of my favorite series. I actually thought the last book was the final, so I was pleasantly surprised to see a new one come out (and, based on the ending of this one, I have to believe there will be more. YAY!). I loved the emotional turmoil that Evan went through in Dark Horse; you don't see this side of him very often and it was great to see how he ineloquently handled something as simple as a sit down dinner, when chasing cartel leaders is something he's much more comfortable with. The reason for 4 stars is because I don't love the technical aspects of this book - I respect them, but I don't love reading them. It's clear that Hurwitz knows his spyware and guns, but I am not as interested in the deep dive of cybercrimes - I just want to know the outcome. Overall, great book and so much fun.

The most interesting aspect of the Orphan X books to me is the balancing act Evan has to constantly do between the two sides of his life. This book seemed to focus more on the Nowhere Man side of Evan, but, as happens more and more, the personal things influence the client side of things.

This one is different. The client and circumstances are...somewhat complicated. I think the series is getting stronger as it goes. Fair warning though, there's some imagery in this one that's not easy. I know there always is, but this one did seem to go further.

The seventh book in the exciting Orphan X is a bit of a departure. This time Evan Smoak is helping a 'not so bad' Texan drug cartel jefe, whose daughter has been kidnapped by a 'really evil' Mexican drug cartel jefe. Can he infiltrate the highly guarded camp to rescue the girl?

Evan, who doesn't have the best interpersonal skills, is also trying to deal with several problems on the home front--like the HOA head bugging him about the dog in his penthouse suite; his ward Joey wanting to take a solo road trip at 16; his 'sometime' love interest needing emergency surgery; and last but certainly not the least for someone with a serious case of OCD, his penthouse in the throes of a complete overall after the bombing that almost killed him.

There is lots of violence throughout this thriller but also quite a bit of humor t0 balance it out. Gregg Hurwitz leaves his readers with not one, but two cliffhangers so we'll be anxiously waiting for more to find out what happens next! I'm also wondering if he's considering a spinoff series featuring Joey as she heads off on this road trip of hers. Guess we'll have to wait and see about that too!

I received an arc of this new book in the Orphan X series from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks! Both my husband and I enjoy this series very much--it never disappoints.

Gregg Hurwitz's Orphan X series is the best thriller saga going, and this is another top notch addition. Once again we get tightly choreographed, over-the-top action sequences, a complex, fast-moving plot, taut writing, and the perilous terrors of X trying to fit into everyday life.

There has always been some tension between X's extra-legal vigilantism and a lawful society (centered mostly around his relationship with a District Attorney), but in this story there is more moral ambiguity, as the 'lost soul' X tries to rescue is a bad man who does a lot of good (or a good guy who does a lot of bad), and there are enough troubling parallels between X and his client to make everyone uncomfortable.

Fortunately, Hurwitz is a strong enough writer of the 'show, don't tell' school, and we're spared the facile internal moral hand wringing that plagues many lesser thrillers. The result is a well worth reading.

I thought this was a very entertaining book, and I really liked the intrigue and action packed story line. It was a bit difficult to really get into the story as this is the first book in the Orphan X series that I have read. But, if you are an Orphan X fan, or don't mind not really knowing some of the backstory, then I think you will enjoy this book.

I want to thank Gregg Hurwitz, MacMillian Audio, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for giving me an e-copy of this book, in return for an honest review.

Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz (Orphan X #7) 4 stars

Evan Smoak aka Orphan X is on the move again, this time the plea for help comes from an unusual source. An independent drug lord needs to get his eighteen year old daughter from the clutches of the head of another drug cartel. Can The Nowhere Man solve this problem and should he since the one asking is one of the bad guys? On top of that problem, Evan is still trying to make sense of the relationships he has with Joey (another Orphan) and Mia, an attractive neighbor and friend.

I have to say that this book is seven parts action and two parts terror with one part normal. I was surprised how this book started since the last book "Prodigal Son" ended with a cliff hanger. At times this book was quite philosophical; in comparing legal and illegal, right from wrong. There are so many shades of grey that sometime the results were trending towards charcoal. As always, there is action, fighting, and mayhem throughout the book. Some parts were a bit too gory for me, but the quiet parts saved it for me. This book ends with a cliff hanger of sorts and I look forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur for this ARC.

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/02/08/%f0%9f%8e%a7-dark-horse-by-gregg-hurwitz/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>


I absolutely have loved this <em><strong><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/170378-orphan-x" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Orphan X</a></strong></em> series.   I LOVE Evan and his growth throughout the series.  He is a support for the people at Castle Heights, especially Mia and Peter,  and a parental figure, at least a caretaker for Joey.  I hoped once he got his informal presidential "pardon," he could go into security or hostage rescue or something.  But realistically, once he was in the normal view, there would be people trying to kill him.  He needs to stay hidden.

Evan can't help but be swayed by the plight of a girl, not much older than Joey who has been kidnapped. Her father is not a good man but Evan helps to steer him straighter.  The situations Evan is encounters to save her are more extreme than he would prefer.

Evan has problems at "home" at the same time.   Joey wants to be more independent but she is 16.  Yes she is wicked smart and can defend herself.  That doesn't mean she is old enough and experienced enough to make good decisions (see daughter who has been kidnapped.) I really feel for Evan in this fight.   Mia is having problems and Peter needs care and a man he can trust.  Evan has no basis to know how to handle these relationship situations of any kind.   Because of them, I think he is also staying in the same area, the same "home" longer than is safe.

I am waiting, with anxiety for what happens next for Evan.  I am just starting to think how this story of his life can turn out and I'm not liking any of my ideas.  But based on my experience with the author, he's a lot smarter than me and it will work out.  I hope.

Anyway, <strong>Dark Horse</strong> is an intense read with plenty of action, strategy and emotions.  Evan continues to learn and grow, and help the desperate.    I recommend reading from the beginning, in order, for the character and world developments.

Happy Tuesday and Happy Pub Day to @gregghurwitzbooks, Dark Horse, the latest installment of Orphan X!

I am completely obsessed with this series! So when @minotaur_books reached out my answer was hell yes!

The best way to describe this would be, the James Bond movies and The Taken movies combine them and bam you get Orphan X! You want crime, you get it! You want explosions, you got it! You want big guns, yep it's in it! You want a bad ass, meet Evan Smoak!

Dark Horse, will leave you on the edge of your seat! Heart racing, explosive story line that leaves you breathless and anxiety ridding! I highly recommend reading this! This can be read as a standalone, so don't worry if you haven't read any of the installments!

Thank you to @netgalley, @macmillan.audio, and #@gregghurwitzbooks for my review copy!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

#review #pubday #darkhorse #evansmoak #orphanx #series #crimethriller #gregghurwitz #arcbookreview #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #bookrecommendations #fourstar #cortsreads

Orphan X has a fabulous backstory; orphans are adopted into a secret government program where they are trained to be assassins. Orphan X at 12 was “raised” by a good, honest man who taught him to kill but taught him about life even more. Now that X is an adult and on his own, he only helps those in true need and is known as the Nowhere Man.

A young woman has been taken from her drug lord father. X is called to infiltrate and rescue her. It’s like no assignment he’s ever had. It plays out like an intense action movie that will keep you guessing and rooting for the good guys. I adored the drug lord father and loved the character development. He was portrayed as a hard, unforgiving leader but with such a deep love for his daughter that he was willing to do anything, anything to help her.

X (Evan Smoak) has all the Bond gadgets you can imagine. He has a steady flow of money so is able to accommodate his space with bulletproof glass, heat sensors and more. His snarky 16yo “niece” (another orphan) is a hacker and my favorite for bringing out the human part of X. She has the ability to make him rethink his words but also second guess his motivations.

These are the stories I grew up on, as my dad is a big reader and always had a steady supply. I always love going back to my “spy novels” as it rekindles my love for reading. This was no exception and I loved being back in this series. I missed a few along the way, but have found the audios to catch up. This series is one of my favorites for jam-packed action with a great story to accompany it.

Evan Smoak returns with a new vigilante story that picks up where book 6 left off but I do think this can be read as a standalone. Evan receives a call for help from a drug lord who's teenage daughter is kidnapped. What follows is a suspenseful, action paced story of Evan infiltrating a cartel with the help of a drug lord. Lines are crossed, it's violent at times but also witty and sarcastic as Evan lives a high class life. I love the interwoven parts from his personal life. This is was a great addition the series and my favorite of all the books- the narrator Scott Brick was fantastic and Brought Evan to life

As with all the other Orphan X books, Gregg Hurwitz has given us an engaging, action-packed thriller. Different from the others, though, in Dark Horse, the Nowhere Man must decide between saving a young girl and his personal code. This is a fact paced quick read that will keep you engrossed all night long. Set aside an entire day so you don’t have to choose between one more chapter and sleep. Another fantastic novel. Though, I have yet to read a book by Gregg Hurwitz though I didn’t think was outstanding.


I received an ARC from St. Martin Press/Minotaur Books and an Audiobook from Macmillan Audio. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

This latest book is a great addition to the Orphan X series.

Ever since leaving the Orphan program where he was a trained-from-childhood, off-the-books assassin for the government, Evan Smoak has had to re-evaluate and reinvent himself as he has learned more about himself and how he relates to others. Now that the government has forbidden Evan from continuing his Nowhere Man persona where he used his abilities to protect innocents and right wrongs, Evan still is trying to figure out what he wants for his future.

But of course Evan is again drawn in to use his Nowhere Man identity when the daughter of a major drug trafficker is kidnapped by a vicious cartel boss. The daughter is an innocent, and Evan is driven to help people like her. As Evan interacts and works with her father, both are challenged to evaluate their priorities and what they really want out of life.

One of the major appeals of this series, other than Evan’s kick-ass abilities, has been his growth as a character. We see this especially acutely in this story. There are some great interactions with Joey, Evan’s 16-year-old genius ward whom he rescued from the Orphan program. (I love Joey!) We also see some important developments with his relationship with neighbor and love-interest Mia. And of course there is plenty of Orphan X action.

This was a terrific story with some interesting—and dangerous—implications for future stories. I can’t wait to read them.

What’s it about (in a nutshell):
Dark Horse by Gregg Hurwitz is an action-packed thriller about the Nowhere Man’s (Orphan X aka Evan Smoat) latest case. A complex (i.e., both good and bad) businessman calls the Nowhere Man because a Mexican drug cartel abducted his 18-year-old daughter. Even with his vast resources, he would never be able to get her out alive. The case seems potentially too dangerous for even a legend like Orphan X.

What I Enjoyed:

I absolutely love how every female support character is portrayed in this novel. Even though the main character is a highly skilled male assassin who takes up much of the tale, the women in the story are equally remarkable. They each have different strengths, but all are strong, independent, and smart. I’ve detailed each under characters to briefly explain my thoughts.

I enjoyed that the fast pace starts early in the novel and never waivers. Orphan X is ingenious in his fighting skills. The action scenes have an art all to themselves that are jaw-droppingly choreographed to perfection. There were also plenty of twists, turns, and surprises to keep me guessing and the pages flipping. This is one of those rare stories that is equal parts plot-driven and character-driven.

I also love how a specific minor plotline in the story took me on an emotional journey and left me in a puddle at the end. I never expect any thriller to touch my heart in profound ways, yet that is precisely what I found in this novel.

Characters:

Evan Smoak – aka Orphan X – aka Nowhere Man – is a trained assassin. He was part of a covert experiment that took foster children and trained them how to be exceptional assassins. He has a lot of baggage and even suffers from OCD, which I really like because it totally humanizes him to have a mental health challenge.

Mia Hall is in an “it’s complicated” relationship with Evan Smoak, and she lives in his building with her nine-year-old son. Very smart and determined, she is a tough District Attorney. She puts criminals behind bars for a living and loves every minute of it.

Joey Morales – A world-class hacker who was once in the Orphan Program. She is 16 years old, brilliant, and oh, so delightfully precocious that you can’t help but to love her. Evan has taken over guardianship of her, and it’s a relationship that brings bits of humor to the story that are simply delightful. She is a close second for my favorite character right after Evan Smoak.

Support characters I loved from this particular story:

La Tia – spunky and sassy, La Tia is the type of woman you simply don’t question or argue with unless you want to find yourself dragged around by your ear. Though she didn’t actually do that in the book, I have no doubt that if the opportunity had arisen, she would do just that if you crossed her.

Belicia – is the wife of Aragon Urrea, the kingpin who has asked the Nowhere Man to rescue his daughter from a Mexican cartel. I loved her incomparable wisdom throughout the story and am still contemplating her most insightful observations. She is pure heart and soul with an inner strength that is awe-inspiring.

What I Wish:
My only wish (and this is mostly just a pet peeve) is that the story had not been left on two cliffhangers. I was left in a puddle over the first cliffhanger and totally needed to know what happened, but I thought the last cliffhanger was a nice touch at the end. Still, the first cliffhanger has just left me in an emotional quandary of sorts that I still haven’t recovered from.

To Read or Not to Read:
This book can be read as a stand-alone, but you will want to go back and read the others once you finish, I guarantee it. If you love complex thrillers with chunks of humor and heart, you will wonder why you’ve never read a book from this series before now.